University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

A Banquet; under a Canopy the King, Leonora, Florella, Ladies waiting; Philip, Mendozo, Alonzo, Ordonio, Antonio, Sebastian, Lords and Attendants: as soon as the Scene draws off, they all rise, and come forward.
King.
My Lords you're sad to night; give us loud Musick,—
I have a double cause to mourn;
And grief has taken up its dwelling here,—
Beyond the art of Love, or Wine to conquer.—
'Tis true, my Father's dead,—and possibly
'Tis not so decent to appear thus gay;
But life, and death, are equal to the wretched,—
And whilst Florella frowns,—'tis in that number
(to Flor.
I must account her Slave.—Alonzo,
How came thy Father so bewitch'd to Valour,
(For Abdelazer has no other Virtue)
To recompence it with so fair a Creature?
Was this—a Treasure t' inrich the Devil with?

Alon.
Sir, he has many Virtues, more than Courage,
Royally born, serv'd well this King, and Country;
My Father brought him up to Martial toyls,
And taught him to be Brave; I hope, and Good;—
Beside, he was your Royal Father's Favourite.

King.
No, Alonzo, 'twas not his love to Virtue,
But nice obedience to his King, and Master,
Who seeing my increase of Passion for her,
To kill my hopes, he gave her to this Moor.

Alon.
She's now a virtuous woman, Sir.

King.
Politique Sir, who would have made her other?—
Against her will, he forc'd her to his arms,
Whilst all the world was wondring at his madness.

Alon.
He did it with her Approbation, Sir.

King.
With thine, Florella! cou'dst thou be so criminal!

Flor.
Sir, I was ever taught Obedience;
My humble thoughts durst ne're aspite to you,
And next to that—death, or the Moor, or any thing.

King.
Oh God! had I then told my tale
So feebly, it could not gain belief!
Oh my Florella! this little faith of thine
Has quite undone thy King!—Alonzo,
Why didst not thou forbid this fatal Marriage,
She being thy only Sister?

Alon.
Great Sir, I did oppose it, with what violence
My duty would permit; and wou'd have dy'd
In a just quarrel, of her dear defence:
And Sir, though I submitted to my Father,
The Moor, and I, stand on unequal terms.

Phil.
Come, who dares drink Confusion to this Moor?

Ant.
That, Sir, will I.

Sebast.
And I.

Phil.
Page, fill my Glass, I will begin the Round;
Ye all shall pledge it;—Alonzo, first to thee.

(drinks.
Alon.
To me, Sir!

Phil.
Why yes; thou lovest him,—therefore—
Nay you shall drink it, though 'twere oth' Stygian Lake:—
Take it,—by Heav'n thou'dst Pimp for him to my Mother,—
Nay and after that, give him another Sister.

Alon.
'Tis well you are my Prince.

Phil.
I'de rather be a Prince of Curs;—come, pledge me—

Alon.
Well Sir, I'le give you way—

(drinks.
Phil.
So wou'dst thou any,—though they trod on thee.
So—nay Prince Cardinal, though it be not decent
For one so sanctify'd to drink a Health;
Yet 'tis your Office, both to damn and bless:—
Come, drink and damn the Moor.

Men.
Sir, I'm for no carousing.

Phil.
I'm in an humour now to be obey'd,
And must not be deny'd:—but see, the Moor
(Enter Abdelazer, gazes on them.
Just come to pledge at last,—Page, fill again—

Abd.
I'le do you reason, Prince, whate're it be.

(gives him the Glass.
Phil.
'Twas kindly said;—Confusion to the Moor.

Abd.
Confusion to the Moor—if this vain Boy,
See the next rising Sun.

Phil.
Well done my Lad.—

King.
Abdelazer, you have been missing long,
The Publique good takes up your whole concern,
But we shall shortly ease you of that load.—
Come, let's have some Musick;—
Ordonio, did I not call for Musick?

Ord.
You did, Sir.

Abd.
Roderigo.—

Rod.
My gracious Lord.—

(Roderigo whispers to Abd.
Abd.
No more,—the Prince observes us.

Phil.
There's no good towards when you are whisp'ring.

Ord.
The Musick you commanded, Sir, is ready.

SONG.
Nymph.
Make haste Amintas, come away,
The Sun is up and will not stay,
And oh how very short's a Lovers day.
Make haste, Amintas, to this Grove,
Beneath whose shade so oft I've sat,
And heard my dear lov'd Swain repeat,
How much he Galatea lov'd;
Whilst all the listening Birds around,
Sung to the Musick of the blessed sound.
Make haste Amintas, come away,
The Sun is up and will not stay,
And oh how very short's a Lovers day.
Swain enters, with Shepherds and Shepherdesses, and Pipes.
I hear thy charming voice, my Fair,
And see bright Nymph, thy Swain is here;
Who his devotions had much earlier paid,
But that a Lamb of thine was stray'd:
And I the little wanderer have brought,
That with one angry look from thy fair eyes,
Thou mayst the little Fugitive chastise;
Too great a punishment for any fault.
Come Galatea, haste away,
The Sun is up and will not stay,
And oh how very short's a Lovers day.
Dance.

King.
How likes Florella this?

Flor.
Sir, all delight's so banisht from my soul,
I've lost the taste of every single joy.

Abd.
Gods! this is fine! give me your Art of flattery,
Or something more of this, will ruine me.—
Though I've resolv'd her death, yet whilst she's mine,
I would not have her blown by Summer Flyes.

Phil.
Mark how he snarles upon the King!
The Cur will bite anon.

Abd.
Come my Florella, is't not Bed-time, Love?

Flor.
I'le wait upon you, Sir.

(going out.
Phil.
The Moor has ta'en away, we may depart.

Abd.
What has he ta'en away?

(turns about.
Phil.
The fine gay play-thing, that made us all so merry.

Abd.
Was this your sport?

(to his Wife.
King.
Abdelazer, keep your way:—Good night, fair Creature!

Abd.
I will obey, for once.

(Exit Abd. and Flor.
King.
Why this Resentment, Brother, and in publick?

Phil.
Because he gives me cause, and that in publick.
And Sir, I was not born to bear with Insolence;
I saw him dart Revenge, from both his Eyes,
And bite his angry Lip between his teeth,
To keep his Jealousie from breaking forth;
Which when it does,—stand fast my King.

King.
But Philip, we will find a way to check him;
Till when we must dissemble;—take my counsel,—Good night.

Phil.
I cannot, nor I will not;—yet Good night.
Exit King, and all but Phil. Party
Well Friends, I see the King will sleep away his anger,
And tamely see us murder'd by this Moor;
But I'le be Active, Boys.—
Therefore Antonio, you Command the Horse;
Get what more numbers to our Cause you can:
'Tis a good Cause, and will advance our credit.
We will awake this King, out of his Lethargy of Love,
And make him absolute:—Go to your Charge,
And early in the morning I'le be with you.—
(Ex. all but Phil.
If all fail, Portugal shall be my Refuge,
Those whom so late I Conquer'd, shall Protect me.—
But this Alonzo, I shou'd make an Interest in;
Cou'd I but flatter,—'tis a Youth that's Brave.

Enter Cardinal in haste.
Men.
Fly, fly, my Prince, we are betray'd and lost else.

Phil.
Betray'd and lost! Dreams, idle Coward dreams.

Men.
Sir, by my Holy Order, I'm in earnest,
And you must either quickly fly, or dye;
'Tis so ordain'd:—nor have I time to tell
By what strange miracle I learnt our Fate.

Phil.
Nor care I, I will stay, and Brave it.

Men.
That Sir you shall not, there's no safety here,
And 'tis the Army only can secure us.

Phil.
Where had you this Intelligence?

Men.
I'le tell you as we go to my Apartment;
Where we must put our selves in Holy dress,
For so the Guards are set in every place,
(And those all Moors, the Slaves of Abdelazer)
That 'tis impossible in any other Habit to escape.
Come, haste with me, and let us put 'em on.

Phil.
I'de rather stay and kill, till I am weary;—
Let's to the Queens Apartment, and seize this Moor;
I am sure there the Mongrel's Kennell'd.

Men.
Sir, we lose time in talking,—come with me.

Phil.
Where be these Lowsie Gaberdines?

Men.
I will conduct you to 'em.

Phil.
Mother,—and Moor—Farewell,—
I'le visit you again, and if I do,
My black Infernal, I will Conjure you.

Exeunt.