University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

A Prospect of a Calm and Sunshiny Sea, with a Boat at Anchor close upon the Shore; at the Helm of the Boat sits a Spirit, in the Shape of a lovely Woman. Two Mermaids are seen Dancing up and down in the Water.
Eustatio.

SCENE II.

Godfrey, Rinaldo, Eustatio.
Rin.
How tedious is the Journey you have led me?
And how much cruel Distance yet remains,
'Twixt me, and that desir'd Magician's Cave,
Whose balmy Counsels are to cure my Sorrows?

Godf.
When shall our weary Feet with prosp'rous Steps
Approach that sacred Ground?

Eust.
The rugged Confines of this smiling Lake,
Nigh border on the Cell; E're yet the Sun
Has fully measur'd out six Beats of Time,
Our Journey will have End.

SCENE III.

While they are crossing to pursue their Journey, the Woman in the Boat invites Rinaldo to enter.
Woman.
If fam'd Rinaldo, thou woud'st reap the Sweets
Of Almirena's Wishes, and her Pray'rs,
Her Pray'rs and Wishes, sacred both to thee,
Enter this ready Boat; 'twas Her Command
Dispatch'd me hither; Her Command alone,
Whose stedfast Love, deserves and wants thy Help,
Where, to a solitary Isle confin'd,
She waits thy wish'd Arrival; Oh be swift!
Or she may fear the Waters of this Sea
Can quench a Love, that scorns so vile a Conquest.

While they remain Confounded at this unexpected Summons, the Mermaids Sing and Dance in the Water.
Mermaids.

Rin.
A sudden Beam of Love-directing Light
Breaks on my doubtful Thoughts, and bids me go.

He stands a while suspended within his Thoughts; at last resolves violently to enter the Boat; but is held by Godfrey and Eustatio.
Rin.
Yes my belov'd, my Life, my Almirena,
I fly to save thee;

Godf.
Mighty Warrior, hold!
Check your unwary Rage!

Eust.
Quench this false Fire;

Rin.
I hope, I fear, trust, and despair together!

He thinks again, and the Woman renewing her Invitation, he once more attempts an Entrance, but is again with-held by his Companions.
Woman.
Haste, haste Rinaldo, thy lost Love invokes Thee?

Rin.
Forgive me injur'd fair One, thus I fly;

Godf.
Thy Glory!

Rin.
Perish Glory;

Eust.
But thy Judgment!

Rin.
Judgment is dead;

Godf.
Bridle this impious Rage;

Rin.
I ought not, cannot;

Eust.
Think on thy Attempt,
How full of Horrours!

Rin.
Horrours fright not me;

Godf.
Sion demands thee;

Rin.
And my Soul invites me;

Eust.
Styx is behind thee;

Godf.
And black Hell gapes wide;

Rin.
I'll force ten thousand Hells to save my Bride;

He breaks violently from their Hold, and enters the Boat; which immediatly steers out into the open Sea, and Sails out of Sight, Then the Mermaids leave Singing and disappear. Godfrey and Eustatio, seem confounded at the Accident.
Eust.
Never was Courage thus misled before!
To trust these faithless Waves, and vain Illusions,
With all his Load of Glory!

Godf.
'Twas ill resolv'd!
Triumphant Hell ne'er knew a stranger Conquest;
How can my Heart, unbroken, bear such Grief!
My dearest Daughter ravish'd from my Eye,
And Europe's Hope, with this great Hero, lost;
Valour and Virtue quit not now my Breast;

SCENE IV.

A Delightful Garden in the Enchanted Palace of Armida.
Almirena, Argantes.
Alm.
Armida! most inhumane Sorceress!
Thus, unprovok'd by any Act of mine,
To snatch me from my Joy, and here confin'd,
Torment me with eternal Views of Sorrow!

Arg.
Divinest Creature, let not Grief's black Shade
Ecclipse the beamy Beauties of thy Face;
My simpathizing Heart is touch'd with Woe
To hear thy just Complainings.

Alm.
Give my big Tears their way:

Arg.
Those Tears, bright Maid,
Deaden the Fire which Love has kindled in me;

Alm.
Oppress'd, and troubled as you see me now,
Judge if my trembling Breast has room for Love!

Arg.
You are the Queen of my submissive Will,
And with despotick Power may give me Laws!

Alm.
Ah! 'tis not true!

Arg.
Wou'd you behold a Proof?
This faithful Sword shall lead you to my Heart,
And cut you out a Road to Demonstration:

Alm.
Alas I wish not that! Oh! did you love me!

Arg.
What can convince you of my Faith?

Alm.
My Liberty.

Arg.
Oh hard Command!

Alm.
Oh, ill dissembled Passion!

Arg.
What if while I, ambitious of thy Love,
Contrive thy wish'd Release, Armida's Skill
Shou'd give her fatal Notice of my Falsehood!
How shall we both be tortur'd with Revenge,
While Jealousy, Love, and infernal Rage,
Excite her keen Resentment!

Alm.
Why then, uninterrupted let me weep;

Arg.
No, gather Courage fair One, 'tis resolv'd,
This Arm shall burst the magick Chain that binds thee;

SCENE V.

Armida
alone.
Let Groves of Laurel shoot around my Head,
To Crown this last great Triumph of my Skill:
Rinaldo, proud Rinaldo!
The mightiest Terrour of our Asian Arms,
Now brought an humble Captive to my Feet,
Shall on the Altars of my fierce Revenge,
Fall a lamented Victim to my Pow'r!
Guide him obsequious Spirits to my Presence.

SCENE VI.

Enter two Spirits leading in Rinaldo.
Rin.
Smil'st thou, perfidious Hag? Art thou a Devil
And has not Hell inform'd thee, that a Soul,
Daring as mine, can scorn thy Fiends and thee!
Know I defie thy Pow'r; for Proof whereof,
Give me my Almirena or thou diest;

Arm.
Before Armida's Face this Insolence?

Rin.
Find me a Devil yet blacker than thy self!
And I'll again repeat how much I scorn thee;

Arm.
Dost thou not know thou art my Prisoner here?

Rin.
Fool! Dost thou think thy Chains can reach my Soul?

Arm.
Thy Life is in my Pow'r!

Rin.
I tell thee Hag;
That Courage cannot die!

Arm.
Methinks there shines,
I know not what gay something in his Look,
That draws me up to wonder!

(aside
Rin.
Hear me, Fiend,
Restore me to the Arms of Almirena.

Arm.
I feel a Pain so different from all Pains
I e'er yet felt, that I half fear 'tis Love!

(aside
Rin.
Lead me, where Almirena waits my Succour!

Arm.
But shall my Heart, which never bow'd before,
Become the Slave and Triumph of a Foe?

(aside
Rin.
My Rage has slept till now, but thou hast wak'd it,
To crush thy self, and thy infernal Train!

Arm.
'Tis so, my self must prove the Victim now,
Who wou'd have thought that so much Beauty dwelt
With so much Roughness?
(aside
(To him.)
Rinaldo, in the rosy Bow'rs around thee,
The Wings of ev'ry Wind are charg'd with Love;
The purling Streams, which trickle through the Grass,
The warbling Birds, and odoriferous Flow'rs,
Invite to Softness, and wou'd fain instruct thee,
That only amorous Battels here are fought;
Unbend that stormy Brow, and smile upon me,
No more my Captive now, but Conquerour;
Look kindly, while I sigh how much I love thee.

Rin.
How I detest thy Wiles!

Arm.
Receive a proffer'd Heart,

Rin.
To give it Torments.

Arm.
May Pleasures crown thy Hope.

Rin.
May Pains dash thine.

Arm.
Will not Entreaties melt thee?

Rin.
I disdain 'em.

Arm.
Have Sighs, like mine, no Force?

Rin.
To blow up Anger

Arm.
Hell listens to my Call.

Rin.
But I am deaf.

Arm.
Think what I am.

Rin.
A Tyrant and a Devil.

Arm.
Resolve on—

Rin.
Vengeance.

Arm.
Cannot Pity move thee?

Rin.
Why lose I Time? Dear Soul I fly to seek thee.

He is going off.
Arm.
Oh stay!

Rin.
I will not;

Arm.
Ungrateful! Kill not;

Rin.
Inhumane Sorcerers fly;
Leave me;

Arm.
'Tis Death;

Rin.
Quit then thy Breath;

Arm.
Why must I die?

SCENE VII.

Armida changes her self into the Likeness of Almirena, and follows Rinaldo, weeping.
Arm.
Ungrateful, cruel Man! whom I have lov'd,
'Till not a Corner of my Heart is mine!
Yet now, regardless of my Tears or Pains,
You will not grant one Look to guild my Sorrow!

Rin.
Ha! are my Eyes deceiv'd? what do I see?
My Heav'n! My Soul's best half! Let me embrace thee!

Arm.
While I, unhappy, mourn thy cruel Absence,
Thou of a Nature changing, and unkind,
With some new Mistress laugh'st away the Hours,
Forgetful of a gentle Maid, that loves thee;

Rin.
Alas! My Heart is bound so firmly to thee,
That ev'n Inconstancy wants Strength to loose it;
But I, by strange delusive Magick, led,
Mistook thee, lovely Creature, for Armida;

Arm.
Thus let my Arms enfold my Soul's Desire!

Rin.
What Lover wou'd be happier than Rinaldo?

While they Embrace, Armida reassumes her proper Shape, and Rinaldo amaz'd, starts back in a sudden Confusion.
Rin.
Gigantick Horrours wrap'd in Hells dark Mists
Shadow my frighted Soul! Oh! Tricks of Fate!
Why sleeps the Thunder in an idle Sky?
When Heav'n can never hurl his hottest Bolts
At Guilt more black than this!

Armida again takes the Shape of Almirena.
Arm.
Why start you thus?
And wherefore roll those Eyes in Clouds of Terrour?

Rin.
And is it really Thee?
[Is running to her Arms but stops suddenly.
But hold fond Heart!
What wou'd my Madness do? Beneath those Charms
There lies a Magick Hell, shaded from sight,
By the most tempting Front of Paradise;

SCENE VIII.

Armida in her proper Shape.
Arm.
And cannot then the Beauties of my Youth,
The promis'd Joys I offer'd to his View,
Nor Hells big Threatnings, lure him to my Will?
And thou, my Heart rejected, and disdain'd,
Art still the vain Implorer of his Love?
No! Let me rouze slow Vengeance from her Cell,
And strike the curs'd ungrateful Monster dead!
Yet, Oh mad Hand! what wou'd thy Rage attempt?
Must he, in whom I live, feel Death from me?
Oh strange Effect of Love! Oh Coward Breast,
That gives a Traitor Room, and fear'st to hurt him!
'Tis gone, the fond Desire! and Reason reigns!
Rise all ye Furies that obey my Call,
And shake your wiry Whips to whet my Rage;
I'll find some new unheard of Punishment;
To—but alas! He is too Fair to die!

SCENE IX.

Enter Argantes, at whose coming Armida again takes upon her the Appearance of Almirena.
Arm.
I will once more resume my Rival's Form,
That so Argantes may not see me mov'd,
And if the hated, lov'd Rinaldo comes,
I may again deceive my self and him!

Arg.
Each small Delay, my lovely Almirena,
Which my bold Hope encounters in thy Love,
Is painful and afflicting to my Thought;
Armida views him scornfully.
Why are thy Looks to wear this sudden Change?
Cannot those starry Beauties of thy Face,
Shine, but through Clouds upon me?
She Eyes him more disdainfully than before.
Prithee Love,
Look on me with the Eye of Recompence;
For shortly thou shalt see thy self redeem'd
From the ignoble Bondage of Armida.
She starts, and appears surpriz'd.
Still are thy Looks perplex'd? Believe me Charmer
My Courage and my Knowledge join to serve thee.

Armida takes her own Shape, and flyes on him with great Fury.
Arm.
Traitor, is this the best Reward thou giv'st me?

Arg.
What do I see ye Pow'rs!

Arm.
I that have lov'd you!

Arg.
I own my self oblig'd;

Arm.
I that, to aid thee,
Arm'd half the Host of Hell!

Arg.
'Tis true you've serv'd me;

Arm.
That I shou'd thus be cheated and betray'd!

Arg.
Excuse a random Shot of hoodwink'd Love;

Arm.
Soon shalt thou hear the Thunder of my Vengeance,

Arg.
Forgive me my Offence;

Arm.
Traitor I will not;

Arg.
The Shame I feel is a sufficient Penance;

Arm.
Deceiver, no.

Arg.
Why then, proud Soceress know,
I own my Love to Almirena's Charms.

Arm.
I will withdraw the Aid my Friendship lent thee,

Arg.
Leave me whene'er thou wilt, my Sword alone,
Without thy Devils can defend my Throne;

[he goes off enrag'd.
Arm.