University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

SCENE I.

SCENE the Port of Laurentia, Ships in the Harbour, and a fine Country in Prospect.
Enter Piracquo and Boreal.
Bor.

What, always preaching Sedition?

Pir.

But hear me, good Admiral.

Bor.

Such disquiet Spirits as you are the Bane
of Government, the Wens of the Body Politick, and should be
cut off, to preserve its Health and Beauty.

Pir.

I say this Arviragus, who rules our fruitful Island, has
been a Pyrate—I hope 'tis not Treason to speak Truth.

Bor.

No, you know it is not; his Fault, his only Fault is
Mercy: If it were Treason, you would pin your Tongue within
the Portcullice of your Teeth, and not dare to mutter an
Accent, but burst with your own Venom.

Pir.

You misconceive me; I love the Man, and therefore
shou'd be glad to hear his Virtues.

Bor.

Don't I see all your Blood turn to Gall, and a squalid
Paleness overspread your Face while I praise him; but you shall
hear his Story, because I know 'tis the greatest Torture I can
give you.—

Pir.

Come on, Sir; I'll oppose you with his Faults: Is he
not extremely violent, and intemperate in his Desires?

Bor.

Granted: A Hero shou'd be so; that immoderate Desire
of Power, that unquenchable Appetite of Rule, has been long
dignify'd by the Slaves of Tyrants with the Name of Virtue;
but he is no Tyrant, therefore 'tis Virtue in him to desire Power.
Arviragus is a Briton, he was my Fellow-Subject—Now he
is my Prince—His Country, his Friend and his Mistress, in
his Youth, all us'd him with the utmost Ingratitude, for the
most faithful Services.

Pir.

Nay, nay; what, always repeating the same Tale, humming
the same dull Tune—

Bor.

You shall hear it, tho' you waste a Drachm a Word—
He commanded a Fire-ship in the Dutch Wars, I was his Lieutenant:
I saw the Boy, for then he was no more, intrepid in
the midst of Fire—Yes, I saw him all in Flames grapple
the tall stout Hollander—In vain her missive Lead and Iron
Deaths hiss'd round us; the Showers of fatal Hail flew thick,
and pierc'd our burning Canvas—Board and Board we lay,
he was the first and last in Danger—We saw 'em both blow
up, the dreadful Shock in a tumultuous Eddy whirl'd the Waves,
and almost overset our Long-Boat.

Pir.

Well, he dares fight; we know he loves Danger, so
does a Bull-Dog and a hatch'd Egg—Are not you a little vain,
Old Gentleman, of the Feats of your Youth? Ha!

Bor.

I am, I glory in it; hadst thou been there, thy Soul
wou'd have gone out, like a Taper in a damp Vault, with the
Sweat of thy own Fears—Well, Sir, he return'd, and as the
Reward of his Gallantry, he was broke, and made incapable
of ever serving more—

Pir.

No, no, there you are out—that was for caning his
superior Officer, who refused to fight him.

Bor.

Right! He call'd a Coward by his proper Name, and
beat him to prove it—Well, to add to this grateful Return,
he found his Friend had entirely deny'd his Trust, had cheated
him of his Estate, and was marry'd to his Mistress—I've heard
him call that Fellow Villain—but he forgives the Woman, for
he is a perfect Master of Gallantry as well as Courage—I think
his Friend's Name was Mavoli.

Pir.

He stings me to the Soul. O cursed Fortune, to throw
me on this hated Shore, on this abhorr'd Island, where Arviragus
is Lord.

[Aside.
Bor.

Thus spighted at this World, he sought a new one,
declared War upon Mankind, renounc'd the Rights he was born
to as a Member of Society, and fixt himself here on his own proper
Basis, which how well he has maintain'd, be this fair Island,
of which he is sole Monarch, my Evidence—

Pir.

Nay, nay, tell thy Tale out, Man; you see I keep my
Complexion; the Indian Expedition.

Bor.

There he was shipwreck'd, there he fell in Love, and
marry'd the bright Zelmane, an Omrah's Daughter; by her he
had a Son—I've heard him oft lament his leaving him, and
threaten to make a Voyage on purpose to retrieve him, and settle
him here his Successor; that is the utmost Scope his Desires
now seem to aim at.

Pir.

Notwithstanding all you have said, he is still only an
overgrown Thief—

Bor.

Ha, ha! Prithee Clod, whence sprung all your Demigods?
What was the Divine Son of Ammon? What was Julius?
What have their Purple Descendants been? I laugh to
see a Scepter'd Robber at the Head of a Hundred Thousand,
truss up a poor Caitiff as an Example to the rest of his Brother-Theives,
for stealing two Eggs out of Form, while he is burning
Cities, ravaging Countries, and depopulating Nations.

Pir.

Wou'd you have all demand a Right to all, as Savages
in the simple State of Nature? Hah!

Bor.

Why, the worst you Hypocrites of Order can say—
and I think 'tis to his immortal Honour—is, that he has leapt
the Pale of Custom, and is a Royal Out-law; he has erected
himself a Throne, ay, and in the Hearts of his People too;
reduc'd Barbarians—Romulus was made a God for this; yes,

and what I think more glorious yet, bound and cemented by
civil Laws a Race of Vagabonds, the Out-casts of the Earth;
and thou art one of 'em, but a malignant Knave, that wou'd
breed Faction in Hell, rather than want Employment.

Pir.

Nay, now you lose all Temper.

Bor.

Are not you a Coward?

Pir.

Is a Coward then, brave Sir, a Whet-stone?

Bor.

Ay, for he sets an Edge on another, without being
able to cut himself—I forgive you now, take Warning tho',
and preach no more Faction to the Mob.—

Pir.

The Mob—very good, in my Opinion, there are no Degrees
of Comparison here—Tell me now with Temper, is there
one among us you ever spoke well of?

Bor.

Because you are all Sheep in Foxes Skins—I never rail
at Rogues, but Fools—your half-fac'd Villains, who paint but
one Side—Now to hear a thing like thee make Pretences to
Knavery—

Pir.

You can't heat me, Admiral, I pity you, I know you
rail by Complexion, as Jollyboy our Treasurer is always merry,
you are always angry; yet neither can you help your Sourness,
nor he his good Humour—'tis Constitution—Who's
that comes this Way? Oh, Sir Gaudy Tulip, the Master of our
Ceremonies—

Bor.

Yes, I like him, that Fellow is no Hypocrite, his Genius
always lay to Trifles, and he has all his Life indulg'd it,
therefore he is only study'd in Tea-Tables, Women, China,
and Snuff-boxes; his Age indeed sometimes afflicts him, and
he dreads the Glass he us'd to doat on.

Pir.

Oh, the Head of an old Beau is seldom long discompos'd;
'tis a sort of Ever-green, and, like your Box and Holly,
flourishes in Winter.

Bor.

That Scull of his is indeed a lightsome Garret, a happy
Void.

Pir.

How came he here? A Beau in an Island fill'd with Sailors
and Pyrates?

Bor.

I'll tell you: Tulip had an Intreague in his Youth with
a Covent-Garden Madona, whom he for twenty Years together
mistook for a Dutchess, 'till, as it sometimes happens in these
Cases, his Mistress and his Estate took their Leave of him together;
when finding the Secret, and that his Credit in old

England had given up the last Gasp, he wisely projected to
transport himself, with a Cargo of Essence, Snuff and Powder,
to the West Indies, and there marry for Subsistance; but the
Ship was taken by Arviragus, and Tulip thus happily preferr'd,
to the only thing on Earth he cou'd desire, or deserve—

Enter Tulip.
Tul.

Lord Admiral, your most Obedient—Piracque yours—

Pir.

Health, and eternal Beauty, worthy Knight.

Bor.

Ah, supple thy Back, dear Sir Gaudy, it creaks like an
old Door, that turns upon a rusty Hinge—Spare thy Complements,
and thy Chine, thou worthy Son of Musk and Civet—

Tul.

Ha! Tart as a Barberry; ever smart upon your Friends,
but 'tis the Token of your Esteem.

Pir.

You must bear with him, my soft Knight—he is a wholesome
Sour.

Tul.

Ay, a sort of Sauce to Company, call'd a Sevil Orange,
that's good.

Pir.

And you are the Veal to his Orange: Now Sir Gaudy.

Tul.

Ha, ha, good again! I'd give a thousand Dollars my
Set of Foreteeth were arriv'd, that I might have the Privilege
of laughing aloud at my own Jokes—

Pir.

I think you lost 'em in the Service of your Wit.

Bor.

A Dutch Boatswain knock'd 'em out for railing against
his Whiskers.

Tul.

Ay, the Tarr was choleric, unbound my Gums, and I
never made a biting Jest since—the Fellow tho', bating his
Whiskers, was otherwise an honest Water-Rat.

Bor.

Why, can't a Man have moral Honesty, and wear
Whiskers?

Tul.

That is doubtful; for why shou'd a Fellow who is not
naturally barb'rous desire to look like the Saracen's Head? But
I'll meddle no more in't, Admiral, 'till I have Laws made to
support me.

Bor.

Thou shalt be aided by the Civil Power; we'll have all
our Girls bred Sempstresses, and our Boys Barbers.

Tul.

I'll have a Statute made to encourage the Importation
of Starch and Taylors, it shall be Fellony to wear foul Linnen,

and High-Treason to smoak Tobacco; what is that nauseous
Weed good for?

Bor.

Why, it digests our Thoughts, and our Dinners.

Tul.

Ha! then we may know when the Meat is a boiling by
the Smoak in the Chimney—Look'ee I'll draw up a Remonstrance,
and represent the State of this Island to our King Arviragus;
for whatever you may imagine, your Country is inhabited only,
not peopled; you cover your Nakedness, but you don't dress;
you talk, but you can't converse; you devour, but you never
taste; and you make Love, as you dine, without Ceremony;
so that your Tables, your Cloaths, your Company, and your
Mistresses are wholly Inelegant; in short, you only hate Nastiness,
just enough to forbear eating one another.

Bor.

And you'll turn a Nation of Tarrs into Beaus; do you
invent your own Fashions, or keep a Correspondence with the
polish'd World?

Tul.

At present I am oblig'd to Europe, and I find by our
latest Advices from England—They wear fring'd Gloves there.

Enter Jollyboy.
Joll.

New, News, my Boys of Mettle, my Lads of Oak,
and Canvas, there's a Sail brought in worth an Empire's Ransom—
Women and Gold Boys, Plenty of both—the only
two valuable Blessings of Life are arriv'd in Laurentia, and landing
this Minute.

Bor.

Of what Country? Where taken? When thy Joy will
permit thee, give us the Particulars.

Joll.

Of India, the Ship was found busking on the Seas,
without a Mast or Rudder—There's such a Blaze of Jewels,
Beauty, Gold—

Tul.

As have extinguish'd the Eyes of thy Understanding;
be brief and plain.

Joll.

The Grand-daughter of the Great Mogul is taken, with
her whole Dow'r and Train: She was, it seems, contracted to
the King of Persia; this Ship was transporting her, but Fortune
has convey'd it, and her, and all, to the Arms of her dear
Favourite Arviragus; Arviragus resolves immediately to view
the Prisoners, and make an equal Distribution of the Spoils;

you are commanded to Range 'em all in order in the Palace.

[To Tulip.
Tul.

I'll be there in a Moment; now will I hold six to four,
the Princess likes me before any Man in the Island—How
do I look to Day, Boreal?

Bor.

Why, when you grin thus, your tann'd Countenance
looks like the Head of a roasted Rabbit.

Tulip.

He, he, ha! let me be bit by a big-belly'd Woman
that long'd for it, if you are not very facetious; but Business
calls, I have no Time to lose in Words—Gentlemen, your
most Obedient, and most Faithful Humble Servant.

[Exit.
Joll.

You are likewise commanded to attend in Council.

[Exit.
Bor.

I'll follow you. Fortune, who governs with Caprice her
darling Children, and dashes her best Gifts with Gall, is constant
only to Arviragus; she heaps her Favours on him, loads
him with her Blessings; for every Rising-Sun smiles with some
new Addition to his Wealth and Glory.

[Exit.
SCENE Changes to the Inside of the Palace: Enter on one side two or three Omrah's and other Men Captives: And at the upper End of the Stage, Alvarez and Aranes: On the other side Morulla, Mariana, Lesbia, Lydia, Semanthe, and Zayda, all veil'd; and Tulip busily disposing them in Order.
Tul.

Sir, you'll infinitely oblige me, if you'll move one Step
forward—so, there Madam—Diametrically opposite to that
Gentleman; a little more to the Right, dear Sir, for we must
form a Semicircle with an opening at each end, that the King
may more conveniently make his Choice as he passes thro' it.

[Ranging the Prisoners on each side.
Aran.
I have my Wish, Alvarez.

Alv.
What Wish, my Lord?

Aran.
These Chains.

Alv.
I understand you not.

Aran.
We ignorantly kneel, and pray for Curses;
How often have I askt, with fervent Vows,
That Heav'n wou'd make my Fortune equal Zaida's.
Behold us in Captivity the same.
[Pointing to Zaida.
Behold that Royal Maid, whom Yester Sun
Confest the Brightest Jewel of his East,
Tho' there, with Beams condens'd, he labours Light,
And ripens Drops of everlasting Day,
A Daughter of Imperial Aurengzebe,
The Captive of a Pyrate—oh Alvarez!
Error and Fortune rule us.

Alv.
Worth in Distress, like a high rising Spire,
Is nearer to the Gods, the less it looks
To mortal Eyes—
My Lord, the Valiant are in Battel try'd,
Adversity is Virtue's glorious War,
And when the Mind, still present to her self,
Stands unasailable these Shocks of Chance,
She darts Immortal to the Realms of Light,
And triumphs over Fortune, and the Grave.

Aran.
'Tis true, Alvarez, Heav'n has sav'd my Love,
Fom Persia's Arms—yes this Captivity
May prove a Blessing, if those blisful Powers
Guard us; if suffering Virtue be their Care,
Zaida is some Fair Angel's special Charge.

Tulip.
[who has been all this while ordering the Prisoners, bowing to the Princess, speaks to the Lady next her.]

Most Beautiful,
let me, in the most obliging manner, beseech you to retire one
half Step; you obscure the Princess; dear Creature, let the Sun
shine—Ladies, Ladies, for the love of Order, stand back, the King
has his Choice, 'tis true; yet but one of you can fall to his share;
There can be but one Queen, and she, who commands all
Hearts and Eyes, has by Nature a Title to Empire; and he must
be a Traytor to Love and common Sense, who does not acknowledge
the most Illustrious Zayda—tho' I must sigh my Life away
in vain—

[Trumpets sound.
But Hark! our Sovereign appears.

Enter Arviragus, De Sale, four Gentleman, Trumpets sounded, &c.
Arv.
De Sale, the Spoils are truly rich and noble;
What is the common Sailor's Dividend?

D. Sale.
To each particular Head five thousand Dollars.

Arv.
Let 'em be paid without Delay or Fee:
[To Jolly.
Your Life shall answer for a Doit detain'd
From any private Man—
I'll have no Greasie Drones of Civil Power,
Fat with the Spoils of Widows, and of Orphans,
Spunge like, to suck the Blood of the poor Soldiers.

D. Sale.
Therefore they pay Obedience for Protection;
Therefore they love and fear you.

Arv.
Have they not rang'd the Globe to serve my Cause;
With me they made a Circle round this World,
Disclaim'd Relation, Country, Friendship, Fame,
They toil'd, they bled, they burnt, they froze, they starv'd,
Each Element, and all Mankind their Foe,
Familiar to their Eyes saw horrid Death,
In every Climate, and in every Shape,
When, in this Isle, our shatter'd Barks found Rest,
With Universal Voice they call'd me King.
And when th'Oppressor laughs, when Right and Wrong
Intangled lye in Law; while Wealth is Judge,
When Merit begs despis'd; while Justice sleeps,
Or winks for Bribes, unpunish'd, may I fall,
Like some o'erweening Tyrant, who believes
Himself a Law, and Governs by his Lust.

Aran.
He talks this well, Alvarez, what's all this
[To Alv.
But Rapine and Injustice?—Are we then
By right his Slaves,—Insolent, haughty Pyrate.

Alv.
We're now within his Power; 'tis therefore rash
And reasonless, my Lord, thus to provoke him;
See, he observes us.

Arv.
What's he, De Sale, who furls his youthful Brow,
Impatient of his Fate—His manly Arms
Embrace himself, his Eyes are fixt on Earth,
Behold the flushing Blood bounds o'er his Face,
And with a generous Pride disclaims his Chains,
Unbroke to Servitude, the stubborn Boy
Seems better to despise, than bear his Fortune;
Know you his Name or Quality?

[To de Sale.
D. Sale.
Aranes is his Name; his Followers say
His Birth is Noble,—Mighty Aurengzeb
Chose him the first Attendant of Bright Zaida.

Arv.
I have been taught, young Man, by various Fate
[Coming forwards to Aranes.
To use my Power with Mercy; here no Slaves
In Barb'rous Triumph grace the Victor's Wheels.
Unmanacle his Hands; be free; if here
[They unchain him.
You will reside, you shall have Means, and Honours,
Justly proportion'd to your Worth and Virtue;
And, if there be a Mirror in the World
Worthy to hold Mens Eyes, 'tis our Laurentia;
But if the Love of your own Native Soil
Delights you more, you shall have Conduct Home.

Aran.
I thank you, Sir; you shew a worthy Mind;
You've found the Means to make me more your Slave;
You know that Gratitude, to a large Heart,
Is a much stronger Bond, than Links of Iron.

Arv.
Unveil the Women.

[Tulip unveils the Women.
Aran.
I tremble, my Alvarez, a cold Sweat
Hangs on my Brow, an Ague shakes my Soul,
Foreboding Fears, and jealous Pangs invade me;
I cannot bear the Thought of losing Zaida;
He has a Conqueror's Right, and she's his Slave.
See, see already he has catch'd the Fire,
His burning Eyes drink the fresh Beauties in,
And greedily devour her Charms;
Those Orbs of Light, the Windows of the Soul,
Confess it all—Counsel me, aid me, Friend;
Oh! I am Lost—

Arv.
De Sale, I never saw so fair a Creature;
There's a bewitching Softness in her Eyes;
She sinks into my Soul—I have her here;
Why did you suffer all this Flood of Light
To burst at once upon me! 'twas too much,
I shou'd have fall'n obliquely.—

Aran.
Have I not all my Fears; yes, over Measure,
[Aside to Alva.
He says he's just; I'll throw me at his Feet,
Tell him our mutual Love, that Zaida's mine,
By Contract mine; that we've sworn no Time,
Fortune, nor Wealth, nor Power, nor Force shall part us.

Alv.
Do, tell him you're his Rival, let him know
That you must be secur'd ere he is Happy;
Recall your Strength of Mind, this is unmanly.

Arv.
Uplift thy Eyes, fair Excellence, and Reign;
[To Zaida.
Accept what I can give, my Throne and Heart.
Too mean the Sacrifice, but 'tis my All,
Receive then what my zealous Duty pays;
For were I Lord of all th'Ambient Sea
Flows round, I shou'd not then presume to think
I cou'd deserve; High Heav'n has sent you here,
Imperial Maid, to found a Race of Kings,
To be the Mother of a mighty Nation,
For late Posterity shall see your Line
Dispensing Laws, and dealing equal Justice
To Nations round us!

Zaid.
Beauty too oft, like false Ambition, Sir,
Mounts its unhappy Owners but to fall;
Like shining Lights unguarded set on High,
By every adverse Wind to be extinguish'd.
Why do you talk of Reigning to your Slave,
And mock a Wretch you hold in servile Bonds?

Arv.
By Heav'n, my Eyes, lost in that Beauteous Prospect,
Beheld not these unworthy Marks of Slavery.
What Savage durst inchain these Snowy Twins?—
[He unlooses the Bonds.
Let all her Followers be unbound this Moment,
Be every Captive free; the Sun this Day,
[They are unchain'd by Arviragus's Officers.
Wherein the Royal Zaida chear'd our Isle,
Shall see the wretched happy; let 'em date
Their Liberty, as I my Life, from Zaida.
Forget your Cares, forget your Father's House,
And deign to Rule, and smile upon Laurentia.
You shall have Time with Decency to mourn
This Change of Life, till constant Services
Have wean'd you from your Sorrows, we'll conduct you
To an Apartment fitted to receive you,
Your Ladies shall attend you; our whole Court
Have our Commands to serve you; I cou'd say
We must obey by Force; but Words wou'd wrong thee.
For praising thee, is Painting of a Rose
Refin'ing Fire—with a weak Taper's Light
Decking the Eye of Heaven!

[Ex. Arv. leading Zaida, and all Exe. except Aranes and Alvarez.
Aran.
Who wou'd not grasp at Empire, wade thro' Blood,
Confound all Right and Wrong for such a Prize,
Since by the Means he sanctifies the Vice?
Happy Arviragus! thy Power, call'd Right,
Now leads thee to Imperial Zaida's Arms.
Is it not so, my Friend? Injurious Gods!
Why was I form'd with such exalted Passions,
And thrown into Plebeian Clay; the Mock
Of fickle Fortune, and contending Winds?

Alv.
When the fermented feverish Blood boils high,
The Patient restless turns from Side to Side,
Tho' Motion blows the Flame;—Ev'n so your Mind
Creates the Mischief, and encreases it;
All may be well—He knows not yet your Right,
And he affects to govern here with Justice;
Therefore he dares not do an open Wrong;
Perhaps he would not—

Aran.
Did she forbid his Hopes? Did she once steal
A Look, to ask a mutual Sigh or Tear?
Did he not press her Hand, call her his Queen?
As such he led her hence—That jealous Throw,
Like an envenom'd Dagger, strikes my Heart.

Alv.
You'd call another base, who utter'd this;
You know her Truth, now visit her and prove it.

Aran.

[Exeunt.