University of Virginia Library

SCENE the Fields.

Enter Avelina.
Ave.
Oh my weak Heart, the Noise points towards me,
And methoughts I heard them name Cothurnus.
Murder! what will this horrid Night bring forth.

Enter Cothurnus, his Sword bloody.
Cothur.
Who comes there?

Ave.
'Tis I, 'tis Avelina.

Cothur.
That's well. I've waded through a World of Blood:
Pray Heaven that we pay not for it all.
Come to my Arms my Love.

Ave.
With joy, I would partake of all your Fate,
Can drag the load of Life, or go to Death.

Guard without crys
1 Guard.
Treason, Murder, Cothurnus is escap'd.

Ave.
Oh Heaven's, we're betray'd, whither shall we fly?

Cothur.
To Death my dear, 'tis all we have for it now.
That Fellow narrowly escap'd my Sword,
He knows I did design to take his Life,
'Tis therefore fair in him to push at mine.

Without
1 Guard.
This Way, I track him by his bloody Feet.

Cothur.
Go hence my dear, it is not fit that you
Should see me butcher'd by this Band of Soldiers.

Ave.
'Tis Death to part: Oh no! I'll stay and dye
Before I'll run, and leave you here alone.
I wish that you would go away with me,
A League from hence, I have a faithful Maid,
Whose Mother will protect me for some time;
Perhaps we'll meet an opportunity
Of joyning Forces, from your Father's Camp.

Cothur.
To save your Life, I'd venture any thing.

Ave.
For Heavens's sake, avoid this Place, let's fly.

Cothur.
For your sake, I will prolong my Destiny.

(Exeunt.
Enter Catholicus and Guards.
Catho.
Slaves, Villains, Cowards, fly and overtake 'em.

1 Guard.
The Day begins to break, I saw a glimpse
Of two in haste, who that way bent their Course.

Catho.
Fly then; who Kills them both, shall dye a Saint.
(Exeunt Guards
I'll follow after, as my Legs will let me.
By this, his Majesty's alarm'd; I dye
If they are not, secured, a woeful Night
T'will be for me; I'm almost out of Breath.
Exit.

Enter in haste Cothurnus and Avelina.
Cothur.
It is vain to Fly, the Camp's alarm'd,
And yonders Light foretels the coming Day.

Ave.
The Morn comes on apace, and I grow Faint,
Cothurnus, since you must dye, take me with you;
Or say you'll let me run upon your Sword;
How sweet were Death, if you would give the Blow.

Cothur.
Forbear, you know not how you wound my Soul.
Be happy still, and never think of me.
Your Father may have Bowels, and forgive,
So sweet, so soft, so kind a Thing as you.
I know my Doom, and I can die but once.

Enter Guards.
1 Guard,
We'll save the Princess, but the Villain dies.

Cothur.
Take back the Villain, I'll sell my Life full dear.

1 Guard.
Fall on, a horrid Death is his deserts.

Ave.
You Slaves, through me you come to touch his Life.

1 Guard.
So be it then; we're bid to kill you both.

Cothur.
Hold your murdering Hands, and save her precious Life.

1 Guard.
We'll spare her Life, if you give up your Sword.
If your so Cruel to deny her that;
Her Death will lie directly at your Door.

Cothur.
Promise me upon a Soldiers solemn Word,
You safely will conduct her to her Father;
And I will leave my Body to your Mercy.

Ave.
Trust not their Cruelty; with Sword in Hand
You'll make your Terms, and may spin out your Doom.

1 Guard.
Believe her not, you can't escape us now.

Enter Catholicus.
Catho.
Give me a Javelin, I'll kill the Body,
And after put up Prayers to save his Soul.

Cothur.
Keep off, thou sack of Sin, my Sword is sharp.
I hate the World, and would not ease 'em of you

Ave.
Barbarous Catholicus, no Bowels left,
No drops of human Nature round thy Soul,
To save two tender Lovers from the Grave:
Thus on my Knees, with watry Eyes I sue.

Cothur.
Avelina rise, disdain to sue for Peace,
From one who is your mortal Foe and mine.
You Coward Guards come on, I live too long.

Ave.
Cruel Cothurnus, could you say too long,
When Avelina was so near your side.

Enter Rotherick and Guards.
Rothe.
Where is my Rebel Daughter, where's my Foe,
Who has so bravely broke the Prison Doors;
And whilst my Souldiers slept, with bloody Hands,
Has calmly made his Way, through Death and Wounds.
I am a Tyrant, cruel and revengeful;
Because I love my Country, and oppose
The Man, who gives up all his Land to Strangers.
Guards, Hue him, Cut him, Mangle him to pieces:
Hold, stay, his Father once I own'd a King,
And he his Son, might have some Princely sparks
of Majesty and Kingly Power about him.
Rash Youth, I will forgive your late Offence;
Put up your Sword: Oh, were your Father honest.
How could I hug, and take you to my Bosom.
Come hither Avelina, is it true
That you have such a Passion for this Youth?

Ave.
At first, in just obedience to your Will,
I strove with all my might to like and love him;
Since which, each Day my Love is grown much stronger.

Rothe.
Why then it is a folly in your Father;
To oppose a Love that is so strongly fixt:
Come here brave Youth, and take her from my Hands
(Rotherick takes Cothurnus and Avelina's Hands)
Guards seize them both, I'll make them know my Power:
Go, let him lose his Head immediately:
No Words, Catholicus go see it done.

Catho.
I fly to execute my Master's Will:

Cothur.
Farewel thou Monster, Devil, Villain, Tyrant.

(Exeunt all but Rotherick.)
Enter Eva and Regan, his Arm in a Scarf, and Guards.
Rothe.
Whom have we here?

1 Guard,
My Leige Dermond's Daughter is taken Prisoner.
Of all the gallant Troops, that did attend her,
This is the only one was left alive.

Rothe.
You've done your Duty, and shall be rewarded.
'Tis plain I am a Favorite of the God's,
The only thing on Earth, I wish'd to have,
Was all vile Dermond's Race within my Power.
By Heaven she's Beautiful! her Eyes strike Fire.
And sets my Soul, in a continued Flame.
Lady, you are not half so much my Prisoner,
As I am your's, my Troops have conquer'd you,
That I may fall a Victim, at your Feet,
Cothurnu's Life is now within his Sister's Power,
He shall not Die, till she gives Orders for't.
What gloomy Thing art thou, with down cast Look?

Reg.
Let it suffice, I'm Dermond's faithful Friend;
An Enemy to thee, and all thy Race.

Rothe.
Most courteous Slave! civil, and obliging,
Assure your self, I shall reward you for't,
Some Days I'll study how I shall torment you:
Till when, you Guards, let him be loaded well
With Chains of Iron, till his haughty Soul,
Is humbled so, that he Speaks well of me.

Eva.
Know proud Tyrant, you and my Father have
A long Account, and you must pay for all.

Rothe.
Would I could meet him once, that we might Ballance.
I'd cut and mangle, all his foreign Slaves;
And justly give him, what he most deserves,
A cruel ignominious shameful Death.
By Heavens! I'd strip him of his Kingly Robes,
And like a Felon, hang him on a Tree.

Eva.
Go meet him in the Field, as if you were
A noble, brave, courageous Enemy;
Push forward, through the thickest of the Ranks,
And dye if possible, upon the Ground,
Your noble Heroes call the bed of Honour;
And so avert these Judgments, that must fall
Upon the vilest, basest, worst of Tyrants.

Rothe.
So!

Reg.
No such Blessings er'e can fall upon thee;
Thou art Nature's violent Convulsion,
Made by Heaven's command, to show the World,
What Ways it has of punishing Mankind,
When Wickedness doth call a Vengeance down.

Rothe.
Guards, lead that Wretch unto the Verge of Life.
Show Death, but give him Sustenance enough
To make him breath in spite of all his Threats.
Catholicus, that Female is your Care.
Preach off her Pride, and learn her to obey,
And relish well my arbitrary Sway.
Women like Coin, can never current be,
Without their stamp't with Glorious Majesty.

Exeunt.