University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

Enter Oroonoko and Blandford.
Oro.
You grant I have good Reason to suspect
All the Professions you can make to me.

Blan.
Indeed you have.

Oro.
The Dog that sold me did profess as much
As you can do—but yet, I know not why—
Whether it is because I'm fall'n so low,
And have no more to fear—that is not it:
I am a Slave no longer than I please.
'Tis something nobler—being just myself,
I am inclining to think others so:
'Tis that prevails upon me to believe you.

Blan.
You may believe me.

Oro.
I do believe you.
From what I know of you, you are no Fool:
Fools only are the Knaves, and live by Tricks:
Wise Men may thrive without 'em, and be honest.

Blan.
They won't all take your Counsel—

[Aside.
Oro.
You know my Story, and you say you are
A Friend to my Misfortunes: That's a Name
Will teach you what you owe yourself and me.

Blan.
I'll study to deserve to be your Friend.
When once our noble Governor arrives,
With him you will not need my Interest:
He is too generous not to feel your Wrongs.
But be assur'd I will employ my Pow'r,
And find the Means to send you Home again.

Oro.
I thank you, Sir.—My honest, wretched Friends!
[Sighing.
Their Chains are heavy: they have hardly found
So kind a Master. May I ask you, Sir,
What is beeome of them: perhaps I should not.
You will forgive a Stranger.

Blan.
I'll enquire,
And use my best Endeavours, where they are,
To have 'em gently us'd.

Oro.
Once more I thank you.
You offer every Cordial that can keep
My Hopes alive, to wait a better Day.
What friendly Care can do, you have apply'd.
But Oh! I have a Grief admits no Cure.

Blan.
You do not know, Sir—

Oro.
Can you raise the Dead?
Pursue and overtake the Wings of Time?
And bring about again the Hours, the Days,
The Years that made me happy?

Blan.
That is not to be done.

Oro.
No, there is nothing to be done for me.
[Kneeling and kissing the Earth.
Thou God adored! thou ever glorious Sun!
If she be yet on Earth send me a Beam
Of thy All-seeing Pow'r to light me to her!
Or if thy Sister Goddess has preferr'd
Her Beauty to the Skies, to be a Star;
O tell me where she shines, that I may stand
Whole Nights, and gaze upon her.

Blan.
I am rude, and interrupt you.

Oro.
I am troublesome:
But pray give me your pardon. My swoll'n Heart
Bursts out its Passage, and I must complain.
O! can you think of nothing dearer to me?
Dearer than Liberty, my Country, Friends,
Much dearer than my Life? That I have lost—
The tend'rest, best belov'd, and loving Wife.

Blan.
Alas! I pity you.

Oro.
Do pity me:
Pity's a-kin to Love; and every Thought
Of that soft Kind is welcome to my Soul.
I would be pity'd here.

Blan.
I dare not ask
More than you please to tell me: But, if you
Think it convenient to let me know
Your Story, I dare promise you to bear
A Part in your Distress, if not assist you.

Oro.
Thou honest-hearted Man! I wanted such,
Just such a Friend as thou art, that would sit
Still as the Night, and let me talk whole Days
Of my Imoinda. O! I'll tell thee all
From first to last; and pray observe me well.

Blan.
I will most heedfully.

Oro.
There was a Stranger in my Father's Court,
Valu'd and honour'd much: He was a White,
The first I ever saw of your Complexion:
Of many Virtues, and so fam'd in Arms,
He still commanded all my Father's Wars,
I was bred under him. One fatal Day,
The Armies joining, he before me stepp'd,
Receiving in his Breast a poison'd Dart
Levell'd at me; he dy'd within my Arms.
I've tir'd you already.

Blan.
Pray go on.

Oro.
He left an only Daughter, whom he brought
An Infant to Angola. When I came
Back to the Court, a happy Conqueror,
Humanity oblig'd me to condole
With this sad Virgin for a Father's Loss.
Lost for my Safety. I presented her
With all the Slaves of Battle to attone
Her Father's Ghost. But when I saw her Face,
And heard her speak, I offer'd up myself
To be the Sacrifice. She bow'd and blush'd;
I wonder'd and ador'd. The Sacred Pow'r,
That had subdu'd me, then inspir'd my Tongue,
Inclin'd her Heart, and all our Talk was Love.

Blan.
Then you were happy.

Oro.
O! I was too happy.
I marry'd her: And tho' my Country's Custom
Indulg'd the Privilege of many Wives,
I swore myself never to know but her.
She grew with Child, and I grew happier still.
O my Imoinda! but it could not last.
Her fatal Beauty reach'd my Father's Ears:
He sent for her to Court, where, cursed Court
No Woman comes, but for his am'rous Use.
He raging to possess her, she was forc'd
To own herself my Wife. The furious King
Started at Incest: But grown desperate,
Not daring to enjoy what he desir'd,
In mad Revenge, which I could never learn,
He poison'd her, or sent her far, far off,
Far from my Hopes ever to see her more.

Blan.
Most barbarous of Fathers! the sad Tale
Has struck me dumb with Wonder.

Oro.
I have done.
I'll trouble you no farther: Now and then
A Sigh will have its Way: That shall be all.

Enter Stanmore.
Stan.

Blandford, the Lieutenant-Governor is gone
to your Plantation. He desires you would bring the
Royal Slave with you. The Sight of his fair Mistress,
he says, is an Entertainment for a Prince; he would
have his Opinion of her.

Oro.
Is he a Lover?

Blan.
So he says himself: He flatters a beautiful
Slave that I have, and calls her Mistress.

Oro.
Must he then flatter her to call her Mistress?
I pity the proud Man, who thinks himself
Above being in Love; What, tho' she be a Slave,
She may deserve him.

Blan.
You shall judge of that, when you see her, Sir,

Oro.
I go with you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Plantation.
Lieutenant-Governor following Imoinda.
Gov.
I have disturb'd you, I confess mŷ Fault,
My fair Clemene; but begin again,
And I will listen to your mournful Song,
Sweet as the soft complaining Nightingale's.
While every Note calls out my trembling Soul,
And leaves me silent, as the Midnight Groves,
Only to shelter you; sing, sing again,
And let me wonder at the many Ways
You have to ravish me.

Imo.
O I can weep
Enough for you, and me, if that will please you.

Gov.
You must not weep: I come to dry your Tears,
And raise you from your Sorrow.

Imo.
Can that be,
When all your Actions and your Looks convince me
That you wou'd keep me here, still far from those
For whom the Tears I shed must flow for ever?—

Gov.
They must not sure—be all the past forgotten,
Look forwards now, where better Prospects rise,
New Pleasures court you, and new Friends invite.

Imo.
Alas! can I—I know not what to say—
Nature has form'd you of a diff'rent Kind,
Or thus you cou'd not talk; and shou'd I reason
From what I feel, you wou'd not understand me.

Gov.
O! Yes, my Heart has all the soft Sensations,
Has all that Friendship, and that Love inspires—

Imo.
Let your Heart answer for me then, cou'd you,
Forc'd to some distant Land, unknown, forlorne,
A Slave, dependant on another's Will,
Cut off from all that Habit has endear'd,
Cut off from Friendship, from domestic Joy—
Could you forget all these!—alas!—they're past—

[Bursts into Tears.
Gov.
O! fair Clemene, there is yet a Passion
Which can obliterate all the Joys and Pains
That others have imprest; make room for that
And all I wish is done—look upon me:
Look with the Eyes of kind indulging Love,
That I may have full Cause for what I say:
I come to offer you your Liberty,
And be myself the Slave. You turn away.
[Following her.
But every thing becomes you. I may take
This pretty Hand: I know your Modesty
Would draw it back: But you will take it ill,
If I should let it go, I know you wou'd.
You shall be gently forc'd to please yourself;
That you will thank me for.
[She struggles and gets her Hand from him, then he offers to kiss her.
Nay if you struggle with me, I must take—

Imo.
You may my Life, that I can part with freely.

[Exit.
Enter Blandford, Stanmore, and Oroonoko to him.
Blan.
So, Governor, we don't disturb you, I hope:
Your Mistress has left you: You were making Love,
She's thankful for the Honour, I suppose.

Gov.
Quite insensible to all I say, and do:
When I speak to her, she sighs, or weeps,
But never answers me as I would have her.

Stan.

There's something nearer than her Slavery,
that touches her.

Blan.

What do her Fellow-slaves say of her; can't
they find the Cause?

Gov.

Some of them, who pretend to be wiser than the
rest, and hate her, I suppose for being us'd better than
they are, will needs have it that she is with Child.

Blan.
Poor Wretch! if it be so, I pity her:
She has lost a Husband, who perhaps was dear
To her, and then you cannot blame her.

Oro.
If it be so, indeed you cannot blame her.

[sighing.
Gov.
No, no, it is not so: If it be so,
I must still love her: And, desiring still,
I must enjoy her.

Blan.

Try what you can do with fair Means, and
welcome.

Gov.

I'll give you ten Slaves for her.

Blan.

You know she is our Lord Governor's: But
if I could dispose of her, I would not now, especially
to you.

Gov.
Why not to me?

Blan.
I mean against her Will. You are in love with her;
And we all know what your Desires would have:
Love stops at nothing but Possession.
Were she within your Pow'r, you do not know
How soon you would be tempted to forget
The Nature of the Deed, and, may be, act
A Violence, you after would repent.

Oro.
'Tis Godlike in you to protect the Weak.

Gov.

Fie, fie, I would not force her. Tho' she be
a Slave, her Mind is free, and should consent.

Oro.
Such Honour will engage her to consent:
And then, if you're in Love, she's worth the having.
Shall we not see the Wonder?

Gov.
Have a Care;
You have a Heart, and she has conqu'ring Eyes.

Oro.
I have a Heart: But if it could be false
To my first Vows, ever to love again,
These honest Hands should tear it from my Breast,
And throw the Traitor from me. O! Imoinda!
Living or dead, I can be only thine.

Blan.
Imoinda was his Wife: She's either dead,
Or living, dead to him: Forc'd from his Arms
By an inhuman Father. Another Time
I'll tell you all.

[To the Gov.
Stan.
Hark! the Slaves have done their Work;
And now begins their Evening Merriment.

Blan.
The Men are all in love with fair Clemene
As much as you, and try their little Tricks
To entertain her, and divert her Sadness.
May be she is among them: shall we see?

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The Scene drawn shews the Slaves, Men, Women and Children upon the Ground, some rise and dance, others sing the following Songs.
[They drink.
The Governor, Blandford, Stanmore, and Oroonoko enter as Spectators; and while they are drinking, Captain Driver and several Planters enter with their Swords drawn—a Bell rings.
Capt.
Where are you, Governor? Make what hast you can
To save yourself and the whole Colony.
I bad 'em ring the Bell.

Gov.
What's the Matter?

1st Plan.

The Indians are come down upon us:
They have plunder'd some of the Plantations already,
and are marching this Way as fast as they can.

Gov.

What can we do against 'em?

Blan.

We shall be able to make a Stand, 'till more
Planters come in to us.

2d Plan.

There are a great many more without, if
you would shew yourself, and put us in Order.

Gov.

There's no danger of the white Slaves, they'll
not stir. Blandford, come you along with me: Some
of you stay here to look after the black Slaves.

[All go out but the Captain and six Planters, who all at once seize Oroonoko.
1st Plan.
Ay, ay, let us alone.

Capt.
In the first Place we secure you, Sir,
As an Enemy to the Government.

Oro.
Are you there, Sir? You are my constant Friend.

1st Plan.

You will be able to do a great deal of
Mischief.

Capt.

But we shall prevent you: Bring the Irons
hither. He has the Malice of a Slave in him, and
wou'd be glad to be cutting his Masters Throats. I
know him. Chain his Hands and Feet, that he may
not run over to 'em. If they have him, they shall
carry him on their Backs, that I can tell 'em.

[As they are chaining him, Blandford enters, runs to 'em.
Blan.

What are you doing there?

Capt.

Securing the main Chance: This is a Bosom
Enemy.

Blan.

Away, you Brutes: I'll answer with my Life
for his Behaviour; so tell the Governor.

Capt.

Plan. Well, Sir, so we will.

[Exeunt Captain and Planters.
Oro.

Give me a Sword, and I'll deserve your Trust.

A Party of Indians enter, hurrying Imoinda among the Slaves; another Party of Indians sustain 'em retreating, followed at a Distance by the Governor with the Planters: Blandford, Oroonoko join 'em.
Blan.

Hell and the Devil! they drive away our
Slaves before our Faces. Governor, can you stand
tamely by, and suffer this? Clemene, Sir, your Mistress
is among 'em.

Gov.

We throw ourselves away, in the Attempt to
rescue 'em.

Oro.
A Lover cannot fall more glorious,
Than in the Cause of Love. He, that deserves
His Mistress's Favour, will not stay behind:
I'll lead you on, be bold, and follow me.

[Oroonoko, at the Head of the Planters, falls upon the Indians with a great Shout, and beats 'em off.
Enter Imoinda.
Imo.
I'm tost about by my tempestuous Fate,
And no where must have Rest; Indians, or English!
Whoever has me, I am still a Slave.
No matter whose I am, since I'm no more
My Royal Master's; since I'm his no more.
O I was happy! nay, I will be happy,
In the dear Thought that I am still his Wife,
Tho' far divided from him.

[Draws off to a Corner of the Stage.
After a Shout enter the Governor with Oroonoko, Blandford, Stanmore, and the Planters.
Gov.
Thou glorious Man! thou something greater sure
Than Cæsar ever was! that single Arm
Has sav'd us all: Accept our general Thanks.
[All bow to Oroonoko.
And what we can do more to recompense
Such noble Services, you shall command.
Clemene too shall thank you—she is safe—
Look up, and bless your brave Deliverer.

[Brings Clemene forward, looking down on the Ground.
Oro.
Bless me indeed!

Blan.
You start!

Oro.
O all you Gods!
Who govern this great World, and bring about
Things strange, and unexpected, can it be?

Gov.
What is't you stare at so?

Oro.
Answer me, some of you, you who have Pow'r,
And have your Senses free: Or are you all
Struck thro' with Wonder too?

[Looking still fix'd on her.
Blan.
What would you know?

Oro.
My Soul steals from my Body thro' my Eyes;
All that is left of Life I'll gaze away,
And die upon the Pleasure.

Gov.
This is strange!

Oro.
If you but mock me with her Image here:
If she be not Imoinda—
[She looks upon him, and falls into a Swoon, he runs to her.
Ha! she faints!
Nay, then it must be she; It is Imoinda:
My Heart confesses her, and leaps for Joy,
To welcome her to her own Empire here.
I feel her all, in ev'ry Part of me.
O! let me press her in my eager Arms,
Wake her to Life, and with this kindling Kiss
Give back that Soul, she only lent to me.

[Kisses her.
Oro.
Imoinda! Oh! thy Oroonoko calls.

Imoinda coming to Life.
Imo.
My Oroonoko! Oh! I can't believe
What any Man can say. But, if I am
To be deceiv'd, there's something in that Name,
That Voice, that Face—
[Staring at him.
O! if I know myself, I cannot be mistaken

[Run and embraces Oroonoko.
Oro.
Never here:
You cannot be mistaken: I am yours,
Your Oroonoko, all that you would have,
Your tender loving Husband.

Imo.
All indeed
That I would have: my Husband! then I am
Alive, and waking to the Joys I feel:
They were so great, I could not think 'em true
But I believe all that you say to me:
For Truth itself and everlasting Love
Grows in this Breast, and Pleasure in these Arms.

Oro.
Take, take me all: Enquire into my Heart,
(You know the Way to ev'ry Secret there)
My Heart the sacred Treasury of Love:
And if, in Absence, I have misemploy'd
A Mite from the rich Store: if I have spent
A Wish, a Sigh, but what I sent to you;
May I be curs'd to wish, and sigh in vain,
And you not pity me.

Imo.
O! I believe,
And know you by myself. If these sad Eyes,
Since last we parted, have beheld the Face
Of any Comfort; or once wish'd to see
The Light of any other Heav'n but you.
May I be struck this Moment blind, and lose
Your blessed Sight, never to find you more.

Oro.
Imoinda! O! this Separation
Has made you dearer if it can be so,
Than you were ever to me. You appear
Like a kind Star to my benighted Steps,
To guide me on my Way to Happiness:
I cannot miss it now. Governor, Friend,
You think me mad: But let me bless you all,
Who any Way have been the Instruments
Of finding her again. Imoinda's found!
And every Thing that I would have in her.

[Embracing her in the most passionate Fondness.
Stan.
Where's your Mistress now, Governor?

Gov.
Why, where most Men's Mistresses are forced to be sometimes,
With her Husband, it seems: But I won't lose her so.

[Aside.
Stan.
He has fought lustily for her, and deserves her.
I'll say that for him.

Blan.

Sir, we congratulate your Happiness: I do
most heartily.

[To Oroonoko.
Gov.
And all of us; but how it comes to pass—

Oro.
That will require
More precious Time than I can spare you now.
I have a thousand Things to ask of her,
And she as many more to know of me.
But you have made me happier, I confess,
Acknowledge it, much happier, than I
Have Words, or Pow'r to tell you. Captain, you,
Ev'n you, who most have wrong'd me, I forgive.
I will not say you have betray'd me now:
I'll think you but the Minister of Fate,
To bring me to my lov'd Imoinda here.

Imo,
How, how shall I receive you; how be worthy
Of such Endearments, all this Tenderness?
These are the Transports of Prosperity,
When Fortune smiles upon us.

Oro.
Let the Fools,
Who follow Fortune, live upon her Smiles:
All our Prosperity is plac'd in Love.
We have enough of that to make us happy.
This little Spot of Earth, you stand upon,
Is more to me than the extended Plains
Of my great Father's Kingdom. Here I reign
In full Delights, in Joys to Pow'r unknown;
Your Love my Empire, and your Heart my Throne.

[Exeunt.