University of Virginia Library

Scene Lamira's House. Lamira and Marian.
Lam.
When will these strugling Passions cease to rage,
Anger and Love, Pity and Jealousie!
Whilst each are striving to possess me wholly,
They rend my Soul among 'em.

Mar.
Neither must now have any share in it.
Since, Madam, you're resolv'd to leave the World,
Heav'n claims your Heart entire.

Lam.
Yes, Marian; I have vow'd my self to Heav'n,
The safe Retreat from Fears and vain Desires.
But something must be done to satisfie
The discontent of my disorder'd Thoughts,
That no unruly one may there disturb me.

Mar.
The Place will be your Sanctuary from 'em,
A holy Cloister, Gates, shuts with the World
All human Passions and Reflections out.

Lam.
What, can I there
Think tamely on my Injuries,
And be pleas'd the Villain 'scap'd unpunish'd?

Mar.
Do you imagine, Madam, then Bellgard
Will not revenge you?

Lam.
Ha, Bellgard!
Good Heav'n forbid; his way wou'd be too fatal;
Not clear my spotted Honour,
But stain it worse with Blood: A wicked Justice
To punish his, by a more horrid Crime.
I dread to think it! Bellgard is violent,
And may do sudden Mischief, if not hinder'd.

Mar.
Felicia may perhaps have Power to calm
Her Brother's fierce Resentments; she's mild enough,
Soon to forgive, and plead for him that wrong'd her.

Lam.
Felicia plead! Felicia save his Life!
And he be her Reward blest in each other!
O what a torturing Thought! Can I endure it!
Nor Love nor Honour can.

Mar.
You're neither pleas'd that he shou'd die, or live:
What way wou'd you dispose him?

Lam.
Rather to death than her. But there is yet
Something I wou'd be at, I know not how,
Scarce what. Ha, is't Gramont!
[Enter Gramont.
Com'st thou t'insult o'er one whom thou hast ruin'd?
Or think'st thou yet thy Baseness undiscover'd?

Gram.
Not to conceal, but to confess my Crime;
Not to insult, but to implore forgiveness,
I thus approach you.

Lam.
How dar'st thou hope I can forgive such Wrongs?

Gram.
Unless your Goodness, Madam, I must own
My Hopes has no Foundation:
I've nought to plead but what must more incense you,
If I say Castalio's Sufferings mov'd me,
Shou'd I to serve a Friend abuse your Love;
Or if I urge Felicia's dearer interest,
Th'excuse can but enflame your hatred to me.

Lam.
Is it then so? Let me hear thee speak
Thy self a Villain, Is she your Wife?

Gra.
To her Misfortune, and my Shame, she is.
Fool, not to think her happiness enough;
Whilst she was mine, how cou'd I fear to want it?

Lam.
Tortures and Death! What brutal Insolence!
Gramont, it seems you came not to incite
My Pity, but my Vengeance.

Gra.
Neither, Madam;
I am too guilty to deserve your Pity,
And need not urge Revenge, since you can have
No greater than I mean to give you soon;
I only beg your anger may'nt survive me,
Or curse pursue me farther than the Grave.

Lam.
Is is to hinder that you take such pains
To let me know to whom I owe my ruine,
That I may turn my Curses on Felicia?

Gra.
Heav'n forbid! She's Innocent, and wrong'd
As much as you.

Lam.
What are her wrongs? How offer'd to be nam'd with mine?
No, Traytor, thou may'st know mine are unequall'd,
When even thy Baseness cou'd not make 'em greater.

Gra.
Madam, I think I had the power to wrong you more,
Which my not using may I hope, in part
Attone, for what I did.

Lam.
I know 'twas nor respect for me, nor Honour
Stopp'd thee in thy course of Mischief;
Thy Inclination lagg'd e're 'twas compleat,
Or thy firm Villany wou'd ne'er have fail'd thee.

Gra.
Can there be such stupidity in Nature,
To be insensible to so much Beauty?

Lam.
Ay, now thou hast it; Fawn, and Flatter well;
Daub o'er my Injuries with soothing words,
And make me take 'em all for Obligations;
Say how you Love; say with how much regret
You sacrific'd your wishes; Is it not thus?
Have not my Charms done wondrous execution?

Gra.
Had not Felicia first—

Lam.
No more; thou will'st not suffer me one moment
To forget that hated name, lest thou
Should'st be alone the Object of my rage;
But fear not, she shall share it.

Gram.
O rather double it on me.

Lam.
Fond, doting Fool,
Thou dost but shew me in thy care for her,
The near and surest way to thy Destruction,
And I will strike where I may wound thee deepest,
Add all the Fury of a slighted Rival,
To the calm justice of Revenge on thee.

Gram.
Madam, I find whatever I can say,
But more foments your Anger, therefore leave you,
I go to satisfie your just resentment
But if my Death's too little to appease it,
Rather than punish others for my crime,
Still hate me, let your rage without controul,
Load me with Curses, till they sink my Soul.
[Exit Gramont.

Lam.
Perdition seize it; Despair
And all the Racks I feel revenge me on thee;
No fears, no tenderness, but for Felicia;
Is this the way t'appease my just resentment,
To tell me 'twas for love of her he wrong'd me.
There's then no other way to punish him
But by the loss of her. They must be parted—
[Enter Castalio.
Did I not order none shou'd be admitted?

Mar.
I did not hear you, Madam.

Lam.
No matter, you might have thought it was not proper.

Cast.
With all the awe of one that fears t'offend,
And knows not whether he offends or not,
I pay this Duty, impatient, and yet more
In dread to know my fate
From her that's Mistress of it.

Lam.
Unseasonable importunity!
My Lord, I cannot think this meant to me,
I have no power, alas, not of my own,
Much less another's fate.

Cast.
Your fate is Heav'ns care, and, Oh that mine
Were yours as much, as it as much is in your power.

Lam.
You know not what you wish; but let it end,
'Tis a Discourse I'm not dispos'd to hear;
And if, my Lord, you value my repose,
You'll not pursue it further.

Cast.
Then I am doom'd, Doom'd to Despair for ever,
Since but to hear of Love from me offends you.

Lam.
From you, or any other, I hate the Name,
And fly from all that wear a Form of kindness,
For 'tis in that alone Men can deceive.

Cast.
'Tis oft indeed put on for a Disguise,
Yet must be worn by those who wou'd be known
For what they really are.

Lam.
There's no Reality, no Truth in Man,
But where it most appears, and seems least feign'd;
'Tis there the Master-piece of Villain lies.

Cast.
You speak as if some one whom you had trusted
Had deceiv'd you.

Lam.
Yes, I have been deceiv'd.

Cast.
Who durst attempt it?

Lam.
One in whom you, and all Mankind have been
Deceiv'd; O Traitor! Who cou'd have suspected
That modest shew of Honesty and Honour,
Exquisite, Finish'd, O ingrateful Villain!

Cast.
The thought disorders you, it must be sure
Somewhat of weight, that can transport you thus.

Lam.
I had forgot my self—
'Tis true, I have some cause to be disturb'd,
But pardon me that I so ill acquit my self
Of the respect I owe you, thus to expose it.

Cast.
Madam I'll take my leave if I constrain you,
But wish you could esteem me worth your trust,
As one by whom all your concerns are held,
More than in equal ballance with his own.

Lam.
What use of Friendship, Trust, or to complain
Of Injuries for which there's no redress?

Cast.
There's then Revenge.

Lam.
But that you cannot give.

Cast.
I think I shall not boast to say, there's no one.
In your Cause shall dare beyond me.
Speak who the Traitor is that has abus'd you;
And if to do you Justice
There be an Obstable, or Danger I refuse
T'encounter, let me be branded for a Coward

Lam.
There is an Obstacle has greater force
Than any Danger can, 'tis one you love,
Whom if I nam'd you wou'd not credit me;
One you esteem your Friend, your nearest Friend.

Cast.
My Friend! Who durst usurp that sacred name,
And injure me where I'm most sensible;
This gives me double right to seek revenge:
You must not, will not now conceal him from me.

Lam.
E're long the publick Rumour will inform you,
This curst adventure will be blaz'd among 'em;
I shall be made the common Theme and Mirth,
My Honour lie at every whisperers mercy,
That's pleas'd to pass his censure on my conduct.

Cast.
Permit me then to ask it from your self,
That if I hear rash tongues too bold with it,
I may with more assurance vindicate you.

Lam.
'Tis the most strange unhappy Story, so full
Of Baseness, heightned with all the aggravations
Of vilest Treachery and Ingratitude,
For he had such endearing obligations,
I hazarded my Ruine, all for him,
O'er-rul'd by a destructive Passion, nay 'twas Madness,
The blot of Life, and stain of all my glory.

Cast.
Was he belov'd, and yet cou'd injure you!
How? In what Nature? 'Twas impossible
For one so blest, not to return affection.

Lam.
Wou'd that were all his crime, but he has basely
Deceiv'd, Abus'd, wrong'd me in such a Nature,—
I cannot speak it—Conscious of my folly,
For I have been as weak, as he perfidious,
Press me no further to declare my shame.

Cast.
Then name the Traytor to me, and I will tear
The Secret from his Heart, with Life extort it.

Lam.
A Villain's Life's too mean a Sacrifice;
No, let me think—Somewhat I had design'd
Of lasting torment suited to his Crime—
That first I'll try; but if without success,
May use your Friendship,
Till when, I beg you will enquire no further.

Cast.
Madam I must obey, and will no longer
Trouble you in this Disorder, but when you are pleas'd
To let me know the Man you have been deceiv'd in,
You shall have proof
My Soul disdains all Friendship with a Traytor.
[Exit Castalio.

Lam.
Yes, thou shalt live, to see thy self abandon'd,
And taste with me the Pangs of hopeless Love.
That one who cou'd be guilty of this Baseness,
Shou'd know to love with such Fidelity!
O what a Happiness to possess that Heart,
So fond, so true! Cou'd it have first been mine!
What full delights has not Felicia known?
Eternal woes succeed 'em; be they remember'd
But to encrease the Curse of Deprivation,
The stings of Shame, and causless Jelousie
Sharpen the Pains of everlasting absence
That I decree 'em; Bellgard must be advis'd with,
And won, if I have any power with him,
To set his Rage the Bounds I have giv'n mine,
I'd not be cruel, nor too tamely bear;
Both the Extreams are shun'd in this Design,
And therefore 'tis but just to hope success;
What can Revenge, Honour, and Love, have less?

[Exit.