 | Oroonoko |  |
ACT V.
SCENE I.
Enter Governor, with Blandford and Stanmore.Blan.
Have you no Reverence of future Fame?
No Awe upon your Actions, from the Tongues,
The cens'ring Tongues of Men, that will be free?
If you confess Humanity, believe
There is a God, to punish or reward
Our Doings here: do not provoke your Fate.
The Hand of Heav'n is arm'd against these Crimes,
With hotter Thunderbolts, prepar'd to shoot,
And nail you to the Earth, a sad Example;
A Monument of faithless Infamy.
Gov.
Tell me no more of Fame, and breach of Faith,
The publick Good requires that he should die.
Stan.
The publick Good must totter, when the Base
Is Fraud, and Craft, and prostituted Honour.
Blan.
When Guilt is sanctified by bold Pretences
That Wrong is in its Consequences right,
The Bond that holds Society together
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And Anarchy must desolate the World.
Gov.
The Planters hold not these Opinions, Sir,
They think it well that Bloodshed was prevented
By any Means, and now are clamorous
To have this Slave cut off—
Blan.
We are not sure, so wretched, to have these,
The Rabble, judge for us: The changing Croud,
The arbitrary Guard of Fortune's Power,
Who wait to catch the Sentence of her Frowns,
And hurry all to Ruin she condemns.
Stan.
So far from farther Wrongs, that 'tis a Shame
He should be where he is. Good Governor,
Order his Liberty: He yielded up
Himself, his all.
Blan.
He yielded on your Word;
And I am made the cautionary Pledge,
The Gage and Hostage of your keeping it.
Stan.
Remember, Sir, he yielded on your Word;
Your Word! which honest Men will think should be
The last Resort of Truth, and Trust on Earth:
What if your Delegate in Pow'r had done
To some dear Friend as you have done to Blandford?
Wou'd not Resentment arm'd by Justice strike
For him and for yourself?—You know it wou'd.
[The Governor seems moved.
This Argument he feels—enforce it Blandford.
[Aside to Blandford.
Blan.
You cannot cooly sure intend the Wrong,
You cannot sure persist in such an Act,
And be sedately cruel and perfidious—
Stan.
Besides, the Wretch has now no longer Pow'r
Of doing Harm, were he dispos'd to use it.
Blan.
But he is not dispos'd.
Stan.
We'll be his Sureties, Sir,
Blan.
Yes, we will answer for him now, my Friend,
the Governor, I know will thank us.
Gov.
Well, you will have it so, do what you please,
just what you will with him, I give you Leave,
[Exit.
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We thank you, Sir; this Way, pray come
with me.
[Exeunt.
The SCENE drawn shews Oroonoko upon his Back, his Legs and Arms stretch'd out, and chain'd to the Ground.
Enter Blandford, Stanmore, &c.
Blan.
O miserable Sight! help every one,
Assist me all to free him from his Chains.
[They help him up, and bring him forward, looking down.
Most injur'd Prince! how shall we clear ourselves?
Stan.
We are not guilty of your Injuries,
No way consenting to 'em; but abhor,
Abominate, and loath this Cruelty.
Oro.
If you would have me think you are not all
Confederates, all accessary to
The base Injustice of your Governor:
If you would have me live, as you appear
Concern'd for me; if you would have me live
To thank, and bless you, there is yet a Way
To tie me ever to your honest Love:
Bring my Imoinda to me; give me her,
To charm my Sorrows, and, if possible,
I'll sit down with my Wrongs; never to rise
Against my Fate, or think of Vengeance more.
Blan.
Be satisfy'd, you may depend upon us;
We'll bring her safe to you, and suddenly.
In the mean Time
Endeavour to forget, Sir, and forgive;
And hope a better Fortune.
[Exeunt.
Oroonoko alone.
Oro.
Forget! forgive! I must indeed forget,
When I forgive: But while I am a Man,
In Flesh, that bears the living Marks of Shame,
The Print of his dishonourable Chains,
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This Villain;
What shall I do? If I declare myself,
I know him, he will sneak behind his Guard
Of Followers, and brave me in his Fears.
Else, Lion-like, with my devouring Rage,
I would rush on him, fasten on his Throat,
Tear a wide Passage to his treacherous Heart,
And that Way lay him open to the World.
[Pausing.
If I should turn his Christian Arts on him,
Promise him, speak him fair, flatter, and creep
With fawning Steps, to get within his Faith,
I could betray him then, as he has me.
But am I sure by that to right myself?
Lying's a certain Mark of Cowardice:
And, when the Tongue forgets its Honesty,
The Heart and Hand may drop their Functions too,
And nothing worthy be resolv'd or done.
Honour should be concern'd in Honour's Cause,
Let me but find out
An honest Remedy, I have the Hand,
A ministring Hand, that will apply it home.
[Exit.
SCENE, The Governor's House.
Enter Governor.
Gov.
I would not have her tell me, she consents;
In Favour of the Sex's Modesty,
That still should be presum'd; because there is
A greater Impudence in owning it,
Than in allowing all that we can do.
For when a Man has said
All that is fit, to save the Decency,
The Women know the rest is to be done.
I will not disappoint her.
[Going.
Enter to him Blandford and Stanmore.
Gov.
(impatiently)
Well, what's the Matter now?
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I'm sorry we intrude, Sir; but our Bus'ness
Will quickly be dispatch'd: We come to seek
Clemene, Sir; we've promis'd Oroonoko
To bring her to him.
Gov.
You do very well; 'tis kindly done of you:
Ev'n carry her to him with all my Heart.
Stan.
You must tell us where she is.
Gov.
I tell you! why, don't you know?
Blan.
Your Servant says she's in the House.
Gov.
No, no, I brought her home at first, indeed;
but I thought it would not look well to keep her here;
I remov'd her in the Hurry, only to take care of her.
What! she belongs to you: I have nothing to do
with her.
Stan.
But where is she now, Sir?
Gov.
Why, Faith, I can't say certainly: You'll hear
of her at Parham House, I suppose: There, or thereabouts;
I think I sent her there.
Blan.
I'll have an Eye on him.
[Aside.
[Exeunt all but the Governor.
Gov.
I have ly'd myself into a little Time,
And must employ it: They'll be here again;
But I must be before 'em.
[Going out, he meets Imoinda, and seizes her.
Are you come?
I'll court no longer for a Happiness
That is in my own keeping: You may still
Refuse to grant, so I have Power to take.
The Man that asks deserves to be deny'd.
[She disengages one Hand, and draws his Sword from his Side upon him; Governor starts and retires; Blandford enters behind him.
Imo.
He does indeed, that asks unworthily.
Blan.
You hear her, Sir; that asks unworthily.
Gov.
You are no judge.
Blan.
I am of my own Slave.
Gov.
Be gone, and leave us.
Blan.
When you let her go.
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To fasten upon you.
Blan.
I must defend myself.
Imo.
Help, Murder, help.
[Imoinda retreats towards the Door, favour'd by Blandford; when they are clos'd, she throws down the Sword, and runs out. Governor takes up his Sword, they fight, close, and fall, Blandford upon him. Servants enter, and part 'em.
Gov.
She shall not 'scape me so. I've gone too far,
Not to go farther. Curse on my Delay:
But yet she is, and shall be in my Power.
Blan.
Nay, then it is the War of Honesty;
I know you, and will save you from yourself.
Gov.
All come along with me.
[Exeunt.
SCENE the last.
Enter Oroonoko.Oro.
To Honour bound! and yet a Slave to Love!
I am distracted by their rival Powers,
And both will be obey'd. O great Revenge!
Thou Raiser and Restorer of fal'n Fame!
Let me not be unworthy of thy Aid,
For stopping in thy Course: I still am thine;
But can't forget I am Imoinda's too.
She calls me from my Wrongs to rescue her.
No Man condemn me, who has never felt
A Woman's Power, or try'd the Force of Love:
Love, Love will be
My first Ambition, and my Fame the next.
Enter Aboan bloody.
My Eyes are turn'd against me, and combine
With my sworn Enemies, to represent
This Spectacle of Horror. Aboan!
My ever faithful Friend!
Abo.
I have no Name
That can distinguish me from the vile Earth,
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That crawl'd a while upon the bustling World,
And now am trampled to my Dust again.
Oro.
I see thee gash'd and mangled.
Abo.
Spare my Shame,
[He lies down.
To tell how they have us'd me: But believe
The Hangman's Hand would have been merciful.
Do not you scorn me, Sir, to think I can
Intend to live under this Infamy.
I do not come for Pity, but for Pardon.
Oro.
For Pardon! wound me not with keener Anguish
Than yet I feel, by thinking thou can'st need it:
Thou'st spent an honourable Life with me;
The earliest Servant of my rising Fame.
[Stooping and embracing him.
Abo.
And would attend it with my latest Care:
My Life was yours, and so shall be my Death.
You must not live; alas! you must not live—
Bending and sinking, I have dragg'd my Steps
Thus far, to tell you that you cannot live:
To warn you of those ignominious Wrongs,
Whips, Rods, and all the Instruments of Death,
Which I have felt, and are prepar'd for you.
This was the Duty that I had to pay.
'Tis done, and now I beg to be discharg'd.
Oro.
What shall I do for thee?
Abo.
My Body tires,
And will not bear me off to Liberty:
I shall again be taken, made a Slave.
A Sword, a Dagger yet would rescue me.
I have not Strength to go to find out Death,
You must direct him to me.
Oro.
Here he is,
[Gives him a Dagger.
The only Present I can make thee now:
And, next the honourable Means of Life,
I would bestow the honest Means of Death.
Abo.
I cannot stay to thank you: Only this,
The Villain Hotman, as I stagger'd hither,
Arm'd with a Sword I met: I wrench'd it from him,
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Stain'd to the Hilt, I left it.
O my dear honour'd Master, if there is
A Being after this, I shall be yours
In the next World; your faithful Slave again.
This is to try. (Stabs himself)
I had a living Sense
Of all your royal Favours; but this last,
Strikes through my Heart. I will not say, farewel;
For you must follow me.
[Dies.
Oro.
In Life and Death,
The Guardian of my Honour! Follow thee!
I should have gone before thee: Then perhaps
Thy Fate had been prevented.
Why, why, you Gods! why am I so accurst,
That it must be a Reason of your Wrath;
A Guilt, a Crime sufficient to the Fate
Of any one, but to belong to me?
My Friend has found it, and my Wife will soon:
My Wife! the very Fear's too much for Life:
I can't support it. Where? Imoinda! Oh!
[Going out, she meets him, running into his Arms.
Thou Bosom Softness! Down of all my Cares!
Thou art disorder'd, pale, and out of Breath!
If Fate pursues thee, find a Shelter here.
What is it thou would'st tell me?
Imo.
'Tis in vain to call him Villain.
Oro.
Call him Governor: Is it not so?
Imo.
There's not another sure so great.
Oro.
Villain's the common Name of Mankind here,
But his most properly. What! what of him?
I fear to be resolv'd, and must enquire.
He had thee in his Power.
Imo.
I blush to think it.
Oro.
Blush! to think what?
Imo.
That I was in his Power.
Oro.
He cou'd not use it?
Imo.
What can't such Men do?
Oro.
But did he, durst he?
Imo.
What he cou'd, he dar'd.
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His own Gods damn him then! For ours have none,
No Punishment for such unheard of Crime,
Imo.
This Monster, cunning in his Flatteries,
When he had weary'd all his useless Arts,
Leap'd out, fierce as a Beast of Prey, to seize me.
I trembled, fear'd.
Oro.
I fear, and tremble now.
What cou'd preserve thee? What deliver thee?
Imo.
That worthy Man, you us'd to call your Friend.
Oro.
Blandford.
Imo.
Came in, and sav'd me from his Rage.
Oro.
He was a Friend indeed, to rescue thee!
And, for his Sake, I'll think it possible
A Christian may be yet an honest Man.
Imo.
O did you know what I have struggled thro',
To save me yours, sure you would promise me
Never to see me forc'd from you again.
Oro.
To promise thee! O! do I need to promise?
But there is now no farther Use of Words.
Death is Security for all our Fears.
[Shews Aboan's Body on the Floor.
Imo.
Aboan!
Oro.
Mangled and torn, resolv'd to give me Time
To fit myself for what I must expect,
Groan'd out a Warning to me, and expir'd.
Imo.
For what you must expect?
Oro.
Would that were all!
Imo.
What! to be butcher'd thus—
Oro.
Just as thou seest.
Imo.
By barb'rous Hands, to fall at last their Prey!
Oro.
I have run the Race with Honour, shall I now
Lag, and be overtaken at the Goal?
Imo.
No.
Oro.
I must look back to thee.
[Tenderly.
Imo.
You shall not need.
I'm always present to your Purpose, say,
Which Way would you dispose me?
Oro.
Have a Care.
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Whither that Question leads thee.
I cannot, as I would, dispose of thee;
And, as I ought, I dare not. Oh Imoinda!
Imo.
Alas! that Sigh! Why do you tremble so?
Nay, then 'tis bad indeed, if you can weep.
Oro.
My Heart runs over, if my gushing Eyes
Betray a Weakness which they never knew,
Believe, thou only, thou could'st cause these Tears:
The Gods themselves conspire with faithless Men
To our Destruction.
Imo.
Heav'n and Earth our Foes!
If Heav'n could be appeas'd, these cruel Men
Are not to be entreated or believ'd;
O! think on that, and be no more deceiv'd.
Oro.
What can we do?
Imo.
Can I do any thing?
Oro.
But we were born to suffer.
Imo.
Suffer both,
Both die, and so prevent 'em.
Oro.
By thy Death!
O! let me hunt my travell'd Thoughts again;
Range the wide Waste of desolate Despair;
Start any Hope. Alas! I lose myself,
'Tis pathless, dark, and barren all to me.
Thou art my only Guide, my Light of Life,
And thou art leaving me: Send out thy Beams
Upon the Wing; let 'em fly all around,
Discover every Way: Is there a Dawn,
A Glimmering of Comfort? The great God,
That rises on the World, must shine on us.
Imo.
And see us set before him.
Oro.
Thou bespeak'st,
And goest before me.
Imo.
So I would in Love,
In the dear unsuspected Part of Life,
In Death for Love. Alas! what Hopes for me?
I was preserv'd but to acquit myself,
To beg to die with you.
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And can'st thou ask it?
I never durst enquire into myself
About thy Fate, and thou resolv'st it all.
Imo.
Alas! my Lord! my Fate's resolv'd in yours.
Oro.
O! keep thee there: Let not thy Virtue shrink.
From my Support, and I will gather Strength,
Fast as I can, to tell thee—
Imo.
I must die:
I know 'tis fit, and I can die with you.
Oro.
O! thou hast banish'd hence a thousand Fears,
Which sicken'd at my Heart, and quite unmann'd me.
Imo.
Your Fear's for me, I know you fear'd my Strength,
And could not overcome your Tenderness,
To pass this Sentence on me: And indeed
There you were kind, as I have always found you.
Oro.
O! that we cou'd incorporate, be one,
[Embracing her.
One Body, as we have been long one Mind;
That, blended so, we might together mix,
And, losing thus our Being to the World,
Be only found to one another's Joys.
Imo.
Is this the Way to part?
Oro.
Which is the Way?
Imo.
The God of Love is blind, and cannot find it.
But quick, make Haste, our Enemies have Eyes,
To find us out, and shew us the worst Way
Of parting: Think on them.
Oro.
Why dost thou wake me?
Imo.
O! no more of Love.
For, if I listen to you, I shall quite
Forget my Dangers, and desire to live.
I can't live yours.
[Takes up the Dagger.
Oro.
There all the Stings of Death
Are shot into my Heart—what shall I do?
Imo.
This Dagger will instruct you.
[Gives it him.
Oro.
Ha! this Dagger!
Like Fate, appoints me to the horrid Deed.
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Strike, strike it home, and bravely save us both.
There is no other Safety.
Oro.
It must be—
But first a dying Kiss—
[Kisses her.
This last Embrace—
[Embracing her.
And now—
Imo.
I'm ready.
Oro.
O! where shall I strike?
Is there the smallest Grain of that lov'd Body
That is not dearer to me than my Eyes,
My bosom'd Heart, and all the Life Blood there?
Bid me cut off these Limbs, hew off these Hands,
Dig out these Eyes, tho' I would keep them last
To gaze upon thee: But to murder thee!
The Joy, and Charm of every ravish'd Sense,
My Wife! forbid it, Nature.
Imo.
'Tis your Wife,
Who on her Knees conjures you. O! in Time
Prevent those Mischiefs that are falling on us.
You may be hurry'd to a shameful Death,
And I too dragg'd to the vile Governor;
Then I may cry aloud: When you are gone,
Where shall I find a Friend again to save me?
Oro.
It will be so. Thou unexampled Virtue!
Thy Resolution has recover'd mine:
And now prepare thee.
Imo.
Thus, with open Arms,
I welcome you, and Death.
[He drops his Dagger as he looks on her, and throws himself on the Ground.
Oro.
I cannot bear it.
O let me dash against the Rock of Fate,
Dig up this Earth, tear, tear her Bowels out.
To make a Grave, deep as the Center down,
To swallow wide, and bury us together.
It will not be. O! then some pitying God
(If there be one a Friend to Innocence)
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Gently in Death, and save me from her Blood.
Imo.
O rise; 'tis more than Death to see you thus.
I'll ease your Love, and do the Deed myself—
[She takes up the Dagger; he rises in Haste, to take it from her.
Oro.
O! hold, I charge thee, hold.
Imo.
Tho' I must own
It would be nobler for us both from you.
Oro.
O! for a Whirlwind's Wing to hurry us
To yonder Cliff, which frowns upon the Flood:
That in Embraces lock'd we might plunge in,
And perish thus in one another's Arms.
Imo.
Alas! what Shout is that?
Oro.
I see 'em coming.
They shall not overtake us. This last Kiss,
And now farewel.
Imo.
Farewel; farewel for ever.
Oro.
I'll turn my Face away, and do it so.
Now, are you ready?
Imo.
Now. But do not grudge me
The Pleasure in my Death of a last Look;
Pray look upon me—Now I'm satisfied.
Oro.
So Fate must be by this.
[Going to stab her, he stops short; she lays her Hand on his, in order to give the Blow.
Imo.
Nay, then I must assist you.
Thus, thus 'tis finish'd, and I bless my Fate,
[Stabs herself.
That, where I liv'd, I die in these lov'd Arms.
[Dies.
Oro.
She's gone. And now all's at an End with me,
Soft, lay her down; O we will part no more.
[Then throws himself by her.
But let me pay the Tribute of my Grief,
A few sad Tears to thy lov'd Memory,
And then I follow—
[Weeps over her.
But I stay too long.
[A Noise again.
The Noise comes nearer. Hold, before I go.
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And then, Imoinda, I'll come all to thee.
[Rises.
Blandford and his Party, enter before the Governor and his Party; Swords drawn on both Sides.
Gov.
You strive in vain to save him; he shall die.
Blan.
Not while we can defend him with our Lives.
Gov.
Where is he?
Oro.
Here's the Wretch whom you would have.
Put up your Swords, and let not civil Broils
Engage you in the cursed Cause of one
Who cannot live, and now intreats to die.
This Object will convince you.
Blan.
'Tis his Wife!
[They gather about the Body.
Alas! there was no other Remedy.
Gov.
Who did the bloody Deed?
Oro.
The Deed was mine:
Bloody I know it is, and I expect
Your Laws should tell me so. Thus, self-condemn'd,
I do resign myself into your Hands,
The Hands of Justice—But I hold the Sword
For you—and for myself.
[Stabs the Governor and himself, then throws himself by Imoinda's Body.
Stan.
He has kill'd the Governor, and stabb'd himself.
Oro.
'Tis as it should be now; I have sent his Ghost
To be a Witness of that Happiness
In the next World, which he deny'd us here.
[Dies.
Blan.
I hope there is a Place of Happiness
In the next World for such exalted Virtue.
Pagan or Unbeliever, yet he liv'd
To all he knew: And, if he went astray,
There's Mercy still above to set him right.
But Christians, guided by the Heav'nly Ray,
Have no Excuse if they mistake their Way.
[Exeunt Omnes.
FINIS.
| Oroonoko | |