 | The Injur'd Lovers : or, the Ambitious Father |  |
ACT III.
SCENE I.
Enter Dorenalus meeting a Page.Dor.
Is your Lord stiring?
Page,
He's coming forth, Sir.
Enter Rheusanes, They Embrace.
Dor.
Good morning to my Friend, Health to his Pleasures,
May everlasting comfort Crown his choice;
With fresh delights still growing with his daies.
Rhe.
Oh! my friend.
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May thy desires like mine be gratified,
With all the abundance of a Covetuous Love.
Dor.
Let fortune entertain me as she pleases,
Since I am satisfied my friend is just:
Doubly you have oblig'd our Family,
That could forgo so charming a Temptation;
To make my Sister and my self thus happy.
Rhe.
Doubly I have obliged my self in that,
Serving my Friend and blessing of my self;
The comfortable joys I have receiv'd,
Nothing can match but this ensuing night,
Greedy of Love I curst the hasty day:
Wishing the Sun his Thetis lap might want,
When he most long'd to cool his eager fire.
Dor.
Lets see this happy Bride?
Rhe.
I have not that my self nor must till the,
King enters; i'th' Dark, I was conducted to her;
And cause I should not see her in the Morning,
She hurried me into an outward Room:
Begging in whispers that I would obey.
Dor.
Maids the first night are liable to shame,
And would not have their bashfulness perceiv'd;
But quickly use instructs 'em to be bold,
Knowledge inflames what ignorance made cold.
Rhe.
You are experienc'd Brother, where's the King?
Dor.
The King is coming full of his gratitude,
For your great Merrits, the Princess too,
They say's as fond as he to recompence 'em;
The affected Court looks like a Theatre,
Where gaudy greatness struts in ample manner;
Each seeming Courtier that could credit get,
Looks like an heir of Quality.
Rhe.
Tho' to my longings happily I'm matcht,
I must the goodness of my Master Honour;
Since his intentions were so full of greatness,
He did surprize the Merrits of my service;
As much as he o'reweigh'd 'em,
23
Dor.
The best of Honours Offices you had,
And well he knew 'twas she alone could mend 'em;
Yet, if I thought Rheusanes did repent.—
Rhe.
Repent! You cannot think so basely of your friend,
'Tis an incumbent debt upon our Duty,
To thank the good affections of our Prince;
That when the just acknowledgment is made,
The honest Conscience rests secure from censure;
So far I'm from repenting what is done,
That had I Antelina never seen,
With decency I would have shun'd the Princess.
Dor.
Why?
Rhe.
Such Royal Matches have to Subjects given,
Fatal Pretentions to disturb a State:
And private families have factions rais'd,
To question that which if they had a right to;
So much Precedency was then in being,
That probably their distant Alienation
Might perish e're a second heir was Crown'd.
Dor.
These Reasons Oppositions are to me,
Not to desire the Princess.
Rhe.
If without jealousie I might perswade,
I'd beg thee to desist; Oh! my Brother,
Ambitions portion is Tumultuous cares,
Endless disorder, never resting forecast;
Still plotting to maintain their envy'd greatness,
And how to make it greater:
Seek out some Beauty equal to thy Birth,
Even in temper charming in decent Duty;
Whose courteous care shall still her Lords attend,
Endeavouring to divert those do disturb him.
Enter Page.
Page,
My Lord the King.
Rhe.
Now my Brother let us stem this storm,
And fear shall ne're disturb us for the future.
Dor.
Twere fit I should retire till the discoveries over.
Rhe.
Do then, and pray for our success.
[Exit. Dor.
24
King,
Not ready yet Rheusanes? trust me were some to
Wed so rich a Bride they would not be so backward;
For shame more speed.
Rhe.
I'm ready, Sir,—come forth my blessing,
I could not loose a Night of so much goodness;
My Love o'recame my Manners and my Duty,
Which here I must implore a Pardon for.
[kneels.
King,
For what?
Rhe.
For stealing of a Bride without your presence,
And tho' the Mercy of my Prince forsake me;
Here is a Father sure will plead for me.
Ghi.
My Lord!
Rhe.
My Father, will you not own me, Sir?
King,
What means he?
Ghi.
I cannot guess?
King,
Rheusanes.
Rhe.
Ay, Sir, Rheusanes, your Loyal Subject,
And that good Mans Son; why art so slow?
My joy in what must be, come forth
And stand it with thy Lords assurance.
King,
Thou art not well, Rheusanes.
Rhe.
Never so well so happy or so blest,
Since the first airing of my sences, Sir.
Goes and leads in Oryala, vail'd.
This is the happy Author of my Transport,
Here must we sue for Pardon; here for
Blessing.—
[Points to the King and Ghi.
King,
Unvail this Ridle
[she unvails her self.
Oryala.
Ghi.
The Princess!
Rhe.
Convulsions choak me.
[aside.
King,
Rise my intentions Fair,
You might have trusted General your Prince;
I should not have prevented what is done:
Credit me Sister, you were in hast for love,
That could not stay till morning to confirm it,
But I forgive your secresie, Rheusanes:
25
Rhe.
And Heir to all Misfortune.
King,
When were ye Wedded?
Ory.
Last night, Sir, at the Shepherds Chappel;
We did perform too in their innocent sport,
And were according to their custom marry'd,
Being disguis'd as Partners in their Living.
King,
Pretty diversions sure and innocent:
It shews the Emblem of long happiness.
Rhe.
Of long Confusion.
[Aside.
King,
Be not dismay'd, Rheusanes, I am pleas'd.
Rhe.
I know it.
King,
And for a Proof, my liking is with thine;
Three daies we dedicate to Revelling;
And to divert the intervals of Feasting,
We'l have the Ceremony of the Swains,
By the best Artists of our Land perform'd.
And you Oryala must instructions give;
Triumphant pleasures shall our streets adorn;
Our Altars shall with richest Incense burn;
A general Feastival the Land shall keep,
And waking Joy deny the God of Sleep:
I will give Orders for the vast delight,
And wait my self as Brideman to this Night.
Exeunt all but Rheusanes.
Rheu.
A fatal meaning bore that pamper'd speech,
And his pretended Honours for this Match,
Are but as Prologue to his own Performance,
The fancy'd Scene 'twixt him and Antelina:
Methinks I bear my losses evenly,
With an indifferent Temper till my Ruin,
As if my faculties were tyr'd with raving;
Why should I not curse out on all above,
To draw a Bolt that might destroy the Curser.
Enter Dorenalus.
Dorenalus comes! why let him come,
No Plague can go beyond the store I have.
Crosses the Stage looking at Rheusanes.
26
From him I have most wrong'd,
When a brave Soul's opprest does it not speak,
Does it not strive to rectifie its wrongs,
With a just punishment on the Inflictor;
I am beneath his wrath, curst Wretch indeed,
Too base to live, and yet too loath'd to bleed.
Re-enter Dorenalus.
Dor.
I cannot go till I have told my wrongs,
How much I suffer by his Perjury,
And when I've lasht his Soul with my Complaints,
I'l ease my own of care, and of the World.
Rheu.
He comes again; Oh! thou just fearful heart,
Which trembles like a Wretch who dreads his Sentence,
When his own Conscience tells him he is guilty.
Dor.
Sir.
Rhe.
How Awkardly he does affect this strangeness!
Dor.
General.
Rhe.
Again.
Dor.
My Lord, Rheusanes!
Rhe.
Ridiculous.
Dor.
Will you not speak?
Rhe.
To whom?
Dor.
A Friend.
Rhe.
There is but one has Title to that Name,
And him I've too much wrong'd to see his face.
Dor.
Turn, Oh perfidious! for you cannot shun me;
As well may Sinners, at the last sad Day,
Endeavour to obscure themselves from Judgment,
As you avoid my Injuries accusation.
Rhe.
What wouldst thou have?
Dor.
I would relate the story of my wrongs,
Than part for ever from thy Perjur'd presence.
Rhe.
Go on then and be quick;
And when you've scourg'd me as you think enough,
Send Antelina to correct me more.
Dor.
Oh! Thou hast wrong'd that Innocence
27
To the Gods for mercy.
Rhe.
I know't, and therefore do despair of any:
Alas, Iv'e shaken hands with Hope long since,
Have taken leave of Comfort; there's nothing
That's related to Content but I have quarrel'd with.
I have made a League with Anguish and Despair;
The Devil drew the Articles, all Hell witnessed 'em,
And I despise the malice of the Stars.
Dor.
Grown mad! or dost affect it?
Rhe.
Neither; but have I not enough to make me so,
To find thee here a worrying of my Conscience.
To hear thee bark my Perjuries against me;
To see thy Sister lost to all recovery;
To find my self betray'd I know not how;
Yet to be thought designer of the Plot,
Would make a mortal temper sure distracted.
But mine's Prodigious!
Dor.
This will not do, Rheusanes, I call to mind
Your reasons lately urg'd 'gainst my admiring Oryala,
Could any but a Husband Preach such Doctrine;
Jealous of losing what was in possession.
Endeavouring to divert my thoughts elsewhere,
The Imposition is so gross and base,
You cannot think me man to hear the Lie.
Rhe.
By all my Woes, I am as ignorant as you.
Dor.
Impossible!
Oh! how you hung on the related Joyes
You had possest the last dear happy night.
With such delight you dwelt upon the Tale,
You tasted 'em again in the description;
Yet Ignorant! Curses blast thee.
Rhe.
Do.
Dor.
The Curse of Expectation without success,
Of inward Love not daring to discover,
The Curse of Want, with Pride to hide its longings,
Gaul thy false heart, and rot thy canker'd Soul.
Rhe.
As heartily as home; Oh! for some means.
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Quite forget all bounds and kill me.
[Aside.
Thou hast done well, disgrac'd my Honour as thy
Heart desir'd; but say no more, lest my rouz'd
Temper should forget all mercy, and pay thy folly
With a sad Revenge.
Dor.
If I would fight with you, your Guilt's so great.
Your Sword would never pierce my honest flesh.
Rhe.
That shall be try'd, for now I recollect,
Your Sister was before design'd the King's;
And when I askt you to go with me to her,
You did deny it as your Father's Order.
By Heav'n you were assistant in the Cheat;
You were the Bawd, the Mercenary Bawd,
And chaffer'd with Preferment for your Sister.
Dor.
Your Oath to this, resembles those you swore
To that deluded Maid.
Asham'd of Life, you would provoke a Death,
To drive you from the Terrors of your Conscience,
Thou hast a Fiend now whispers in thy ear,
Thou art damn'd, Despair and die.
Rhe.
Audacious upstart, dar'st thou talk unarm'd?
Draw, or through thy breast I will pursue my Sword,
Till the sharp Point find thy false heart.
Dor.
Sooner you'l bury it within that breast;
But here's a faithful one would fain embrace it;
Keep me not on the Wrack thus miserably,
But give the stroke of mercy and relieve me.
Rhe.
Thou art a Coward.
Dor.
Therefore kill me lest I spoil the Army.
Rhe.
A Slave would sell thy Country for a Dollar.
Dor.
Let thy Sword prevent it.
Rhe.
Procurer for thy Sister!
Dor.
Now revenge thy self for I did steal her
For the King and Robb'd thee.
Rhe.
Oh! I desire no more, you Sup this night in Hell,
With all your Sins attending you with Torments;
But first I'l as a Villain and a Coward use thee.
29
[strikes him.
Dor.
Hold thee a Minute.
Rhe.
Draw then.
Dor.
I will.
[draws.
And that I may not be provok't by any
Usage you'l inflict on me, I here resign
What might protect me from it,
[throws him his Sword.
Now Rheusanes—
Rhe.
Death, Hell, and Vengance I'l endure no longer,
Come to my Arms thou injur'd Innocence:
[kneels
Oh! Pardon, Pardon, my last frantick Measures.
Dor.
Oh! rise my Lord, and do not mock my Sufferings.
Rhe.
By all thy martyr'd Patience it is real;
Nor will I rise till I hear Pardon from thee.
Dor.
For what?
Rhe.
I struck thee Friend.
Dor.
I have forgot it.
Rhe.
Disgrac't thy Honour.
Dor.
I think not of it—Oh! Rheusanes but no more.
Rhe.
Yes, I will talk for ever on thy goodness,
Angels Protect and Guide thee in all thy Waies;
And everlasting happiness attend thee.
Dor.
Now I am happy, the utmost I desir'd was to part
Friends, to make you sensible of what you had
Done and then to leave you.
Rhe.
Leave me.
Dor.
For ever, and for ever, we must part,
Oh! Rheusanes to stay in sight of such a loss as mine;
Would tempt me to do something Base and Damnable.
Rhe.
Time may alter.
Dor.
Nor Time, nor Fate, can alter my condition,
Would the Law serve so far as to divorce you;
Would the King after give Oryala
To these (Oh! curst remembrance) once most longing arms;
It would not bear the name of recompence;
The Treasures gone which I so much ador'd,
And tho' she may that ne're can be restor'd,
Rhe.
Are there no means to help us.
30
None but parting if thou art Innocent,
The Gods reward thee with some future blessing.
Rhe.
How can you bless what you so lately Curst?
Dor.
'Twas only to provoke you to destroy me.
Rhe.
My usage had the same design on you.
Dor.
Farewel.
How hard it is to part with what we Love,
Oh! had the Princess never been thy wife;
Had she been any others, had she been lewd,
As the worst Womans fancy,
This bosom would have given my Troubles ease;
But Oh! Rheusanes,
Who will not pitty that shall read my end,
Rob'd of my Mistriss by my only friend.
Exit. Doren.
Rhe.
Wilt thou not hide me Earth?
[falls down.
Enter Oryala.
Ory.
Yonder he lies; Curst, Curst, Ghinotto, how hast
Thou betrai'd me
Thou irresistable and Cruel Power?
Which has so partially confin'd my heart,
If you would have it faithful to your Worship;
Give ear to the Intercession of my Love:
And make me happy in this Lords affection.
For if that scorn does still possess his Soul,
I'l fly to th'refuge of a just revenge,
And will despise thee equal to his slights.
Rhe.
Oryala, how my Plagues grow upon me!
Ory.
Oh! Rise Rheusanes, is this a Bed for a Royal
Bridegroom.
Rhe.
No, but for a Perjur'd one it is
Made wretched by thy means.
Prithee befriend me and withdraw thy terrors;
There are ten thousand Mischiefs in thy presence.
Ory.
I am no Basilisk.
Rhe.
Oh! that you were, you would be comfortable to
These Eyes, and ease 'em of the Torment of beholding.
Ory.
Are these the Pleasures I must hope from Marriage?
Rhe.
Why didst thou Marry me?
[Rises.
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Because I lov'd, because I could not live
In peace or rest without you.
Rhe.
Oh! you will never with me,
My wrongs to Antelina cry for Justice;
And Envy grins to see me so unhappy.
Ory.
Oh, Rheusanes!
Rhe.
Oh, Oryala! I dare not call thee Wife,
It is too much to know thou art that thing.
With what afflictions hast thou loaded me,
I groan beneath the burthen of my thoughts,
And am not able to endure the Torture!
Hell! Hell that owns me! why dost let me live!
Ory.
Oh! Chide me if you must a little gentlier!
I cannot suffer these unequal Passions
From one I Love so much.
Rhe.
What wouldst thou have me do?
There is no Medium in my Miseries;
My Friend to my Dorenalus my promis'd Brother;
That Soul of Honour, Constancy, and Friendship
Have I beyond recovery lost and ruin'd.
Ory.
How have you ruin'd him? I can perceive
No ruin but my own.
Rhe.
He lov'd you Princess, he indeed ador'd you,
Your Name was his delight, your sight his food;
I swore to him I'd never wrong his hopes,
And the same Night for ever ruin'd 'em.
Ory.
His Love was only known to himself and you,
I could not answer what I never knew;
Yet if I had been acquainted with his Love,
You could not think I would have cherisht it;
You were the only Subject I could stoop to,
Look back upon my Generosity:
Reflect upon my Care for your Preferment,
Private you came unheaded to the Court,
Till my regarding Eye your Person chose,
And to my Brothers favour did present you.
Rhe.
You have sold that goodness at too dear a Rate.
Ory.
Oh! say not so,
32
Pitty what under the same load does move;
By all the Joys you coveted last night,
When with your eager Arms you Prest me close.—
Rhe.
Those Joys do prove my greatest Torments,
Oh! if our scatter'd Loves have chance to meet,
And fill'd thee with the Image of thy wishes;
May it be blasted at its dawn of light,
And stifled as 'tis crawling to the World.
Ory.
Consider who I am.
Rhe.
Thou art my Wife, my Wretched unintended Wife,
Fortune that Bawd to accidents has
Slur'd thee on me.
Ory.
I am thy Princess too.
Rhe.
No, you were, Oh! that you still had born
That awful Name, I still had paid Obedience
To your will; but now I Rule, I Reign,
And Lord it o're thee as becomes my pleasure;
What hast thou done? thou hast sold thy freedom,
To a Tyrant Husband, who alwaies will misuse thee.
Ory.
When I intreat again I give thee leave,
Oh! where has all my injur'd Honor slept,
Or how have I been charm'd into Submission?
Rouze, Rouze, my temper shake thy fondness off,
And punish the offenders of thy quiet,
Thou little less than Man, how I despise thee?
Rhe.
Thou something more than Woman, how
I hate thee?
Ory.
By the resentment of an Injur'd Love,
I will have justice done me;
Thou Weed of Nature crept into the Earth,
To Canker and Disturb the Royal seed.
Villain Ghinotto, thus to wrong my Honor,
Hadst thou been Faithful, but I find thee now,
And will prevent thy hopes if possible;
The poor deluded and forsaken Queen,
When she beheld her false Eneas sail;
Felt nothing like the anguish of my heart,
33
But Monster think not by my self I'l fall.
Thy Antelina, she shall be the Pile
On which I'l burn, and as I burn I'l smile.
[Exit.
Rhe.
How much we both are wrong'd
By one curs'd Villain, Ghinotto is the Instrument
Of mischief, which wrought us to the ruin of
Each other: for Royalty he has his daughter
Kept, and in her room contriv'd this wretched Princess.
In what have I offended Heav'n, that it should suffer
Such injustice towards me.
[Shout.
Heark! there may be Comfort
In that Aclamation.
Oh! for a general Insurrection now,
That I might plunge into some terrible Confusion,
Where I might hide my self in multitudes,
And lie forgotten 'mongst the dirty Crowd.
Enter Antelina.
[Shout.
Ant.
Where e're I go the Joy disturbs my ears,
That is Proclaim'd for false Rheusanes Match;
These Ceremonies once were meant for me,
And all the Land call'd me the Generals Love,
But now his Scorn; Oh, Potent oppositions
How have you prevail'd?
Rheusanes kneels and takes hold on her.
Ha! my destruction here some Power protect—
[Offers to go
Rhe.
Turn thee, Oh turn, thou injur'd Innocence,
Encline thine Ear to a repenting Sinner;
I'm in a Maze of crooked Miseries lost,
Nor can I find the thred that leads to rest,
Unless thy merciful forgiveness guide me.
Ant.
Pray give me freedom.
Rhe.
Gods! what a look was there!
The Sword of Justice Threatens in her eyes,
And my Soul fears to look on her again.
Ant.
Pray let me go, my Lord;
Suppose the Princess saw you in this posture,
The Jealousie 'twould raise might fatal prove
And I should be more curs'd than now I am,
34
To make a difference 'twixt man and Wife;
Pray loose me.
Rhe.
I cannot like a poor Wretch whose Soul
Has given him Warning; I grasp my hold
With all the wracking cramps of Lifes Convulsions.
Ant.
Disgrace grow to thee.
Rhe.
Well said.
Ant.
The Curses that thy Perjuries deserve,
The punishment that's due to thy false Sex,
May Heav'n reserve them all for single Thee.
Rhe.
Go on.
Ant.
Let me then.
[Pulls to get from him.
Rhe.
Not that way; but in thy Curses
In thy rage go on; curse till fierce Jove
Thy Combatant step forth and strikes this Villain
Breathless at thy feet—Yet stay.
Ant.
I will not.
Rhe.
You shall.
Ant.
I must not.
Rhe.
I am innocent; betray'd by Fortune,
By your Father—
Ant.
Away.
Rhe.
Will you not hear me then?
Ant.
Nothing, nothing, the King—
Rhe.
The King!
Ant.
Ay, the King stays for me; stays to make me
Great, to make me—Off, or I'l call for help.
Rhe.
Then go.
[He lets go. Exit. Ant.
The Pomp you seek, wait for you;
I find it all, and yet I am not mad;
Oh! I was born sure when the Gods were angry;
And in their Rage they fix'd this curse upon me.
Heark! I am call'd
[Musick Flourishes.
To th'Banquet: I must go
With all the unwillingness of gaul'd aversion;
But with what Joy should I my Sences Feast,
If I were sure to be a Poyson'd Guest.
[Exit.
35
Ant.
I did not well to leave him unresolv'd,
Surely there was sincerity in's Carriage;
It look'd Romantique, yet it might be real.
He talk'd of Father, Fortune, being betray'd;
My fears provoke me strangely to think ill.
Oh! if their purpose should be prov'd, I'm lost,
With poor Rheusanes equally undone!
What he entreated me to hear, I'l know,
And if I find him cheated, as I guess,
I will go Partner in his Resolutions.
Enter King and Ghinotto.
King,
Fair Antelina!
Ghi.
Daughter?
Ant.
Sir.
Ghi.
Do you not hear the King?
Ant.
The King!
King,
Once he was so, but Love has stript him of his Royalty,
Invaded are his vast Prerogatives,
By thy deposing beauty.
Ant.
Invaded are my vast Prerogatives,
The power I had over Rheusanes heart,
Your rigid pleasure has undone for ever.
King,
My rigid pleasure!
Ant.
Whose else? Oh! you have undone me!
Upon my youthful hopes stampt old Despair:
In one pernicious hour ruin'd the purpose of my
Labouring Soul, which since my eyes could judge,
Pray'd for Rheusanes.
King,
You pray'd for one who little did deserve it,
And scorn the only person truly loves you:
Would I had been Rheusanes, and he King,
I ne're had left the blessings of thy Love,
For all the Pomp o'th' spacious Universe.
Ant.
I fear Rheusanes knew not the Design,
But was betray'd into the dark mistake,
Else why was I lock'd up that very hour
I was to meet him to confirm our Vows.
36
Can you believe that Husbands were so scarce,
My Sister wedded him for fear of none.
Ghi.
How e're his flatteries have prevail'd
Upon your Credulous and inclining heart,
The Cheat is plain to an impartial mind.
King,
Were she unprejudic'd, I could produce
Such natural and unerring demonstration
As credit could not shun.
Ant.
Could I be satisfied with a belief
Rais'd from a Reasonable and unbyassed Test,
Rheusanes were consenting to the deed—
King.
What recompence shall wait the satisfier,
If I should prove he were the sole Contriver.
Ant.
I'l never think on the false Wretch again.
King,
May I not hope advancement for my sufferings.
Ant.
Oh! Press me not too much;
If you should justifie what you have said,
My Task will be sufficient to forget him.
King,
I will not press thee more my long'd for Bride,
But rest in the assurance of his falshood,
Which shall alone plead for me.
Ghi.
By Heav'ns I'l force her—
King,
Forbear, Ghinotto, and divert a while
My Absence from the Banquet; be free
In welcoming the Bridal Guests, and represent
Your Prince (your Son that shall be, if this
Lady pleases) with an untir'd bounty towards all.
Come hard Believer, if I do not prove
Rheusanes false, I'l quit my claim to Love.
Ghi.
Now Princess sink, and Daughter Ride above.
Exeunt severally.
End of the Third Act.
| The Injur'd Lovers : or, the Ambitious Father | |