University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

SCENE, The Camp.
Xarino, with a Letter.
Xarino.
This Letter from my faithful Friend Cratander,
Brings Information of such monstrous Deeds,
As stagger ev'n Credulity it self:
Oh, Teraminta!
Why did I, or indeed, why do I love thee?
Yet spite of all my past, and present Suff'rings;
So firmly art thou rooted in my Heart,
From thence I cannot tear thee—
AIR.

SCENE II.

Enter Cratander.
Cra.
Say, what happy Accident,
Brings my dear Friend thus apt to his Xarino?
But why this Posture?

Cra.
O! embrace me not,
Wou'd you contain a Scorpion in your Arms?

Xar.
Thou art no Scorpion, but my Bosom Friend.

Cra.
The more you call me Friend, the more you wound me:
Do Justice to your self and Teraminta,
And call me Traitor, Villain as I am.

Xar.
Amazement! Riddles! give 'em Explanation.
You talk'd of Teraminta, what of her?
Yet name her not.

Cra.
I cannot without Shame.

Xar.
Your Letter so inform'd me.

Cra.
Cursed Letter!
False in each Article as she is true.

Xar.
Then Teraminta is not false.

Cra.
O, no!
She's Truth it self; all Constancy and Love.
I've such a Scene of Villany to disclose,
Will make you idolize her very Name,
And hate Cratander's.

Xar.
No, you've giv'n such Joy,
In affirmation of my Charmer's Constancy;
Were your Offences numerous as the Stars,
They're all abolish'd.

Cra.
Most amazing Goodness!
I dedicate my residue of Life
To merit this Forgiveness.

Xar.
No more my Friend;
If you wou'd speak to please me, speak of Love,
Of Truth, of Constancy, and Teraminta.
AIR.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Teraminta, Ardelia.
Ter.
Where is Xarino?

Ard.
Cratander not return'd;
Makes me conclude some Accident delays
The Prince's coming.

Ter.
The Prince? What Prince?

Ard.
'Tis time to undeceive you.
Xarino, whom you thought an humble Shepherd
Is a most potent Prince.

Ter.
The worse for me!
Wou'd he were still a Shepherd;
Ambition now will rob me of his Heart.

Ard.
O think not so.

Ter.
I know not what to think,
I'm all Perplexity.

Ard.
I fly to learn the Cause;
And bring you news of Consolation.

SCENE IV.

Teraminta sola.
Ter.
Sure I was born for Misery;
To taste the Bitterness of Life,
Without the least allay of Sweetness.
Ardelia is most happy,
I most wretched;
And yet I envy not Ardelia.
Why grieve I then?
Not for her Happiness,
But for my own Misfortune.
AIR.

SCENE V.

Cratander, Teraminta.
Cra.
The Prince, fair Teraminta, begs excuse,
Sudden Prevention stops his wisht Approach,
Or he'd attend you.

Ter.
Talk not of Princes to a Shepherdess,
Nor mock a wretched Maid.

Cra.
Misapprehension
O'ersways your Patience, hear me, I beseech you.

Ter.
Wou'd I had never heard or him, or you.

Cra.
And wou'd to Heav'n that neither he or I
Had e'er beheld those most destructive Charms.
You wrong the Prince, too haughty Shepherdess
He's but too constant.

Ter.
Constancy and Man!
Are Contradictions so directly manifest;
The very mention is ridiculous.

Cra.
Then you'll not hear.

Ter.
I've heard too much already.

[Exit.
Cra.
And so have I—I'll carry him your Answer.
AIR.

[Exit.

SCENE VII.

Gozanes, led to Execution.
AIR.
Goz.
Farewel Life, thou Vale of Woe,
'Tis with Pleasure that I go,
Round Death's gloomy Realms to range,
Worse can never be the Change.

SCENE VIII.

Xarino and his Party rescue him.
Xar.
O live, my Father, live!

Goz.
Transporting Sight!
Why do these joyous Tears restrain my Eyes,
From fondly gazing on this darling Object?

Xar.
I bring not only Liberty and Life,
But double Empire to my dearest Father.

Goz.
Compar'd to thee, Life, Liberty, and Empire
Merit not mention.

Goz.
Compar'd to thee, Life, Liberty, and Empire
Merit not mention.
AIR.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IX.

Cratander, Ardelia.
Cra.
Ardelia, I am all Astonishment
At Teraminta's late Behaviour;
Not hear my Message!

Ard.
'Tis most strange indeed,
I know she loves to Desperation.

Cra.
What shall I tell the Prince?

Ard.
Nothing, since these Mistakes
Are but increas'd by Messages.
Go bring him here;
He's the most welcome Messenger.
AIR.

[Exit.

SCENE X.

Xarino, Cratander.
Xar.
Where is my Teraminta?

Cra.
Chiding your Delay,
She mourns in Solitude your Absence.

Xar.
O bring me to my Love.

Cra.
Behold she comes.

SCENE XI.

Enter Teraminta.
Xar.
But why with this Reserve appears my Charmer?
Why this Formality, this Air of Distance?
Does my Soul's Idol think that Birth or Titles
Can make the least Abatement in my Passion?
No, were I Monarch of the Globe's Extent,
I'm still the same, her faithful fond Xarino.

Ter.
So fond, and yet so dilatory:
That Passion must be cool indeed,
Which pleads Excuse,
And parleys for Delay.

Xar.
If to defeat a powerful Invader,
To save a Kingdom, and a Father's Life,
May be a Plea for Absence, that is mine.

Ter.
My Fears were groundless, and my Hopes are true,
Xarino's constant, and I still am happy.
AIR.

[Exeunt.

SCENE XI.

A Magnificent Hall
Gozanes on the Throne. Attendants, &c.
Goz.
Xarino has perform'd such Miracles,
That not to recompense, wou'd be Ungrateful.
Bid him approach, and ask his Soul's Request.
Enter Xarino.
My Son, to thee I owe my Life and Empire,
Nor can I rest,
Until I've recompens'd such great Deserts.
Demand whate'er thou wilt, by yon high Heav'n,
Gozanes grants it.

Xar.
That high Heav'n is Witness,
Saving my Duty to my Royal Parent,
Here is the Centre of my Soul's Ambition,
The only Object of my ardent Wishes.

Introducing Teraminta
Goz.
O bear her hence.

Xar.
What means my Royal Father?

Goz.
That Heav'n is just; there, there's the injur'd Face.

Xar.
Did you then bid me ask but to deny me

Goz.
I grant thee any thing, but do conjure this
Let me ne'er see her more.

Xar.
We go, dread Sir, for where her Sight's offensive.
Mine sure must be distasteful.
AIR.

Goz.
Stay, I command you!
Fear not, fair Nymph! but answer solemnly,
How this Enamel came in your Possession.

Ter.
It was my dying Father's latest Token,
To whose most dear Remembrance,
I wear it next my Heart.

Goz.
Who was thy Father?

Ter.
A Shepherd, Sir, and of no small Possession.

Goz.
Rise, Princess, rise! thy Father was no Shepherd,
But mighty Zantimenes King of Cuba.
Thou need'st no Token to assert thy Birth;
Each Feature in that Face bears strict Remembrance
To the dear injur'd Monarch, for whose sake
A Train of Vengeance has thus long pursu'd me;
But as I robb'd thy Father of his Throne,
To thee I yield it.

[Kneels.
Ter.
Rise, Sir, and spare my Blushes,
A greater Gift than Empire's in your Pow'r;
Give me Xarino, for I ask no more.
I had much rather choose to be your Daughter,
Than to be Empress of the World's Extent.

DUETTO.
Ter. and Xar.
My Treasure, my Pleasure, my Joy, and Delight,
How great my Affection, thy Virtue how bright!
Fly Jealousy, fly, and Suspicion adieu,
For happy am I, as my Charmer is true.

Goz.
O wondrous Force of Providence divine!
That still prevails in spite of Mens Design;
How justly did it punish my Offence,
How richly does it crown my Penitence?
The Sceptre now resumes its rightful Place,
And mingles mine with Xantimenes' Race.

SCENE XII.

Enter Cratander, and Ardelia.
Cra.
We come to share your Joy, and to congratulate
This happy Reconcilement.

Xar.
Cratander, now our Cares are at an end
One happy Day our Nuptial Joys shall blend.
And may the fair Ardelia prove to thee,
As dear as Teraminta is to me.

CHORUS.
Joy surrounding,
Bliss abounding,
Round our Hearts with Transports glow;
Ev'ry Treasure,
Ev'ry Pleasure,
We can wish or Heav'n bestow.