University of Virginia Library

Act V.

Scene I.

a Prison.
Enter Birtha.
Birtha.
A sweet Sensation melting round my Heart
Springs up and overflows my Soul with Joy,
Which conjugal Affection only feels;
A secret Glow and Throbbing to impart
The dear Assurance of our mutual Safety.
I'll steal upon his Sorrows like a Slumber
Pregnant with Bliss to sooth a Fever's Rage
Tumultuous charging thro' the languid Patient,
After long Tossings on the Bed of Sickness;
The balmy Comfort sinks into his Senses
And sweetly cools the Life-consuming Flame.
This Passport to my Love, this precious Signet
Throws out a Ray of Glory o'er the Gloom
Which Melancholy hangs around the Dungeon,
And lights me to his Presence. Hark, methought
I heard his Voice; be still, my Tongue, a Moment,
One Moment let me listen to his Moanings,
Then pour the Tidings of Delight at once
Into his Soul, and give Him all my Raptures.

[Retires aside.
Enter Gondibert.
Gondibert.
Yes—tho' besieg'd with Guards, and fenc'd with Walls,
The Soul is left at Liberty to wing
Her free Excursions and disdains Confinement.
Confinement may be dreadful to the Wicked:
When Conscience whets her Stings and Darkness frowns
Brooding with supernumerary Horrors,
Woe to the guilty Spirit! Guilt may tremble
When self-condemn'd, and call on deeper Night
To cover from the Wrath of Heav'n offended
Its Coward, shrinking Head,—and call in vain.
But strong in Innocence why shou'd I fear?
True to my Honour, faithful to my Sov'reign,
Can I deserve his Rage? if not deserve it,
His Rage is impotent. The Gods protect
Their pious Votaries where're They find them,
In Prisons or in Palaces, the same
Unerring Arbitrators of our Fortunes,
Supremely good and merciful in Justice.
Tho' Malice send her Flight of Arrows at me
If Virtue spread her Adamantine Shield,
From Heav'ns bright Armory, of sevenfold Proof,
They pointless fall, and innocent of Harm,
Their idle Forces spent in empty Air,
Like spoils in Battle, but adorn my Conquest.
—But Birtha—Birtha—O the dear Forlorn One!
Her tender Sorrows, pressing on my Heart,
Unman my firmest Purpose—put to flight
The Succours which Philosophy wou'd lend me.
Were she but safe!—my Soul wou'd be at Peace.

[Birtha comes forward.
Birtha.
Behold Her here, and safe, and thine for ever.
The King forgives us Both—

Gondibert.
Forgives us?

Birtha.
Yes:
Our Happiness begins its golden Round,
And we shall never Taste of Anguish more.

Gondibert.
Thy Words transport me with Delight and Wonder,
Too full of overbearing Joy to gain
Credit from any but from Thee.

Birtha.
Behold
The Royal Signet as the Seal of Pardon.

Gondibert.
And is it given me once again to hear Thee,
To bless my Eyes with thy endearing Beauties
And strain Thee to my Breast?—O bounteous Heav'n!
O gracious Aribert! O happy Gondibert!
This Moment might reward an Age of Bondage.
O Birtha, O my Wife! my Joy, my Blessing,
Thou Object of my Soul! O take me thus,
Thus folded in thy Arms in circling Bliss,
And may we never, never part again.
Still let me clasp Thee to my glowing Heart,
Which beats against my Bosom to receive Thee.

Birtha.
My Heart expands Itself to let Thee in
And wrap thy Image in the Foldings there,
Deep in the warm Recesses of my Being!
There I will cherish my dear Lord for ever.

Enter Astragon.
Astragon.
Joy to you Both! A Father's Blessing on You.
—The Soldiers are appeas'd, The King forgives Them,
And sends me to declare his generous Will,
And call you to the Banquet, now preparing
In Honour of your Marriage.

Enter Messinger.
Messinger.
Hail to Birtha!
The Princess in regard to Birtha's Worth
Forgets all former Jealousies and Wrongs,
And sends her Joy and Peace. She waits to see You.

Birtha.
We humbly will attend the King and Princess
Much honour'd with her Grace.

[Exit Messinger.
Gondibert.
This sudden Change—
I like it not, beware of Rhodolinda.
[To Birtha aside.
What of the Soldiers? for I think you nam'd Them.

Enter Ulfinore.
Ulfinore.
Eternal Happiness attend my Lord,
And crown his beauteous Bride and Him with Joy.

Gondibert.
I know thy honest Nature.

Birtha.
Sir, We thank You.

Astragon.
The Soldiers, Sir,—but Ulfinore Himself
Will tell You at a more convenient Season,
And give the full Relation. We, mean time,
Prepare ourselves to wait upon the King,
And taste the Blessings which the Gods bestow.

Gondibert.
To Them give all the Praise. My Birtha looks
So near ally'd to Heav'n, Her Voice and Hands
Will recommend our Incence and our Vows.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Enter Rhodolinda, Laura.
Rhodolinda.
Thou tell'st me Wonders.

Laura.
Greater wait behind.
Soon as I reach'd the sage Urganda's Cell,
A Flight of Owls and Batts and Raven-Wings
With hideous Clang, I tremble to relate it,
Beat the thick Air, and Adders thro' the Brakes
Hiss'd rusling, grumbled underneath the Ground,
And open wide the Doors, harsh-creaking, flew.
I shou'd have dy'd with Fear, if Zeal to serve You,
My royal Mistress, had not arm'd my Soul,
Weak in its native female Pow'rs, with Courage
Unknown before, against these Scenes of Horror.
She, tottering o'er an Ebon Staff, demanded
My Business at that solemn Hour of Darkness.
Quick I acquainted Her with your Commission,
With trembling haste: She mutter'd and withdrew,
But soon return'd, and folded in a Paper
She gave the Poison You requir'd. “Take this,
This Powder, tell thy Mistress, breaths Destruction,
Perfum'd with Death: no Skill on Earth can save
The Person who but smells the precious Bane.
These Herbs were gather'd by the trembling Moon-light,
Beneath a Mandrakes melancholy Shade,
Steep'd in Echidna's Gore and wash'd in Acheron;
Thrice with the sooty Wings of East-winds fann'd,
And thrice unhallow'd with a Blight of Curses
In Demogorgon's Hall: the Charm is fatal.”
She said, and with an hollow Smile retir'd.

Rhodolinda.
What Dangers hast Thou undergone to ease me?
Nor shall They, unrewarded, pass forgotten.
Now to our Business. We in Time provided
This blessed Remedy: had we defer'd
A Day, an Hour, a Moment, as you find,
It wou'd have come too late; at least for Vengeance.
She shall not live an Hour. The King commands
My Presence at this hated Nuptial Banquet,
The Bride shall find me there, and Death together.
Yes, Death shall hold her Revels, and Destruction
Drest up in Smiles and Flow'rs. Methinks I see Her
Flushing with Pride, perhaps with Scorn:—enjoy
Thy momentary Triumph;—yes,—enjoy
Thy Husband's Vows—another Moment longer—
Then, then the Triumph shall be all my own.
Are all Things ready?

Laura.
All prepar'd by Tibalt;
The Flow'rs, the Sword the Cupids and the Music.

Rhodolinda.
'Tis well. Meanwhile, Dissimulation, aid me,
Ingenious in thy undermining Arts—
Yet timerous—O that we must sink so low!—
My Soul disdains Thee, but Revenge commands me,
So thou, Dissimulation prompt my Purpose,
Thou trick my Countenance with lying Smiles,
And breath thy subtle Pow'rs into my Eyes.
—Th'Hyena and Revenge may soon be tutour'd;
For Nature, ready Nature points the Way.

Enter Servant.
Servant.
Madam, the Banquet waits You.

Rhodolinda.
I'll be there.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Enter Ulfinore.
Ulfinore.
Perdition on his Head! the lurking Villain—
'Twas He that drew this Danger on my Lord,
'Twas He acquainted Laura with his Love,
Against th'inviolable Laws of Friendship,
'Twas He declar'd me Traytor to the King:
O wou'd some God but give Him to this Arm,
A Victim to the Fury of my Vengeance,
With fell Delight I'd riot in his Blood,
And every Blow shou'd right my wounded Honour.
Enter Two dress'd like Cupids, They cross the Stage, the One with a Sword the Other with a Garland.
What fair Delusion swims before my Eyes?
Speak, say what are You? for what Purpose? ha!
My Senses fail'd me.—Are the Gods descended
To grace my Master's Nuptials with their Presence?
It was the Error of my Understanding:
The Vision is dissolv'd and sunk in Air.
Was it to interrupt Revenge? it shall not:
Tho' Erebus shou'd pour out all its Forms
And griefly Shapes of Horror, I will on,
And find the Villain Tibalt.—Hence, vain Shadows,
Nor dare to disengage my settled Soul
From her sure Purpose.—Lead me on, Revenge,
I follow thy red Footsteps to the Grave.
[Exit Ulfinore.

SCENE IV.

Enter Tibalt.
[Tibalt.]
Where shall I hide my ignominious Head?
I hate the Light, and cannot bear myself.
—Curse on the Weakness which betray'd my Virtue.
How am I fall'n from Honour! O my Soul—
And how become the Instrument of Hell,
To murder Innocence which never wrong'd me!
—Drawn by a Woman to forego my Faith
To worthy Ulfinore—to mingle Poison
Ev'n for my General's Bride!—Rejoice, Prometheus;
Thy Vulture will be mine; my Guilt is blacker:
Thy Crime was only stealing Heav'nly Fire,
Which mine extinguishes, in murd'ring Birtha,
Form'd of Celestial Beams!—Earth groans beneath me:
Hell, Hell, I feel Thee Here.—Ha, Ulfinore?
I'd rather meet Alecto with her Whips,
Than my offended Friend.—Gape, Earth, and hide me.

[Exit.
Enter Ulfinore.
Ulfinore.
'Twas He, the Wretch!—Now aid me, Heav'n and Justice!
Far as the flaming Limits of the World
I'll follow Thee, or punish thy Transgression,—
The Center shall not hide thee from my Arm,
While Vengeance whets my Sword and Justice guides it.

[Exit.

SCENE V.

KING, RHODOLINDA, GONDIBERT, BIRTHA, ASTRAGON, PHILOSOPHERS &c. as after the Banquet.
Gondibert.
This royal Overflowing of your Bounty
Restrains my fault'ring Tongue, which fain wou'd speak
The thankful Language of my grateful Heart.—
My Actions shall declare my Zeal and Duty.

King.
Dear to my Soul as when, adorn'd with Spoils,
Thou bravely triumph'd o'er my Kingdoms Foes,
Establishing my Throne, I reinstate Thee
My General and my Friend: forget the Storm
Which burst too sudden, but is pass'd away
Ne'er to distress Thee more. Exert again
Thy pristine Pow'rs and shine with equal Glory.
The generous Eagle thus, awhile dismiss'd
The Service of the Cloud-compelling God,
In Darkness drooping, flags his burnish'd Wings,
Nor bears his bold Incursions on the Sun;
But soon recall'd He tow'ring claps his Pinions
Resumes the Bolt of Jove and grasps the Thunder.
Here, crown and reach the Bowl; let purple Bacchus
Walk jocund round.—He sparkles in the Gold
With reconciling Smiles, and courts the Lip
Ambitious of the charming Health we give.
Joy to the Bride.

Rhodolinda.
And to the Bridegroom Health.

Birtha.
The Business of my Life, most gracious Princess,
Shall be employ'd in praising of your Goodness.

1. Philosopher.
May Heav'n surround you with the Gifts of Plenty—

2. Philosopher.
With Peace and Pleasure—

3. Philosopher.
And a beauteous Offspring
Rich in their Father's and their Mother's Graces—

Astragon.
May every Day like this be crown'd with Blessings,
Till ripe for Immortality you gather
The glorious Harvest and Reward of Virtue,
Partakers of celestial, endless Joys.

King.
But where's the Musick? Harmony becomes
This genial Hour—Here, let the sprightly Viol
The numerous Lyre and soft melodious Lute,
With every Instrument of pleasant String
Divide their Notes and wake the Sounds of Rapture.

Enter two Pages drest like Cupids.
1.
Sings and presents a Naked Sword richly embelish'd with Diamonds to Gondibert.

2.
With a Garland sings.

As He is presenting the Crown of Flow'rs to Birtha enter Ulfinore wounded.
Ulfinore.
Perish thy hellish Present, smiling Villain—

[Catches It and stamps it under his Feet.
King.
Unmanner'd Slave! what means this bold Intrusion?

Gondibert.
Ah! bleeding? Ulfinore, explain thyself—
He faints—He falls—

Ulfinore.
Forgive my seeming Rudeness,
This Rudeness which preserves the Life of Birtha.

Gondibert.
Ha! sayst Thou—

Ulfinore.
Hold, my Life, till I have told
The guilty Tale, and I shall dye in Peace.—
This Moment Tibalt, whom my Arm has slain
For Treachery to Friendship and my Master,
Expiring and repenting of his Treason,
Confess'd, in Combination with his Wife
And Rhodolinda, that He strew'd these Flow'rs
With baleful Aconite and Drugs from Hell,
With Charms deliver'd by the Witch Urganda,
To poison Birtha.—Luckily I came
Fast as my Wounds allow'd me and prevented
Her certain Fate:—For which I thank the Gods
And gladly fall a Victim—at her Feet.

[Dies.
Rhodolinda.
Ye cruel Stars!—what—am I disappointed?
Thus I make sure—
[Snatches the Sword and offers to stab Birtha: prevented by Gondibert.
Baffled again!—Confusion—
Then thus—

[Stabs Herself.
King.
Oh Horror, O!—my Crown to save Her—

[Faints.
Gondibert.
Good Heav'n, support the King!

Rhodolinda.
The Stroke was Home—
My Life-blood follows, and my flaming Spirits
With Indignation quit their hated Mansions.
And yet, my Soul! but oh it is too late—
The Rage of Female Pride contemn'd and scorn'd
To Madness drove me—hurl'd me on Destruction.
O Rhodolinda! by thyself undone—
Revenge in Woman, kindled by Despair
Must end in—Death.—O cursed Pride and Jealousy,
O fatal Female Ruin—Pride and Jealousy
Absolve the Furies—when compar'd with Them
The Furies seem to whiten into Virtue.
—My Hate together with my Life is finish'd.—
Forgive me, Birtha, Gondibert, forgive me,
And pardon Laura too—the Guilt was mine.
—The Crown must now be Yours—let that attone
For all the Crimes my frantick Passion plotted—

Gondibert.
Madam your last Request shall be obey'd;
We pardon Laura—For the Witch Urganda
Flames, next that Hell she's leagu'd with, shall await her.

Rhodolinda.
—My Father!—O take care of his Old Age—
His Grief sits heavy on his Spirits—oh.

[Dies.
Astragon.
The King revives; quick, softly lead Him hence,
And I'll attend Him with my ablest Care.

Gondibert.
All-gracious Heav'n! Thy Mercy first be prais'd:
Repair We to the Temple! Then we'll pay
Our Duty to the Dead—My Birtha, come,
Sav'd by the Gods and their protecting Goodness,
To crown my Life with Joy!

Astragon.
From hence behold
The righteous Care of PROVIDENCE, who guards
With its bright Shield, and leads thro' secret Paths
The Innocent to Peace: While Guilt is punish'd
By its own wicked Arts, and vile Revenge
Pursues her Votaries with Swords and Poisons,
But chief Blood-Guiltiness. Murthers intended,
Tho', by Heav'ns Care, not put in Execution,
For ever to their Authors fatal prove,
While Happiness attends on Virtuous Love.

[Exeunt Omnes.