University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

Enter Arthur, Conon and Aurelius.
Con.
Furle up our Colours, and Unbrace our Drums;
Dislodge betimes; and quit this fatal Coast.

Arth.
Have we forgot to Conquer?

Aurel.
Cast off Hope:
Th'Imbattl'd Legions of Fire, Air, and Earth,
Are banded for our Foes.
For going to discover, with the Dawn,
Yon Southern Hill, which promis'd to the Sight
A Rise more easie to attack the Fort,
Scarce had we stept on the Forbidden Ground,
When the Woods shook, the Trees stood bristling up;
A Living Trembling Nodded through the Leaves.

Arth.
Poplars, and Aspen-Boughs, a Pannick Fright.

Conon.
We thought so too, and doubled still our pace.
But strait a rumbling Sound, like bellowing Winds,
Rose and grew loud; Confus'd with Howls of Wolves,
And Grunts of Bears; and dreadful Hiss of Snakes;
Shreiks more than Humane; Globes of Hail pour'd down
An Armed Winter, and Inverted Day.

Arth.
Dreadful indeed!

Aur.
Count then our Labour's lost:
For other way lies none, to mount the Cliff,
Unless we borrow Wings, and sail thro' Air.

Arth.
Now I perceive a Danger worthy me.
'Tis Osmond's Work, a Band of Hell-hir'd Slaves:
Be mine the Hazard, mine shall be the Fame.

Arthur is going out, but is met by Merlin, who takes him by the Hand, and brings him back.
Enter Merlin.
Merl.
Hold, Sir, and wait Heav'ns time; th'Attempts too dangerous:
There's not a Tree in that Inchanted Grove,
But numbred out, and given by tale to Fiends;
And under every Leaf a Spirit couch'd.
But by what Method to dissolve these Charms,
Is yet unknown to me.

Arth.
Hadst thou been here, (for what can thwart thy Skill?)
Nor Emmeline had been the boast of Oswald;
Nor I fore-warn'd, been wanting to her Guard.

Con.
Her darkn'd Eyes had seen the Light of Heav'n;
That was thy promise too, and this the time.

Mer.
Nor has my Aid been absent, tho' unseen,
With Friendly Guides in your benighted Maze:
Nor Emmeline shall longer want the Sun.

Arth.
Is there an end of Woes?

Merl.
There is, and sudden.
I have employ'd a subtil Airy Spright
T'explore the passage, and prepare my way.
My self, mean time, will view the Magick Wood,
To learn whereon depends its Force.

Con.
But Emmeline—

Mer.
Fear not: This Vial shall restore her sight.

Arth.
Oh might I hope (and what's impossible
To Merlin's Art) to be my self the Bearer,
That with the Light of Heav'n she may discern
Her Lover first.

Mer.
'Tis wondrous hazardous;
Yet I foresee th'Event, 'tis fortunate.
I'll bear ye safe, and bring ye back unharm'd:
Then lose not precious Time, but follow me.

Exeunt Omnes, Merlin leading Arthur.
Enter Philidel. Scene, a Deep Wood.
Phil.
I left all safe behind;
For in the hindmost quarter of the Wood,
My former Lord, Grim Osmond, walks the Round:
Calls o'er the Names, and Schools the tardy Sprights.
His Absence gives me more security.
At every Walk I pass'd, I drew a Spell,
So that if any Fiend, abhorring Heav'n,
There sets his Foot, it roots him to the Ground.
Now cou'd I buy discover Emmeline,
My Task were fairly done.

[Walking about, and Prying betwixt the Trees.]
Enter Grimbald rushing out: He seizes Philidel, and bind's him in a Chain.
Grimb.
O Rebel, have I caught thee!

Phil.
Ah me! What hard mishap!

Grimb.
What just Revenge!
Thou miscreant Elf, thou Renegade Scout,
So clean, so furbish'd, so renew'd in White,
The Livery of our Foes; I see thee through:
What mak'st thou here? Thou trim Apostate, speak.
Thou shak'st for Fear, I feel thy false Heart Pant.

Phil.
Ah mighty Grimbald,
Who would not Fear, when seiz'd in thy strong Gripe;
But here me, Oh Renown'd, Oh worthy Fiend,
The Favourite of our Cheif.

Grimb.
Away with fullsome Flattery,
The Food of Fools; thou know'st where last we met,
When but for thee, the Christians had been swallow'd
In quaking Bogs, and Living sent to Hell.

Phil.
Aye, then I was seduc'd by Merlin's Art,
And half persuaded by his soothing Tales,
To hope for Heav'n; as if Eternal Doom
Cou'd be Revers'd, and undecreed for me:
But I am now set Right.

Grimb.
Oh still thou think'st to fly a Fool to Mark.

Phil.
I fled from Merlin, free as Air that bore me,
T'unfold to Osmond all his deep Designs.

Grimb.
I believe nothing, Oh thou fond Impostor,
When wert thou last in Hell? Is not thy Name
Forgot, and Blotted from th'Infernal Roll;
But since thou say'st, thy Errand was to Osmond,
To Osmond sha'lt thou go; March, know thy Driver.

Phil.
Kneeling.
Oh spare me Grimbald, and I'll be thy Slave:
Tempt Hermits for thee, in their Holy Cells,
And Virgins in their Dreams.

Grimb.
Canst thou, a Devil, hope to cheat a Devil?
A Spy; why that's a Name abhorr'd in Hell;
Haste forward, forward, or I'll Goad thee on,
With Iron Spurrs.

Phil.
But use me kindly then:
Pull not so hard, to hurt my Airy Limbs;
I'll follow thee unforc'd; look, there's thy way.

Grimb.
Ay, there's the way indeed; but for more surety
I'll keep an Eye behind: Not one Word more,
But follow decently.

Grimbald goes out, dragging Philidel.
Phil.
aside.
So, catch him Spell.

Grimb.
within.
Oh help me, help me, Philidel.

Phil.
Why, What's the matter?

Grimb.
Oh, I am ensnar'd;
Heav'ns Birdlime wraps me round, and glues my Wings.
Lose me, and I will free thee;
Do, and I'll be thy Slave.

Phil.
What, to a Spy, a Name abhorr'd in Hell?

Grimb.
Do not insult, Oh, Oh, I grow to Ground;
The Fiery Net draws closer on my Limbs.

Phil.
Thou shalt not have the Ease to Curse in Torments:
Be Dumb for one half Hour; so long my Charm
Can keep thee Silent, and there lie
Till Osmond breaks thy Chain.

Philidel unbinds his own Fetters.
Enter to him Merlin, with a Vial in his Hand; and Arthur.
Mer.
Well hast thou wrought thy Safety with thy Wit,
My Philidel; go Meritorious on.
Me, other Work requires, to view the Wood,
And learn to make the dire Inchantments void.
Mean time attend King Arthur in my Room;
Shew him his Love, and with these Soveraign Drops,
Restore her Sight.

Exit Merlin giving a Viol to Philidel.
Phil.
We must work, we must haste;
Noon-Tyde Hour, is almost past:
Sprights, that glimmer in the Sun,
Into Shades already run.
Osmond will be here, anon.

Enter Emmeline and Matilda, at the far end of the Wood.
Arth.
O yonder, yonder she's already found:
My Soul directs my sight, and flies before it.
Now, Gentle Spirit, use thy utmost Art;
Unseal her Eyes; and this way lead her Steps.

Arthur withdraws behind the Scene. Emmeline and Matilda come forward to the Front.
Philidel approaches Emmeline, sprinkling some of the Water over her Eyes, out of the Vial.
Phil.
Thus, thus I infuse
These Soveraign Dews.
Fly back, ye Films, that Cloud her sight,
And you, ye Chrystal Humours bright,
Your Noxious Vapours purg'd away,
Recover, and admit the Day.
Now cast your Eyes abroad, and see
All but me.

Em.
Ha! What was that? Who spoke?

Mat.
I heard the Voice; 'tis one of Osmond's Fiends.

Em.
Some blessed Angel sure; I feel my Eyes
Unseal'd, they walk abroad, and a new World
Comes rushing on, and stands all gay before me.

Mat.
Oh Heavens! Oh Joy of Joys! she has her sight!

Em.
I am new-born; I shall run mad for Pleasure.
Staring on Mat.
Are Women such as thou? Such Glorious Creatures?

Arth.
aside.
Oh how I envy her, to be first seen!

Em.
Stand farther; let me take my fill of sight.
Looking up.
What's that above, that weakens my new Eyes,
Makes me not see, by seeing.

Mat.
'Tis the Sun.

Em.
The Sun, 'tis sure a God, if that be Heav'n:
Oh, if thou art a Creature, best and fairest,
How well art thou, from Mortals so remote,
To shine, and not to burn, by near approach!
How hast thou light'ned even my very Soul,
And let in Knowledge by another sense!
I gaze about, new-born, to Day and thee;
A Stranger yet, an Infant of the World!
Art thou not pleas'd, Matilda? Why, like me,
Dost thou not look and wonder?

Mat.
For these Sights
Are to my Eyes familiar.

Em.
That's my Joy,
Not to have seen before: For Nature now,
Comes all at once, confounding my Delight.
But ah! what Thing am I? Fain wou'd I know;
Or am I blind, or do I see but half?
With all my Care, and looking round about,
I cannot view my Face.

Mat.
None see themselves
But by Reflection; in this Glass you may.

Gives her a Glass.
Emm.
taking the Glass, and looking.
What's this?
It holds a Face within it: Oh sweet Face;
It draws the Mouth, and Smiles, and looks upon me;
And talks; but yet I cannot hear it Speak:
The pretty thing is Dumb.

Mat.
The pretty thing
You see within the Glass, is you.

Emm.
What, Am I two? Is this another me?
Indeed it wears my Cloaths, has Hands like mine;
And Mocks what e'er I do; but that I'm sure
I am a Maid, I'd swear it were my Child.
Matilda looks.
Look my Matilda; We both are in the Glass,
Oh, now I know it plain; they are our Names
That peep upon us there

Mat.
Our Shadows, Madam.

Emm.
Mine is a prettier Shaddow far, then thine.
I Love it; let me Kiss my to'ther Self.
Kissing the Glass, and hugging it.
Alas, I've kiss'd it Dead; the fine Thing's gone;
Indeed it Kiss'd so Cold, as if 'twere Dying.
Arthur comes forward softly; shewing himself behind her.
'Tis here again!
Oh no, this Face is neither mine nor thine;
I think the Glass has Born another Child.
She turns and sees Arthur.
Ha! What art thou with a new kind of Face,
And other Cloaths, a Noble Creature too;
But taller, bigger, fiercer in thy Look;
Of a Comptrolling Eye, Majestick make?

Mat.
Do you not know him, Madam?

Emm.
Is't a Man?

Arth.
Yes, And the most unhappy of my kind,
If you have chang'd your Love.

Emm.
My dearest Lord!
Was my Soul Blind; and cou'd not that look out,
To know you, e're you Spoke? Oh Counterpart
Of our soft Sex; Well are ye made our Lords;
So bold, so great, so God-like are ye form'd.
How can ye Love such silly Things as Women?

Arth.
Beauty like yours Commands; and Man was made
But a more boisterous; and a stronger Slave,
To you, the best Delights of human Kind.

Emm.
But are ye mine? Is there an end of War?
Are all those Trumpets Dead themselves, at last,
That us'd to kill Men with their Thundring Sounds?

Arth.
The Sum of War is undecided yet;
And many a breathing Body must be Cold,
Ere you are free.

Emm.
How came ye hither then?

Arth.
By Merlin's Art, to snatch a short liv'd Bliss;
To feed my Famish'd Love upon your Eyes,
One Moment, and depart.

Emm.
O Moment, worth—
Whole Ages past, and all that are to come!
Let Love-sick Oswald, now, unpitied mourn;
Let Osmond mutter Charms to Sprights in vain.
To make me Love him; all shall not change my Soul.

Arth.
Ha! Does the Inchanter practice Hell upon you?
Is he my Rival too?

Emm.
Yes, but I hate him;
For when he spoke, through my shut Eyes I saw him;
His Voice look'd ugly, and breath'd Brimstone on me:
And then I first was glad that I was Blind,
Not to behold Damnation.

Phil.
This time is left me to Congratulate
Your new-born Eyes; and tell you what you gain
By sight restor'd, and viewing him you love.
Appear, you Airy Forms.

Airy Spirits appear in the Shapes of Men and Women.
Man
sings.
Oh Sight, the Mother of Desires,
What Charming Objects dost thou yield!
'Tis sweet, when tedious Night expires,
To see the Rosie Morning guild
The Mountain-Tops, and paint the Field!
But, when Clorinda comes in sight,
She makes the Summers Day more bright;
And when she goes away, 'tis Night.

Chor.
When Fair Clorinda comes in sight, &c.

Wom.
sings.
'Tis sweet the Blushing Morn to view;
And Plains adorn'd with Pearly Dew:
But such cheap Delights to see,
Heaven and Nature,
Give each Creature;
They have Eyes, as well as we.
This is the Joy, all Joys above,
To see, to see,
That only she
That only she, we love!

Chor.
This is the Joy, all Joys above, &c.

Man
sings.
And, if we may discover,
What Charms both Nymph and Lover,
'Tis, when the Fair at Mercy lies,
With Kind and Amorous Anguish,
To Sigh, to Look, to Languish,
On each others Eyes!

Chor. of all Men & Wom.
And if we may discover, &c.

Phil.
Break off your Musick; for our Foes are near.

Spirits vanish.
Enter Merlin.
Merl.
My Soveraign, we have hazarded too far;
But Love excuses you, and prescience me.
Make haste; for Osmond is even now alarm'd,
And greedy of Revenge, is hasting home.

Arth.
Oh take my Love with us, or leave me here.

Merl.
I cannot, for she's held by Charms too strong:
Which, with th'Inchanted Grove must be destroy'd;
Till when, my Art is vain: But fear not, Emmeline;
Th'Enchanter has no Pow'r on Innocence.

Em.
to Arth.
Farewel, Since we must part: When you are gone,
I'll look into my Glass, just where you look'd;
To find your Face again;
If 'tis not there, I'll think on you so long,
My Heart shall make your Picture for my Eyes.

Arth.
Where-e'er I go, my Soul shall stay with thee:
'Tis but my Shadow that I take away;
True Love is never happy but by halves;
An April Sun-shine, that by fits appears,
It smiles by Moments, but it mourns by Years.

Exeunt Arthur and Merlin as one Door.
Enter Osmond at the other Door, who gazes on Emmeline, and she on him.
Emm.
Matilda save me, from this ugly Thing,
This Foe to sight, Speak, dost thou know him:

Matil.
Too well; 'tis Osmala's Friend, the great Magician.

Emm.
It cannot be a Man, he's so unlike the Man I Love.

Osm.
aside.
Death to my Eyes, she sees!

Emm.
I wish I cou'd not; but I'll close my Sight,
And shut out all I can—It wo'not be;
Winking, I see thee still, thy odious Image
Stares full into my Soul; and there infects the Room
My Arthur shou'd possess.

Osm.
aside.
I find too late,
That Merlin and her Lover have been here.
If I was fir'd before, when she was Blind,
Her Eyes dart Lightning now, she must be mine.

Emm.
I prithee Dreadful Thing, tell me thy Business here;
And if thou canst, Reform that odious Face;
Look not so Grim upon me.

Osm.
My Name, is Osmond, and my Business Love.

Emm.
Thou hast a griezly look; forbidding what thou askt,
If I durst tell thee so.

Osm.
My Pent-House Eye-Brows, and my Shaggy Beard
Offend your Sight, but these are Manly Signs;
Faint White and Red, abuse your Expectations;
Be Woman; know your Sex, and Love full Pleasures.

Emm.
Love from a Monster, Fiend!

Osm.
Come you must Love, or you must suffer Love;
No Coiness, None, for I am Master here.

Emm.
And when did Oswald give away his Power,
That thou presum'st to Rule? Be sure I'll tell him:
For as I am his Prisoner, he is mine.

Osm.
Why then thou art a Captive to a Captive,
O'er labour'd with the Fight, opprest with Thirst;
That Oswald whom you mention'd call'd for Drink:
I mix'd a Sleepy Potion in his Bowl;
Which he and his Fool Friend, quaff'd greedily,
The happy Dose wrought the desir'd effect;
Then to a Dungeons depth, I sent both Bound:
Where stow'd with Snakes and Adders now they lodge;
Two Planks their Beds; Slippery with Oose and Slime:
The Ratts brush o'er their Faces with their Tails;
And croaking Paddocks crawl upon their Limbs.
Since when the Garison depends on me;
Now know you are my Slave.

Matil.
He strikes a Horrour through my Blood.

Emm.
I Freeze, as if his impious Art had fix'd
My Feet to Earth.

Osm.
But Love shall thaw ye.
I'll show his force in Countries cak'd with Ice,
Where the pale Pole-Star in the North of Heav'n
Sits high, and on the frory Winter broods;
Yet there Love Reigns: For proof, this Magick Wand
Shall change the Mildness of sweet Britains Clime
To Yzeland, and the farthest Thule's Frost;
Where the proud God, disdaining Winters Bounds,
O'er-leaps the Fences of Eternal Snow,
And with his Warmth, supplies the distant Sun.

Osmond strikes the Ground with his Wand: The Scene changes to a Prospect of Winter in Frozen Countries.
Cupid Descends.
Cup.
sings.
What ho, thou Genius of the Clime, what ho!
Ly'st thou asleep beneath those Hills of Snow?
Stretch out thy Lazy Limbs; Awake, awake,
And Winter from thy Furry Mantle shake.

Genius Arises.
Genius.
VVhat Power art thou, who from below,
Hast made me Rise, unwillingly, and slow,
From Beds of Everlasting Snow!
See'st thou not how stiff, and wondrous old,
Far unfit to bear the bitter Cold,
I can scarcely move, or draw my Breath;
Let me, let me, Freeze again to Death.

Cupid.
Thou Doting Fool, forbear, forbear;
VVhat, Dost thou Dream of Freezing here?
At Loves appearing, all the Skie clearing,
The Stormy VVinds their Fury spare:
VVinter subduing, and Spring renewing,
My Beams create a more Glorious Year.
Thou Doting Fool, forbear, forbear;
VVhat, Dost thou Dream of Freezing here?

Genius.
Great Love, I know thee now;
Eldest of the Gods art Thou:
Heav'n and Earth, by Thee were made.
Humane Nature,
Is Thy Creature,
Every where Thou art obey'd.

Cupid.
No part of my Dominion shall be waste,
To spread my Sway, and sing my Praise,
Ev'n here I will a People raise,
Of kind embracing Lovers, and embrac'd.

Cupid waves his Wand, upon which the Scene opens, and discovers a Prospect of Ice and Snow to the end of the Stage.
Singers and Dancers, Men and Women, appears.
Man.
See, see, we assemble,
Thy Revels to hold:
Though quiv'ring with Cold,
We Chatter and Tremble.

Cupid.
'Tis I, 'tis I, 'tis I, that have warm'd ye;
In spight of Cold Weather,
I've brought ye together:
'Tis I, 'tis I, 'tis I, that have arm'd ye.

Chor.
'Tis Love, 'tis Love, 'tis Love that has warm'd us;
In spight of Cold Weather,
He brought us together:
'Tis Love, 'tis Love, 'tis Love that has arm'd us.

Cupid.

A Dance; after which the Singers and Dancers depart.
Emm.
I cou'd be pleas'd with any one but thee,
Who entertain'd my sight with such Gay Shows,
As Men and Women moving here and there;
That Coursing one another in their Steps,
Have made their Feet a Tune.

Osmo.
What, Coying it again!
No more; but make me happy to my Gust,
That is, without your struggling.

Emm.
From my sight,
Thou all thy Devils in one, thou dar'st not force me.

Osmo.
You teach me well, I find you wou'd be Ravish'd;
I'll give you that excuse your Sex desires.

He begins to lay hold on her, and they struggle.
Grimb.
within.
O help me, Master, help me!

Osmo.
Who's that, my Grimbald! Come and help thou me:
For 'tis thy Work t'assist a Ravisher.

Grimb.
within.
I cannot stir; I am Spell-caught by Philidel,
And purs'd within a Net. With a huge heavy weight of Holy Words,
Laid on my Head, that keeps me down from rising

Osmo.
I'll read 'em backwards, and release thy Bonds:
Mean time go in:—
To Emmeline.
Prepare your self, and ease my Drudgery:
But if you will not fairly be enjoy'd,
A little honest Force, is well employ'd.
Exit Osmond.

Emm.
Heav'n be my Guard, I have no other Friend!
Heav'n ever present to thy Suppliants Aid,
Protect and pity Innocence betray'd.

Exeunt Emmeline and Matilda.