The ARGUMENT.
Gernando with his young Bride Constantia
and her infant sister Sylvia, sailing for the West-Indies
in order to join his father, who had been made a
Governor in those parts, was during the voyage overtaken
by a dangerous storm, which obliged him to land
in an uninhabited Island to let his wife and the young
child recover themselves from the fatigue they had
undergone at sea. While Constantia and her Sister
were reposing in a grotto, the unfortunate Gernando
and some of his followers were surprized and taken
prisoners by a numerous band of pirates that unhappily
landed on the Island. The companions of Gernando,
who from on board the vessel had a confused
view of the skirmish, and imagined that the wife and
child were carried away at the same time, hoisted all
their sails to pursue the pirates; but, having soon lost
sight of them, with heavy hearts continued their intended
voyage. In the mean time
Constantia awaked,
and having long sought in vain for her husband, and
perceiving the ship was gone, believed herself betrayed
like
Ariadne, and forsaken by
Gernando. When
the first impetuous sallies of her grief began to give
way to the natural love of life, she considered how she
might support herself in a place so remote from all
human converse. There for a long time she lived with
the little
Sylvia on fruits and herbs, the natural produce
of the soil, at the same time breeding up her innocent
Sister, who was entirely unacquainted with
man, in all the hatred and detestation she had herself
conceived for the sex. After thirteen years captivity it
so fortuned that
Gernando recovered his liberty. His
first care was to return to the Island where he had involuntarily
left
Constantia, though he had no hopes of finding her alive.
The unexpected meeting of this tender couple is the
action here represented.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
-
Constantia, Wife to Gernando.
-
Sylvia, her younger Sister.
-
Henriques, Companion to Gernando.
-
Gernando, Husband to Constantia.
