University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

The Dutchess in black, lying on Carpets, her hair loose, leaningon a Deaths head, a Book in her hand, and the Picture of a Magdalen over her Oratory.
Dutch.
O Alouisia! wretched by thy fall,
Wretched by thy tormenting life, that canst
Survive thy honour, and thy happiness.
My Soul hangs trembling on my Lips;
And yet I cannot sigh it from me.
But here, here comes my angry Lord,
The just avenger of his wrongs,
And fatal punisher of my misdeeds.
Enter Duke.
Welcom, my Lord, whose presence heretofore
Was wont to give new life and joy to Alouisia,
But now most welcom, now you come arm'd,
With punishment to end a painful life.

Duke.
No, live Alouisia—

Dutc.
O mix not Cruelty with Justice.
Let me not languish out a life in Torment.
Behold me prostrate at your Feet—My Head
Bow'd low to Earth—Cheeks wet with Tears,
And Heart o're-charg'd with sorrow,
Your penitent offender meets her Fate.

Duke.
Live, live Dutchess, I pronounce it.
Let mercy be as great a wonder to thee,
As are thy Crimes to me.

Dutch.
Live! Oh presumption!

Duke.
Come, I'll lay my self down by thee:
We'll talk a while.—

Dutch.
Come not too near, my infectious breath will blast
All Virtue—but the Noble Frederico's.

Duke.
Peace; why are you thus all habited in black?
And why thus mournfully attended?

Dutch.
To solemnize the funeral of my honour, and my self.

Duke.
That you have err'd I know,
That you repent I do believe:
The wanness of your Cheeks, and anguish of your Heart,
Do shew the sad affliction of your Mind.
Live then.
Mercy is due to the first Crime of Penitents.

Dutch.
Your Mercy gives a Life I do not merit,
And spares a Death that I deserve with pain.

Duke.
The Memory that you was once most dear,
Dear as my life, now gives you life:
Then Dutchess hope, hope what I dare not speak,
And I will wish your hopes may all succeed.
Who waits?
Enter Amidea and Florella. The Duke takes a Letter out of his pocket, and holds it in his hand. Speaks as they all may hear.
Attend the Dutchess to her Chamber.
Ah, Alouisia, thy fate indeed was hard,
Never to know the greatness of your Parents,
Till that sad minute, which gives at once
The knowledge of their Names, and of their Death.
Farewell: E're night I'll visit you again.

Exit.
Flor.
Oh Amidea, the secret of the Dutchess Grief
And sudden Alteration is at last made known.

Dut.
Lead me for I am faint and overcome with Grief.

Am.
Heaven ease your Cares, and send your mind relief.

Exeunt.
Enter Alfonso.
Alf.
My mind is toss'd in a rough Sea of doubts.
I live, but know not the reason why,
I fear the Duke only preserves my life,
To make my death more horrid.
O mystery! The Adulterer goes unpunish'd,
And the offending Wife received to Grace!
When the offended smiles on the offenders,
It shows their Ruin near.
Oh! Love! Oh Dutchess! Oh Alfonso!

Enter Duke.
Duke.
My Lord, commend my Duty to our Master,
This to your Charge I do commit

[Gives him a Letter
Alf.
Most noble Fredrico thy hand,
My heart, my life, are all at thy Command.

Duke.
What further service you may do me,
As we pass my Vineyards, I'll impart.
Your Coach is order'd to the Park Gate,
So far I will conduct you.

Alf.
How generously you conquer Souls.
You load me with Honours, and I blush for shame.

Exeunt.
Enter Amidea, Florella
Flo.
She sleeps still, but sighs abundantly.

Am.
Sure she's very tender-hearted.
That Grief can make so great an alteration.
In the morning how lively were her Eyes,
Her Lips, how rosie; and her Cheeks were spread
Like the Fields of beauty, all pleasure to the Eye.

Flor.
Ah the difference in a woman,
When she's in a good humour:
What a charge there's now?

Am.
Her eyes clouded with Tears,
Her lids so swell'd, no charming light breaks thro;
Her Cheeks all smear'd, like Meadows that have
Been o'reflow'd with hasty Rains.

Flo.
Shuns company, nothing but weeps and prays,
As if she thought her latest hour was come.

Am.
If this holds she can't live.

Flor.
Ah Amidea, the world may think, and think,
But a small thing won't break a womans heart.
Prithee let's leave this melanholly subject,
And talk of other matters.

Am.
What Florella?—

Flor.
Of the handsome young Lord was here to day:
Eyes ne're beheld a more lovely person.

Am.
Cou'd you think so, Florella, and not be mov'd
With thoughts that make young Virgins blush:
Conscious their wishes bear a Guilt,
That wrongs their Modesty.

Flor.
Heavens preserve me Chaste, had one word,
One tempting word, faln from those lips,
Or the soft language of his eyes exprest
A willing mind, I had flown thro Air.
Precepts of Chastity and Honour
Are taught in vain, where such strong Charms invite.

Am.
You are transported, Florella.
Hark; I hear the Dutchess stirring:
[A Bell sounds.
She rings for us.

Exeunt.
Enter Duke, Alfonso.
Duke.
That, my Lord is my new Lodge,
Where I intend to pass my evening hours.

Alf.
A delightful situation.

Duke.
If you receive no orders from the Duke
For your return, let my Invitation
Bring you here to night:
Society will strengthen our new Friendship.

Alf.
You load me with favours.

Duke.
We'll sup together. I've order'd Musick,
The hours shall slide away with pleasure;
In soft delights we'll bury all our cares.
You'll be my Guest—

Alf.
I promise—

Duke.
Your, hand Alfonso—

Alf.
My heart, most generous Frederico.
Embrace.
Most noble Duke of Radiano!

Enter Rodrigo in disguise, with two Ruffians.
Rod.
That, that's the Traytor Alfonso:
You two dispatch him.

Alf.
Ha, am I at last betray'd! Fond Credulity:
[Draws
I won't dye without defence—

Duke.
Courage, Alfonso, my Sword shall be your Guard.

Alf.
What new wonder's this?

Rod.
This way, Sir, they'll dispatch him presently.

Duke.
Slave, there's a dispatch for you.

The Duke engages betwixt'em, and drives Rod. at distance: Rod. retreating with design, feigning only to fight, whilst Alfonso fights the other two.
Rod.
Oh, why have you kill'd me?

Duke.
Valiant Alfonso, they've now
[Duke turns to Alf. side.
No odds—

1 Ruff.
Rodrigo kill'd!

2 Ruff.
The Duke against us! we are betray'd.

1 Ruff.
Fly Comrade, fly.

The two Ruff. run off.
Alf.
Flight shall not save you, Murderous Villains.

Duke.
Pursue no farther than that rising ground;
Then let your eyes observe what way they take.
[Exit Alf.
Livest thou Rodrigo? Speak.

Rod.
Fate lends me one short gasp of breath,
To ask the reason why I have my death.

Duke.
How thankless is the office of a Spy.
Spys ruin whom they serve: they are the cause
Of Murders, and the bane of Families:
No man was e're made happy by 'em yet;
The guilty and the injur'd both undone.

Rod.
Faithful service ill repaid.

Duke.
Thy death was necessary:
You were Master of a secret;
Which I wou'd not have known my self:
The knowledge of my shame hung on thy Tonque,
Each blast of breath had blown it thro the world;
But dying that dyes with thee.

Rod.
O! O!—

Rod. dyes.
Duke.
Farewell Spy.

Re-enter Alfonso.
Alf.
The Villains were too nimble of foot,
They're out of sight already,
Their Coast was Westward.

Duke.
Here lies the Ingineer of this design
The officious Slave was Rodrigo.
Gentleman of my Chamber, he was the Spy.
Brought me the fatal intelligence;
Stop there my Tongue—
This Villain with his dying breath confest,
That fearing my forgiving nature,
He laid this Ambush to surprize your life.

Alf.
Each Circumstance confirms the truth.
Forgive me, generous Duke, if my first thoughts
Transgress'd, and sinn'd 'gainst Gratitude and you:
But when you nobly interpos'd your arm,
And shar'd an equal danger with me:
Shame cover'd me all o're, and I'm still confus'd.

Duke.
Ignoble minds work by ignoble ways.
The brave and generous act without deceit.

Alf.
These are most gracious favours.
Tho you refus'd the forfeit of my life,
To give it me a second time;
With hazard of your own, is most surprizing.

Duke.
The life I gave, I may with right call mine;
And what is mine, my Honoor will defend.

Alf.
You act like Cæsar. Oh wonder in nature,
That fiercest rage should turn to perfect love!

Duke.
So greatest love to greatest hatred turns:
Riddles in Feature, that puzzle Philosophy.
Now I dismiss you—
Your Servants and your Coach are here—
Remember, Alfonso,
Who prophanes Friendship commits Sacriledge.

Alf.
You call him Friend, that is your Slave.

Duke.
No Alfonso, let Females be our Slaves:
Men can be grateful, when they are oblig'd;
But Woman never.

Alf.
My Gratitude, like my Soul, shall be Eternal.

Duke.
My Friendship lasting as your Silence—No more:
Till evening I take my leave—

Alf.
Your Grace commands Alfonso.

Alfonso's Servants appear with Fidalbo.
Exeunt severally.
Enter Dutchess, supported by Flor. and Amid.
Dutch.
Reach me a Chair—Leave me—

[Sits down.
Am.
We wait without.

Dutch.
No, stay—But observe your distance—
What Rigor shall punish the excess of Love;
That wrongs the Matrimonial vow.
And what reward for Chastity,
Aside to her self.
That was preserv'd by loss of Life.

Flor.
She's very thoughtful.

Am.
Let us be very silent, lest we disturb her more.

Dutch.
Away there with that Sophonisba
And Zanobia, and Firma there,
That Flower-piece too: I like 'em not.

Looks wildly about, as imagining Pictures.
Amid,
She fancies Pictures, and there's none.

Dut.
Take 'em away;—No stay you by me:
For my Lord is absent, and my mind
Wanders I know not where.

Flor.
Her sences are disorder'd.

Dut.
A Song to lull my troubled thoughts asleep.

A SONG to the Dutchess.

Dut.
Who can give ease to a distracted mind.

Am.
Madam the Duke.

Enter Duke.
Dut.
Retire—Your Grace is welcome.

Florella and Amid. withdraw.
Duke.
Not always so—

Dutch.
Excuse me, my Lord;
Love first taught me that lesson.

Duke.
Lust soon untaught what Love had learn'd.

Dutch.
What says your Grace!

Duke.
Excuse me, I was thinking—
What are you doing?

Dutch.
My task is great: and I have much to do.

Duke.
What, Alouisia?

Dutch.
To repent, to dye.

Duke.
That is indeed hard for a woman.

Dutch.
What, to repent?

Duke.
No; to dye in the flower of her youth.

Dutch.
My fault deserves death.

Duke.
Your fault is pardon'd.

Dutch.
By Heaven I hope—Heaven knows the heart.

Duke.
By me too; speak no more on't.

Dutch.
I must ever think on't.

Duke.
When the offended forgives the offender;
Let the offender forget the offence.

Dut.
But not that Noble generosity
With which he pardon'd the offender.

Duke.
First faults may be forgiven—
Faults once forgiven are pardon'd ever.
Dutchess, let's discourse of something else.

Dut.
Of any thing, my Lord shall please.

Duke.
Of love—the love you have for me.

Dut.
We shall then speak of an infinite.

Duke.
'Twas finite once.

Dutch.
I mean not past Love, but the present:
That new birth of Love, created in my Soul,
By your excess of Goodness

Duke.
Tell me, how d'ye love me?

Dut.
As my immortal Being.

Duke.
Are you sure you don't hate me.

Dut.
My self I hate—

Duke.
Why?

Dut.
For offending you.

Duke.
Will you offend no more?

Dut.
May Heaven—

Duke.
I believe you—

Dut.
With Joy I hear you,
And here I swear Eternal truth.

Duke.
And I Eternal love.

Dut.
Give me this hand for pledge.

Duke.
Give me this hand for pledge.

Duke.
And with it too my heart.

Dut.
Bless'd Reconcilement.
Angels Witness our Accord.

Duke.
Wonder not, there's Magick in Beauty.

Dut.
And harmony in Love.

Duke.
Our Love is now compleat—

Dut.
Not till I'm reinstated—Oh I dare not name where.

Duke.
That shall be—

Dut.
When?

Duke.
This night

Dut.
Can it be?

Duke.
It shall be: mark me: one Bed shall hold both.

Dut.
Sun, hasten on thy Course.

Duke.
Darkness, advance—

Dutch.
Reward your Goodness Heaven:
And bless my noble Lord.

Duke.
I take my leave.

Dutch.
Where goes your Grace?

Duke.
I Sup at my Vineyards.

Dutch.
When will you return?

Duke.
Soon after Supper.

Dutch.
You will not fail—

Duke.
No, I will not fail.

Dutch.
Farewell my Lord.

Duke.
And Alouisia too, farewel.

Exit.
Dut.
Ah! shall these Arms once more receive my Lord:
And to night too! O Fortunate Dutchess!
I'll chain him to my panting breast,
Suck the sweet Roses of his lips,
Till he has lost all memory of my fault.
And all his Rage dissolves in Love.
Yes, yes, be present all ye Amorous Powers:
Ye tender Arts of Love, and sweet Endearments,
That Extasie the Soul in soft delights,
Be present with me, lend me all your Charms,
That may endear him ever to my Arms.

Exit,