 | The Injur'd Lovers : or, the Ambitious Father |  |
11
ACT II.
SCENE I.
Enter Rheusanes and Antelina.Rhe.
Oh! Antelina, why this strange disorder?
Why, are thy Eyes in which our loves have plaid,
And mov'd with Pleasure as thy fancy taught 'em?
Now overcast with such a dismal change,
As quite confounds my sences with the wonder.
Ant.
How can you ask the cause of my Affliction,
When you the Author of it know too well?
Rhe.
By all our Vows you tax me most unjustly,
Oh! may I perish when I wrong my Love;
Or never more be happy in my Wishes.
Ant.
Oryala, the Princess, Oh! that mighty Name,
Has cancel'd all your Promises to me;
A Crown, a Crown Rheusanes is your Mistriss now.
Rhe.
Be witness for me, he that made us love,
I would not leave thee for an endless life;
Of endless Youth.
Ant.
Oh! you flatter me.
Rhe.
Unkind suspector.
Durst my Tongue express my prompting fancy,
I fear I should Blaspheme in praising You;
So much above all things I do esteem you.
Ant.
Oh! for Rheusanes too, I've that esteem:
The original impression of my heart,
Who first taught Fondness in my tender Soul;
And linkt it to unspeakable desire:
But you'l not have the power to shun her love,
For there is such Temptation in her Face;
It might perswade a second Angels fall.
Rhe.
Not have the Power, Yes?
Were she bright as the first Glorious Angel,
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Could tire fancy to relate her Beauties,
I have a Soul that would despise her Charms.
Ant.
My Soul disdains a greater then the Princes;
The King Rheusanes has declar'd he loves me:
This Night I am Commanded to receive him;
Nay, order'd to approve his Royal Offers.
Rhe.
By whom?
Ant.
My Father what he intends, I yet am ignorant;
But I must meet him.
Rhe.
Must Antelina?
Ant.
Yes, I must, Rheusanes.
Yet tho' my Fathers Will side with the Kings,
And the King thinks he may compel through him;
I'l meet him with such Faith to what I love,
That he shall never cherish hope in me.
Rhe.
I find the Purpose now of the Kings kindness,
And separating Mischiefs are Contriving;
Oh Antelina! therefore hear me swear,
If our intentions should be frustrated,
By the designs I guess in Agitation;
By that most glorious Ornament of Heav'n,
Which beautifies the Cœling of the World;
The Moment that I loose thee,
[Points to his Sword.
This ends me.
Ant.
And here I swear by the dear,
[kneels.
Freedom which this Glass contains:
[Pulls out the Viol.
(Which I design'd for ease hadst thou been false)
By all the hopes we may not be prevented, if we are,
This Spirit gives me a Release from being.
Rhe.
The Gods prevent the fatal proof of it.
Ant.
Amen with all my Soul.
Rhe.
Your Brother now is with Oryala,
Thou art not dearer to my Soul, then is that Name to his;
I promised him Assistance in his Passion,
And he has vow'd the same where I am Captive;
This Night then Oh! my comfort lets remove,
All fears that may afflict us with our falshoods.
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Ghi.
Ha!
Ant.
I fear it will be difficult to do,
For since the King has publisht his Intentions;
The Clergy will refuse to Licence us.
Rhe.
Without the Walls, you know, there is a Chappel,
That is confirm'd to the Worship of our Swaines;
There only, and only theirs:
This is their time of Feastival and Marrying,
With Rural Sports the Nimphs the Shepherds treat;
And 'tis the custom of that happy Race,
To chuse their Lovers by their Excellence.
Ant.
As how?
Rhe.
As thus, their Ceremonies are attended,
With Antick measures by the Nimphs performed;
Whose motion best delights the eye,
Is pitched on for a Bride, the Swain whom
She affects is streight made hers:
So they proceed to others in their turn,
Continuing Celebrating for three daies;
So masqu'd and drest we will perform amongst 'em,
So chose the Priest shall ratify our Vows.
Ghi.
They shall be ratified to my desires.
Ant.
Then are you constant? Oh! you abus'd dear Man,
My fearful Soul with doubts has been perfect;
Perswaded by my Father thou wert false.
Rhe.
Would he were half so just as I shall prove,
Were less Ambitious.—
Ant.
Or would let us Love.
Rhe.
In spite of him we will our Loves compleat,
Then Triumph o're the envy of the great;
This night at nine within the Cyprus Grove,
Your Father will be busied then at Court.
Ghi.
Do you think so?
Ant.
Fail not, the everlasting Peace or Troubles of my life,
Depend upon thy Truth.
Rhe.
Off with these needless fears,
Oh! that the hour were come to Usher in
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Thy Charms, and dye in the admiring.
Ant.
You must not.—
Rhe.
What?
Ant.
Behold me till to morrow.
Rhe.
Ha!
Ant.
Virgins have Eyes too tender for the Light,
Prithee excuse my Modesty some time:
Let us i'th' Dark receive each others Love.
Rhe.
Thou shalt, I will not shame thee with a Lovers
Question, I will not speak to thee; the thought
Of what's to come does almost silence me;
If apprehension has such influence,
How will the real pleasure wrap my sence?
Ant.
Away.
Rhe.
I cannot.
Ghi.
I must.
[retires from the Balcony.
Ant.
This will not hold thee long;
I shall grow Old.
[Embrace her.
Rhe.
Thou wilt be ever Young.
Enter Page.
Page,
Madam, your Father and the King.
Ant.
Then we must part.
Rhe.
Adieu.
Ant.
Till nine.
Rhe.
That happy Hour,
Shall lead our Loves beyond thy Fathers Power.
[Exit. Rhe.
Ant.
Now for this King, O! my Ambitious Father.
Destructive greatness has bewitch'd his Soul;
And mine must be a Sacrafice to gain it:
Hard fate of Children which are bound to love,
Not what themselves, but Parents do approve.
Enter King and Ghinotto.
Ghi.
'Tis the securest way that can be thought of,
About it then use all thy Art, my Power,
Or what thou shalt think fit.
[Exit. Ghi.
Ant.
How he surveighs me?
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Direct his heart to one not yet engaged.
King,
Fair Excellence.
Ant.
My most honoured Prince.
King,
What brings me here, I'm sensible you know?
Your Father having told you by my Order;
Oh! slight not therefore thou all conquering Maid,
The faithful offerings of a love-bound Heart;
Unhappy only in not being the first,
Was taken Prisoner by those restless eyes.
Ant.
Since by your Royal Order I am sent,
By my one Father here, to wait upon your Pleasure;
To hear (as you are pleas'd to say) your love
Far fitter for an equal Royalty;
With such respect I'l entertain your story,
As does a double Duty now require.
King,
The entertainment of a double Duty,
Can never satisfy my greedy Passion:
Oh! give me but your single love to feed on,
'Twill gratifie my Soul Luxuriously;
But Duty without Inclination serve me.
Ant.
To love my Prince I ever was instructed,
'Twas in my early grounds of living taught;
And nourisht by a natural Inclination.
King.
That love is but an awful Duty still,
Which for a Love like mine I will pay you;
Thus, be Commanded, thus, becomes your Subject,
[kneels
Thus, ever pay your Tribute as my Soveraign.
Ant.
Justly you do disgrace me with this usage,
Puting my backward Duty in Remembrance,
[kneels
Of its neglect in doing thus no sooner.
King,
How cunningly she seems to avoid my meaning;
Rise subtle Beauty, I know this Part's as hard
For you to act, as me to like:
Throw off this art of distance in behaviour,
And give my plain and worthy meanings welcome!
Oh! do not shun the merits of my love,
But meet 'em with a generous Gratitude.
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Impossible!
King,
Pity a Prince who never beg'd before;
Nay, never lov'd till Antelina charm'd him:
As the rich Indies in their secret Pride,
Whilst undiscover'd flourisht and were great;
So was my heart till love surpriz'd it quite,
My richer Peace was fatally betray'd;
And by thy powerful Beauty captive made.
Ant.
The Spaniards who that Wealthy soil subdued,
As the first Conquerours still their Title keep;
I was besieged long time ago by one,
Who came in the persuit of unknown Land:
It was my heart, he was first that found it,
He put such strong Passion in the place,
That nothing e're can Master it again.
King,
Why, I can force thee, storm thee, and destroy
His weak resistance and thy obstinate will;
As easily as I can take my Rivals life:
But I by gentler means would gain thy heart,
And mercifully treat so fair a Foe;
Prithee resign.
Ant.
I dare not.
King,
I will Protect thee for it;
I'l make thee all Ambition can invent,
My Crown, my Glories at thy feet I'l lay.
Ant.
I will not yield, tho' for the crime I perish.
King,
Do not provoke my rage,
Think on thy Duty, on my Power.
Ant.
They'r great Temptations, but they cannot Conquer,
There's something Irresistable within,
Which baffles reason by stubborn fancy;
The rules of what we ought to do dispises,
Or coming all with positive desire.
King,
When two desires both positive alike,
Meet with a Resolution to destroy each other,
Or bring both to one oppinion;
'Tis certain one must loose,
Mine has a Power to back what it pretends to;
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What slighted Love joyn'd with that power can do.
Ant.
Alas, I know it makes a dreadful Tyrant,
Yet I will bear its most persecution,
Rather than prejudice my plighted Faith.
King,
Its Persecution will not light on you;
Suppose I long'd to tast of a fair Fruit,
A sordid Miser would not part with,
Should I for that destroy the Tree that bore it,
No, cut the Keeper off whose interest guards it,
Then satisfie my longings uncontroul'd:
Rheusanes is the Dragon guards this Tree,
Which e're I can possess, first he must die.
[Exit.
Ant.
He's gone, yet wherefore should I dread him,
Rheusanes interest cannot want Protection,
Nor dare this King without good grounds destroy him;
The hour draws on will make him ever mine,
And banish all my cares: Oh Time!
Thou ever marching, yet untired Spirit
Of unaccountable Eternity, start from thy
Constant course to help my Love;
Hast but this once, to give my longings ease,
And be as slow hereafter as you please.
[Exit
Enter King and Oryala.
Ory.
I beg it may not be; yet break it off.
King,
It must be done, Oryala, 'tis too far gone
To be prevented now; you know he has forsaken
Antelina.
Ory.
Indeed he has not, Sir, she still remains
The Idol of his heart; 'tis not an hour since
He parted from her with all the assurance of
His constancy.
King,
No matter for his Constancy;
You follow my directions;
Embrace the offers which I have propos'd,
Or all your interest to the Crown forsakes you.
Ory.
For Honour sake, Sir, let me stand at distance,
Let me not make so mean a Condescension.
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State Policy enforces me to do it;
He's grown too popular and shakes my safety,
Unless I do unite his Power with mine.
Ory.
What comfort can I hope from one that hates me?
King,
I know that you Love him.
Ory.
I must acknowledge my desires are towards him,
Did but his inclinations wait on mine.
But when I think of future disrespect,
Hereafter slights, and distant entertainment,
I of my Love will make a Sacrifice,
Rather then wed the least of these Disturbers.
King,
When it is done, as well he may curse Heav'n,
As meditate indifference towards thy merit.
Ory.
I fear the Event.
King,
Whom I Protect methinks should scorn to fear.
No more of these Excuses, but accept it;
Heirs I must have: I will not Marry for 'em,
Unless thy obstinacy force me to it.
Ory.
Be witness Heav'n in what I must perform;
I cross my own desire to pleasure yours.
King,
About it speedily;
If you refuse, consider I must Wed,
Accept, my Crown devolves upon your head.
[Exit.
Ory.
What shall I do? I long, and yet I fear,
Hate him when present, fond of him not near;
Oh! I am lost between these harsh extreams,
Love drives me downward its impatient streams,
And e're a perfect Voyage I can make,
My will against the Rock of Pride does shake,
Ambition storms, and Honour drives me back.
[Exit.
Enter Ghinotto at one door, Dorenalus at another.
Ghi.
Why this disorder'd carriage in my son?
Heavy disquiet sits upon his brow,
With an unusual solitude admir'd
I will observe him.
Dor.
How am I curst with that disturber Love?
My wretched Heart 'twixt hope and fear is wrackt,
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Ghi.
How's this?
Dor.
If I should tell her of my sufferings,
This eating Feavor which consumes my Youth,
And then instead of pitying, she should scorn me;
Why what a Mock of mankind would it make me;
Who'd Point, and say, That is the haughty Thing,
Who thought his Passion worthy of a Princess,
And fond of the conceit, Undid himself.
Ghi.
Dorenalus!
Dor.
My Lord.
Ghi.
You seem surpriz'd.
Dor.
I did not think of any one so near me.
[Aside.
Ghi.
You were discoursing with your self Dorenalus,
What was the Subject?
Dor.
Only contriving something for the Army.
Ghi.
Is it in Love then?
Dor.
Sir.
Ghi.
My Son!
Dor.
The Army in Love!
Ghi.
Ay in love; you talkt of Passion, Princess, and Conceit,
Are such things proper for an Army?
Dor.
Proper for an Army!
Ghi.
Ay proper Boy; Why dost thou baulk my Questions
With these shiftings, unmannerly repeatings?
Dor.
Duty forbids ill manners to my Father.
Ghi.
Give proper answers then.
What is the cause of your Retirement?
Your shunning Conversation?
Somewhat usurps the custom of your Heart,
Which sullys all your manly Qualities.
Dor.
We are not alwaies Masters of one Temper,
'Tis as the bloods inconstant method pleases:
For from its Springs the fancy takes her current.
Still changing with its Motion.
Ghi.
But still there is a Reason why it changes:
The Ocean never storms without a wind,
Nor does hot Ætna burn without a Fire;
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Do you distrust the friendship of your Father?
That Erringly you would conceal your Troubles.
Dor.
I never had a thought so base within me;
I was considering on Rheusanes falshood,
The Injuries my Sister would receive
By his proud Marriage with Oryala.
Ghi.
He has this Night, in private, sworn to Marry her.
Dor.
Whom, Sir.
Ghi.
Your Sister, 'Tis near his hour of Promise,
And see he's coming this way; although I wish the Match;
I will not own it, nor would I have you seen in it,
Let him accomplish his Design alone,
Least the Displeasure of the King should seize us;
I must attend him instantly.
[Exit. Ghi.
Enter Rheusanes.
Rheu.
Dorenalus!
Dor.
My Lord!
Rhe.
My friend, what still in sadness?
How does the progress of your Love succeed?
How does Oryala take the charming sound?
Dor.
By Heav'n I could not tell her that I lov'd;
My Resolution was with fears o're prest,
And I stood gazing only on a Picture.
Rhe.
Had you no talk?
Dor.
A few uneasie Passages o'th' War,
Joyn'd with the troublesom praise of your desert;
How many excellent faculties were in you
She askt me if you were not brave discreet,
Sincere, gentle, impartial, friendly, pitiful,
I know not what; her whole discourse,
All questions were of you, and much ado
I answered yes to all.
Rhe.
Come, lead me to thy Sister; when I'm hers,
Who knows but the exchange may raise
The Passion of the deluded Princess to that height,
She may in scorn to me accept thy love,
Thinking thy Greatness may my Ruin prove.
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The hope of that is all my comfort now.
I must attend my Father, who tho' he knows
The depth of your design would have it thought,
He does not; that when the business is declar'd
To th'King, he may with equal strangeness be surpriz'd.
Rhe.
Farewel, then till to Morrow;
Oh Dorenalus! the fears I have my wishes may,
Miscarry nothing can recompence:
But Antelina.
Dor.
She is by this time in the Cypress Grove,
May secresy and safety wait upon you.
Rhe.
Like a Rich Miser with his hoarded store,
Bound to remove it to some distant part;
Which e're he can arrive at must pass through,
All neeessary Waies for Villains purposes:
His fears Transform each Bush into a Foe,
Waiting to Plunder him of all his Wealth;
So will my passage with your Sister be,
But when the uneasie timerous March is past,
And I attain my wisht for Home at last:
With greedy Joy my Treasure I'l survey,
Whilst Love shall pass the safe got Hours away.
Exeunt severally.
End of the Second Act.
| The Injur'd Lovers : or, the Ambitious Father | |