University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

Scene Issameneas Apartment, she is discover'd leaning on a Table, a Bowl, a Dagger and a Casket by her.
Issamine
. Sola.
If such as Intrest or Revenge destroy'd
Knew how their Foes are tortur'd by remorse,
Enough they would believe 'em punish'd here,
Nor wish 'em for their pains a future Hell.
What are the terrors of the Damn'd to this
Their Seas of Sulphur, and their Lakes of Fire
To guilt of Murder, and to full despair?
Yet Innocent my self: for what should I
Repent of others Sins, or bear their wounds?
Phorsano did it—Curse my fatal Beauty,
His hands but acted what my Eyes inspir'd.
To make me his—My Friend, my Husband dy'd,
And yielding to be his, the Crime is mine.
Oh Jopano! If in word or wish
I once consented to thy Death, may Heav'n
Shut its bright Gates, and drive my guilty Soul
From Bliss and thine for ever. This my Pray'r,
And this the surest witness of my truth,
She drinks.
Yet still his Ghost for further Vengeance cries
The Murd'rer lives. I hear and will obey thee,
[Enter Jop.
The Moor return'd. Well where's the Governour,
Rests he secure and are these treasures thine?

Jop.
Had I believ'd you meant to be obey'd,
This Steel e're this had cut his thread of Life.
But oft when Women fancy they are wrong'd
Such as have serv'd 'em in their wrath have found
Themselves condemn'd, and whom they punish'd prais'd.

Issa.
Thou talk'st as if thou hadst forgot the price;
My Gold, my self and Liberty, were these
Too weak to Combat with thy fears. Base Coward!
But there are others who for less reward
Will rid me of my Foes, and thee the worst.

Jop.
Cou'd you convince me when your will's perform'd,
I might at least expect to be forgiven;
You soon shou'd be content, but if 'twere done,
And you too late repent his hasty doom,
How then shall I escape, or hope for Mercy?

Issa.
Canst thou imagine I should mourn for him
Who Robb'd me of my Husband and my Honour?

Jop.
Do you not Love, nor have you never Lov'd him?
Perhaps his changing Nature has provok'd you.
And all this boasted Fury is no more
Than mean resentment for your slighted Love.
For sure the Man who in a Night prevail'd,
Must have more Charms than one as soon forgot.

Issa.
True—His ingratitude at first allarm'd me,
But when I knew his Treason to his Friend,
How guilty he had made himself, and me,
It struck my Soul with Horror and Remorse,
And what was Vengeance then,—is Justice now.

Jop.
Has he not plac'd you on the height of Glory,
And deck't you like the Goddess of this Isle,
While Jopano by his daily care
Cou'd scarce support you in his humble state,
For Love was all the Fortune he cou'd boast?

Issa.
No more.
As well thou mayst compare that odious Face
To this,—or what is fairest in our Sex,
As set the Monster to my view with him.
In him was ev'ry Vertue, ev'ry Grace,
As ev'ry Vice is in his Rival found
Begone,—and merit by his Death to live.

Jop.
Will this too morrow be your dire Command?

Issa.
Too morrow? by the Terrors of my Soul,
Or He or Thou shalt ere the Morning bleed.
Oh! hadst thou always been as wise as now,
As Loath to dip thy hands in Blood, my Lord,
My Love, my Jopano, had been mine.
This Night had now renew'd our Bridal Joys;
These Arms embrac'd him with supream delight,
We had now met and never parted more.
Again we soon shall meet, look there—I see him
[She runs to him, he avoids her.
He skims before my Eyes a Ghastly shade:
I have him,—nay indeed you shall not leave me;
To Bed my Lord, 'tis late and I am sick.

Jop.
She raves, and I must flatter her Disease:
Peace, Madam, all is well,—suppose it done.

Issa.
Swear,—since to doubt it, drives me to Distraction;
Swear, that thy Dagger pierc'd the Traytors hear,
And view the World of wealth which then is thine:

[points to the Casket.
Jop.
I swear, the Traytor by this Dagger fell,
[Seiges it.
And you and all these Treasures are my own.

Issa.
The deadly Draught, or else my fears o'ercome me,
My trembling Arm abhors the Bloody deed;
Inspire me Furies! with your frantick Rage,
Rouse all that's Cruel in my nature! This
[Stabs him twice.
For Jopano,—for my Husband,—This

Jop.
Hold Issamenea, Hold, 'Tis thou in me,
Hast pierc'd the faithful Heart of Jopano:
Ah! hadst thou lov'd me as thou oft hast sworn,
No shape nor no disguise cou'd hide me from thee;
But by thy Falshood and thy Pride, estrang'd
My very Image in thy Soul, is lost,
And I for one who loaths thee am forgot.

Enter Virotto.
Virotto.
Oh Jopano! Ha support me Heav'n!
What has my Brother in his Madness done?
Whence did these wounds, this mighty ruin come.

Jop.
From the dire source of all my woes, my Wife;
Behold her steel, yet reeking with my Blood,
And pitty if thou canst thy Dying Friend.

Vir.
Oh thou most Lost! most, miserable Woman!
Strike quickly, strike the Dagger to thy Heart,
Least in my Fury I forget my Sex,
And stab thee in dishonour of my Name.

Issa.
'Tis Vision, all the wild effects of Rage,
The airy Dreams of my distemper'd Brain,
My Husband, Ha! to doubt it is Damnation;
Ye Pow'rs! if you have suffer'd this to be,
Where are your Lightnings and your bolts of Fire?
Why stand: I thus to brave Eternal Justice.

Vir.
I fear'd this fatal blow from thy despair,
I sought thee to prevent it; tho' too late:
Thy Sister's danger claim'd my equal care,
Or this had never been, and thou had'st liv'd:
See, See, thou wretchedst of thy Sex, to what
Thy cruel Jealousy and damn'd Ambition,
Have brought the best of Husbands and of Friends,
The Noblest, Kindest Man that ever liv'd.

Issa.
Grant, Grant, that this indeed may be a dream,
Or if 'tis more, Oh strike me to the Centre!
No torments can be worse,
Than what I feel and fear.

Jop.
If I had once forgot my Marriage Vow,
The mutual Joys that blest our Nuptial Bed;
If tempted by the Wealth of Indian Queens,
My Soul had listned to their vile request,
And I had yielded thee to Death; these Wounds,
These Sluces flowing from the springs of Life;
These mortal Agonies had then been just,
But from a Wife belov'd, and dear like thee;
My early wish and blessing of my Youth,
From Issamenea.

Issa.
'Tis He, 'Tis Jopano, He himself,
My Steel is in his Heart, Oh hide me from him!
Ye Walls, Ye Pillars, from your Basis start,
And crush me with your Fall Ye Vaulted Roofs!
Earth ope, and living in thy Womb involve me;
Confusion seize me, Madness waste my Reason,
That I may never, never think again.

Vir.
Curse thy Repentance and dissembled Grief,
Thy Tears as false as ever were thy Smiles:
Curse!

Jop.
Hold Virotto, tho' she much has err'd,
'Tis owing more to Fate than to her will:
Hast, Bring Lucinda to me ere I dye?
I feign wou'd bless you with my latest breath,
The only business I have left to do.

Vir.
How shall I leave you in your last of Life,
Or bear the killing Message to my Love.

Jop.
This shape to know thy Innocence I took,
Too long I us'd it, tho' 'twas fit that Thou
Shoud'st take that life which thou hadst made so wretched:
Yet faithless and ungrateful as thou art,
Believe not, I had liv'd when thou wert gone,
In this disguise, I had reveng'd our wrongs,
But Heav'n in pity, sav'd my hands from Blood.

Issa.
Wa'st not enough to hearken to his Foe,
And take the Curst Adulterer to his Bed?
Was this too little for my Soul to bear?
Why else was Murder added to the weight?
[Offers to run at Jopano and he starts back.
Save me! Oh save me, whither I was flying!
The rising Furies push me from his Arms
Where safety dwells, and all without is Hell.

Jop.
Her madness is not were her sorrow feign'd,
And I increase the Tempest I should calm.

Issa.
Murder my Husband and abuse his Bed?
Oh Horror! 'tis not to be born—Away,
Stand off,—your Daggers shall not force me to't—
I swear I'll tell your Wife—; I dare not trust you,
My Husband will be angry;—Oh my Head?
[musing.
Break, Break my Brain and let me ever rave,
For in these racking Intervals of sense
Remembrance worse than Madness tares my Soul;

Jop.
Oh Issamenea! What hast thou been doing?
Say, has not Fate been busie here before?
Forgive my Anger, 'twas the first and last
Which thou hast heard, or ere wilt here from me:

Issa.
Forgive! that word in Death wou'd bring me life;
Oh wondrous Goodness! canst thou ask of me
Forgiveness? me by whom those wounds were made,
Who sold thy Honour; for a Villain left thee,
And lives to tell thee this, and see thee Dye:
But long I shall not breath this loathsome Air,
The friendly draught is mingling with my Blood,
I feel it now, 'tis going to my heart:
Death the last refuge of despair approaches,
And sweet Oblivion then will end my woe.

Jop.
Who now can doubt her Penitence sincere?
More had her mind consented to this ill
She cou'd not do, or for her self or me.

Issa.
If I shou'd swear who once have thus deceiv'd thee,
Woud'st thou believe I never had been false,
If my poor Heart had been as wise as true?
If all had dealt as honestly by me
As I to thee had prov'd a faithful Wife,
Till Hell to ruin me its Arts employ'd;
I know thou durst not, shoud'st not trust thy Murd'rer

Jop.
If 'twas to me to give the peace of mind,
So well I lov'd thee ere thy fall: ev'n now
There's nothing I wou'd think too much to save thee
But there are Pow'rs?
Yes, there are vengeful Powr's.
Whom tears of blood can ne're appease; who Cry
For Justice, Justice let 'em have, I wait
Their utmost rage—they rack—they sting—
They come—they come—I'll hide my self in sleep,
I'll dream of running Waters and of Ice
'Tis hot, 'Tis hot. within—

Luc.
Save him ye Guardians of defenceless vertue
[Lucinda Enters in disorder before the Governour, and Virotto fighting.
And help him to revenge my dying Brother

Phor.
In vain this Ruffian and that base Impostor
Conspir'd to rob me of my Life and Love.
Pray on—
When Beauty is the purchase of the Field,
Heav'n then is deaf, and gives the brave the Prize.

Vir.
No Traytor, Heav'n has heard her Virgin Pray'r,
And for thy Hellish Crimes rewards thee thus.

[Vir wounds him.
Phor.
Curse on a Cowards fortune, Hoa my Guards!

Issa.
Oh Jopano! I shall go before thee,
[Phor falls.
To touch thee thus defil'd I dare not here,
Yet in another World our Souls may join
For mine has never sin'd to thee, Farewel—

[dyes.
Jop.
She's gone—the Poor, Unfortunate is gone,
I soon shall follow—sure her Death attones
For Crimes which are not so to Her, if Sin
Requires the Souls consent to make it guilt.
My Friend! take all I have to give, a Sister
Dear to my heart as She when first we Lov'd;
If ere your Stars conduct you hence to Spain,
Or let me ne're be mention'd: or with Honour,
Canst thou forgive Lucinda what is past?
If I had lov'd thee less, I less had err'd;
Be happy both as you have seen me wretched.

[dyes.
Luc.
Talk not of Happiness or Joy to me,
How can I think of Joy when you are gone:
Take, take me with you, Oh he breaths his last!
And scarce had time to bid a long Adieu.

Phor.
Death will look Glorious, as I Liv'd I Dye,
And at my Feet behold my bleeding Foes.

Off.
Seize on Virotto!

[Enter Officer and Guards.
Vir.
Hear me on your Lives,
If to defend that Beauty from his Lust,
These hapless Strangers from his Rage, my Life
Assaulted basely; If for this you'd seize me,
I own the charge by me the Tyrant fell.

Phor.
Had I enjoy'd her, I had blest my fall,
But from the brink of Rapture to be flung
By one I loath, and leave her in his Arms,
Torments me worse than all the pangs I feel.

Off.
Oh foul Confession!

Phor.
Oh the vile Dissembler!
Hast thou not often flatter'd my desires,
And brought the blushing Virgin to my Arms?
My Lust thou'st softn'd with the name of Love;
My Cruelty a noble Vengeance call'd,
And been the lewdest Instrument of both;
Go—tell the Senate this—'tis all which Fate
Will suffer me to say.

[Dyes.
Off.
Convey him hence
To you as Admiral, his Pow'r descends,
And Venice will we hope confirm her Choice.

Vir.
This to the Morning Councels we refer,
For other Cares too much employ me now;
From me this Morning Fair expects Relief,
From me my Murder'd Friends a time of sorrow:
Oh Issamenea! we by thee may learn
That Virtue o're the fear of Death Victorious,
Will find when Riches Woe and Pleasure Charms;
How weak is humane Force by Heav'n forsook,
The first temptation she with Pride withstood,
And freely offer'd for her Fame, her Blood;
Old, Fierce and Ugly, She the Turk deny'd,
Who with Wealth, Youth and Flattery comply'd,
So fatal 'tis, to be too often try'd.
For Death does not so terrible appear,
As Wealth is tempting, and as Love is Fair.