University of Virginia Library

Act V.

Scene I.

Consorts of Musick, Shouts and Acclamations at distance.
Enter Mal. Alb. Mer.
Mal.]
We stand, Albazar, on the Brink of Fate,
The next Advance we step into a Throne,
Or fall for ever.
[Shouts at distance.
These Shouts are mine.
Thou thoughtless King, dream of imagin'd Joys,
Which thou shalt never taste, thy Crown sits loose,
And ready for this Head.

Mer.]
The King intends Prince Rodomond to release,
When in possession of his Love, we must
Anticipate that Design, or all is lost.

Mal.]
'Tis true, that thought necessitates our haste;
Albazar, shall the Citadel secure,
Then strangle Rodomond, while we
Disarm the King, and make him Prisoner:
Our Friends, I hope, are ready?

Alb.]
They only wait the Signal.

Mal.]
Each to his Charge, with Care and Caution move,
And nothing Leave to Fortune,
Who never trusts, can never be deceiv'd;
For Fortune still in our own Power lies,
She governs Fools, is govern'd by the Wise.

[Exit.
Scene opens and discovers Armida drest like a Bride, Eup. attending.
Arm.]
Ye radiant Galaxies of blended Stars,
Whose Influence governs Mortals here below,
Among that numerous and cœlestial Host,
Has poor Armida not one Friend? Are Bears
And Lyons only Rulers of the Skies,
And not one Lover in that shining Throng?

Eup.]
Despair not, Madam, Time these Griefs will cure;
Time dries the sighing Widow's Eyes, and makes
The Wretch in Bondage, in Chains forget
That ever he was happy.

Arm.]
There is no Cure for this immortal Grief:
To Night, Euphelia, I must wed the King.
The Thought distracts, and fills my Soul with Horrour.
But I'll anticipate my Doom; I'll be his Bride,
But never will his Wife. Give me the Draught,
I have prepar'd, Euphelia.

Eup.]
O rush not headlong to Despair.
I now must disobey you.

Arm.]
Dispute not my Command.

Eup.]
Then let me Pledge, and with my Mistress Die.

Arm.]
No, live Euphelia, to defend my Fame,
From rude Aspersions of malicious Tongues.
[Exit Eup.
To save my Lover, and to save my Self,
I drink this healing Draught; Armida dead,
The King relents, and Rodomond restores.
Enter Eup. with a Cup, Arm. takes it, drinks.
Here's to immortal Love; 'tis Rodomond's Health.
Euphelia, the noble Draught gives Life to him
And Indolence to me: When After-ages read
Our dismal Tale, Proverbial be our Names,
In all the Legends, and Records of Love.
Now, Almerick, come, I give my willing Hand;
Lead to the Grave.
Enter Cim. Roz. and Ladies.
Be silent on thy Life, Euphelia.

Cim.]
The King commands us to attend your Nuptials.
My Friend, Armida, now be comes my Mother;
And that Affection which I shew'd before,
I now convert to Duty.

Arm.]
Thy wretched Mother, since I bear that Name,
Shall know Cimene only as her Friend;
No other Title can unite our Hearts.

Enter King as a Bridegroom. Mal. Alb. Roder. &c.
King.]
Keep down my Joys, compress your rapid Stream,
And slow as gentle as you'r Deep;
Thy Hand, my Love.

Arm.]
Some leprous Scurf this wretched Hand defile,
And make it loathsom to thy Touch and Sight;
And wilt thou then, inhuman King, thus force
My Virgin-heart, and ravish my Desires.

King.]
This Rage, Armida, misbecomes the Night,
But Time will make us better Friends:
Lead to the Temple.

As they proceed, enter running Gon. Ir. kneel to the King.
Gon.]
Hold, Royal Almerick, hold, you press your Fate;
I must forbid these horrid Nuptials.

King.]
What means Gonzalvo?

Gon.]
With frightful Incest you pollute your Soul;
Armida is your Daughter.

King.]
Thou sure art mad, Gonzalvo?

Gon.]
My Wife Irene, will unfold the Secret.

Ir.]
By Heav'n 'tis true.

King.]
Speak, frantick Woman.

Ir.]
O first forgive, forgive my fatal Folly,
'Tis I have thus deceiv'd the World and You.

King.]
Speak, undeceive, and kill;
I will have Patience if I can.

Ir.]
When you, great Almerick, with conquering Arms
Our Lombardy o'rerun, and laid our Cities waste,
The good Queen Emmeline, the Wife of Gondibert,
Committed to my Charge her only Daughter,
The Sister of Prince Rodomond;
I had a Daughter of an equal Age,
Who dying soon, I bred the Princess as my own,
And gave her the same Name;
My Lord Gonzalvo then three Years was absent,
In the Wars, and nothing knew of what had past,
But thought the Princess dead, and that
Our Daughter liv'd; for so I had deceiv'd him.
When you became our King, and had receiv'd
My Lord unto your Friendship, you also gave
Your only Daughter of the same Age, and
Call'd Cimene, to my Care; I, out of Affection to the Royal
House of Gondibert, exchang'd the Children,
Gave you the Daughter of King Gondibert,
And bred up yours as mine; there she stands,
Miscall'd Armida, but is true Cimene.

King.]
Then Cimene is the true Armida,
And Armida is the true Cimene?

Ir.]
By all that's sacred it is true.

King.]
Why did'st thou sooner not reveal it?

Ir.]
My Fear restrain'd me 'till this fatal Minute:
Necessity compell'd, thus to prevent your Incest.

King.]
Why not to thy Husband?

Gonz.]
I was in Ignorance, 'till this Moment.

Ir.]
I knew the Niceness of his Honour would not
Permit that Imposition on the King.

King.]
By Heav'n 'tis false; 'tis Combination all,
To rob me of my Love, thou wretched Woman;
Thy Sex, nor Age, nor Quality, shall protect
From my just Anger, thy devoted Head.

Ir.]
O, Sir, like Heav'n, the Penitent forgive.

King.]
I lose a Daughter, and a Daughter find;
But where's my Mistress? O, Irene,
Revoke thy Tale; thy horrid Tale, Irene;
Say, that through Dotage thou hast idly dreamt,
And I will yet forgive.

Ir.]
The Truth I speak, I must to Death defend.

Gon.]
'Tis true, most certainly true:
Reflect, great Sir, and you perhaps may trace
The Mother's Image in the beauteous Daughter.

King.]
Ha, Gonzalvo, thou hast.
[Looks stedfastly on her.
Rouz'd such a Thought.
As will destroy. I see, I see
My charming Wife, my Clarismunda there;
When Beauty's Bloom hung on her blushing Cheeks,
And all the Royal Youth in shining Arms
Fought for her Love like Empire.

Arm.]
O see the Care of Heaven, whose Instinct arm'd
My boading Heart, against my Father's Love:
Here were a Dawn of Happiness, but I
Have thrown that Happiness away: You still
Are Daughter to a King Armida.

Cim.]
For Friendship-sake I love the very Name,
And am with pleasure call'd Armida.

King.]
Indulgent Gods due Warning give,
But humane Blindness oft prevents their Care.
Last Night, Cimene, when my Love relax'd,
Permitted Slumber to invade these Eyes,
Methought I saw thy beauteous Mother stand
In her own Form, confest before my sight,
And with that Voice, which every Ear cou'd charm,
Thus cry aloud, Cease, wretched Almerick, cease,
And check thy impious Love; which, if indulg'd,
Will fill thy Soul with everlasting Horrour:
I starting, wak'd, and nothing found but Air;
But when my Reason had resum'd its place,
I scorn'd the foolish Dream, as only bred
From melancholy Vapours.

Gon.]
It surely was the Voice of Heav'n.

King.]
On what a horrid Precipice I stood,
Whence, falling headlong, I had dash'd to pieces;
For ever broke the Quiet of my Soul;
In how perplext a Maze of Error thou
Has thus intangled us, Irene? But I
Forgive thy Folly: O Cimene! Oh, my Daughter.
A Father thus may sure embrace a Daughter.
[Embraces.
Begone, begone; thy Lips are much too warm.
[Starts.
O fly, my Child, for ever from these Eyes;
Too weak my Vertue, and my Love too strong.
Pauses and Sighs.
Approach, Cimene, now the Danger's past;
In that one Sigh, my Love and Life expire:
'Tis true, I lov'd with more than Father's Love;
But all my Passion cou'd inspire before,
Affection now shall equal: Fly, Malespine,
And bring Prince Rodomond: This Night
I make my Daughter happy.

Arm.]
Oh, I never can be happy:
What has my Folly done.

Mal.]
I must disguise no longer; he cannot come.

King.]
Ha! cannot come.

Mal.]
He shall not come.

King.]
What means the Slave?

Mal.]
This Minute he is strangled.

King.]
The Gods forbid. How? Where?

Mal.]
By my Command, unthinking Almerick:
Thou gav'st thy Power to me, and Power
Makes Kings; I think not proper to refund it.

Arm.]
O Heavens!

[Swoons.
King.]
The Villain raves; seize him, Gonzalvo.

Mal.]
Seize me? The Pageant King shall first be seiz'd.
Stamps with his Feet, arm'd Men rush in.
Look, Almerick, behold these Swords are mine:
[Party draws.
Disarm Gonzalvo, Roderick, and his Friends,
This Day I mount thy Throne.

King.]
Flagitious Villain, I cannot fear,
So much Amazement has possest my Soul.
Look, Monster, if thou canst on me, and Heav'n:
Have I not pour'd on thee continual Streams
Of Bounty and of Favour, with Titles grac'd,
And made thee, Miscreant, Kinsman to the Throne,
With Honours loaded that ingrateful Head,
'Till over-charg'd, thou bent'st beneath the Weight;
What coud'st thou ask, and went'st repulst away?
I granted all Ambition could devour,
Or thy own Averice demand! This Hand!
This unexhausted Hand! still gave and gave,
'Till thou seem'd satiated with the vast Receipt,
But I unsatiated with giving. Is this
Then the Return of all?

Mal.]
The sole Return of boundless Favour;
You gave so long, till I cou'd not repay;
But talk no more, the Repetition's vain,
To you disgustful, troublesome to me.

Gon.]
Let us resolve to die, 'tis worse than Death,
But to survive this Day the poison'd Air
Must be contagious, which that Monster draws.

Mal.]
Take that preaching Fool away.

Kin.]
First hear me speak, but not to thee again,
I see my Soldiers, nay my Guards thy Slaves,
[To the Soldiers.
Have I not fed your Hunger, cloath'd your Wants,
To Conquest led you, and to glorious Spoils,
Indulg'd your Riot? Like my Children, nurst
In Wantonness and Ease? Can you revolt?
A Soldier's Honour's dearer than his Life;
Can Gold corrupt you to betray your Master?
Dogs on their Feeders fawn, but Men betray.
I see that the Defection's universal.

Shouts without, A Mal. a Mal. a Mal.
Mal.
Away with the Prisoners, I'll hear no more.

[Exit.
As they are going out, Mal. stops Cimene.
Manent Mal. Cim. Arm. Aler.
Mal.]
One Word before you go.

Cim.]
With me, thou Monster.

Mal.]
Since you appear the Daughter of the King,
I want your Title to confirm my Throne;
I once design'd that Lady for my Bed,
But she despis'd, and I despise again.

Arm.]
Thy Impudence surmounts thy other Crimes,
To hope my Love, thou execrable Wretch.
Seest not the Lightning in the Hand of Jove
Prepar'd to flash, and to transfix thy Soul.

Mal.]
Rave, rave on, till sleeping Gods awake.

Arm.]
There are no Gods, if thou this Night survive.

Mal.]
Kind Nature has not form'd my manly Mind
To sooth, to fawn and flatter, wretched Woman;
I know the Charter of my Sex; I know
How Kings shou'd be obey'd; all Right began
In force to Love, and Empire the first Claim:
But I will give you back the Crown I take,
And so compensate for the Father's Loss.

Arm.]
Give me thy Crown, thou greater Fool than Villain;
What height of Madness can indulge thy Love,
Stain'd with the Heroe's Blood whom I adore,
And vile Possession of my Father's Crown?

Cim.]
Thou poor Usurper of a Moment's Greatness,
Who hast no other Title but thy Crimes.

Mal.]
Neglected Beauty may have leave to rail;
You, Madam, have more reason to be kind;
I own I cannot yet despair: They say,
Affected Anger is a sign of Love;
My long Experience of your Sex supports
The Vanity of that Thought.

Arm.]
Insolent insulting Villain!

Mal.]
That very Rage is not without its Charms.

Arm.]
Come, let us fly, Armida.

Mal.]
First hear your Doom:
I go this Minute to dispatch the King;
Then drag thee to my Bed, and tye thee to my Throne.

Arm.]
O hear me, Malespire, if thou art a Man,
And Nature is not totally defac'd;
Grant me but one Request, Let me behold,
For once, my Father's Eyes, before that Hand
Has clos'd their Lids in endless Night: Grant this,
I ask no more.

Mal.]
The first Request a Lover ought to grant;
Next, grant thou mine; Conduct the Princess, Meroan.
[Exeunt Cim. Ar. Mer.
So Meron has seiz'd his Prey.
[Shrieking without.
Thus have I rowl'd my Fortunes up the Hill;
But must provide with Care, lest they revolve:
Had I miscarry'd, I had been a Villain;
For Men judge Actions always by Events;
But when we mannage with a just Foresight,
Success is Prudence, and Possession Right.

[Exit.

SCENE III.

Changes to a Prison in the Palace. A dim Taper burning.
King, Gonzalvo.
King.]
We dream, Gonzalvo, sure some Form of Night,
Some ghastly Phantasm plays before our Eyes;
Or is't that Weight which rids the labouring Breast
From Vapours, Fumes and Indignation bred?
This horrid Scene cannot be true; I rose
Bright as the Sun to Day; like him ador'd
With all the Pomp and Splendor of a Crown;
Now in a Dungeon cast, like vilest Slaves;
Condemn'd for Crimes to ignominious Death;
The Sun will rise again, bring back the Day,
But we are set for ever.

Gonz.]
We always dream the Life of Man's a Dream,
In which fresh Tumults agitate his Breast,
Till the kind Hand of Death unbolts the Bars
Which clogg'd the noble and aspiring Soul;
Then, then, we truly wake.

King.]
I cou'd submit to arbitrary Gods,
With Patience bear my wretched Doom, Gonzalvo,
Had Heav'n punish'd by another Hand,
But from my Slave, my Creature, I have rais'd
To Dignities and Trust; 'tis more
Then Nature can support.

Gonz.]
You knew he first King Gondibert betray'd,
Yet you receiv'd the Villain to your Breast.

King.]
Upbraid no more my Weakness:
What's to be done?

Gon.]
There's nothing left but Death.

King.]
How shall we dye? The Monster's not so kind
To leave us Instruments of Death.

Gon.]
Those friendly Walls will our dash'd Brains receive:
By Resolution Death his easie found.
But fear not, wretched King; he will take care
We shall not live too long.

[King gropes, feels the Walls.
King.]
These Ribs of Flint are hard; but not so hard
As that remorsless Villain's Heart: The Weight
Of Greif my Spirits sinks; here will I lye
In expectation of our Doom.

[Lies down.
Enter Cimene.
Cim.]
I come to seal my wretched Father's Eyes,
And then to close my own. O my Father.
[Kneels over him.
This Moment found, and the same Moment lost;
My proper Griefs are drown'd and sunk in yours.

King.]
My fatal Passion has destroy'd us all,
My Daughter, Rodomond, and my self;
Forgive me, dear Cimene.

Arm.]
O mention that no more; prepare to die,
The Tyrant has pronounc'd your Doom.

King.]
Thou bring'st me Comfort; 'tis my Wish, Cimene:
But how got'st thou admittance?

Arm.]
The Price of that audacious Monster's Love,
Who has presum'd to court me; nay, more,
The barbarous Meroan has this Minute seiz'd
My poor Euphelia, while Heav'n lookt on,
And, without helping, saw the ravisht Maid.

King.]
By Heav'n he dares not, Malespine not dares
[King starting up.
To harbour such a Thought: These Hands shall first
Thy tender Life destroy.

Arm.]
O fear not me, I am prepar'd to go;
I wait on you, my Rodomond, to meet.

Door opens, enter Mal. Mer. with a Cup.
Mal.]
If the distrest to Death for Refuge fly,
I am your Friend, and come to ease your Pain.

King.]
I thank thee, Malespine, I never thought
To be oblig'd to thee. Give me the Cup:
[Takes the Cup.
It must be surely mortal from thy Hand;
Divine Nepenthe, Liquor of the Gods,
Which their eternal Vigour shall supply,
And verdant Youth renews; but touch'd by thee,
Wou'd turn to rankest Poyson. Here, Gonzalvo.
To thee and Liberty I Drink.

Enter Messenger frightned.
Mess.]
Lost, lost, my Lord, for ever.

King going to drink, stops.
Mal.]
Why tremblest so, thou Slave? Thy Fear
Has kill'd the Man, and sent thy Ghost to fright me.
Speak, Scriech-owl, speak.

Mess.]
The false Albazar has betray'd you;
Instead of executing your Commands,
Has set Prince Rodomond and Adelan free,
Who, with drawn Swords, strait marching to the Forum,
Rais'd all the Citizens to Arms, to save the King:
Your Friends make head, but all in vain,
Are overborn by the tumultious Crowd;
Who now enrag'd, approach the Palace.

Mal.]
O faithless Dog, thus to destroy my Hopes.
Draw, Meron, there is no thought of Life;
But we may dye reveng'd.

Draws, makes at the King, who flings down the Cup.
King.]
Here is a Dawn of Life;
My Empire for a Sword:
Fight with thy Teeth, Gonzalvo.

King retires round the Stage, pursu'd by Mal. Cim. lays hold of Mal.
Arm.]
Repent, repent, and yet be pardon'd.

Mer.]
Hah, is it so?
Noise without, Save, save the King. Clashing of Swords.
Then I will save my self.

[Disarms Mal. and leaps on him.
Mal.]
Now I am a Villain.

Enter Rodom. Ad. Tancr. Citizens, &c.
Arm.]
My Rodomond lives.

Rod.]
Cimene lives, the King is safe.

King.]
O Rodomond, forgive me first my Crime,
Before I dare behold thy Face.

Rod.]
You know no Crime, and I have felt no Pain:
The present Joy defaces all that's past.

King.]
The Gods this Night, have thro' such Mazes led
Our stumbling Steps as will thy Soul surprize.

Rod.]
Albazor has the wondrous Secret told,
To whose Repentance we our Safeties owe.

King.]
First, Let us Pay what injur'd Justice claims,
And then, reward thy Love: Thou horned Monster,
[To Mal.
'Tis more than Cruelty to let thee live;
The Villain's Conscience is his greatest Pain;
In Mercy thou shalt dye: Drag hence the Slave
To Caldrons, Racks, and Wheels, stretch evr'y Nerve,
And every Gristle break: Thou injur'd King,
O, Gondibert look down, and see my Justice;
This Monster first his Faith to thee betray'd,
Then me: I send this Victim to thy Ghost,
And let us now be Friends.

Mal.]
Excuses wou'd be vain; I brave my Fate,
And only with Dissatisfaction dye,
That I am not reveng'd.

[Exit to Tortures.
King.]
Away with him.
Albazar, Meroan, your Services to Night
Obliterate your Crimes before.
Now, Rodomond,
Here take the Mistress you so long have serv'd;
May all your Joys but equal your Desert,
And the good Gods can give no more.

[Gives Arm. hand.
Rodo.]
Let me contain the mighty Joy.
No more Armida, but my Wife Cimene.
[To Arm.
No more Cimene, but my dearest Sister.

[To Cim.
Arm.]
O, Rodomond, resistless Fate divides us;
Tho' all the Bars between us seem remov'd,
I never can be yours; to Night I dye;
Three Hours of Life, and then I am no more.

Rod.]
The Care of Heav'n forbid; What means Cimene?

Arm.]
Despairing to be happy in thy Love,
And to prevent my Marriage with the King,
I drank a Draught of Poyson.

Rod.]
O Horrour! Horrour! can this be true?

Arm.]
As true as I love Rodomond

Rod.]
Eternal Fury will distract my Soul;
I cannot live to see that cursed Moment:
I shew thee thus the Way to die, Cimene.

[Draws his Sword.
King.]
Disarm his Rage: Call strait for Help of Art:
Whoever saves my Daughter's precious Life,
My Empire shall reward.

Arm.]
In vain is Art, the Aconite works sure,
Whose mortal Cold congeals the Blood,
And freezes all the Springs of Life.

Rod.]
Was ever such a Fate, mysterious Powers?
The Storm blown o're, to perish in the Port,
In sight of all our Wishes.

King.]
What has Passion done, unhappy Maid?

Arm.]
My Father found, my Father kind,
My Lover safe, and given to my Arms,
Must poor Cimene die?

[Enter Euph. running.
Eup.]
I have escap'd the lustful Villain's Hands.

Arm.]
Thou com'st in time to close my Eyes, Euphelia;
Who art a Witness of the fatal Draught.

Eup.]
Then live, my Princess, for you are not poyson'd;
I disobey'd your rash Command; exchang'd
The mortal Drugs you had prepar'd, and gave
A harmless Liquor only.

Arm.]
May I believe you? Can this be true?

Eup.]
As I would die, to save my dearest Mistress.

Arm.]
Then, then I'll live, live to reward
Thy faithful Care, Euphelia. O Rodomond!

Rod.]
For ever blest Euphelia, be thy Tongue,
Too weak is Man this Rapture to sustain.
I shall dye with Transport.
My Grief, repell'd by Extasie of Joy,
The jarring Tides will overflow my Heart.

King.]
Once more I give my Daughter to thy Arms,
And with her Hand my Crown.

Rod.]
With Adoration I receive the Blessing;
And since propitious Powers our Joys compleat,
'Tis just my Friend and Sister shou'd partake.
I have a Right now to bestow this Hand:
[Takes Arm. Hand.
Here, generous Adelan, let your Sorrows cease.
Our Hopes, our Joys, our Interest are the same;
Here, take my Sister, and divide my Throne.

King.]
Our Thanks first paid for this miraculous Night,
To bounteous Gods, who have these Wonders wrought,
To Morrow's Sun your Nuptials shall adorn,
And see thee mounted on thy Father's Throne,
While I my Age in downy Quiet lull:
By my Misfortunes, Rodomond, be wise,
And chuse with Care to whom you give the Reins;
In this one Point be to thy self so just,
Reward the useful Villain, never trust.

[Exit.