 | The Conquest of Spain |  |
1
ACT the First.
SCENE an Ante-Chamber in the Court.Enter Antonio, Margaretta, and Alvarez.
Ant.
Why dost thou sigh with this unusual Care,
And grasp me with such eager fond Concern
As if we never were to meet again?
Mar.
Thus to be hurried from the Feast of Nature,
The Downy Peace of a retir'd Life,
Here to be fixt at Court, the Place I hate,
To have my dearest Lord summon'd away
By Honour's shrill Commands, born from my sight
To share impartial Danger in the Field,
I swear it is too much. Speak, Alvarez,
Thou faithful Witness of our secret Vows,
Are not these Causes worthy of my Grief?
Alv.
I had rather play the Woman, and weep those Tears,
Than see them drown the Lustre of your Eyes.
Mar.
The Wretched by Complaint oft find Relief,
But I have no such Privilege in Sorrow;
Though gnawing Anguish prey upon my Heart,
In Publick I must wear a Face serene,
Stifle my rising Sighs, restrain my Tears,
And well dissemble all the Pangs I feel,
Least they betray our Marriage.
Ant.
What shall I do to calm thy growing Fears?
Mar.
Nothing but stay, do that and I am blest.
Leave the rough Business of the dreadful War
To those inur'd to bloody Fields of Horror:
Thou wert not made for Summer's scorching Heats,
Nor Winter's piercing Cold, and fatal Damps;
2
Honour and Wealth already are your Slaves,
Conquest has wreath'd your Brow with verdent Lawrels,
And Barcelona owns you for her Lord.
What would you more? Alas! I fear
My humble Fortunes drive you from my Arms.
Ant.
Alvarez, hear you this? Oh! Margaretta!
Is there on Earth a Fortune worthy thee?
Thy Vertues, valued but at half their Price,
Wou'd over-buy the Globe with all its Glories.
Was not thy Birth Noble as Spain can boast?
Thy Father Loyal, Generous and Valiant?
Who, when he had exhausted all his Store,
In grateful Offices of Publick Good,
The King confess'd his Merits, prais'd him much,
But found himself too poor to pay him back,
And by delaying what was in his Power,
Thy Father, to his Shame, died unrewarded.
Mar.
And left me an unhappy helpless Orphan,
Expos'd to this unhospitable World;
But Heaven was kind, for from my Father's Obsequies
Great Julianus led me to his Pallace,
And bred me up with his own beauteous Daughter.
Alv.
And well you merited his pious Care.
Ant.
Weep not, my Love, let past Afflictions die;
Load not thy Memory with mornful Thoughts.
When my Great Unkle's Fame shall be rehears'd
In after-times, in Ages yet behind,
This one excelling Act of Guarding thee
Shall crown the immortal Story.
Mar.
My much lov'd Lord, my Peace, my Wish, my Husband,
That dearest Name sums all the Joys of Life;
Blest be the Hour, and blest the Holy Priest
That join'd our Hands, and seal'd this happy Contract.
Ant.
Thou dearest Object of my doating Heart!
Alv.
Is Wedlock stor'd with Tenderness like this!
Who would not then be married?
Ant.
Kind Alvarez!
With well-pleas'd Eyes thou viewest my lovely Choice;
For thou art blest Antonio's other Treasure.
Alv.
From laughing Youth up to these busy Years
3
Ant.
Never may Time nor Accident divide it:
My Friend, my charming Wife.
Alv.
She is strangely Beauteous.
Ant.
She is, Alvarez; and by Heaven I swear
It glads me more to call this Treasure mine,
Than were I Emperor of the World, without Her.
Oh Margeretta! couldst thou read my Thoughts,
For 'tis not in the Power of Words to express them,
How Constant, Fond, entirely full of thee,
They rise with eager Transport in my Soul:
By them alone thou'dst know how dear I hold thee.
Mar.
Yet you will leave me to Dispair.
Ant.
But to defend my Country from the Moors,
That I may long enjoy thy matchless Beauty.
Mar.
But Julianus!
Ant.
Fear not, he will forgive our secret Marriage.
Alv.
Though at this time when War looks Red upon us
It is not fit to tell him Tales of Love,
Yet when soft Peace ensues, he'll Crown your Wishes.
Mar.
Antonio is his Favourite near allied,
And by expiring Parents left his Charge.
I know, my Lord, the General is good,
But he designs you for some happier Maid;
One to whom Fortune with a partial Hand
Has given
The shining Mass which she had long been gathering
From lavish Epicures and thoughtless Heirs.
Ant.
For Margaretta I contemn it all,
And count it Dross when ballanc'd with thy Worth.
Mar.
Oh! how my boding Heart does beat and ake,
Reflecting on the Hazards thou must run;
Dangers which threatens Life and dearer Love;
Love which is grown the pretious Vital Heat,
Essential to this little tender Frame,
And both must live, or both decay together.
Ant.
Thou soft Delight, the Musick of whose Voice
Runs to my Heart, and brings new Raptures there,
Tell me what I shall say to Charm thy Cares.
Mar.
Swear that neither Fate, nor ill tim'd Chance,
Shall change your Love, and dear priz'd Faith to me:
4
And when you're gone repeat it to my Heart.
Ant.
By all our Exstasies already past,
By all our boundless Pleasures yet to come;
By the Dear unborn Pledge of joy thou bearest,
My Soul shall never know another Flame,
Never incline to an inconstant Wish,
Nor my Eyes stay to gaze on any Object,
But thy dear World of Beauties.
Mar.
Enough, my Soul's at ease, and Doubt is lost.
Alv.
Hark! the Trumpets speak the King at hand:
This Morning Julianus takes his Leave.
Ant.
To win new Trophies for the Inglorious King,
Who wastes his Life in Luxury and Ease.
Mar.
Lose not a Thought on him, Love all exacts;
He bids us husband the dear little Stock
Which yet is left to bless our eager Wishes.
Come, let us give the few remaining Minutes
To faithful Tenderness, and soft Farewells:
Let not the smallest part of scanty Time
Fleet by, unknowing of our mutual Joys,
Till that unhappy Crisis which divides us.
Ant.
Thus to my Heart for ever could I hold thee,
To Glory Deaf, regardless of a Name,
Neglecting Honour, and despising Fame.
[Exit Ant. and Mar.
Alv.
What mean these warring Passions in my Breast?
Honour, Love, Friendship, Fury, and Despair;
Ye Legion of Tormentors, how you Rack me!
Yet I will struggle with this mighty Tumult.
Honour, what art thou, but an Idle Dream,
A gaudy Bubble chas'd by Beardless Boys,
Which when we catch proves nothing but Opinion.
Love, thou indeed art an essential Blessing,
The unexhausted source of all our Pleasures:
Why then should Friendship's barren Name forbid thee?
What is a Friend but one who shares in common,
The Advantages of Life with him he Loves?
And Marriage is ingrossing to himself.
Antonio then dissolves the Band, not I.
Oh! Margaretta! I must and will enjoy thee.
Jaquez, my faithful Slave, where art thou.
5
Jaq.
Where I have over-heard all, and come prepar'd.
Alv.
Long have I found thee Diligent and Subtle,
And I have great Occasion for those Qualities,
I am in Love.
Jaq.
With Lord Antonio's Wife.
Alv.
Confusion blast that Title, 'tis my Bane:
Could'st thou no other way distinguish her
But by the only Sound I wou'd forget?
Jaq.
Thus warn'd, I'll be more careful.
Alv,
Fond Alvarez!
Why dost thou blush to think upon the Sin
Thou dar'st resolve to act? 'Tis Coward Villany.
Jaq.
You are much disturb'd.
Alv.
Aided by thee, all will again be well.
Anon we march against the Sooty Moors;
Be it thy Care to intercept all Letters
That pass between Antonio and that Lady.
'Tis easy to be done as I'll direct thee.
I have a half-form'd Thought, which, well improv'd,
Will ease my longing Soul. But see, the King.
Let us withdraw, where we may think on't farther.
[Exeunt.
Enter King, Clothario and Lodovicus, Guards and several Courtiers at a distance.
King.
This Day Great Julianus leads to War;
Which swells my Hopes of Victory and Love.
Though our young Warriers have with Loss been foil'd,
Now He consents to lead, our Cares are fled.
What are these Moors, that they should make us fear?
A straggling Crew, unskill'd in Spanish Discipline:
Our well try'd Soldiers soon will cut them off,
And rase the Memory of this Invasion.
Then let it not disturb Our Royal Thoughts:
Certain of Conquest, I give loose to Pleasure.
Clothario and Lodovicus, be you employ'd
To see the Court shine like another Paradise:
Let every Sence be feasted with Delight.
Lod.
First let the General be farther off.
Your Majesty well knows he frowns on Vanity,
6
Stern Valour and strict Vertue are his Pleasures,
His only Study how he may restore
The ancient, awful Dignity of Spain:
Both Mind and Body join to furnish out
A rough, unpollish'd, perfect Soldier.
King.
Such inded he is: yet from him came
The softest Creature Nature ever made.
Fool that thou art! to talk of Julianus,
When all my Thoughts are busy with Jacincta.
Let the Old Man amidst his Iron Warriers
Make long Harangues, and win the Soldiers Hearts:
Whilst with his beauteous Daughter I am blest,
Lost in the Revels of tumultuous Joy.
Cloth.
Alas! my Gracious Sovereign, I fear
You'll find it hard to work her to your Purpose:
Her Father's steddy Vertue is her Guide;
And she, with early Piety, improves
The Rules by which the Holy Vestals walk.
Lod.
Her Actions and her Words are all Divine,
As if from her new Sectaries were to rise,
And new Discoveries of Worlds above,
She the fair Saint to lead the shining Way,
And charm us with her Beauty to pursue.
King.
Ha! Traytors! dare you talk
To me? Dare you do this, now when I range
Warm in the dear pursuit of wanton Bliss?
Hence, from my Sight, ye useless Dregs of Vice:
Have you so long been Slaves to my Desires,
And do you now forget your humble Business?
When I have nam'd the Object of my Wishes
Your Diligence shou'd still supply the Means.
Cloth.
Jacincta's your's, tho' she be Chast as Lucrece,
Beyond what Lovers think, or Poets feign:
Your Youth and Majesty have Charms sufficient
To melt the frozen Zone, and reach her Heart.
Lod.
Shewing the Difficulty to obtain
We but inhance the Value of the Prize.
She shall be your's; that lovely dazling Beauty,
To which not Spain, nor all the World besides
Can find a Parallel, believe her gain'd.
7
Ay, now you speak like Men resolv'd to rise,
And shine the Envy of the gazing Court,
Wear all the gaudy Honours I can give,
But live dependant on my Pleasures.
Cloth.
See the General.
Enter Julianus, Jacincta, Margaretta and Women, Antonio, Alvarez and several Officers.
King.
Welcom, thou Guardian Genius of my Throne,
My General, my Father and my Friend:
Safety and Peace come with thee, chearful Triumph
Waits with impatience to reward thy Labours.
Proclaim a Jubilee through all our Cities:
Great Julianus comes, be that the Shout,
From whose blest Ecchoe Spain with Joy receives
The pleasing Omen of assur'd Success.
Jul.
Whether does all this wondrous Goodness lead?
You call the mantling Blood into my Face,
And make me young again in spight of Nature.
Such Power has condescending Majesty.
King.
Forgive me, Soldier, that in erring Youth
I left neglected thy superior Vertue;
Now I embrace thee as the Prop of Empire.
Jul.
Thus warm'd, command me quickly to the Fight;
Old as I am, I shall make work among them,
That with whole Hecatombs of Sun-burnt Moors
I may repay this, and deserve your Praise.
King.
Victory cannot fail; your beauteous Daughter
Carries eternal Conquest in her Eyes.
Again our Court shall boast and vie with France
For soft prevailing Charms. That other Fair One
Methinks I have seen before.
Jul.
The lovely Daughter
Of brave Antigones. Nay think not, Courtiers,
A worthier Man never adorn'd the World:
Had he been yet alive, or such as he,
Spain ne'er had heard of Mullymumen's Name.
'Tis from our Wantonness, our slothful Ease,
From our Neglect of Arms, the Moors presume
Thus to defy us at our very Gates.
8
For I have not been us'd to Courts of late;
My Soldiers only will remember me,
And them I shall know how to entertain.
King.
Thou Loyal Mighty Pillar of my State!
Speak, hast thou nothing to request of me
Before the great decisive Day.
Jul.
It was your Pleasure
That I should leave safe in your Kingly Trust
All that my Heart held dear; the Gracious Offer
Has eas'd my Soul of many an anxious Thought.
My Castle stands so near the Enemy,
That, had I plac'd them there, as I design'd,
The hated Noise of War, the rude Confusion,
Dreadful to Virgin Ears, the Shrieks of Cowards,
The Cries and hollow Groans of dying Men
Had pierc'd their gentle Natures: With you secure,
They may at ease expect the great Event.
Here, Royal Sir, take this my poor Jacincta;
And this, the Daughter of my good old Friend,
Equally dear to Julianus Breast.
With you I leave them, and from your Hands again
At my Return shall ask the Sacred Pledges.
King.
As Life and Empire will thy King preserve them.
But will not fair Jacincta speak to us?
For we delight to hear her pleasing Words.
Jul.
A Sable Cloud of Grief hangs o'er her Thoughts;
For she has lost in this unhappy War
A Lover, which we all have Cause to mourn.
Blush not, my Girl, he well deserv'd thy Heart,
And was thy Father's Choice; whose Mind, exempt
From the soft Byass of thy tender Passion,
Examin'd him with Reason's wary Eye,
And found him truly Perfect.
King,
Theomantius?
Jul.
The same. I lov'd the Noble Warlike Youth,
And should not easily forgive my Daughter
Could she so soon forget him.
King.
The Maid that loves a Soldier, fair Jacincta,
Must arm her self against the Lot of Battel:
There Death and Glory hold the doubtful Scale,
9
The Hero falls, and the chill Coward's spar'd.
None but your Powerful Father ever knew
To fix the giddy Wheel; Fortune's his Slave.
Jac.
Grant it ye Powers.
King.
If Heaven views you but with my regard,
Ask what you will you cannot be deny'd.
Jac.
One small request, Great Sir, I have to you,
That in my Father's absence I have leave
To live Recluse, unseeing and unseen,
Where I may pass my melancholly Hours
In Tears and Vows, such as my Fate requires.
King.
Chuse your Appartment in our Royal Pallace,
And no Rude Breath shall break the hallow'd Air,
Made Sacred to your self and this bright Virgin,
The soft Companion of your solitude;
There live like Pious Maids in silent Cloysters,
Till the loud Trumpets and repeated Shouts
Proclaim the General's Victory and Return,
And call you forth.
Jul.
This most indulgent Goodness
Shews you the best of Men as well as Kings.
Yes, doubt not Conquest, when I'm thus prepar'd.
By heaven I'm fir'd, eager for the War
As when at first, in the high Rage of Youth
I chas'd Immortal Fame: Draw up your Troops
Antonio; What, unplum'd? This is not well,
Thou art a Soldier, and Soldiers should be forward.
I tell thee, Lord, I went not with more Joy
Unto my Maiden Bride that Hymen Night,
From whence I gain'd this Jewel of my Heart,
Than now I do unto my second Nuptials,
Honour. Oh she's a Gallant Mistress.
Ant.
Ever Young.
Think not, my Lord, that I am unprepar'd,
A trifling laggard in the Glorious Race;
When such I am, disown me of your Blood,
And hold me most unworthy your Esteem.
Jul.
Gallant Antonio!
10
Led on by you,
We shall find business for the Africans.
King.
They'l Curse the Ambition that betray'd them to you.
Jul.
This Honour which your Majesty has given me,
Tho' better it might fit another's wearing,
Whose able Limbs time has not yet contracted,
Nor half so many Winters quench'd his Blood,
Yet, like a Spring, it has reviv'd again
This Autumn of my Years. Let us away:
We will destroy this Swarthy brood of Hell,
Dispatch them with such Momentary Slaughter,
That late Posterity shall doubt the Legend,
And only think their old Fore-fathers Dreamt.
King,
My Friend, my God-like Hero, sound to March:
Even we our selves mean to conduct you forward,
And view the chearful Soldiers with what Joy
They wait your wish'd approach. Come on my General;
Sound all the Martial Instruments of War,
[Trumpets Sound and Drums Beat.
That as we pass your Souls may Fire.
[Going.
Jac.
Dread Sovereign,
[Jacincta Kneels to the King.
If in your Eyes Jacincta has found Grace,
Forgive the Female weakness of my mind:
My Father bred me up with tenderest Care,
And still preserv'd me from the threatning Storms
Of Life's unruly Tempest, safe and happy;
Beneath his sheltring Wing my Fears were hush'd,
Nor look'd I farther, till by his Command
I lov'd the noble Copy of himself,
My Theomantius. Oh untimely Fate!
This cruel War has crop'd his hopeful Bloom,
And thrown him Pale and Wither'd to his Grave:
This I have learn'd to bear, yet more I'll try;
And since 'tis now decreed I must resign
The only Refuge of my trembling Youth,
Give me a moments leave to weigh the Hazard,
The certain Danger and uncertain Safety,
To hang about his Knees and tell my Sorrows,
To beg Paternal Blessings e're he goes,
With Fondness much unfit for many Eyes.
11
Take your Request; and all with me Retire.
Only Remember, Valiant Julianus,
That every Minute's stay is rob'd from Fame.
Jul.
Oh do not think that I will loyter here,
A short farewel, a Blessing on my Children
And I am gone swift as your own Desires.
[Ex. King and Courtiers.
What wouldst thou now, thou Darling of my Age,
Thou lov'd Resemblance of thy Charming Mother?
And thou, fair Margaretta? Speak your Wishes,
And share a Father's and a Friend's Affection.
Jac.
The first dear Suit that rises to my Tongue,
Prefer'd to all the rest, is your own Life;
Be careful of your self or I am lost.
Jul.
I'll take a Soldier's Care I do assure thee,
Foremost to Charge, and cautious to Retreat;
Watchful to take Advantage of the Enemy,
And active to Employ the Opportunity;
Well to Command, and careful to Advise;
That I may Merit what a General should,
And then I dare trust Fortune with the rest.
Why dost thou weep my lovely drooping Charge?
Come, I have guess'd the Cause of thy Concern,
Thou fearest for a young Soldier, or I Err.
Dwells not Antonio in those fears?
Mar.
My Lord.
Jul.
Nay no Excuse, that Blush confirms my Thoughts;
But oh! Fair Maid, beware the Wiles of Love,
Trust not too easily to Faithless Men.
Indeed Antonio is a worthy Lord;
But he is Young, and his Possessions Large;
All means for Riot, if he bends that way.
Thou art descended from as Glorious Ancestors,
Then let not Wealth, Titles, nor Pomp betray thee
To stain the Ancient Honour of thy Race.
Mar.
Heaven forbid.
Jul.
Forgive me, Margaretta;
Old Men will claim a Privilege to talk:
Only be cautious, 'tis a dangerous World,
And Youth and Beauty are the common Wrack;
Let Vertue be thy guide, and thou art safe.
Trust me, I love thee as my Child.
12
My Father,
For so I have ever found you, kind and good,
You seem inclin'd to chide my guilty Weakness;
How have I err'd, how fail'd in my Obedience?
Jul.
No, thou art Innocent as Infant Angels,
Dear to my Bosom as my own Jacincta;
Nor is the Youth less lov'd: But I observ'd
Thy Charming eyes fixt mutually on his,
Shoot all their Fires there, and melt when he withdrew:
Perhaps 'twas only Friendship, I have done.
The fleeting Minutes pass and I lose time,
What is it my Jacincta has to say?
Jac.
Oh, Sir, if you will but with Patience hear me,
I have a Tale to unfold concerns you nearly,
A gloomy Fear that hangs upon my Soul
And every Peaceful Faculty distracts.
Jul.
I am surpriz'd! but tell me what thou meanest.
Jac.
Look kindly then, and promise to forgive me.
Jul.
Fear not Jacincta.
Jac.
Call to your noble mind
The strugling Grief of your unhappy Child
When you talk'd of leaving me at Court.
Jul.
I well remember thy incessant Tears,
When the repeated Royal Mandates came;
But then it was we first receiv'd the News
Of Theomantius's Death.
Jac.
The Lovely Youth
Not all my sorrows can enough Lament.
Alas! I had resolv'd to mourn his loss
In lonely Shades and unfrequented Groves;
To waste my wretched Days in said Despair,
Counting the tedious Minutes with my Sighs.
Jul.
And raging War has broke this mournful Scene;
Is not that all?
Jac.
Oh no, my Dearest Father;
But your severer Virtue awes my Words:
Feign I would tell you all, yet want the Power,
Blushing Confusion choaks the hated Tale,
And Shame o'er spreads my Face as I were Guilty,
When I would blame another.
Jul.
What say'st thou?
But surely I am wide of Truth.
13
The King.
Jul.
Stop there, Jacincta, as thou lov'st thy Father;
Nor with thy idle Fears disturb my Soul,
Because he condescended to regard
Thy little Portion of unartful Beauty:
Interpret not his Praise to thy Dishonour.
Perhaps thou hast heard some Murmerers defame him;
To me they would have rail'd, but I was deaf;
Honour forbid that I should listen to them.
Shake of these Doubts, have nobler Thoughts, my Child;
Revere the Royal Man thy Father Serves.
Jac.
But yet my Lord.—
Jul.
No more, I charge you, of this fond Mistake.
Does he not trust me with unbounded Power?
With the united Force of all his Kingdoms?
And can he mean me Ill?
Jac.
I'll urge no farther;
Only to Heaven direct my humble Prayers:
Protect my Father, give him Victory,
And save my Innocence.
Mar.
With equal Zeal I offer my Petitions:
Bestow, ye great Disposers of our Fate,
Long Life and endless Joy on Julianus;
Shower all your Blessings on his Reverend Head,
And guard him back with Honour, Peace, and Safety.
Jul.
I go, my Children, with assur'd Success,
The noble Cause I wear upon my Sword
Is of it self sufficient to prevail:
Justice and Piety fight on our Sides;
Against such Odds, who dare dispute the Field.
One Chast Embrace, and then Farewel.
Jac.
Yet stay,
One moment longer stay and bless my Eyes;
When that's expir'd I will surmount my Fears,
And calmly Part.
Jul.
The sacred Powers are Just,
And in the course of many rowling Years
No horrid Sin starts up to blast my Hopes,
No vile Offence vexes my Memory;
And honest Men are Heavens peculiar Care.
Why art thou sad?
14
Oh! you have manly Courage;
But I, of gentler Mould, was made a Woman:
My Eyes run o'er, and my full Heart Presages
We ne'er shall meet in Happiness again.
Jul.
All groundless: I tell thee, my Jacincta,
Our greatest ills of Life our selves Create:
Our anxious Care, our Follies, and our Fondness,
Ever betray us to a thousand Dangers;
And human kind are still their own undoers.
Be thou upright, and then suspect no harm.
By Heaven! I prattle thus, forgetting Honour;
But thou art Dear to me as Peace or Glory;
The vital Blood that Circles round my Heart
Is not one half so Precious: Banish thy scruples.
Jac.
My God-like Father, kind as Providence,
Who views our faults with a forgiving Eye,
Hears us repine with ceaseless Discontent;
Yet still continues its unwearied Goodness.
But I'll no longer hold you from your Warriors,
Farewell.
Jul.
Why do'st thou damp the few remaining sparkles
That faintly warm my Age with dying vigour?
Why do'st thou wound my Soul with boding words,
And with thy streaming Tears make parting dreadful?
Farewell to both, and the blest Gods protect you.
[Exit.
Jac.
He's gone, and gloomy Terror fills my Mind.
Come, my fair Friend, let us begin our Task;
Fly all Delight and all Society,
Resolve to live in this Distress'd Court
Silent and sad as Death.
Mar.
I meet your Wishes.
Oh Love! thou pleasing solitude of Mind,
Thou spatious Field of Fancy, beauteous Prospect,
Where tender Jealousies and gentle Raptures,
And Hopes and Fears, Desires and endless Joys
Compose the soft variety of Life.
Jac.
Sure 'twas the business of some Guardian Angel
To fit our Hearts for such entire Sympathy.
Let us be gone, I long to indulge my Grief:
My Father's Danger, and my Lover's Fate,
What greater Woes can angry Powers Create.
[Exeunt.
The End of the first ACT.
| The Conquest of Spain | |