University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE the Cittadel.
Enter King, Ronveir, Attendants and Guards.
KING.
Audacious Villains! to attempt my Life,
Surrounded by my Guards, and yet escape!
Oh! give me Patience, Gods! was ever Man
So serv'd with dastard, heartless Slaves as I am!

RONVEIR.
The Executioner should have secur'd 'em,
Then they had never thus endanger'd, Sir,
Your sacred Life—You have been too gentle.

KING.
You have been too negligent,
Else wherefore is this Life, the Life of Naples,
No better guarded from insulting Foes:
Those Traytors I had secur'd within my Power,
Destin'd to Vengeance; are from Justice fled,
And meditating Means to work my Ruin:
All their Efforts are vain! would but the Powers
Melt this bewitching Beauty into Softness,
Blest with the Charms of that consenting Goddess,
No mortal Hand could dash my solid Joys
With the least Mixture of Uneasiness.
But say, Ronveir—
How bears that stubborn, that disdainful Fair,
Our last, our final Resolution:
Will she comply, or must I seize my Prey.

RONVEIR.
Great Sir, I dread to tell what you must hear,
Solliciting your Suit this Evening on the Terras,
Her vigorous Vertue still rejecting all
That I could urge in your behalf, call'd out
For Heaven's Assistance, deprecating Vengeance,
And imploring Mercy—when streight
Two Ruffians masqu'd came on me unawares,
Seiz'd on their Prize, and quickly bore her off,
Leaving me bound upon the Place,
Till the Foot-Guards upon their first Patrole,
Came by, and set me free.

KING.
Confusion blast 'em!
But didst thou not pursue?

RONVEIR.
I did, but all too late, for none cou'd tell
Which way they went, from Street to Street
I rov'd, but all in vain, no Footsteps cou'd I trace:
So hasten'd to your Royal Palace, there t'inform
Your Majesty of what had past; nor let, great Sir,
What I relate give loose to boundless Rage,
Since what remains will add to your Surprize,
And strike your Soul with Horror!
Castruchio is escap'd—the Princess Martia
By your Royal Signet got his Enlargement,
Then fled confus'dly with him.

KING.
Thou ly'st! decrepid, old and spiritless Dotard.

RONVEIR.
My Lord.

KING.
Villain, Traytor.

RONVEIR.
I will deserve those Names, Traytor,
Or else Perdition seize me.

[Aside.
KING.
Ha!
Does the ungrateful Martia seek my Fall,
Whom I have cherish'd with paternal Care,
And lov'd beyond a doating Father's Fondness;
And is Dardania snatch'd from my Embraces!
Fortune has done her worst, the angry Gods,
With envious Eyes my Grandeur have beheld,
And send this double Bolt upon my Head,
To dash my Glories, and confound my Hopes:
Yet to the last I will exert the Monarch,
Face boldly these malignant Frowns of Fate.
Ronveir—set forth by Proclamation streight,
That whosoever brings Dardania to me,
And the false Martia—shall for each Soul receive
Ten thousands Crowns, with Honours and Preferment.
Let Martia fall a Victim to Revenge,
And fair Dardania quench my thirsty Love,
The Business of my Life is at an End,
Then act your Pleasure, Gods, I'm ready for you.

[Going.
Enter Rinaldo.
KING.
Your Business, Slave—

RINALDO.
The People, Sir, are up in Arms, Alphonso heads 'em,
They flock in Numbers from all Quarters to him;
And more t'enflame Rebellion, there's a Rumor,
That young Ascanio is this Day return'd
From Banishment, with Troops to their Assistance.
With formidable Noise they threaten Ruin;
And cry, down, down with the usurping Tyrant,
Ascanio is the lawful Heir of Naples.

KING.
Give Orders that our Guards be doubled,
Draw up the Castle-Bridge, and man our Walls:
'Gainst this rebellious Town, level the Ord'nance,
For if Alberto fall, Naples shall share
His Fate, and curse her sinking Monarch's Ruin.

[Exit King with Attendants.
Manent Ronveir and Rinaldo.
RONVEIR.
Was it for this? that I have toil'd, to keep
This tott'ring Monarch on his ill built Throne,
Wak'd Nights and Days with hazard of my Life,
To guard his Rest, and make him sleep secure;
And am I thus rewarded—branded thus.
With the opprobrious Names of Villain, Traytor—Ha!
Thou shalt have ample Reparation, Ronveir;
[Aside.
Rinaldo, I have Matters of Import
Demand your Aid—

RINALDO.
Your Lordship's Slave.

RONVEIR.
My Friend! that Title well you merit,
Thou seest how Matters go, Rinaldo,
And we must timely quit this drowning Monarch,
Lest he should drag us with him to Destruction;
These Keys open the Postern Gate, take them,
And quickly steal disguis'd to Prince Ascanio,
There offer him our future Services,
That we'll contrive to give him Entrance here,
If for past Crimes he will our Pardons seal.
Hast and return—you'll find me on the Terras,
There we'll consult what's further to be done.

RINALDO.
I fly, my Lord, to serve you.

[Exeunt.
SCENE changes to the Street.
Enter Prince Ascanio, Alphonso, Mendoza, Cruzier, and Attendants.
ASCANIO.
Hail you! My belov'd Friends and Companions,
The constant Followers of your injur'd Prince,
You have prov'd this Morn, that not Alberto's Threats,
Nor Prisons, nor Fear of Death, can have the Force
To captivate a noble free-born Soul!
Your bold Attempt upon the Tyrant's Life,
Tho unsuccessful, merits highest Praise,
And by your near Escape, we may conclude
All-seeing Providence smiles on our Design.
Yet let the Disappointments we have fought with
Urge us to grasp with more tenacious Hands
The present glorious, golden Opportunity.
But one thing more is to be regarded
We must redeem Castruchio from his Chains:
His popular Name would animate the City,
And's well-try'd Valour make Success secure.

ALPHONSO.
If there be any here that fears the Event,
(As well I hope there's none) let that Man leave us,
Fear's an infectious Sin, it catches like the Plague.
And damns the Body as it taints the Soul;
Therefore be well resolv'd.

OMNES.
We are resolv'd to live and die for Ascanio.

ASCANIO.
You are the only Men whom Slavery
Has not inur'd and season'd to the Yoke,
The only generous few who dare resent
The inestimable Loss of Liberty;
This Deed shall mount you to immortal Honours,
Posterity shall gratefully record,
And in aspiring Columns carve your Worth!
The Patriots, the Restorers of lost Naples.

ALPHONSO.
Heroick Prince! We will revenge thy Wrongs,
Thy Father's Blood shall now be well atton'd,
Th'Usurper long has rioted therein,
But shall refund it now with Interest.

ASCANIO.
Then wait for the glad Signal which I give,
And like bold Curtius leap the Gulph before you,
Devoting Life a Victim to my Country.
Follow, my Fellow-Soldiers, let your Vertues
Buoy up the Freedom of the sinking Nation,
And once more set her in her shining State.
If we are doom'd to die, we suffer nobly!
Eternal Honour either way must wait us,
Like our old Roman Country-men, we have
Triumphant Lawrels, or a glorious Grave.

[Exeunt.
SCENE Castruchio's Palace.
Enter CASTRUCHIO solus.
CASTRUCHIO.
Impossible! Fate contradicts my Wishes,
And blunts my Dagger's Point:
I strike in vain, the Torrent roars against me,
My wearied Limbs buffet the Waves, yet still
The stronger Tide bears me from Sight of Land;
My tantaliz'd Desire has lost its Edge,
Nor can impatient Grief attend and wait,
Till lazy Justice gives the Sign for Vengeance;
End thou Castruchio, and thy Cares end with him,
Drink deep of Lethe, let th'oblivious Cup,
Drown tortur'd Memory, and thou art happy.
[Offering to stab himself, sees Dardania enter and drops the Dagger.]
Ha! what do I see—my dastard coward Soul
Has rais'd this troubled Spectre from the Grave;
It comes to chide me, that I hope for Peace,
And not revenge her Murther!
I must, I will: by Heav'n I will not rest,
Till Earth be mingled with the Villain's Blood,
And sacrific'd to thy incensed Ghost.
Say then, thou pious Shade, direct my Hand,
I won'not hope to give my troubled Soul
Its long'd for Peace, till thou art well atton'd.

DARDANIA.
Oh all ye never-dying Powers above!
Guardians of Chastity! and kind Rewarders
Of constant Faith, and Love! support my Reason
Least this Excess of ravishing Delight,
Leave me incapable to thank your Bounty,
Or tast this wond'rous Blessing you have given me.

CASTRUCHIO.
She lives! she lives! Eternal Providence
Has my Dardania to my Arms restor'd.
Thus let me rivet thee to ym Embraces;
But oh—Immoderate Transports sink her weary'd Soul,
She faints beneath the Burthen of her Joy.

DARDANIA.
Oh Castruchio!

[Swoons.
CASTRUCHIO.
Oh my Dardania!
Return, my Love, come back to welcom Life,
Or I am shipwreck'd within sight of Shore.

DARDANIA.
Oh! let me live for ever thus embrac'd,
For ever feast my longing Senses on thee;
Extravagance of Joy transports me so,
My Words and Actions have so much of Wildness,
That sure thou must imagine my weak Reason
Hurt with Excess of Joy.

CASTRUCHIO.
Grow to mine Heart, for 'tis one Piece with thine,
And there enquire how my Soul adores thee,
'Tis not in Fortunes Power, or luckless Stars,
To damp my future Quiet—Ha! what, said I,
That haggard Witch, Reflection, wounds me still,
Martia—Oh curse on that deceiving Name,
Unlucky Bar to my reviving Happiness!

[Aside.
DARDANIA.
Alas! my Life! what new Disorder this?
Your Honour is secure and I inviolate.

CASTRUCHIO.
'Twas that false Fire, that shining Glow-worm, Honour,
Which, like a lambent Vapour of the Night,
Deceiv'd my Sense, and led my Soul astray,
In a wild Desart of distracting Thought.

DARDANIA.
Unfold your dark Ænigma, let me know it.

CASTRUCHIO.
I am the Sport of Chance—the frowning Gods
Most intricately weave my Life with Troubles,
First shew me a faint Glimmering of Heav'n,
Then close the pleasing Scene, and all is Hell!

DARDANIA.
Chase, chase away those idle Fears, Castruchio
To thy long absent Breast, my Lord, receive me,
And forster me with Love's respiring Warmth,
For thou art all the outward Heat I've left,
Art not thou my own Castruchio?

CASTRUCHIO.
Thou best of Women! and of Wives the purest!
In Form an Angel, in thy Mind a Saint,
Chaster than Chrystal on the Scythian Cliffs,
And sweeter in Obedience than a Sacrifice!
A steady Faith, and most surprizing Beauty,
Excessive Love, and ever-during Pleasures,
Hang on thy Lips, and play about these Eyes.

DARDANIA.
Then let me know what Secret wounds your Soul.

CASTRUCHIO.
There comes the fatal Image of Despair,
The Oedipus that can resolve the Riddle.

Enter Martia.
MARTIA.
Confusion overwhelm her!
That Sorceress here! Then my Design's unravell'd.
Dash'd from their Heights are all my airy Hopes,
And I have lost that dearly purchas'd Treasure,
Castruchio's Love, that which I valu'd more
Than Empire, Fame or Life—Some God inspire
My Tongue with Words, and give my Eyes such Charms,
As may recall his Love—I'll try their Force.
What! start you at my Sight, Castruchio;
Are these Eyes blasting, that you dread their Influence.

CASTRUCHIO.
Did'st thou not tell me, that the Grave had made
Eternal Separation, 'twixt our Loves,
And ever barr'd me from Dardania's Arms!
Look on this injur'd Fair; Say, thou Deceiver,
Why did you give my Body Liberty
Thus everlastingly t'ensnare my Soul!

MARTIA.
Oh Castruchio!
Forgive that unknown Error I committed,
Yet you must own, I've paid a mighty Price,
With Loss of all, redeem'd you from your Ruin;
Has not the Priest for ever join'd our Hands?
Then let us mingle Souls, and seal our Love.

DARDANIA.
'Tis done, 'tis done! the Thunderbolt now falls
On my devoted Head, and I am sunk for ever.

[Falls into Castruchio's Arms.
CASTRUCHIO.
Eternal Silence seize thy couzening Tongue,
Let Discord, Want, and Misery attend thee,
Thou vile Dissembler.

MARTIA.
Base and Ungrateful Man—wherefore do you curse me?
Have you not sworn for ever to be mine?
And though the genial Mysteries of Love
As yet are unaccomplished, yet you
Will not prove perjur'd sure.

DARDANIA.
And hast thou any Claim to this dear Blessing?
Have I not with inimitable Courage,
A Tyrant's execrable Vengeance dar'd?
And would have yielded up this tender Body
To the remorseless Tortures of the Rack,
Till every Artery thousand Deaths endur'd.
Yes, my Castruchio, I could have born the Pangs
Of agonizing Death, without a Sigh,
For thee, and hast thou thus rewarded me?

CASTRUCHIO.
Hide me some Mountain of stupendious Height!
That I in Death may shroud my Misery.

MARTIA.
You ow'd him more, much more, 'twas Duty all,
For you, for every Moments Grief, receiv'd
A thousand charming Hours of springing Joy,
Tasted the Sweets that flow'd from mutual Love,
Which have a hundred-fold repaid your Sufferings:
But I for this dear Man my Honour sold,
Incurr'd the World's hard Censure, and a Parent's Curse,
Fought with the Hazards of a near Escape,
When Night and Danger both conspir'd against me,
And yet have neither tasted Hymen's Joys—
Scarce a kind Look—but Curses and Upbraidings,
His bounteous Gratitude deals liberally;
Let Justice then, Castruchio, once encline you
To think upon the miserable Martia,
Undone for you.

[Coming towards Castruchio.
CASTRUCHIO.
Thou hast the just Reward of Treachery,
I thank thee—This Discovery
Frees me from all those Obligations, which
Press'd heavy on my Soul—
No, thou Deceiver, here my Passion centers!
[Turning to Dardania.
Oh thou divinest Good—
Come to my Heart, and quench its burning Fever
With thy allaying Love and cooling Softness.

[They embrace.
MARTIA.
Torture! I cannot bear it! Those Embraces,
Are the sharp Pangs of Death! Horrour, Despair,
Thus let me part! thus I divorce you ever!

[Offers to stab her.
CASTRUCHIO.
Oh Harpy, would'st thou dip thy Hands in Blood?

MARTIA.
What wou'd I not to have you mine, Castruchio.

CASTRUCHIO.
Inhumane Wretch! for this Attempt of thine;
My Soul abhors thee like my evil Genius:
Here will I live—
[To Dardania.
At this fair Shrine, my every Hour of Life
To come, shall offer Prayers and Penitence,
To render Satisfaction for a Crime
My inconsiderate Folly brought upon me,
Misguided by the Treachery of Martia.

DARDANIA.
Oh thou hast amply made me Satisfaction.

MARTIA.
Oh curst Deceiver! Damn'd Villain! hear me;
That Mist which long deceiv'd my Eyes, is vanish'd;
Thy most unmanly Baseness has dispers'd
Fond Love, and all its fiery Train of Wiles;
And now implacable Revenge and Scorn
Have swell'd my Breast with complicated Fury,
Therefore beware, for by my Sexes Cunning,
So artfully I'll lay the Scheme of Vengeance,
Not thy most accurate Care shall countermine it.

CASTRUCHIO.
I dare thy utmost Hate, while I possess
This Miracle of Innocence and Truth;
While she is safe I cannot be unhappy.

MARTIA.
On her I'll double my destructive Rage,
You have her now, and pride in her Possession;
But from this Moment shield her from my Sight,
For if again she meets her Rival's Eyes,
Expect to hear that they have flash'd her dead.
[Exit Martia.

CASTRUCHIO.
Welcome thou lovely Charmer of my Soul,
Oh say, how didst thou 'scape Alberto's Fury?

DARDANIA.
When that inexorable Monarch found,
Nor Prayers, nor Threats could move me to his Will,
He gave me up to Ronveir's Care, and waited
A more auspicious Opportunity.
That venerable Slave beheld me too
With wishing Eyes—and sav'd me from his Master:
But in the late Confusion, when the Populace
Swell'd like the Sea, and bore down all before 'em,
They ransack'd that Appartment of the Palace,
Where I was left by that old Villain, Ronveir,
Then happily i'th' Tumult I escap'd;
And wandering up and down as my Fears led me,
Kind Heav'n at last brought me to thy lov'd Arms.

CASTRUCHIO.
Oh glorious Reward of suffering Vertue!

DARDANIA.
Come thou dear Pledge of Love, let us retire
From the World's Cares, and happy in each other,
Welcome those Blessings which the Gods have giv'n.
Let not Ambition tempt thee forth again,
To tread the slippery Paths that lead to Grandeur:
Let us like cautious saving Gamesters now
Live on the Stock of Honour we have won,
Nor trust to Fortune's giddy Wheel our Peace.

CASTRUCHIO.
Let us to some sweet Solitude repair,
And in a homely Cottage fix for ever,
Lead a long Life in Love and Innocence,
There taste those guiltless Joys unknown to Courts,
And Hand in Hand go downwards to the Grave.

DARDANIA.
The Lark shall wake us with harmonious Songs,
And Nightingales conclude the Ev'nings Consort,
There uncorrupted Nature ev'ry where,
Will give us a kind Taste of Paradice.

[Shouts of Liberty without.
Enter ASCANIO.
CASTRUCHIO.
Ha! my Prince—
Receive, thou Royal Youth, upon his Knees,
A Welcome from a miserable Subject,
Wearied with Cares, and lost to Fortune's Smiles,
The Gods have left one Happiness in Store,
And that one Blessing amply pays Castruchio
For all the Miseries of this wretched Life.

ASCANIO.
Rouze, rouze my Friend, at the great Call of Honour;
Sedition is abroad, and Mischief ripens!
The bellowing Rout are from all Quarters met,
And the poor frighted Tyrant like a Hare,
Is skulk'd into his Form, and shakes for Fear:
The deep-mouth'd Pack will trace the bloody Scent,
And fasten on his Throat—Thro' every Street,
The Torrent pours, and Vollies rend the Air
With Shouts of Liberty—

CASTRUCHIO.
My busy Hours of Life at length are done.

ASCANIO.
Death! what Disease has seiz'd you.

CASTRUCHIO.
We have sworn my Lord, we two, this happy Pair,
Never to part, nor trust the World again.

ASCANIO.
End, Sir, the noble Task you have begun:
We only wait your Presence, to inspire
And give the last glad Stroke for Liberty,
Exert your self once more, my Lord, let Honour
Spur you to Action, then like the God of Day,
You'll set in Streaks of everlasting Glory.

CASTRUCHIO.
Oh my Dardania!
This Honour is the inspiring, noble Sound,
That rouzes, like the Trumpet, to Engagement.
Forgive me, Love! let rip'ning Glory now,
In a full Circle meeting, crown my Character:
Let me not sully Fame, by this last Act,
And I shall come immaculate to thy Arms,
Thy Hero, and thy Lover!

DARDANIA.
Oh my Castruchio!
The dying Sparks of Glory still inspire me,
And spight of fond weak Love, thou shalt return
The Patriot, the Defender of lost Naples!

CASTRUCHIO.