University of Virginia Library

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.