University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

The SCENE Draws. And shews Alboino and Rosamund seated. Desiderio, Almachild, Odoacre, Cleanthe, Angellina, &c. Guards and Attendants.
Alb.
Thus we possess in War, the Joys of Peace;
And scorn the vain Efforts of Roman Arms.
And while our Foes prepare for rash Attempts,
In Pleasure waste your time, secure by me.

Rosa.
We do not fear Success where you command;
But yet when we reflect upon the Toils
Of War, and various Deaths all aim'd at you;
I tremble at your approaching Danger.
The Brave, no more than Cowards, are exempt from Death;
Else both your Life and Conquest were secure.

Alb.
I scorn the utmost of my feeble Foes:
They dare not hope Success, where I Command.
For if, when by Ambition urg'd alone,
I have surpass'd Belief, and the Reports
Of Fame; what mighty Wonders shall I act,
Both to preserve a Crown, and her I love!

Rosa.
I have a Soul which scorns Danger; 'tis not
For my self I fear: Wou'd my Sex permit,
Fearless I wou'd into the Battel rush,
And share your Hazards, Tho' I can't prevent.

Alb.
Your Merit, Rosamund, shall wing Conquest:
I'll haste to conquer, sooner to return,
That I may place fresh Lawrels on my Brow,
And on your Head fix a more splendid Crown.
There's he who taught me first the Art of War.
[Enter Aistolfus.
Where hast thou been loit'ring, my old Friend,
While we were drinking to our Arms, Success?
Come, Retrieve your lost Time; Fill me a Bowl,
And give my General one, to pledge me.

Aist.
I'm not good at this; 'tis out of my road:
I'm as awkward a Drinker, as Lover;
They both are Foes to Bus'ness, and to War:
But in Obedience—

[Drinks.
Alb.
I know it well, War is thy whole Delight:
But on a Day so memorably Great,
A Day of Triumph and of Joy, whereon
I fought, and won a Battel, Queen, and Crown,
We may exceed the strict Bounds of Temp'rance,
And gives our selve a Loose: Fill me agen;
Then let the Musick that's prepar'd, begin.

[Drinks.
[And then Enter Mars, attended by Warriors.]
[Enter a Troop of Virgins, one of them Singing.]
[Virgin]

[Enter Bacchus attended, &c. He Sings, Entring.]
No more of War, or whining Love;
I come, your Empires to remove:
To me, your boasted Palms resign,
To me, the mighty God of Wine.


[A Drinking SONG.]

Alb.
So, 'tis enough; Be gone, and leave us now.

Aist.
I hate these low effeminating Sounds;
Such Musick which softens while it pleases:
I'd hear none but the lofty Phrygian Airs;
Timotheus alone shou'd play to me,
Who might Inspire me, like Alexander,
With so much transporting Warmth and Courage
Cou'd force me, think,
Tho' o'er my Cups, I were at th'Army's Head,
And from the Table leap, to shake my Spear.

Alb.
Twas Wine inspir'd the Hero, not his Notes;
And we will try, how that will work on us.
Another Bowl—Not that we want an Edge,
To go where Glory calls.

Desid.
He warms apace;
[To Aistolphus.
Wou'd he cou'd be persuaded to forbear.

Rosa.
I can be no Assistant to this Sport:
I'll retire.

Alb.
Stay; I will have none depart.
What, do's my Mirth prove tedious to you?
[Apart]
Thanks to the Wine, it has refresh'd my Thoughts;
Awaken'd Jealousie, that seem'd to sleep:
It may be, she'd retire, to talk to him.
S'Death! how that Thought has stung me to the quick!
But I will first discover that, which shall
As much disquiet her.
Wait a moment,
I'll bring a Bowl shall tempt you too to drink.

[Exit.
Aist.
I have not known him so much mov'd with Wine.
By Nature he's too fierce; and heated thus,
I dread some Inconvenience may attend.

[Re-enter Alboino, with a Goblet in his Hand.]
Alb.
I prize this Goblet far above my Crown;
'Tis the Trophy of my noblest Conquest.
Dangers and Death I seem'd to court, yet scorn'd
And triumph'd over both, to purchase this:
And when my ambitious Aim I'd won,
Victory and Empire attended it.

Rosa.
Some Magick Cup, which you may well admire,
Since it portended so much good to you.
For me, I have an aversion for it;
If I but look on it, I faint away,
Tho' I'm not able to ascribe the Cause.

Alb.
There's Mystery in my Discourse: Some Wine;
Pledge me, then I will unfold the Riddle.
Come Rosamund, Here's to the Memory
Of that Bloody Day whereon I won this.

Desid.
What can the meaning of this be?

[Aside.
Rosa.
I wou'd be excus'd—But since 'tis your Will—
An unusual Horror seizes on my Mind;
My Blood runs cold, and stagnates in my Veins.
I tremble too, as if I saw a Ghost.
If I must drink, give me some other Bowl.

Alb.
Nay, drink out of that.

Rosa.
You must be obey'd.

[While she drinks, he speaks
Alb.
For 'tis but fit, that on a Day of Mirth,
So happy, memorably great as this,
That you shou'd drink one Cup with your Father.

Rosa.
With my Father! I understand you not.

Alb.
I'll explain my meaning to you. Know then,
That on this very Day, which now I celebrate,
Your Father fought a Battel, and with it
Lost his Life.

Rosa.
Dismal Day! I know, indeed,
My Father fell in Battel; but by whom
He lost his Life, I never yet could learn:
The Day too was conceal'd when he was slain;
I judg'd some nobler Cause, why this was kept.

Aist.
Now, on my aged, faithful Knees, I beg
Apart to Alboino.
You wou'd not own by whom her Father fell;
But rather lay the fault on me, or him;
Say any other did it, but your self.

Alb.
What, wouldst thou deprive me of my Glory?
By Heav'n, I'll own and boast a Deed so great.
Away; Disturb me not.

Aist.
I've seen the Day,
When your Renown, your Empire, and your Life,
Have in one dreadful Battel all been stak'd,
All had been forfeited by one false Step;
Then I have been listned too.

Alb.
To the Camp,
Retire; There Preach where Sense is drown'd by Noise.
An honest Man shou'd never do an Act
He is asham'd to own.
Had I been of that bold Gigantick Race,
Who durst aspire to storm even Heaven,
Tho' Lightning blaz'd, and Thunder roar'd around
My Head; I'd own the brave, tho' rash Attempt.

Rosa.
Lives he yet, who rob'd me of my Father!

Alb.
The Sun had scarcely Crimson'd o'er the Morn,
When the two eager Armies in the Field
Appear'd; One was by your Father headed,
The other was by me.
Rais'd by my Merit to so great Command;
Not by a lucky accidental Birth,
Or by blind Fortune's Power. Each quickly saw
Success depended on the other's Death.
Like Lions fighting for their Prey, we met;
Each Army paus'd to see our mightier Blows;
Long he resisted my impetuous Force:
Till summoning my whole Pow'r in one stroke,
I sent his Body headless to the Earth.

Rosa.
What was 't from you my Father had his Death?
And do you own the cruel, bloody Deed?

Alb.
Own it; I boast it; I've not yet own'd half.
Shall I disown what purchas'd me a Crown?
His Crown and you, were by the Conquest mine.
And that an Act so fortunately great,
Might never wither in my Memory,
I straight alight, and seiz'd upon his Head,
And of his Skull I made that Drinking Cup.

Rosa.
Oh Horror!
Oh Barbarian! Unnatural Tyrant!
What, of my Father's Skull to make a Cup
To assist your beastly, drunken Frolicks.
Give me the Sacred, the Prophan'd Relict,
Let me adore the dear, much wrong'd Remains;
Let me weep in't, till t'deluge with my Tears,
Till it be purg'd from such vile Pollution.

Alb.
Take her away, This suits not with our Mirth.

Rosa.
I'll take my self for ever from your sight,
Rather than you, I wou'd a Tyger meet,
Rob'd of her Young, or hunting for her Prey:
Thy barb'rous Temper cancels all my Love,
And fills me with a nobler flame, Revenge.
Come then the haggard Furies, start from Hell,
Lodge all your Venom in my Breast, here dwell;
With Spite and Rage distend my swelling Heart,
Thro' ev'ry Vein your snaky Tresses dart.
Statesmen disgrac'd, and tender Maids betray'd,
All Womankind, I summon to my Aid.
If all too weak; urg'd by my self, such things I'll do;
That for Revenge, to me, the injur'd World shall sue.

[Exit.
Alb.
Revenge, but ill becomes a Woman's Mouth;
Revenge, tho' 'tis Heaven's chief attribute
In Mortals is a Vice;
But 'tis a noble one; 'tis boldly to retort
An Injury, and can they dare to do
An Ill, who have not Courage to do well?
Who threats, but feebly do's intend an Harm,
His Enemies do's with Precaution arm.
While vainly, Ill to us, our Foes intend,
In Sports as we've begun the Day, we'll end.

[Exeunt Omnes. Præter Odoacre.
Odoa.
This is, as I cou'd wish; I'm never pleas'd,
But when the World's discontented, like me;
The Queen's dissatisfied, and vows Revenge;
A Powerful Army is at our Gates;
May not some Mischief be collected hence?
I've turn'd with ev'ry Change of Government,
Not out of Love to another, but Hate to the present;
But never yet cou'd meet destin'd Reward;
And till I do, I'll still turn, and Plot on.
Here comes the Queen, and seems as much disturb'd
As I cou'd wish; I'll make bold to observe.

Enter Rosamund.
Rosa.
Revenge I vow'd, and I will keep my Vow:
But the means; can Woman's malicious Wit.
Be at a Loss, to give Destruction?
I must have help, yet know not whom to trust,
The surly old Gen'ral ne'er was my Friend,
Desiderio's his, and both love the King,
They're brave and honest, not for my Purpose;
Odoacre wears Villain in his Face,
And such, are seldom honest in their Hearts;
Treachery shall be his Business.
Officious Hell has sent him to my Mind.
Odoacre come near; I've long observ'd
Your Discontent; your Looks, your Speech, your Gate,
Do all betray some inward weight of Grief.
It ought to be a Monarch's greatest Care
To relieve, and to redress;
Impart your Griefs to me, and you will find
Speedier Relief than from Alboino.

Odoa.
My whole Life has been consum'd in Sorrows;
But now my Face bears double Marks of Grief:
Th'Injury has been offer'd you this day,
Sits heavier on me, than my private Ills.

Rosa.
Is't possible, art thou so much my Friend?

Odoa.
I know, he meant it to disquiet you,
Why shou'd he else expose the barb'rous Deed?
Nor can you more resent your Father's Wrongs,
Than I do yours.
Th'Affront which warm'd but you, set me on Fire.

Rosa.
Then sure you'd Join in my design'd Revenge.

Odoa.
Join! my Head to counsel, my Hands to act;
Not Thunder flies more swiftly from Jove's Arm,
Than I, to execute what you command.
Name your Design, think it already done.

Rosa.
I dare believe you true, and will reward
Your Services, beyond Ambition's Hope.
But as thou'st edg'd my Rage, tell me, how
Shall we proceed to make his Ruin sure?
'Tis hard, for by the Army he's ador'd?

Odoa.
I know it; the desperate thoughtless Madmen
Love him, 'cause he leads them into Danger.
Howe're 'tis an easie Task, by one Blow
To end his Pride, and his Ambitious Thoughts.
And to secure the Deed, let the Romans
Who lie encamp'd, near the Ravenna Gate,
Be privately admitted in the Night.

Rosa.
Thou speak'st my Thoughts, but who is 't I dare trust
With such a Secret, but your faithful self.
Send to invite 'em strait, and be't your Care
To betray the Gate to 'em this very Night:
In the mean time, I'll Plot the Tyrant's Death.

Odoa.
I go to execute what you command;
Secure,
That our Designs not only will succeed,
But you'll remember who advis'd the Deed.

[Exit.
Rosa.
So, here's one noble Mischief well contriv'd.
And now, Murder must next employ my Thoughts,
For nothing less will satiate my Revenge.
More Company!
'Tis strange I have not time to think on Ill.
I must listen too; how conscious is Guilt?
How curious am I, since my design'd Plot?
If I but see two whisper, 'tis of me
I think they talk.

[She retires.
Enter Almachild and Cleanthe.
Alma.

Your disbelief of my Passion, my Cleanthe, afflicts me as much, a
your Refusal to gratifie it. It argues a meaner Opinion of me. Have I
declar'd my Love so long, and vow'd its Truth so often, yet without making
any impression on your Mind, or gaining any Credit?

Cle.

You are but too sensible you have done both. And I fear this is your
universal way of Entertainment; you think you cannot be complaisant, without
making Love.

Alma.

I have rally'd sometimes, fool'd away an Hour; but never lov'd
before. 'Tis not a greater Wrong to my Love, than to your own Beauty,
to suspect me; let that confirm the truth of what I say. Every Part,
every Motion charms and surprizes; there's not a Feature in that Angellick
Face, but would adorn Deformity, and render it agreeable.

Cle.

I must confess, I shou'd be pleas'd you had such Thoughts; but
why do you take such Pains to persuade me to be so opinionated of my
self?

Alma.

Because you will then the more readily credit my Love? for
how can you know, you possess so much Beauty, and believe me insensible?

Cle.

Injustly you tax me with Indifference, you know I am not so;
but you are obstinately Blind, and will not see my Love, till I have given
too much.

Alma.

Did you love, your self wou'd think you cannot give too much;
nor do they love, who think they love enough. I long have thought my
Passion was so great, it cou'd admit of no Encrease; but each succeeding Minute
heightens so much my Flame, I think I did not love before; and can you
refuse Love so great, ever Young and always Growing.

Cle.
I shou'd not stay to listen to your Arguments.
Who hears her Lover, is more than half won,
Let me be gone, before I'm quite undone.

Alma.

Not till you have promis'd to meet me in my Appartment here, an
hour hence. Come the Back-way, 'tis most private.

Cle.

You appoint Time and Place, as if I had already promis'd.

Alma.

Your Looks discover your Consent.

Cle.

What, meet you in the Dark—I must not, dare not—

Alma.

It shall be Dark too, my Life; I will not see your Blushes.

Cle.

I shall disappoint you.—

Alm.

You will not sure—

Cler.

Indeed I fear I shall not—but be gon now, for Sir the
Queen if she has overheard me I am undone.

[Exit Almachild.
Re-enter Rosamund.
Rosa.

Yes I have heard your dishonourable intent, how didst
thou dare to entertain such thoughts, and yet attend my Person?

Cler.
I only seem'd to yield, to get free of his importunity
I did not design it.

Rosa.
'Tis false, your Eyes did then declare you spoke a Truth,
And now a lye. Be gone, out of my sight—yet stay I'll
Secure you first and spoil your Assignation.
A suddain, huddle, indigested thought
Rowls in my Brain—'tis the safest Method—
But is't not base and wicked—no matter,
I'll stop at nothing that is base or ill,
So I the hated Tyrants Blood may spill.

[Exeunt.