Chapter 23

_Enter GONSALVO, MANUEL, HIPPOLITO and AMIDEO_.

_Hip_. Nay, 'tis too true; for, peeping through a chink, I saw Don Roderick lying on a bed, Not dead, as we supposed, but only hurt; So waited on as spoke him master here.

_Man_. Was there ever so fatal an adventure! To fly into that very ship, for refuge, Where the only person, we would shun, commands! This mischief is so strange, it could not happen, But was the plot and juggle of our fate, To free itself, and cast the blame on us.

_Gons_. This is not yet our fortune's utmost malice; The gall remains behind. This ship was that, Which yesterday was mine; I can see nothing Round me, but what's familiar to my eyes; Only the persons new: Which makes me think, Twas seized upon by Roderick, to revenge Himself on me.

_Man_. Tis wonderful indeed.

_Amid_. The only comfort is, we are not known; For when we entered it was dark.

_Hip_. That comfort Is of as short continuance as the night; The day will soon discover us.

_Man_. Some way must be invented to get out.

_Hip_. Fair Julia, sadly pining by herself. Sits on her bed; tears falling from her eyes, As silently as dews in dead of night. All we consult of must be kept from her: That moment, that she knows of Roderick's life, Dooms us to certain death.

_Man_. 'Tis well considered.

_Gons_. For my part, were not you and she concerned, I look upon my life, like an estate, So charged with debts, it is not worth the keeping. We cannot long be undiscovered by them; Let us then rush upon them on the sudden, (All hope of safety placed in our despair) And gain quick victory, or speedy death.

_Man_. Consider first, the impossibility Of the attempt; four men, and two poor boys, (Which, added to our number, make us weaker) Against ten villains, more resolved for death, Than any ten among our holiest priests. Stay but a little longer, till they all Disperse to rest within their several cabins; Then more securely we may set upon them, And kill them half, before the rest can wake: By this means too, the boys are useful for us, For they can cut the throats of sleeping men.

_Hip_. Now have I the greatest temptation in the world to reveal, Thou art a woman. [_To AMIDEO_.

_Amid_. If 'twere not for thy beauty, my master should know, What a man he keeps. [_To HIPPOLITO_.

_Hip_. Why should we have recourse to desperate ways, When safer may be thought on? 'Tis like giving the extreme unction. In the beginning of a sickness; Can you imagine to find all asleep? The wicked joy, of having such a booty In their possession, will keep some awake; And some, no doubt, will watch with wounded Roderick.

_Amid_. What would your wisdom now propose?

_Hip_. To say That some of us are sea-sick; (your complexion Will make the excuse for us who are less fair:) So, by good words and promises, procure We may be set ashore, ere morning come.

_Amid_. O, the deep reasons of the grave Hippolito!-- As if 'twere likely, in so calm a season, We should be sick so soon; or, if we were, Whom should we chuse among us to go tell it? For whoe'er ventures out must needs be known: Or, if none knew us, can you think that pirates Will let us go upon such easy terms, As promising rewards?--Let me advise you.

_Hip_. Now, we expect an oracle.

_Amid_. Here are bundles, Of canvas and of cloth, you see lie by us; In which one of us shall sew up the rest, Only some breathing place, for air, and food: Then call the pirates in, and tell them, we, For fear, had drowned ourselves: And when we come To the next port, find means to bring us out.

_Hip_. Pithily spoken!-- As if you were to bind up marble statues, Which only bore the shapes of men without, And had no need of ever easing nature.

_Gons_. There's but one way left, that's this;-- You know the rope, by which the cock-boat's tied, Goes down by the stern, and now, we are at anchor, There sits no pilot to discover us; My counsel is, to go down by the ladder, And, being once there, unloose, and row to shore.

_Man_. This, without doubt, were best; but there lies ever Some one, or more, within the boat, to watch it.

_Gons_. I'll slide down first, and run the venture of it; You shall come after me, if there be need, To give me succour.

_Man_. 'Tis the only way.

_Gons_. Go in to Julia, then, and first prepare her, With knowledge of the pirates, and the danger Her honour's in, among such barbarous people.

_Man_. Leave it to me.

_Amid_. Hippolito and Julia, My rivals, like two pointed rocks appear; And I, through both, must to Gonsalvo steer. [_Aside_.

[_Exeunt all but HIPPOLITA_.

_Hip_. As from some steep and dreadful precipice The frighted traveller casts down his eyes, And sees the ocean at so great a distance, It looks as if the skies were sunk below him; Yet if some neighbouring shrub (how weak soe'er) Peeps up, his willing eyes stop gladly there, And seem to ease themselves, and rest upon it: So, in my desperate state, each little comfort Preserves me from despair. Gonsalvo strove not With greater care to give away his Julia, Than I have done to part with my Gonsalvo; Yet neither brought to pass our hateful wish. Then, we may meet, since different ways we move, Chasing each other in the maze of love. [_Exit_.