Baron. I add only one condition; see you discharge it to the point; your fate and mine depends on it. I have assured the princess that Floreski it dead; my intelligence appears to be suspected; bu she can doubt no longer, if once she hears it confirmed by you in person: this you must instantly perform in my presence, or by my Varb. Don't look so frightful, sir, and we'll do whatever you please. Count. Sir, I obey. Baron. Enough. Bring Lodoiska hither. [Exit Sebastian into the Tower.] In serving me, you save yourselves; retire; I shall call for you at your time to appear before her. Gustavus, instruct them in their lesson. [Exeunt Gustavus, the Count, and Varbel.] I triumph! (Lodoiska and Sebastian come down from the Tower,) The princess, when once convinced my hated rival is no more, may be persuaded-Oh, transporting thought! The obedient priest is ready. Once mine, let Prince Lupauski come; let him be told how I have won his daughter, and all his wide possessions; let him resent, she will forgive, and plead for me. beautiful she is! What, still in tears? 'Tis in your power, madam, to bid your own afflictions cease, only by pitying mine. Ah! why that scornful frown! What, will you never, never break this cruel and disdainful silence? Lodo. Is my fate, too, resolved upon? How Baron. On thee depends my every hope of happiness. Lodo. Happiness! To what happiness can that unfeeling heart pretend? By what authority do you confine me here? My foud father committed me to your duty, not to your custody; he delivered me to a friend, not to a gaoler. You have taken from me the poor women that served me; if I converse, you must be my companion; and if I wish to live-as still I do, for thee, Floreski;-'tis from that barbarous hand I must accept my sustenance. Have you a parent's power with me? or a husband's right? That you shall never have! No, never; and 'tis only once more to assure you of my fixed abhorrence, that I now break my disdainful silence for the last time. Baron. "Tis plain, she disbelieves. (Aside.) The doubts you have of Count Floreski's death, madam, cause this insensibility to all I suffer; 'tis time they were at once removed. Know, then, two of your father's servants, who last night passed the forest, are at hand to[Exit Adolphus. Lodo. Last night! the forest! It is true, then. Oh, my Floreski! Baron. Advance. No, be assured, proud fair one, those eyes shall never see Floreski more. Advance, I say. Behold! Enter the COUNT, VARBEL, GUSTAVUS, and ADOLPHUS. Lodo. Hold, heart, a little while! FloreskiVar. Is no more, madam; we last night found him in the wood, killed by the Tartars, as we guess. Count. I shall discover all. (Aside.) Baron. Madam, you know these men. Lodo. I do, I do; and every doubt of my Floreski's death at last is ended. Baron. She bears the shock more firmly than I expected. (Aside.) If my Lodo. Spare me, my lord. The surprise, the emotion, the Count. Floreski, madam, Baron. Pronounce his hated name no more. Oh, Lodoiska! when I reflect on what my jealous apprehensions have made you suffer, have I not cause to hate him? Pardon, pardon those severities my heart always disavowed, and which, believe me, have been inflicted more upon myself than you. Lodo. Vain man! Think you your meaning is hid to me? Come, dare for once to speak a truth; it is not love, 'tis your ambition seeks the heiress of the Prince Lupauski. For shame! for shame! Baron. Insulted! I'll hear no more. Hence, idle scruples! Go, call the priest-haste, fly. [Exit Adolphus.] This moment makes you mine. And you, tell her this instant, 'tis her father's will; or I revoke the promised life I gave you. Varb. Tell her, tell her anything. Lodo. Oh, my father! where are you now? Count. I will protect, or die for you. (Aside to Lodoiska.) Baron. Relent, proud fair; the priest is here. Hark, hark! he comes, he comes. Enter ADOLPHUS. Adol. My lord, the Prince Lupauski is arrived. Baron. Arrived? Lodo. Good heaven! Count. I am discovered, then, and all is lost. Baron. Then let him come. I live again. Lodo. Oh, sir! (Kneeling.) Prince. (Raising and embracing her.) My child! my Lodoiska! Blessings, blessings on thee! My friend, I could not hope at parting to meet you again so soon; but the confederates are alreadyWhat do I see? Am I deceived? The Count Floreski here? Varb. There, now the murder's out. Baron. Floreski! This slave? is he the Count Floreski? Count. Yes,-himself. Prince. How has he gained admittance toBaron. By a cowardly, mean artifice; he pretended himself one of your servants, sent with Count. What could I do, disarmed, against thee and thy banditti? The artifice thou would'st reproach me with was bold and honourable; to oppose stratagem to perfidy and cruelty, like thine, is acting according to the laws of justice, and vindicating those of humanity. Prince. What's that he says? To perfidy and cruelty like thine, my friend? Varb. Now comes his turn, I hope. Lodo. Oh, my father! you would not think what I have suffered since you saw me. That friend has forced my faithful servants from about me; that friend has insulted my unprotected situation with his detested offers; that friend has barbarously imprisoned me. Prince. My daughter! Lodo. To extort from me my consent to a union I would gladly die ten thousand deaths to avoid. Prince. Could you thus violate the laws of hospitality? Could you so far forget the bounties I have showered upon you? My heart reposed itself on your's; seeking a tender refuge for my child, I gave her to your care, as into a holy sanctuary; you received from me the strongest proof of love a friend could give; be a father for one instant, and judge whether I could have confided to you a trust more dear, more sacred. Varb. Upon my soul, he's a fine spoken old gentleman! Baron. Must I then lose her? (Gives directions to his officers.) Prince. What, thou? my vassal! thou? Let's begone. I'll take such vengeance on his treachery that-follow me, my daughter; let's quit for ever this mansion of ingratitude. Varb. The sooner the better. What a lucky escape! Descend some warring angel, In lightning to my aid, To blast the savage tyrant, And right an injur'd maid! You look like men, like men should feel. Descend, some warring angel, In your hearts compassion move; To blast the savage tyrant, ACT III. A hite, whose gentle song reveals Much more than lute could tell. I give thee all-I can no more, Though love and song may fail, alas! At least twill make them lighter pass, I give thee all-I can no more, &c. Baron. Well sung, my boy; I thank your pains, though fruitless. Enter ADOLPHUS, VARBEL, and GUSTAVUS, from He's coming. Leave me awhile. [Exeunt Pages, Varb. Ay, this is something like now; now I'll talk to you; this it is to fall amongst men, as it were, something like men. Gentlemen, you have bound me for ever by letting me loose, and my legs ache to prove their sense of your kindness by scraping their leave, and giving you no farther [Exit, guarded. trouble about 'em. (Seeing the Baron.) The man tiger, to swallow me up for a breakfast! SCENE I.-A Hall and Gallery in the Castle. BARON LOVINSKI, ADOLPHUS, CASIMIR, SEBASTIAN, STANISLAUS, MICHAEL, and Pages discovered. Baron. 'Tis all in vain: I cannot shake them. Curse on their obstinacy! Love fires Floreski's breast, and rage the father's; careless alike of menaces and soothing, each braves me to my worst. Death and perdition! let the worst fall on them. Is all prepared for instant execution? Adol. It is, my lord. Baron. Still would I have thee mine, Oh, Lodoiska! consenting, unconstrained; but, whilst my rival lives, that hope's impossible. Ha! tell me, where is the forward fool that waited on Floreski? Adol. Confined, as you commanded. Baron. Haste, bring him to me. [Exeunt Adolphus and Gustavus through the gallery.] I may, perhaps, persuade this wretch to think his own life more precious than his lord's. If I fail here,-I shudder at the thought of my own purposes. Love, hatred, jealousy, ambition, scorn, and fury, rack my distracted brain, and rend my heart in pieces. Would I were dead myself. (Throws himself into a chair.) Pr'ythee, good boy, sing me that gentle strain, yon lady loved; your pretty melody may calm the ragings of the fiend within me. 1st Page. Baron. Sing, sing. am sorry, sir, to see you so unhappy. BALLAD.-PAGE. I give thee all-I can no more; My heart and lute are all the store Baron. You serve Floreski. Why do you tremble? You have nothing to fear. Varb. No, I know, sir; but I've had a damp lodging, and I think its rather chilly this morning. Baron. In one word, your master is to die, now, instantly. Vurb. I'm very sorry for it. Baron. I have observed your fidelity, your affection to him. I'll take you into my service; I love your virtue, and would reward it. Varb. I am afraid I should make but a bad servant to you; you had better turn me out of doors at once, I think-I had rather-Do, sir; and let my virtue be its own reward. Baron. No fooling. Your romantic lord seems ambitious of dying in this cause, that he may live lamented in the history of faithful and unfortunate lovers; you, perhaps, aspire to imitate him. Varb. I can't say that I do. Ambition's a great thing with great folks, I believe; but for my own part, I solemnly assure you, I had rather live three days in this world, bad as it is, than a thousand years in the best history that will ever be written. Baron, I take you at your word: there's a poor earnest of my future bounty. Varb. A purse! What's this for? Baron. Follow, and as we go, I will instruct you in a short tale, that at once rids me of Floreski, and gives you life and fortune. Varb. My lord, I am in peril, and poor; and I value life and fortune as much as another man; but, I hope, I shall never think them worth buying at the price of false witness against my master. (Throws down the purse.) Baron. Ha! do you trifle, slave? Nay, then I must-(Gives orders to Adolphus.) Varb. What's he going to do now? I wish I was fighting the Tartars again, with all my heart! Baron. Him,-her, the prince, all, all, here, before my eyes. [Exit Adolphus.] The father now, and the daughter shall behold him, as the blow falls, and from his doom be taught to dread their own. For thee, vile reptile-(Flourish of drums and trumpets, with clashing of swords and shouts of "Victory, victory!" !" "Kera Khan.!”) Varb. They're come, they're come; here is an adventure. Enter SEBASTIAN, MICHAEL, CASIMIR, STANISLAUS, ADOLPHUS, Soldiers, &c. Baron. The matter? Casi. The Tartars are within the walls; the eastern towers are blazing, flames and the sword rage round; the soldiers fly; haste, or we perish all. Baron. Sound, sound to arms. [Exeunt Stanislaus and Soldiers.] Rally them in the north court, and man the ramparts; there we will stand it out; fly, haste, I follow. [Exeunt Adolphus and Soldiers.] Bring me my arms. [Exeunt Gustavus and Casimir.] Bear off that slave, till I have time to torture him. Varb. A respite, a respite! I shall love a Tartar as long as I live. [Exeunt Varbel, Sebastian, and Soldiers. Baron. Away, away with him! Whither am I going? Enter GUSTAVUS and CASIMIR, with the Baron's helmet, shield, and battle-axe. What is Lodoiska now? Lost, lost to me for ever! The helpless prize of some fierce lawless savage. Horrible thought! Where is her father?-My friend, my benefactor!-All' bleeding, mangled, murdered.-Frightful image! Hark! my soul's beat down, down to the very ground. The tempest swells-Floreski too, perhaps, directs the storm, thundering and fierce in arms. ing thought has roused me.-Out, out, and on them. No word, but fight, till death or conquest end our plagues for ever. (Shouts.) That burn [Exeunt Baron and Guards. The Doors of the hall are burst open, when ITHORAK, KHOR, JAPHIS, CAMAZIN, KAJAH, TAMURI, and a crowd of Tartars rush in, some loaded with booty, and others bearing off the women they have met with in the castle. Kajah. At last we are masters of the castle. It has cost us some trouble too. The fellows fought like madmen. Have you disarmed, and clapt them into the dungeons where we found so many of our countrymen? Japhis. Our comrades are at it now, breaking open and locking up. But can anybody tell why Kera Khan so strictly charged us to take Lovinski alive. Khor. I hope the other party have him fast by this time. Do you think he'll ever forget the death of his father. All. Never, never. Itho. Come, my boys, now away to our plander, and divide faithfully. You know what share must be reserved for Kera Khan. Kajah. Yes, yes, we know the booty he loves best. Japhis. Ay, ay, give him the women, he'll give us the gold. Khor. And the wine too. SONG AND CHORUS. KHOR, JAPHIS, ITHORAK, and Horde. Khor. When the darken'd midnight sky Howls with wild tempestuous cry, Then we quit the Tartar plain; Worlds of wealth, and worlds of wives, CHORUS.-Horde. Worlds of wealth, and worlds of wives, Japhis. As the meteors course the sky, Itho. Gleaming swords flash round the throng, And, as thro' the gloom they fly, Light th' embattled host along; Firm and close we lead our band, Where the fertile region lies, Then dispersing, sweep the land Destin'd for the Tartar's prize. CHORUS.-Horde. Worlds of wealth, and worlds of wives, Tho' we deem the world our prey, Loyal honour, martial truth, When our swords have won their way, CHORUS.-Horde. Worlds of wealth, and worlds of wives, Japhis. Well said, well said! he's a noble captain, and shall have all the booty, if he pleases. (Flourish and shouts.) Enter KERA KHAN, and Tartars. Kera Khan. Holla! Lovinski is secured Why stand you idle here? Japhis. Because you stationed us in this wing till farther orders. We should be glad enough to be busy. Kera Khan. Away, then! finish your work; spike all the cannon, toss the brands round, blow up the foundation of this ruffian's den, and tell my father's spirit he's reveng'd.-To work; I'll take this quarter. [Exeunt some Tartars. Enter LODOISKA, and PRINCE LUPAUSKI. Kera Khan. Ha! Lodo. O save us, save us, snatch me from the power of Lovinski. Prince. Tartars! Great heaven, to what are we reserved! dismiss your terrors. This is a prize! Here's my Kera Khan. Compose yourself, my lovely girl; share of the booty. Japhis. I thought so. Prince. Since we have fallen into these hands, my child, we must submit to death or slavery. Lodo. Slavery, death, anything, is heaven to Lovinski. Oh, if you are men, spare my dear father, spare a Polish youth. Kera Khan. Bright beauty of the world, only pronounce your wishes, and command us. Lodo. Generous conquerors! Vouchsafe then to give this young man freedom, to set my father and myself upon our road to Warsaw and Kera Khan. For your father, and the youth you speak of, they have free leave to choose their suffered for me; think what we owe him here; path; Lodo. Oh, sir! Kera Khan. But you, victorious captive, you must go with me. Lodo. Heavens and earth! Prince. Thee! follow thee, Tartar! Kera Khan. Old man, I am providing for her happiness. Fine women never complain of us Tartars; when once she knows us, she'll never wish to leave us; I have no time to lose. Come, be quick, bear her away. Enter COUNT FLORESKI, breaking from two Polish Officers. remember the promise you once gave him.(Alarum.) Enter KAJAH, TAMURI, CAMAZIN, and Turtars. Kajah. To arms, to arms! Lovinski's rescued, the castle's blazing, they've seized the ramparts, he's at their head. Kera Kahn. Well, we must conquer him again, then, that's all. Follow me. Count. Now for revenge and Lodoiska! Give me a sword, a sword. Enter VARBEL. Varb. Holla! and me another. My dungeon's as hot as a furnace. Give me a sword; I'd as lief Count. Off, slaves, or I will dash you piece- be killed in a battle, as stay there to be roasted meal. alive. Lodo. Floreski ! Count: Oh! valiant Tartar, do we meet again? Kera Khan. My friend! Why do I find yon here, spite of the caution I last night gave you? Your life might have paid the forfeit of your rash ness. Count. That villain Lovinski seized, and detained us; but could I have left my Lodoiska? Kera Khan. What, she you where wildly wandering after? Count. Here, this, this is my love, my dearest Lodoiska. Kera Khan. (Drawing his scymitar.) HoldWhat's to be done? Your love! your Lodoiska! She's mine, mine by a conqueror's right? Count. A conqueror's right! Kera Khan. By a conqueror's right; and I exert it thus, take her, she's yours. You gave me life once, I have saved yours a second time. Count. Complete thy work; obtain for me the consent of her father. Kera Khan. Father! Haven't I resigned my right to you? Lodo. (To Lupauski.) O. sir, make not fidelity to his prince a crime in him? think what he has (Shouts, drums, trumpets, and cannon. An engagement commences between the Polanders and the Tartars, horse and foot; the Tartars having stormed the castle, which they fire in various places, the battlements and towers fall in the midst of loud explosions. Lupauski and Lodoiska are discovered in a blazing tower; Floreski rushes through the flames, and rescues them. During this action Lovinski and Kera Khan meet hand to hand, and after a desperate conflict, the Baron is killed. The Tartars are victorious; Lupauski unites the hands of Floreski and Lodoiska. Loud shouts of victory, and the curtain falls.) OR, THE DUMB LADY CURED: A FARCE, IN TWO ACTS.-BY HENRY FIELDING. ACT I. SCENE I.-A Wood. Enter DORCAS and GREGORY. CHARACTERS. HELLEBORE ROBERT Greg. I tell you no, I won't comply; and it is my business to talk, and to command. Dor. And I tell you, you shall conform to my will; and that I was not married to you to suffer your ill humours. Greg. O the intolerable fatigue of matrimony! Aristotle never said a better thing in his life, than when he told us, "that a wife is worse than a devil." [totle. Dor. Hear the learned gentleman, with his ArisGreg. And a learned man I am too. Find me out a maker of faggots, that's able, like myself, to reason upon things, or that can boast such an education as mine. Dor. An education! Greg. Ay, hussy, a regular education; first at the charity-school, where I learn'd to read; then I waited on a gentleman at Oxford, where I learn'd-very near as much as my master; from whence I attended a travelling physician six years, under the facetious denomination of a merry Andrew, where I learn'd physic. Dor. O that thou hadst followed him still! Curs'd be the hour wherein I answered the parson "I will." Greg. And cura'd be the parson that asked me the question! Dor. You have reason to complain of him indeed, who ought to be on your knees every moment, returning thanks to heaven for that great blessing it sent you, when it sent you myself. I hope you have not the assurance to think you deserv'd such a wife as me? HARRY DORCAS CHARLOTTE Greg. No, really I don't think I do. Come, come, madam, it was a lucky day for you when you found me out. Dor. Lucky, indeed! a fellow who eats everything I have. Greg. That happens to be a mistake; for I drink some part on't. Dor. That has not even left me a bed to lie on. Greg. You'll rise the earlier. Dor. And who from morning till night is eternally in an alehouse. Greg. It's genteel; the squire does the same. Dor. Pray, sir, what are you willing I shall do with my family? Greg. Whatever you please. Dor. My four little children, that are continually crying for bread? Greg. Give 'em a rod; best cure in the world for crying children. Dor. And do you imagine, sot Greg. Harkye, my dear, you know my temper is not over and above passive, and that my arm is extremely active. Dor. I laugh at your threats, poor beggarly, insolent fellow." Greg. Soft object of my wishing eyes, I shall play with your pretty ears. Dor. Touch me if you dare, you insolent, impudent, dirty, lazy, rascally Greg. Oh, ho, ho! you will have it then, I find. (Beats her.) Dor. O murder! murder! Enter SQUIRE ROBERT. Squire R. What's the matter here? Fie upon you! fie upon you, neighbour, to beat your wife in this scandalous manner. |