Chapter 19

MANUEL _solus_.

_Man_. Thus I provide for others' happiness, And lose my own. 'Tis true, I cannot blame Thy hatred, Angelina, but thy silence. Thy brother's hatred made thine just; but yet 'Twas cruel in thee not to tell me so. Conquest is noble, when an heart stands out; But mine, which yielded, how could'st thou betray? That heart, of which thou could'st not be deprived By any force or power, beside thy own; Like empires, to that fatal height arrived, They must be ruined by themselves alone. My guarded freedom cannot be a prize To any scornful face a second time; For thy idea, like a ghost, would rise, And fright my thoughts from such another crime.

_Enter a Servant, with a letter_.

_Man_. From whom?

_Serv_. Sir, the contents will soon resolve you.

[_He read_.

_Man_. Tell Roderick, he has prevented me In my design of sending to him first. I'll meet him, single, at the time and place; But, for my friend, tell him, he must excuse me: I'll hazard no man in my quarrel, but Myself alone.--[_Exit Servant_. Who's within there?

_Enter a Servant_.

Go, call my sister, and Gonsalvo, hither. [_Exit Servant_. 'Twas pushed so far, that, like two armies, we Were drawn so closely up, we could not part Without engagement.--But they must not know it.

_Enter JULIA, GONSALVO, and AMIDEO_.

I have some business calls me hence, and know not When I shall return: But, ere I go, That power I have, by my dead father's will, Over my sister, I bequeath to you: [_To GONS_. She, and her fortunes, both be firmly yours; And this when I revoke, let cowardice Blast all my youth, and treason taint my age.

_Gons_. Sir--

_Man_. Nay, good, no thanks; I cannot stay-- [_Exit MANUEL_.

_Gons_. There's something more than ordinary in this; Go, Amideo, quickly follow him, And bring me word which way he takes.

_Amid_. I go, sir. [_Exit AMID. JULIA kneels_.

_Gons_. Madam, when you implore the powers divine, You have no prayers in which I will not join, Though made against myself. [_Kneels with her_.

_Jul_. In vain I sue, Unless my vows may be conveyed by you.

_Gons_. Conveyed by me! My ill success in love Shews me, too sure, I have few friends above. How can you fear your just desires to want? When the gods pray, they both request and grant.

_Jul_. Heaven has resigned my fortune to your hand, If you, like heaven, the afflicted understand.

_Gons_. The language of the afflicted is not new; Too well I learned it, when I first saw you.

_Jul_. In spite of me, you now command my fate; And yet the vanquished seeks the victor's hate; Even in this low submission, I declare, That, had I power, I would renew the war. I'm forced to stoop, and 'twere too great a blow To bend my pride, and to deny me too.

_Gons_. You have my heart; dispose it to your will; If not, you know the way to use it ill.

_Jul_. Cruel to me, though kind to your desert, My brother gives my person, not my heart; And I have left no other means to sue, But to you only, to be freed from you.

_Gons_. From such a suit how can you hope success, Which, given, destroys the giver's happiness?

_Jul_. You think it equal you should not resign That power you have, yet will not leave me mine; Yet on my will I have the power alone, And, since you cannot move it, move your own. Your worth and virtue my esteem may win, But women's passions from themselves begin; Merit may be, but force still is, in vain.

_Gons_. I would but love you, not your love constrain; And though your brother left me to command, He placed his thunder in a gentle hand.

_Jul_. Your favour from constraint has set me free, But that secures not my felicity; Slaves, who, before, did cruel masters serve, May fly to deserts, and in freedom starve. The noblest part of liberty they lose, Who can but shun, and want the power to chuse.

_Gons_. O whither would your fatal reasons move! You court my kindness, to destroy my love.

_Jul_. You have the power to make my happiness, By giving that, which you can ne'er possess.

_Gons_. Give you to Roderick? there wanted yet That curse, to make my miseries complete.

_Jul_. Departing misers bear a nobler mind; They, when they can enjoy no more, are kind; You, when your love is dying in despair, Yet want the charity to make an heir.

_Gons_. Though hope be dying, yet it is not dead; And dying people with small food are fed.

_Jul_. The greatest kindness dying friends can have, Is to dispatch them, when we cannot save.

_Gons_. Those dying people, could they speak' at all, That pity of their friends would murder call: For men with horror dissolution meet; The minutes even of painful life are sweet.

_Jul_. But I'm by powerful inclination led; And streams turn seldom to their fountain head.

_Gons_. No; 'tis a tide which carries you away; And tides may turn, though they can never stay.

_Jul_. Can you pretend to love, and see my grief Caused by yourself, yet give me no relief?

_Gons_. Where's my reward?

_Jul_. The honour of the flame.

_Gons_. I lose the substance, then, to gain the name.

_Jul_. I do too much mistress' power betray; Must slaves be won by courtship to obey? Thy disobedience does to treason rise, Which thou, like rebels, would'st with love disguise. I'll kill myself, and, if thou can'st deny To see me happy, thou shalt see me die.

_Gons_. O stay! I can with less regret bequeath My love to Roderick, than you to death: And yet--

_Jul_. What new objection can you find?

_Gons_. But are you sure you never shall be kind?

_Jul_. Never.

_Gons_. What! never?

_Jul_. Never to remove.

_Gons_. Oh fatal never to souls damned in love!

_Jul_. Lead me to Roderick.

_Gons_. If it must be so--

_Jul_. Here, take my hand, swear on it thou wilt go.

_Gons_. Oh balmy sweetness! but 'tis lost to me, [_He kisses her hand_. Like food upon a wretch condemned to die: Another, and I vow to go:--Once more; If I swear often, I shall be foreswore. Others against their wills may haste their fate; I only toil to be unfortunate: More my own foe than all my stars could prove; They give her person, but I give her love. I must not trust myself--Hippolito!

_Enter_ HIPPOLITO.

_Hip_. My lord!

_Gons_. Quickly go find Don Roderick out: Tell him, the lady Julia will be walking On the broad rock, that lies beside the port, And there expects to see him instantly. In the mean time I'll call for Amideo.

_Jul_. You'll keep your promise to Don Roderick?

_Gons_. Madam, since you bring death, I welcome it; But to his fortune, not his love, submit. [_Exit_ GONSALVO.

_Hip_. I dare not ask what I too fain would hear: But, like a tender mother, hope and fear, My equal twins, my equal care I make, And keep hope quiet, lest that fear should wake. [_Aside. Exit_ HIPPOLITO.

_Jul_. So, now I'm firmly at my own dispose; And all the lets, my virtue caused, removed: Now, Roderick, I come--

_Enter_ GONSALVO _again_.

_Gons_. Madam, my boy's not yet returned.

_Jul_. No matter, we'll not stay for him.

_Gon_. Pray make not too much haste.

[_Exeunt JUL. and GONS_.