 | Love's Victim : Or, The Queen of Wales |  |
18
ACT III.
SCENE I.
The Inside of the Temple. Enter Rhesus just escap'd the Wreck.Rhe.
O Hermes! for thine, I see this Temple is
How well have I invok'd thy powerful name!
When in the stormy flood I strove for life.
And with the Billows made unequal War;
Thou gav'st my Arms fresh force, and thou at last
Hast thus deliver'd Rhesus from destruction.
Oh! that thy pittying Goodness had preserv'd
My Friends, that in their Monarchs Cause forsook
The blest Retreats of Cambria, for the Toyls,
And various hazards of th'inclement Deep;
For never Monarch had such Friends, such Subjects!
[Kneels]
O! Hermes! if so the heav'nly Pow'rs decree,
That I no more must breath the British Air;
Oh! grant at least the Cause of my long Voyage!
Oh! grant my Guinoenda to my Arms!
Enter Guinoeda her Children and Voelia.
Guin.
Blest be the Gods! we've reach'd this sanctuary
Let us return our thanks, perhaps the Gods
May once restore us to your Father!
O! Rhesus! Rhesus! wou'd that thou wer't come!
Oh! how desir'd woud'st thou come to me!
Rhesus hearing her starts up, and comes toward her.
Rhes.
O! all ye Gods! what well known sounds I hear!
Guin
Ha!
By the pale Beams the dying Tapers throw,
Methinks I see a Man moving this way.
Hast nearer to the Altar, till the Druid,
And all the holy Tribe, return from Court,
Some Engine of the disappointed Queen.
Rhes.
Stay, do not flie me! stay, bright Vision, stay!
For, by this glim'ring light, I now discover
A Form, that both amazes, and delights me.
19
O! Matrons! friends! flie to my speedy Rescue.
Rhes.
You need no rescue, for I am no Ravisher,
Fear not; but tell me, who thou art, whose face,
Whose Voice, whose Person, so surprize with Wonder?
Guin
Ha! that Voice I'm sure's no Strangers. No—
And now I view thee well, I see my Rhesus!
O! Rhesus! Rhesus! for it must be thee!
Rhes
Ah! well you know the sad Remains of Rhesus!
Guin.
Oh! late arriv'd to thy desiring Wife!
Rhes.
Thou art my Guinoenda then?
Guin.
'Tis I indeed, it is your Guinoenda!
Rhes.
'Tis she! 'tis she! it is my Guinoenda!
O! my life! my Soul!
[Embrace.
Guin
O! my love! my All!
Rhes.
Oh I have so much to say,
I know not how, or where I shall begin!
I have a thousand things to ask and tell!
Guin.
Beyond belief! almost beyond my Hopes,
I clasp my Rhesus!
[Embrace.
Rhes.
As I do thee, when I most fear'd I'd lost thee!
Guin.
See, see, thy little Off-spring too have caught
Our spreading Joy! see how they wait t'embrace you!
Tyrel.
My Father!
Man.
My dear; dear Father!
Rhes.
My Children!
[they all embrace him.
Guin.
My King!
Rhes.
My Queen! let me embrace you all!
Embraces them one after another.
O! indulgent heav'n! O thrice happy Shipwreck!
That cast me on my only hopes away!
O! my, dear Love, come tell me all thy fortune,
Where art thou? and how come hither?
Guin.
Ask not, the dismal Story of our parting;
Th'unlucky Omen pains, and shocks my Soul.
Rhes.
'Tis but the Superstition of thy Love.
Guin.
I will obey you.—
When down the silver Tovy. I was row'd,
As you well-know, to take the Ev'ning Air;
My Women, and these Children only with me;
The base Hibernian King, that ow'd his Life,
And liberty to your victorious Sword
Seiz'd on our Barge, and forc'd us all aboar'd
Hoisted his Sails, and bore away to Sea.
Rhes.
This I soon knew, and closely I pursu'd him.
But finding him too swift with Rage return'd
Set out my Fleet, and reach'd th'Hibernian Shore,
Laid all his Country Wast in dire Revenge
20
Guin.
While you pursu'd, uncertain of his Prey,
He spoke me fair; and laid the fault on love,
Unconquerable Love, and wild Despair;
Implor'd my Pity of a Madman's frenzy;
Seem'd to repent, and promis'd to restore me.
But this alas! was the effect of Fear,
For You no sooner quited your Pursuit,
But his submissive Meaness swell'd to threats,
Which as a vast Storm, that then arose rebated,
Till on this Coast of Bayonne here we split,
Where he, and all his perish'd,
And I with my two Children,
Were taken up half dead.
And thus the Gods preserv'd me for thy Arms.
Rhe.
Not finding thee, thro' all th'Hibernian Coast,
For that I search'd, with narrow scrutiny,
Orewhelm'd with deep despair, I steer'd for Cambria.
The Seas grew high, and swell'd into a storm,
Dispers'd our Fleet, and dash'd my Ship to pieces,
Where perish'd all the Heroes of our Country,
Vanutius, Cornwallus, and Conavius,
With good Morganius—only I escap'd
A poor, a naked, helpless, shipwreck'd Man.
Guin.
Oh! welcome! howsoever thou art come!
Tho'poor, and wretched, yet thou'rt rich to me.
I pray'd whole Nights, and wish'd whole livelong days,
To see my Love, I pray'd alas! to see thee,
But little thought to see thee thus!
The cruel Gods but heard my Vows by halves,
They've brought thee to me, but they've brought thee wretched
Divested of that Pow'r, that shou'd have freed us.
And yet 'tis better far to see thee thus,
Than not to see thee! yes to see thee wretched,
Than not at all to see thee! pardon, my Lord,
This wild excess of Love; I cannot wish
You ev'n in Britain safe, to loose you ever!—
Yet I cou'd die for you; indeed I cou'd!
Witness O Love! and all you Heav'nly Pow'rs,
How much I wish my death, wou'd save my Rhesus!
For oh! my Lord, preserv'd from Seas and Battels.
You come to perish here.
[Weeps.
Rhe.
Where lies the danger?
What mean these tears? what wou'd these tender sighs?
What is't alarms thy Love?
21
Fly, fly, my Lord, th'inhospitable Coast,
The Tyrant of this place will surely kill thee!
Enter Queen, and stands observing them.
Rhe.
What Cause of Hate can I a stranger give him?
Guin.
All Britains for your sake he dooms to death,
And you, of all, he most both fears and hates,
As the chief bar to his detested love.
Rhe.
Love? does he then attempt thy Love?
Guin.
He does, nay wou'd force me to—
Rhe.
Wou'd force? ha!
What hinders him from forcing, if he wou'd?
Guin.
My Love, my Virtue, and this awful Temple.
Qu.
What's this I hear? this may import me.
Guin.
Yes Hermes guards me from both Love, and Hate;
Nor King nor Queen durst e're assault me here.
Beneath the Shadow of that holy Altar
On that hard Couch I take those broken slumbers,
Which Nature forces from my Pray'rs for thee!
Rhes.
O Guinoenda! I am doubly wretched,
To see thee unhappy, and want Pow'r to help thee!
Guin.
Think not of me, but think upon thy self,
Think of thy Safety, that concerns me more.
Oh! save thy life by suddain flight!
Rhes.
From thee?—
Guin.
From me, from every thing, that wou'd destroy thee.
Rhes.
From Guinoenda? for whom I've fought
So many Battels, and such dangers past?
Guin.
You must not perish with me.
Rhes.
I will not live without thee.
Guin.
Nor I, without my Rhesus, witness Heav'n!
Oh! witness all ye Pow'rs, that know my heart
I cannot bear to see thee die; nor can I
Live without thee!
Rhes.
And shou'd I flie then from a Love so tender!
Guin.
There's such a Contradiction in my Will,
I know not what to say! I wou'd not have
You go, and yet, O! Gods! you must not stay, and die!
There is no living with thee, nor without thee!
Rhes.
Love, Honor, Glory, all forbid my flight,
Deserting thee, while I can grasp this Sword.
Rhes.
You cannot kill the Tyrant.
Rhes.
Is he invulnerable?
Guin.
Yes his Guards
Will make him so to you! alas! the hazard
22
Rhes.
Wou'd you then have me tamely
Here wait my fate, not meet it like your Rhesus?
Guin.
I'd have thee safe; this rash Attempt destroys thee,
Time may gain all our hopes.
Rhes.
How?
Guin.
Keep your self
From being known.
Rhes.
Who here shou'd know me?
Guin.
Your Country is as dangerous as your Name.
Rhes.
What can I do then?
Guin.
Let me consider.
Queen.
I've heard enough.
Rhes.
Ah! we are lost, my Rhesus, we are lost!
Rhes.
What new Misfortune gives you this alarm?
Queen.
'Tis I, 'tis I, who have o're heard your Conference.
Rhes.
If you have, Madam, Beauty sure like yours
Was ne'r ally'd to cruelty; Compassion
Is the Womans noblest Virtue. And sure
A form so bright, within too must be perfect.
Qu.
(Aside.)
Methinks I take a Pleasure in his Praise
More, than I use in vulgar Flatteries.
Rhes.
And Lovers in distress more justly claim
Protection from the beautiful and young.
You must have known, sure, what it is to love;
And then our secret is secure with you.
Qu.
Yes I have lov'd, I once too was belov'd,
Till cursed Chance brought her to blast my Joys,
And spread a dismal ruin ore my Love!
Rhes.
Ah! we are lost indeed! th'unhappy Queen!
Guin.
kneeling.]
Ah! madam, ah! forget my guilty fortune!
Or if you will have Vengeance, take my life,
But oh! spare his! escap'd both floods, and fields,
Let him not perish here! to see him die,
Is what a Wife so tender cannot bear.
Qu.
Yet I have born more for thee—
The Death of Love!
It had been less to see my Husband die,
Than cease to love; if Rhesus die, he dies
Still loving thee; while I must be forsaken;
For thee despis'd; for thee thrown off, and loath'd
O! Agony! O! most detested fate!
How dar'st thou sue to me?
Guin.
Oh! let me suffer then, I'll leave this Temple,
Again approach the dreadful Urn of Pluto,
If you will pitty him; if you will save him.
23
If I must pitty him, say thou no more,
For such a Pleasure in thy Pains I feel
I shall undo my self to ruin thee
But let him speak—perhaps he may prevail.
For midst my Rage I fear my heart pleads for him.
[Aside.
Rhes.
Oh! rise my Love, my life's not worth thy tears,
To beg, and fawn, for such a Boon, as life,
That fortune the next Minute may take from me,
Is much below the Deeds, that I have done.
Yes I shou'd blush to beg that of a Woman,
Which all th'Hibernian Warriours cou'd not take.
To die 's no Evil, to live meanly, is
A brave Man's Wish, is first of all to conquer,
His next, if that's deny'd is Noble Death.
Yet for my self, tho'I disdain to beg,
Your safety, Madam, that depends on mine,
Will sure excuse what I shall urge to move you.
Let us be gone, and you remove the Cause
That leads your King astray.
Qu.
When I can punish, to reward my Rival,
With what she most desires, wou'd be strange Folly.
Rhes.
To punish her, you punish your self too,
Kill me, you give her to the Man you love!
Qu.
Ah! no! I fear I give her thus to him!
[aside.
Rhes.
Since then your woes, and happiness are join'd,
'Tis folly to be wretched, to make her so.
Qu.
For her you plead too much, too little for your self.
Rhes.
No, Madam, I never will descend
So low, to sue with servile fear for life.
No thou great God, I will appeal to thee!
Be Witness of the Injuries we suffer;
We yet are thine; be thine then our Protection!
And thou, O! Pluto! I invoke thy Aid!
Whom for her sake so lavishly I've feasted
With Hecatombs of slaughter'd foes,
Enough to bribe thy Avarice of Souls.
Restore those dead, or move this beautious Queen
To give the Purchase of those Slaughters to me.
Why shou'd effeminate Weepings, move you more,
Than speaking like a Man? If those alone
Where Interest, and Reason fail, can move you;
'Tis more than life can pay: then seize the forfeit;
You can no more, and my past Deeds secure me
From an inglorious Fall.
Queen.
(Aside ... )
Strange War I feel,
Within my brest since I have heard him talk
24
And drives retiring Rage from out my heart.
If it be Love, as oh! I fear it is!
She yet must die; but he must be preserv'd. ( ... Aside.)
Compassion, Sir, at last prevails; for me,
[to him.
Tho' injur'd, you are safe; for taught by You,
I find Revenge less charming, than forgiveness,
(Aside ... )
I must be gone, or I am lost; I know
The fatal track of false injurious Love! ( ... Aside.)
I never will betray you to the King:
[to him.
Nay I advise you to disguise your self
To shelter you from his observing Spies;
Tho none are sharper than a Rivals Eyes.
[Exit looking back at him.
Guin.
She's discompos'd, and left us in Confusion.
She eye'd thee too, as if she'd look into thee.
Or I'm deceiv'd, or else we owe to Love
Thy Safety.
Rhes.
No, no, my Love, she is convinc'd
How much it is her Interest to preserve me.
Escap'd this Shelf, how shall we reach our Port?
Guin.
I've found the way, will bear us safe to Land.
Rhes.
How?
Guin.
I will report you drown'd, and put on Mourning,
Deplore your Death; pretend you brought this News,
And that will gain you favour, with the King.
Rhes.
Suppose this done.
Guin.
I will preswade him our Religion binds
The Wife, and Children of those drown'd at Sea,
At Sea their Rites of Funeral to perform.
A few hours rowing brings us into Spain
A foe to Bayonne, and the Gallic Name.
Rhes.
But who shall row us?
Guin.
The holy Druids,
Who all will join in my Deliverance.
Rhes.
It is the Child of Love, and must succeed.
Guin.
Retire with me, and while I dress, we may
Improve the lucky thought.—
For on this weighty Moment much depends
If I'm discover'd Death will be my Lot,
If I succeed my Country, and my Love!
O! sacred Juno!
Bright Partner of the Bed, of thundr'ing Jove,
O! blest Protectress of Connubial Love
25
Nor let the Gods oppress us with their hate!
Oh! give such Faith, as ours a milder Fate!
If in this pious Fraud, a Crime there be,
Oh! let your Vengeance fall alone on me!
Let me; let only me your Victim prove,
But Oh! preserve, preserve the Man I love.
The End of the Third Act.
| Love's Victim : Or, The Queen of Wales | |