 | Oroonoko |  |
ACT I.
SCENE I.
Enter several Planters.1st Planter.
Well Neighbours, Captain Driver has
brought us a fresh Supply—more
Slaves.
2d Plan.
Aye, and I'm sure we had
never more need of 'em.
3d Plan.
That's true indeed; and
I'm afraid we shall never have less.
4th Plan.
Yes, yes; we shall have enough of 'em
I warrant you, when they come to breed.
3d Plan.
Breed! it's a sign you're a new Comer;
Pox on 'em, a parcel of lazy, obstinate, untractable
Pagans;—half of 'em are so sulky when they first
come, that they won't eat their Victuals when it's set
drops down before he can make 'em eat, if they ha'nt
a mind to it.
2d Plan.
Beat! aye faith, he may beat those that
will eat, long enough before they will work: and what
with their starving themselves, and what with the
Discipline they require before they will put out their
Strength: they die as fast as rotten Sheep, plague on
'em! the poor industrious Planter loses the Money they
cost him, and his Ground runs to Ruin for want of
their Labour.
1st Plan.
Aye, in truth; a Christian Colony has a
hard time of it, that is forc'd to deal in this cursed
Heathen Commodity: here every time a Ship comes
in, my money goes for a great raw-boned negroe Fellow,
that has the Impudence to think he is my Fellow-creature,
with as much Right to Liberty as I have, and
so grows sullen and refuses to work; or for a young
Wench, who will howl Night and Day after a Brat or
a Lover forsooth, which nothing can drive out of her
Head but a Cat-o'nine-tails; and if Recourse is had
to that Remedy, 'tis ten to one but she takes the next
Opportunity to pick my Pocket by hanging herself.
4th Plan.
Nay, as far as I see yet, the Women are
worse than the Men: but 'Squire Blandford has got
one that they say is not of their complexion.
3d Plan.
So they say; but she's of the Breed, I'll
warrant her—she's one of the sulky ones—the Lieutenant-Governor
has taken a Fancy to her; and yet,
wou'd you believe it, she gives herself airs and will
scarce speak to him.
2d Plan.
I've heard of her; they call her Clemene.
1st Plan.
Clemene, with a Murrain to her; a pretty
Name indeed for a mongrel Succabus, which for ought
we know may be half Sister to the Devil.
4th Plan.
'Tis a Wonder however that his Honour
don't buy her.
3d Plan.
She was in a Lot that Mr. Blandford drew
for the Lord-Governor himself, who you know is expected
be sold without his Consent.
4th Plan.
In a Lot drawn for the Lord-Governor?—
I don't yet perfectly understand this Method of drawing Lots.
1st Plan.
No! why nothing is so easy; the Colony
agrees with the Buchaneer to bring a certain Number
of Slaves, at so much a Head; and when they come
in, we draw for them to prevent Disputes; for as
they're all of a Price, every one you know wou'd be
for picking out the best, and nobody wou'd consent to
take up with what others shou'd have—come along
with us to the Market, and you'll see how it is presently;
the Slaves are now coming on Shore.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II,
an open Place.Enter Lieutenant-Governor Blandford and Stanmore.
Gov.
There's no resisting your Fortune, Blandford;
you draw all the Prizes.
Blan.
I draw for our Lord Governor, you know;
his Fortune favours me.
Gov.
I grudge him nothing this Time; but if Fortune
had favour'd me in the last Sale, the fair Slave
had been mine; Clemene had been mine.
Blan.
Are you still in Love with her?
Gov.
Ev'ry Day more in Love with her.
Enter Capt. Driver, teazed and pulled about by several Planters, Men and Women.
Wom.
Here have I six Slaves in my Lot, and not a
Man among them; all Women and Children; what
can I do with 'em, Captain? Pray consider I am a Woman
myself.
1st Plan.
I have all Men in mine: Pray, Captain,
let the Men and Women be mingled together, for the
Good of the Plantation.
2d Plan.
Ay, ay, a Man and a Woman, Captain,
for the Good of the Plantation?
Let them mingle together and be damn'd,
what care I? Would you have me pimp for the Good
of the Plantation?
1st Plan.
I am a constant Customer, Captain.
Wom.
I am always ready Money to you, Captain.
1st Plan.
For that Matter, Mistress, my Money is
as ready as yours.
Wom.
Pray hear me, Captain.
Capt.
Look you, I have done my Part by you; I
have brought the Number of Slaves you bargain'd for;
if your Lots have not pleas'd you, you must draw again
among yourselves.
3d Plan.
I am contented with my Lot.
4th Plan.
I am very well satisfy'd.
3d Plan
We'll have no drawing again.
Capt.
Do you hear, Mistress? you may hold your
Tongue: For my Part I expect my Money.
Wom.
Captain, no body questions or scruples the
Payment: But I won't hold my Tongue; 'tis too
much to pray and pay too: One may speak for one's
own, I hope.
Capt.
Well, what would you say?
Wom.
I say no more than I can make out.
Capt.
Out with it then.
Wom.
I say, Things have not been so fair carried
as they might have been. How do I know but you
have juggled together in my Absence? You drew the
Lots before I came, I'm sure.
Capt.
That's your own Fault, Mistress; you might
have come sooner.
Wom.
Then here's a Prince, as they say, among
the Slaves, and you set him down to go as a common
Man.
Capt.
Why, what should make him worth more
than a common Man? He'll not do the more Work
for being a Prince; will he?
Gov.
Where are the Slaves, Captain? They are
long coming.
Blan.
And who is this Prince that's fallen to my
of him, that I may treat him accordingly; who is
he?
Capt.
He's the Devil of a Fellow, I can tell you;
a Prince every Inch of him: You have paid dear
enough for him, for all the Good he'll do you: I was
forc'd to clap him in Irons, and did not think the Ship
safe neither. You are in Hostility with the Indians;
they say, they threaten you daily: You had best have
an Eye upon him.
Blan.
But who is he?
Gov.
And how do you know him to be a Prince?
Capt.
He is Son and Heir to the great King of
Angola, a mischievous Monarch in those Parts, who,
by his good Will, would never let any of his Neighbours
be in quiet. This Son was his General; a
plaguy fighting Fellow. I have formerly had Dealings
with him for Slaves, which he took Prisoners, and
have got pretty roundly by him. But the Wars being
at an End, and nothing more to be got by the Trade
of that Country, I made bold to bring the Prince along
with me.
Gov.
How could you do that?
Blan.
What! steal a Prince out of his own Country.
Impossible!
Capt.
'Twas hard indeed; but I did it. You must
know this Oroonoko—
Blan.
Is that his Name?
Capt.
Ay, Oroonoko.
Gov.
Oroonoko.
Capt.
Is naturally inquisitive about the Men and
Manners of the White Nations. Because I could give
him some Account of the other Parts of the World, I
grew very much into his Favour: In return of so great
an Honour, you know I could do no less, upon my
coming away, than invite him on board me: Never
having been in a Ship, he appointed his Time, and I
prepared my Entertainment; he came the next Evening,
as private as he could, with about some twenty
of his Attendants as would be dangerous, I sent dead
drunk on Shore; the rest we secured; and so you have
the Prince Oroonoko.
1st Plan.
Gad a mercy, Captain; there you were
with him, i'Faith.
2d Plan.
Such Men as you are fit to be employed in
public Affairs: The Plantation will thrive by you.
3d Plan.
Industry ought to be encouraged.
Capt.
There's nothing done without it, Boys. I
have made my Fortune this Way.
Blan.
Unheard of Villainy!
Stan.
Barbarous Treachery!
Blan.
They applaud him for't.
Gov.
But, Captain, methinks you have taken a great
deal of Pains for this Prince Oroonoko; why did you
part with him at the common Rate of Slaves?
Capt.
Why, Lieutenant-Governor, I'll tell you! I
did design to carry him to England, to have show'd him
there; but I found him troublesome upon my Hands,
and I'm glad I'm rid of him—Oh, oh, hark, they
come.
Black Slaves, Men, Women, and Children, pass across the Stage by two and two; Aboan, and others of Oroonoko's Attendants, two and two: Oroonoko last of all, in Chains.
Capt.
Now, Governor, pray observe him.
Oro.
So, Sir, you have kept your Word with me.
Capt.
I am a better Christian, I thank you, than to
keep it with a Heathen.
Oro.
You are a Christian, be a Christian still:
If you have any God that teaches you
To break your Word, I need not curse you more:
Let him cheat you, as you are false to me.
You faithful Followers of my better Fortune,
We have been Fellow-Soldiers in the Field;
[Embracing his Friends.
Be sure of one Thing that will comfort us,
Whatever World we are next thrown upon
Cannot be worse than this.
[All Slaves go off but Oroonoko.
Capt.
You see what a bloody Pagan he is, Governor;
but I took care that none of his Followers should
be in the same Lot with him, for fear they should undertake
some desperate Action, to the Danger of the
Colony.
Oro.
Live still in fear; it is the Villain's Curse,
And will revenge my Chains: Fear even me,
Who have no Power to hurt thee. Nature abhors,
And drives thee out from the Society
And Commerce of Mankind, for Breach of Faith.
Men live and prosper but in mutual Trust,
A Confidence of one another's Truth:
That thou hast violated. I have done;
I know my Fortune, and submit to it.
Gov.
Sir, I am sorry for your Fortune, and would
help it if I could.
Blan.
Take off his Chains. You know your Condition;
but you are fallen into honourable Hands: You
are the Lord Governor's Slave, who will use you nobly:
In his Absence it shall be my Care to serve you.
[Blandford applying to him.
Oro.
I hear you, but I can believe no more.
Gov.
Captain, I'm afraid the World won't speak
so honourably of this Action of yours, as you would
have 'em.
Capt.
I have the Money, let the World speak and
be damn'd; I care not.
Oro.
I would forget myself. Be satisfied.
[To Blan.
I am above the Rank of common Slaves.
Let that content you. The Christian there, that knows me,
For his own sake will not discover more.
Capt.
I have other Matters to mind. You
Prince.
[Exit.
The Planters pulling and staring at Oroonoko.
Blan.
What would you have there? You stare as if
you never saw a Man before. Stand farther off.
[Turns 'em away.
Oro.
Let 'em stare on.
I am unfortunate, but not asham'd
Of being so: No, let the Guilty blush,
The white Man that betray'd me: Honest Black
Disdains to change its Colour. I am ready:
Where must I go? Dispose me as you please,
I am not well acquainted with my Fortune,
But must learn to know it better: So I know, you say,
Degrees make all Things easy.
Blan.
All Things shall be easy.
Oro.
Tear off this Pomp, and let me know myself:
The slavish Habit best becomes me now.
Hard Fare and Whips, and Chains may overpow'r
The frailer Flesh, and bow my Body down:
But there's another, nobler Part of me,
Out of your Reach, which you can never tame.
Blan.
You shall find nothing of this Wretchedness
You apprehend. We are not Monsters all.
You seem unwilling to disclose yourself:
Therefore for Fear the mentioning your Name
Should give you new Disquiets, I presume
To call you Cæsar.
Oro.
I am myself; but call me what you please.
Gov.
A very good Name, Cæsar.
And very fit for his Character.
Oro.
Was Cæsar then a Slave?
Gov.
I think he was; to Pirates too: He was a great
Conqueror, but unfortunate in his Friends—
Oro.
His Friends were Christians?
Blan.
No.
Oro.
No! that's strange.
Gov.
And murder'd by 'em.
I would be Cæsar then. Yet I will live.
Blan.
Live to be happier.
Oro.
Do what you will with me.
Blan.
I will wait upon you, attend, and serve you.
[Exit with Oroonoko.
SCENE III.
A Grove, a Plantation seen at a little Distance.Aboan
alone.
At length I am alone—but why alone?
My Thoughts are worse Society to me
Than the poor Slaves with whom I'm doom'd to labour—
I cannot bear it—if I turn my View
Backward or forward, round me, or within,
'Tis all Regret, Oppression, and Despair.—
Yet why Despair!—something may yet be done;—
May yet be done—hold—let me most distrust
The flatterer Hope—if she one moment lures me
To patient Suff'rance, from that fatal Moment
Insiduous Slumbers steal upon my Virtue—
I shall—distraction! must grow tame by Habit—
I must—what else has quench'd in those around me
That Indignation which now choaks my Utt'rance?
All Hell is in the Thought—my struggle must be now,
This instant Now—precipitation's Wisdom—
Slaves at a distance.
Slav.
Hoa! Hoa! Aboan Aboan—
Abo.
Hark! here they come—It must, it shall be so
Hackney'd they are in mis'rys new to me,
Like secret Fire that smokeless Embers hide.
Yet still the Love of Liberty must live.
Enter three Slaves.
1st Slav.
Here, where are you? come, to work, to work,
2d Slav.
You are a Stranger, ign'rant of your Duty;
With many a smarting Blow.
3d Slav.
Aye good Aboan
Come, come with us, for if the Overseer
Ev'n now surprise us—
2d Slav.
Hush, I hear his Voice—
1st Slav.
No, no, 'tis not he—
Abo.
Wou'd he scourge us then?
3d Slav.
Wou'd he? Experience soon will tell you that.
Abo.
Has then Experience ever told it you?
3d Slav.
Has it? don't ask me—wou'd I could say no?
Abo.
You have been beaten then to patient Drudgery.
2d Slav.
'Tis shameful to confess it, yet 'tis true.
Abo.
What to confess is shameful, is it not
More shameful still to suffer?
3d Slav.
What if it be?
Abo.
Then suffer it no longer.
1st Slav.
No longer—no, if we knew how to help it.
Abo.
Knew how?—suppose a Friend should tell you how?
They gather eagerly about him.
2d Slav.
What say you?
1st Slav.
Are there ways?
3d Slav.
Can you tell us?
Abo.
I see by this Impatience you're not quell'd
Into a torpid tame Insensibility;
I'll tell you then such News as shall revive
Each drooping Virtue, string each Nerve anew.
All Slav.
What is it?—what is it?—
Abo.
There is among you now a mighty Prince,
Great as a tutelary God in Arms;
Before the Lightening of whose dreaded Sword,
These pale, cold, half-form'd Tyrants that insult ye
Wou'd vanish, like thin Mists before the Sun.
1st Slav.
What did he come with you?
Abo.
He came with me,
I am myself distinguish'd by his Friendship,
And oft with him have led the Front of Battle.
But how, where—
3d Slav.
Is there only you and he?
Abo.
There are six more of high Command about him,
All try'd, all firm, all fit for great Atchievements.
1st Slav.
Where are they?
Abo.
The Prince, my Lord, not long since parted from me;
The rest, not now far off, will soon be found—
When we were parted he embrac'd us all;
My Friends, says he, “One thing will comfort us,
“Whatever World we are thrown next upon
“Cannot be worse than this”—
These were my royal Master's Words at parting,
And sure you cannot doubt but they are true.
Shall we then, having nothing worse to fear,
Bear with dull sluggish Patience what we suffer!—
If nothing's worse the Chance is all for gain:—
There can be Danger then in no Attempt;
And if there was 'twere better still, for Danger
Has always its Equivalent in Glory.
The Slaves look on each other eagerly, as silently asking each other what they think—after a Pause
1st Slav.
And will this Prince, and you, and these your Friends
Assist us to be free?
Abo.
Will you with them
Join Hands in the Attempt?—
A Cry without at some distance—the Slaves start and seem terrified.
What cry was that?
2d Slav.
'Tis the Complaint of wretched Slaves, extorted
By bloody Whips laid on without Remorse,
And without Cause—e'er Night perhaps from us,
And you, such Cry may by such Stripes be forc'd—
Abo.
Ye Gods! and shall we not resist it then!
Slaves.
We will—
Your Hands—at Night we meet again.
Come on—now lead me to my Task.
[Exeunt.
| Oroonoko | |