University of Virginia Library

SCENE the Third.

Almeyda Sola.
Alm.
Thus Expectation still foreruns our Bliss,
And gives us Pleasure, e'er the Pleasure come;
Imagination builds a thousand Hopes,
And ev'ry Hope contains a thousand Joys.
Heav'n! who comes here? Alucius! my swoln Heart
Assures me it is he; I know that Face,
Those Royal Graces spite of their Disguise:
Fears, Pleasures, Jealousies at once arise,
And in a mix'd Confusion crowd into my Soul.

Enter Alucius, Running and Embracing Almeyda.
Alm.
Welcome Almeyda to my longing Arms!
Welcome! thrice welcome to the glad Alucius!
Nor were the few Remains of Man more pleas'd,
After the Deluge of th'unpeopled Earth,
To see the Mountains, and the Hills appear,
The burthen'd Plains shake off th'oppressive Waves,
Than is Alucius to behold his Love,
His Dear, his lov'd Almeyda once again.

Alm.
Believe me, I am lost; my fleeting Soul
Is hurried hence by this Excess of Joy;
Alucius, is it thee? Do I behold,
And touch thee once again? Is Heav'n so kind
To bless me with Alucius? Let me now
Be wrapt in the eternal Shades of Night,
That I may end thus with a Taste of Bliss,
Thus, thus embracing thee.

[Embracing him.
Alu.
No, let us live;
Live to enjoy one mutual happy State,
When the Alarms of War shall all be hush'd,
And Love display its Banners o'er the World,
Triumphant Love.

Alm.
Oh! when may we expect
That glorious Time, too fortunate for us?
We, my Alucius, from our Infant Years
Were doom'd a poor unhappy abject Pair,
To bear the Frowns, and the continual Darts,
Of arbitrary Fortune.

Alu.
Oh forbear
With rash Complaints to kindle dying Rage;
Heav'n is all Pity, and at length relents;
Do not deny its Favours when receiv'd:
We have, 'tis true, we have been wretched long,
By Fortune cross'd, e'en in the Hour of Bliss;
But now her Blessings in their Turn succeed,
With this kind Meeting she compensates all.

Alm.
This Meeting is a favourable Gift,
A Blessing I confess; but yet my Fears
Foretel some fatal Ruin will ensue.
How could'st thou be so cruel, and so kind,
So kind to me, so cruel to thy self?

Alm.
For thee, Almeyda, what could I refuse?
Is there a Joy within the utmost Limits,
The fairest Part of this Terrestrial Globe;
Nay, seated in those blissful Bow'rs above,
I could prefer to thee, thou worthy Maid?
Earth would grow dull, and Heav'nly Pleasures cloy,
Alucius still would sicken for Almeyda.

Alm.
But yet your Danger, thus beset with Foes,
Encompass'd round with Enemies of Spain,
What Safety can you find?

Alu.
This Roman Garb
Conceals me from Discov'ry; but were
Ten thousand Dangers planted round this Tent,
As many Daggers pointed at my Life,
And only love my Friend, I'd brave my Fate.
Thus, when the big impending Clouds appear,
And struggling Winds proclaim some Tempest near,
The trembling Birds the coming Danger fly,
And seek for Shelter from the low'ring Sky,
In wild Confusion, and Affright divide,
The mournful Mate is sever'd from his Bride:
But when the Gloom is clear'd, the Storm o'er past,
Each seek his Consort with impatient Haste;
Grieves 'till she's found, when found the joyful Pair,
With warbling Transports charm the list'ning Air.

[Exeunt