Love and revenge a tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre / written by Elkanah Settle ...

ACT the Fifth.

Scene the First.

The Scene a Prison. Clarmount and Fredigond appear bound.

Enter Nigrello.

Clarm.

ARt thou here? Persidious Slave, is this the gratitude Thou pay'st thy Royal Mistriss?

Queen.

Barbrous Villain, Thou hast out-done even thy own Native soyle, And made thy self a Monster, more deform'd Then e're thy Africk bred.

Nigr.

Go on.

Clarm.

Oh Impudence! Hear me ye sacred Pow'rs, in punishment

To such Ingratitude, may you invent A Plague, for yet your Vengeance never sent On all the sinners since the Worlds Creation, One bad enough for him. But if the Gods Are barren at Invention, let 'em joyn All th••••r old Plagues in one; and if that prove Too light, add my Gall to't to make it weight.

Nigr.

You're not so good at Curses, as I am At pardon••ng 'em: Thus I reward your Rage.

[Unbinds 'em.

Clarm.

What means this Pageantry? some fair disguise To palliate thy guilt. Mock us with freedom, To cut our throats more pleasantly. Is't not Enough to kill, but you must have the vanity Of a Surprize in acting it?

Nigr.

You wrong me.

Clarm.

'Tis likely; you're so innocent the least Spot stains you. First, betray our privacy And thy Queens Honour, then to have her seiz'd And drag'd by servile hands into a Dungeon, Loaded with Chains, and all to have th'occasion T'oblige her with the taking of 'em off agen. How thin, and how transparent are thy cheats?

Nigr.

Sir, t'undeceive you, know that I am guiltless: And though I was the man that seiz'd you, sent you To Prison, used all cruelty and rudeness I could invent, 'twas all design'd to serve you.

Queen.

He speaks like Oracles in Mysteries.

Nigr.

And like them too speak truth. Your Son betrayd you: But by what information he surpriz'd you In so retired a place, I know not; but Finding you were betrayd, and by the Prince Beset; I, at the Alarm strait joyn'd With the Confederates, appeared their Friend. Pursued the chace more eagerly then they, And was the first, and fiercest that a••••acqued you. I first proposed this Dungeon for you Lodging,

And as kind Fate would have it, by that intrest, My Service to the Prince in his recovery, Had gain'd me in his breast, It was thought honest, And my design embraced. Thus was I made Your Jaylour, and thus your Deliverer.

Clarm.

Can this be truth?

Queen.

He cant sure be so great A Villain as this makes him, if't be false: We have found him honest; this was not the first time That he has been the Guardian of our Honour, In places too, where had he then proved false, Our Infancy had been more loud, and our Disgrace more publick then by seizing us In so retired a place as this. Why not A Villain then? If he intended Treason, Why mist he such much fairer opportunities To act it? no, he is; he must be honest.

Clarm.

Since your mistrust is gone, mine too must vanish.

Nigr.

But Madam, Courtesies that cost us nothing, Cannot be acts of Gratitude: Fate (I thank it) To pay my Debts to you, a glorious path has shown, By saving your Lives I expose my own: But danger's welcome in so great a cause.

Queen.

Nigrello, kind Nigrello, how I love thee.

Nigr.

Your pious Son has such strict sense of Honour, That though perhaps Nature may intercede for You▪ For Clarmount, he designs a death in Tortures: But when he shall have heard I saved his Life, What danger will my humble weakness run, By the just anger of so great a Prince; How easily am I crusht by such a hand: Yet all this Madam, I dare undertake, When acted for my Royal Mrs. sake.

Queen.

My kind preserver, I want words to thank thee

Nigr.

I ask no thanks; all the requital I Desire, is, that you two would Love for ever.

Under the ••••elt••r of so blest an Union I'm certain to be safe; whilst that Tye hold••; That sacred tye of Love, you'•• cast some thoughts. On your poor humble Slave, and guard him from An angry Princes rage: But if that Chain Be ever broke, my shaken fortune sinks, And all I am expires and dyes, if e're You cease to Love—

Queen.

If what we owe to thee, Can by our Loves be paid, doubt not your Debtors, We are too Rich in Love e're to be Bankrupts.

Clarm.

When we cease Loving, we must cease to be: Our Loves are Register'd in Heaven; or if They be not yet, they shall be. Ye dull Destinies, I'le dictate while you write. Our Love desires To last as long as Fate, for I am serves 'Tis as unchangeable. To those fair Eyes I'le dedicate my Life, my Soul, my—

Nigrello stamps, and immediately a Company of Villains rush in with drawn Swords, and massacre the Queen and Clarmount.

Nigr.

Down, down with them you Dogs; one minutes Life May save their souls. So, you've done well, Lay their bodyes where I order'd, And when I give the sign agen, be ready.

Exeunt Villains, carrying out Clarmount and Fredigond.

Revenge, oh dear Revenge. Name me the man In Story that e're prosecuted Vengeance So far as I have done. Had I took their lives When they expected death, they then might have Prepared for dying, and death would have been all. But now to raise 'em to the hopes of Life, Nay, and to work'em up to vow the leading A profane Life in an unlawful Lust; And whilst the impious Vow was sealing, then To stop th'Adultrous breath just in that minute,

As damn'd their Souls, is a revenge so charming. But business now grows thick. Here I have lodged Aphelia, and expect the King. Burn on, Burn on my best loved Rage. Ye infernal Furies Be kind, and heighten my weak gall; be but My Slaves to day, and be my Saints to morrow.

Enter King and a Lord attending him.

Lord.

The Castle is surrounded, and their number Is twenty thousand, and the greatest part Are Childricks Souldiers, Souls of blood and fire. A fiercer Troop, and spirits more resolved, Life never put in action.

King.

Let 'em come on, This Castle will endure A Fortnights Siege. Before which time's expired, My Brother with the noblest blood of France, Whom I have Commission'd to suppress their out-rage, Shall lash these Rebels for their insolence. Leave us. Nigrello.

Exit Lord.

Nigr.

Sir.

King.

Bring Aphelia in.

Exit Nigrello.

Love, thou hast had thy flight; now Hate take thine, Whilst my blind Faith believed her Chast, my Faith Made my Devotion; I believ'd that Heav'n Was lodged in her, and so I kneelt and worshipt. But now I see I have misplaced my prayers, And find that Idol-Beauty I adored, No true Divinity: To expiate My misled Zeal, I'le put the false light out, And down in dust, low as the grave, degrade That painted God my Superstition made.

Enter Nigrello and Aphelia.

Aph.

Is this my King? why wears your angry brow So dark a Cloud? I have deserved no frowns:

Yet by the calculation of your looks, I find I have not long to Live.

Nigr.

Yes, Live. Confess, and turn thy Fate: Tell me what damnd Infernal Fury tempted thee to quit Thy Innocence, and leave a stain behind it So deep, as spreads Contagion o're thy Soul.

Aph.

How Royal Sir, what means—

King.

Hold, Confess thy Crimes, but make 'em not too horrid; Say that thy sin was not so black; say that The lustful Villain offer'd Marriage to thee, And by a Trecherous and Perfidious craft, Gilded the sin, till it look'd fair and lovely. Abused thy tender years and weaker knowledge, To take a possession of thy Virgin Honour Before the deeds were sealed that should convey it. Say he betray'd thee.

Aph.

Hold Sir—

King.

That too much still. Say that he gave thee philters, and so poyson'd Thy purer Nature, till the infectious herbs Had stupified that sense which was the guard Of thy untainted Honour, till thy Soveraign Reason was from its Royal seat deposed, And so thy Frenzy, not thy Lust undid thee.

Aph.

I am all horrour.

King.

Hold; That shape's too black still; Say that the Villain did it by surprize. Found thee alone, or sleeping, and his Dagger Pointed against thy heart, by force extorted The fatal prize, whilst fear, not guilt betray'd thee. Say any thing to make thee seem less monstrous. Whilst I behold that face I love so well still, I would not have thee ••aln from all that's good; I ••ain would think thee Virtuous, if I could.

Aph.

Stay Royal Sir, and hear an injur'd Maid: I've felt the Tyranny of Prisons, Chains, My Soveraigns frowns; and those I've born with courage. But t'hear my King accuse me of a Crime, Of which my thoughts, nor dreams were never guilty. If I betray'd my Virtue, I must lay The Scene of Treason in some strange dark place As Sun ne're saw: For after such a stain I could not look Light in the face and live.

King.

How impudent is Lust; she never thought, Not she, nor dreamt an ill. Because some Charity For her Soul, and some little kindness for her Beauty Made me so fond, to wish her Crime might be As little as it could; she at next word Has Innocence enough to stock a Saint, And takes the borrow'd Name without a blush.

Aph.

Mistaken Sir, you are abused. What Monster Has some malicious Traytor rendred me?

King.

Ask your Gallant, your Clarmount.

Aph.

You distract me: Clarmount Sir, what of him?

King.

You'd have me tell you: The sport's so Ravishing, that by this Light, She's for the pleasure of the repetition on't.

Aph.

Why do you shake my tender sense, & offer Such Violence to my chast ears? Indeed If you could read my Soul, you would not talk So like a Stranger to't. What-ever malice Conspires against your quiet and my Life, By my best hopes of Heav'n, Heav'n that should guard The fame of Virtue, and the peace of Kings, I'm injur'd, basely wrong'd, and am so far From what my King suspects me, that I never spoke To Clarmount.

King.

You're wondrous good at signs then. Sure you rated Your Honour at low price, to make no words

At parting with it. 'Sdeath, not speak to him•• What numerous Crimes Attend on Lust? All other sins came singly. The Murder kills a Man; the Sacrilegious Plunders a Temple; the Blasphemer Curses His God; and who makes more on't▪ But a Woman That's Damnd in Lust, commits all sorts of sins. The Hypocrite she must be; she appears The thing she is not. Perjury's her study; For she protests for Chastity. If she Marries Her antidated Monster in the Bridal Night, Wrapt in false light, sna••ches at unknown joys, And cheated with a Conquest that required Not half the pains he takes sor't, thinks he has gain'd An infinite spoyle; when Heav'n knows, long since The Mine was ransackt, and the Treasure gone. And next perhaps, the Issue of her Groom, Or Page, is made her cousen'd Husbands Heir: And thus not only her own blood's defiled, But the base Canker spreads through Families; And so one minutes sin leaves stains to Ages. But to unridle this dumb show of Virtue, Though you were modest, and you durst not speak••, I'le try if you dare read. Is not that yours?

Shews her the Letter.

Aph.

Yes Sir; and where's the offence of this?

King.

She's witty with me. Where's the offence on't says she!

Aph.

What's this I see, what a black line is here.

Reads.

Be careful of my Honour, when I am Married and a Queen, our stolne pleasures will be more difficult, but shall not be less desired, nor less grateful to yours still

Aphelia.

The greatest favour that you e're can grant me, Tell me who gave you this.

Nigr.

I gave it him.

Aph.

I am betrayd. This false Nigrell•• told me That Clarmount had prevail'd with you to quit

All Love to me, and give me to your Brother, And then perswaded me to write my thanks To Clarmount, in acknowledgment of such An eminent favour. I, surprized at such A sudden bliss, what by my Brother, who Confirm'd his words—

King.

Brisac too in the Treason!

Aph.

—And my own passionate desires too apt To take impression from so fair a stamp, Which ease believ'd so wisht a story; and In height of extasy, exprest my sense Of Clarmounts Friendship in that Letter to him: Which this unkind ill man, to spot my fame, And shake your peace, has Treacherously corrupted, And by that last forg'd line, subverted all My innocent meaning.

King.

Did you write that Postscript?

Nigr.

Yes.

King.

And abused her Innocence?

Nigr.

Aye Sir.

King.

Can I believe my Ears.

Nigr.

I know no reason To th'contrary.

King.

How Slave, Art thou in earnest?

Nigr.

Why Sir, do I look As if I jested?

King.

Death, Hell, and the Devii!

Nigr.

Death, Hell, and Devil; you do well to call'em: But trouble not your self; they're near enough To come without a call.

King.

I'm all amazement: But what I want in words, I'le speak in deeds.

Offers to draw, at which Nigrello stamps, and the former villains rush in, seize, and disarm him.

You are too rash: Kings may be Kings in Pallaces, But not in Dungeons. 'Tis I am Monarch here. Clotair, it would be Charity to kill you, For you've outliv'd your pow'r. This day your Brother By my Conspiracy, converts that force You lent him to assist the Rebels cause. And you shall live to see him crownd. Release him.

The Villains let him go.

King.

Thou black Infernal Dog. Thank Heav'n that gave thee A Face of such a dye as cannot blush: Or rather thank the Devil that lent thee Impudence To be bejond the use or fear of blushing.

Nigr.

But now I think on't better, Life's a burthen, And I will ease you on't. Have at your heart.

Aph.

Hold, hold Nigrello, stay, stay, save the King.

Interposing.

And I'le forgive thee all thy wrongs to Me.

Nigr.

Peace foolish Woman, I that kill one King, Have rais'd another; one too, that shall make Aphelia Queen. But King, before thou dyest Ile shew thee my Experience in Murder.

A Curtain drawn, Clarmount and Fredigond appear dead.

King.

My Mother dead! Inhumane Villain, though I scorne to fear my Death, or ask my Life Of thee, I'le condescend t'as mean an act As King was ever guilty of; I'le stoope To talk to thee, and ask thee what strange cause Made thee this Traytor.

Nigr.

Think upon the wrongs Of the abused Chlotilda.

King.

What's her wrongs to thee?

Nigr.

I'le not capitulate my Injuries.

Within: Long Live Lewis King of France.

Nigr.

I hear my time is short.

King.

My Brother Crownd! How! can the Slave speak truth!

Nigr.

Now for thy blood.— I cannot strike him: Oh relenting heart! What Awe hangs on the brow of Majesty. Faint heart! A Man so long, and now turn Woman In the last action of my Life. Here, take This Sword: But I conjure you by the wrongs That I have heap'd upon you, by the loss Of fair Aphelia, To guide the point directly at my heart.

Gives him his Sword.

King.

What means this turn? But I've no time for questions. A Villain and a Traytor dye with thee.

Kills him.

Enter Lewis, Brisac, Burbon, Lamot, Dumane, and Attendants.

Lewis.

Aphelia, welcome to my Armes. Clotair, Thou art thy Brothers Prisoner.

King.

No Usurper, This gives me freedom.

falls on his Sword.

Lew.

Hold your hand.

King.

No Rebel, Your Mercy comes too late after your Treason. I cannot loose Aphelia, and out-live That loss. Nigrello, tell me who thou art; For by thy glorious Villany, thy Wit, Thy Courage, and thy Conduct, I am sure That blackness hides some noble blood. What art?

Nigr.

Chlotilda.

Lam.

How! my Sister!

All.

Chlotilda.

Nigr.

Ravisht by thee Clotair, betrayd by Clarmoun•• And Fredigond, for which they are no more. 'Twas they seduced me to that fatal place, Where you my Honour stole; 'twas they that spilt My Guiltless Parents blood; and in requital 'T was I betray'd them hither, where at once I took Revenge both on their Lives and Souls.

But when I came to my last stroke of Vengeance, After I had rob'd thee of a Crown and Mrs. To kill thee King, there, there, my sury stop•••• Thou hadst injur'd me, yet I would dye by Thee. And though I had worne so long a masculine shape For all my other Scenes of Cruelty, I put on my own Sex agen to dye.

Dum••

Our Sister and our Patroness! This Revenge Is an Estate to th'Family; 'twill make The Dumane race immortall.

Nigr.

Now I dye.

To Lewis.

Grant me this favour for the Crown I gave you, Though I have justly wrought your Brothers fall, I must not blast his Fame after his Death: He was no Murd'rer till I made him one; Your Fathers Destiny was your Mothers Crime. But oh I dye. When elder time shall rip This story up, be courteous to my Fame; Call not these Ruines Treason, but Revenge; A satisfaction due to an Injur'd Lady. Call me and honourable Murderer, And finish there as I do.

Dyes

King.

Art thou gone? Farewell thy Sexes Champion; thou hast acted A cruel part so high, so well, that it Commands applause from those it has destroy'd. And Rival Brother, if you dare be just, Build her a Pyramid for a Monument. But whilst I'give her Cruelties pardon, I forget To ask if for my own. Injur'd Aphelia, Forgive a sin greater then what thy Chains And this black Dungeon brands me with. Forgive My Impious Faith that durst believe a wanton And unchast thought could harbo••r in thy Breast; A Seat, Divinities would choose to dwell in.

Here I would gaze for ever, but an envyous darkness Hangs on my Eyes, farewell. Must we part then? Is King and Lover such a mortal name? Where's all my mighty Vows? Where's all My passionate Devotion to the fair Aphelia? Shrunk to a poor faint Sigh, a dying look, A cold farewell to Love; and then no more.

dyes

Aph.

Farewell great Soul, when in thy glorious flight Thou hast reacht thy high Immortal Seat above, Forget thy harsh and rigid Fate below, And borrow so much Mercy from that Heav'n, Of which thou makest a part, to pardon faults Unkind Aphelia had not pow'r to shun: Who to such kindness could so cruel prove, Wanting a heart to pay so great a Love.

Lew.

What strange intrigues has Fate wrought up to day▪ Disguis'd Nigrello, the abus'd Chlotilda! And I by false suggestions blindly led, Have aimd a Sword against a guiltless head: Deposed a Brother to Revenge a Father. Thy Rage was just, but mine was too severe. The sad resentments of my fatal errour, And thy wrongs, spread a darkness o're my Soul That mis-becomes this day. But Tears are all, we to the dead can pay; And whilst I view such happiness so near My griefs at this bright Object disappear. But injur'd Prince t'appease thy angry doom, I'lle be a pious Mourner at thy Tomb, When my great joys, and my Aphelias charms Will give me time t'attend thy Sacred Dust, And Love afford me leisure to be just.

Exeunt omnes••

FINIS.