University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

The Grove before the Temple, Enter Dumnacus, and Queen, with Attendants.
Qu.
You find there is no time to loose, the King
Throws off the veil, and has confess'd the Tyrant;
Openly avows, now he has beat the Romans,
His lawless Love,
The Altar can't preserve its Votaries
From the outragious Fury of his Lust.
Ev'n now, in view of this auspicious Temple,
He stab'd the Druid, that gave up the Children
Of that vile, foreign Vagrant to us,
Nor stops he there, but thinks 'tis not enough
To slight, for her, my Charms, and therefore now
Resolves my Death.

Dum.
And mine—yes—he has dar'd to threaten me too!
This petty Prince has dar'd to threaten me!
Me, who have aw'd him with an angry Nod
Giv'n laws to Monarchs, and depending Chiefs.
Me, who Rome fear'd, and every Nation courted.
Me—
But soon he shall perceive there yet remains
A Mind undanted in these awful Ruins
Conscious of Greatness, and my ancient Glory,
Tho', by the Crime of Fate, despoil'd of Pow'r.

Queen.
How stand our Party? are they firm, and bold?

Dum.
By the Oppressions of the Tyrant ripen'd,
They're ready for all Attempts for Liberty.
I urg'd your wrongs, nor did forget my own;
And laid our suff'rings on the public Score,
Our Zeal against the Kings Despotic Pow'r.

Queen.
That was well urg'd, a sure, and popular Bait.

Dum.
And so was swallow'd by the giddy Throng,
Who full of Vengance meet this very hour,
In the deep valley, near the ill-guarded Castle;
With the Surprize of which, we shall begin.
Retire into the Temple, 'till the Shock is over.

Queen.
The King's now there, in outward shew, to offer
The Roman Spoils to Hermes:—
But guilty Love lurks ev'n in his Devotion,
My hateful Rival's all the Gods, he worships.

Dum.
I must begon; methinks, o're yonder hill,
Faint glim'ring Points of Twilight pierce the Gloom,
And wound retiring Night, sure day is near.

Queen.
Behold the King!

Dum.
I'll not be seen, but hast
To use our Party, while their Furies high.
We often loose our wishes by Delays.

[Exit attended.
Queen.
I must pass by him e'r I reach the Temple.
I see a murd'ring Fury in his Eyes
I wou'd avoid—but 'tis to late to shun him.

Enter King, Guards, and Attendants
King
speaks entering.
Hast all; flie every one a several Way,
Disperse your selves thro' every Road and Path.
Bring back my Love, or else return no more.
Hold—here's my Fate; stay all and seize on her,

[Seeing the Queen.
Qu.
Seize me!—stand off ye slaves, I am your Queen.

King.
You are my Slave; a bold, offending Slave;
That, with an Impudence of Pride, presumes
To check my Wishes, and oppose my Will.
O! worst of Women! for in that's contain'd
The Sum of every thing, that's infamous.
What hast thou done with Guinoenda tell me,
For thou alone canst tell, where is my Love?

Qu.
I once was call'd, nay I was sworn your Love.

King.
Yes, to my shame, too well I lov'd you once;
Lull'd by thy Charms, I lay in passive Slumbers
And to my foolish Love betray'd my Pow'r;
Uxorious to a frenzy, let your Will
Dispose my Favours, and o're-rule my Laws.
But a tame Husband makes a Wife audacious,
Since therefore, you so ill have us'd your Pow'r
I now resume it, and exert your Lord.

Queen.
They're not my Crimes I suffer for but yours,
Had you been just, you still had thought me good;
But when your wandring Eyes led your false Heart
To wish deprav'dly for course homly Viands,
And loath the costly Banquet of my Love,
You seek a Refuge then, for your Injustice;
And with fictitious Crimes you burden me,
T'excuse your sordid fondness of a Beggar.

King.
No more—you've sure forgot your life is in my Pow'r.

Qu.
No, you base perjur'd King, Iv'e not forgot it:
I know your Pow'r too well:—the Gallic Laws
Give Men o're Wives a Pow'r Unjust, as Great,
Nay more, I know thy Impotence of Mind
Unable to resist the Lust of Vengeance;
Ev'n to thy Ruin thou'lt pursue my Life.
Yet I will torture thee before I die,
And please my injur'd heart, with thy wild Raving's,
Thy Cruelty can only reach my Body,
But I will rack thy Soul; for know, false man,
Thou never shalt possess thy guilty Love.

King:
Ha! never shalt possess her?

Queen.
Never.

King.
Never?
Then thou hast slain my Love?

Qu.
I will not tell thee.

King.
O! insatiate Cruelty of Woman!
But thou! thou art suparlatively woman!
More cruel far, than storms, or raging flames,
Than War, or Want! O! Woman! Woman! Woman!
No hand can draw that Ill implacable,
No Words describe! What ever God design'd
Woman, design'd to Man the utmost Evil
And the most cleaving Mischief.

Qu.
Rage on, rage on; it gluts my hungry Wrongs
Thy Pangs are food—

King.
I will not hear thee speak.
There's such a Discord in thy hateful Voice,
It jar's upon me, and untunes my Soul,
Yet do not boast too soon; no easie Death
Shall be thy cursed Lot, no I'll torture thee
With such a strange Variety of Torments,
They shall surpass thy Cruelty;
And make thee curse thy fond or'e-weening Pride,
That durst provoke my Rage. Away with her.

Qu.
I go—but first know this,—thy Rage I laugh at.
Weak Exhalations fed thy Meteor Pow'r,
Which now worn out, in one expiring Blaze
Shoots swiftly downward to the Earth for ever,
No more to shine aloft in thy false Orb;
While I in spight of all thy fancy'd Terrors,
Thy feeble Threats, and impotent Commands,
Shall with my foot tread out the slimy Vapour.

King.
Away with her, and in the Castle shut her;
[they bear her off.
My next Commands shall prove my Threats not vain,
But Racks shall first extort the horrid Secret
Of Guinoenda's Death, Oh! dismal thought!
O're her dear Ashes shall the Traytress fall.
Enter Guinoenda in Mourning follow'd by Rhesus, and Attendants, and Druids.
What do I see? my Guinoenda here!
Then my fears vanish, and my Joys return,
Yes yes, my heart, 'tis she! she breaks upon me,
Like a fair day after a stormy Night!
But she's in sorrow! say my lovely Fair,
Why drooping thus, and why these falling Tears?
That please the Eye, but deeply wound the Heart?

Guin.
Oh! I am lost! I perish! oh! I'm nothing
For when my Rhesus perish'd I dy'd too!

King.
Ha!

Guin.
My Rhesus! O! miserable Woman!
How can I utter the destroying sound!
Ay me! my Rhesus, Rhesus is no more!

King.
How know you this?

Guin.
Alas! it is too true!

King.
Who brought the News?

Guin.
Behold him there!
Ah! me! methinks I see my Husband in him!

King.
Whence, and what is he?

Guin
A Noble Britain
Escap'd the wreck; where oh! that he had perish'd
Were but my Rhesus safe!

King.
Then he is drown'd?

Rhes.
With Pain I saw him wrastling with the Billows
Desperate of humane Help.

Guin.
O! wretched Death!
Unbury'd he must be a wandring Ghost
Shut out, ay me! shut out from Rest below!

King.
Come quit these fruitless sorrows for the Dead
Pursue no more with empty Love a Shadow,
That thinks no more of you. I long have lov'd you,
With a most constant, and most fervent Passion,
Ah! pity then a Monarch, that dies for thee!

Guin.
Oh! my Lord there is, there is a way,
To touch my Heart.

King.
Oh! name it, name it quickly!

Guin.
Pity the dead, and I may pity You.

King.
A Bribe like this, wou'd make me wish him living,

Guin.
My Lord,
Sure I may call you so without a blush,
Since he is dead that had my heart, by Right,
I have a Boon to ask, the Grant of which
Wou'd lay so kind and Obligation on me
I shou'd with difficulty deny you ought.

King.
Take, take my Crown! all I command be thine,
Be thou but mine.

Guin.
Nay I will kneel, and begg you by your Hopes!
By all your wishes!—

King.
Oh! rise! I must not, cannot see you kneel.

Guin.
All that I ask, is but to bury Rhesus
According to the holy Rites of Britain.

King.
Do it where you please in Bayonne.

Guin.
It must be done at Sea.

King.
How?

Guin.
Alas! I know not!

King.
O! pleasing Messenger of welcome News!
Inform us how you bury ship-wreck'd Men.

Rhes.
According Sir, to their Abilities.

King.
A King? as Rhesus?

Rhes.
For him we must prepare
Provisions, Victims, Royal Robes, and Arms.
These by his Queen, and all her Orphan Children,
From some swift Boat, must, with their Pray'rs and Tears,
Be thrown into the Ocean.

King.
How far at Sea?

Rhes.
So far, that with an akeing Eye, you scarce
From land can see them; that the Surges may not
Roll back the Expiations to the Shoar.

King.
Can't you, without your Queen, perform these Rites?

Rhes.
Without her, Sir, we but prophane the Rites.

King.
Methinks I wou'd not venture her so far,
Least the sad Ceremony awake her Love,
And there transport her to some desperate deed.

Guin.
Oh! my illustrious Lord, I needs must go,
Shou'd I neglect this duty to the dead,
The dire tremendous Judgments of the Gods
Wou'd swiftly fall on our devoted heads,
And crush us both. This is no idle Dream
Of fond Enthusiasts, or the credulous Vulgar;
But known Examples every day confirm
The dreadful Truth.

King.
I know not what to say
But all my fears, are only for thy safety.

Guin.
Oh! fear not that, my Lord, I wou'd have dy'd
To've sav'd his Life; but now what wou'd my Death
Advantage him? Oh! then permit me, Sir,
To pay this last sad duty to his shade:
'Twill teach my heart to love you as I ought.

Rhes.
You shou'd encourage, Sir, her pious zeal
Since now she must be yours.

King.
You shall prevail.
But do not wast thy Beauties, with these Weepings.
The dead are nothing, and I'll love thee more,
Than Rhesus cou'd. Oh! give his Grave thy sorrows
And give me all thy Heart.

Guin.
This day will shew how much I love my Friends.

King.
Go therefore Fair one, with auspicious Omens!
If Beauty touch the Gods thou must prevail,
If not thy Virtue surely cannot fail.
Each Watry God will smooth his stormy Brow,
Melt at thy Pray'rs, dissolve at every Vow;
Th'unrelenting Pow'rs of Night appease,
And give at last thy wandring Rhesus Ease:
Thy grateful Victims double Joys will gain,
And put an end to both our ling'ring Pain;
Our wish'd Elizium, on us both bestow
Mine here with thee, his with the shades below.

Rhes.
O! vain, and short-liv'd Joy of guilty Love!

[Aside.
King.
Here, from my Breast let Pleasure spread around!
And in loud Eccho's all my Joys resound,
Let Mirth sit smiling now in every Face,
And sportive Revels fill each gladsome Place.
Let pensive Envy furle no sullen Brow,
But struggle up to hostile Raptures now.
Let every Breath, and every Voice proclaim,
To every Ear, by every Tongue of Fame,
That Guinoenda owns at last my Flame.
Away—while I my Nuptial Pomps prepare,
Make hast kind Stranger, and bring back my Fair:
Her Rites perform'd restore her yielding Charms,
And bring her safe to my desiring Arms.

Rhes.
Alot great, Sir, from out the holy Tribe,
Who must direct our boat, for pious Druids
Alone must row it.

King.
Choose thy self the number.

While Rhesus seems choosign among the Druids enter Morganius and Vaunutius just escap'd the Wreck.
Vaun.
On what strange Country has the Ocean thrown us?

Morg.
We've wander'd long among the craggy Cliffs,
Bewilder'd in the Night, and pathless Rocks.

Vaun.
But now the dawning Morn has pointed us
To this more certain track, we shall discover
Where 'tis we are.

Morg.
No matter where; since we've lost
Our Force, and Joy in Rhesus!
Vaun. looking about spies Rhesus &c. and stands fixdly gazing, at 'em.
Oh! that the Gods had but preserv'd our King too!
Perhaps they have! ha! what is't has surpriz'd thee!

Vaun.
Look look Morganius, but sure it is a Vision!
Our King, and his lost Queen! Impossible!

Morg.
'Tis he! 'tis she! Oh! wond'rous Providence!
The swelling Joy transports my ravish'd soul!
They both run to Rhesus, fall down and embrace his legs. Morganius speaks.
O! my dear Lord! my King! most godlike Rhesus!

Vau.
We now are safe indeed to find you safe!

[All start.
King.
Ha!—I'm then impos'd on! Guards seize them all,

Vaun.
Ha!—what can this mean!

The surprize Rhesus and the rest, and disarm them.
Rhes.
Disarm'd! oh! cursed Chance!

Morg.
What strange Event is this?

Guin.
Oh! what what has your fatal Duty done!

King.
Oh! thou ingrateful Fair! thou base Impostor!
You see the Gods declare against your Cunning,
And keep a watchful Eye o're my Repose,
I will consider how to punish all,
As all deserve.

Walks up and down discompos'd and thoughtful.
Guin.
O! Gods! O! cruel fortune! thus to loose,
Ev'n in the Moment of expected Bliss,
Our only hopes of Liberty!

Mor.
Oh! Sir, what have we done?

Rhes.
Alas! Morganius!
Your ill tim'd Love has ruin'd all our hopes!
Thro' various Storms of our disastrous Fortune,
Our shatter'd Bark, was Just in view of safty
When Fate brings You, like suddain furious Gusts
Of Adverse Wind, that drives us out again
To certain Wreck in the tumultuous Ocean.

Morg.
O! cursed Fortune!

Vaun.
O! destroying sounds!

Morg.
Oh! that we'd perish'd innocent of this!

Rhes.
'Tis Fortunes Crime, not yours, then grieve no more,
Chance may destroy our Happiness, not Virtue.

King.
Captain conduct these Britains to the Altar
Of injur'd Neptune, for they are his due,
There strike their Heads off, and appease the God.

As they are going to bear them off, Guinoenda flies to Rhesus and flings her Arms about him.
Guin.
I will go with him, wheresoever he goes.

King.
No you must stay with me.

Guin.
Dead, not alive.
I will not quit my hold while I have Life.

Embraces him close, as he does her.
Rhes.
Oh! this, this Moment let me perish!

Guin.
O! Tyrant!
Let now thy Rage be merciful, and kill us.

King.
Kill You! no, by my dear warmer hopes,
The pleasing Pangs, and Agonies of Love,
Are all the Deaths I'll give thee.

Rhes.
Gods! Gods! must I Hear this, and not revenge it?

King.
Ha! it shall be so—no thou shalt not die yet,
But live to see my Nuptial Rites perform'd,
See the fair Bride conducted to my Bed
And to my Arms surrender all her Sweets;
See me dissolve Raptures on her Bosom,
And in those Tortures die.

Rhes.
Insulting Tyrant!
May Cankers eat thy guilty tongue, that utter'd
Those hateful sounds, Madness seize thy Mind,
That form'd the foul Idea, and on thy Person
Fall all the Plagues, that Tyranny calls loud for.

King.
Curse on, curse on, while I enjoy the Cause
Of thy vain Curses, while I posses thy Queen.
Yes I will force her stubborn Beauties to me,
Amidst her Tears, her Curses and her Cries,
Invert the Tale of Semele, and Jove
And in her Tempest will enjoy my Love.

Rhes.
Oh! for a sword! or Bas'lick's Killing Eye!

Guin.
O ye just Pow'rs assist us! think not Tyrant
The Gods will always sleep, that seem to nod:
A while they let thy Wickedness prevail
To make their Punishment the more illustrious.

King.
Away with them to the Castle.
There let him wait my speedy Summons.

Guin.
O! Rhesus take me with thee, or I die!
Nay by the Gods I will not live without thee.

King.
Tear 'em asunder—Death ye slaves, away!

Guin.
Oh! my Rhesus! must we then part for ever?

Rhes.
I will not think so impiously of Heav'n.

They force him off, and she being rent from him, falls to the ground.
Guin.
Oh! stay! I charge you, do not bear him from me!
Force not my Love, my Life, my Soul away.

King.
Rise up, my Fair, and see a happyer Lover.

Guin.
Oh! Rhesus!—break, break, my heart! Oh! for daggers,
Poison! any thing to end tormenting Life!
Why wont you kill me?

King.
Because I love you.

Guin.
If you do love me, why d'you make me wretched?

King
My Love is certain, but your Ills imagin'd.

Guin.
Oh! I am miserable, without your Pity!

King.
How can you ask, what You refuse to grant?

Guin.
Alas! I cannot love you!

King.
Nor can I
Cease to love you.

Guin.
Reason shou'd arm your Virtue 'gainst your Passion.

King.
Not when my Passion's founded on my Reason.
Why shou'd I not be happy, when I may?
He knows his Pow'r but ill, that fears to use it.

Guin.
Be not unjust because 'tis in your Pow'r,
We are a Proof how subject Pow'r's to Chance.

King.
Therefore the Wise enjoy the present Moment,
And snatch their Bliss from Fortunes veering Hand,
While with a smiling face she holds it out.
In vain we wish those minutes wou'd return,
Which we by Hopes, and Fears supinely loose.
Therefore this Moment I will seize my Joy.
Lead to the Palace.

Guin.
O! Sir, let me implore you! [kneels.

By every thing that is or can be dear to you!
Oh! by Religion! Heav'n! by all the Gods!
I do conjure you hear me—hear me speak!

King.
Nothing against my Love I'll hear or grant.
Your Eyes, your Face, your every Charm forbid
Compliance with your Tongue. I will my self
Conduct you. No strugling; 'tis in vain.

They lift her up and force her gently forward she strugling.
Enter the chief Druid.
Guin.
O! holy Druid, by thy Gods I charge thee
Exert thy awful Pow'r, and help me now,
Or strike thy pointed dagger to my heart.
O! will you obey his hellish Will!
Have you no thoughts of Justice, Honor, Heav'n?

King.
Madam, submit, nor Earth, nor Heav'n shall free you.

Guin.
Yes, impious Tyrant, yes I will be free,
I'll hold my Breath, and perish so, I will,
I will; e'r I will suffer thy abhor'd embrace.
Oh! may the Gods show'r Plagues on thy curs'd Head!
May Agues friez thee! and may Feavors burn thee!
May Leaprosies o'respread thy hated Body,
And make that foul, and odious, as thy Mind!
May suddain Ruin reach thy guilty Pow'r!
And Rebels sink thy Throne!

King.
Go on, go on.

Druid.
My Lord, my Lord, if you persist I must
Here interpose my Pow'r against an Outrage
So barbarous, as this.

King.
How! dare you speak?
Confederate with her, in her plotted Flight?

Enter Messenger in hast.
Mes.
My Lord the King! just now I have discover'd,
Within the Valley near the Castle Walls
A numerous Body, gather'd to a head,
Led on, by, Dumnacus, they all declare
They'l die for him, and for the injur'd Queen,
And vow your Death.

Enter a second Messenger.
King.
Ha! whence com'st thou, thus frighted?

Mes.
The Castle Sir's betray'd to Dumnacus,
Which left in the Queen's Hands, he rolls this way
The People from all sides come pow'ring in
And in loud shouts call him Deliverer,
And then in arm'd Squadrons, join him, as he passes,

King.

[Gives her to the Druid.
Druid.
Religion, Justice, Right direct my Actions
And those oblige me now to succour you,
Yet I must still declare against your Vices.

King.
All shall be mended, do but now your Duty.—
Come on my Souldiers, to whose oft try'd Valour
I've ow'd so many Triumphs, these home bred Foes,
By Guilt, confusion, Ignorance of War
Made weak, are easy Prey, they can't withstand
Th'experienc'd Force ev'n of this little Band.

[Exit with Guards.
Guin.
The Gods are just and he must surely fall.

Druid.
Retire to the Temple.

Guin.
Oh! no—but lead me—
Oh! lead me te my Rhesus; to his Dungeon!
For where he is, I there shall find a Palace
Soft Beds of down, and all the Sweets of Life.

Druid.
'Tis now impossible to lead you to him,
The Fort being held by the rebellious Queen.

Guin.
Her name alarms my Fears.

Druid.
Fear not for him
Her Intrest will preserve him.

Guin.
Well, lead me where you please, for I'm so wretched
I care not where I pass those fleeting Minutes,
This short Remainder of m'unhappy Life,
Yet let me thro' all Dangers go
To find my Rhesus, or you'l know too late
No Temple is a Guard against my Fate.

[exeunt omnes.