University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

Julio's Apartment.
Enter Julio, and Teraminta.
O! Teraminta! why thus still in Tears?
What?—Now the Priest has joyn'd us? oh! my Love!
'Tis ominous—or else thou do'st not love me.

Ter.
Not love my Julio?
O! all ye juster Pow'rs! that know my thoughts!
If my sad Soul has tasted any Joy,
A hope of Pleasure, but what Julio gave me,
Add, add to what I bear, and break my heart,
Ev'n here before him; on our Wedding Day.

Jul.
If mine thou woud'st not break—Oh! Teraminta!
Once more I do conjure thee—give the Grave
Thy sadness—Let me press thee in my Arms—
And lull thy froward Sorrows on my Bosome—
—Ha!—Why that Sigh again—these swelling Tears,
That in round drops stand ready in thy Eyes?

Ter.
Oh! Julio!—pardon me my Fears, forgive my Sorrows—
Rinaldo is my Father—and I must grieve!
His suddain Ruin!—But ah!—perhaps that Grief
Too soon I might forget in Julio's Arms.

Jul.
What farther can disturb thee?
Unload thy Cares into my faithful Breast,
That if I can't relieve 'em, I may share 'em.
Now by my hopes, my Love, you wrong your Julio
While you deny your secret Sorrows to him.

Ter.
Oh! pardon me, my Lord, and I will speak.
—You know your Father Cosmo hates Rinaldo,
Whom he so lately has expell'd from Florence.
You know his hate spreads round to all his Race,
That when by Rumour told how thou didst love me,
He check'd thy Love, and charg'd thee to renounce me.

Jul.
'Twas in a Gust of Passion!
Transported with his Zeal against thy Father;
He had forgot thy Virtues.

Ter.
But oh! Julio!
Shou'd he again insist upon that Point
With all his obstinate severity;
What must I fear from his Authority
Over a Son so pious, as my Julio?

Jul.
He knows, this day we're Marry'd, and no more
Therefore will think of parting us

Ter.
Ah! shou'd You Julio, with my Fondness sated,
E're yield to throw me off, or in the least
Disclose a Coldness to your Teraminta,
By all my Fears you surely break my heart!

Jul.
Banish those groundless Fears, nor think
While I have Life I e're can love you less.

Ter.
Swear then your Love shall last like mine forever.

Jul.
More, than thou canst desire, I swear to Do!—

Ter.
Yet do not Swear, it is the common cheat
Of faithless Men, that know no other Tye—
Thy Love, and Honour are the surest Bands;
For Oaths are weaker, than an Infants Tear
When that is broke—
But I will take so strong a hold with Love,
With Tenderness, Obedience, and with Truth
Thou shall not have the Power to be false.

Jul.
Oh! ye just Heav'ns what can you promise me,
In vast exchange for this one matchless Woman.

Enter Cosmo.
Ter.
But see—thy Father—I'll not grieve his Eye,
Till by my Duty I've destroy'd his Hate.
I go—yet 'tis with Pain I leave you with him.

Jul.
'Twill not be long—as soon as he is gone
I'll call thee to my Arms.

[Sees her to the door, and returns to his Father.
Cos.
Julio! my Son!

Jul.
My ever honour'd Lord!

Cos.
I think, my Julio,
Nay, by my Soul, I dare protest it to thee,
I love thee more, than all my other Children.

Jul.
How, Sir, oh! how my Lord, have I deserv'd it?

Cos.
Therefore I love thee more, because, my Son,
Thou hast deserv'd it. For, to speak sincerely,
There's such a Sweetness still in all thy Manners,
An Air so open, and a Brow so clear,
With such a manly Plainness in thy Dealing,
That not to love thee, O my Son! my Julio!
Were to be envious of so great a Virtue.

Jul.
Oh! all ye Pow'rs! where will this Kindness end?
Why do you thus, oh! my most honour'd Lord,
Dissolve at once the Being, that you gave me?
Unless you mean to Screw me to Performance,
Beyond the reach of Man?

Cos.
Yes, Julio, thou conceiv'st thy Father right,
I find our Genij know each other Well.
Then to the Shocking Purpose—Once again—
I say, I Swear I Love thee, O my Son!
I like thy Frame, the Fingers of high Heav'n,
I see have left their Mastery upon thee;
Yet something they have left for me to finish,
Which thus I press thee too, thus, in my Arms,
I fashion thee, I mould thee to my Heart—
What dost thou kneel? nay then stand up a MAN.
Shake from thy Lids the Dew, that hangs upon them,
And answer to th'Austerity of my Virtue.

Jul.
If I must die, my Lord, I am prepar'd,
Let then my Fate suffice, but do not rack me,
With something more than Death.

Cos.
Julio, as I remember, you told me you were Marry'd!

Jul.
My Lord, I did.

Cos.
To Teraminta, proud Rinaldo's Daughter.

Jul.
Most true, my Lord, to that poor virtuous Maid,
Your Julio, your most unhappy Son
Is joyn'd for ever.

Cos.
No, not for ever—
Not but I know the Virgin beautiful,
Yet more, my Son,
I think her chastly good, most sweetly fram'd,
Without the smallest Tincture of her Father;
Yet Julio—ha!—what Man?—what all in Tears?
Art thou so Soft, that only saying—Yet—
Has dash'd thee thus?—nay then I'll plunge thee down,
Down to the Bottom of this foolish stream,
Whose Brink thus makes thee tremble. No, my Son,
If thou art mine, thou art not Teraminta's.
Or if thou art, I swear thou must not be,
Thou shalt not be hereafter.

Jul.
Oh! Heav'n!
Forgive me Blood, and Duty; all Respects
Due to a Father's Name, not Teraminta's?

Cos.
No, I swear not Teraminta's.
No Julio, by th'eternal Fates, that hang,
I hope propitious, o're the head of Florence.
I'll graple with thee on this very Spot,
I'll strugle with thee for this Point of Honour,
And tugg with Teraminta for thy Heart;
As I have done for Florence—Yes, e're we part
Fixt, as you are, by Wedlock joyn'd, and fast,
I'll set you far asunder:
I'll make thee Swear on this thy Wedding Day,
Thou'lt send forth Teraminta to her Father.

Jul.
Am I a Man! am I not Flesh, and Blood?

Cos.
I know thou art too much of Flesh, and Blood,
'Tis those I fear, thy Spirit's truly great;
Therefore I still am obstinate in this,
Thou shalt renounce thy Father, or thy Love.
Either resolve to part with Teraminta,
Or shake hands with me—part—and be Accurst.
Make me believe thy Mother plaid me false,
And in my Absence, Stamp'd thee with Rinaldo—

Jul.
Hold Sir—I do conjure you by your Honour,
Curse me not, till you know what I resolve.
Too true, O Teraminta, were thy Tears,
[Aside.
Give me a little Time to rouse my Spirits,
To muster all the Tyrant Man about me,
All that is fierce, austere, and greatly cruel,
To Julio, and his hapless Teraminta!

[Sighs.
Cos.
[Pauses.
[Pauses.

Jul.
Break, break my Heart, and save me from this Guilt,
O Love! oh Duty! O thou cruel Honour!
Each tuggs my Heart— [Pauses in an agony]
Oh! mortal be the Pangs!
—What is it, Sir, that you wou'd have me Swear?
[Pauses again.
That I may scape your Curse, and gain your Blessing?

Cosm.
That thou this Hour will part with Teraminta!
For once again, I swear if here she stays.
What for the Hatred of the Multitude,
And my Resolves t'expel the cursed Faction,
Her Person is not safe!—What woud'st thou have her,
(Out of thy Childish Dotage) to stay here,
To meet the Rage of the insulting People;
Behold her dragg'd, and buffeted about;
Her beauteous Face besmear'd with Dirt, and Blood,
And all her tender Body bruiz'd, and torn,
Rather than send her hence, tho' for her safety?

Jul.
Ha!—That dreadful Image kills me!
I cannot bear the Picture of that Horror.
Yes I can loose my Teraminta, rather,
Than keep her here to these Indignities!—
Here take me, Sir, oh! take me e're I cool!
I swear this Hour, I'll part with—oh!—
My tortur'd Soul!—with—oh! my Teraminta!

Cos.
So—I trust thy Virtue!—
And, by my Hopes, I thank thee for the Conquest,
Once more, with all the Blessings, I can give thee,
I take thee to my Arms—thus on my Bosome,
The hard, and rugged Pillow of thy Honour,
I wean thee from thy Love—farewel—be fast
To what thou'st Sworn, and I am thine for ever.

Jul.
To what thou'st Sworn, oh! Heaven! and Earth what's that!
What hast thou Sworn?—to part with Teraminta!
To part with something dearer to my Heart
Than my Life's Drops.
Renounce thy Vows!—
Those Vows I made before the holy Priest!
Ye juster Pow'rs! I did forswear my self
In swearing that, and will forswear again.
Forsake her!—O! thou perjur'd Braggart!—where?
Where are thy Vaunts? thy Protestations now?
Enter Teraminta.
She comes! to strike thy stagg'ring Duty down!—
[Pauses
'Tis faln!—'tis gone!—O Teraminta! come.
Come to my Arms, thou only Bliss of Julio!
Hush to my Cares, and Balm to all my Wounds,
Selected Hour, of All Life's happy Moments!

Ter.
Oh Julio! I have seen a Sight that shocks me!
From out the Window, that o're looks the Market,
I saw the Wife of banish'd Rimini,
My Cousin, and the Mate of all my Childhood,
Chac'd by the Fury of the madding Multitude.

Jul.
Oh! curs'd Remembrance! of what must undo me!—
Into what Times, my Love, our Lot is faln!
When wild Erynnis breaths her Plagues around,
And with Contagion blasts securest Joys!

Ter.
What means my Love?

Jul.
And yet, my Teraminta, we may Smile,
Her blew Eruptions can't infect our Bliss;
Come, come to Bed, e're yet the Night descends,
With her black Wings to brood o're all the World.
Why what care we? let us enjoy those Pleasures,
That Heav'n has given!—lock'd in each others Arms,
We'll lie for ever thus, and laugh at Fate!

Ter.
No, no, my Lord, there's more than you will own,
[Sighs
You look, you talk disorderly, and wild!
There's something at your Heart, that I must find;
I claim it with the Priveledge of a Wife.
Keep close your Joys; but for your Griefs, my Julio,
I must not, will not loose my share of them.
Oh! all my Fears! what is it stirs you thus?
Speak, speak, my Lord, or Teramimta dies!—
Oh! Heavens! he weeps! nay then upon my Knees,
I thus conjure you speak, or give me Death!

Jul.
Rise Teraminta!—oh! if I shou'd speak
What I have rashly Sworn against my Love,
I fear that I should give thee Death indeed.

Ter.
Against thy Love!—No—that's impossible!
The Tears you shed; this Agony of Soul
Tell me, my Lord, you love, as well as ever.

Jul.
By all that's just I do—Oh Teraminta!
My Heart's Discerner, whither do's Fate drive us?

Ter.
Oh! my Prophetic Fears!—

Jul.
Sure I was born beneath the worst,
The most malicious Influence of the Stars!
Doom'd still to Love, what I must ne'er Enjoy!—
O! Father! Father! Why so obstinate,
To ruin your most unhappy Julio.

Ter.
O! gracious Heav'n! what means he?

Jul.
Why was I made soft, constant, tender, loving?
And not, as fickle, as our roving Kind,
Whose Vows were ne'er acquainted with their Hearts,
And give no Pangs to break 'em.

Ter.
Oh! Julio, Julio!
Ah! whither do's this dismal Prologue tend?
But have a care, your Vows are not like theirs!
Remember what you promis'd when I left you
With your suspected Father?

Jul.
Ah! Teraminta! let me hide my shame!
This perjur'd Wretch dares not behold thy Eyes,
Where sure there are such soft, upbraiding Looks,
As must quite break my Heart.

Ter.
You never lov'd me, Julio, never lov'd me!
But took a barbarous Pleasure to destroy,
With seeming Truth, a fond believing Maid.

Jul.
Oh? hear me first, and Judge by what you hear!
My Father wrought me up—I know not how—
To Swear—I know not what—
That I this hour wou'd send thee hence with Rimini.

Ter.
Ah! you are false my Julio!—Mine? no mine no more!
Nor wou'd you leave your Falsehood to my Doubts,
Your Tongue must make it plain, least my fond Love
Shou'd frame some kind mistake.

Jul.
But hear me out—
I stood the shock of all my Father's Anger,
His threaten'd Curse, a Father's threaten'd Curse;
And only yielded for my Fears for thee.

Ter.
Oh! wretched Teraminta!

Jul.
He Swore, there was no Safety for thy Person,
If thou staid'st here—
That I must let thee go, or see the fall
A bloody Victim to the raging People.
See thee abus'd, drag'd round the streets, and Slain!
Cou'd Julio love, and bear to see that Sight?

Ter.
Ah! can'st thou think to part with thee is less?
To part is Death! to part is Death with Tortures!
With Shame, with Infamy, with all, that's odious!

Jul.
Oh! on what Shelves does my ill Fortune throw me?
What ever way I take, I am most wretched!
And seeking to preserve, I ruin thee—
[Pauses.
—Fame! Honour! Duty! all, oh all farewel!
Wellcome my Father's Fury, and his Curses!
For all are less, and better to be born,
Then Teraminta's Doubts of Julio's Love.—
[Pauses.
—It shall be so—I have this only Way
To prove my Love, and yet obey my Father—
Yes I will die!—this Poiniard sets me free
From all my Woes, and Fears.

Draws a Dagger to stab himself, she stops his hand.
Ter.
Oh! sheath it here!
For that's a Proof I never can behold;
I do conjure you now, by all the Pow'rs?
Which we invok'd together at the Altar,
I beg you by the Love I know you bear me,
Not to attempt your Life—Oh! all ye Pow'rs!
Let me be rather torn in thousand Pieces,
Become the Prey of the insulting Croud;
Suffer ten thousand Deaths, if possible,
Rather, than see you Die.

Jul.
Oh! Teraminta! Oh—

Ter.
No, no, my Lord, I now will learn of you,
And, to preserve your Life, will loose you.
Yes I will go—not all thy Charms shall stay me,
Not all my Wishes, and my breaking Heart,
That with fierce Love still languishes to Julio.

Enter Donato.
Don.
My Lord—your Father gives you thus in charge—
Remember what you Swore—The Guard is ready,
And I am order'd to conduct your Bride,
While you attend your Father.

Jul.
Oh! Teraminta!
Then we must part?

Ter.
We must, we must, my Lord,
Yet when I'm gone, Ah! think of Teraminta,
Think of your wretched Wife; sure your Father
Will suffer that—indeed I'll think of you.

Jul.
Oh! Teraminta I can never leave thee.

Ter.
You must, my Lord,
Therefore be swift, and snatch your self away,
Or I shall die with ling'ring.

Jul.
Oh! one Kiss,
Balmy, as Cordials, that recover Souls,
Chast as Maids Sighs, and keen as longing Mothers,
Preserve thy self, look well to that, my Love,
Think on our Covenant—when either dies,
The other is no more.

Ter.
I do remember, but have no Language left.

Jul.
Yet we shall meet, in spight of Sighs we shall,
At least in Heav'n—
Oh Teraminta! once more to my Breast,
Once to my Lips, and ever to my Heart!
[Embracing.
Thus the soft Mother, tho' her Babe be dead,
Will have the darling on her Bosome laid,
Will talk, and rave, and with the Nurses strive,
And fond it still, as if it were alive:
Knows it must go, yet strugles with the Crowd,
And shrieks to see them wrap it in the Shrowd.