University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

Scene 1.

Enter Don Fenise and Larasco in Fenise's House.
Fen.
Despairing Merchants, when their Fleets appear,
After the dangers of a stormy year,
Have swelling hopes like mine; yet doubt their Fate,
'Till in their greedy arms they hug their freight.
Assist me Fortune! fix thy rouling wheel
Some few short minutes, and for ever reel.
Not yet!—how dull and lazily it creeps?
[Looks on his Watch.
O Expectation! how each moment sleeps!

Lar.

[His Feet.
Fen.
Ev'n in consent, she's cruel too, the night
Much better wou'd disguise a Lovers flight.
None but her self can such delayes repair;
Impatience is as restless as despair.—

Exeunt Fenise and Larasco.

Scene 2.

Enter Alcinda and Leonella in Don Manuel's Hall.
Alc.
Is this a Lovers haste? Did he not say,
Each minute in my absence seem'd a day?
False man! unworthy of my meanest thought!
To slight a Love he has so dearly bought—
My flame increases by his cold delay;
Revenge shall lead me off, though love wou'd stay.
Exit Alcinda.

Leon.
The language of those begging eyes I know,
Implores a reason that she may not go:
I'll rather make her hate him if I can,
For she's too good for such a faithless man.—

[Going out, she sees Fenise and Larasco coming; and returns with a dark Lanthorn.
Enter Fenise and Larasco.
Fen.
The King of Planets from his daz'ling Crown,
With more than common Red gilds ore the Town:
Blushing to see Loves secrets trust the Light.

Leon.
Stand! Who goes there? what sturdy mortal Wight,
When dismal shades the sleeping World orespread,
And yawning Graves let out their wandring dead,
Disturbs the silent night? and rashly pryes
Into pale Hecates drowsie sacrifice!
Speak daring Mortal! say, what makes thee creep
Through unknown paths, when time it self's asleep?
Declare thy dire intent—

Fen.
Let's make all sure,
And play these Frolicks when we are secure.

Leon.
This voyce I know; deceive me not pale Moon!
'Tis he!—hey ho! what made you come so soon?
This Love's a restless Bedfellow; take heed,
Tread soft and sure; this shews you love indeed,
T'adventure out this dreadful stormy Night,
You might have taken cold, or met a Spright—

Lar.
A Spright! where! where!
Ah good Sir! dear Sir! stay no longer here—

Fen.
Pry'thee release my patience, I'll approve
This sport another time—But where's my Love?

Leon.
Where is your Love indeed? to make her wait,
Were it not lost, you had not come so late.
Go boast your Treachery, and then declare
How long you woo'd, how oft you perjur'd are;
When you consult your Conquest, sum your Cost
Of precious time, and Oaths; See who has lost.
She will your scorn with interest return,
And, for your falseness, Heav'n will make you mourn.

Fen.
Thy Looks are well, but in thy Words I find
The certain signs of a distemper'd mind;
Is it to me you speak? and can you prove
My wandring Faith, or my decaying Love?
Disperse these wonders which your words create;
It was my Penance to attend so late;
And if I suffer, for your own designe,
Your loud Complaints more justly will be mine.

Leon.
Ah Sir! Excuses which so weak appear,
Betray too little Love, or too much Fear:
Do jealous Lovers, which abhor the light,
Call Phœbus to attest their secret flight?
She summon'd you ere Night wax'd grey, as soon
As the Antipodes enjoy'd their Noon.

Fen.
Thou heartless Fool! what mischief hast thou done,
Instructing me to wait the rising Sun;
Kneel to good Fortune, for thy Life's the stake;
Raise not my Ruine on this Rogues mistake,
I'll lead her hence, or perish at her feet.

Leon.
Sooner the Eve and Infant day may meet;
This injury reviv'd her dying scorn,
And stay'd me here to hasten your return.
Ill Tydings flie, too soon you'll hear the rest—

Fen.
The rest! Can my Misfortune be increast?
I know too little, since there's more behind.

Leon.
If she can hate you, to your self be kind.

Fen.
Villain be gone! thy swiftest fears out-flie—

Leon.
Your Sword would blush to wear so base a Die.

Fen.
In such extremes of Fate, I want a guide:
None can securely stem wild passions Tyde.
Proceed!—hold!—(curs'd fortune) dispatch the rest—

Leon.
Y'are banish'd from her presence, and her brest.

Fen.
His baseness is too weak a guard—He dyes!
For such a Saint too poor a Sacrifice.

Fenise draws, and Larasco runs in crying.
Lar.
Dear! Dear! merciful! pardon my mistake,
For Heavens, Oh Sir! for fair Alcinda's sake—
[Within.
Murther! Murther! I'm dead! I'm dead!
Exit Larasco.

Fen.
Nothing to stop his Throat? no hearty Curse?

Leon.
O for an Irish Wolf to make him hoarse.
Thieves! Thieves! Thieves! Rogues! Villains! Dogs! Thieves!

[Manuel within.
Leon.
The Blood-hounds up, no cunning can relieves.

Fen.
Curse on his yelping Jaws! what shall we do?

Leon.
Here, here! quickly Sir, step in here—

Exeunt Fenise and Leonella.
Enter Don Manuel in a ridiculous Morning dress.
Man.
Thieves! Thieves! Wife! Daughter! Maid! nobody hear?
All the dores open, undone! rob'd! undone!
All the World asleep? am I heard by none?
Murther! murther! I'm dead, down right stone dead.
Ha! 'tis so, 'tis so, my wild girls are fled.
Pray Heav'n it be no worse, I'll raise the Town.
[Exit Manuel locking the dore after him.

Enter Don Fenise and Leonella.
Leon.
Consult her safety, though you slight your own;
Her Honour suffers in your longer stay,
No dull consideration; but away—
Still more unhappy! he has lock'd the dore.
Exit Leonella.

Fen.

Enter Leonella pulling Larasco in.
Leon.
Among the Women you can domineer—

Lar.
Kill me Sir! Kill me! rid me of my fear.

Fen.
This Fellow may his frighten'd sense regain,
The Object once remov'd, removes his pain;
Love, like an angry Ghost, allows no rest,
But still torments the guilty Lovers Brest.
Yet I'll shak't off!

[Alcinda at a Window.

Ha! 'tis she! treacherous sense!
A Thousand Devils cannot force me hence.
Urge it no more, but to her lead the way.

Leon.
Her strict Commands I dare not disobey.

Fen.
The saddest prospect of my Fate I see,
She being lost, much worse it cannot be.
Thou shalt relent—here's gold—

Leon.
Who can resist the charms your tongue affords?
This is a language sweeter far than words.

Lar.
O Wondrous Virtue of imperious gold!
For thee is Honour bought, and Heaven sold.
Yet, had I all ere fruitful Peru bred,
I'd give it freely to be safe in Bed.
What new design? something she talks of me,
I fear some plot upon my Chastity.

Fen.
Sirrah! Observe her Orders—

Lar.
More Catterwouling yet! Hell stop her breath!

Fen.
Another Murmur shall foretel thy death.

Lar.
I wish'd a task, whose danger might declare
What I dare do, my Folly to repair.

Leon.
Watch, and inform us when he comes, See right,
Let not your shadow put you in a fright.

Lar.
I'll fight the proudest he that wears a head.

Leon.
What darest thou stake against my Maidenhead?
I do not take thy rusty Sword away.
Thou a Fighter!

Lar.
Donna! your beauty may,
That man is mad that will with Women fight,
Your loss by day you can revenge at night.

Fen.
Dispatch his charge, my dearest blood I'd pay
To buy each minute which you throw away.
Villain! be watchful—

[Exeunt Fenise and Leonella.
Lar.
Sir! I will—not stay—
If all my art and strength can get away.
This Lock is vengeance strong, No passage here:
No Window big enough for creeping Fear?
Ne'r talk on't! I can't endure to be kill'd,
He cares not so his wild desire's fulfill'd.
I'll try the Garden wall—is this door fast?
Then life adieu! the fatal Die is cast.
A Kingdom to secure my life!—he's there!
[A Noise within.
Oh my dear pretty heart! thy end draws near.
O Death what shall I do? where shall I hide?
No cunning place to tye my self aside!
A little stay—my knife! yet do not come:—
Pox on't! now I have left my knife at home:
Else I could cut my throat. Poor carkass! how
Must thou be Slic'd and Carbonado'd now?
I might have stop'd the Lock too, fool that I was!
Oh my belly! good Lock don't let him pass!
Dear Lock stand too't! sweet Lock don't let 'em come!
'Wounds! how I shall be Slash'd? there's forty o'm—
Enter Don Manuel and Neighbours ridiculously arm'd; They see Larasco, and run off again.
So, so, now they consult about my End—

Enter again Don Manuel and Neighbours.
Man.
You that such daring courage did pretend,
What made you run? I'll bravely go before,
Come Neighbours! enter all, and shut the dore.
What all gone agen? my case is hard,
[Larasco stands up like a Statue.
I dare not see, my house without a guard.
Ha! one of the Villains! or but a shape
Set up to fright me, while the Rogues escape;
It does not move, nor breath, it must be so—
Were it a Man, thus wou'd I forward go—

Lar.
Now must I go to Pot!—how my bones aske!—

[Aside.
Man.
And Slash him thus,—ha! did not something shake?
What shall a Scarecrow make me thus afraid?
Yet, by this light! 'tis very neatly made;
Substance! true mortal substance too!—I'le swear,
Not one convenient member wanting here.
This shape may any maid alive deceive—

Lar.
I am a very Image I believe,
But I have heard that Images can't feel.

[Aside.
Man.
I fear no flesh alive, by this bright steel!
O for a Cæsar now, or for that brave
Undaunted Soul that did the world enslave;
Like Tennis-balls I'd whirl them about,
And thus make way to let their Courage out

[He strikes Larasco.
Lar.
Oh! Curse on your valour!—

[Aside.
Man.
I'll try to place
His head upright, and paint some red in's face.
The nose too should be mended, and the eyes—

Lar.
How to escape this dog I can't devise—
Now he has turn'd his back, I'le cut his throat—

[Larasco draws, Manuel sees him, and runs off; then Larasco falls grov'ling on the ground.
Man.
Murther! murther! murther!

Lar.
Oh dismal note!

Enter Leonella hastily.
Leon.
What noise was that? what's the disturbance here?

Lar.
Mercy! good Sir, Mercy! Oh do but hear,
I'll confess all—Noble Don Manuel!
Your cursed Wench, by some infernal Spell
Entic'd Don Fenise hither, and has sold
The fair Alcinda to him for his gold.
He's now within persuading her away;
I am a servant, Sir,—forc'd to obey—
Dear Sir be merciful!

Leon.
Rise, and be free—

Lar.
Ha! is it you? confound such Sorcerie!
The Hall's inchanted, or this cou'd not be.

Enter Fenise and Alcinda.
Fen.
Since that blest hour I gave my heart to you,
My busie thoughts no other object knew.
My Eyes ne'r stray'd to any other face,
My heart ne'r fram'd a wish beyond this place.
I plead no merit, Madam! for I know
My Service weak, and my desert too low.

Alcin.
Fenise! Upbraid me not with your desert,
I know 'tis great, and well deserves my heart;
Were you unworthy, my obliging Vow
Has made me yours, nor will I break it now.
Yet Gratitude (for Love ne'r reach'd my Brest,
Nor yet had power to disturb my rest)
Makes me your Pris'ner now; and lets me see,
You prize your fading pleasures more than me.
Your satisfaction you resolve to buy,
Though at the price of my dear liberty.

Fen.
By what you want, judge not the love I have,
You cannot be a Pris'ner to your Slave.
If Love cannot incite you to depart,
Trust gratitude awhile to guide your heart.

Alc.
Give Reason yours, and an Example shew,
Or ask no more what you refuse to do.
You cannot cease to Love; I can't begin;
You cannot break the Snare, nor I get in;
Yet, to content your self, you'll punish me—
Alas! this is not Love, but Cruelty.

Fen.
How strangely Madam! at the self-same time,
You do excuse, and charge me with a Crime.
If Love can't be compell'd, as 'tis most true,
Fenise adores, but Fortune injures you.

Alc.
Justly your Passion may suspected grow,
Since you demand those proofs you dare not show.
You gain my Faith by leaving me behind,
Lessen your Love, and practise to be kind.

Leon.
Tempt not your Destiny, but let's be gone,
Her wandring Fancy must return anon:
Madam! if you will go, let's haste away,
To flie those Dangers which attend your stay.

Alc.
Thou know'st my heart, let Fenise be our Guide—

Leon.
Spread all your Sails, you have the Wind and Tide.

Alc.
What Noise is that?

[A Noise at the dore.
Leon.
This comes of your delay—
O Heav'ns! Don Manuel has stop'd your way.

Alc.
What will Don Fenise do? persuade him in.

Lar.
Now does my storm of misery begin.

Alc.
Haste to the Garden, there's a private dore.
Ah Fenise! now we part to meet no more.

Lar.
Sweet Master! Dear Master!

Alc.
Once more farewel!

[Exeunt Alcinda and Leonella.
Lar.
Pray! pray for us!—Now Toll the Passing-bell—
Oh that I had but dy'd, Ten years before
My Mothers onely hopeful Son was bore:
I had been car'd for, I had happy been,
This Catterwouling I had never seen.
Will you be murther'd in your Muse? Dye here!

Fen.
It must be so, this shews my Love so clear,
She can no more deny me—

Lar.
What, more heroick Tricks?—Oh how I shake!
Is this a time for Love, when Life's at stake?
Now will he dye to shew this Cat his heart—

Fen.
She knows I may compel her to depart;
And now, just at this time, to let her stay—

Enter Don Manuel and his Friends.
Man.
Here be the Rogues, Now Neighbours kill and slay—

Lar.
How fierce and big the Suck-bloods look? I'll spread
My Carkass on the ground, and say I'm dead.

[Larasco lies down.
Fen.
Her Vows I'll give her back, and when she's free,
Justice will bind her to love none but me.
Since all my Vows so unsuccessful prove,
That even yet you seem to doubt my Love:
I hope this single Act will make it plain,
Here Fenise gives you back your self again—

Man.
How's this? Don Fenise! sure it cannot be—

Fen.
Ha! where is Alcinda? what's this I see?
Larasco murther'd by these Cowards Swords!
This Tempest must not be allay'd with words.
Have at your hearts; lie there; are you so quick?

[One falls as kill'd; Manuel and the rest flie, Fenise pursues them.
Lar.
Oh my poor heart! I'm very stomack sick.
Are they all gone? this was a brave Design;
Cowardly Rogues! to strike a Man behind—
If I had not been dead, I'd fain have seen,
Who durst affront one of my haughty meen.
Sure he has wounded me, but I'm alive yet,
And pretty sound; but most confounded wet.
I'll take advice to know where 'tis I bleed;
Ha are you there? here's one lies dead indeed.
Quite mortal dead: Well Fellow! go thy way,
I'd Rifle thee, but that I dare not stay—
Had'st thou been wise, but all have not the gift,
[Exit Larasco.
'Tis pity he shou'd live, that has no shift.

Neighbour.
Yes Coxcomb! I can shift as well as you—
I think I am the sweeter of the two.
Send me well home, I'll ne'r come here agin,
I think him wisest that preserves his Skin.

[Exit.

Scene 3.

Enter Mingo alone.
Mingo.
Where am I now!
But 'tis no wonder if I've lost my way,
My Master bad me near the Temple stay;
A place I seldom seek; The Donna's Road
To choose new Servants, and the newest Mode.
Where earthly Saints are pray'd to, those above
Sometimes are call'd on, in Intrigues of Love.
Where pious Dons with zealous Wives conspire,
To raise the fortunes of their Husbands higher.
I'th' Temple I was Christen'd, but my fear
Tells me! 'twill fall if I agen come there—
Hold, my Master!—

Enter Alonzo.
Alon.
What didst thou find the place?

Min.
Yes Sir, and saw your Friend, but thus it was;
After my hasty steps had found the dore,
All that I met, Nights silent liv'ry wore.
A Servant led me, where I saw Despair,
Just like Don Fenise, sitting in a Chair.
Not that Don Fenise, who did use to be
The life of Mirth, and all good Company.
Not he, whose Soul was free as boundless Air,
Whose very name could chase away Despair.

Alon.
Rack me not with these delayes!

Min.
Sir I saw,
A form would make a frozen Tartar thaw,
And melt his rocky Heart th'rough weeping Eyes:
His heavy Head upon his Shoulder lies,
His crossed Arms supported by his Brest,
He had no motion, yet he had no rest.
His busie Eyes fix'd to the earth—in brief,
He was the lively shape of killing grief.
At last as if the Dream had had an end,
He cry'd, Alonzo! Where's my dearest Friend?
Then did I your approach and message tell,
That did his eager grief a while repel,
But Sorrow soon did repossess his Face;
As Currents' stop'd, more swiftly end their Race.

Alon.
It is not sure within the pow'r of Fate,
To cause those Wonders which thou dost relate.
His heart ne'r entertain'd the—boldest fear,
And how could base Despair find entrance there.
What ever cause such strange effects create,
I will avert, or help to bear his Fate.
True Friendship, like rich Diamonds, we mark,
Whose rayes are most resplendant in the dark.
Mingo! make haste, and sum up thy account,
Thy merits may to higher Service mount;
Yet I have alwayes us'd thee well—

Min.
Most true—

Alon.
And have I not been oft abus'd by you?
Your wild Debaucheries in ev'ry place,
Made me a mark of Scorn, and rude Disgrace.
I need not number up your Faults again,
Yet I resolv'd to bring thee back to Spain:
Here I dismiss you Sir; but ere you goe,
[Kicks him, and gives him Money.
I'll pay thee less, and more than I do owe.

Min.
Ah Sir! I am a Rogue, but pray forgive—

Alon.
Forget your saucy Tricks, and Civil live,
Perhaps you may be mine, if you amend—
Exit Alonzo.

Min.
This Gold is dear—Well! go thy wayes old Friend!
Revenge sink deep, torment my injur'd—brest,
'Till on his Ruine I have built my rest.
How, turn honest! turn Beggar, give me Gold:
I'll think on Honesty when I grow old.
For feeble helpless Age it may be good,
'Tis but a dull disease in youthfull blood.
Among the modish French 'tis plain disgrace,
Some of our Signiors too come on apace;
When they take up, the Tradesman must not wait,
But hears the News, and has the courteous Hat,
Talks handsom Sense, is heard like a Divine;
Pray Mistre! stay and take a Glass of Wine—
But when he Dunns, and Cringes like a Slave,
Dam'ee! what would this paltry Fellow have?
Now I'm for any thing, all wayes I'll tread,
To find the path that does to Mischief lead.
Kick'd! and turn'd off! I am a Rogue I know,
But to my Master I was never so.
Cashier'd! and quite thrown by! well Don take heed,
Ere all be done, thy heart or mine shall bleed.

[Exit.