Chapter 4

_A Banquet, under a Canopy the_ King, Leonora, Florella, _Ladies waiting_; Philip, Mendozo, Alonzo, Ordonio, Antonio, Sebastian, _Lords and Attendants: As soon as the Scene draws off, they all rise, and come forward_.

_King_. My Lords, you’re sad to Night; give us loud Musick-- I have a double Cause to mourn; And Grief has taken up his dwelling here-- Beyond the Art of Love, or Wine to conquer-- ’.is true, my Father’s dead--and possibly ’.is not so decent to appear thus gay; But Life, and Death, are equal to the wretched, And whilst _Florella_ frowns--’tis in that Number [_To_ Flor. I must account her Slave--_Alonzo_, How came thy Father so bewitch’d to Valour, (For _Abdelazer_ has no other Virtue) To recompense it with so fair a Creature? Was this--a Treasure t’ inrich the Devil with?

_Alon_. Sir, he has many Virtues, more than Courage, Royally born, serv’d well his King, and Country; My Father brought him up to martial Toils, And taught him to be brave; I hope, and good;-- Beside, he was your Royal Father’s Favourite.

_King_. No, _Alonzo_, ‘twas not his Love to Virtue, But nice Obedience to his King, and Master, Who seeing my increase of Passion for her, To kill my Hopes, he gave her to this _Moor_.

_Alon_. She’s now a virtuous Woman, Sir.

_King_. Politick Sir, who would have made her other? Against her Will, he forc’d her to his Arms, Whilst all the World was wondring at his Madness.

_Alon_. He did it with her Approbation, Sir.

_King_. With thine, _Florella!_ cou’dst thou be so criminal?

_Flor_. Sir, I was ever taught Obedience; My humble Thoughts durst ne’er aspire to you, And next to that--Death, or the Moor, or any thing.

_King_. Oh God! had I then told my Tale So feebly, it could not gain Belief. Oh my _Florella_! this little Faith of thine Has quite undone thy King--_Alonzo_, Why didst not thou forbid this fatal Marriage, She being thy only Sister?

_Alon_. Great Sir, I did oppose it with what Violence My Duty would permit; and wou’d have dy’d In a just Quarrel of her dear Defence; And, Sir, though I submitted to my Father, The Moor and I stand on unequal Terms.

_Phil_. Come, who dares drink Confusion to this Moor?

_Ant_. That, Sir, will I.

_Sebast_. And I.

_Phil_. Page, fill my Glass, I will begin the Round, Ye all shall pledge it--_Alonzo_, first to thee. [_Drinks_.

_Alon_. To me, Sir!

_Phil_. Why, yes, thou lovest him--therefore-- Nay, you shall drink it, tho ‘twere o’th’ _Stygian_ Lake. Take it--by Heaven, thoud’st pimp for him to my Mother-- Nay, and after that, give him another Sister.

_Alon_. ‘Tis well you are my Prince.

_Phil_. I’d rather be a Prince of Curs--come pledge me--

_Alon_. Well, Sir, I’ll give you way. [_Drinks_.

_Phil_. So wou’dst thou any--though they trod on thee. So--nay, Prince Cardinal, tho it be not decent For one so sanctify’d to drink a Health; Yet ‘tis your Office both to damn and bless-- Come, drink and damn the Moor.

_Men_. Sir, I’m for no carousing.

_Phil_. I’m in an Humour now to be obey’d, And must not be deny’d--But see, the Moor _Enter_ Abdelazer, _gazes on them_. Just come to pledge at last--Page, fill again--

_Abd_. I’ll do you Reason, Prince, what’er it be. [_Gives him the Glass_.

_Phil_. ‘Twas kindly said--Confusion to the Moor.

_Abd_. Confusion to the Moor--if this vain Boy, See the next rising Sun. [_Aside_.

_Phil_. Well done, my Lad.

_King_. _Abdelazer_, you have been missing long, The publick Good takes up your whole Concern, But we shall shortly ease you of that Load-- Come, let’s have some Musick; _Ordonio_, did I not call for Musick?

_Ord_. You did, Sir.

_Abd_. _Roderigo!_

_Rod_. My gracious Lord-- [Roderigo _whispers to_ Abd.

_Abd_. No more--the Prince observes us.

_Phil_. There’s no good towards when you are whisp’ring.

_Ord_. The Musick you commanded, Sir, is ready.

SONG.

Nymph.

_Make haste_, Amintas, _come away, The Sun is up and will not stay; And oh how very short’s a Lover’s_ Day! _Make haste_, Amintas, _to this Grove, Beneath whose Shade so oft I’ve sat, And heard my dear lay’d Swain repeat, How much he_ Galatea _lov’d; Whilst all the listening Birds around, Sung to the Musick of the blessed Sound.

_Make haste_, Amintas, _come away, The Sun is up and will not stay; And oh how very short’s a Lover’s Day_!

Swain enters, with Shepherds and Shepherdesses, and Pipes.

_I hear thy charming Voice, my Fair, And see, bright Nymph, thy Swain is here; Who his Devotions had much earlier paid, But that a Lamb of thine was stray’d; And I the little Wanderer have brought, That with one angry Look from thy fair Eyes, Thou may’st the little Fugitive chastise, Too great a Punishment for any Fault. Come_, Galatea, _haste away, The Sun is up and will not stay, And oh how very short’s a Lover’s Day_! [Dance.

_King_. How likes _Florella_ this?

_Flor_. Sir, all Delight’s so banish’d from my Soul, I’ve lost the Taste of every single Joy.

_Abd_. God’s! this is fine! Give me your Art of Flattery, Or something more of this, will ruin me-- Tho I’ve resolv’d her Death, yet whilst she’s mine, I would not have her blown by Summer Flies.

_Phil_. Mark how he snarls upon the King! The Cur will bite anon.

_Abd_. Come, my _Florella_, is’t not Bed-time, Love?

_Flor_. I’ll wait upon you, Sir. [Going out.

_Phil_. The Moor has ta’en away, we may depart.

_Abd_. What has he ta’en away? [_Turns about_.

_Phil_. The fine gay play-thing, that made us all so merry.

_Abd_. Was this your Sport? [To his Wife.

_King_. _Abdelazer_, keep your way--Good night, fair Creature!

_Abd_. I will obey for once.

[_Ex_. Abd. _and_ Flor.

_King_. Why this Resentment, Brother, and in publick?

_Phil_. Because he gives me Cause, and that in Publick. And, Sir, I was not born to bear with Insolence; I saw him dart Revenge from both his Eyes, And bite his angry Lip between his Teeth, To keep his Jealousy from breaking forth, Which, when it does--stand fast, my King.

_King_. But, _Philip_, we will find a way to check him; Till when we must dissemble--take my Counsel--Good night.

_Phil_. I cannot, nor I will not--yet good Night. [_Exit_ King, _and all but_ Philip’s _Party_. Well, Friends, I see the King will sleep away his Anger, And tamely see us murder’d by this Moor; But I’ll be active, Boys-- Therefore, _Antonio_, you command the Horse; Get what more Numbers to our Cause you can: ’.is a good Cause, and will advance our Credit. We will awake this King out of his Lethargy of Love, And make him absolute--Go to your Charge, And early in the Morning I’ll be with you-- [_Ex. all but_ Phil. If all fail, Portugal shall be my Refuge, Those whom so late I conquer’d, shall protect me-- But this Alanzo I shou’d make an Interest in; Cou’d I but flatter--’tis a Youth that’s brave.

_Enter_ Cardinal _in haste_.

_Men_. Fly, fly, my Prince, we are betray’d and lost else.

_Phil_. Betray’d and lost! Dreams, idle Coward Dreams.

_Men_. Sir, by my Holy Order, I’m in earnest, And you must either quickly fly, or die; ’.is so ordain’d--nor have I time to tell By what strange Miracle I learn’d our Fate.

_Phil_. Nor care I, I will stay, and brave it.

_Men_. That, Sir, you shall not, there’s no safety here, And ‘tis the Army only can secure us.

_Phil_. Where had you this Intelligence?

_Men_. I’ll tell you as we go to my Apartment; Where we must put ourselves in Holy Dress; For so the Guards are set in every Place, (And those all Moors, the Slaves of _Abdelazer_) That ‘tis impossible in any other Habit to escape. Come, haste with me, and let us put ‘em on.

_Phil_. I had rather stay and kill till I am weary-- Let’s to the Queen’s Apartment and seize this Moor; I’m sure there the Mongrel’s kennel’d.

_Men_. Sir, we lose time in talking--Come with me.

_Phil_. Where be these lousy Gaberdines?

_Men_. I will conduct you to ‘em.

_Phil_. Mother--and Moor, farewel, I’ll visit you again; and if I do, My black Infernal, I will conjure you.

[_Exeunt_.