 | The Island Princess, or The Generous Portuguese |  |
The Scene changes to the King's Palace in Tidore, thro' which is discovered a Fleet of Ships of War.
Enter Ruidias.
Rui.
Love bids me dare, but reason bids delay.
Our strength is now too small for such a Siege.
Yet I must on, the Princess Fires my Soul,
And though she seems to favour my addresses
Unless I free the King I must despair.
Well then, I'll die, or do't—We'll now embark—
[Shouts at a distance.
What means that Shout?
Enter Piniero.
Pini.
Where are you, Sir? Oh you're undone, prevented.
The King's releas'd, he's coming in his Barge,
That met him nigh the Port.
Rui.
Impossible! who should redeem him?
The Princes are all here.
Pini.
'Tis done, Sir.
Rui.
It cannot be! Done! who dares do it?
[Shout again.
Enter Quisara, Panura, and other Attendants.
Qui.
Can it be possible! The King returning!
Freed by a Stranger! Oh my Fatal Vow!
Rui.
Grief strikes me dumb!
Qui.
I thought none but Ruidias cou'd have freed him.
Is there another like him in the World?
But Oh! Surprise and Grief betray me, and I lose
The Sister's gladness in the Lover's sorrow.
Oh Brother! cou'd I have thought I shou'd have shed a Tear
For your Return, unless it were for Joy!
Rui.
Oh Princess!
Qui.
The general Joy comes on,
[Shout again.
And I must meet it, but oh with what comfort?
Enter King attended with a numerous Train, Trumpets, Kettledrums and Music. Armusia, Sosa, Emanuel with him, Bakam, and Syana on each side with their Attendants and Guards.
King.
Rise my Sister!
I am not welcome yet, till you embrace me.
Qui.
My Royal Brother! Oh I'm lost in Pleasure,
To see you safe again.
Rui.
Sir, I rejoyce to see you here restor'd,
But must repine, that 'twas not by my means:
'Twas a brave Deed, I envy him that did it:
Yet had it mist, my project had not fail'd.
King.
I thank you, noble Sir, I know you love me.
Ba.
I have an Army, Sir,
That wou'd have scour'd your Tyrant and his Country.
I'm sorry you're releas'd, and wish you in your Dungeon again,
That I might bring you hither at my Armies Head.
Sya.
I have done nothing, Sir, and therefore think it
Convenient to say little of what my Love design'd.
King.
I like your Modesty—My gen'rous Friends,
I thank you all; I know it griev'd ye
To hear my Misery: But this Man, Princes,
I must thank heartily indeed.
This wondrous Man, even from the Grave of Sorrow,
Has rais'd me up to Freedom, Life, and Empire.
Oh Sister, if there may be thanks for this,
Or any thing near Recompense, invent it.
Arm.
You are too Noble, Sir, there is Reward,
Reward above my Action too, by Millions;
A Recompense, so Rich, so Great, so Glorious
I durst not dream it mine, but that 'twas promis'd
Before the Face of Heaven.
King.
O speak it, speak it, bless me with the Knowledge;
Make me a happy man,
For still methinks I am a Prisoner,
And feel no Liberty, till that is found.
Arm.
It is—(But first to Heav'n and you I bend,
If either can forgive the high Demand)
It is your Sister, Royal Sir, She's mine.
I claim her, by her own Word, and her Honour:
It was her open Promise to the Man
That durst redeem you—Beauty set me on,
And Fortune crowns my hopes, if She receive me.
King.
Receive you, Sir—Why, Sister! ha! turn from him?
Stand as you knew not me, nor what he has ventur'd?
My dearest Sister!
Arm.
O Sir, your Pardon,
There is a blushing Modesty
That holds her back; Virgins are nice to Love;
I wou'd not have her forc'd; give her fair liberty:
Ladies of her soft Nature, if compell'd,
Turn into Fears, and fly ev'n their own Wishes.
King.
Look on him, Princess, is there such another?
Qui.
Sir, I confess,
My Word is pass'd, and he by that has purchas'd;
But yet be pleas'd to give me Time to be
Acquainted with his Merit: we are Strangers,
And Love, like Pow'r, must pass thro Ceremonies,
E're it can fix in Virgin's hearts.
King.
Be speedy.
You will respect your Word: I know you will:
I'll be your Pledge, my Hero: Come, my Sister,
Let's see what Welcome you can give a Prisoner,
And what kind Looks a Friend—
Thus in my Arms once more.
Arm.
You make me blush, Sir.
King.
Let this Day see our whole Court crown'd with Pleasure.
An Entertainment of Music and Dancing.
Several Shepherds advance and express their Joy.
Shepherd.
This glorious Day, let Pleasures flow;
Now Love and Hymen jar no more:
Ye Sports, appear, let Sorrow cease below!
Hither repair, the Golden Age restore.
Let Mortals share the Blessings of the Skies,
See Jove for ever cease to rove,
And own, tho' Nuptial Fewds arise,
No Joys can Vye with Lawful Love.
A Shepherd.
Happy he who wisely chose
To taste of Love without his Woes.
“Happy She whose Charms improve
“The soft Delights of Harmless Love.
CHORUS.
Change may raise a wanton Fire,
But Truth can best improve Desire,
And Kindles, never to expire.
Two Shepherds.
Cease, ye Rovers, cease to Range
Pleasure revels least in Change.
Wandring still, and still uneasy,
Nought can fix ye, nought can please ye;
While True Love, like Heav'nly Joys,
Never dies, and never cloys.
A Shepherdess.
“From drooping Minds let Sorrow fly,
“Joy must reign, and Anguish die.
“Souls who grieve for Coy Denying,
“Hearts now raging, Wretches dying,
“Know, that Lovers who pursue,
“Soon or late the Fair subdue.
“Blame your Fear when you despair,
“Not the wishing dying Fair.
A Shepherd.
All the Pleasures, Hymen brings
Lawful Sweets, and chast Desires,
All the Pleasures Hymen brings,
Flow from ever-living Springs,
And never-dying Fires.
A Shepherdess.
The Jolly Swains
That were roving o're the Plains
From all Regions hither fly,
To claim kind Hymen's gentle Tye.
With their wanton Motions courting
Some lovely Maid
Whose Eyes persuade
To soft Delights, and am'rous Sporting.
Enter Swains and Shepherdesses, who dance,
Grand CHORUS.
Love's Flame divinely burns:
The Golden Age returns.
Jove, Juno, and Cupid, and Hymen agree,
All Hearts thus are bless'd, and less happy when free.
King.
Lead on! Sister, your hand to my Deliverer.
Arm.
Oh let me first approach it with a Kiss,
Thus trembling with Extremity of Bliss.
Wisely, bright Princess, you allay the Joy,
Still slowly Bless, and leasurely Destroy.
Exeunt omnes.
Enter Ruidias.
Rui.
Love bids me dare, but reason bids delay.
Our strength is now too small for such a Siege.
Yet I must on, the Princess Fires my Soul,
And though she seems to favour my addresses
Unless I free the King I must despair.
Well then, I'll die, or do't—We'll now embark—
[Shouts at a distance.
What means that Shout?
Enter Piniero.
Pini.
Where are you, Sir? Oh you're undone, prevented.
The King's releas'd, he's coming in his Barge,
That met him nigh the Port.
Rui.
Impossible! who should redeem him?
The Princes are all here.
Pini.
'Tis done, Sir.
Rui.
It cannot be! Done! who dares do it?
[Shout again.
Enter Quisara, Panura, and other Attendants.
Qui.
Can it be possible! The King returning!
Freed by a Stranger! Oh my Fatal Vow!
Rui.
Grief strikes me dumb!
Qui.
I thought none but Ruidias cou'd have freed him.
Is there another like him in the World?
But Oh! Surprise and Grief betray me, and I lose
The Sister's gladness in the Lover's sorrow.
Oh Brother! cou'd I have thought I shou'd have shed a Tear
12
Rui.
Oh Princess!
Qui.
The general Joy comes on,
[Shout again.
And I must meet it, but oh with what comfort?
Enter King attended with a numerous Train, Trumpets, Kettledrums and Music. Armusia, Sosa, Emanuel with him, Bakam, and Syana on each side with their Attendants and Guards.
King.
Rise my Sister!
I am not welcome yet, till you embrace me.
Qui.
My Royal Brother! Oh I'm lost in Pleasure,
To see you safe again.
Rui.
Sir, I rejoyce to see you here restor'd,
But must repine, that 'twas not by my means:
'Twas a brave Deed, I envy him that did it:
Yet had it mist, my project had not fail'd.
King.
I thank you, noble Sir, I know you love me.
Ba.
I have an Army, Sir,
That wou'd have scour'd your Tyrant and his Country.
I'm sorry you're releas'd, and wish you in your Dungeon again,
That I might bring you hither at my Armies Head.
Sya.
I have done nothing, Sir, and therefore think it
Convenient to say little of what my Love design'd.
King.
I like your Modesty—My gen'rous Friends,
I thank you all; I know it griev'd ye
To hear my Misery: But this Man, Princes,
I must thank heartily indeed.
This wondrous Man, even from the Grave of Sorrow,
Has rais'd me up to Freedom, Life, and Empire.
Oh Sister, if there may be thanks for this,
Or any thing near Recompense, invent it.
Arm.
You are too Noble, Sir, there is Reward,
Reward above my Action too, by Millions;
A Recompense, so Rich, so Great, so Glorious
I durst not dream it mine, but that 'twas promis'd
Before the Face of Heaven.
King.
O speak it, speak it, bless me with the Knowledge;
Make me a happy man,
For still methinks I am a Prisoner,
And feel no Liberty, till that is found.
13
It is—(But first to Heav'n and you I bend,
If either can forgive the high Demand)
It is your Sister, Royal Sir, She's mine.
I claim her, by her own Word, and her Honour:
It was her open Promise to the Man
That durst redeem you—Beauty set me on,
And Fortune crowns my hopes, if She receive me.
King.
Receive you, Sir—Why, Sister! ha! turn from him?
Stand as you knew not me, nor what he has ventur'd?
My dearest Sister!
Arm.
O Sir, your Pardon,
There is a blushing Modesty
That holds her back; Virgins are nice to Love;
I wou'd not have her forc'd; give her fair liberty:
Ladies of her soft Nature, if compell'd,
Turn into Fears, and fly ev'n their own Wishes.
King.
Look on him, Princess, is there such another?
Qui.
Sir, I confess,
My Word is pass'd, and he by that has purchas'd;
But yet be pleas'd to give me Time to be
Acquainted with his Merit: we are Strangers,
And Love, like Pow'r, must pass thro Ceremonies,
E're it can fix in Virgin's hearts.
King.
Be speedy.
You will respect your Word: I know you will:
I'll be your Pledge, my Hero: Come, my Sister,
Let's see what Welcome you can give a Prisoner,
And what kind Looks a Friend—
Thus in my Arms once more.
Arm.
You make me blush, Sir.
King.
Let this Day see our whole Court crown'd with Pleasure.
An Entertainment of Music and Dancing.
Several Shepherds advance and express their Joy.
Shepherd.
This glorious Day, let Pleasures flow;
Now Love and Hymen jar no more:
Ye Sports, appear, let Sorrow cease below!
Hither repair, the Golden Age restore.
Let Mortals share the Blessings of the Skies,
See Jove for ever cease to rove,
And own, tho' Nuptial Fewds arise,
No Joys can Vye with Lawful Love.
14
Happy he who wisely chose
To taste of Love without his Woes.
“Happy She whose Charms improve
“The soft Delights of Harmless Love.
CHORUS.
Change may raise a wanton Fire,
But Truth can best improve Desire,
And Kindles, never to expire.
Two Shepherds.
Cease, ye Rovers, cease to Range
Pleasure revels least in Change.
Wandring still, and still uneasy,
Nought can fix ye, nought can please ye;
While True Love, like Heav'nly Joys,
Never dies, and never cloys.
A Shepherdess.
“From drooping Minds let Sorrow fly,
“Joy must reign, and Anguish die.
“Souls who grieve for Coy Denying,
“Hearts now raging, Wretches dying,
“Know, that Lovers who pursue,
“Soon or late the Fair subdue.
“Blame your Fear when you despair,
“Not the wishing dying Fair.
A Shepherd.
All the Pleasures, Hymen brings
Lawful Sweets, and chast Desires,
All the Pleasures Hymen brings,
Flow from ever-living Springs,
And never-dying Fires.
A Shepherdess.
The Jolly Swains
That were roving o're the Plains
From all Regions hither fly,
To claim kind Hymen's gentle Tye.
With their wanton Motions courting
Some lovely Maid
Whose Eyes persuade
To soft Delights, and am'rous Sporting.
Enter Swains and Shepherdesses, who dance,
Grand CHORUS.
Love's Flame divinely burns:
The Golden Age returns.
Jove, Juno, and Cupid, and Hymen agree,
All Hearts thus are bless'd, and less happy when free.
15
Lead on! Sister, your hand to my Deliverer.
Arm.
Oh let me first approach it with a Kiss,
Thus trembling with Extremity of Bliss.
Wisely, bright Princess, you allay the Joy,
Still slowly Bless, and leasurely Destroy.
Exeunt omnes.
| The Island Princess, or The Generous Portuguese | |