University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

Enter King and Antenor.
KING.
Inspite of all my Wrongs, my Anger cools;
Nor can I now resolve to let him die;
His Father's Merit, melts me into Pity;
The Lord Alcanor was an honest Statesman,
And you must own Lorenzo well has serv'd me;
Both these plead strongly in a generous Mind.

Anti.
Curse on his Services.
[aside.
What says my Royal Master?
Does not our Laws pronounce it Treason, Sir,
For any Subject who shall dare to wed,
And mingle with your Blood, without your Leave?

King.
Thou should'st not urge this hated Theme, Antenor;
Thou may'st remember 'twas thy own Ambition.

Ante.
I do, with Shame, remember it; yet sure
The Diff'rence of the Guilt is vastly great.
I humbly ask'd, and much repented for it;
He seiz'd the Prize, and never ask'd at all;
And glories in the Theft; nay, braves you too;
Nor once petitions for his Life or Freedom.

King.
The Present will from me be greater then;
Mistake me not, I shall not pardon him;
No, he shall live an Exile, far from hence,
And never see my Leonora more:
That, to a Lover's Punishment enough.

Ante.
Think but on the Consequence of Banishment;
When Nature's Law shall summon you away,
Who then shall wear your Crown, but Leonora?
Think you not then she will recal her Husband?
Yes, sure, she will, and make him Partner with her.
Oh, Royal Sir consult your Subjects Safety;
For sure that Day must fatal be to Lombardy.
What strong Alliance can be form'd by him,
That is not purchas'd with our Laws and Treasure?

King.
Dismiss your Fears, for I'll dissolve the Marriage,
And give her to a Prince that shall defend ye.
[Enter Agonistus.
Agonistus! why such Confusion in thy Looks?

Ago.
O pardon, mighty Sir, the News I bring;
Cardono, by your Signet, was admitted
To pay his Visit to the Lord Lorenzo.

King.
Ha! say'st thou! by my Signet! But go on.

Ago.
Accompany'd by six Men in Livery,
One of which being tall, and well proportion'd,
Lorenzo quickly chang'd his Habit with him.

King.
Ha! and did he escape?

Ante.
Answer the King that Question instantly.
Oh! Vengeance! Vengeance! have I lost thee?

[aside.
Ago.
I know not, Sir, what happen'd since I came;
Cardono seeing him that kept the Door,
Too curiously observe Lorenzo, stabb'd him;
When soon his Shrieks alarm'd your Son, my Lord,
Who call'd the Guards, but not a Man would stir:
Some slept so soundly, that we could not 'wake 'em;
Whilst others swore they'd set the General free.
'Twas thus! when brave Learchus bad me haste
To tell your Majesty, and beg Assistance.

Ante.
Oh monst'rous! unheard of Treachery!

King.
Fly, take our Guards,
And crush this infant Treason in its Birth:
Ex. Ago.
What! durst Cardono cross our Royal Will,
And stir our Soldiers to rebel against us?

Ante.
Well had it been, yes, wond'rous well for Man,
If Nature ne'er had form'd his Female Mate;
Love Poisons oftner than it gives us Joy.

King.
Curse on the fond, deceitful, softning Passion!
How glorious had my Leonora stood,
But for bewitching and destructive Love,
Which chills, and quite enervates all it reaches!
Enter Captain.
How now! what News bringest thou?

Capt.
The dronish Citizens pretend to arm,
And gathering Crowds, fill all the Streets with Noise,
And cry aloud, Death, or Lorenzo's Freedom.

King.
Let them go on! yes, let the Slaves aspire
To seize my Crown, and make Lorenzo King:
But they shall find I was not born to fear;
No, cou'd the Villains animate like Heat,
And ev'ry Breath produce whole Legions arm'd,
My Soul would dart a Fire thro' my Eyes,
That shou'd to Ashes turn the new-born Traytors.
I'll to the City strait, and face these Rebels.

Ante.
Not for the Universe.
Can such a Cause be worthy of your Arms?
No, when base Plebeans offer to rebel,
Whips and Chains should bring them back to Duty;
Whilst Majesty, serenely unconcern'd,
Beholds the Traytor's Fate.

King.
Have I for this with Toil and Care secur'd
Freedom and ev'ry Thing that's dear unto them?
And do th'ingrateful Wretches thus repay me?
But I will teach them what they owe their King,
And sweep the bold Conspirators from Earth.

Ante.
Rebellions in their Infancy are quell'd,
And to Obedience soon reduc'd with Ease;
Lop but the Head, the rest will soon disperse;
The giddy Pop'lace are in Ignorance led,
And all unskill'd in what they undertake;
When once the faithful, loyal Sword is drawn,
They drive, like idle Dust, before the Wind.
Now is your Time to fix your Sway unbounded;
The Godlike Rule, and Right of ev'ry King;
Let all those pop'lar Heads, that cry for Liberty,
Whose Aim has been to curb the Power of Princes,
Be term'd Abettors of Lorenzo's Treason,
And rid you of a factious Crew at once.

King.
Thou prompt'st me well, thou Oracle of Rule;
Mercy ill suits with such a vip'rous Brood.
[Trumpets and a Shout without.
Enter Agonistus.
Welcome; this Shout betokens thou ha'st conquer'd.

Ago.
We have, great Sir;
Lorenzo is secure, his Friends all seiz'd;
His Sister Antimora too we found
Near to the Postern, full of Expectation;
Her Words betray'd her of the Party.

King.
To Prison with them all; thy Message gives
Thy King new Life, my Agonistus.

Ante.
It is not safe for you to spare one Man;
Nay, ev'n the Traytor Sister ought to die:
What, durst a Woman 'midst the Rout appear,
T'inflame the Mob, and countenance Rebellion?
Let her too share her Brother's Fate, great Sir,
And crush at once the vile insidious Race.

King.
Yes, my Inciter to Revenge, she shall;
She shall be punish'd for the heinous Fault;
But we will think of her hereafter.

Ante.
Ha! hereafter.
No, I resolve to make sure Work on't now;
Now, whilst Fortune sets Revenge before me.

[aside.
King.
Haste thou, Antenor, and draw out our Soldiers;
March them with Speed to this rebellious City.
Proclaim all Traytors that you find in Arms;
And those who shall refuse to lay them down,
Discharge the Fury of our Cannon on 'em.

Ante.
Great Sir, I will; but first let me intreat
To have the Pris'oners instantly dispatch'd:
'Tis Policy to let their Deaths be sudden.
Lorenzo dead, Rebellion soon will die.

King.
It shall be done; thou counsell'st well, Antenor;
I've now no more Remorse, Lorenzo dies;
Yes, I will crush this vile infectious Root,
And so prevent the Growth of future Branches.
Haste, Agonistus; with this Signet haste,
And tell Learchus 'tis our instant Pleasure,
That all th'Abettors of Lorenzo's Treason,
Do suffer in the common Road of Justice.
But let not him by Axe or Wheel expire;
My boundless Wrongs do boundless Rage inspire:
But rip his Breast, and to our Daughter bear
His Heart, just panting with a Lover's Fear.
Tell her, from me the much-lov'd Present came;
The Part in which she treasur'd all her Fame:
Bid her to that repeat her guilty Vows;
'Tis all the Comfort that her Crime allows.

[Exit.
Ante.
Bear to our Son these Orders, Agonistus;
Charge him to see them executed strait.
Captain, a Word—
[Exit. Agonistus.
You are no Stranger to my Son's fond Passion
For this vile Trayt'ress, Antimora;
And lest for Love he should betray his Duty,
And save his Minion from the destin'd Stroke,
Haste thou, and say it was the King's Command
The Lady shou'd be Pris'ner kept with thee;
And, when she's in thy Power, dispatch her.

Capt.
It shall be done, my Lord.

[Exit.
Ante.
Oh the exulting Joy of great Revenge!
This Moment gives me more substantial Pleasure,
Than all the Years I in a Court have pass'd.
Now all my noble Ancestors look down,
And aid with Smiles this mighty Undertaking.
'Tis worthy of that Enmity you bore,
That I at once involve the hateful Race,
And crown my Wishes in the Sister's Fall.
How I applaud my self for this brave Deed,
My Foes confounded, and Learchus freed,
From guilty Love, to Empire shall succeed.

[Exit.
SCENE changes to a Prison.
Lorenzo bound, meeting Cardono wounded.
Lor.
Alas! Cardono wounded! Oh, my Friend!
Oh, wherefore would'st thou be so kindly cruel,
To interpose thy friendly Offices
Between a Monarch's Power, and my sad Fate?
Thy Rashness has undone thee.

Card.
Call it not Rashness—
Our Souls in Friendship's Bonds are link'd so strongly,
Our Bodies needs must share each other's Fate:
But oh! see who comes here; this killing Sight
Unmans thy Friend, and sinks him into Woman.

Enter Antimora.
Lor.
Ha! art thou come t'insult our Misery?
Hast thou obtain'd from thy Learchus Leave
To glut thy Eyes with Vengeance on his Rival?

Anti.
Oh, my dear Brother! cease to upbraid me;
I own the Justice of offended Heaven,
And hate my self for disobeying you.
Thus on my Knees I beg you to forget
[kneels.
The former Weakness of your mourning Sister,
And with this fav'rite Youth, this bleeding Friend,
Employ your best perswasive Eloquence
To gain his Pardon; for those Wounds he wears,
(Oh fatal Accident!) were given by me.
To save your Life, I left no Means untry'd,
Which made me rashly swear to wed the Man
That shou'd from Death preserve and set you free:
Cardono's Love unthinkingly obey'd me.

Card.
Do not repent the first Command you gave me,
[raises her.
Such a Command that Love can witness for me,
I never once regretted; I obey'd:
To make thee mine, and free my Friend, I fought;
Two the most pow'rful Reasons Man can give.
Oh! had the Enterprize but met Success,
I shou'd have glory'd in this Action more,
Than when I drove my Foes in Fight before me;
The rich Reward for which I drew my Sword,
Will justify the Act to ev'ry Lover.
Yes, Antimora by those Eyes, I swear,
Had Fortune made thee mine but one short Night,
And Death with Torments waited in the Morning,
I'd live an Age in that small Space of Time,
And meet my Fate with more than Manly Courage.
The Memory of thy Charms had so transported me,
My Soul had soar'd in Extasy of Bliss,
To you, bright Heav'n, insensible of Pain.

Lor.
Oh, Antimora!
Thy fickle Sex is ever in Extreams;
How much thy Folly over-weigh'd Affection,
When last I press'd thee to accept this Youth!
Tho' thou didst know him dear to me as Life;
Yet now, when Passion, and the Woman work'd,
Thou offer'd up thy self, alas! my Sister.
'Tho' I confess the Proof is wond'rous great,
Which here thou giv'st of thy Affection to me;
Yet must I tell thee 'twas misguided Zeal,
That taught thee rashly to ensnare my Friend.

Leon.
Oh, Lorenzo! cease, I beg thee, cease;
Upbraid no more the dear, the trembling Maid,
Whom I am bound to bless for what she did;
Since, if it be thy Destiny to fall,
I wou'd not live behind thee.

Anti.
I cannot blame you for your chiding me;
And I should merit more Reproaches still,
Were not my Chains of equal Weight with yours;
And now perhaps the fatal Order's given
To cut us off together.

Lor.
Learchus surely will be kind to thee,
And save thee from the fatal Stroke.

Anti.
Oh! do not think I have a Soul so mean,
To live by him who gives my Brother Death.
'Tho I confess I love Learchus more
Than weary Pilgrims Rest, or Martyrs Heaven;
Yet sooner wou'd I breathe infectious Air,
Which bring Diseases, loathsome to behold,
Than owe my Life to him when thou art gone.

Enter Captain.
Capt.
Madam, you might have spar'd those Protestations,
Since 'tis the Will of Majesty to cross
All the fond Hopes Learchus ever had,
And leaves his Wishes widow'd in Despair;
For you must die.

Lor.
Oh! inexorable Heaven! cursed Antenor,
At once thy Malice reaches all that's dear,
And doubles ev'ry Pang of Death upon me.

Capt.
Guards, take hence this Lady.

Card.
Villains forbear! where's Learchus? where's now
His boasted Passion for this lovely Maid?
Can he be tame, and see his Mistress die?
Art thou the Screech-Owl, that proclaims her Fate?
Had I a Sword, I'd send thy canker'd Soul,
The Harbinger of her's, in Death.

Capt.
Yours, my Lord, will do that Office better,
Since the same Sentence waits on you.

Anti.
Oh, forgive me! me, the unhappy Cause;
And, Captain, one Request I have to you.
[runs to the Captain.
Haste to Learchus; I conjure you fly,
And beg him strait, by all our former Kindness,
To interpose between this Youth and Death,
And wreak his Father's Malice all on me.

Card.
I scorn to take a wretched Life from him;
One parting Kiss, to wing my fleeting Soul,
And bear it upwards to the Bless'd above;
'Tis all the Recompence I'll ask thee now.

[kisses her.
Anti.
Oh! 'tis a poor Reward for Loss of Life;
My Heart will burst with this Excess of Woe,
And spare the Trouble of an Executioner.

Lor.
O Heaven! hast thou in all thy Store of Curses,
Pains more acute for Man; than what I feel?
Yet I would suffer more, if more cou'd be,
So that my Sister and my Friend might live.
Let me embrace my Part'ners in Misfortune,
And gather ye to me, as the feather'd Kind
Gather their young Ones at th'Approach of Danger:
Like them defend you too while I am able,
'Till press'd with Odds, and overpower'd with Strength,
To cruel Vultures fall a Prey together.

[all three embrace.
Capt.
I must obey my Orders; Guards, force her hence.

[they lay hold of her.
Anti.
May'nt we have Leave at least to die together?
Oh! cruel Wretches, why d'ye pull me so?
[She holds Lorenzo and Cardono, and struggles.
Take me not from the Sight of this bless'd Pair;
Oh! let my Eyes pursue these faithful Objects,
'Till we set in Death together! But oh!
Their Strength prevails, and I must loose you both.
So when rising Floods—
Bear from some Rock, in Secret where they lay,
The Halcyon's Nest and all her Brood away,
The careful Mother hovers as they glide,
Hangs on the Wing, and flutters with the Tide;
'Till at the last the Waves invading creep,
Fill her frail House, and sink it in the Deep,
With one shrill Note she Shrieks her last Despair,
Starts from the Sight, and flits away in Air.

[Exit torn of.
Card.
Oh, my sick Soul!

Enter on the other Side, Learchus, Agonistus, and Guards.
Lor.
Tortures worse than Death—
I ne'er expected ought to thank thee for;
[seeing Learchus.
But find, Learchus, I am now mistaken.
I own the Favour of the highest Kind,
That thou to Death resigns my Sister up,
Whose cold Embrace more glorious is than thine.

Lear.
Ha!
[Whispers to Agonistus, who Exit.
Guards, execute your Orders; but a while
Leave this my mortal Enemy with me.

Card.
Farewell, my Friend, an active Life is done,
[they seize Cardono.
And I remove to Indolence and Ease,
Where, if no Thought of thee and Antimora
Have Power to invade beyond this Life,
I shall be much more happy in the Grave.

Lor.
If in the other World Souls have a Knowledge,
Soon we shall meet, and there enjoy each other.
My Heart, like thine's, with double Sorrows torn;
Each Part's so great, it strikes the other dumb.

Card.
Now lead me to that dreaded Nothing, Death;
From whence the King, that cuts me off in Youth,
Cannot by Crowns and Empires free himself.
What, tho' he measures yet some rowling Years,
And dies on downy Beds set round with Slaves,
Within the Grave the Worms know no Distinction.
But hear me, Heav'n, let no Distress befal him,
May he ne'er want thy faithful Arm, Lorenzo,
Lest, when he thinks upon thy many Conquests,
He should too late repent thy hasty End:
Once more farewell.

[Exit guarded.
Lor.
A thousand Angels catch thy parting Soul,
And bear it up to their bless'd Seats above.
My Spirits faint beneath this Load of Misery,
And long to lay the heavy Burden down.
Why dost thou keep me here, insulting Man?

Lear.
To satisfy my self, if Fame be true,
That thou art Master of superior Virtues.
Me thou hast held at hateful Distance still,
And robb'd my Soul of what it most desir'd,
Its fondest Wish, my Antimora's Love.
Then tell me now, by Honour I conjure thee,
In what Cardono merited above me?

Lor.
Do not profane his Name; I charge thee, do not;
Is there Comparison 'twixt him and thee?
Antenor was not Father to Cardono.

Lear.
Unmanly dost thou urge my Father's Faults,
And most unjustly charge his Crimes on me.
I oft have wish'd our Houses Hate compos'd,
And us'd Endeavours to have heal'd the Breach;
But thou didst still deny the Means to do it.

Lor.
This is no Time to talk of past Designs;
Nor will I hold Discourse of ought with thee.
My Thoughts are fix'd on nobler Subjects far;
My beauteous Wife, my Leonora now,
And vast Eternity fill all my Mind.

Lear.
Thy Wife! hast thou then wedded Leonora?

Lor.
I have; there I will answer thee with Pleasure;
Of what I have possess'd, you can't deprive me.

Lear.
Oh! why am I to bear this hateful Message?

Lor.
What Message is my Wife to hear from thee,
To make thee Sigh? it must be dreadful sure.

Lear.
Dreadful it is, and staggers Nature in me;
Tho' thou dost think me savage and remorseless,
Yet I do tremble at the horrid Charge:
Read there the Manner of thy Death, and where
Thy faithful Heart must be dispos'd off.

[gives him a Paper.
Lor.
Oh, rich Repository for the Heart!
That knows no Bliss beyond her virtuous Bosom.
By all the Charms of Leonora's Person;
By all those Joys I've tasted in her Arms,
There's Height of Pleasure in the harsh Decree;
Nor does my Nature feel one Pang for this:
But how she'll bear it, Heav'n can only know.
My Soul for her is touch'd with mighty Anguish;
And thus forgetting all my Hate and Wrongs,
I bend my Knee in Supplication down.
Since thou'rt to be the Harbinger of Fate,
Touch her, oh! gently touch her with my Fate,
And say Death stole upon me unawares,
And laid me down without a dying Groan,
Whilst my last Words were, Love and Leonora.

Lear.
Rise, my Lord.
Tho' you regard me as your mortal Foe,
Yet will I discharge this Trust most faithfully,
Or any other you'll repose in me;
And pray believe, that if my Power cou'd save you,
You should not ask in vain.

Lor.
I thank you, Sir; but Life I would not ask of thee;
But when thou dost present her with my Heart,
Tell her it was her Husband's last Request
She wou'd not grieve, nor vent one Groan for me,
Least the dear Accent of her Voice o'ertake
My Soul, and draw it downward from Angelick Rest.
Yet one Thing more, if thou'lt vouchsafe to do it.
Close by the Grove that joins the Royal Bower,
Within a lonely Cell an Hermit lives,
Whose holy Function sanctify'd our Loves.
I Yesterday receiv'd this Packet from him,
With strict Injunction to deliver it
When next I was in Private with the King.
What it imports, I know not; but the Man
Is greatly good, and was my Father's Friend;
To whom his latest Words commended me,
And bad me pay the self same Duty there,
That from my Infancy I'd paid to him.
Return these Papers back, I humbly pray thee,
And say, I beg, that, for my Soul's Repose,
He wou'd send up his pious Pray'rs to Heaven,
If Nature so permit Antenor's Son.

Lear.
Still, wo't thou still repeat Antenor's Son?
Were I that Monster which thy Hate has form'd,
I shou'd rejoyce to see thee fall with Shame;
But all the Powers above can witness for me,
With deep Concern I execute this Order.

Lor.
Pardon me;
His Name is always upwards in my Thoughts,
And thence 'tis utter'd by my Tongue unheedingly;
But I forgive, and wish I could forget him:
Forget by whom my Glories all are sully'd;
My Death conspir'd, and all my Pleasures ended.
Fain I in Peace wou'd Life's Remains employ,
And as I bravely liv'd, wou'd bravely die.
Beyond the Grave no Enemy can come,
And I shall rest at Quiet in my Tomb.
Death is a Debt we all to Nature owe,
No Matter then how soon or late we go:
But dying well, is what we should propose,
And leave to Heaven the Vengeance on our Foes.

[Exeunt.