University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE a Prison.

Cothurnus and Regan in Chains.
Cothur.
I grant you, our Religion teaches us
To bear the Ills of Life, without repining.

Regan.
To part with Ills we have, we hurry on
Perhaps to worse; Cowards may wish to die,
Because they fear to live, but noble Souls
Can with undaunted Courage, meet the Shocks
Of Life, and still appear Philosophers.

Cothur.
There is in Life, no Blessing worth our Care.
But to be free from Slavery and Chains.
But see the vile Catholicus appears:
Enter Catholicus.
That ominous, Ill croaking Raven, bodes no Good
To you nor me, except he brings us Death.

Reg.
Bring what he will, let us resolve to show
That we can meet it, tho' we do not seek it.

Catho.
Cothurnus, did you know what Pains I took.
To bring the News, the happy joyful News,
You'd say I was indeed your best of Friends;
The King my royal Master, sent me here,
To free you from these horrid dismal Chains.
And fly with Speed to bring you to his Presence,
And by his cheerful Look I do foresee,
With Life and Happiness, he'll crown your Days;
Away with Speed,

Cothur.
Not till you've released my Friend.

Catho.
My Orders reach not him, I'm sorry for't.

Cothur.
Put on my Chains again, I will not leave him.

Reg.
Forbear my Prince, to use Expostulations;
Comply with the Commands from Rotherick sent;
The Powers above have work'd a Miracle,
And soften'd so his flinty harden'd Heart,
That he may have repented of his Crimes;
Your Father, should he hear you were destroy'd
Disconsolate, 'twould sink him down to Death;
Your Kingdom and your Name, would then be lost
And all your Subjects ruin'd and destroy'd,
For one weak and generous Act, to serve your Friend,
You would bring all this Misery upon you.
Therefore with Speed be gone, ne're think of me.

Cotur.
Regan I will go, but with a heavy Heart:
My Fathers faithful Friend and mine farewell.

Reg.
Farewell, my Royal Prince, farewell for ever;
Should the Gods so pour a Blessing on you,
As to bring you to your Father once again,
Tell him Regan liv'd and dy'd his faithful Slave.

(As they are going out) Enter Avelina.
Ave.
Oh my Cothurnus, do I hold thee fast?
And once again Embrace thee in these Arms:
Catholicus, it is my Fathers Will:
That with Cothurnus, Regan be released.
With floods of Joy, your Sister and my self
Have felt his mild, his kind, his tender Usage;
Lead Catholicus, lead us to my Father,
Where we shall meet the solid Joy we wish,
And neither fear, nor hope to change our Fate.

Cothur.
Oh! let Rotherick give you to my Arms;
And sign a Solemn everlasting Peace,
Then prostrate at his Feet I'll throw me down,
And think him worthy of a Sovereign Crown:
Forget he was a Tyrant, I his Slave;
Will call him Father, and his blessing Crave.

(Exeunt.

Scene draws to Rotherick's Tent.

Enter Rotherick, Chirurgeons and Guards:
Rothe.
Ay, as you say, the Blood might make me Faint,
But now you have bound it up, I'm well again.
Exeunt Chirurgeons
Guards call forth that Tyrannick cruel Beauty,
For Love and for Revenge my Soul is thirsting.
Enter Guards with Eva.
See how the haughty Goddess stalks along.
And with her Eyes, shootsdarts of Scorn upon me.
Go, Guards be gone, and leave us to our Selves,
I'll conquer her proud Heart, or dye a Slave.

Exeunt Guards.
Eva.
Then all my Prayers could not preval I find.
Heaven has for some horrid Sins of mine,
Continued you alive. to be my Torment.

Rothe.
To be your loving Lord, my Sweetest Eva.
One Way, tho' Death insue, I will enjoy thee,
Chuse then, the soft, the kind, the tender Heart.
O'reflowing with the Amorous Fire of Love.
Rather then the Stern, the cruel Countenance,
Crowded full of anger, Horror and Rrevenge.

Eva.
Suppose I tell you, I've Consider'd on't
And find my Resolution wavering.
And when you talk of Love. can listen to it,
And often steal a wishfull Look a Sigh.
Perhaps in time, it may grow up a Passion.

Rothe.
Encourage it, no doubt it will be Love,
And I my self, will raise the Passion for you.

Eva.
Stand off, I now begin again to hate you.

Rothe.
The quick Inconstancy of your wavering Sex.
Love, or Hate, my Flame so fast consumes me,
I can wait no longer, but will push my Doom.
And thus! and thus! I seize upon my Prey.

(Takes her in his Arms she Skrieks, as he is going out, he meets Catholicus, Regan, Cothurnus, Avelina and Guards; seeing them he quits his Hold, She runs to Cothurnus.
Catho.
My Leige, according to your Orders, I
Have brought the Prisoners hither. What more Commands?

Rothe.
Curse on thy Officiosuness, go send them back,
And bid my Guards drag thee away to Death.

Eva.
Save me Cothurnus, Save me Avelina,
Give me death, but guard me from the Ravisher.

Cothur.
The Ravisher!—
Are these the joys, our flattering Hopes foretold?
Is this the Parent that I was to meet?
Is this the great the awfull Godlike Monarch?
Is this the tender Parent of his People?
Is this—

Rotherick takes a Javelin from one of the Guards, and Stabs Cothurnus.
Rothe.
Go thou to Death, I long design'd it for thee.

Cothur.
Tyrant I thank thee, thou hast done the Deed,
And I must leave my Sister to your Mercy,
For my charming Avelina's Sake,
I cou'd suffer more, much more; but Oh!
(Dies.

Ave.
He's gone, he's cold, he's dead, Oh cruel King!
I must make Haste, I shall not overtake him.
(Stabs her self with a Dagger.)
So, I aim'd full well, my Heart has felt it.

Reg.
What a Bloody Scene of Death and Horror's here!

Rothe.
Thou disobedient Wretch, who bid thee die?

Ave.
Your rash and bloody Hand, first gave the Blow,
For when you pierc'd, and stab'd Cothurnus's Flesh,
You push'd the Javelin, quite through my Soul,
Who could design to Live, when that brave Youth was gone?
Repent you Sir, of all your horrid Crimes,
By Prayer and Fasting, try to make your Peace,
With that most Just avenging Deity,
Whom you have so dreadfully offended,
Hard-hearted Father! poor unhappy Eva!
(Dies.

Rothe.
Silly foolish Girl, no doubt she meant it well:
But I can shed no Tears, Eva you see
What bloody Havock, your Disdain has made here;
Sure you are sorry, for your Obstinacy,
And cannot long persist against my Will.

Eva.
I did expect your Daughters dying words,
Would rouze up something of the Man within you:
Shew a relenting Heart, and thoughts of Heaven,
Shed Tears of Blood, and put on just Resolves,
Confess thy Sins, and make some Expiation.

Enter Guard.
1 Guard:
Arm, arm my Leige! Dermond and his Strangers
Have seiz'd and kill'd the Out-guards to our Camp;
And now with mighty Force, are Marching down,
Burning and destroying all before them.

Rothe.
Let them come on, the hand that kill'd the Son,
If Fate looks on, perhaps shall kill the Father;
So I shall quench my Thirst, in just Revenge.

Enter Catholicus.
Catho.
To Horse my Leige! they'll seize you in your Tent;
They've made the Camp a horrid Field of Blood,
And I am told your Foot are giving Way.

Rothe.
Ha! what sayst thou—
Dare they be Cowards, and belong to me?
Eva you see, we've Business on our Hands,
And therefore must put off our dear Enjoyment
Prelate, I've a long Account to make with you
Another time; go take her to your Care,
And let the Guards go see that Fellow die;
If once you shou'd suspect the Enemy
Of gaining Ground, or rushing to the Tent,
Take this Dagger here, push it through her Heart,
And send her to Cothurnus, and my Daughter:
Now my keen Sword, do thou but stand my Friend,
My Arm shall lead thee, to such Blood and Slaughter,
That wert thou thirsting like the barren Sands,
Thou should'st have Floods to drink, and quench thy Thirst.
Exit.

Noise without of Drums and Trumpets.
Eva.
As thou deservest, so Heaven help thy Cause.

Catho.
You heard my Royal Master's Orders Sir,
I do suppose, you are prepar'd to Die.

Reg.
Catholicus, at present I am not, for
Methinks I wish to help my Royal Master,
And be revenged, for my Cothurnus's Death.

Catho.
If you are ruminating on Revenge,
And so should die, you may go to Purgatory.

Enter Guard.
1 Guard.
The King in a most gallant Manner, pushed
The Enemy with all his Might, and Strengh,
At first he bravely forc'd them to retreat,
And would have gain'd a certain Victory:
But that his Horse, was by an Arrow shot,
Which so confused the Troops, they all gave way.
'Tis feared our Foes will gain the Camp:
'Tis highly fit, that you remove from hence,
Or you, too soon will fall into their Hands.
(Exit.

Catho.
(aside)
Should I now destroy Regan, and the Princess,
And be taken afterwards, by Dermond,
My Life will be a Sacrifice for all;
These English are well Disciplin'd to War,
Henry the second is a gallant Prince.
The Church does flourish much within his Realm,
And what is our Delight, Church-Men bear some Sway;
The Pope has sure enough, bestow'd him Ireland.
I begin to think, he had
A most Religious Right, to give away;
I ought to pay Obedience to the Chair.
(To them)
Regan you know your Life is in my Power,
And fairest Eva, has nor long to Live,
Without that I compassionate her Cause.
Say should I set you free, would you protect
Me, from the Insolence of Dermonds Troops?
Recommend me to the Earl of Chepstow,
And should there be a Peace, include me in it.

Reg.
We'll grant what ever Terms you can demand.

Eva.
How meritorious will your Actions be,
To all good Men, especially my Father
If you give up his Daughter and his Friend,
When you had Rothericks orders, to Destroy:
No Pious Saint, that e're was Canonized,
Could plead so good a right to Heaven as you.

Catho.
It does appear to me you love the Pope,
And all that love the Pope, should be protected,
Within the Tent there are some weapons lodg'd.
(He goes to the Door and brings a Sword.)
Regan take your Life, and swear by this bright Sword,
To fight the Papal, and your Country's cause,
And let us both protect the fairest Eva.

Reg.
Thus on my knees, let me return you Thanks,
When next I loose this Sword, Life go thou with it.

Eva.
Catholicus, you have so gain'd my Heart,
That here I make a solemn sacred Vow,
When solid, settled Peace shall bless this Land:
In Memory of you, I'll build a Church,
And near adjoyning to it, a Monastry;
A Day for ever shall be set apart,
To sing the glorious Actions of thy Life,
That after Ages, may adore, and wonder.

Reg.
Catholicus, 'twere fit we sally out;
Your Presence may prevail, and win the Day,
The Awe is much, the Soldiers bear you:
And when they hear so good, so great a Man,
Exclaim against vile Rotherick's Tyranny,
It may perhaps take off, the Edge of War.

Eva.
And make them all submit to Dermond's Power:
And so you'll be the blessed Means of Peace,
And hinder Christian Blood from being shed.

Catho.
When we who love the Pope, would do a Thing,
We want not Arguments to justifie us,
And when we stubborn it, and sullen grow,
It is but crying Conscience to the Crowd,
And they will follow us in Multitudes.

Enter Guard.
1 Guard.
My Royal Master has done more than Man!
He rally'd thrice his Troops, each time repuls'd:
Despairing of Success, he's march'd away
With all his Horse, to try to gain a Pass,
By which he'll streighten much the Enemy:
Our Foot surrounded by their Foes, are now
Capitulating for their Lives; 'tis Time
That you surrender to the Conqueror,
For fear the raging Soldiers use you ill.

Reg.
Know you ought, about the King of Leinster?

1 Guard.
'Twas rumour'd in our Camp, that he was Kill'd,
And by the Hand of Rotherick him self.

Eva.
Revengful Tyrant! most unhappy Eva!
Catholicus, 'tis now I wish to die.

1 Guard.
Madam that News as yet, is not confirm'd,
And might be politickly given out,
To Animate our Troops, and make them Fight.

Catho.
It may be so, suspend your Grief a while,
And take not up this Sorrow so at Interest;
Should it be true, your Will must be resign'd:

Reg.
Any Tidings of the Earl of Chepstow?

1 Guard.
That's he I do suppose they Strongbow call.

Reg.
The same.

1 Guard.
He and his gallant Archers, push'd our Troops.
The Strangers fought like Devils not like Men;
They gave no Quarter, nor they ask'd for none,
But up and down the Field, they strow'd the Limbs
Of all King Rotherick's gallant Soldiers.

Catho.
Learn where the Enemies Head-Quarters are,
And straitways bring us Notice who commands,
That we may send to him, and make our Terms.

Exit Guard.
Reg.
Give your self no Pain, the Princess is your Friend,
And she will gain you Terms as for herself,
If Royal Dermond is alive, no doubt you'll find
He is your Friend, and will support the Roman Church:
If Heaven has thought fit to plague the Land
So much, as to translate him from this Life;
The Earl of Chepstow is a gallant Man,
Fill'd with Humanity, a noble Soul,
Bred up by Honour, and a Soldier's Heart
Commands his Body, full of Life and Fire,
He pushes on to gain immortal Glory,
He is a Man—

Eva.
He is so, but know Regan, he's no more:
You have a mind to lavish in his Praise,
And say those things, that Irish Men deserve;
But I shall curse the Day he landed here,
And you your self e're long, will wish him Dead.

Reg.
I think him more compassionate and just,
Than to oppose our long, long settled Love;
At present, he accepts your Father's Offer,
Supposing that your Heart is undispos'd,

Eva.
Oh Regan! flatter not your self and me,
With Hopes, or Joys, or Peace, or Length of Days,
Mine, has been a long continued Scene of Woe.

Catho.
This Discovery may do me Service,
And at the King of Leinster's Court, make Peace
For all the Clerks within my Diocess,
Nothing delights a States-man like a Secret.

Reg.
Catholicus, 'twere time we sally'd out,
Our Lives have long subsisted by your Mercy,
And thus your generous Goodness we'll reward:
I will protect you with this Sword and Arm,
And through King Dermond's Camp, I will proclaim
Catholicus, a Friend to him and England.

Catho.
Regan, your Zeal to me, and to the Roman Church.
Will one Day make your Lusture shine fourth bright,
And from a Man, you will become a Saint.

Eva.
In horrid Life no Pleasure I can find,
To a Wretch like me, none ever was design'd.
A Glympse of Happyness, I oft am shown,
Then to my Misery again I'm thrown.
Am hurl'd about, the Tennis-Ball of Fate,
To be most Wretched, is to be most Great.

Exeunt.