 | Heroick Friendship |  |
ACT III.
SCENE I.
SCENE a Garden with several Bowers.Aurosia sitting in one with a Book in her Hand.
Aur.
How trivial is Wit unrul'd by Nature,
How weak to sooth the common ills of Fate?
But oh! how senseless to distracting Love;
Can it Command the Winds, or Rain to cease,
Or Day, on Earth, ungiv'n by the Sun?
What are these Bow'rs and Springs, these vast Profusions
Of all Delights to me; what, what, but Curses,
When the dear Man, that shou'd partake, is absent?
Of Wisdom then, ye Sages, dream no more;
Your stupid Search of Happiness give o'er:
In vain does Reason against Passion move;
And no Philosophy can lessen Love.
Enter King disguis'd.
King.
Weeping Aurosia! Oh that drooping Glory!
Look up in Pity to this little Paradise,
Where all is excellent and sad like thee:
Bless that, tho' I am curs'd. Do thou but Smile,
O Goddess, and the Gardens shall revive;
The Flow'rs, that hang their fading Heads around,
Shall rise and flourish; and the weeping Marbles,
Glowing with Life, shall e'en speak thy Praises;
While I thy Lover, as a God exalted,
(As Jove of old, in Shapes of humblest Love)
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Aur.
Your Flat'ries, Sir, are vain, are lost on me;
You have, unjustly, robb'd me of a Blessing,
The most endearing to my Sex and Youth;
My Life's not half so precious—You've taken Liberty.
King.
And can'st thou miss it here? thy dwelling sweet
Th'Avenues large and lovely, nought Inferior
T'Italian Pride; you've all in use of Life,
So rich, so ornamental, so abounding,
That ev'n the most coveteous of Pleasure,
The Roman Epicures, cou'd wish no more.
Aur.
The harmless Bird, ensnar'd, and thus confin'd,
Within a Golden Cage, to constant Food,
Is still unmindful of her State and Ease;
Mourning she sits, or sings, the tuneful Praises,
Of Pleasures past; the Woods, the shrubby Lawns,
The brisk Companions of her careful Haunts,
And all the sweet Delights of Freedom lost.
King.
What thou callest Liberty, that boundless State,
Which ev'n I enjoy not, may be thine;
For if my Britain is too poor to give it,
Rais'd by thy Smiles, and by thy Love Inspir'd,
What Realms could I not make thee Mistress of?
Aur.
Thy Britain has all Joys the World can give,
But thou art the Confinement, most abhorr'd:
Yes, Thou! and wert thou Mightier than thou art,
Did all the Thrones on Earth pay Homage to thee;
And all the Nations bow their Heads to thine,
Yet should I Slight thee more; yet sooner choose
The Man inferior to my self in all,
But worthy Love! nor need'st thou wonder at it;
For there's a noble Pride in gen'rous Minds,
Which tho' obliging, Scorns to be oblig'd.
King.
Who's he so bold, to think himself Superior
To thee, invaluable matchless Maid!
Do I not, with an awe, behold thy Person?
Behold thy Soul, proportion'd to its Shrine;
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As just, as gracefully, thy Beauties move,
And only Partial, to neglected Love.
As warm in Fancy, as thy Blushes are,
Yet chastly Cruel, as thou'rt chastly Fair;
Nor can'st thou of thy worth thy Knowledge hide,
It flushes through thy Cheeks in lovely Pride.
Aur.
Once more I tell you, Sir, your Flat'ry's gross;
Your Love and Greatness equally despis'd,
They were, and ever will be so by me.
King.
And yet a Time there was, when thy Expressions
Were not so distant from a Monarch's Hopes.
Aur.
I then had Liberty and fear'd to lose it;
But now the worst I dreaded is come on me,
I'll throw my Hatred to thee undissembled.
King.
Insulting Beauty, know thy worst is still to come;
Do'st thou refuse my honourable Love!
Aur.
I do, I dare, it is more hateful to me,
Than the Hounds yelling Noise to Forest Deer,
Than hissing Serpents to the generous Horse;
Thy Love! my Heart strikes back with Horror at it,
As if thou wast not Human! at thy Birth,
Sure all the Monsters of the Sky conjoin'd;
Or Nature anger'd, by the Gods, had thought
Of raising up again the Giants breed.
King.
Yet let me tell thee, haughty, railing Maid,
No other but this Monster shall enjoy thee;
And here I swear, by my resistless Wishes,
Since humblest Love, can't move thee to Compliance,
The God shall rush in Flames: You know my Meaning.
Aur.
First may the Gods, send speedy Vengeance down,
And all that's Hellish settle upon thee;
Oh my fierce Hate! how shall I Curse enough!
May dismal Wars infest thy peaceful Land,
Sink down thy stately Towns, and Tow'rs in Blood,
And may'st thou wander thro' the Earth a Vagabond.
By ev'ry Ruler slighted, unassisted,
And only pity'd by the Poor and Helpless;
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Help, help here, Villains, Murther, Treason.
King.
Call on, call on, thou stubborn Beauty call,
There's not an Ear that can, or dares to hear thee.
Aur.
See Tyrant Lover then, see on the Ground
The Mistress of thy Wishes; tread upon me;
Here on my Breast; and force your Feet within me:
O Rather take my Life, than dearer Honour;
The last, the only Jewel thou hast left me:
Here, in my harmless Bosom plunge a Sword,
I'll not complain; but with my whole last Breath,
I'll pray for you, my great, my good Deliverer,
From your most frightful Self.
Nor will the Gods be deaf to dying Virtue;
For if o'er-ruling Fate shou'd shade your Glories;
And you shou'd have but one Chance left for Happiness,
They'll in that gloomy Hour remember me,
And save you as you sav'd their lov'd Aurosia.
King.
I am resolv'd rather than not be bless'd,
I will be Curs'd; curs'd to thy utmost Wish;
Yes, changing Charmer, think not to escape me.
Aur.
Nor thou thy Punishment; yes cruel King;
A Deed so Brutish will not only raise,
Your wiser Subjects to a Sense of Tyranny,
But instantly unlive the humming Multitude;
Who met in Clusters, will, with headstrong Rage,
Swarm on, and Sting thee, Sting thee to the Heart.
King.
Ha Trifler, doest thou think I fear the Winds?
What tho' it ushers in the dark'ning Clouds,
And hides from Earth the Glories of the Sun,
Yet still, He, to himself, shines bright as ever,
And soon will pierce, and drive those Rebel Vapours,
That durst contract his Heat, and shade his Lustre;
I'll do the Deed, and dare the Dogs to uproar.
Aur.
Suppose them aw'd; yet does not Reason tell thee,
A Monarch should peculiarly preserve
His Deeds untainted from Augmenting Talkers;
If one of meaner Rank shou'd be so wicked,
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But what can guard a King, so firmly listed
In Fames Eternal Volume? nought I tell thee;
Thy very Glory adds to thy Disgrace,
Not only present, but all coming Ages;
Till dying, Death shall close the race of Time,
Will on thy Memory entail a Curse,
And never name thee, but with Scorn and Horror.
King.
Oh Harmony of Reason in a Woman!
Thou perfect Beauty! Beaut'ous in thy Soul;
Why doest thou turn thee, from my just desires;
Yeild to my Love, and by my Crown I swear,
I will not rest till thou art Queen of Britain,
Aur.
It cannot be—
King.
I know it; yes, thou hast some lurking Lover,
Some secret Slave, for whose Embrace, thy Pride,
Perverse and Monsterous, preserves those Joys,
For which I sue in vain—but by the Pow'rs I'll blast them
This instant now; you shall not boast your Vows,
Nor fondly triumph o'er Imperial Passion.
[Struggling she gets from him.
Aur.
You may indeed, with brutal Strength, you may,
Compel me to your Will; but know, O King,
You never shall again; for if the Sword or Poison
Be from my reach remov'd, I'll Starve to Death;
And this, I swear, by Virtue and the Gods;
By all the Merits of unspotted Maids,
And all the Infamy of Honour lost.
King.
Do what thou wilt, thy Death ensue my Joys,
By all the Raptures of inflam'd Desire,
By sneaking Penitence for Passion baffl'd,
Before I part from thee I will enjoy thee.
Aur.
Can nothing, nothing, save me—oh consider
How tastless must your Satisfaction be,
How base, unless by full Consent refin'd?
Nor need you, Sir, despair of that; for you
Have all the Thousand ways of winning Man,
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And all the Arts which soften Stubborn Maids.
King.
If I'm the Master of those taking Graces
How can'st thou be excus'd designing Flatterer?
Aur.
You were still us'd, as all your sighing Sex
Still ought to be, tho' ne'er so much belov'd.
Tho' you're a King, you wou'd not have the Maid,
You favour with your Love, prevent your Courtship?
Courtship's the Voyage of the Love-sick Mind,
Which makes the chosen Home far more delightful.
King.
The light of Love dispells my dark Desires,
And warms my Breast anew with brighter Bliss:
Ye Gods! to clasp the warm, the willing Fair,
While Thoughts recounts the Sums of Sighs she cost,
The Years of anxious Tears; Transport! 'tis this
Which makes us prize the Priviledge of Reason;
'Tis this alone, which makes Enjoyment Pleasure.
Oh may I hope!
Aur.
Inlarge me, Court me as a Lover ought.
Can I say more?
King.
No, thou hast said enough to sweeten Years
Of Barren Love: Inlarge thee! yes, this Hour
Thou shalt be free as Woman can desire;
Tho' thou hast Charms to Captivate Mankind,
Yet has thou Wit and Courage to withstand them:
Thou'rt worthy to be trusted with thy self,
But e're I go to order thy release,
May I not seal thy Friendship on thy Lips?
I must—
Aur.
Hold Sir, there will be time enough for this.
What you?—let me go—perform your Promise.
Enter Guiderius.
Guid.
Is that Aurosia? Ha! ye blasting Furies,
Am I alive! is Nature as it was!
The Heav'ns and Earth, the Seas, and Air in Tune!
Or is all Order lost, and Chaos come!
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Doest thou still push me to my latest Gasp.
King.
My Brother here! Confusion! Death 'tis so,
This is the Mistress he is freed to Visit.
Aur.
Guiderius here, then Secrecy's no more,
And Truth's my only refuge now, tho' fatal.
Guid.
The King, the King, Aurosia!
Aur.
My Honour was at Stake; I die if you suspect me.
Guid.
First let Guiderius die and all Mankind.
King.
So warmly fond! Why was the Rebel freed,
Or why his Life prolong'd? curse on my Folly!
Aur.
Urge not thy Fate unarm'd, an easie Prey
To ready Vengeance, oh forego thy Fondness!
It does but tempt his Sword, ah let me rather
With his Embrace be Curss'd, than see thee Perish.
[To Guid.
Guid.
Much rather let me hold thee faster yet;
Thus guard thy Beauties, tho' it cost my Life.
King.
And it shall cost thy Life, presumptious Traytor.
Aur.
What means the King, behold he is unarm'd.
[Aurosia breaks from Guiderius and runs to the King.
Oh think upon your Fame, your Dearer part;
I cannot see you rashly use it thus,
For the vain Pride of seeing you distracted;
I Love you! nay, you can't but know I love you.
Did I not bid you Court me as a Lover?
I meant, I was asham'd to yeild to ought
But Kindness: Did not then my languid Eyes
Speak clear this Truth? you cou'd but observe them.
What has been since, was only meant to try you;
Yes, now I find you true as my own Wishes;
O take me to your Arms, and bind be ever.
Guid.
Why do I live? Why have I been releas'd
To this Heart damning Sight? Oh! Had I not
Enough, enough before, ye Gods! or am I,
Of Human kind, ordain'd your sportive Tryal,
How much of Torture they can bear, and live?
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Now Jove, thou weilder of Eternal Thunder,
When the blasphemous Mortal strikes thy God-head,
If thus embrac'd, transfix him, thou can'st,
O can there be Deceit in this Aurosia?
There can't, thou dear one: Oh! how bless'd am I?
Guid.
How far more false is she?
Aur.
False! Credulous Bubble, am not I a Woman?
False! I were false indeed, false to my self
If true to thee: Where are thy Crowns, thy Kingdoms,
Will Merit only gain a Woman's Heart?
Guid.
Inevitably lost, by all that's true!
Or were she ever so? oh if she were,
There's not a Fiend on Earth, but's good to her.
How oft she has bound her perjur'd self to me?
Has she not sworn and vow'd whole Hours away?
And when we have sunk in languishing Discourses,
Or through each others meeting melting Eyes,
Enlarg'd our Closet Souls to silent Language;
Has she not broke it off in weeping Raptures,
Wanton'd in new invented Protestations,
As if her greatest Joy was giving me her Heart,
Or that she never cou'd enough ensure it?
King.
Thou lying loose Tongue Slave! but I'll revenge her.
[Draws.
Aur.
Think on thy Fame: 'tis I that am abus'd;
'Tis I must be reveng'd; and by an Act
Shall prove me worthy of thee: loose the Sword—
[Gets the Sword, runs to Guiderius.
Here take it, rouze thee to a just Revenge;
Kill, kill the Tyrant, save thy Self and me:
Kill him and be a King.
King.
See this ye Pow'rs! this damn'd, this very Women!
Aur.
Do it with speed, or give the Sword to me.
Guid.
Why shou'd the name of King or Brother awe me,
He is my Enemy, in Love my Rival;
And if he lives I die; this to his Heart;
[Makes a Pass at the King, and drops the Sword.
O Gods! my Strength drops short, it will not be.
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King.
Is there none near! help here, and save your King.
Claud.
None that will help thee most detested Traytor!
Thou Traytor, to the Laws of Love and me;
Me, whose victorious Beauties thou hast slighted,
Me, the lawful Mistress of thy Heart,
To whom thou hast so often sworn Allegiance.
King.
Confusion! Furies! ha! thou Roman Whore!
Is't come to this? Dar'st thou insult me, Slave?
Thou Slave by Sex; tho' rais'd my Slave of Pleasure;
Duty and Silence is your proper Lesson,
And hear you; learn it better for the future,
Or there are Rods for stubborn Disobedience.
Claud.
For this thou diest tho' guarded by the Gods.
[Runs to the King, is held by Guiderius, releas'd by Aurosia.
Guid.
Virtue, the Instrument of Heav'n prevent.
Aur.
Prevent the Punishment of perjur'd Lovers;
Of Ravishment! no there I bar thy Virtue.
Guid.
Love has condemn'd, and Majesty must bleed,
Yet let me turn my Face and hide me,
If it be possible, from quick Damnation.
Claud.
Let the King live for ever, since his Life
[Aside ...]
Obstructs his Bliss. Thou subtle Fair, this Night
Thy Life is necessary to my Hopes,
Or thou should'st feel the fall thou Wishes him. [... Aside]
Sir, tho' I spare you, I expect Repentance,
Or certain Vengeance follows slighted Mercy.
King.
Vengeance is mine, delay but gives it Weight,
That heavier it may fall upon your destin'd Heads,
And Crush ye to the Earth from whence you sprung,
Like Brambles, to perplex the Eagles Game:
To morrow, till to morrow, triumph on,
That Death and Ruin may be more deplor'd
Aur.
To morrow rather may to thy dishonour dawn,
And farther blaze thy Shame! you may believe Sir,
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May frustrate Fate, and bubble Jove himself.
Claud.
Yes Tyrant yes!
Woman's the last, the Master Stroke of Nature,
The finish'd World's Epitome; the Skies
And all their Glory Circle in her Eyes,
But in her Heart, the Mother Moon presides,
The Winds, and Sister Seas, with Fatal Tides;
Fatal to him, who dares her Strength oppose,
Or Trust her shining Smiles where deep Destruction flows.
King.
Once Traitress, hast thou spoke the Truth, and now,
Woman thou cunning Curse, for e'er adieu,
Possest a Plague, a Peril to pursue.
Ye Beauteous Witches; that with luring Spells,
And Magick Glances to distracting Cells,
Or Airy Hopes, your Mist-blind Lovers bring,
Think not hence forward to enchant a King,
Ye're Sickness, Folly, Slav'ry, Glories fall,
Y'are Marriage too, and in that Word y'are all.
[Exit King on one Side, Guiderius and Aurosia on the other.
Claud.
Aurosia has him now; the happy hated she!
Enfolded in his Arms with dying Smiles,
She draggs him from my racking Fancy hence,
The Morning forms that Curses her for ever.
Yes thou lov'd loving Maid, enjoy him all;
This Night within thy Secret Bed secure him,
Feed on his Lips, and Languish on his Breast,
Receive the Joys that cannot be exprest,
His Reputation Nature will restore,
And Man is Man, altho' possess'd before.
[Exit.
Re-enter Guiderius and Aurosia.
Guid.
Bless'd with her Absence, with thy Presence charm'd,
Let me indulge my Love; thou mark of all my Longings,
My ev'ry utmost Wish: O real Blessing!
Thou sure wer't Heav'ns Pandora, every God
Bestow'd upon thee, some divine Perfection;
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Me thou has destin'd for the happy Man,
That must enjoy the Labours of whole Heav'n.
Aur.
And who than thou is worthier of my Heart?
Was not thy Mind with Love and Honour fraught,
Incapable of ought but God-like Thoughts;
Yet oh thy Frame, where all the Graces dwell,
Which first they fashion'd, where they still rejoice,
Crow'd in thy Eyes, and slide upon their Beams,
Dance in thy Breath, and from each winning Word,
Might well excuse a brighter nicer Maid,
The yeilding of her Soul: But oh Guiderius!
Am I secure of thee, what meant the King
By Vengeance, Death, Ruin, and to Morrow?
Guid.
Urg'd by the Winds, th'unstable Seas will rise
To heights enormous, threatning ev'n Heav'n it self;
But soon as the Disturbers quit the Air;
Their Rage abates and dies in drowsy Murmurs;
For Wrath, like Thunder, dreadful at its Birth,
Still lessens e'en to Nothing. At the most,
To morrow is the Gods, and may be mine,
If mighty Resolution stands unshaken.
Aur.
Are your Designs so forward?
Guid.
Forward they are; the rest at better leisure:
But now gay Night advances from the East,
Diffusing dewy Sleep, the Food of Souls;
She beckons to repast the fainting Labourers.
Why may not we, my Love, my better Life!
Why may not we retire, and give our Selves
A richer Feast, than sleepy Nature knows?
Aur.
What means he? still thou eager beating Heart—
[Aside ...]
Yet Opportunity—what forward Check?
O Pride insatiate; is it not enough
You Tyrannize in Publick? must you too,
Inslave our dearest Privacies. [... Aside]
Guid.
Come hide those doubtful Blushes in my Arms,
Needless are Fears to long familiar Lovers;
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First forc'd my Eyes, and triumph'd o'er my Soul,
And taught me all the Pleasures of Obedience.
O Goddess! Ruler! nay, thou art my Life,
I've not a Vein but what runs full of thee;
And Plays with constant Motion in my Heart:
O come, in Pity crown my well known Service,
From wretched Chastity, let us be gone;
Love! Love! the God will plunge us into Plenty,
Methinks I see the sacred laughing Boy,
Pointing to Joys immortal and untasted,
He calls, he courts me on; my dear Aurosia
I will, I can no longer be deny'd.
Aur.
Stand off, art thou Guiderius! no;
Thou can'st not be that faithful, virtuous Lover,
Which once was mine; rather some Fiend from Hell
That has usurp'd his God-like form to tempt me.
Guid.
[Kneels.]
O stop those deadly Words, truce with those Frowns,
But while I speak, but while I sue for Mercy;
And then renew them with redoubled fierceness:
Loose them upon me, be my Heart their Prey;
I'll not repine, but think their Rigour Justice;
And only Curse myself, that had the Pow'r
So vastly to offend as to deserve them.
Aur.
Rise, rise my Lord! you know your Pow'r with me,
'Tis the first time I e'er thought ill of you,
And therefore if you can excuse your self,
I willingly attend to Hear and Pardon you.
Guid.
Indulging Excellence, thus low I thank thee;
[Kneeling.
And now let me invoke the knowing Gods,
To hear, and with unbated Plagues, pursue me
With thy returning Frowns, or stab me ever;
If I meant ill: no thou unsully'd Beauty,
I'd have thee mine, but not polluted mine;
Hymen shou'd give thee, to my eager Breast,
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Oh that kind Smile; it has recheer'd my Soul,
And furious Gladness turns my Brains again;
May I not speak once more, may I not crave
Some Reason of my Love, if but to satisfy
My wilful Heart, that pines away with Fondness?
Why may we not, this sweet inviting hour,
End the just Wishes of our Guardian Genii,
And make our selves the Happiest of Humanity.
Aur.
How vain is Reason to the tempted Maid,
That dreads e'en her own Anger:
[Aside.
Tho' Virtue will it, yet the babling World,
Wou'd with their Nonsence vex my future Peace;
Then to prevent them, I wou'd wed thee publickly,
While all the vulgar Instruments of Custom,
should sound it round, and loudly wish us Joy.
Guid.
Common Rejoycings are for common Passions;
But ours is Noble, 'tis a Princely Love,
and Secrecy best fits its awful State;
The list'ning Rabble, shou'd but guess our Joys,
And that they must—for e'ery well pleas'd God,
Will complaisantly stretch his Pow'r this Night.
To show it in th'unwonted course of Nature,
Their Skies will be with Myriads more of Stars
Illumin'd; and the Moon, with Matron Majesty
Will bless the Tye; officious Zephirs, wafting
Rich Dews from far; shall sweetly scent the Air,
And open with their silken Hand the Flowers,
Around the ready Earth; while ev'ry Sphere,
In gorgeous Robes array'd, shall nimbly Dance,
To the most sprightly Tunes of artful Heav'n.
Aur.
[Aside.]
What can I do, Desires and Expectations
Unknown before, unbar my straitned Soul,
The Traytors long disguis'd, now show themselves,
And my unaided Mind per Force must yeild.
Guid.
No more of Thought my Fair, the Time draws on;
Oh let us, let us seize the passing Hours,
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For now each ripen'd Minute which we loose,
Is an whole Year of Life.
Aur.
Take me then, take me all,
Too much I love thee to deny thee longer;
But as our Passion's Great, it shall be Just;
A Friendly Priest within of Hymens Order,
Him I'll prepare while you at distance follow.
[Exit Aurosia.
Guid.
Thou speaks my very Thoughts; haste my Aurosia:
She's gone, the obliging Beauty, to make ready,
And with her tempting Eyes, and blushing Smiles,
Kindly invites me to the Feast of Love;
Now ye, in after Times, who hear my Story,
Wonder not that I thus in Death can dote,
And make my Bride-Bed even of my Grave!
For she has Charms might raise the Rocks to Wishes,
Or sink the troubled Waves to languid murmurs.
Say then, ye Gods! who read our inmost Souls,
Tho' my vast Fortunes all in Ruins lie,
Tho' I'm condemn'd, and must to morrow die,
This Night is mine, and oh!
Is there on Earth a Man so bless'd as I.
[Exit Guiderius.
Finis Actus Tertii.
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