Oroonoko :: :: University of Virginia Library

That has done him no Injury, to my knowledge: For
this Morning he put into my Custody what you speak of, I
suppose a Thousand Pounds, for the use of this Lady.

Char.

I was always oblig'd to him: and he has shown his
Care of me, in placing my little Affairs in such Honourable
Hands.

Stan.

He gave me a particular charge of you, Madam, very
particular, so particular, that you will be surpriz'd when I tell you.

Char.

What, pray Sir.

Stan.

I am engag'd to get you a Husband, I promis'd that before
I saw you; and now I have seen you, you must give me
leave to offer you my self.

Luc.

Nay, Cozen, never be coy upon the matter, to my
Knowledge my Brother always design'd you for this Gentleman.

Stan.

You hear, Madam, he has given me his Interest, and
'tis the Favour! I wou'd have begg'd of him. Lord! you are so
like him—

Char.

That you are oblig'd to say you like me for his Sake.

Stan.

I shou'd be glad to love you for your own.

Char.

If I shou'd consent to the fine things you can say to me,
how wou'd you look at last, to find 'em thrown away upon an
old Acquaintance?

Stan.

An old Acquaintance!

Char.

Lord, how easily are you Men to be impos'd upon! I
am no Cozen newly arriv'd from England, not I; but the very
Welldon you wot of.

Stan.

Welldon!

Char.

Not murdered, nor made away, as my Sister wou'd
have you believe, but am in very good Health, your old friend
in Breeches that was, and now your humble Servant in Petticoats.

Stan.
I'm glad we have you agen.
But what service can you do me in Petticoats, pray?

Char.
Can't you tell what?

Stan.

Not I, by my troth: I have found my Friend, and lost
my Mistress, it seems, which I did not expect from your Petticoats.

Char.

Come, come, you have had a Friend of your Mistress
long enough, 'tis high time now to have a Mistress of your Friend.

Stan.
What do you say?

Char.
I am a Woman, Sir.

Stan.
A Woman!

Char.
As arrant a Woman as you wou'd have had me.
But now, I assure you.

Stan.
And at my Service?

Char.
If you have any for me in Petticoats.

Stan.
Yes, yes, I shall find you employment.

Char.
You wonder at my proceeding, I believe.

Stan.
'Tis a little extraordinary, indeed.

Char.
I have taken some pains to come into your Favour.

Stan.
You might have had it cheaper a great deal.

Char.

I might have marry'd you in the Person of my English
Cozen, but cou'd not consent to cheat you, ev'n in the thing I
had a mind to.

Stan.

'Twas done as you do every thing.

Char.

I need not tell you, I made that little Plot, and carry'd
it on only for this Opportunity. I was resolv'd to see whether
you lik't me as a Woman, or not: if I had found you indifferent,
I wou'd have indeavour'd, to have been so too: but you say
you like me, and therefore I have ventur'd to discover the truth.

Stan.

Like you! I like you so well, that I'm afraid you
won't think Marriage a proof on't: shall I give you any other?

Char.

No, no, I'm inclin'd to believe you, and that shall
convince me. At more leisure I'le satisfie you how I came to be
in Mans Cloaths, for no ill I assure you, tho' I have happen'd to
play the Rogue in 'em: They have assisted me in marrying my
Sister, and have gone a great way in befriending your Cozen
Jack with the Widow. Can you forgive me for pimping for
your Family?

Enter Jack Stanmore.
Stan.

So, Jack, what News with you?

J. Stan.

I am the forepart of the Widow, you know,
She's coming after with the body of the Family, the young
Squire in her hand, my Son-in-Law that is to be, with the
Help of Mr. Weldon.

Char.

Say you so, Sir?

[Clapping Jack upon the back.

Enter Widow Lackitt with her Son Daniel.
Wid.

So, Mrs. Lucy, I have brought him about agen, I have
Chastis'd him, I have made him as supple as a Glove for your
wearing, to pull on, or throw off, at your pleasure. Will you
ever Rebell again? Will you, Sirrah? But come, come, down on
your Marrow Bones, and ask her forgiveness.
[Daniel Kneels.
Say after me, pray forsooth Wife.

Dan.

Pray, forsooth Wife.

Luc.

Well, well, this is a Day of good Nature, and so I take
you into Favour: But first take the Oath of Allegiance.
[He kisses her Hand, and rises.
If ever you do so agen—

Dan.

Nay Marry if I do, I shall have the worst on't.

Luc.

Here's a Stranger, forsooth, wou'd be glad to be known
to you, a Sister of mine, pray salute her.

[starts at Charlott.
Wid.

Your Sister! Mrs. Lucy! what do you mean? This is
your Brother, Mr. Weldon; do you think I do not know
Mr. Weldon?

Luc.

Have a care what you say: This Gentleman's about
Marrying her: You may spoil all.

VVid.

Fiddle faddle, what! You wou'd put a trick upon me.

Char.

No faith, Widow, the Trick is over, it has taken sufficiently,
and now I will teach you the Trick,

To prevent your being Cheated another time.

VVid.
How! Cheated, Mr. VVeldon!

Char.

Why, ay, you will always take things by the wrong
Handle, I see you will have me Mr. VVeldon: I grant you, I
was Mr. VVeldon a little while to please you, or so: But Mr. Stanmore
here has perswaded me into a Woman agen.

VVid.
A Woman! Pray let me speak with you.
[drawing her aside.
You are not in earnest, I hope? A Woman!

Char.
Really a Woman.

VVid.

Gads my Life! I could not be cheated in every thing:
I know a Man from a Woman at these Years, or the Devil's
in't.

Pray, did not you marry me?

Char.
You wou'd have it so.

Wid.

And did not I give you a Thousand Pounds this
Morning?

Char.

Yes indeed, 'twas more than I deserv'd: But you had
your Penniworth for your Penny, I suppose:
You seem'd to be pleas'd with your Bargain.

Wid.

A rare Bargain I have made on't, truly. I have laid
out my Money to fine purpose upon a Woman.

Char.

You wou'd have a Husband, and I provided for you as
well as I cou'd.

Wid.

Yes, yes, you have provided for me.

Char.

And you have paid me very well for't, I thank you.

Wid.

'Tis very well; I may be with Child too, for ought I
know, and may go look for the Father.

Char.

Nay, if you think so, 'tis time to look about you indeed.
Ev'n make up the matter as well as you can, I advise you as a
Friend, and let us live Neighbourly and Lovingly together.

Wid.

I have nothing else for it, that I know now.

Char.

For my part, Mrs. Lackit, your Thousand Pounds will
Engage me not to laugh at you. Then my Sister is Married to
your Son, he is to have half your Estate, I know; and indeed
they may live upon it, very comfortably to themselves, and
very creditably to you.

Wid.
Nay, I can blame no body but my self.

Char.
You have enough for a Husband still,
And that you may bestow upon honest Jack Stanmore.

Wid.
Is he the Man then?

Char.
He is the Man you are oblig'd to.

J. Stan.

Yes, Faith, Widow, I am the Man: I have done
fairly by you, you find, you know what you have to trust to
before hand.

VVid.

Well, well, I see you will have me, ev'n Marry me,
and make an end of the business.

Stan.

Why, that's well said, now we are all agreed, and all
provided for.

[A Servant Enters to Stanmore.
Serv.

Sir, Mr. Blandford desires you to come to him, and
bring as many of your Friends as you can with you.

Stan.
I come to him. You'l all go along with me.

Come, young Gentleman, Marriage is the fashion, you see,
you must like it now.

Dan.
If I don't, how shall I help my self?

Luc.
Nay, you may hang your self in the Noose, if you please,
But you'll never get out on't with strugling.

Dan.
Come then, let's ev'n jogg on in the old Road.
Cuckold, or worse, I must be now contented:
I'm not the first has marry'd, and repented.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Enter Governour with Blanford, and Planters.
Blan.
Have you no Reverence of future Fame?
No awe upon your actions, from the Tongues,
The censuring Tongues of Men, that will be free?
If you confess Humanity, believe
There is a God, or Devil, to reward
Our doings here, do not provoke your Fate.
The Hand of Heaven is arm'd against these Crimes,
With hotter Thunder-Bolts, prepar'd to shoot,
And Nail you to the Earth, a sad Example;
A Monument of Faithless Infamy.
Enter Stanmore, J. Stanmore, Charlott, Lucy, Widow, and Daniel.
So, Stanmore, you I know, the Women too
Will join with me: 'Tis Oroonoko's Cause,
A Lover's Cause, a wretched Woman's Cause,
That will become your Intercession.

[To the Women.
1. Plan.

Never mind 'em, Governour; he ought to be made
an Example for the good of the Plantation.

2. Plan.

Ay, ay, 'twill frighten the Negroes from Attempting
the like agen.

1. Plan.
What rise against their Lords and Masters!
At this rate no Man is safe from his own Slaves.

2. Plan.

No, no more he is. Therefore, one and all, Governour,
we declare for Hanging.

Om. Plan.
Ay, ay, hang him, hang him.

Wid.
What! Hang him! O! forbid it, Governour.

Char., Lucy.
We all Petition for him.

J. Stan.
They are for a Holy-Day; Guilty or not,
Is not the Business, hanging is their Sport.

Blan.
We are not sure so wretched, to have these,
The Rabble, judge for us; the changing Croud;
The Arbitrary Guard of Fortune's Power,
Who wait to catch the Sentence of her Frowns,
And hurry all to ruine she Condemns.

Stan.
So far from farther Wrong, that 'tis a shame
He shou'd be where he is: Good Governour
Order his Liberty: He yielded up
Himself, his all, at your discretion.

Blan.
Discretion! no, he yielded on your word;
And I am made the cautionary Pledge,
The Gage, and Hostage of your keeping it.
Remember, Sir, he yielded on your word;
Your Word! which honest Men will think should be
The last resort of Truth, and trust on Earth:
There's no Appeal beyond it, but to Heaven:
An Oath is a recognisance to Heaven,
Binding us over, in the Courts above,
To plead to the Indictment of our Crimes.
That those who 'scape this World should suffer there.
But in the common Intercourse of Men,
(Where the dread Majesty is not Invoak'd,
His Honour not immediately concern'd,
Not made a Party in our Interests,)
Our Word is all to be rely'd upon.

Wid.
Come, come, You'l be as good as your Word, we know.

Stan.
He's out of all power of doing any harm now,
If he were dispos'd to it.

Char.
But he is not dispos'd to it.

Blan.
To keep him, where he is, will make him soon
Find out some desperate way to Liberty:
He'll hang himself, or dash out his mad Brains.

Char.
Pray try him by gentle Means:
We'll all be Sureties for him.

Om.
All, all.

Luc.
We will all answer for him now.

Gov.
Well, you will have it so, do what you please,
Just what you will with him, I give you leave.

[Exit.
Blan.
We thank you, Sir; this way, pray come with me.

[Exeunt.
The Scene drawn shews Oroonoko upon his Back, his Legs and Arms stretcht out, and chain'd to the Ground.
Enter Blanford, Stanmore. &c.
Blan.
O miserable Sight! help every one,
Assist me all to free him from his Chains.
[They help him up, and bring him forward, looking down.
Most injur'd Prince! how shall we clear our selves?
We cannot hope you will vouchsafe to hear,
Or credit what we say in the Defence,
And Cause of our suspected Innocence.

Stan.
We are not guilty of your Injuries,
No way consenting to 'em; but abhor,
Abominate, and loath this Cruelty.

Blan.
It is our Curse, but make it not our Crime.
A heavy curse upon us, that we must
Share any thing in common, ev'n the Light,
The Elements, and Seasons, with such Men,
Whose Principles, like the fam'd Dragons Teeth,
Scatter'd, and fown, wou'd shoot a Harvest up
Of fighting Mischiefs, to confound themselves,
And ruin all about 'em.

Stan.
Profligates!
Whose bold Titanian In piety

Wou'd once agen pollute their Mother Earth,
Force her to teem with her old monstrous Brood
Of Gyants, and forget the Race of Men.

Blan.
We are not so: believe us innocent.
We come prepar'd with all our Services,
To offer a Redress of your base Wrongs.
Which way shall we employ 'em?

Stan.
Tell us, Sir, if there is any thing that can attone;
But nothing can; that may be some amends—

Oro.
If you wou'd have me think you are not all
Confederates, all accessory to
The base Injustice of your Governour:
If you wou'd have me live, as you appear
Concern'd for me, if you wou'd have me live
To thank, and bless you, there is yet a Way
To tye me ever to your honest Love:
Bring my Imoinda to me; give me her,
To charm my Sorrows, and, if possible,
I'le sit down with my Wrongs; never to rise
Against my Fate, or think of Vengeance more.

Blan.
Be satisfi'd, you may depend upon us,
We'll bring her safe to you, and suddenly.

Char.
We wonnot leave you in so good a work.

Wid.
No, no, we'll go with you.

Blan.
In the mean time
Endeavour to forget, Sir, and forgive:
And hope a better Fortune.

[Exeunt.
Oroonoko alone.
Oro.
Forget! forgive! I must indeed forget,
When I forgive: but while I am a Man,
In Flesh, that bears the living mark of Shame,
The print of his dishonourable Chains,
My Memory still rousing up my Wrongs,
I never can forgive this Governour;
This Villain; the disgrace of Trust, and Place,
And just Contempt of delegated Power.
What shall I do? If I declare my self,
I know him, he will sneak behind his Guard

Of Followers, and brave me in his Fears.
Else, Lyon like, with my devouring Rage,
I wou'd rush on him, fasten on his Throat,
Tear wide a Passage to his treacherous Heart,
And that way lay him open to the World.
[Pausing.
If I shou'd turn his Christian Arts on him,
Promise him, speek him fair, flatter, and creep,
With fawning Steps, to get within his Faith,
I cou'd betray him then, as he has me.
But am I sure by that to right my self?
Lying's a certain Mark of Cowardise:
And when the Tongue forgets its Honesty,
The Heart and Hand may drop their functions too,
And nothing worthy be resolv'd, or done.
The Man must go together, bad, or good:
In one part frail, he soon grows weak in all.
Honour shou'd be concern'd in Honour's Cause,
That is not to be cur'd by Contraries,
As Bodies are, whose Health is often drawn
From rankest Poysons. Let me but find out
An honest Remedy, I have the Hand,
A ministring Hand, that will apply it Home.

Exit.
SCENE the Governour's House.
Enter Governour.
Gov.
I wou'd not have her tell me, she consents:
In Favour of the Sexes Modesty,
That still shou'd be presum'd, because there is
A greater Impudence in owning it,
Than in allowing all that we can do.
This Truth I know, and yet against my self,
(So unaccountable are Lovers ways)
I talk, and lose the Opportunities,
Which Love, and she expects I shou'd employ:
Ev'n she expects: for when a Man has said
All that is fit, to save the Decency,

The Women know the rest is to be done.
I wonnot disappoint her.

[Going
Enter to him Blanford, the Stanmores, Daniel, Mrs. Lackit, Charlot, and Lucy.
Wid.
O Governour! I'm glad we have lit upon you.

Gov.
Why! what's the Matter?

Char.
Nay, nothing extraordinary. But one good Action
Draws on another. You have given the Prince his Fredom:
Now we come a begging for his Wife:
You won't refuse us.

Gov.
Refuse you. No, no, what have I to do to refuse you?

Wid.
You won't refuse to send her to him, she means.

Gov.
I send her to him!

Wid.
We have promis'd him to bring her.

Gov.
You do very well; 'tis Kindly done of you:
Ev'n carry her to him, with all my Heart.

Luc.
You must tell us where she is.

Gov.
I tell you! why, don't you know?

Blan.
Your Servants say she's in the House.

Gov.

No, no, I brought her home at first indeed; but I
thought it wou'd not look well to keep her here: I remov'd her
in the Hurry, only to take care of her. What! she belongs to
you: I have nothing to do with her.

Char.

But where is she now, Sir?

Gov.

Why, Faith, I can't say certainly: you'll hear of her at
Parham House, I suppose: there, or thereabouts: I think I sent
her there.

Blan.
I'le have an Eye on him.

[Aside.
[Exeunt all but the Governour.
Gov.
I have ly'd my self into a little Time;
And must employ it: they'll be here agen;
But I must be before 'em.
[Going out, he meets Imoinda, and seises her.
Are you come!
I'le court no longer for a Happiness
That is in mine own keeping: you may still

Refuse to grant, so I have Power to take.
The Man that asks deserves to be deny'd.

[She disengages one hand, and draws his Sword from his side upon him, Governour starts and retires, Blanford enters behind him.
Imo.
He does indeed, that asks unworthily.

Blan.
You hear her, Sir, that asks unworthily.

Gov.
You are no Judge.

Blan.
I am of my own Slave.

Gov.
Begone, and leave us.

Blan.
When you let her go.

Gov.
To fasten upon you.

Blan.
I must defend my self.

Imo.
Help, Murder, help.

[Imoinda retreats towards the door, favour'd by Blanford, when they are clos'd, she throws down the Sword, and runs out. Governour takes up the Smord, they fight, close, and fall, Blanford upon him. Servants enter, and part 'em.
Gov.
She shannot scape me so. I've gone too far,
Not to go farther. Curse on my delay:
But yet she is, and shall be in my Power.

Blan.
Nay then it is the War of Honesty:
I know you, and will save you from your self.

Gov.
All come along with me.

[Exeunt.
SCENE the last.
Oroonoko Enters.
Oro.
To Honour bound! and yet a Slave to Love!
I am distracted by their rival Powers,
And both will be obey'd. O great Revenge!
Thou Raiser, and Restorer of faln Fame!
Let me not be unworthy of thy Aid,
For stopping in thy course: I still am thine:
But can't forget I am Imoinda's too.
She calls me from my Wrongs to rescue her.
No man condemn me, who has never felt

A womans Power, or try'd the Force of Love:
All tempers yield, and soften in those fires:
Our Honours, Interests resolving down,
Run in the gentle Current of our Joys:
But not to sink, and drown our Memory:
We mount agen to Action, like the Sun,
That rises from the Bosom of the Sea,
To run his glorious Race of Light anew,
And carry on the World. Love, Love will be
My first Ambition, and my Fame the next.
Aboan enters bloody.
My Eyes are turn'd against me, and combine
With my sworn Enemies, to represent
This spectacle of Honour. Aboan!
My ever faithful Friend!

Abo.
I have no Name,
That can distinguish me from the vile Earth,
To which I'm going: a poor, abject worm,
That crawl'd awhile upon a bustling World,
And now am trampled to my Dust agen.

Oro.
I see thee gasht, and mangled.

Abo.
Spare my shame
To tell how they have us'd me: but believe
The Hangman's Hand wou'd have been merciful.
Do not you scorn me, Sir, to think I can
Intend to live under this Infamy.
I do not come for pity, to complain.
I've spent an honourable Life with you;
The earliest Servant of your rising Fame,
And wou'd attend it with my latest care:
My life was yours, and so shall be my death.
You must not live.
Bending and sinking, I have dragg'd my Steps
Thus far, to tell you that you cannot live:
To warn you of those Ignominious wrongs,
Whips, Rods, and all the Instruments of death,

Which I have felt, and are prepar'd for you.
This was the Duty that I had to pay.
'Tis done, and now I beg to be discharg'd.

Oro.
What shall I do for thee?

Abo.
My Body tires,
And wonnot bear me off to Liberty:
I shall agen be taken, made a Slave.
A Sword, a Dagger yet wou'd rescue me.
I have not Strength to go to find out Death:
You must direct him to me.

Oro.
Here he is,
[Gives him a Daggar.
The only present I can make thee now:
And next the honourable means of Life,
I wou'd bestow the honest means of Death.

Abo.
I cannot stay to thank you. If there is
A Being after this, I shall be yours
In the next World, your faithful Slave agen.
This is to try [Stabs himself.]
I had a living Sense
Of all your royal Favours, but this last
Strikes through my Heart. I wonnot say farewell,
For you must follow me.

[dyes.
Oro.
In Life, and death,
The Guardian of my Honour! follow thee!
I shou'd have gone before thee: then perhaps
Thy Fate had been prevented. All his Care
Was to preserve me from the barbarous Rage
That wrong'd him, only for being mine.
Why, why, you Gods! Why am I so accurst,
That it must be a Reason of your Wrath,
A Guilt, a Crime sufficient to the Fate
Of any one, but to belong to me?
Ny Friend has sound it, and my Wife will soon:
My Wife! the very Fear's too much for Life:
I can't support it. Where? Imoinda! Oh!
[Going out, she meets him, running into his Arms.
Thou bosom Softness! Down of all my Cares!
I cou'd recline my thoughts upon this Breast
To a forgetfulness of all my Griefs,

And yet be happy: but it wonnot be.
Thou art disorder'd, pale, and out of Breath!
If Fate pursues thee, find a shelter here.
What is it thou woud'st tell me?

Imo.
'Tis in vain to call him Villain.

Oro.
Call him Governour: is it not so?

Imo.
There's not another sure.

Oro.
Villain's the common name of Mankind here:
But his most properly. What! what of him?
I fear to be resolv'd, and must enquire.
He had thee in his Power.

Imo.
I blush to think it.

Oro.
Blush! to think what?

Imo.
That I was in his Power.

Oro.
He cou'd not use it?

Imo.
What can't such men do?

Oro.
But did he? durst he?

Imo.
What he cou'd, he dar'd.

Oro.
His own Gods damn him then: for ours have none,
No Punishment for such unheard-of Crimes.

Imo.
This Monster, cunning in his Flatteries,
When he had weary'd all his useless Arts,
Leapt out, fierce as a beast of prey, to seize me.
I trembled, fear'd.

Oro.
I fear, and tremble now.
What cou'd preserve thee? what deliver thee?

Imo.
That worthy Man, you us'd to call your Friend—

Oro.
Blanford.

Imo.
Came in, and sav'd me from his Rage.

Oro.
He was a Friend indeed to rescue thee!
And for his sake, I'le think it possible
A Christian may be yet an honest man.

Imo.
O! did you know what I have strugl'd through,
To save me yours, sure you wou'd promise me
Never to see me forc't from you agen.

Oro.
To promise thee! O! do I need to promise?
But there is now no farther use of Words.
Death is security for all our fears.
[Shews Aboan's body on the floor.

And yet I cannot trust him.

Imo.
Aboan!

Oro.
Mangled, and torn, resolv'd to give me time
To fit my self for what I must expect,
Groan'd out a warning to me, and expir'd.

Imo.
For what you must expect?

Oro.
Wou'd that were all.

Imo.
What! to be butcher'd thus—

Oro.
Just as thou see'st.

Imo.
By barbarous Hands, to fall at last their Prey!

Oro.
I have run the Race with Honour, shall I now
Lag, and be overtaken at the Goal?

Imo.
No.

Oro.
I must look back to thee.

[Tenderly.
Imo.
You shannot need.
I'm always present to your purpose, say,
Which way wou'd you dispose me?

Oro.
Have a care,
Thou'rt on a Precipice, and dost not see
Whither that question leads thee. O! too soon
Thou dost enquire what the assembled Gods
Have not determin'd, and will latest doom.
Yet this I know of Fate, this is most certain,
I cannot, as I wou'd, dispose of thee:
And, as I ought, I dare not. Oh Imoinda!

Imo.
Alas! that sigh! why do you tremble so?
Nay then 'tis bad indeed, if you can weep.

Oro.
My Heart runs over, if my gushing Eyes
Betray a weakness which they never knew,
Believe, thou, only thou cou'dst cause these tears.
The Gods themselves conspire with faithless Men
To our destruction.

Imo.
Heaven and Earth our Foes!

Oro.
It is not always granted to the great,
To be most happy: If the angry Pow'rs
Repent their Favours, let 'em take 'em back:
The hopes of Empire, which they gave my youth,
By making me a Prince, I here resign.

Let 'em quench in me all those glorious Fires,
Which kindled at their beams: that lust of Fame,
That Fevor of Ambition, restless still,
And burning with the sacred Thirst of Sway,
Which they inspir'd, to qualifie my Fate,
And make me fit to govern under them,
Let 'em extinguish. I submit my self
To their high pleasure, and devoted Bow
Yet lower, to continue still a Slave;
Hopeless of liberty: and if I cou'd
Live after it, wou'd give up Honour too,
To satisfie their Vengeance, to avert
This only Curse, the curse of losing thee.

Imo.
If Heav'n cou'd be appeas'd, these cruel Men
Are not to be entreated, or believ'd:
O! think on that, and be no more deceiv'd.

Oro.
What can we do?

Imo.
Can I do any thing?

Oro.
But we were born to suffer.

Imo.
Suffer both,
Both die, and so prevent 'em.

Oro.
By thy Death!
O! let me hunt my travel'd Thoughts again;
Range the wide waste of desolate despair;
Start any hope. Alas! I lose my self,
'Tis Pathless, Dark, and Barren all to me.
Thou art my only guide, my light of Life,
And thou art leaving me: Send out thy Beams
Upon the Wing; let 'em fly all around,
Discover every way: Is there a dawn,
A glimmering of comfort? the great God,
That rises on the World, must shine on us.

Imo.
And see us set before him.

Oro.
Thou bespeak'st, and goes before me.

Imo.
So I wou'd, in Love:
In the dear unsuspected part of Life,
In Death for Love. Alas! what hopes for me?
I was preserv'd but to acquit my self,

To beg to die with you.

Oro.
And can'st thou ask it?
I never durst enquire into my self
About thy fate, and thou resolv'st it all.

Imo.
Alas! my Lord! my Fate's resolv'd in yours.

Oro.
O! keep thee there: Let not thy Virtue shrink
From my support, and I will gather strength,
Fast as I can to tell thee—

Imo.
I must die.
I know 'tis fit, and I can die with you.

Oro.
O! thou hast banisht hence a thousand fears,
Which sickned at my Heart, and quite unman'd me.

Imo.
Your fear's for me, I know you fear'd my strength,
And cou'd not overcome your tenderness,
To pass this Sentence on me: and indeed
There you were kind, as I have always found you,
As you have ever been: for tho' I am
Resign'd, and ready to obey my doom,
Methinks it shou'd not be pronounc'd by you.

Oro.
O! that was all the labour of my grief.
My heart, and tongue forsook me in the strife:
I never cou'd pronounce it.

Imo.
I have for you, for both of us.

Oro.
Alas! for me! my death
I cou'd regard as the last Scene of life,
And act it thro' with joy, to have it done.
But then to part with thee—

Imo.
'Tis hard to part.
But parting thus, as the most happy must,
Parting in death, makes it the easier.
You might have thrown me off, forsaken me,
And my misfortunes: that had been a death
Indeed of terror, to have trembled at.

Oro.
Forsaken! thrown thee off!

Imo.
But 'tis a pleasure more than life can give,
That with unconquer'd Passion to the last,
You struggle still, and fain wou'd hold me to you.

Oro.
Ever, ever, and let those stars, which are my Enemies,

Witness against me in the other World,
If I wou'd leave this Mansion of my Bliss,
To be the brightest Ruler of their Skies.
O! that we cou'd incorporate, be one,
[Embracing her.
One Body, as we have been long one Mind:
That blended so, we might together mix,
And losing thus our Beings to the World,
Be only found to one anothers Joys.

Imo.
Is this the way to part?

Oro.
Which is the way?

Imo.
The God of Love is blind, and cannot find it.
But quick, make haste, our Enemies have Eyes
To find us out, and shew us the worst way
Of parting; think on them.

Oro.
Why dost thou wake me?

Imo.
O! no more of Love.
For if I listen to you, I shall quite
Forget my Dangers, and desire to live.
I can't live yours.

[Takes up the Dagger.
Oro.
There all the Stings of Death
Are shot into my Heart—what shall I do?

Imo.
This Dagger will instruct you.

[Gives it him
Oro.
Ha! this Dagger!
Like Fate, it points me to the horrid Deed.

Imo.
Strike, strike it home, and bravely save us both.
There is no other Safety,

Oro.
It must be—
But first a dying Kiss—
[Kisses her.
This last Embrace—
[Embracing her.
And now—

Imo.
I'm ready.

Oro.
O! where shall I strike?
Is there a smallest grain of that lov'd Body
That is not dearer to me than my Eyes,
My bosom'd Heart, and all the live Blood there?
Bid me cut off these Limbs, hew off these Hands,
Dig out these Eyes, tho' I wou'd keep them last
To gaze upon thee: but to murder thee!

The Joy, and Charm of every ravisht Sense,
My Wife! forbid it Nature.

Imo.
Tis your Wife,
Who on her knees conjures you. O! in time
Prevent those Mischeifs that are falling on us.
You may be hurry'd to a shameful Death,
And I too drag'd to the vile Governour:
Then I may cry aloud: when you are gone,
Where shall I find a Friend agen to save me?

Oro.
It will be so. Thou unexampled Virtue!
Thy Resolution has recover'd mine:
And now prepare thee.

Imo.
Thus with open Arms,
I welcome you, and Death.

[He drops his Dagger as he looks on her, and throws himself on the Ground.
Oro.
I cannot bear it.
O let me dash against this Rock of Fate.
Dig up this Earth, tear, tear her Bowels out,
To make a Grave, deep as the Center down,
To swallow wide, and bury us together.
It wonnot be. O! then some pitying God
(If there be one a Friend to Innocence)
Find yet a way to lay her Beauties down
Gently in Death, and save me from her Blood.

Imo.
O rise, 'tis more than Death to see you thus.
I'le ease your Love, and do the Deed my self—

[She takes up the Dagger, he rises in haste to take it from her.
Oro.
O! hold, I charge thee, hold.

Imo.
Tho' I must own
It wou'd be nobler for us both from you.

Oro.
O! for a Whirlwind's Wing to hurry us
To yonder Clif, which frowns upon the Flood:
That in Embraces lockt we might plunge in,
And perish thus in one anothers Arms.

Imo.
Alas! what shout is that?

Oro.
I see 'em coming.
They shannot overtake us. This last Kiss.

And now farewell.

Imo.
Farewel, farewel for ever.

Oro.
I'le turn my Face away, and do it so.
Now, are you ready?

Imo.
Now. But do not grudge me
The Pleasure in my Death of a last look,
Pray look upon me—Now I'm satisfied.

Oro.
So Fate must be by this

[Going to stab her, he stops short, she lays her hands on his, in order to give the blow.
Imo.
Nay then I must assist you.
And since it is the common Cause of both,
'Tis just that both shou'd be employ'd in it.
Thus, thus 'tis finisht, and I bless my Fate,
[Stabs her self.
That where I liv'd, I die, in these lov'd Arms.

[Dyes.
Oro.
She's gone. And now all's at an End with me.
Soft, lay her down. O we will part no more.
[Throws himself by her.
But let me pay the tribute of my Grief,
A few sad Tears to thy lov'd Memory,
And then I follow—
[Weeps over her.
But I stay too long.
[A noise agen.
The Noise comes nearer. Hold, before I go,
There's something wou'd be done. It shall be so.
And then, Imoinda, I'le come all to thee.

[Rises.
[Blanford, and his party, enters before the Governour and his party, Swords drawn on both sides.
Gov.
You strive in vain to save him, he shall die.

Blan.
Not while we can defend him with our lives.

Gov.
Where is he?

Oro.
Here's the Wretch whom you wou'd have.
Put up your Swords, and let civil broils
Engage you in the cursed cause of one,
Who cannot live, and now entreats to die.
This object will convince you.

Blan.
'Tis his Wife!
[They gather about the Body.

Alas! there was no other Remedy.

Gov.
Who did the bloody Deed?

Oro.
The Deed was mine:
Bloody I know it is, and I expect
Your Laws shou'd tell me so. Thus self-condemn'd,
I do resign my self into your Hands,
The Hands of Justice—But I hold the Sword
For you—and for my self.

[Stabs the Governour, and himself, then throws himself by Imoinda's Body.
Stan.
He has kill'd the Governour, and stab'd himself.

Oro.
'Tis as it shou'd be now. I have sent his Ghost
To be a Witness of that Happiness
In the next World, which he deny'd us here.

[Dyes.
Blan.
I hope there is a place of Happiness
In the next World for such exalted Virtue.
Pagan, or Unbeliever, yet he liv'd
To all he knew: And if he went astray,
There's Mercy still above to set him right.
But Christians guided by the Heavenly Ray,
Have no excuse if we mistake our Way.

FINIS.