University of Virginia Library

ACT. I.

SCENE Verona, An Anti-Chamber.
Enter Alboino, followed by a Roman Ambassador, Aistolfus, Desiderio, and Guards.
Alb.
How has Longinus dar'd to offer this Affront?
Have I, by any Action of my Life,
Done ought, which shou'd encourage him to this?
Ha'nt I, by Deeds surpassing all Belief,
By stedfast Honor, and by noble Daring
Purchas'd a Crown, and many Victories?
And shall I, for a haughty, bloodless Summons,
Shamefully sully, poorly abandon all?

Rom. Emb.
Think not, that in contempt of you, I'm sent;
All own you brave; Longinus knows you so:
And in Regard to that, wou'd not your Ruin.
For can your single Valour, or your Arms
Prevail against the dreaded Roman Pow'r?
Besides the Offers I have brought are such,
That any other gladly wou'd accept.

Alb.
Accept! Look here, my worthy Soldier,
Who in the Heat of Battle can advise;
[To Aistolfus.
Who wisely acts, when Fear, as well as Death,
Prevents the trembling Coward's shameful Flight,
And roots him to the Earth.
My temperate, bold Friend, learn thou his Errand,
Then judge, if I shou'd tamely hearken to't.

Aist.
Sure Alboino so well is known, that none
Dare rashly strive to injure his Renown.

Alb.
Yes, spight of my Fame, Virtue, Glory, all,
Spight of the Conquests which these Arms have won;
Tho' this Place (impregnable of it self)
Is by an Army back't, flush'd with Success,
And headed by the Man, whom Victory
Attends, whom Fortune follows as his Slave;
Yet rash Longinus, the Roman Viceroy,
Sends here his Envoy to demand this Town,
And by Recital of his Master's Titles,
Thinks to awe me to a tame Surrender.
Gods! that the Man, who singly in the Field
Shuns me, as the dar'd Lark, the tow'ring Hawk,
Shou'd yet nourish such presumptuous Hopes;
Because he has a mighty Crowd of Slaves,
Who thrust themselves between cold Death and Him.
While He, ghastly and pale behind his Troops,
Shrinks at my Blows, he at a Distance sees.

Rom. Emb.
Since you refuse to hearken to our Terms,
A little time will shew, how much you wrong
Not brave Longinus only, but your self.
Since we by friendly Offers can't prevail,
We must use Force, and that can hardly fail.

Alb.
'Tis Force indeed must make Alboino stoop.
Not Jove's Command, without his Thunder too
Shou'd bend my stubborn Mind from this Resolve;
That to the utmost I'll defend this Crown,
Which by my single Valour I have gain'd.

Desid.
Cæsar secure in Africk may Command
His Soldiers on such desperate Attempts.
The Blows we give can't reach so far; he's safe;
And therefore slights how many Thousands fall
Only to glut his mad, ambitious Mind.

Aist.
Princes shou'd scorn to owe the Crowns which they possess
To any other Merit but their own.
And not, when Glory calls them to the Field,
Commit their Armies to another's Charge,
And only serve to be his Councellor.

Rom. Emb.
It is Unjust thus to degrade—

Alb.
No more.
'Tis in requital of your Thoughts of us.
Go, tell Longinus, that this happy Day
I Yearly Celebrate, in Memory
That on this Day, I fought, and won this Crown.
Nor shall his vain Attempts obstruct our Mirth.
While he for Business and for War takes Care,
I, straight for splendid Triumphs will prepare.

[Exit Alb. and Embass. severally.
Manent Aistolfus and Desiderio.
Aist.
Well Desiderio, how relish you this?
You hear we shall have Business now again.
This base corrupting Peace is at an End,
War, and it's chief God our Prince, now once more
Summon us out to Glory and to Arms.

Desid.
I thought to my General I had been known
So well, it might have spar'd that Question.

Aist.
Mistake me not, my Gallant Friend, I know
There is so much Fire lodg'd within thy Breast,
That it requires an Alloy of Years
To temper thy youthful, boiling Spirit.
But Peace has spread its ill Effects on you;
And tho' she cannot win thee to her Side,
She wou'd rebate thy eagerness to War;
And makes a Woman Pimp to her Designs,
Thou art a Soldier, but a Lover too.

Desid.
'Tis true, Cupid has shot a sharp and bearded Dart
Into my Breast, fixt and rooted here 't lies.
We Soldiers are not mov'd with ev'ry Face,
Like the vain, giddy Courtiers of the Age.
'Tis hard to make a Conquest o'er our Hearts,
But that once gain'd, 'tis easily preserv'd.
As Metals which require the longest time
To melt them down, remain the longest warm.

Aist.
How comes this God ne'er had a Dart for me?
Have War and Business frighted him away?
Till thou, my Friend, wer't grown his Votary
I own, I always lookt on Love to be
Th'Effect of Idleness and pamper'd Luxury.

Desid.
Have you forgot, when from the War return'd,
That tedious Bloody War, which won this Crown.
Your Spirits were by Famine almost sunk:
Your Blood was so exhausted by your Wounds,
That you had scarce enough to nourish Life.
Yet those few Drops by Rosamunda warm'd,
New Life and Vigor spread o'er all your Limbs.
I mark'd you when the Beauteous Queen arriv'd
In Mournful, Solemn Pomp, to ask her Life,
And for a Father and a Kingdom's Loss
Dissolv'd in Tears; 'twas then, what Blood you had
Sprung to your Cheeks, and strait retreated thence:
Your Eye-Balls fix'd, and tremblingly you mov'd;
'Twas then, your alter'd Looks declar'd you lov'd.

Aist.
Some odd Distemper seiz'd me, I confess;
Some short, unusual Qualm came like a Flash
Of Lightning, and as soon it disappear'd:
'Twas not Love; a Face alone ne'er moves me.

Desid.
A Face alone!
Now by my Life, in forming her, Nature
Has been profuse, and shewn her utmost Art:
For her she has been at such a vast Expence,
Futurity can never hope to see
Another perfect Beauty; in ev'ry
Motion, what wondrous Majesty appears,
Her Shape is Graceful, and her Looks Divine.

Aist.
It may be that the gods were so intent
Upon her Form, that they forgot her Mind.
And while they admir'd the Creature they had made,
Some sooty Angel stole into the crowd,
And shuffl'd in a Soul of his own stamp.

Desid.
You're too severe.

Aist.
I know to whom I speak.
Pride and Revenge rule chiefly in her Breast;
There's not a Vice so foul she'd not commit,
Where either might be fully gratified.
She is so fir'd, upon the least distaste,
Hell's not so hot, and might be sooner cool'd.
Pray Heav'n her Passions may not work our Ruin.

Desid.
We may fear so furious a Temper
Will not long agree with Alboino's;
Who is himself ungovernably fierce.
His Virtues too have a Compound of Faults;
He's rigorously Just, brave to Rashness;
So Generous, he would bestow his Crown,
Rather than Merit should not meet Reward.
But he delights too much in Death and Blood;
Vast Destruction still attends his Conquests—

Aist.
No more; this is no place for such discourse;
For tho' we both mean well, yet should some Sly,
Insinuating Courtier over-hear,
This to our Ruine would be soon improv'd.
And look yonder comes one, who would rejoyce
To have all worthy Men destroy'd.

Desid.
My Rival, Almachild, with Flora, Odoacre's Daughter.

Aist.
Yes, and every Man's as well as thine,
Who has a handsome Wife or Mistress.

Desid.
He courts each Woman that he sees, and few
In vain, for he's a successful Lover.
Has all the Arts, and Charms which please that Sex:
Young, Handsom, Rich, an exact Dissembler,
Has Wit, and Prodigal of Pains and Wealth.

Aist.
To corrupt Virtue, or to reward Vice;
To bribe a Pimp, or to procure a Whore,
Lavishly he'd give an Hundred Talents:
But to assist the Brave, the Worthy Man,
To save from Ruine his King and Country,
He would not part with one single Drachma.
He has that Tinsil Wit which Women like,
Can Fool and Toy, and idly prate with them,
For it is Words, not Reason, they regard.
For's Cowardice he'll be the more approv'd,
'Tis so agreeable to their Nature.

Desid.
I would Angellina were to see
How busily he Courts another Face.

Aist.
Nay, fear not her, she'll not be won with Noise
And Equipage, what e'er her Father may.

Desid.
However,
Let us retire, here let him freely Love;
All his Intrigues, but one, I wou'd emprove.

They pass carelesly by Almachild and Flora as they enter.
Flo.
Who are those?

Alma.
Aistolfus the General, and his Friend Desiderio.

Flo.

They might have paid more Respect to a Lady; but Rudeness is so
Natural to a Soldier.

Alma.

They fancy they express their Courage by that, and their Wit by
Fighting. 'Tis their way to hector the Women into a Compliance, and
think to win their Mistresses, as they do Towns, by rudely Storming them.

Flo.

For my part, I prefer you Men of Breeding to all others; who know
when to express your Courage and Civility; and I think exceed Soldiers in all
places; for they are neither so Brave as you are in Courts, nor so Civil in
Camps.

Alma.

Rudeness is not their only Vice; they are subject to a much worse,
want of Money.

Flo.

But yet they have the confidence to address themselves to us; tho' a
poor Lover is as ridiculous a Creature as an Eunuch Lover; and I'd almost
be courted as soon by the one, as the other. They are both odious to a Lady
of Quality especially.

Alma.

Were I a Woman, I should be apt to suspect want of VVit, or want
of Truth in that Lover, where there was want of VVealth. For, supposing
me in his circumstances, what greater Madness can there be, than for Poverty
to Court Beggary: To have a whining Couple sigh out their Necessities, instead
of Love: And had I Riches, I should conclude, he courted my Person
only to be Master of them.

Flo.

VVell, your Lordship has all the necessary Qualifications of a Lover,
as Generous, as Rich; and truly, I think, there can be no greater Proof given
of Love, than Generosity. And I should never think my self Mistress of
any one's Heart, till I were of his wealth.

Alma.

You know you command mine, and I hope the small Present I made
you Yesterday, was some demonstration of it. You receiv'd it—

Flo.

I vow you make me blush; it was great and noble: but I could not
better discover my Esteem for you, than by my acceptance of it; for my Reputation

runs a great Hazard, should it be known. But if I could get a few
more such, he would be glad to marry me, to recover them again.

Aside.
Alma.

Secrecy is my greatest Virtue. You have promis'd to trust both
your Reputation and Person to that—when must I receive the Reward of all
my Services—my Love, will admit no more delays, and my Passion no more
disappointments—is not this the promis'd day—and is not Opportunity
favourable—

Flo.

But could you find in your heart to Ruine the Woman you love?

Alma.

But can you count it Ruine, to taste the Joys, and have the Wealth,
which I can give? I'll fly into thy Arms all Gold, Jove rain'd not half so much
in Danaes lap, as I will into thine.

Flo.

Nay, 'tis Love alone can Conquer me: and if you love as you pretend,
why do you refuse the last great Proof, Marriage?

Alma.

'Tis the last indeed, for Men seldom give any after. Marriage is no
more a Proof of Love, than a Security of Constancy. Do not I daily vow Fidelity;
the rest is no more but Ceremony, and whatever consists so wholly
of that, be assur'd has little truth in it. Besides, you'll lose the greatest Tye
upon my Vows, my Honour, which a Lover may forfeit by Inconstancy,
but a Husband never does.

Flo.

But still my Reputation.

Alma.

Nay, now you suspect my Honour again: But tho' it should be known,
I'll place you above Censure; fear not that, while I'm your Lover. Poverty
and Disrepute are always join'd, the Rich are never scandaliz'd. And Wives
now a-days run a greater Hazard of being kept Poor, than Mistresses, and consequently
are more contemptible.

Flo.

You have my heart, methinks that should content you.

Alma.

The best Answer I can give to that, is the Song I made on you.

Flo.

You will oblige me, by letting me hear it again.

Almachild Sings.

Alma.

For we Men never believe Women give their Hearts, till they do
their Persons. And as you think Generosity, so I think Enjoyment the only
infallible sign of Love; and I can no more credit yours, while you deny your
Person, than you would mine, should I with-hold my money.

Flo.

And the only way to have our hearts esteem'd, is to refuse you our
Persons. For should I yield, Contempt will as certainly follow on your side,
as Repentance on mine. The greatest Blessings are disesteem'd by long Possession;
nothing makes us put so true a Value on them as misfortunes.

Alma.

They render not Life a greater Torment, than Despair does Love;
and no brave Man should live Unhappy, nor wise One Love without Hopes.
You have given me so much, that your Reputation will be in greater danger,
by denying me, than granting. Come, 'tis too late to Capitulate for the Fort,
after a Promise of Surrender—let us retire—Such things are so oft Practis'd in
Court, 'twill be regardless.

Flo.
Well—since you will have it so, I'll meet you an Hour hence—

Alma.
The Old Reply, and I shall find the same Usage, why not now?

Flo.
Oh! Heav'n! my Father! I must begon e're he sees me.
He's ignorant in Love, who hopes to find
That Gifts, which I have got, will make me kind;
'Tis those which are to come, must bend my mind.

[Aside.
[Exit.]
Alma.

Farewel, thou Mercenary, Jilting, Errant Woman; I never was so
Fool'd by any in my life, she has cost me more Money and Pains than any of
her Sex; and yet I believe she has no more Vertue; for I never knew one who
was a Jilt to many, but was a Whore to some body. Her continual Disappointments
have vex'd me, but I'm resolv'd I'll have her; for she shall not have
it to boast, I courted her in vain.

The Nymph seems coy, in hopes to raise our Fire;
Too long delays do rather cool Desire.
And we pursue, not out of Love, but Pride,
Scorning to have it said, we were deny'd.

Enter Odoacre.
Odoa.

So thoughtful, my Lord, you whose Perfections make you the Men's
Envy, and the Women's Admiration. You shou'd leave melancholy Reflections
to the Unfortunate, as I am.

Alma.

Your Daughter's unkindness only has Power to discompose me.

Odoa.

I do not find her averse to Marriage, and I suppose you do not intend
to disgrace our Family by any other Design.

Alma.

By no means: But—

Odoa.

Nay, my Lord, there can be no Objection but her want of Fortune;
'tis true, our Family has prov'd more durable than our Estate; for Fate has
maliciously encreas'd the one, and impair'd the other.

Alma.

She has made you amends, by so beautiful a Daughter.

Odoa.

Handsom Daughters seldom prove Blessings to their Parents. I am
so us'd to Curses, that I suspect every thing. Fortune uses me, as Rooks do
their Cullies, if ever she suffers me to be a seeming Winner, 'tis only by my
credulity to make Ruin surer.

Alma.

Your Misfortunes are wholly owing to your Fancy, as 'tis to that
I owe my Joys. Scarce any thing has truly in it self Pain or Pleasure, it only bears
the Image our wild Fancy stamps upon it. At least, hope for better Fortune.

Odoa.

I can no more hope for future Good, than fansie I now have any;
neither the Expectation of what's to come, nor the Reflection on what's past,
can please me. I'm weary of the Drudgery and dull Repetitions of Life. If
e're to Morrow comes, to Morrow will tediously be consumed just as to Day;
to Day will be as Yesterday, and Yesterday has been as Ages past. And were
not you more oblig'd to your Youth and Wealth, than to your Fancy, you
would think as I do. But since you have so vigorous a Fancy, you need not
my Daughter, to compleat your Happiness.

Alma.

The Hopes of having her mine, gives me Pleasure; but it cannot
be compleat, till she is so.

Odoa.

It must be then in the way I have mentioned. In short, my Lord,
Marry her, or quit your Pretensions to her. And the next time you Visit,
bring a Priest with you; or you shall find colder Treatment from your Mistress,
and rougher from a suspicious Father, than possibly you expect: And so I
leave you to reflect upon it.

[Exit.
Alma.

This would discourage any Man, who had such an aversion for a
Wife, as I have; and did not know Woman so well as I do.

He thinks his Daughter, by his Care, secure;
I know, no Woman will Restraint endure:
To shun Confinement, they from Fathers flie;
And Cuckolds make themselves, by Jealousie.
That others they'll obey, why should I fear;
Since sure to do, what they themselves forswear.

[Exit.