University of Virginia Library

SCENE XI.

To them PALADORE.
PRINCESS.
'Tis he, 'tis he!—
Then, life, thou art welcome.—

[A loud Murmur among the People.
BIRENO.
Marshal, do your office!
Furies and hell!—Keep order in the lists!—
Silence that uproar—

PALADORE.
Yes, behold me, villain!
I have thee in the toils; thou can'st not scape me.—
But Oh! most wrong'd, and heavenly excellence!
[To the Princess.
How shall I plead for pardon?—Can the abuse
Of his deep craft, and devilish artifice,
Fooling my nature's plainness, blanch my cheek
From the deep shame that my too easy faith
Combin'd with hell against thee?

PRINCESS.
Rise, my soldier!
Though yet I know not by what subtle practice
Thy nobleness was wrought on, nor the means
That since reveal'd his fraud, praise be to Heaven!
Thy presence plucks my honour from the grave;
Thou liv'st, thou know'st my truth, thou wilt avenge me.

PALADORE.
Avenge thee!—Yes—Did his right-hand grasp thunder,
Did yelling furies combat on his side,
(Pal'd in with circling fires) I wou'd assail him,
Nor cast a look to Fortune for the event.

BIRENO.
Presumptuous Briton! Think not that bold mien,
A wanton's favour, or thy threats, have power
To shrink the sinews of a soldier's arm.

PALADORE.
A soldier's arm! Thou double murderer!
Assassin in thy intention, and in act.
But ere my falchion cleave thy treacherous breast
I will divulge thee.—Bring that ruffian forth.—
[One of Alinda's murderers is brought out.
Two hell-hounds, such as this, he set upon me;
One fell beneath my sword; that wretch I spar'd,
Kneeling for mercy: let your justice doom him.
Look you amaz'd! Peruse that paper, Lords,
His compact for the blood of a fair minion,
He taught to sin, and made her wages death.—
Ha! Does it shake thee? See Alinda's form,
Thy panting image mangled in her side,
Stalks from her sanguine bed, and ghastly smiles,
To aid the prowess of this dauntless soldier.

BIRENO.
[Aside.]
Destruction! All's reveal'd!—

ASCANIO
to BIRENO.
What, turn'd to stone!
Droop not, for shame.—Be quick, retort the charge.

BIRENO.
All false as hell! And thou—Defend thyself;
Nor blast me thus with thy detested presence.—
This to thy heart.

[Fight. Bireno falls.
PALADORE.
Oh, impotence of guilt!
An infant's lath had fell'd him. Villain, die!
And know thy shame, and the deep wound that wriths thee,
Are but a feeble earnest of the pangs
Reserv'd beneath for giant crimes like thine.

PRINCESS.
Haste to the King, proclaim this bless'd event!

BIRENO.
Perfidious chance! Caught in my own device!—
Accursed!—Ha! they drag me, tear me!—Oh!—

[Dies.
PRINCESS.
I have a thousand things to ask, to hear:
But, Oh! the joy to see thee thus again,
To owe my life, my honour, to thy love—
These tears, these rapturous tears, let them speak for me.

PALADORE.
I cou'd endure the malice of my fate:
But this full tide of such excessive bliss,
Sure 'tis illusion all! It quite transports me.
When I have borne thee from this scene of horror,
Perhaps I may grow calm, and talk with reason.