University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

The Scene opens.
Elvira asleep on a Couch, Bianca weeping by her, Alvaro advances. The King enters to him, and the Scene shuts.
K.
What hopes have the Physitians of your Sister,
If Heav'n be propitious to their care?

Alv.
Sir, they can give no certain judgment yet,
She'as ta'ne a dose to make her sleep an hour,
Which may produce a change to fix their thoughts.

K.
So may our good endeavours prove succesful,
As she's the just Detectour of a Crime,
Which cries aloud to Heav'n, and if conceal'd,
Had pull'd avenging Plagues on all our heads,
Your quick return gives hopes you've news of Agnes.

[Enter a Messenger.
Mess.
May't please your Majesty, she's coming hither,
Conducted by the Prince, and Don Lorenzo

Alv.
What say you! Agnes coming hither!

Mess.
She is, my Lord; we had not travelled far
E're we perceiv'd her Chariot at a distance;
We strove to reach her, but before we cou'd,
We saw a body of Soldiers had approach'd her,
Which seem'd of a considerable strength;
Her Guards affrighted, quickly left their charge,
As we suppose, thinking them Enemies,
Sent by your Majesty to apprehend 'em;
And when we found it was the Prince had met her,
I rid before to tell your Majesty.

K.
Dares he so openly protect the Murtheress!
By this base act he has renounc'd my Bloud,
And I renounce him, he's no more my Son.

Alv.
Coming attended in this hostile manner,
Shows he'll defend her with his utmost power.

K.
He's too far in to stop at any guilt.

Enter the Prince leading Agnes, Lorenzo, Pedro and Guards.
K.
A decent Sight; is this your Nuptial-day?
'Tis well; she who has robb'd you of a Wife,
Has giv'n you in return a fitter for you;
And we'll assist to solemnize your Bridals:
Guards seize 'em.

[Guards look on one another without stirring.
Prin.
You cannot be my Friends, if you are Rebels,
Seize me, your King commands you.

Agn.
They know there needs no Guard;
We came not (Sir) to fly, or to resist;
But to declare my innocence, and beg
Your justice, for the Murther of the Princess,
Who at her Death, accus'd Elvira of it.

Alv.
Brand not with shame, a poor unhappy Maid,
Whose misery you have already caus'd;
Alas! she was so far from killing her,
The grief of it, has brought her to destraction.

Agn.
Heav'n, thou art just.

Lor.
Madam, our Prayers are heard.

K.
What Prayer cou'd you make, or have accepted?
From such polluted hands: Oh hardned Wretch!
How calmly she can talk of Heav'n's Justice,
As if she had not in a thought provok'd it!
Are Murder and Adultery petty Crimes?
Thou do'st not tremble, shameless Prostitute.

Prin.
Ah, Sir, forbear, you wrong the purest Vertue,
She never gave,
I never ask'd, the smallest Favour of her.

K.
Perhaps her hot Desires prevented you,
She kindly gave at first the greatest Favours.
Yet you have ask'd, let this convince you both,
[Letter.
This shews the Correspondence you maintain'd,
This, this Discov'ry, cost your Wife so dear.
Blush, if thou'st e're a spark of Vertue left,
Blush at this Prologue to Constantia's Murder:

Prin.
reads,
Speaks,

K.
How found you time to frame your wicked Plot?
'Twas neither with the Princess, nor with me,
You cou'd contrive the Murder of your Wife;
Hell never fails t'assist, on such Occasions.

Prin.
Oh horrid! is your Son no better known?
So black an Accusation quite confounds me.

K.
Till now indeed my Son was little known,
And oh! by much too soon he is discover'd.
Grief of my Age, and Shame of our great Race,
Thy publick Actions plainly speak the private;
What mov'd thy sudden coming to Coimbra?
How cou'd thy Mistress know of it to meet thee?
Or wou'dst thou have reliev'd the Murtheress,
Unless thou hadst consented to her Crime?

Agn.
If 'tis by that you judge, release your Son,
And let Alvaro bear the Punishment;
'Twas he, Sir, snatch'd me from the Hands of Justice,
All stain'd in Bloud, and Guilty as he thought me;
The Prince returns me back, tho Innocent,
Here to be Try'd, Condemn'd or Free'd by You.

Alv.
Your Malice is too obvious to be heeded,
You found you cou'd not fix it on my Sister,
And now wou'd hedge me in, ungrateful Maid.

Prin.
Ah, had your cruel Sister no more Malice,
Or were her Soul but half so true, so just,
She had not been arraign'd, or I suspected.
Do not disown, what thousands can attest,
Tho I alone am Evidence sufficient.
Sir, by your gen'rous Bloud which fills my Veins,
By all those noble Thoughts you have inspir'd,
By Honour, which is sacred to a Prince,
And on a Christian's Faith, I scorn to lie;
Lorenzo brought me this most doleful News,
Who left the injur'd Agnes Pris'ner here;
And 'twas with great Surprize we met her free,
For so we thought her, till her Cries declar'd
She had but chang'd for worse Captivity;
Worse she esteem'd it when she learn'd from Pedro,
She then was in Alvaro's hated Pow'r;
The same he own'd to stop the Soldiers Fury,
Who threatned him with Death, if he conceal'd
What he intended with his mournful Prize.
Speak Pedro, let not fear of this Great Man,
Prevail o're stronger Truth.

Ped.
I can't deny what I before confess'd,
I stole her hence by Don Alvaro's Order.

Alv.
Who's such a Villain to betray his Trust,
Dares for a Bribe betray his Conscience too,
And shou'd not be in Justice credited.

K.
That shall be more examined. But, false Youth,
You are most criminal whilst you protect
That bloudy Woman, Monster of her Kind,
Whom all good Men abhor.

Prin.
Oh, may I never have more Assurance
Of future Bliss, our promis'd Happiness,
Than I have Proofs she's wrongfully Accus'd;
Think me not blindly govern'd by my Passion,
For were she Guilty, I'd despise and loath her,
Forgive me, Sir—But when just Heav'n clears her;
You'll bless, and Praise, that Loyal, seeming Rebel,
Who durst, against your will, preserve your Vertue.

K.
The Hypocrite has learn't the Holy Cant;
Be wicked openly, proclaim your Treason,
These thin Disguises can but cheat the Vulgar;
Own that your Lust arms you against your Father,
And be at least, a gen'rous, bare fac'd Villain.

Agn.
Most noble Prince, you urge the King too far,
I ask for no Defence, but Innocence;
No Arms, but Argument, but Truth, and Vertue;
If they'r without effect we must resign,
Death's welcomer, than Life with Infamy.

Prin.
Too nice, too vent'rous Maid, had you accepted
That safe Retreat, which first I offer'd you,
You had not needed my Protection now.
Oh Heavens! hadst thou rais'd me Enemies
Of monstrous Beasts, Armies of Men, or Devils,
I cou'd have met their utmost Rage undaunted,
Secur'd within by such a righteous Cause;
But oh my Stars! the sacred name of Father,
Deprives me of the pow'r to resolve;
Great Deity, instruct my doubtful Soul,
Of contradicting Duties, which to chuse,
Or else impute to Ignorance my Errours.

Scene opens, Elvira wakes and starts up.
Elv.
Give me some Air, grim Torturers of Hell,
Mind not the Princess, fiery Agnes rules her;
Look, look she pours scalding Bloud upon me,
Take her away. Ha! there's the Witch my Rival;
She runs, she runs, just to the Prince's arms;
My Brother cringes to her, now he tears her:
Hark Lucifer, let's swear her Soul away:
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, laugh at the Princess,
She says I'll own myself her Murderer;
Who'll be Fool then? no body saw it;
Agnes will become a Scaffold as well as I.

Bia.
Alas, poor Lady! how she lov'd the Princess,
Th'Idea of her Death, possesses her
So strongly, she can talk of nought but Murder.

Elv.
Who dares name Murder? Ha! she can tell Tales;
[Pulls a Dagger from under her Gown, and stabs Bianca.
I'll stop her mouth; this Present was for Agnes,
But you shall have it, if you'll keep my Secret.

Bian.
Oh fatal Blow! that Hand is skill'd in Death.

K.
Unhappy Accident, take her away,
Let her be bound for fear of further Mischief.

Elv.
Seize Agnes Jaylor, seize her, she's in fault;
[As she is carry'd off.
If she had stay'd, and not sneak'd off so slyly,
By this time she had been among Hobgoblings,
And the Princess like a Fool crying for her.
It was not I, curst Hell-hounds, 'twas not I.

[Exit.
K.
See that her Wound be dress'd with care.

Bian.
Oh no 'tis needless, Heav'n has seal'd my Fate,
And shows its Justice most remarkably,
In punishing my Crimes by her who caus'd 'em;
Let me in dying clear my spotted Soul,
By saving those whose Ruin I design'd;
Elvira promis'd me a great Reward,
And wicked Avarice made me consent
To wrongfully Accuse the vertuous Agnes.
Ah Madam, can your Charity forgive
A tortur'd Wretch, sufficiently unhappy,
By dreadful Fears, and Stings of deep Remorse?

Agn.
I do, as e're I hope to be forgiv'n.

K.
Proceed in thy amazing Declaration,
And on thy Hopes of Heav'n, speak only truth.

Bian.
Alas! what can I hope for by Deceit:
Elvira forg'd that Letter which you saw,
To ruine Agnes in the Princess's thoughts;
But apprehending still her Brother's Marriage,
She plotted Agnes's Death to hinder it,
And 'twas for her that cruel Blow was meant,
So fatal to the Princess in her absence;
Which when she found, she struck her own vile arm,
Enrag'd against herself for that ill Service,
But soon was reconcil'd to the occasion
Of taking full Revenge on her she hated,
Which she contriv'd by that false Accusation,
In which I aided, to my shame, and grief.

K.
What caus'd Elvira's Hate to Agnes? know'st thou?

Bian.
Envy, and Jealousy. My strength decays,
Lead me away, I scarce have breath enough
To beg the Mercy of offended Heav'n.
[They lead her off.
Oh horrid Visions, of Eternal Torments!

K.
What pity 'tis Man's Pow'r shou'd be so vast,
And yet his Knowledge bound in such streight limits,
That what we eagerly pursue as good,
Oft proves the Mischief which we most wou'd shun.
Oh! how am I escap'd just from the brink
Of that detested Crime, abominable Murther!
Take care to have Elvira close confin'd.
[To one of the Attend.
Madam, you'r free, thank the just Pow'r above.
[To Agnes.
My Son, with joy I call thee Son,
Come to my arms, thou most belov'd, wrong'd Youth.

Prin.
My King, my Father, do you then forgive me?
Have you so soon forgot my Disobedience?

K.
The Cause which you maintain'd, excuses you,
And my Injustice cancels all your Faults.
'Tis late, my Son, I'll leave you to retire,
This Day's Fatigue, and Grief, requires some Rest.

Prin.
Scarce any Grief equals the solid Joy,
Of having such a good, so kind a Father.
Permit us to attend your Majesty.

[Exeunt the Prince leading Agnes; manet Alvaro.
Alvaro
Solus.
Base Sychophants! not one remains with me,
Of all that Croud that worship'd me to day,
But fly, as if Misfortune were infectious:
Yes, mine shall be so, more fatal than a Plague;
Disgrac'd, and disappointed in my Love,
Nothing is left for me to court but Vengeance,
Nothing, that's more then all I am depriv'd of:
The King's Favour plac'd me above his Subjects,
Revenge on him, makes me above himself,
Which I will have, if I am still Alvaro;
As that alone the King shou'd fear me more,
Then when he set me nearest to the Throne,
For Desparation's bolder than Ambition.
My Rival is the Pillar of the Nation,
That fall'n, nothing can support the Fabrick;
I know they all rejoyce at my Disgrace,
And therefore they shall all lament with me;
It must be thought of—
The Prince, with Agnes will return this way;
I think I hear 'em, i'll observe the Lovers,
[Alvaro goes aside to listen.
Perhaps 'twill contribute to my Designs;
No other way wou'd exalt my Name,
Let Universal Ruine give me Fame.

Enter the Prince and Agnes.
Prin.
The business of my life shall be to serve you,
I have done nothing yet deserves your thanks.

Agn.
The only Heav'n cou'd clear my innocence,
I am indebted much to your endeavours.

Prin.
Most to yourself you owe;
That Majesty so awful, yet serene,
That calm, unshaken Constancy of Mind,
Shows Vertue in its heighth, grown to a habit,
So perfectly Self-evident in you,
'Tis as absurd to doubt your Innocence,
As 'twere to question if the Sun gives light;
But there are Atheists, tho the Deity
Is visibly express'd, in all his Works.

Agn.
Oh that malicious Scandals rais'd of us,
Were no more prejudicial than to Heav'n,
In the Conversion of an Infidel,
The Being he Prophan'd is Glorify'd,
But tho we prove an Accusation false,
To us 'tis Shameful to have been suspected,
That's a Dishonour not to be repair'd,
A sulli'd Fame no Art can throughly clear;
But to avoid occasions of Reproach,
I'll fly, from hence, back to my Native Country,
Spain will not hear perhaps of my Disgrace.

Prin.
Where e're you take your flight, it will proclaim
The strange Barbarity of Portugal;
We shall become a Proverb to our Neighbours,
T'expres the most unhospitable Usage;
But 'tis no matter, this ungrateful Court
Is most unworthy your Consideration.

Agn.
It's Prince's Generosity attones
For all they did, or all they meant against me.

Prin.
Such are the gross Affronts you have receiv'd,
I scarce dare ask so great a Blessing for us
As your continuing here; but if I've done
What Honour, or what Justice did require,
If I have show'd your Merit just esteem,
Or if Constantia e're deserv'd from you,
Do not desert, a place she lov'd so well.
Be gen'rous like yourself, forgive your Wrongs.

Agn.
They need no Pardon, who design not Ill;
My Wrongs were by mistake, on well-built grounds,
And 'twere as great Injustice to revenge 'em,
As 'twou'd be vain to think of doing it,
By taking such a worthless Trifle from 'em:
But, Sir, my Friends in Spain will now expect me;
Unwillingly they suffer'd me to leave 'em,
When no Intreaties cou'd diswade me from it,
So much my Princess was more dear to me,
Than Kindred, Country, or what else I valu'd:
Now she is lost, what shou'd retain me here?
Where I can meet with nought but Shame and Grief,
All I foresee makes my Departure needful,
I find no grounds to raise the least Debate.

Prin.
Does not a Prince's Life deserve your care?
Ah cruel Virgin! how you rack my Breast!
What Constancy is proof against this Tryal!
My Resolution to suppress my Flame,
Is lost, is vanish'd, I can hold no longer;
By Heav'n if you pursue your rigorous Purpose,
You kill a Wretch, who loves you, who adores you.

Agn.
How justly wou'd the World condemn my Conduct,
If I shou'd stay after this Declaration?

Prin.
My Fear, has only made my Ruine suerer,
And all I gain, is but to Fall unpity'd;
So Slaves compell'd by Torments, own their Crimes,
For which their sentenc'd to more rigid Pains.
But my Offence was only in confessing,
Why will you punish what you forc'd me to,
You tortur'd me, you tore the Secret from me.

Agn.
Unhappy Creature! what I thought shou'd hinder,
Precipitates the very Ill I fear'd.
But oh, no more of this ill-tim'd Discourse;
Ah! is it thus we shou'd lament the Princess?

Prin.
No, dear Constantia, she upbraids me justly,
Thy Love deserv'd eternal Gratitude,
Thy Vertue shou'd for ever be remembred;
All these Complaints, and Sighs of Love, for Agnes,
Shou'd burst in Tears of lasting Grief for thee.
I've judg'd, I have condemn'd myself already,
And willingly submit to your Decree;
[To Agnes.
You can effectually revenge the Princess.
Go, Madam, I deserve the harshest Usage;
Go, tho your Cruelty will give me Death,
Go boast, that tho you knew my Love to you,
Stronger than Reason, Honour, or my Vertue,
Yet your impartial Justice was not Brib'd,
To save a perjur'd, and ungrateful Man.
Agnes Farewel, farewel to you, and Life,
For I will lose those Blessings both at once,
No sooner shall you leave this hateful place,
Than you shall hear your Lover is no more.

Agn.
Oh! how his Words prevail upon my Heart,
[To herself.
It melts, 'twill yield I fear, why shou'd it not,
Shou'd he who for my Freedom, Fame, and Life,
Expos'd his own, receive his Death from me?
Is treating thus the Man my Princess lov'd,
The way to pay her Memory respect?
And do I thus, obey her dying Charge?
Brave Prince, if I have Pow'r you must not Die,
That were a loss too great to be permitted,
For nothing but a Name, a puff of Breath,
What tho my Honour lye at Stake I'll stay;
Yet let convenient Decency be kept,
I must not, dare not, entertain your Passion.

Prin.
Oh no, this Condescention is enough,
Great as I wish'd, beyond my Expectation,
By all your goodness I'll conceal my flame,
Till you yourself, shall license it to blaze;
But then—(Oh do not give me this repreive,
Only t'encrease the Fear, and pain of Death,
Then) may I hope, you'll not disdain my Love.

Agn.
Your Birth, requires Respect from all the World,
Your Vertue, more commands our Admiration,
And what I owe particularly to you,
Wou'd make Disdain most unexcusable.
I'm not ingrateful, nor insensible,
My Heart resented deeply all you felt,
You peirc'd my Soul, with your Complaints and Sighs;
But I shou'd hide my tender Virgin-frailty,
You search too far, and I have shown too much.

Prin.
No, for I never shall abuse your favour,
Your Mercy shall not make your Slave presume,
But whilst I'm ty'd to Rules, by Vows confin'd,
Some bolder, happier Man, not aw'd like me,
May snatch that lovely Prize I dare not claim,
And I must lose you, without murmuring.

Agn.
I reverence my dear dead Princess more,
Than yet to think of ought that looks like Joy,
Of Marriage, Love, or any thing but Grief;
To her I'll consecrate my tender Thoughts,
Nor dare to think of you, but for her sake.
Nothing is to be fear'd save Violence,
I dread the base Alvaro, more than Death.

Prin.
The watchful Dragon guarded not the Fruit,
With half that Care with which I'll keep my Love;
Alvaro shall not dare to look on her.

Alv.
By Lucifer he's much to be lamented;
Gods! do I tamely stand and hear all this!

Alvario behind draws his Sword, and is making at the Prince, Agnes shrieks, the Prince turning about, and stepping aside to avoid the Blow, it passes to Agnes.
Prin.
Oh treacherous Villain! quickly call for help;
[Prince draws, he and Alvaro fights, Alvaro wounded.
Stay savage Traytor, stay for my Revenge;
But what's his Life, how poor a Satisfaction,
For such a loss, so irreparable,
This Jewel, of inestimable Value!

Alv.
If you wou'd be Reveng'd, conceal your Grief,
I have not lost my Aim whilst you are Tormented;
Your Groans, and Sighs, are Musick to my Soul,
Softens my Death, charms all the Pain away;
I Die with Joy, and Pleasure more than Wounds,
And cou'd not wish to have succeeded better;
I've left you Life indeed,—bare Life's a Curse,
When all the Joys of it are ta'n away,
And may eternal Curses be your lot.

[Dies.
Prin.
Infernal Fiend! thou cou'd'st not frame a Curse,
T'encrease my Torments. Oh thou bleeding Fair,
For what does Heav'n thus persecute my Life?
One moment's Bliss, is grudg'd me by my Stars,
And for a taste, nay scarce a taste of Joy,
A faint, imperfect, glimm'ring of Hope,
They plunge me in eternal, black, Despair.

Agn.
The Princess dy'd for me, it is but just,
My Death should in return preserve his Life,
Who was the dearest thing to her on Earth

Prin.
Preserve it! 'ti the surest Blow of Fate;
Death comes with more than double force through you.

Agn.
Dear Prince, for I in Death may call you so,
Talk not of Dying, least you anger Heav'n,
Who shows itself concern'd that you shou'd Live,
By thus miraculously guarding you;
Your Thanks are due for that peculiar Care,
And to your Stars, for timely taking from you,
One they foresaw would prove your Life's Incumbrance,
Disturb your Joys, breed Envy, Hate, Confusion,
A Nation's Murmurs, and a Father's Anger.

Prin.
All Triffles to thy Loss, thou brightest Blessing,
Ah art thou gone! speak once again my Soul.

Agn.
How have you Charm'd my fleeting Spirits back!
I felt unusual Glowings at my Heart,
It warm'd, and kindled into Life again,
But Death extinguishes the new-born Fire,
Ah lovely Prince! must I for ever lose you.

[Dies.
Prin.
For ever! are you then for ever lost!
I'm torn with racking Griefs ineffable;
Oh let me pour my Fury on the World;
Tear up this guilty Fabrick from its Center,
Destroy all Nature, but 'tis done already,
She's gone, and Earth's a Chaos, all Confusion;
Where shall I wreck my Vengeance? where? on what?
On whom but on thyself, for whom she dy'd,
This only Sacrifice, can make Attonement.

As the Prince is going to fall upon his Sword, Lorenzo with others Enters, Lorenzo holds him.
Lor.
Just Heav'n forbid! that were a Blow too fatal,
Great Sir on your's, the Kingdom's Fate depends,
Your Life's it's Safety, and your Fall it's Ruine.

Prin.
No Kingdom, not a World, shou'd make me live,
Thou do'st but lengthen out my Woes a moment.

[Enter King Attend.
K.
What dismal Scene is this, of Bloud and Horror?

Prin.
Horrid, and Bloudy; yet imperfect still;
Alvaro has perform'd the saddest part,
But I am to compleat the Tragedy.

[Struggles.
Lor.
He'll force himself away, I cannot hold him.

Prin.
Barbarous Friends, oh Father, if you Love me,
Why do you keep me from the only Good?
Why wou'd you have your Son be miserable?

K.
Hop'd you to live in Luxury and Ease,
Courted by Joys, and Pleasures without end?
Did you ne'r hear of Pains, and Cares, in Life?
That thus, Misfortunes seize you unprepar'd.
How were you going by so mean an Action,
To blot out all the Great Ones of your Life?
Your Valour never made you do before,
But what a Coward sometimes does for fear,
'Tis in these Wars, the Combats of the Mind,
Where Courage from false Brav'ry is distinguish'd,
And if you fly from them to Death, 'twill show,
There was danger, which you durst not meet.

Prin.
What ever Man can bear, I dare Encounter,
It was not Fear nor Despiration arm'd me,
But hopes to overtake her mounting Soul;
Who wou'd not follow such a charming Guide,
Tho all that's Gay, or Great, entic'd 'em back.
But I can Die without the help of Weapons,
I wrong'd my Love by making that Attempt,
As if I thought it wonted Strength to Kill me;
I'll wait the ling'ring leisure of my Grief,
Thus kneeling at thy Feet, sigh out my Soul,
And grow a Statue to adorn thy Tomb.

K.
His Grief oppos'd, wou'd only rage the more,
When at full heigth, 'twill fall again of course;
Our greatest Passion's have their ebbs, and flows,
Were Nature constant she'd destroy herself,
So strong her Motions they'd overthrow her,
But fiercest Transports, soonest moderate grow,
Thus to our Frailty, we our Safety owe.

[Exeunt Omnes.