University of Virginia Library

ACT the Third.

The SCENE Blacius his House. Blacius and Perolla: Servants attending.
Bla.
Not that I've scapt my disappointed Foe,
Transports me more, than that my kind Preserver's Wound
Appears without a Mark of Danger.
And that my abler Gratitude may know
To whom the future Service of my Life
Is due, your Pardon, Sir, if I presume
To ask the Name of my Deliverer.

Per.
Not for the World's Dominion dare I own it:
[Aside.
The Service you've receiv'd (in being, Sir,
So much, what Man for Man in Honour's bound
To do) shou'd Hope no more return, than what's
Already paid; therefore I beg I may
Conceal my Name, lest I shou'd seem to put
You on the Thought of farther Gratitude.

Bla.
Your Title to command me, Sir, may thus
Deprive me of the Means, tho' not the Will to thank you.
Yet let me, tho' unknown, thus far intreat you,
That till your urgent Business calls you hence,
You'll please to make this humble Roof your own.
Call forth my Daughter.

[To his Servant.
Serv.
My Lord, I hear her coming.

Per.
Keep down my buisy Heart; nor let thy Joy
[Aside.
Confest betray thee to thy Hope's undoing.

Enter Izadora.
Iza.
My Father! Let the Gods for ever thus protect him!
I have been told the Dangers you've escap'd,
And my transported Heart can bear no bounds.

[Embracing his Knees.
Bla.
'Tis well my Daughter, and I thank thy Love,
But as thou still wou'dst have me think my Life
To thee is dear, to the kind Author of
Thy Joy assist me in my Thanks—to this
Most generous Stranger pour thy Paises forth,
[Per. bows to Iza.
Whose Life endanger'd has preserv'd thy Father.

Iza.
O all y'Indulgent Powers! Perolla!

[Aside and overjoy'd.
Bla.
So only shall I judge of thy regard to me,
As to his timely Virtue thou art Just:
'Tis now our mutual Cause of grateful Honour,
Therefore I charge thee by that sacred Thought,
Tune all thy Sexes sweet harmonious Charms,
Exert the thrilling softness of thy beauteous Eyes
To sooth his Soul, lose no attempt to gain
The honest Power of ev'n relieving Gratitude.

Per.
What do the Gods intend me?

[Aside, and pleas'd.
Iza.
(to Bla.)
Sure, Sir, in such a Cause, howe'er
My Ignorance may err, you cannot doubt my Will:
For judge me, O ye awful Powers! If ever Act,
That Human Virtue yet might boast, cou'd more
Oblige my Sense, or fill my Heart with half the Joy,
As what this Generous Stranger has perform'd:
Now, on my Soul, it was a Godlike Deed;
And since by your Instruction, Sir, I speak,
Forgive me, if my grateful Heart confesses,
M'unweary'd Tongue cou'd dwell for ever on its Praise.

Bla.
Ha!

[Pleas'd.]
Per.
(to Iza.)
Such Praises sung by such Inchanting Notes
Might lift the Coward to aspiring Thoughts:
Therefore take heed, thou bounteous, lovely Maid,
Lest what thy Virtue may intend me well,
My vainer Hopes shou'd wrest to my Undoing.

Bla.
By all my Joys he kindles to my Wishes!

[Aside.
Iza.
O never can I reach thy due of Praise!
Most Glorious Youth, thou Darling of the Gods!
For after this so unforeseen a Chance,
That led thee forth to so renown'd a Deed,
How many Great and Glorious Actions more
Must we conclude their Providential Care,
For thy sole Virtue has reserv'd?

Bla.
(Aside ...)
She too delighted in her Sex's Pride,
Exerts her pointed Charms, and like
Th'Ambitious Hero in his Arms success,
Feels no Remorse, or Conscience in her Conquests. (... Aside)


Iza.
Such Actions make the tend'rest Gratitude—
A Duty

[To Perolla.
Bla.
Thou God of Love! God of Resistless Fires,
Who oft in Female Hearts with Triumph seest
Th'unlook'd-for Changes of thy wanton Power,
Now to the Aged Votary lend thy Ear,
O! to the Follies of her former Love
Add yet one more, that may attone the Guilt!
Grant her vile Passion for Perolla's Charms,
The nobler Flame of this superiour Youth
Surmouting may efface, and end my Fears;
Let what her seeming Virtue wou'd destroy,
Her more implor'd Inconstancy preserve,
And on Pacuvius Blood exert my full Revenge.

[Aside.
Per.
Now then's the Proof of this avow'd Compassion.
The Gods at last in pity of my Love
[To Iza. aside.
Have given thee now most Providential means
T'elude thy Father's Hate, and crown my Wishes;
Thou seest he courts thee to engage my Passion,
Let then what his Injustice wou'd refuse
Perolla be at once the Cause and just
Excuse of thy Compliance, O! my Heart!
If now thy Hopes are lost, not Blacius Hate,
But Izadora's Cruelty destroys thee.

Iza.
Dismiss these vain and groundless Fears: For by
The endless Obligations which I owe thee,
No Bonds, no Bribes, or Threats of Power oppos'd,
Shall shake my Firmness of protested Faith;
Therefore methinks thy undiscourag'd Love,
Which yet untir'd has trod the rocky Paths of Honour,
Shou'd not at last Desponding change its way,
Or use th'Inglorious Limbs of low Deceit
To climb the Mountain Summit of its Joy:
Since thy enduring Virtue has in me
Subdued the Force of an inherent Scorn,
Why shou'd the Plaints of our persisting Duty
Despair of Pity from the Conquer'd Blacius?
You sha'nt Reproach me with that grieving Look,
Since what I mean's but to deserve Perolla.

Per.
Thou art my Fate, and must dispose me.
(To Bla.)
I hope your Favour will excuse my Fault,
If the Engagement of your Daughter's Charms
Have made me, Sir, forget my self to you.

Bla.
Your Actions, Sir, so far have bound me yours,
There's no way left you to increase the Debt,
But to inform me how some part I may repay.

Per.
Not that I think my Service can deserve
The friendly Freedom I wou'd beg to take,
Yet not to slight your Generosity,
Vouchsafe me then your leave to know, how far
This Fair One's Heart, or your Consider'd Thoughts,
In promis'd Love or Marriage stand engag'd?

Bla.
How far the Ripening Folly of her Sex
May secret have incin'd her Heart, were hard
To say—But for my self, my Promises
Are yet unmade, and were it possible
Thy least inclining Thought had made thee Curious,
By all the flatter'd Hopes of my Ambition,
Most Generous Stranger, I am yet to know
The Man my Wishes wou'd prefer to thee.

Per.
Take heed nor flatter into hope a Wretch,
Whose Heart wou'd burn in unoffending Fires.

Bla.
To give thee then a Proof, I mean my Words;
If as thy Deeds have spoke thee, thou canst prove
Thee born of Noble Blood, this grateful Hand
(Regardless of thy Fortune, tho' depress'd)
With Joy, shall yield thee up a Father's Right,
To urge Obedience, or persuade her Love
To crown thy Wishes with deserv'd Possession.

Per.
If then my Birth and Fortune both I prove
Not, equal to the Noblest Romans Boast,
Let, Sir, at once your Scorn destroy my Hopes,
And spurn me as my Arrogance deseryes.

Bla.
Thus then to what my Honour has propos'd,
Thus Kneeling to th'attesting Gods I swear—

Iza.
Oh! Hold! My too kind Father, yet forbear
Your Oath—

Bla.
Too kind! What mean thy riddling Tears?

Iza.
With Joy to give you now a Proof severe,
How tenderly my trembling Heart prefers
Your Quiet to its own: To let you see
No Thought of Happiness can yet surmount
The honest Passion of my Filial Love:
Tho' now, what you with Oaths have offer'd to perform,
Perform'd wou'd crown the utmost Wishes of my Soul;
Yet let me rather starve my Hopes for ever,
Than by a Wile of guilty Silence bind
Your Cheated Honour to Reward my Love.

Bla.
My startled Thoughts!

Iza.
For know this Generous Stranger, whom the Gods
(In kind addition to his Flames Desert)
Had sure decreed shou'd save my Father's Life,
Whom you, Unprejudic'd, so high have prais'd,
Whose Glorious Actions have o'er-priz'd my Heart,
Whom your Commands have press'd me to receive,
(O! hear me with Compassion) is Perolla.

[Kneeling.
Bla.
Ha!

Iza.
The same Perolla, whom your anxious Fears
So strict have warn'd me to avoid; yet he,
Whose Love our Fate seems since to have resolv'd
Shou'd prove at last the Medicinal Balm
To heal the Rancour of our Houses Hate.

Bla.
Distraction! has my Error's Dotage too,
[Walking Thoughtfully.
Consenting sooth'd him in his fatal Love?

Per.
My Lord, I find you are, as I foresaw you, stung
To feel your Honour plung'd in such Extreams;
But yet—if Modesty might speak—

Bla.
Pacuvius Son! Remorseless Powers! Why was
That hateful Hand reserv'd to give me Life,
From which my Death had been the easier pain?
Judge me your selves, in all that Life's whole Course,
Cou'd ever yet Reproach confront me with
An Act, that ought t'have dy'd my Cheeks with Shame.
Why then this dire Distress upon my Soul,
That to my Bosom I must either take
The Man, whom to incessant Rage I hate,
Or to the World's Inquiring Tongues expos'd,
Must stain my Fame by foul Ingratitude?

[Walks disorder'd.
Iza.
(To Per.)
Give him his Thoughts, and let his Passions cool
His temper ne'er was long oppos'd to Pity.

Bla.
No! no! [Beating his Breast.]

I'm not so wretched as my Fancy makes me,
The self-same Hand, that sav'd, unthank'd, this Life,
Has robb'd a Father of his ripe Revenge!
Pacuvius murtherous Hope's not only lost,
But by his Son defeated! He, whom his Heart's Pride
So fondly loves, protecting me has prov'd
His greatest Curse, and rakes his harrow'd Soul.
Nay he, Perolla too has now himself undone,
Had I been kill'd the Bar had been remov'd;
Then unoppos'd he had enjoy'd his Love,
And o'er m'insulted Grave had danc'd his Joy:
But he has sav'd his Foe to blast those Hopes,
And dash his Passion with pursu'd Despair.

Per.
Despair's the surest stab to reach my Heart,
Or if you think I may outlive that Wound,
Since my dire Father's undefended Crimes
So justly have provok'd your due Revenge,
Let your keen Sword now wreak it on the Son.
Behold my Breast unguarded to your Rage,
To meet the Cure of my resistless Ruine.

Bla.
Yet trust me not too far: For tho' thou sav'dst
My hated Life,—Thou'rt still Pacuvius Son.

Per.
I neither can deny, or dare defend my Birth:
But e're your Justice lifts her fatal Hand
To cut this Gordian of Dissolveless Love,
To the Chaste Memory of it's purer Flame,
Be in your conscious Heart this Truth recorded,
That had the tender Izadora's Soul
Not priz'd your Mind's dear Peace beyond her own,
This cruel Rage, that now destroys our Hopes,
Had in dispenceless Oaths been bound to crown 'em.

Bla.
O my Soul's Joy! My pious Izadora!

[Embracing her.
Iza.
My Father still, and still belov'd as ever.

Bla.
Which way shall my Indulgence thank thy Love's
So dear Concern for my endanger'd Honour?

Iza.
O! Ask not that dire Question of my Fears,
Unless your conquer'd Passion cou'd, like mine
Subdu'd, resolve to answer its Engagements.

Bla.
O Bleeding Conflict of resisted Nature;
O Godlike Youth!
[Throwing himself at Perolla's Feet.
I bend me Blushing to the Earth, I sink,
I burn with Red Confusion at my Shame;
For I confess thou not deserv'st my Hate;
But there's a Bar in my fierce Nature's Pride,
An inborn Horror of Pacuvius Blood,
That will not be subdu'd in thy behalf:
Therefore by all my Wrongs to thy apparent Merit,
I now conjure thee rouze thy Generous Soul,
And turn thy fruitless Love of me and mine
Into the nobler Fire of blameless Scorn.

Per.
Now, by my hopes in Izadora's Truth,
My Friendly Heart bleeds inward at your pain,
And melts in pity of your erring Passion.

[Raising him.
Bla.
O lend a Thought to my worn Age's Woe!
Weigh but the vast Extreams of my Distress,
And be thy self the Judge of my Misdoing:
Speak I conjure thee from thy conscious Heart,
Is't fit, that he, whose Father sought my Life,
The Son of him that has betray'd the Cause
Of Rome, and since has wrought my Brother's Death!
Shou'd from my Hand receive my Daughter's Heart,
And make by my enduring, such vile Crimes my own?

Iza.
Is't fit your wild Revenge shou'd Blind pursue
The Guiltless, and the Friend of Rome?

Bla.
Shall Blacius be allied to an Assassin's Son?

Iza.
That Son, whose Sword oppos'd his Father's Crime!

Bla.
Mix with that Blood my Native Honour hates?

Iza.
The Generous Blood that stream'd in your defence!

Per.
Yet bows submissive to your full Revenge!

Bla.
O cruel Honour! that my Arm's refus'd
The honest means to take it.
How now! what means thy Breathless Haste?

Enter a Servant.
Serv.
My Lord, your Pardon for this bold Intrusion!
Passing just now by Lord Pacuvius Gate,
I saw the Guards of Hannibal come forth,
When strait an Officer o'ertook their speed,
And told 'em, They must make a Moment's Halt,
For that th'intended Search of Blacius House
Was now referr'd to Lord Pacuvius Care.

Bla.
What can this mean? Art sure thou'rt not deceiv'd?

Ser.
I'm sure, my Lord, and as they march'd along
I heard one smiling to his Comrade say,
Pacuvius were a Friend indeed, if to
The Cause of Carthage he cou'd force his Son.
More I had heard, but that I thought my haste
Might better serve you by this timely notice.

Bla.
I thank thy Care: Bar fast the Gates, to gain
If possible a Moment 'fore their Entrance.
But on your Lives resist 'em not—away.
[Ex. Serv.
And now, Perolla, thou shalt see—

Per.
That your Revenge has found at last
The fated Ruine of my Fortune, and
My Love—This search I know is made for me.

Iza.
O lost Perolla! O for pity yet
My dearest Father—

Bla.
Yes! yes! my Daughter now again I'm free,
My painful Honour is at last reliev'd,
He sav'd my Life, and I in double Thanks
Return him his: For he defending mine,
Found his Reward; but I now saving his,
Foreknow that I may meet my Punishment.
Fierce Hannibal be sure will full Resent
The dar'd Concealment of his greatest Foe;
But yet to let thee see my Honour scorns,
Tho' on the Man I hate a base Revenge,
This way lies thy Safety; what Horses or
What Servants for thy Flight are requisite,
Freely command, and thank me in thy speed.

Iza.
Must he then go despairing of your Friendship?

Bla.
Ungrateful Girl! Does not thy Lover's Life
Reward thee well for my prevented Oath?
Nay, if thou'rt fond to meet thy Ruine, stay,
[To Perolla.
A Life for Life is all thou canst implore,
But never think of Izadora more.

Per.
Recall that Thought, or Life's not worth receiving,
If Death's my Doom, here wou'd I choose to meet it.

[Kneeling to Iza.
Iza.
O yet Perolla save thy latest Hopes,
By all th'Endearments of our Friendship past,
I do conjure thee fly, and ease my Fears,
My Obligations yet are unreturn'd,
And I must have thee live for Rome,
And Izadora's Peace, Use not a Wish
In a Reply: But haste, while yet the Gods can save thee.

Per.
Who wou'd not trembling fear his Death,
When Beauteous Izadora wou'd preserve him?
Supported in that Thought, I fly my Fate,
To save my hopes of conquering Blacius Hate.
[Ex. Per.

Bla.
You Izadora now retire, I wou'd
Alone receive Pacuvius.

Iza.
The Gods
Defend my Father, and the Friends of Rome.
[Ex. Iza.

Bla.
At length my anxious Honour is reliev'd,
The Combat now with Justice is determin'd,
And o'er Pacuvius Blood I'm still Victorious—soft!
He comes in Smiles to meet his Disappointment.

Enter Pacuvius.
Pac.
So Blacius!
Thou seest at last I've deign'd to visit thee.

Bla.
My Pride too is in part abated: For
I own thou never cou'dst to me arrive
More welcome.

Pac.
—If thy Life's so burthensome,
Perhaps from ancient Friendship I may yet
Think fit to make thee bear it longer.

Bla.
When Hannibal shall know (as I be sure
Will soon inform him) that thy Fears
In private Spite have dar'd t'assassin those,
Whom he's firm bound in Honour to protect,
Thy feeble Power of Life or Death from him
Deriv'd, thy weakest Foes secure may laugh at.

Pac.
Be not so joy'd to think thou'st scap'd my Hand.

Bla.
There must be Joy, where there's such sweet Revenge;
For know yet more to gall thy fester'd Soul,
Thy own lov'd Son Perolla was the Man,
Whose friendly Sword preserv'd thy mortal Foe,
And laid thy bleeding Malice at my Feet.

Pac.
This News is stale—and the sharp Pang it gave me's past.
He knew thee not, and therefore I forgive him:
But thou, I hear, as Ignorant of him,
To thy own Mansion brought'st him Bleeding home;
And wer't in that, 'tis more than probable,
Thy self the Pandar to thy Daughter's Flame.

Bla.
'Tis false.
For when I knew his hateful Name, he found
That Scorn reviv'd which to his Blood was due;
But when I heard his Services to me
Had stirr'd thy Fury to pursue his Life,
I wav'd a while my prudent Hate to him,
And let him scape to disappoint Pacuvius.

Pac.
Poor shallow-sighted Man! Pacuvius thanks thy Care;
For I wou'd have him live when thou art dead,
(Which soon will be) to keep thy restless Ghost
In wakeful Terrors of thy Daughter's Honour:
Mean while (for thy slow Brain, I see, divines
Not yet the Cause that brought me hither) Guards,
Appear. 'Twas not Perolla, but thy self
[Enter Guards.
I came to seize, and as a Traytor to the Trust
Of Hannibal demand thee forth to Justice.

Bla.
Traytor's a Name that better fits
Pacuvius Morals: Blacius scorns thy Slander.

Pac.
I know thou'rt proud; but we shall prove thee Traytor!
This Letter from Rome's Consul shou'd have come
To thee; 'tis better as it is: And now
Whene'er his dreadful Army shall think fit
T'approach Salapias Walls, I say again
The Traytor Blacius Head upon the Brutian Gate
Shall be the Signal of Pacuvius Arm'd to face 'em.

Bla.
O fatal Chance! Rome then and Blacius are no more!
Tell my Daughter what has happen'd.

[To his Servant.
Pac.
Now! Wretched Blacius! Art thou yet convinc'd
Pacuvius has redeem'd his lost Revenge,
And, wrought at last thy more assur'd Destruction?

Bla.
What Office do'st thou hold of Hannibal?
For this to me seems so contemptible,
It speaks the Spirit of Pacuvius lost.

Pac.
This Insolence I yet shall humble.

Bla.
Thou! thou tirest me—perform thy Office.

Pac.
Since thou'rt in hast for Death—Conduct him Guards.
Thus hopeless by the Hand of Justice seiz'd,
The hardest Traytors will affect a Smile.

Bla.
And Village Curs thus bay the Lion in the Toil.

[Exeunt.