University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

Sir Samuel Forecasts House.
Enter Althea and Diana.
Dian.
We two, or none, may of our Stars complain,
Who afford us nothing to share but pain;
Each bears her own, and th'others portion too;
This cruel wonder can high friendship do.

Alth.
To us how cheap might they have joy allow'd,
Since both had had what they on each bestow'd!
But yet thy loss I rate above my own,
Fate on thy Love till now did never frown:
Philander thee above the world did prize,
Thy Parents saw him almost with thy Eyes:
All things so prosperous were, thou cou'dst not guess,
An Accident to wound thy happiness.
I wretched Maid, have but a passion lost,
Which if none else, my Parents wou'd have crost;
My lowly hopes do but a step descend,
Whilst thine, from their full height do head-long bend:
This hour that promis'd all, can nothing pay,
And Hymen steals his lighted Torch away.

Dian.
Ah, dear Althea, let not thou and I
Contend who most exceeds in misery;
It is a dismal strife, since were my own
Less, I'de share thine till they were equal grown.
Curse on Ambition, why shou'd Honour take
A present back agen, that Love did make?
On thee Eugenio did his Life bestow,
To me Philander did his Service vow;
Yet both for Honour have those ties despis'd,
And now are fled, or must be sacrific'd.
Unkind Philander, had Love fill'd thy brest
With half those flames thou hast so oft exprest,
They had consumed in their purer fires
All other thoughts, and thou wou'dst never mind,
Who were for Kings, and who for Slaves design'd.

Alth.
The noble sense they show of the sad Fate
Of their dear Country, sets a higher rate
Upon their Love; for who that had a grain
Of Honour in him, cou'd endure the Reign
Of proud Usurpers, whose Relentless will,
Is all the Law by which men spare or kill;
And his true Prince in Banishment behold,
Worthy of more than Fortune can with-hold;
These monstrous with the crimes of prosperous Fate,
The other shining in his adverse State,
So that each stroke of Fortune does but seem
A step for his Heroick mind to climb,
Till he has got above her reach, and then
The Vertue she has try'd she'l love agen?
Though I must truly mourn their ill success,
I cou d not wish Eugenio had done less.

Dian.
Had their high Vertue the least doubt endur'd,
Even with their death it had been cheaply cur'd:
But this brave Act is but to me and you,
A dangerous proof of what before we knew.

Alth.
Though their true worth to us before were clear,
This Act has made it to the world appear;
None ever with that obstinacy lov'd,
But they were pleas'd to see their choice approv'd:
No joy compleat to worthy minds can seem,
Which is not height'ned by the worlds esteem.

Dian.
My heart, Althea, does less grieve it has
Ventur'd it's treasure in so lov'd a cause,
Then that Philander did not let me know
The danger he was like to undergo.

Alth.
Sister, though Laws of Decency refuse,
We shining Swords and glittering Armour use;
Yet a decision of what's right or wrong,
As well as mens, does to our minds belong;
And we best show it when we most approve
Those men that fight in Quarrels which we love:
Though they of Courage have the ruder part,
The Vertue may become a womans heart,
Though not her hand; and she that bravely dares
Expose her Love, sure for her life not cares.
I knew Eugenio must that hazard run,
Nor could consent he should the danger shun;
And had Philander the like thoughts of you,
He without doubt had dealt as freely too.

Dian.
I must confess my love could never yield,
That he agen shou'd win it in the field:
Let me the greatness of your mind admire,
Whilst I deplore the greatness of my fire,
A fire which lends no light, but that which serves
To shew how much what I expos'd deserves,
How much he hazards, and how far I am
From vent'ring him for the whole voice of Fame,
Whose danger had I known, my Eyes, alas!
Had wept a Sea, he wou'd have fear'd to pass;
But we so long of what is past complain,
As if no further mischief did remain,
As if Fate here had her whole malice spent,
And all the Arrows from her Quiver sent.

Alth.
When Fate wou'd harm where Vertue does protect,
She does her guilt and impotence detect;
She can but rob the Vertuous of that rest,
She must restore again with interest,
And all the danger of these Heroes past,
Must needs consider their high worth at last.

Dian.
What we desire, how fain we wou'd believe,
And wish that Fortune knew not to deceive?
But she profusely to some presents makes,
And as unjustly from some others takes.
I fear she's so much to their worth in debt,
She'l nothing pay, because the whole's too great:
Like Tyrants wealth, her Bounties still appear,
Who give to few, what they from many tear.

Alth.
In the mean time I fear our cruel friends
Will not consult our liking, but their ends:
I know they'l press I should Horatio wed,
And promise thee unto some Strangers bed.

Dian.
They may such Matches as they please provide,
But here I vow, I'le never be a Bride
To any but Philander; in that Heart
He taught to love, none else shall have a part.

Alth.
I the like Vow to my Eugenio make,
Which Fates worst malice shan't have power to break;
As Trees expos'd to Storms take deeper root,
Than those that do in peaceful Valleys sprout:
So in all Noble minds, a virtuous Love
By opposition does the firmer prove.

Dian.
'Tis fit, Althea, I now take my leave,
Whilst you prepare Horatio to receive.

Alth.
Farewel, Diana, and be sure you do
Nothing unworthy of your Love and Vow.

Ring.
Exeunt Diana and Althea severally.