 | The Injured Princess, or the Fatal Wager |  |
14
SCENE II.
Enter Eugenia and Clarinna.Eugen.
Ah cruel Father, and a bloudy Queen!
Step-mother to my hopes as well as person,
A dull Fop Suitor to a wedded Lady,
That has her Husband banish'd. Can there be
A tide of woe like this—yet life to bear it?
Enter Lelia.
Lelia.
Madam, A Gentleman new arriv'd from Gallia,
Comes from my Lord with Letters.
Eugen.
What dost thou say, thy Lord? speak, speak again:
Oh thou art tedious! Said'st thou, from thy Lord?
Lelia.
Yes, Madam, and with Letters.
Eugen.
Fly to conduct him; be thy nimble speed
Swifter than Winds, or the Suns race—away.
[Exit Lelia.
Now my Clarinna, now my dearest Lord,
Remembers his poor Wife: Oh my full heart!
Enter Lelia with Shattillion, a Letter.
Shatt.
Madam, The brave Ursaces is in safety,
And thus salutes your Highness.
[Kisses her hand.
Eugen.
Most worthy Sir, You are the happiest Messenger
That ever Lady wish'd for—my dear Clarinna:
See all the doors be lock'd, lest the Queen
Come and disturb us.
Exit Clar.
Shatt.
I am proud to do you service; here are Letters.
Eugen.
The Index of my joy—I know the Hand:
For learn'd indeed were that Astronomer
That knew the Stars, as I his Character.
Wax, by your leave, (Oh be you ever bless'd!)
You pretty Bees, that make these locks of Counsel;
Bankrupts and Lovers have not equal prayers.
[Reads.
Shatt.
All outwardly seems most Angelical:
If she be fursnish'd with a mind so rare,
She is alone the Phenix of the World,
And I have lost my Wager.—Boldness befriend me;
Arm me Audacity from head to foot,
Or like the Parthians I shall flying fight,
And never keep my ground.
15
(Reads aloud.)
He is one of the noblest Note, to whose kindnesses I am most infinitely bound;
Reflect upon him accordingly as you value your
Ursaces.
So far I read aloud; but even the life-bloud
Of my heart is warm'd by the rest—Noble Sir,
The worth my Lord writes of you, shows your value.
Pray command here; you're welcome, Sir, to Britain.
Shatt.
Your Highness too much honours me:
Now to begin the Game, assist me Cunning.
[Aside.
Has Nature giv'n 'em eyes,
To see yon spangl'd Sky, and the rich crop
Of Sea and Land? Can they distinguish 'twixt
The Planetary Orbs, and th'numerous Pebbles
Upon the hungry Beach? and can they not,
Guided by humane Reason, make distinction
'Twixt fair and foul?
Eugen.
What makes your admiration?
Shatt.
Oh cursed lust!
Thou horrid, old, blind Devil of the flesh,
Why do men suffer thee to dam their Reason?
Eugen.
This is strange.—What's the matter, Sir? Continues
My Lord in health? Indeed you make me fear.
Shatt.
He's well, Madam.
Eugen.
Is he dispos'd to mirth? I hope he is.
Shatt.
Exceeding pleasant, not a Stranger there:
So gay and frollicksom.—He is nick-nam'd,
The Britain Reveller.
Eugen.
When he was here, he did incline to sadness,
And oftentimes not knowing why.
Shatt.
It seems then our sharp Air has cur'd him.
For my part I never saw him sad:
There's an Italian, his associate one,
An eminent Signieur, that has lately wedded
A plump young Bona Roba, and when he speaks
Of Constancy in Love, the roving Britain,
(Your Lord I mean) laughs from free Lungs, cryes, Oh
Can my Sides hold, to think that man, who knows
What Woman is, how loose and how imperfect,
Shou'd throw away a thought on such a trifle!
Eug.
Will my Lord say so? Pray speak.
Shatt.
Oh often, Madam!
And with his eyes flowing in tears of laughter.
It is a kind of sport, faith, to be by,
And hear him mock the Italian.
But Heaven knows, some men are much to blame.
Eug.
Not he, I hope.
Shatt.
Not he?
16
Nay, there is more in this, that cold Assertion,
Attended with a careless carriage, shows
You speak not what you think; my Lord, I fear,
Bless'd with the Gallian Beauties, forgets Britain.
Shatt.
Oh gracious Heaven! why dost thou show'r down blessings
Upon unthankful man, that hourly slights 'em,
And like the lavish hand of hood-wink'd chance,
Throw all to th'fool, and let the learn'd, wise and vertuous,
Pine out a miserable life in poverty?
Eug.
This still is from the matter; I beseech you, Sir,
What is't creates your wonder?
Shatt.
Something that moves my pity too.
Eug.
Who do you pity, Sir?
Shatt.
Two Creatures heartily.
Eug.
Pray Heaven it reach not hither: Am I one, Sir?
Shatt.
The more my Plague to know it you are one.
Eug.
How can I merit pity, my Lord being well,
As by this Letter I have proof he is?
The meaning of all this.
Shatt.
The meaning's fatal: Gods, Had I this Cheek
To bathe my Lips upon; this Hand, whose touch,
Whose every touch wou'd force the feeler's Soul
To th'Oath of Constancy; this Object, which
Takes prisoner the wild motion of the Eye,
Fixing it only here: Shou'd I, damn'd then,
Oh double damn'd, if ever so Apostate
Mingle with Lips, as common as the stairs
That mount the Capital.
Eug.
Hah!
Shatt.
Clasp Bodies plagued with all the pains
That Infamy can lend Nature: Swear, an Eye
Base, dead and glimmering as the smoaky Taper,
More bright than yours that lights that World of Beauty.
Shou'd I swear this, 'twere fit all Plagues of Hell
Shou'd bribe my Perjury.
Eug.
Why has my Lord, has my Ursaces sworn this?
Shatt.
I wou'd he had not.
Had I not heard it, he has so fair an outside,
Belief cou'd not have enter'd me.
Eug.
Oh misery!
Shatt.
Unhappy I that tell you this sad Story:
But Heaven knows my just and good design;
I cou'd not see you wrong'd, and keep you ignorant.
Eug.
Then is there nothing in Mankind but Vice?
No Faith, no Honour. Ye swift-footed hour,
Ye silent Witnesses of my true passion,
Call back his Oaths: How often has he sworn
To be for ever constant?
17
Oh he will swear extreamly!
He takes a kind of pleasure to be perjur'd.
Eug.
And will he kiss those Creatures?
Shatt.
Kiss 'um, Madam?
Alas, wou'd that were all! there's no great fault in kissing.
Eug.
Let me hear no more; be dumb to th'rest for ever.
Shatt.
I know he hates ye; he has almost own'd as much:
When fir'd with Wine and Lust, he told your fondness
In sport to his new Mistress.
Eug.
Oh hellish Act! Oh curs'd Ingratitude!
Shatt.
I swear, your sad Misfortunes strike a heart
That here vows to your service: Be reveng'd, Madam,
The way is easie.
Eug.
Reveng'd? Alas how shou'd I!
Unless upon my self, by sighs and weepings,
For loving that false man.
Shatt.
Another way
Courts your acceptance.
Eug.
How Sir?
Shatt.
'Tis the secret'st and the sweetest way:
I dedicate my self thus to your pleasure;
Thus pay my adoration to your Beauty:
I am a man born nobler than Ursaces,
As young, as vigorous, and far more constant,
And will continue fast to your affection,
Still close and sure.
Eug.
Oh Heaven! Is't possible? And will you love me too?
Shatt.
Love thee?—I, better than my Soul:
Were I assur'd of celestial Joys,
Long as its Immortality love thee.
The tender Mother loves not her first-born,
The Poet Fame, or the sick Youth his health,
With half that zeal.—Kind Fate, she comes, she yields:
Oh glorious Conquest!—Let me seal my Passion
Upon thy snowy hands transported, then rove higher,
And ransack this white Magazine of Beauty.
Here I shall find.
Eug.
That which thou meritest, Death.
[Offers a Dagger at him.
Detested Wretch, practis'd in Villany,
How I condemn my credulous Ears that have
So long been Traitors? Wert thou honourable,
Thou wou'dst have told me this for Vertues sake,
And not for such base Ends.
Who's there, Clarina?
The King my Father shall be made acquainted
Of this presumption, and by punishment,
Equal to the Crime, reward thy brutal folly.
18
'D's heart, this won't do, I must shift quickly, or I'me ruin'd.
Give me your gracious pardon:
What I have spoke was by your Lord's Command,
To try your Constancy, and find if distance
Cou'd play the Traitor with your faith and memory,
Which now I know unshook'd, and shall acquaint him.
Eug.
Can this be true? Cou'd my Lord doubt me then?
Shatt.
Alas you know, Madam, fierce Loves have still some jealousie!
He is a man of that clear equal temper,
That he inchants Societies unto him;
He sits amongst 'um like a descended God;
He has a kind of Grandeur sets him off,
More than a Mortal seeming. Be not angry then,
Oh chastest of thy kind! that I have adventur'd
To try your Vertue by a false Report,
Being oblig'd by Oath, and my design so honest.
Eug.
I'me satisfied; you appear clear again:
Pray use my Power i'th' Court.
Shatt.
My humble thanks; I had almost forgot
To entreat your Highness in a small Request,
And yet of moment too; for it concerns
Your Lord, my self, and other noble Friends,
That share in the design.
Eug.
Pray what is't?
Shatt.
A dozen of us Gentlemen, and your Lord,
The best feather of our Wing, have mingled Sums,
To buy a Present for the Roman Emperor,
Which I, the Factor for the rest, have done in Britain here:
'Tis Plate of rare device, and Jewels
Of rich and exquisite form; their value's great,
And I am something curious, being a Stranger,
To have them in safe custody: May it please ye
To take 'um in protection?
Eug.
Willingly.
Since 'tis my Lord's Concern, I'le have 'um kept
Here in my Apartment.
Shatt.
They are in a Chest,
Attended by my Men; I will presume
To send them to ye, only for this night,
I must aboard to morrow.
Eug.
So soon?
Shatt.
Indeed I must.
Therefore I shall beseech you, if you please
To greet your Lord by writing, do it to night,
For I've outstay'd the time that is material
To th'tender of our Present.
Eug.
I'le instantly about it.
19
And see it safe return'd.
Shatt.
Your Highness faithful Servant.
[Exeunt.
Enter Queen, Pisanio, and Attendants. A Viol.
Queen.
'Twas but a gust of Passion in the King,
That like a ruffling Storm shakes the tall Grove,
Yet in a moment's gone, and all is calm.
Pisan.
I am much a debtor to your Majesty.
Queen.
Besides you shou'd consider he is old,
Peevish with sickness, scarce had liv'd till now,
But for these Helps of Nature, this rich Cordial,
Which I have made through providence to help him:
This Glass is worth a Kingdom to the Sick;
I give it thee Pisanio, I give it as an Earnest
Of future favour; when thou art ill, drink this,
'Twill conquer the Disease, nay tho' given o're
By all Physicians, 'twill renew thy health.
Pisan.
Your Majesty's too gracious; but like the Sun,
Display your beams, and shed your kindly blessings
Upon a wither'd stump that cannot grow,
Tho' you can influence; this rich Cordial,
Tho' of this heavenly nature, can but add
A minute more to th'snuff of my life's Taper,
That yet must out at last.
Queen.
We all must die, my Lord:
But 'tis no harm sure to prolong a life,
When living we do well; therefore preserve it,
'Tis worth your care.—The King's in bed; good night,
My Lord.
Pisan.
Blessings still crown your Majesty.
Queen.
On him or Eugenia; if it work, I'me happy.
[Exit.
Pisan.
There is a mystery in her tide of Favours,
Heaven will not let me know: She always hated me,
'Cause I mislik'd her Son, yet now show'rs down
All Kindnesses, commends me to the King, takes care
Of my health, and gives me here a Cordial to preserve it.
But why may not all this be as a hook and bait,
To get me from my Element of Honesty?
Hah, it is, it must, I have it! Hah! beware then,
And tho' in Exile, show thou lov'st Ursaces,
That good, that brave young man; I wish Eugenia
Deserve him; I have some fears I saw a Stranger,
A tall, hot-blouded, fluttering Fellow,
An hour ago, strutting from her Apartment,
And as he went, the perfum'd Pulvillio left a scent behind him,
20
Pray Heaven she prove so; for if the Woman's
Fickle Devil once seize her,
Like a huge Stone she rowls the steepy Hill,
Not to be stopp'd by Conscience, Force, or Skill.
[Exit.
| The Injured Princess, or the Fatal Wager | |