University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A pleasant part of a small and uninhabited Island with a prospect of the sea: several trees of a foreign growth, rude caves and grottoes, with shrubs and flowers. On the forepart of the stage, to the right hand, is a great rock on which is an unfinished inscription in European characters.
Constantia
alone, wildly apparelled with skins, leaves and flowers, with the hilt and broken part of a sword in her hand, appears employed in finishing the Inscription.
What task so arduous, but unwearied toil
At length effects! Hard is this stubborn rock,
Rude is this instrument, and weak the hand
That inexperienc'd guides it: yet behold
My long laborious work how near complete.
Grant me to finish this! then, gracious Heaven!
Release me from a life replete with sorrows.
Should Fortune e'er, in future times, transport
Some traveller to tread these shores unknown,
This rock at least shall from oblivion's power
Preserve my sufferings, and record my story.
[reads.]
“Constantia, by Gernando's guile betray'd,
“Forsaken here, on this far-distant coast,
“Clos'd the sad remnant of her wretched days.
“Whoe'er thou art, that read'st these mournful lines,
“If savage fierceness dwell not in thy breast,
“Revenge or pity—
—“my distastrous fate.”
These words alone are wanting: let me then
Conclude what yet remains to crown my toil.

[returns to her work.