University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

A dreadful Prospect of a Mountain, horridly steep, and rising from the Front of the Stage, to the utmost Height of the most backward Part of the Theatre; Rocks, and Caves, and Waterfalls, are seen upon the Ascent, and on the Top appear the blazing Battlements of the Enchanted Palace, Guarded by a great Number of Spirits, of various Forms and Aspects; In the midst of the Wall is seen a Gate, with several Arches supported by Pillars of Chrystal, Azure, Emeralds, and all sorts of precious Stones. At the Foot of the Mountain is discover'd the Magicians Cave.
Enter Godfrey, Eustatio, and their Soldiers, gazing on the dreadful appearance of the Mountain.
Eustatio.
Methinks this looks as if rebellious Earth,
Wou'd once more lift her Arms to fight with Heav'n!

Godf.
Is this the Period of our long Fatigue?

Eust.
This is the solitary Sages Cell;

Godf.
Summon the Holy Man from his Retirement.

Eustatio calls at the Cell's Mouth.
Eust.
Thou whose superiour Knowledge and high Fate
Has giv'n thee Pow'r to read Heav'ns starry Book!
And find the dark Events of Deeds to come!
Vouchsafe thy wish'd Advice to us thy Friends,
Urg'd by no trifling Cause to beg thy Aid!

SCENE II.

The Magician appears at the Mouth of the Cave.
Magician.
That supernat'ral Pow'r which helps my Art,
Long e'er your coming, told me why you came;
Rinaldo and the beauteous Almirena,
High on the Summit of yon dreadful Hill,
Slaves to the fierce Armida's Pleasure lye.
Thither no Mortal Courage can arrive,
Unless high Heav'n shall please to lend a Force,
Equal to that of Hell, which guards her Palace.

Godf.
My Sword shall be my Guide.

Eust.
My Virtue mine.

Godf.
Follow ye faithful Sharers of my Glory.

Eust.
Thus let me lead you on to noble Victory.

Godfrey and Eustatio, with drawn Swords, and follow'd by their Soldiers, ascend the Mountain, regardless of the Magician who calls after them.
Magician.
Forbear you mad unthinking Braves forbear,
Soon shall your Ship of Hope a Tempest meet,
Will drown you in a wondrous Sea of Terror.

Godfrey, Eustatio and the Soldiers, having climb'd half way up the Mountain, are stopp'd by a Row of ugly Spirits, who start up before 'em; The Soldiers, frighted, endeavour to run back, but are cut off in their Way by another Troop, who start up below 'em. In the midst of their Confusion, the Mountain opens and swallows 'em up, with Thunder, Lightning, and amazing Noises. Godfrey, Eustatio, and the Soldiers who escape, return in great Confusion to the Magician's Cave.
Godf.
The dreadful River of impetuous Death
Rolls down upon us!

Eust.
Stormy Acheron
Vomits her blackest Horrours on our Heads!

Magician.
Wonder not, mighty Warriours, that you sail'd;
To Earthly Valour it was never given,
Alone to vanquish Hell's infernal Rage.
But take these fatal Wands, and then return,
Secure of bearing Conquest where you go;
No Witchcraft can withstand the touch of Heav'n.

Godf.
Now Brother to the Trial!

Eust.
Impatience galls my Thought; on let us go,
And hurl swift Vengeance on our impious Foe.

They reascend the Mountain, while the Magician stands at his Cave Door, and sings, to encourage 'em. The Spirits, as before, present themselves in opposition, but upon the Touch of the Wands, vanish upward and downward, with terrible Noises and Confusion. They gain the Summit of the Hill and entring the Enchanted Arches, strike the Gate with their Wands; when immediatly the Palace, the Spirits, and the whole Mountain vanish away, and Godfrey and Eustatio are discover'd hanging on the sides of a vast Rock in the middle of the Sea; with much Difficulty they reach the Top, and descend on the other side.
The Magicians Song.
Fearless climb, illustrious Strangers,
Facing Death, and scorning Dangers,
Till your pious End you gain;
Virtue guiding your Advances,
Vain alas are all the Chances,
Hell can form to give you Pain.

As soon as the Magician sees the Enchantment ended, he goes into his Cave.
Magician.
O great and sure Effect of Virtue's Pow'r!
Which no Designs can hurt, no Hell devour!

SCENE III.

The Enchanted Garden, Armida, Rinaldo, Almirena.
Armida, holding a Dagger at Almirena's Breast.
Arm.
Die hated Rival, die!

Alm.
Oh pitying Heav'n!

Rin.
Let Mercy bid thee hold—

Arm.
Mercy is mean;
And Wrongs like mine blush in such base Society!
The Asp-like Poyson of Revenge has stung me;
And since for Her thou hast presum'd to slight me,
Let Her by Me be robb'd of thy Possession;
Love and Disdain require the Sacrifice.

Rin.
Complaints like mine—

Arm.
But swell my Tide of Anger.

Rin.
Her Innocence might save—

Arm.
Her Beauty damns her!

Rin.
By the late Love you vow'd—

Arm.
'Tis chang'd to Scorn.

Rin.
First plunge your Dagger here—

Arm.
Let Grief do That.

Rin.
One Thunder Bolt good Heav'n!

Arm.
She shall rain Blood; Showers always follow Thunder.

Armida lifts her Arm to Stab Almirena, and Rinaldo draws his Sword and is striking at her, when two Spirits rise to her assistance, and seize upon him.
Rin.
First let Thy Soul, perfidious Hag, be sent
To make a Road for Hers!

SCENE IV.

Godfrey and Eustatio enter the Garden.
Arm.
Ha! Strangers here! and arm'd! presumptious Slaves,
How have you dar'd with those unhallow'd Feet,
To touch this sacred Ground? Rise, Furies, rise,
Leave your grim King unguarded to attend me.

A dreadful Host of Spirits rise and fill the Stage, but Godfrey and Eustatio putting out their Wands, the whole Prospect of the Garden vanishes in a moment; leaving in its Place the View of a wild and open Country, with the City of Jerusalem on that side which is built upon Rocks. A Highway is discover'd from the City Gate, which leads in several Turns and Windings down the Mountains.

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51

Godfrey, Eustatio, and Rinaldo run to embrace, and in the mean while Armida again attempts to Stab Almirena,
Godf.
Mighty Rinaldo!

Rin.
Prince more mighty, Hail!

Eust.
Let me embrace a Heart, that—

Rin.
Beats for Thee.

Alm.
O help me, help me!

Rin.
Darst thou yet presume
Thus to assault my Hope? Revenge be mine!

Rinaldo draws his Sword to wound Armida, who vanishes under the Stroke.
Godf.
My Daughter!

Alm.
Father!

Eust.
Dearest!

Rin.
Lovely Maid!

Eust & Rin.
Begone ye Ills that did my Hopes invade;

All four.
Let Sorrows past, by Joys to come be paid

Godf.
Our Hellish Enemies thus bravely vanquish'd,
An Earthly Foe, to vanquish yet remains!
When, therefore, in yon Eastern Part of Heav'n,
The glorious Sun shall rise to gild the World,
Brother, take Care that all my Squadrons march,
For proud Jerusalem this Day shall fall:
And you Rinaldo!
Stain'd with the Guilt of soft and untim'd Love,
Strive with the Blood of our unfaithful Foe,
To wash your Bosom to its native Snow.

Eust.
What you command, with Pleasure I obey;

Godf. and Eust. go out.
Rin.
Love, Glory, and Remorse conjointly spur me.

SCENE V.

Argantes at the Hills Foot, follow'd by three Generals.
Arg.
Poorly confin'd within those narrow Walls,
The tow'ring Valour of our warlike Troops,
Blushes with noble Shame; but this great Day
Know you, my trusty, and my valiant Chiefs,
I will, that every Arm that strikes for me,
Push for the Palm of final Victory.
This Day, this glorious Day, the Foes of Asia,
Shall feel her dreadful Valour in their Fate.

SCENE VI.

Enter Armida to Argantes.
Arm.
To aggravate thy Grief for my Disdain,
Thus, with triumphant Joy, I face a Traitor.

Arg.
That haughty and insulting Air of thine,
Has Pow'r to move no Passion but my Anger.

Arm.
My injur'd Love shall prove a Devil to damn thee

Arg.
'Twill be a very harmless Devil!

Arm.
Ah no!
'Twill prove a Bosome Fury to torment thee.

Arg.
Woman begone. This is a Day of War,
Thy Sex but serve to soften Men to Cowards.

Arm.
I have a manly Heart, unkind Argantes,
And feel the Force of Glory, when Fame calls.

Arg.
Whate'er my coming Chance in War may be,
In Love I must be conquer'd; say Armida,
Canst thou forgive me?

Arm.
When I've try'd, I'll tell you.

Arg.
The Guilty Part is mine.

Arm.
'Tis well you own it

Arg.
Love caus'd my Fault.

Arm.
I err'd a little too.

Arg.
Now I repent.

Arm.
I lov'd Rinaldo Sir,

(Both together)
Then let this dear Embrace
Our mutual Guilt Efface.

They embrace.
Arg.
Now let us join our Rage to meet the Foe.

Arm.
Lose we our Strifes of Love in Strifes of War;

Arg.
The very Heav'ns their Whirlwind Trumpets sound
And call to Battel.

Arm.
On our side appear,
The Earth, the Skies, Hell, and our Prophet's Pow'r.

The Pagan Trumpets sound a March, and the Army is seen to pass the Gate, and in military Order descend the Mountain, at whose Foot they pay the usual Compliments of War, as they pass by, to Argantes and Armida.
Arg.
Yon Wood of Lances shall outgrow the Palms,
Our haughty Foes reap'd in their hasty Conquests.

Arm.
Drown'd in a Sea of Blood their Fame shall sink.

(Both together)

SCENE VII.

Enter Godfrey, Rinaldo and Almirena.
Godf.
The various Chances we so lately met,
Mix Grief, and Joy, and Wonder in my Soul.

Alm.
Remembrance lies so heavy on my Thoughts,
That I scarce know I wake, and walk in Freedom.

Rin.
The Tempest past, that frown'd upon our Love,
Leaves us a Calm of Hope to Sail upon.

Alm.
The balmy Breezes of thy gentle Breath,
Have lull'd me into Loves undoubting Slumber.

SCENE VIII.

Enter Eustatio.
Eust.
Arm, Arm, ye Princes! Now your Fortune calls ye
The Pagan Host, with Shouts of barbarous Rage,
Is marching down in dreadful Order on us!
A fierce Desire of Glory fires our Troops,
And only thy Command, illustrious Chief,
Can bridle their impetuous Claim of Battel!

Godf.
Behold the longwish'd Crisis of our Fame!
A Day that calls us out to Triumph ever!

Rin.
Behold! The Laurel which long since took Root,
This glorious Day shoots high, and branches o'er us!

Alm.
Behold! How in those rayous Eyes of thine,
Glory and Love with Kindred Lightning shine!

Godf.
To guard our Tents Eustatio, and our Rear,
Be it thy noble Task; For there the Foe
May pour a sudden and a dang'rous Force;
Thy Courage and thy Conduct will prevent it,
And whom shou'd I consign my Daughter to,
But Thee, my Brother, and my well tried Friend?
Take and protect my Almirena's Charms
From the rough Touch of unrespecting War.

Rin.
To whose known Care but thine, experienc'd Warriour,
Cou'd I resign the Safety of my Soul?

Eust.
Urg'd by my Friendship and my Duty join'd,
I gladly take this weighty Charge upon me.

He goes out with Almirena.

SCENE IX.

The Christian Trumpets sound, and the Army in Military Pomp and Order, marches over the Stage, saluting their General as they pass.
Rin.
You, mighty Prince, whose active Skill in War
Delights to flourish in the Face of Death,
And lead on thick wedg'd Files to open Battel;
Will best secure the Int'rest of our Cause
Heading the dreadful Squadrons to the Field;
I, by an oblique Path, unseen, unfear'd,
Will from the Eastern Foot of Sion's Wall
Storm the unwary City's Battlements,
So to compleat, at once, the Fall of Asia.

Godf.
Great, and a Task alone becoming Thee,
Is the uncommon Enterprize thou nam'st;
I prize thy Counsel, and to follow it,
Thus take my Leave, impatient of Delay.

(goes out.
Rin.
My Soul, refulgent midst the Beams of Hope,
Shines out at either Eye with joyful Splendour!

SCENE X.

Argantes marching in his Troops, and ranging them in Order of Battel.
Arg.
Be brave ye faithful Followers of my Fortune,
Yon wearied Army of your hated Foe,
Is but a marching Den of Thieves and Robbers,
More famous far than dreadful to your Arms!
Stoop, tow'ring Eagles on the frighted Prey
Fate has prepar'd you; Fight, and fighting, conquer;
Perish the Wretches that wou'd make you wretched,
Be all their Rapines ravish'd from their Hold,
And fall their Pow'r a Victim to Destruction.

SCENE XI.

Godfrey with the Christian Army.
Godf.
Behold the happy Day at last arriv'd,
Ye valiant Champions for the Cause of Heav'n,
Which is to put an End to all your Pains,
And Crown your Labours with their wish'd Reward!
Why are they met in such unnumber'd Ranks,
But that their All may be at once o'erthrown,
And one brave Battle give us many Vict'ries!
Fight with your wonted Courage, and succeed,
Their Strength will fail, confounded at your Bravery!

The Armies attack each other and form a regular Battle, which hangs in Balance, till Rinaldo having Storm'd the City, descends the Mountain with his Squadron, and assaults the Pagans in the Rear, who immediately fly, and are pursued by Rinaldo.
Godf.

SCENE XII.

Enter Rinaldo with Argantes in Chains.
Rin.
Behold! the haughty Pride of Asia's Hope,
Has learnt to bow!

Arg.
Christian, Thou wrong'st my Fame.
'Tis true, Argantes is a Slave to War,
But That Argantes has a Heart that's free,
A Heart, that wou'd not stoop to Heav'n ignobly,
A Heart, the Fates themselves can scarce controul!

Godf.
To thee Rinaldo is this Triumph due.

SCENE XIII.

Enter Eustatio, and Almirena, with Armida, Prisoner.
Eust.
See here the just Event of impious Rage!
This cruel Amazon, while bent on Ruin,
She sought to plunder and destroy our Tents,
Fell in the Snares she fix'd for other's Mischief!

Arg.
Ye Pow'rs what do I see!

Arm.
Oh cruel Gods!

Rin.
Now Almirena we rejoyce,

Alm.
By thee.

Godf.
Now to the Marriage promis'd to your Hopes,

Godf. & Eust.
Be Love and Glory equally propitious.

Rin. & Alm.
Be Joy and Glory equally propitious.

They Embrace.
Arm.
Their Valour cannot be more fam'd than ours,
Their Gods are sure more pow'rful?

Arg.
Or their Fortunes.

Rin. & Alm.
My share in all this Triumph rests in Thee.

Arm.
No! Heav'n perhaps has chose this Road to save me,
And, willing I shou'd wash me from my Sins,
Holds forth her sacred Waters! Be it so.
Unworthy Instrument of all my Crimes,
Thus I revenge me on thee.

[breaks her enchanted Wand
Arg.
Nay Armida,
Where'er you lead, Love and Argantes follow.

Arm.
to Godf. &c.
Conquer'd by you, we wou'd embrace Your Faith.

Rin.
Oh Smile of Heav'n!

Alm.
O! happy Chance of War.

Eust.
Chief of our Triumphs!

Godf.
You are henceforth free,

Arg.
Happy Armida!

Arm.
Come Argantes, come,
Lov'd Partner of my Soul and of my Throne.

Chorus.
Here on Earth our Love inclines us
To a thousand Crimes of Nature,
But hereafter all refines us,
To the Mould of our Creator.