 | Oroonoko |  |
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
48
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.
49
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,
50
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?
51
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.
52
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.
| Oroonoko | |