University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Changes to a Prison in the Palace. A dim Taper burning.
King, Gonzalvo.
King.]
We dream, Gonzalvo, sure some Form of Night,
Some ghastly Phantasm plays before our Eyes;
Or is't that Weight which rids the labouring Breast
From Vapours, Fumes and Indignation bred?
This horrid Scene cannot be true; I rose
Bright as the Sun to Day; like him ador'd
With all the Pomp and Splendor of a Crown;
Now in a Dungeon cast, like vilest Slaves;
Condemn'd for Crimes to ignominious Death;
The Sun will rise again, bring back the Day,
But we are set for ever.

Gonz.]
We always dream the Life of Man's a Dream,
In which fresh Tumults agitate his Breast,
Till the kind Hand of Death unbolts the Bars
Which clogg'd the noble and aspiring Soul;
Then, then, we truly wake.

King.]
I cou'd submit to arbitrary Gods,
With Patience bear my wretched Doom, Gonzalvo,
Had Heav'n punish'd by another Hand,
But from my Slave, my Creature, I have rais'd
To Dignities and Trust; 'tis more
Then Nature can support.

Gonz.]
You knew he first King Gondibert betray'd,
Yet you receiv'd the Villain to your Breast.

King.]
Upbraid no more my Weakness:
What's to be done?

Gon.]
There's nothing left but Death.

King.]
How shall we dye? The Monster's not so kind
To leave us Instruments of Death.

Gon.]
Those friendly Walls will our dash'd Brains receive:
By Resolution Death his easie found.
But fear not, wretched King; he will take care
We shall not live too long.

[King gropes, feels the Walls.
King.]
These Ribs of Flint are hard; but not so hard
As that remorsless Villain's Heart: The Weight
Of Greif my Spirits sinks; here will I lye
In expectation of our Doom.

[Lies down.
Enter Cimene.
Cim.]
I come to seal my wretched Father's Eyes,
And then to close my own. O my Father.
[Kneels over him.
This Moment found, and the same Moment lost;
My proper Griefs are drown'd and sunk in yours.

King.]
My fatal Passion has destroy'd us all,
My Daughter, Rodomond, and my self;
Forgive me, dear Cimene.

Arm.]
O mention that no more; prepare to die,
The Tyrant has pronounc'd your Doom.

King.]
Thou bring'st me Comfort; 'tis my Wish, Cimene:
But how got'st thou admittance?

Arm.]
The Price of that audacious Monster's Love,
Who has presum'd to court me; nay, more,
The barbarous Meroan has this Minute seiz'd
My poor Euphelia, while Heav'n lookt on,
And, without helping, saw the ravisht Maid.

King.]
By Heav'n he dares not, Malespine not dares
[King starting up.
To harbour such a Thought: These Hands shall first
Thy tender Life destroy.

Arm.]
O fear not me, I am prepar'd to go;
I wait on you, my Rodomond, to meet.

Door opens, enter Mal. Mer. with a Cup.
Mal.]
If the distrest to Death for Refuge fly,
I am your Friend, and come to ease your Pain.

King.]
I thank thee, Malespine, I never thought
To be oblig'd to thee. Give me the Cup:
[Takes the Cup.
It must be surely mortal from thy Hand;
Divine Nepenthe, Liquor of the Gods,
Which their eternal Vigour shall supply,
And verdant Youth renews; but touch'd by thee,
Wou'd turn to rankest Poyson. Here, Gonzalvo.
To thee and Liberty I Drink.

Enter Messenger frightned.
Mess.]
Lost, lost, my Lord, for ever.

King going to drink, stops.
Mal.]
Why tremblest so, thou Slave? Thy Fear
Has kill'd the Man, and sent thy Ghost to fright me.
Speak, Scriech-owl, speak.

Mess.]
The false Albazar has betray'd you;
Instead of executing your Commands,
Has set Prince Rodomond and Adelan free,
Who, with drawn Swords, strait marching to the Forum,
Rais'd all the Citizens to Arms, to save the King:
Your Friends make head, but all in vain,
Are overborn by the tumultious Crowd;
Who now enrag'd, approach the Palace.

Mal.]
O faithless Dog, thus to destroy my Hopes.
Draw, Meron, there is no thought of Life;
But we may dye reveng'd.

Draws, makes at the King, who flings down the Cup.
King.]
Here is a Dawn of Life;
My Empire for a Sword:
Fight with thy Teeth, Gonzalvo.

King retires round the Stage, pursu'd by Mal. Cim. lays hold of Mal.
Arm.]
Repent, repent, and yet be pardon'd.

Mer.]
Hah, is it so?
Noise without, Save, save the King. Clashing of Swords.
Then I will save my self.

[Disarms Mal. and leaps on him.
Mal.]
Now I am a Villain.

Enter Rodom. Ad. Tancr. Citizens, &c.
Arm.]
My Rodomond lives.

Rod.]
Cimene lives, the King is safe.

King.]
O Rodomond, forgive me first my Crime,
Before I dare behold thy Face.

Rod.]
You know no Crime, and I have felt no Pain:
The present Joy defaces all that's past.

King.]
The Gods this Night, have thro' such Mazes led
Our stumbling Steps as will thy Soul surprize.

Rod.]
Albazor has the wondrous Secret told,
To whose Repentance we our Safeties owe.

King.]
First, Let us Pay what injur'd Justice claims,
And then, reward thy Love: Thou horned Monster,
[To Mal.
'Tis more than Cruelty to let thee live;
The Villain's Conscience is his greatest Pain;
In Mercy thou shalt dye: Drag hence the Slave
To Caldrons, Racks, and Wheels, stretch evr'y Nerve,
And every Gristle break: Thou injur'd King,
O, Gondibert look down, and see my Justice;
This Monster first his Faith to thee betray'd,
Then me: I send this Victim to thy Ghost,
And let us now be Friends.

Mal.]
Excuses wou'd be vain; I brave my Fate,
And only with Dissatisfaction dye,
That I am not reveng'd.

[Exit to Tortures.
King.]
Away with him.
Albazar, Meroan, your Services to Night
Obliterate your Crimes before.
Now, Rodomond,
Here take the Mistress you so long have serv'd;
May all your Joys but equal your Desert,
And the good Gods can give no more.

[Gives Arm. hand.
Rodo.]
Let me contain the mighty Joy.
No more Armida, but my Wife Cimene.
[To Arm.
No more Cimene, but my dearest Sister.

[To Cim.
Arm.]
O, Rodomond, resistless Fate divides us;
Tho' all the Bars between us seem remov'd,
I never can be yours; to Night I dye;
Three Hours of Life, and then I am no more.

Rod.]
The Care of Heav'n forbid; What means Cimene?

Arm.]
Despairing to be happy in thy Love,
And to prevent my Marriage with the King,
I drank a Draught of Poyson.

Rod.]
O Horrour! Horrour! can this be true?

Arm.]
As true as I love Rodomond

Rod.]
Eternal Fury will distract my Soul;
I cannot live to see that cursed Moment:
I shew thee thus the Way to die, Cimene.

[Draws his Sword.
King.]
Disarm his Rage: Call strait for Help of Art:
Whoever saves my Daughter's precious Life,
My Empire shall reward.

Arm.]
In vain is Art, the Aconite works sure,
Whose mortal Cold congeals the Blood,
And freezes all the Springs of Life.

Rod.]
Was ever such a Fate, mysterious Powers?
The Storm blown o're, to perish in the Port,
In sight of all our Wishes.

King.]
What has Passion done, unhappy Maid?

Arm.]
My Father found, my Father kind,
My Lover safe, and given to my Arms,
Must poor Cimene die?

[Enter Euph. running.
Eup.]
I have escap'd the lustful Villain's Hands.

Arm.]
Thou com'st in time to close my Eyes, Euphelia;
Who art a Witness of the fatal Draught.

Eup.]
Then live, my Princess, for you are not poyson'd;
I disobey'd your rash Command; exchang'd
The mortal Drugs you had prepar'd, and gave
A harmless Liquor only.

Arm.]
May I believe you? Can this be true?

Eup.]
As I would die, to save my dearest Mistress.

Arm.]
Then, then I'll live, live to reward
Thy faithful Care, Euphelia. O Rodomond!

Rod.]
For ever blest Euphelia, be thy Tongue,
Too weak is Man this Rapture to sustain.
I shall dye with Transport.
My Grief, repell'd by Extasie of Joy,
The jarring Tides will overflow my Heart.

King.]
Once more I give my Daughter to thy Arms,
And with her Hand my Crown.

Rod.]
With Adoration I receive the Blessing;
And since propitious Powers our Joys compleat,
'Tis just my Friend and Sister shou'd partake.
I have a Right now to bestow this Hand:
[Takes Arm. Hand.
Here, generous Adelan, let your Sorrows cease.
Our Hopes, our Joys, our Interest are the same;
Here, take my Sister, and divide my Throne.

King.]
Our Thanks first paid for this miraculous Night,
To bounteous Gods, who have these Wonders wrought,
To Morrow's Sun your Nuptials shall adorn,
And see thee mounted on thy Father's Throne,
While I my Age in downy Quiet lull:
By my Misfortunes, Rodomond, be wise,
And chuse with Care to whom you give the Reins;
In this one Point be to thy self so just,
Reward the useful Villain, never trust.

[Exit.