University of Virginia Library

SCENE A Garden.
Enter Antonio, and Astella in man's Cloaths.
Ast.
My Country Sir, I've told you is Sicily;
Whence banisht by my wants, I'me hither come
To find relief; my name is Florimo.

Ant.
What's this to me? I prithee leave me Boy.

Ast.
Alas I cannot Sir: I've heard so much
Of your Renown and Generosity,
That I must stay, and win your favour.
Besides I've heard you are a Lover Sir,
And such a one I wou'd desire to serve:
Sure this will sound him.

[Aside
Ant.
I was indeed a happy Lover once!

[Sighs.
Ast.
Ha! Once did he say? oh heavens, then 'tis too true:

[aside.
Ant.
But now my Love is gone I know not whither:
My Dear Astella, if thou'rt fled to heaven,
Oh let me know't, that I may follow thee;
If still on earth, I'le pray the whispering winds
That they'de conduct me to thy dark abode,
I'le beg the Trees to bow their leafy heads
And point me out the Mansion of my Love.
What shall I think? for to suspect thy truth,
Or doubt Alberto's words, were sure a Crime.

Ast.
I know not what this musing does portend,
But I will try him once again. My noble Lord,
Cast not a wretched youth to the wide world,
Who cannot live a moment absent from you.
Why are you sad? Give me to know the Cause
[Kneels.
I'le sit and sing and charm your griefs asleep,
Lye at your feet like weeping Philomell,
And hush your sorrows with my pleasing airs:
And when the morning dawns, I'le be your Lark,
To wellcome with my joyfull notes the coming day,
Thus we'le perform, and pass the time away;
Thus spend the melancholy hours, making grief a pleasure,
And scorning all the follies of the laughing world.

Ant.
Such pleasing softness did I never hear;
And still the more I look, the more I still desire;
In every feature methinks I read Astella;
The very air that bears the charming sounds,
Ecchoes Astella to my wondring ears.
Rise gentle Youth, so sweet an advocate
Must needs obtain the cause tho' ne're so hard:
If then (kind Florimo) you'd share in a disorder'd heart,
And be the sad Companion of my woes—
But do not, for they'l blast thy tender form,
And wither all thy blooming hopes to death.

Ast.
Alas 'tis all the blessing I wou'd wish
To share your woes, since I'me already
More unfortunate and wretched then you er'e can be.

Ant.
Oh 'tis impossible! but tell me how thou art wretched.

Ast.
By Love that soft disturber of my peace,
And by my friend.

Ant.
Grant heaven it be not so with me.

[aside.
Ast.
Doubt not your Mistriss safety, nor your Friend,
If conscious innocence says you love her still.

Ant.
Love her! thy silly question stabs my very Soul;
None can behold Astella and not love her:
Not Orpheus when he charm'd the fiery gates of hell,
And gain'd an entry to the vast abiss
Had half that Love for his Euridice;
Nor when he rescu'd from the God of night
His beauteous prize, and the same hour lost her,
Felt half my hell of torture and despair.

Ast.
Oh charming words! which like Promethean fire,
Kindles the embers of expiring life and love;
And like the Arabian Chimist can extract
A Phænix from the ashes of her Sire!
My Joy's too great to be contain'd:
Here let me breath my Soul out at your feet
[Kneeling.
And fly an Angell to the other world,
Refin'd by so divine a good as yours.

Ant.
What means the Youth? Rise, and resolve my doubts,
Why does my declaration thus affect you?

Ast.
Tune to his voice, ye musick of the spheres,
To finde such virtue 'mongst corrupted Man,
Is sure a Subject for Fames golden Trumpet;
To find your Love like Vestall fire guarded,
(When every foe does lend a breath against it)
Safe and unsully'd in that hollow'd Shrine.

Ant.
So nice a sence of virtue from a Boy
Is strange, and must proceed from something stranger.

Ast.
I Swore to wander thro' the spacious world
(Till death wou'd put an end to all my woes)
To finde some Lover of so clear a truth,
The same when slighted, or his Mistriss dead;
And now I've found the noblest of our Sex
I'le be your Servant, or your Sacrifice,
And never part, till parted from my self.

Ant.
I am amaz'd at such surprizing words,
But 'tis a pleasing wonder: Come my Boy,
I'le crown thy wishes, thou'rt mine for ever,
[Embraces him.
Instruct my Virtue, that seeing thee I may
Read Lectures of Astella every day;
But yet I want to know the Story of thy life,
The many wrongs thou hast sustain'd and pass'd
And all the pretty murmurings of thy grief.

Ast.
By a long Siege I Storm'd my Mistriss heart,
And took the Guarded Fortress of her Love;
Next when i'de got my only friends consent,
The Brother of my destin'd Bride Lestella,
No Isthmus seem'd to bar me from my joys:
When on the fatall Dawn before our Marriage,
Urg'd by I know not what mistake, my friend
Went to his Mistriss, call'd her false and perjur'd;
Said, he or I, that Night must leave the World;
At night I heard of his Imprisonment,
Attended with a thundering peal of Curses,
From the fair Mistriss of my Friend: At length
I by my vows to free him had appeas'd her.
Madded with rage I did mind my own
Who with a charming grief reproach'd my falshood;
I had not time to answer her Complaints,
But flung away in hast unto my friend
Whom I releas'd, but he escap'd my sight
Strait I receiv'd from him a dreadfull Note,
Which stab'd me with the News of my Lestilla's death,
Who fell a Victim to his Jealousy.
Despairing, I abandon'd Sicily,
And careless of my fate, am hither come,
To wander like a banish'd Criminal quite forlorn.
This sure will try him since my other fails.

[Aside
Ant.
What words are these, or is it but a dream?
A Vision of Astella, thus adorn'd,
[aside
Who comes to try the truth of her suspicions?
If that my wonder (gentle youth) wou'd give me leave
I'de say thou hast sav'd me the unwellcome trouble
Of telling thee the Story of my life,
Since thou hast so truly weav'd it with thy own.

Ast.
Not so I hope Sir, is your Mistriss dead?

Ant.
There sticks my sate, and leaves me in a maze:
If dead, what then remains, but strait to follow her?

Ast.
You speak, my Lord, in riddles;
If she be dead, you wou'd dye to follow her,
And at the same time own you Love her not.

Ant.
Thou dost not understand me right my Boy:
Be witness all ye Powers that knew our hearts,
How much I lov'd that dear departed Saint?

Ast.
Departed! whither?

Ant.
Oh that I cou'd resolve thee!
My Friend enrag'd told me he had slain her,
But soon recanted, and I as soon believ'd,
Yet now some strange suggestions press my heart anew,
And fix my wandring fancy to her Image.

Ast.
I hope he'le not repent of this kind grant:
[Aside.
Shall I my Lord, to sooth your sorrows, Sing?

Ant.
Do my Boy, whilst I repose me on this bank
And bear a part with thee.

Both sing. After the Song she speaks.
Ast.
Rise; Rise my Lord, I see one coming hither,
With a grave pace, as big with some design.

Ant.
It is Ricardo; Florimo away
And wait me in the next walk.
[Exit Astella.
Enter Ricardo musing.
This is the Cause I fear of all our dire mistakes,
Now Studying some new Plot: I'le observe him.

Ric.
Thus Virtue's ever clouded with disgrace,
A Princes favour cannot dart a beam,
But on a Barren or Infectious land,
And always must be partiall in his choice.

Ant.
He mutters State-Affairs: but let him on.

Ric.
Therefore the two young Heroes of the Court,
Envy my Honour, and sicken at my greatness,
As if my rise must be upon their Necks
But still my Virtue shall outbrave their little malice:
I will convince the unbelieving world,
There is a man that can be great and good at once,
And then retire to Solitude for ever.

Ant.
Why this is strange!

Ric.
But oh that cannot be—
There lyes some Mistery in the womb of Night,
Which Loyalty Commands me to unravell,
Besides to leave Antonio's Virtue toil'd,
Deluded by his friends Hypocrisy—
But that's a Plot, and I'me a base Informer
There's my reward—but Virtue pays it self.

Ant.
Each word does swell my wonder!

Ric.
Alberto's Actions must have some design,
But let Heaven be Judge of that, not I.
This fresh account of Horrour I've receiv'd
Antonio must know—Yes 'tis resolv'd,
Tho' for it he call me undermining Traytor,
Yet I'le respect my conscience, not his words.

Ant.
Each words a Thunderbolt, and strikes me dead,
No double-meaning can be hid in this.

Ric.
Who's that? my Lord Antonio?

Ant.
The same.

Ric.
How does your Lordship?

Ant.
Why well I think Ricardo;

Ric.
Long may you be so:

Ant.
I thank you Sir. But good Ricardo,
If I may be so bold, what were your thoughts
Employ'd about?

Ric.
'Tis an Important bus'ness which I think of,
How virtue does decay in every age,
And in particular that Cordiall Friendship
How Pylades's Examples are quite forgot,
And how the Sign of Gemini above,
Is copied ill by Mortalls here below.

Ant.
The Consequence.

Ric.
Therefore my Lord, beware
How you permit a seeming Friend to creep too close,
Lest in the bottom there shou'd lurk an Adder.

Ant.
Be plainer in your Counsell.

Ric.
Yes, too plain;
Too plain I fear for your repose!

Ant.
Ha! my repose!

Ric.
Yes, so I said:
Your friend Alberto (mark me well) is false
The Wounds he gave, but seemingly he heal'd,
For they still rankle, fester, and eat the deeper,
And may in time destroy you.

Ant.
Oh take heed
You come not with your false deluding Beacons
To warn my easy nature from the Sands
That you may split my friendship on a Rock;
For if thou dost, death, hell, and ruine,
And all their black attendants shall not save thee:
You have had the mask on long enough,
Therefore now unveil thy self Ricardo,
And show the villain in his native dye:

Ric.
This I expected; and therefore take my leave,
An honest man is never safe at Court;
Sir, you may find flatterers enough
To tell you what you wou'd believe, not what you ought to know:
Who'l varnish all your losses with a smile;
Nay, make you think the Sun shines in a storm,
When thickest clouds do interpose their shade,
And when the heavens are all in mutiny, rain fire
Rain blood upon your better part, your second self:
But he's a fool, who to convince another
(Whose looks speak hatred, and his words proclaim it)
Will hazard both his person, and his fame:
Such bigotted honour shall have no Prosolite of me.

[Going.
Ant.
Stay Sir, for to secure that fame you prize so much
It will concern you to inform me more.

Ric.
Not when I know, I shall not be believ'd.

Ant.
Now by my Sword, I'le force it from your tongue,
And if thou prov'st not every word thou utterest,
I'le hurl a heavier load of misery upon thee
Than that which Atlas with his weighty Globe
Does groan beneath.

Ric.
How fond is Man, and easy to beleive,
When words are daub'd with flattery, and mask'd with Love,
But truth in its plain habit will not pass:
My Lord, to shew how I despise your threats
I'le ease my conscience of the mighty Secret,
But arm your self against the fierce assault
For horror dwells with every fatall word.

Ant.
Why dost thou kill me with such cruell doubts?

Ric.
I will no more:—the fair Astella, Sir—

Ant.
Astella, Speak; the very name's a Charm.

Ric,
It must be Sir the name; that's all that's left.

Ant.
Ha! what of her?

Ric.
Why she is murder'd, base and barbarously murder'd.

Ant.
Hell and confusion!

Ric.
By her own Brother's orders, murder'd.

Ant.
Patience ye Gods, oh give me patience heaven!
One moments patience, and I'le beg no more.
By all things Sacred, in those fatall words,
Or one, or both of us are doom'd to dye;
If they be false, there's something worse then death,
Nay (if possible) then Damnation shall sure attend thee,
If true, then I'me the Victim.

Ric.
Hear the rest:
A rough hewn fellow, Servant to Alberto,
Thus with a penitential look, accosted me:
Sir, by my Masters threats, I've been compell'd
To Act a little piece of Villany,
But my ill-natur'd Conscience flying in my face,
I thought to ease it by Confession,
I slew a Lady whom he order'd me
Veil'd in a Wood; but that was nothing Sir,
Till I discover'd it to be Astella,
My old dead Masters only Daughter.

Ant.
Furries and Devils tear the Barbarous Villain
Oh I am all a burning Ætna here within!
But if thou prov'st it, I am satisfied.

Ric.
Let the Revenge confirm it which I took
Impatient Virtue forc'd me to the deed,
I slew him strait, without as much as asking
Where the untimely Sacrifice was laid.

Ant.
Enough, I am confirm'd she's gone.
Oh Tyrant-friend, was she a Subject for your rage,
Cou'd not those glorious rays from her fair eyes
Melt down thy icy temper to compassion?
But I forget, 'tis I'me her murderer,
And therefore thus will pay the cruel debt.

[Offers to kill himself.
Ric.
Hold, hold my Lord!

[Ric. hinders him.
Ant.
Wilt thou again give edge to my suspitions,
By hindring me of my desir'd bliss?
Death doubly is my due.
The morning wheels to gloomy night again,
To give directions where I shou'd reside;
The Sun seems like a faint and beamless fire
To warn the expiring Taper of my Life,
And all but you conspire to work my Joy.

Ric.
By all that's good, I will not oppose it,
But yet you are not ripe enough for death,

Ant.
Not when despair does call me hence?

Ric.
Why no.
Are you Italian born, or some hot Frenchman,
Who when capricious fortune frowns upon him
Strait punishes her crime upon himself;
At least since she does sit above our reach,
Let us revenge it on her instruments.

Ant.
Touch not that string, for it inflames my heart,
And kindles wild-fire in my troubl'd breast;
I wou'd not think upon the Villain more,
And therefore I wou'd cease to think at all.

Ric.
'Tis wonderous well! how will the censuring world
Say Naples is a Den of Caniballs,
Where Paricide and murder is a sport
And go unpunish't by the better sort?
By Mars your tameness does unspirit me
But I'le away, and take revenge my self,
Since such a Cause shou'd arm the world against him.

Enter Astella.
Ant.
Stay, for I feel a glowing heat within me
Eat up my friendship, and I am all on fire.

Ast.
What shou'd this mean?

Ric.
Cherish the noble flame
And let your wrongs heighten the generous rage:
If Alexander for a Fav'rites loss
(Who perisht by a Natural Enemy)
Made all the Eastern World his Funeral pile,
And glutted Death with crowded Hecatombs?
What shou'd you do, who see a Mistriss slain,
Slain by a Man, who call'd himself your friend?
Death, Hell, and Vengeance will you suffer it?
Methinks my Arm does tremble to my Sword,
And by instinct Commands me to unsheath it.

Ant.
No, no, the brave Revenge belongs to me:
Bloud, talk of bloud; I will have bloud Ricardo,
But there's a Prison bars him from my fury,
Away Impediments, you shall not hinder,
For tho' he speeds away to Hell, i'le after;
Shoot like a flaming Vulture thro' the dark abyss,
Till I might fix my beak in his false heart:
Nay tho' the Christal Gates of Heaven were ope
And waiting to receive my Soul to joy,
In Hell i'de linger an Eternity,
That I might double all Alberto's Plagues,
And make it hotter with the Flames I bear.

Ast.
Alas that Villain has infected him,
But I've an Antidote will expell the poyson.

Ric.
Why this my Lord becomes your injuries:
Since you'r resolv'd i'le further your revenge;
Wait in this Garden at the approach of Night,
And i'le take care to send Alberto to you.

Ant.
O kind Ricardo, in this obligation
You've reach'd the utmost bounds of my desire:
Wheel on the never-tir'd Post of Heaven,
Fly swiftly to thy wanton Goddess Arms
That I may fly to my revenge: Farewell,
When next we meet, expect to see me chang'd,
Roab'd like the Setting Sun in bloudy red,
Or pale as sickning Stars, and as spent Meteors dead.

[Exit.
Ast.
I'le after him, and learn the mistery.

[Exit.
Ric.
Fly to thy ruine, fond believing Fool,
Thou know'st not what it is to take revenge,
For Nemesis delights in Woods, not Cities,
In dark Cabals, and not in open War:
Yes my new friend I'le send Alberto to you,
And reconcile your differing Constitutions,
Both shall breath nought but sulphur and destruction;
Therefore some new Chimæra I will study
Which his friend Alberto must be sent to kill.

Enter Lopez, drest like Alberto.
Lop.

Well, now I have gotten these Cloaths on, methinks I'me as great
a Person as my Master, and for ought I know, 'tis the comely person within
makes the Gentleman, according to the Proverb, fine Birds make fine
Feathers: Let me see—

[surveighs himself.
Ric.
If I shou'd tell him that his Mistress's false;
But stay that Topick's grown too obsolete.

Ric. walks off as in the Garden.
Lop.

Clean Limbs, handsome gait, Noble appearance! pitty these qualifications
shou'd be thrown away upon a Serving-Man: Well, if my face
answers these, 'twill grieve me to retire to my primitive Rascallity, and
that this bulk of Nobility shou'd dwindle to a Valet.
[pulls out a Glass.
Heavens defend me! Seignior Lopez I shou'd as soon think it were an Angel:
now will I exercise my parts upon my self, for such an Object must needs
inspire Oratory, tho' I am brim-full of it already. Seignior, if Jupiter had
borrow'd one of your eyes for a dark Lanthorn, he might have fought his
Enemies with a double advantage: (answers)
O dear Sir, a little clear
and sharp indeed I must confess; I make use of 'em sometimes for my diversion
to wound and kill poor silly Ladies, but for the rest—Nay good
sweet Seignior, you ravish me with the Excellency of your gestures: every
part of you dances, as it were, to the Musique of the Spheres, and swims
like the Lambent fires above in a Cælestial motion. O Seignior—

Enter Ricardo.

Ha! interrupted? what Malicious Star envi'd me the happiness of hearing
my self prais'd by so accomplisht a person of honour as—Seignior
Lopez.

Ric.
Confusion! what, Alberto here, and free?
Or does my wandring sense deceive me?
That it is he, 'tis plain; but how escap'd,
Or if escap'd, how venturing to stay here,
I must confess amazes me to think!

Lop.
I'le vex this saucy fellow for disturbing me.

[walks caresly by Ricardo.
Ric.
I'me on a Rack, till I can learn the meaning:
With what a haughty negligence he bears himself?

Lop.

I have a good mind to tell him to his face, he's a very uncivil person,
and to make good what I said, if he threatens to beat me, i'le beg his
pardon. But then he'de discover who I am: no, no, that must not be.

Ric.
There's no way left to sound this mistery,
But to begin the harrangue which I've prepar'd.
My Lord I have a secret of Importance—
Still the same port, that scornfull gay behaviour!
In what a mist of Errour have I been?
A Sacrifice here Staulks in State before me
And sleeping vice, still dreads to give the blow.
The place is silent, and the Aiding Trees,
With bended branches cover the offence;
Besides Antonio's rage will cloak the deed
And they'l condemn him for the Murderer:
It shall be so; the next turns his last:
So—
[runs at Lopez, and Lopez falls.
End thus thy Pride and Love together.

Lop.
Ha betray'd! my honour wounded?
Help, Murder, help: I am kill'd, I'me dead! oh!

Ric.
His life is fled away with that last groan:
Now fly Ricardo, manage well this game,
And future Ages shall extoll thy fame.

[Exit.
Lop.

So, is he gone? pox of his kindness: what's here! My voice has
alarm'd some of the Courtiers, but I'le send 'em away like fools as they
come, I warrant 'em.

[lies down.
Enter 3 or 4 Gentlemen, Fabio and Don Silvio.
1. Gent.
This way the dreadfull voice directed us.

2. Gent.
And here's the occasion; Heavens! 'tis Alberto!

1. Gent.
What horrid Mistery is this! how came he free?

2. Gent.
And murder'd too? a Riddle by my Soul.
Let's to the Vice-Roy, who walks i'th' Garden,
For 'tis too deep for us to dive into.

[Exeunt.
Lop.

So, I find I shall have now the whole Court about me: but i'le
prepare my self to receive 'em: I may thank my self for letting the sword
run betwixt my arms. I had been spoil'd else; I think I defended my
self as if I had had eyes behind. Well now for my Glass; I fear this bus'ness
has disorded me—pox o' your ill-breeding to spoil a good face,
and tumble ones perriwig and Crevat: I must not be seen in this
pickle, therefore i'le go home and new vamp my self. A plague of this Nobility,
if for a fine Coat one must be continually in danger of having his
throat cut, or spitted thro' the loins like a Spar-rib of Pork. I'de rather
be hang'd than dye an untimely death, there's no satisfaction in't; but see
they are coming, 'twere best for me to be gone, lest I be taken, and put
in the bakers pulpit for counterfeiting.

[Exit.
Enter Vice-Roy with Attendants.
V. R.
Impossible! it cannot be Alberto.

1. Gent.
Let your own eyes convince you Sir.
[looks about.
Ha! where's is the dead man, fled away?
Some hungry Devill sure has seiz'd on him.

V. R.
Am I a Subject of your Follies Slaves?

2. Gent.
Pray Sir believe us: Alberto did lye here;
But whither it was done designedly,
To colour his escape from Prison,
And cousen us with his pretended death
That you might cease pursuit, I know not.

1. Gent.
Or else perhaps the Murderers fearing
His corps being sound, (a narrow search shou'd be about it)
Convey'd it hence and buried it:
But these two Gentlemen can witness,
That they too saw him dead.

3d. & 4th.
My Lord we did.

V. R.
'Tis strange, but yet I will believe it;
Death he deserv'd for his Ingratitude:
But tho' my passion boil'd a while, I'me glad
He met it from another hand, not mine:
For now with safety I bestow my Daughter,
And crown desert with what it long has sought.
Perhaps it may remove Miranda's Scruples,
And death may set her heart at Liberty:
Thus Providence is always heavens Avenger,
And weilds the Sword of Justice 'gainst th'unjust.
How'ere the Great resolve, and wise debate,
She rules alone, our happiness or fate.

[Exeunt Omnes.