University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

SCENE I.

SCENE, A pleasant Grove,
Xarino, Cratander.
Xarino.
Cratander , this divine and sweet Retirement
Makes me abhor the Glories of a Court;
These Groves are render'd far more pompous,
By charming Teraminta's Presence,
Than all my Father's Palaces.

Cra.
'Tis wondrous strange,
A Prince of such high Birth
Shou'd so demean himself,
To quit his Father's Court,
And live in such Obscurity
For a poor Shepherdess.

Xar.
Forbear, my Friend! can Courts, or Pomp, or Titles,
Give me that Joy I find in Teraminta?
AIR.

SCENE II.

Cratander solus.
Cra.
Her Soul is soft,
And cannot bear his Sighs;
While mine are heard unpity'd.
Why is Xarino thus preferr'd to me?
He is my Prince, 'tis true,
But mighty Love disdains Subordination.
He is my Rival;
In that hated Name,
My greatest Enemy.
Why did he trust me with this fatal Secret,
And tempt my Eyes to teach my Heart Defection?
AIR.

[Exit.

SCENE III.

A rural Prospect.
Teraminta sola.
Ter.
How Tasteless are the Beauties of the Spring,
Now my Xarino is not here?
This Place is robb'd of all
That made it once delightful.
But see! the Shades
Which languish'd in his Absence,
Revive now he appears;
For lo! he comes,
The Face of Nature smiles,
And my fond Heart thrills quick to bid him welcome.

SCENE IV.

Xarino, Teraminta.
Xar.
If to these humble Plains, ye Gods!
You give such Excellence,
Here let me dwell for ever,
For ever gazing
Upon an Object so adorable.

Ter.
Xarino, well I know,
You Shepherds make a Trade of Flattery.
The Court has spread its Influence o'er the Plains,
And Cottagers have learnt to break their Vows.

AIR.
Xar.
Why does my Charmer treat me so,
What Falshood did I ever show?
Tho' all Mankind beside shou'd range,
I love so true, I cannot change.
But, 'tis the Pleasure of your Sex,
When most we love, you most perplex.

Ter.
It is not that I know you false, Xarino,
But feare you shou'd be so.
Danger is Caution's Sanction;
Can then a Virgin be too cautious?
But, 'tis unsafe to parley with Temptation,
When Flight's the best Security.
AIR.

[Exit Teraminta.

SCENE V.

Xarino solus.
Xar.
She flies, but such a Cause assigns,
As makes that Absence pleasing,
Which otherwise wou'd kill me.
Auspicious Flight!
Sweet, tacit Oracle of my Felicity!
AIR.

[Exit.

SCENE VI.

A Grove.
Ardelia disguis'd.
Ard.
O fatal Fondness!
Whither wilt thou lead me?
Must I seek all the Corners of the Earth,
To follow one that flies me?
Hither I've trac'd my false One,
And, in this Disguise,
Hope unobserv'd to pass.
But see! he comes;
With him the fatal Fair,
That robs me of his Heart:
This friendly Shade,
May screen me from their Sight,
And give me, but I fear,
A Proof too strong
Of all his Falshood.

[Retires.

SCENE VII.

Teraminta follow'd by Cratander, Ardelia overhearing.
Cra.
Cruel Teraminta!
Why fly you thus from your Adorer?
If my Pursuit's distasteful,
You need but turn, and kill me with a Frown.

Ter.
Oh that I were a Basilisk,
To look thee dead,
Thou should'st not long pursue me.

Ard.
What do I hear?
She loves him not.
Happy Ardelia!

Ter.
Why dost thou prosecute me thus?
Detested Wretch!
Must I be ever tortur'd
With thy intolerable Passion?

Cra.
But were Xarino here,
Wou'd Teraminta fly?
Wou'd she look on him with those Eyes of Scorn,
And frown him into Madness?

Ter.
No, were he here,
He wou'd revenge this Insolence.
He little thinks his Bosom-Friend,
Most treacherously, attempts
To be his Rival:
But I'll display your Falshood,
And he shall punish it.

[Exit
Ard.
Charming Maid!
Heav'n keep thee ever in this Mind.

[Exit Teraminta.

SCENE VIII.

Cratander solus.
Cra.
Punish! by Heav'n he dares not;
Those Eyes have forc'd me to forget my Friendship,
And any Chain is easy now to break;
All but my Love, and that repuls'd with Scorn
Revenge shall follow, led by Desperation.
AIR.

[Exit.

SCENE IX.

Ardelia sola.
Ard.
What Scenes of Mischief agitate his Mind?
Heav'n surely sent me here
To shield this lovely Maid, and her Belov'd,
From all his black Attempts.
How odious must these Actions render him,
To any Eye but mine;
And yet, base as he is,
I still must love him.
AIR.

[Exit.

SCENE X.

A Rural Prospect.
Xarino, Cratander.
Cra.
These Eyes are Witness of her Falshood

Xar.
It is impossible.

Cra.
If I'm not believ'd,
I've liv'd too long.

Xar.
It is not that I don't believe,
But that I wou'd not.

Cra.
My Truth in Question!
Wou'd I had been dumb!

Xar.
O my Cratander! pity and excuse me.

Cra.
Believe it not, my Prince,
Believe me false;
Think it was all a Vision,
Since you'd have it so.
The Traitor leaves you,
Never more to trouble you
With such unwelcome Truths.

Xar.
Stay, stay, my Friend,
'Tis most Apparent;
Foolish Xarino!
To think a Woman cou'd be faithful,
To think their boasted Virtue
Ought but Fiction.
Was it for this I left my Father's Court,
Rejected proffer'd Crowns,
And Royal Beauties,
To waste ingloriously my Moments here?
I blush at the remembrance.

Cra.
Now you're a Prince indeed;
But yet I fear.—

Xar.
What fears my Friend?

Cra.
There's such persuasive Magick in her Eyes,
One Negative, one Smile,
Will all undo.

Xar.
To avoid that Danger,
I'll instant quit this place,
And in my Father's Court,
Like what I am, appear.

Cra.
But sure you'll see her first,
To let her know the Cause of your Departure.

Xar.
O! name her not,
She's Poison to my Ears,
And for her sake
I hate the Sex.
AIR.

[Exit.

SCENE XI.

Cratander solus.
Cra.
This is good beginning.
'Tis now my turn to triumph;
And cruel Teraminta
Shall pay full dear for her Disdain.
Assist my Vengeance, dear Deceit!
And make the Mischief more compleat.

[Exit

SCENE XII.

Teraminta sola.
AIR.
Ter.
Enter Messenger with Letter.
Reads.

Ter.
Lost Teraminta.
AIR.