University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

Enter Cristina and Mariana.
Mar.
Ha! did you mark, my Princess, did you mark?
Shou'd some Reverse, some wond'rous Whirl of Fate
Once more return Gustavus to the Battle,
New nerve his Arm, and wreathe his Brow with Conquest;
Say, wou'd you not repent that e'er you sav'd
This dreadful Man, the Foe of your great Race;
Who pours impetuous in his Country's Cause
To spoil you of a Kingdom?

Cristina.
No, my Friend.
Had I to Death, or Bondage, sold my Sire,
Or had Gustavus on our native Realms
Made hostile Inroad; then, my Mariana!
Had I then sav'd him from the Stroke of Justice,
I shou'd not cease my Suit to Heav'n for Pardon.
But if, tho' in a Foe, to reverence Virtue,
Withstand Oppression, rescue injur'd Innocence,
Step boldly in betwixt my Sire and Guilt,
And save my King, my Father from Dishonour;
If this be Sin, I have shook Hands with Penitence.
First, perish Crowns, Dominion, all the Shine
And Transience of this World, 'ere Guilt shall serve
To buy the vain Incumbrance.

Mar.
Do not think
I meant, my Princess, to arraign your Virtues,
Howe'er I seem'd to question on the Consequence.

Cristina.
The Consequence of Virtue must be good:
It must. Tho' it shou'd prove my Father's Lot,
In being rescu'd from one Act of Guilt,
To lose the whole of all his wide Dominions,
He were a Gainer—Blasted be that Royalty,
Which Murder must make sure, and Crimes inglorious!
The Bulk of Kingdoms, nay, the World is light,
When Guilt weighs opposite—O wou'd to Heav'n,
The Loss of Empire wou'd restore his Innocence,
Restore the Fortunes, and the precious Lives
Of Thousands fal'n the Victims of Ambition!