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Camilla

An Opera
  
  
  
  
  

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ACT II.
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14

ACT II.

SCENE I.

SCENE, A Gallery.
Enter Camilla, Tullia and Linco.
Tul.
Here let your Eyes with Pleasure
Survey this Royal Treasure,
Which if we may compare,
The Court can boast of nothing half so rich and fair.

Linc.
Where-e'er we turn our Eyes
Fresh Wonders gaily rise.

Cam.
United Arts in ev'ry Object shine,
Mortal the Workman is, the Workman's Art Divine.

Tul.
All these by Metabo were once possess'd.

Cam.
By Metabo?

Tul.
What Passions fill thy Breast?

Cam.
With Wonder and Disdain at once my Heart's opprest.

Tul.
Behold these Royal Statues: These
The Care of Metabo, those of Latinus are:
Here Casimilla lyes in graceful Pride,
Who on the Day she bore Camilla dy'd.
Here Metabo her Royal Consort flies,
Camilla in his Arms, and Sorrow in his Eyes.

Cam.
O miserable King! unhappy Queen!

Linc.
Your ill-tim'd Sorrow will be seen.

Cam.
Unhappy Child!

Linc.
Your Reason is asleep.

Tul.
Why does Dorinda weep? Why flow those Eyes?

Cam.
Because Camilla's Fate and mine do simpathize.
Again, again past Wrongs I feel,
The pointed Javelin and the Steel.
My injur'd Soul will know no Rest,
Furies will haunt my troubled Breast,
'Till he dies
A Sacrifice,
By whom our Royal House has been opprest.
Let him die, ye Pow'rs! strike him dead!
Dart all your Light'ning at his devoted Head.
Tear him, ye Furies! tear him!
May the Furies alarm him!

15

May his Conscience disarm him!
But I'm unwise.
O Gods! Camilla's Fate and mine do simpathize!

Linc.
Give your Sorrows over!

Tul.
Dorinda, be at Peace.

Cam.
How! give my Sorrows over!
A Grief like mine admits of no Release.

Linc.
These publick Tears for Shame keep in.

Cam.
Tullia; look, behold!

Tul.
What is there to be seen?

Cam.
Behold Camilla's Shade appears!
See what Disdain her angry Visage wears!
Behold!

Tul.
I nothing see—

Cam.
Before thee, see her stand.

Tul.
Sure she is mad; where should Camilla be?

Cam.
I rave, I rave! or else I sleep: But no,
See there's Camilla full of Woe!
Behold Camilla near,
Camilla's weeping Accent hear.

Tul.
What doth she say?

Cam.
Camilla, lo I am.
I am Camilla, and swear, by all my Woes,
His guilty Days shall know no Rest,
His restless Nights know no Repose:
Day and Night shall near him dwell
Those Horrors all Usurpers feel!
'Till oppress'd by his Grief,
And encumber'd with Care,
Depriv'd of Relief,
He flies to the Grave in Despair.

Linc.
Metius must be hither brought,
To cure those Ills her Grief has wrought.

[Exit.
Tul.
Do dwell with Madmen sure
None but Madmen can endure.

[Exit.
Cam.
Linco; Linco and Tullia both are gone!
And Camilla, left alone,
Safely may her Thoughts unveil,
The Gods are just, and nothing will reveal.
Sorrow join'd with Sorrow,

16

Grief with Grief combin'd,
Distract my Breast,
Deny me Rest,
And raise Convulsions in my Mind.
I weep! and I rave!
And my Wrongs aloud for Vengeance crave!
Revenge! Revenge! I summon!
Revenge is all my Care;
Revenge! I summon; yet no.

SCENE II.

Enter Prenesto.
Pren.
Dorinda, hear a faithful Lover.

Cam.
What would Prenesto say?

Pren.
In vain I fly from Sorrows,
That still attend me;
In Grief your Youth is wasted,
By Grief my Hopes are blasted.
Those Tears thus daily flowing,
That Breast with Sighs still glowing,
Will quickly end me.

Cam.
Prenesto! how can I that Joy bestow,
Which I my self must never know?

Pren.
With your Grief I simpathize,
But read Aversion in your Eyes.

Cam.
You wrong your own, accusing mine,
My tender Thoughts with Pity move.

Pren.
And yet ungrateful, you decline
To ease my Heart, and crown my Love.

Cam.
Upbraid no more, Prenesto,
My Virgin Passion;
With you I pine and languish,
I feel your Grief and Anguish,
But Fate is unrelenting,
And Fear is still preventing
My Inclination.

[Exit.

SCENE III.

Prenesto, Metius and Linco.
Pren.
Bright Phœbus Rays, that warm the Skies,
Are not so killing as her Eyes:
That Heav'nly Grace, and comely Pride,
Are not to her low Birth allay'd.


17

Enter Linco and Metius.
Linc.
My Lord, I now perceive she's gone,
Tho' late I left her here alone.

Pren.
The Nymph you want this Instant did depart,
With a distracted Look, and broken Heart.
Metius, with speed for her Relief prepare;
And may Success attend your pious Care.

Met.
My Lord, the Troops are not yet justly form'd
With which this Service is to be perform'd,
But with such Expedition will I move;
The same Express that tells ye I am gone,
Shall tell ye that the Work is done.

Pren.
To Beauty devoted,
Expecting, desiring,
With Passion expiring,
I serve the blind Boy.
Yet ever contented,
So easie the Chain is,
So pleasing the Pain is,
I serve him with Joy.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.

Manent Linco and Metius.
Linc.
I hope Prenesto's seasonable Love,
In time will useful to Camilla prove.

Met.
Linco!

Linc.
My Lord.

Met.
Do thou to fair Camilla haste,
And bid her, e'er an Hour be past,
To that Part of the City go,
Where Amaseno's Waters flow.

Linc.
To my Mistress lo I fly,
And will a Fool, or wise Man be,
As with the Times shall best agree.

[Exit.
Met.
I love, but dare not
My Flame discover,
Lest I displease her.
When I assure her how much I love her.
Thus must I suffer
Without a Cure,
Nor can I tell her
What I endure.

[Exit.

18

SCENE V.

Latinus, Turnus and Prenesto.
Lat.
Doth she continue still unmov'd?

Turn.
Turnus, she saith, must ever be belov'd.

Pren.
Unwise Lavinia!

Turn.
Constant Fair!

Lat.
What doth she talk on? let me know.

Turn.
In Turnus' Praise her Tongue doth daily flow,
And often when to Armidore she speaks
Her Tongue mistakes,
And calls me Turnus.

Lat.
This is the highest Disobedience,
And Death shall punish the Offence.

Pren.
Let your Resentments to soft Pity yield.

Turn.
Remember, Sir, Lavinia is your Child.

Lat.
An impious Justice will I do.
Here, Armidoro.

Turn.
Ye cruel Gods, what now!

Pren.
O Father, cruel! and O King, unjust!

Lat.
Haste to Lavinia, and discharge thy Trust.
Or Turnus let her strait forsake,
Or in this Cup her Passion slake.
If she prove disobedient to my Will,
Do thou the proud Imperial Rebel kill.

[Exit.

SCENE VI.

Manet Turnus.
Turn.
Kill my Lavinia, did Latinus say?
No Tyrant, Turnus never will obey.
I might convey her far from hence;
To that her Honour will not yield.
Shall I arm in her Defence,
And cover with my Troops the Field?
To Tyrant Rage she'd then be left:
And when she is of Life bereft,
My fruitless Vengeance can't restore her.
Now, Cupid, or never,
Be kind and discover
What Turnus must do.
When Danger's appearing,
And kind Fortune veering,
Our Thoughts are but slow.
Now, Cupid, or never, &c.

[Exit.

19

SCENE VII.

Enter Linco in a Gentleman's Dress, follow'd by Tullia.
Linc.
Fortune, like a wanton Gipsie,
Often turns Things upside down,
When she's grown a little tipsie,
In a Trice, Sir,
She will give a sudden Rise, Sir,
To a Justice from a Clown.
The Reason why
Must ne'er be known.

Enter Tullia.
Tul.
Linco, is it thee alone?

Linc.
Let Freedom less, and more Respect be shown.

Tul.
I find the Proverb verify'd,
Set a Beggar on Horseback, and he'll ride.

Linc.
My Neice Dorinda, you have heard,
A Gentlewoman is declar'd;
And 'tis but Reason good that I
Should State assume accordingly.

Tul.
Illustrious Linco, let us now—

Linc.
What?

Tul.
That I'm not marry'd yet, you know.

Linc.
What then?

Tul.
I have enough exprest,
Spare my Shame, and guess the rest.

Linc.
I cannot guess, I'm such a Dunce;
Take Heart, and out with't all at once.

Tul.
Then to make plain the Matter, I
Thy wedded Wife would gladly be.

Linc.
Too high for Linco you were late,
'Tis my turn now, and I take State.
For I remember—.

Tul.
What dost thou remember?

Linc.
Thus pensive I go,
And utter my Woe.

Tul.
Not so much Cruelty,
I prithee now, my Linco, I do conjure thee.
I long to be thy Bride.
All Day I long to eye thee,

20

All Night I could lye by thee,
I do assure thee.

[Exeunt

SCENE VIII.

An Apartment of Lavinia, a Chair on one Side.
Enter Lavinia.
Lav.
No Love was ever known that mine surmounted,
No Faith was ever shown, my Faith exceeding.
Wherefore, of constant Love, I shall b'accounted
The most exalted Proof, in Times succeeding.
Thou God of Sleep, beguile
My Miseries a while
That with fresh Vigour I may bear
Whate'er the cruel Fates prepare.

[Sleeps.

SCENE IX.

Enter Turnus.
Turn.
See where secure she lyes asleep,
Whilst Fear and Jealousie at Distance keep.
From Death's soft Image rise, my Fair,
And for Death it self prepare.

Lav.
Who robs me of that golden Rest,
With which my weary'd Thoughts were blest?

Turn.
See him, who lives alone in thee,
Unkindly wakes and summons thee to die.

Lav.
To die!

Turn.
Your cruel Father has decreed,
His Daughter by this Hand must bleed.

Lav.
Welcome my Death from any Hand would be,
But doubly welcome, when it comes from thee.
Strike, and my Father's Will obey.

Turn.
In wounding thee, I shall my self destroy.

Lav.
Art thou not Turnus?

Turn.
Thou know'st I am.

Lav.
Be like thy self then, truly brave,
And scorn the Weakness of a Slave.
Strike deep, and let the Crimson Flood
My Faith inviolate make good.

Turn.
Thy precious Life for-ever I'll protect,
And at thy Father's Breast this Steel direct.


21

SCENE X.

Enter Latinus.
Lat.
Desponding Slave! why this Delay:
Haste, and my just Commands obey.

Lav.
Dread Sir, Lavinia does not beg to live,
But that your Pardon you would kindly give,
If your unhappy Daughter Death should chuse,
Rather than violate her Virgin Vows.

Lat.
Die then forgotten and abhorr'd.

Lav.
My Breast is open; strike, my Lord.

Turn.
I'll perish rather!

Lat.
Most audacious Slave!
Dar'st thou an angry Monarch's Fury brave?

Turn.
I scorn the Task to which I am assign'd;
I wear a Monarch's Soul and Lover's Mind.
In me see Turnus.

Lat.
Thou Poison to my Eyes!
Turnus art thou, and in a Slave's Disguise?
My Daughter's Honour thou hast stain'd,
For which thy Life shall pay.

Turn.
I swear by Empire, and by Love I swear,
Her Honour's bright as is the Morning Star.
Henceforth let Enmity and Discord cease,
And let Lavinia be the Pledge of Peace.

Lat.
Anger to Friendship does give way,
Like Night that shes approaching Day.

Lav.
Joys are attending,
Those Cares are ending
That did distress me.
Love reconciling,
And Fortune smiling,
Unite to bless me.

Turn.
Around her see Cupid flying,
Behold him wishing, dying;
Such Graces shine all o'er her,
Gods might adore her.
Blind Boy, forbear to woe her,
Thy Flame admits no Cure!
To me, in sight of Heav'n,
Her Faith is giv'n.

[Exeunt.

22

SCENE IX.

A Wood.
Enter Metius, Camilla, and the People.
Met.
Behold Camilla, the great Volscian Queen,
An Exile long th'unhappy Fair has been;
At length she comes in a propitious Hour,
To free her Subjects from a lawless Pow'r.

Cam.
Behold Camilla, who was born your Queen:
Ye wretched Volscians, with Regret I've seen
The Royal Throne by proud Oppression stain'd,
Where Metabo with so much Mildness reign'd.
For your sakes, not my own, I'm come
To drive th'Usurper far away,
And rule ye with a lawful Sway,
As Children dear ye are to me.

Met.
Prenesto comes!

People.
Then let him die.

SCENE XII.

Enter Prenesto.
Cam.
Forbear.

Met.
With calmer Thoughts you must proceed.

Pren.
Yes, let him die; let the Oppressor bleed
That wrong'd Dorinda. Ye martial Spirits, draw,
And let the Will of Metius be your Law.
So brave a Gen'ral in a Cause so right,
Ev'n now you triumph e'er you move to fight.

Met.
Love leads to Battel,
Who dares oppose him?
The Rebel Squadrons his Presence fly;
See how the Heroe
Drives all before him,
Arm'd with Light'ning shot from her Eye.

[Exeunt Metius and the People.

SCENE XIII.

Manent Prenesto and Camilla.
Cam.
Hope would my fond Heart ensnare.
But Oh!

Pren.
But what?

Cam.
My Soul is all Despair;
Close in my Bosom let it sleep.


23

Pren.
Thy secret Grief unfold.

Cam.
Conceal'd my Thoughts I ought to keep.

Pren.
To me they may be told.

Cam.
'Tis Love.

Pren.
Of whom? Were I the happy Swain!

Cam.
My Tyrant's Son is Author of my Pain.

Pren.
Preposterous Passion! I condemn thy Love
To him, who should thy Indignation move.

Cam.
Love is Almighty, and controls the Heart:
Thy Sire my Tyrant, thou my Idol art.

[Aside.

SCENE XIV.

Enter Linco.
Linc.
Young Prince, Latinus doth your Presence crave:
In Armidoro, the Morisco Slave,
Turnus is found, who safe in that Disguise
Has paid his Vows to Fair Lavinia's Eyes.

Pren.
What's that I hear?

Cam.
Surprising News!

Pren.
My Father to attend I go,
And wish you'd cease to love your Foe.
Ungrateful you fly me,
Unkindly deny me.
Tho' Passion so tender
Sure never was born.
You fly your Pursuer,
You court your Undoer,
And tamely surrender
To one you should scorn.

[Exit.

SCENE XV.

Manent Camilla and Linco.
Linc.
Turnus is the Rutilian King;
To him if you your Grief disclose,
He might his kind Assistance bring,
And loving you dethrone your Foes.

Cam.
Thou know'st his Vows are to Lavinia paid

Linc.
With you the Volscian Kingdom he will get,
The Charms of Love to Empire may submit.

Cam.
Love and Ambition strive
Which shall the Conquest gain;
'Tis sweet in Love to thrive,
And pleasant 'tis to reign.

24

Both Champions are courageous,
And equal is the Scale;
I feel 'em both outrageous,
Nor know which will prevail.

[Exit.

SCENE XVI.

Manet Linco.
Linc.
Love hath a Character not half so bad
As he deserves; he makes Folks mad.

Enter Tullia.
Tul.
Behold your Vassal low,
Does to your Footstool bow.

Linc.
For constant Proof of what I say,
In her the past Age present see:
A few kind Words, a wanton Smile,
Shall the amorous Crone beguile.
Tullia, forgive all past Offences.

Tul.
Joy has depriv'd me of my Senses.

Linc.
Thoughts interposing made my Tongue
Utter what did not to my Heart belong.

Tul.
I would not change my present Fate,
To be first Minister of State.
I do invite thee as my Guest,
To share in the approaching Feast,
Which great Latinus doth provide,
For Turnus and his Royal Bride.

Linc.
I will go with thee.

Tul.
I must know
On what thou dost contemplate so.

Linc.
I'm charm'd with thy Court-like Address.

Tul.
See how he eyes me!

Linc.
Thy Beauty pleases to Excess:
It doth surprize me.
Tullia, I feel thy Charms begin to move me;
Say, in pity, can you love me?
You fill, with balmy Sweets, the ambient Air.
O! would a gentle Smile but once relieve me,
No Passion would with mine compare;
You'd yield to Love, and Love would ne'er deceive ye.

Tul.
I thought, when first he seem'd so nice,
He would in time reward my Pain.

25

In Love-Affairs I'm still so wise,
That first, or last, I'm sure to gain.
Something is in my Face so alluring,
Such Graces procuring,
That no Beauty more is.
Young Men, and Old, alike do desire me;
Alike they do Fire me,
With passionate Stories.
They Sing, and they Caper, they Dress, and look Fine:
In hopes that Fair Tullia will one Day incline:
But Fair One, endeavour
To live honest ever,
Whate'er they design.

[Exit.

SCENE XVII.

Enter Turnus and Camilla, and after Lavinia.
Turn.
When Love to Constancy is join'd,
What unknown Raptures fill the Mind!

Cam.
Great Sir!

Turn.
Come near.

Cam.
Your Slave vouchsafe to hear.

Turn.
Turnus was never deaf to a Virgin's Pray'r.

Cam.
I am th'Unhappy Shepherdess.

Turn.
I've lately heard of thy Distress.
Thy Valour too I've heard proclaim'd;
Whilst this my Wonder, that my Pity claim'd
How gracefully she moves!

Cam.
I sue to Thee.
The Gods reject not a poor Suppliant's Knee:
And the Sun-Beams with equal Lustre shine,
As well upon the Thistle as the Vine.

Turn.
She of no Mortal Race appears,
A Heav'nly Form her Visage wears.
Nymph, I adore ye!

[Enter Lavinia.
Lav.
Ungrateful!

Turn.
Such Heav'nly Beauty—

Lav.
Turnus! Dorinda!

Turn.
I am Lavinia's Slave.

Cam.
What would the Princess have?

Lav.
Nymph, I adore ye!—


26

Turn.
Lavinia!

Lav.
Such Heav'nly Beauty!

Turn.
Your jealous Fears remove.

Lav.
With such a Grace y'are pleas'd to see her move.

Cam.
Live in each other, happy Pair,
None so True, and none so Fair.

Lav.
Ungrateful Turnus!

Turn.
You wrong my Love.

Lav.
Were she but Noble, as she's Fair,
I know for her you wou'd declare.

Cam.
'Tis far beneath your Dignity,
Thus to insult o'er Misery.

Lav.
Dorinda, leave me, may'st thou be
Happy in any, but in him.

Cam.
I fly;
Yet I'm a Queen, as well as she.

[Exit.
Lav.
Fly, fly, and follow your Idol Beauty,
That flies before ye.
I find no Ease in
The Life you gave me:
Death is more pleasing,
Why did you save me?
But yet remember,
I did adore ye.
Fly, fly, &c.

[Exit.
Turn.
Her jealous Fears at once perplex and please,
For Jealousie's a sign of fervent Love;
Yet gladly would I give her Passion Ease,
And her ill-grounded Jealousie remove.
O Tyrannous Jealousie!
Fly far away, no more molest,
Fly from my Fair Lavinia's Breast.
Resign to Love and Joy,
Aspiring,
And fatal Feuds desiring,
A tender Lover's Passion,
A Virgin's Inclination,
Thou labour'st to destroy.

End of the Second Act.
A Dance.