And may I think the dear
conversion
true?
Thomas Otway
_King. _ Nothing, I hope; I would not have it said
That in my vengeance any fault I made.
Love me! O low pretence, too feebly built!
But 'tis the constant fault of dying guilt
Even to the last to cry they're innocent,
When their despair's so great, they can't repent.
_Queen. _ Thus having urged your malice to the head,
You spitefully are come to rail me dead.
Had I been man, and had an impious wife,
With speedy fury I'd have snatched her life;
Torn a broad passage open to her heart,
And there have ransacked each polluted part;
Triumphed and laughed to have seen the issuing flood,
And wantonly have bathed my hands in blood.
That had outdone the low revenge you bring,
Much fitter for a woman than a king.
_King. _ I'm glad I know what death you'd wish to have:
You would go down in silence to your grave;
Remove from future fame, as present times,
And bury with you, if you could, your crimes.
No, I will have my justice understood,
Proclaim thy falsehood and thy lust aloud.
_Queen. _ About it then, the noble work begin;
Be proud, and boast how cruel you have been.
Oh, how a monarch's glory 'twill advance!
Do, quickly let it reach the ears of France.
I've there a royal brother that is young,
Who'll certainly revenge his sister's wrong;
Into thy Spain a mighty army bring,
Tumble thee from thy throne a wretched thing,
And make it quite forgot thou e'er wert king.
_King. _ I ne'er had pleasure with her till this night:
The viper finds she's crushed, and fain would bite. --
Oh! were he here, and durst maintain that word,
I'd like an eagle seize the callow bird,
And gripe him till the dastard craven cried;
Then throw him panting by his sister's side.
_Queen. _ Alas! I faint and sink; my lord, your hand!
[_To_ Don JOHN.
My spirits fail, and I want strength to stand.
_Don John. _ O jealousy!
A curse which none but he that bears it knows!
[_Leads her to a chair. _
So rich a treasure who would live to lose?
_King. _ The poison works, Heaven grant there were enough!
She is so foul, she may be poison-proof.
Now my false fair one--
_Queen. _ Tyrant, hence, begone!
This hour's my last, and let it be my own.
Away, away! I would not leave the light
With such a hated object in my sight.
_King. _ No, I will stay, and even thy prayers prevent;
I would not give thee leisure to repent;
But let thy sins all in one throng combine
To plague thy soul, as thou hast tortured mine.
_Queen. _ Glut then your eyes, your tyrant-fury feed,
And triumph; but remember, when I'm dead,
Hereafter on your dying pillows you
May feel those tortures which you give me now.
Go on, your worst reproaches I can bear,
And with them all you shall not force a tear.
_King. _ Thus, Austria, my lost freedom I obtain,
And once more shall appear myself again.
Love held me fast whilst, like a foolish boy,
I of the thing was fond because 'twas gay;
But now I've thrown the gaudy toy away.
_D. of Eboli_ [_Within_]. Help! murder! help!
_King. _ See, Austria, whence that cry.
Call up our guards; there may be danger nigh.
_Enter_ Guards; _then re-enter_ Duchess of EBOLI _in her_
_night-dress, wounded and bleeding_; RUY-GOMEZ
_pursuing her_.
_D. of Eboli. _ Oh! guard me from that cruel murderer:
But 'tis in vain, the steel has gone too far.
Turn, wretched king, I've something to unfold;
Nor can I die till the sad secret's told.
_King. _ The woman's mad; to some apartment by
Remove her, where she may grow tame and die. --
Fate came abroad to night, resolved to range:
I love a kind companion in revenge. [_Hugs_ RUY-GOMEZ.
_D. of Eboli. _ If in your heart truth any favour wins,
If e'er you would repent of secret sins,
Hear me a word.
_King. _ What wouldst thou say? Be brief.
_D. of Eboli. _ Do what you can to save that precious life;
Try every art that may her death prevent:
You are abused, and she is innocent.
When I perceived my hopes of you were vain,
Led by my lust, I practised all my charms
To gain the prince, Don Carlos, to my arms;
But, there too crossed, I did the purpose change,
And pride made him my engine for revenge;
[_To_ RUY-GOMEZ.
Taught him to raise your growing jealousy.
Then my wild passion at this prince did fly,
[_To_ Don JOHN.
And that was done for which I now must die.
_King. _ Ha! Gomez, speak, and quickly; is it so?
_Ruy-Gom. _ I'm sorry you should doubt if't be or no.
She, by whose lust my honour was betrayed,
Cannot want malice now to take my head;
And therefore does this penitence pretend.
_D. of Eboli. _ O Austria! take away that ugly fiend:
He smiles and mocks me, waiting for my soul;
See how his glaring fiery eyeballs roll!
_Ruy-Gom. _ Thus is her fancy tortured by her guilt:
But, since you'll have my blood, let it be spilt.
_King_ [_To_ RUY-GOMEZ]. No more! --[_To_ D. of EBOLI. ] Speak
on, I charge thee, by the rest
Thou hopest, the truth, and as thou shalt be blest.
_D. of Eboli. _ As what I've said is so,
There may I find, where I must answer all,
What most I need, Heaven's mercy on my soul! [_Dies. _
_King. _ Heaven! she was sensible that she should die,
And durst not in the minute tell a lie.
_Don John. _ His guilt's too plain; see his wild staring eye.
By unconcern he would show innocence;
But hardened guilt ne'er wanted the pretence
Of great submission, when't had no defence.
Thus, whilst of life you show this little care,
You seem not guiltless, but betray despair.
_King. _ His life! What satisfaction can that give?
But oh! in doubt I must for ever live,
And lose my peace--yet I the truth will find;
I'll rack him for't. Go, in this minute bind
Him to the wheel--
_Ruy-Gom. _ How have I this deserved,
Who only your commands obeyed and served?
What would you have me do?
_King. _ I'd have thee tell
The truth: do, Gomez; all shall then be well.
_Ruy-Gom. _ Alas! like you, sir, in a cloud I'm lost.
And can but tell you what I think, at most.
You set me as a spy upon the prince,
And I still brought the best intelligence
I could; till, finding him too much aware
Of me, I nearer measures took by her:
Which if I after a false copy drew,
'Tis I have been unfortunate as you.
_King. _ And is this all thou hast for life to show?
_Ruy-Gom. _ Dear sir, your pardon, it is all I know.
_King. _ Then villain, I am damned as well as thou.
Heaven! where is now thy sleeping providence,
That took so little care of innocence?
O Austria, had I to thy truth inclined,
Had I been half so good as thou wert kind!
But I'm too tame; secure the traitor. Oh!
[Guards _seize_ RUY-GOMEZ.
Earth, open! to thy centre let me go!
And there for ever hide my impious head!
Thou fairest, purest creature Heaven e'er made,
Thy injured truth too late I've understood:
Yet live, and be immortal as thou'rt good.
_Queen. _ Can you to think me innocent incline
On her bare word, and would not credit mine?
The poison's very busy at my heart;
Methinks I see Death shake his threatening dart.
Why are you kind, and make it hard to die?
Persist, continue on the injury;
Call me still vile, incestuous, all that's foul--
_King. _ Oh, pity, pity my despairing soul!
Sink it not quite. Raise my physicians straight;
Hasten them quickly ere it be too late;
Propose rewards may set their skill at strife:
I'll give my crown to him that saves her life.
Cursed dog! [_To_ RUY-GOMEZ.
_Don John. _ Vile prostitute!
_King. _ Revengeful fiend!
But I've forgotten half--to Carlos send;
Prevent what his despair may make him do.
_Enter_ HENRIETTA.
_Hen. _ O horror, horror! everlasting woe!
The prince, the prince!
_King. _ Ha! speak.
_Hen. _ He dies, he dies!
Within upon his couch he bleeding lies,
Just taken from a bath, his veins all cut,
From which the springing blood flows swiftly out.
He threatens death on all that shall oppose
His fate, to save that life which he will lose.
_King. _ Dear Austria, hasten, all thy interest use;
Tell him it is to friendship an offence,
And let him know his father's penitence.
Beg him to live.
_Ruy-Gom. _ Since you've decreed my death, know 'twill be hard:
The bath by me was poisoned when prepared.
I owed him that for his late pride and scorn.
_King. _ There never was so cursed a villain born.
But by revenge such pains he shall go through
As even religious cruelty ne'er knew.
Rack him! I'll broil him, burn him by degrees,
Fresh torments for him every hour devise,
Till he curse Heaven, and then the caitiff dies.
_Queen. _ My faithful Henrietta, art thou come
To wait thy unhappy mistress to her tomb?
I brought thee hither from thy parents young,
And now must leave thee to Heaven knows what wrong.
But Heaven to its protection will receive
Such goodness; let it then thy queen forgive!
_Hen. _ How much I loved you, madam, none can tell;
For 'tis unspeakable, I loved so well.
A proof of it the world shall quickly find;
For, when you die, I'll scorn to stay behind.
_Enter_ DON CARLOS, _supported between two_ Attendants _and bleeding_.
_Don John. _ See, sir, your son.
_King. _ My son! But oh! how dare
I use that name, when this sad object's near?
See, injured prince, who 'tis thy pardon craves,
No more thy father, but the worst of slaves:
Behold the tears that from these fountains flow.
_Don Car. _ I come to take my farewell, ere I go
To that bright dwelling where there is no room
For blood, and where the cruel never come.
_King. _ I know there is not, therefore must despair.
O Heaven! his cruelty I cannot bear. --
Dost thou not hear thy wretched father sue?
_Don Car. _ My father! speak the words once more; is't you?
And may I think the dear conversion true?
Oh that I could!
_King. _ By Heaven thou must--it is!
Let me embrace and kiss thy trembling knees.
Why wilt thou die? no, live, my Carlos, live,
And all the wrongs that I have done forgive!
_Don Car. _ Life was my curse, and given me sure in spite.
Oh! had I perished when I first saw light,
I never then these miseries had brought
On you, nor by you had been guilty thought.
Prop me: apace I feel my life decay.
The little time on earth I have to stay,
Grant I without offence may here bestow;
_Pointing to the_ QUEEN.
You cannot certainly be jealous now.
_King. _ Break, break, my heart! [_Leads_ DON CARLOS _to the chair_.
_Don Car. _ You've thus more kindness shown
Than if you'd crowned, and placed me on your throne.
Methinks so highly happy I appear
That I could pity you, to see you there.
Take me away again:--you are too good.
_Queen. _ Carlos, is't you? Oh, stop that royal flood;
Live, and possess your father's throne, when I
In dark and gloomy shades forgotten lie.
_Don Car. _ Crowns are beneath me; I have higher pride:
Thus on you fixed, and dying by your side,
How much a life and empire I disdain!
No, we'll together mount, where both shall reign
Above all wrongs, and never more complain.
_Queen. _ O matchless youth! O constancy divine!
Sure there was never love that equalled thine;
Nor any so unfortunate as mine.
Henceforth forsaken virgins shall in songs,
When they would ease their own, repeat thy wrongs;
And in remembrance of thee, for thy sake,
A solemn annual procession make;
In chaste devotion as fair pilgrims come,
With hyacinths and lilies deck thy tomb.
But one thing more, and then, vain world, adieu!
It is to reconcile my lord and you.
_Don Car. _ He has done no wrong to me; I am possessed
Of all, beyond my expectation blest.
But yet methinks there's something in my heart
Tells me, I must not too unkindly part. --
Father, draw nearer, raise me with your hand;
Before I die, what is't you would command?
_King. _ Why wert thou made so excellently good?
And why was it no sooner understood?
But I was cursed, and blindly led astray;
Oh! for thy father, for thy father pray.
Thou mayst ask that which I'm too vile to dare;
And leave me not tormented by despair.
_Don Car. _ Thus then with the remains of life we kneel.
[Don CARLOS _and the_ QUEEN _sink out of their chairs and kneel_.
May you be ever free from all that's ill!
_Queen. _ And everlasting peace upon you dwell!
_King. _ No more: this virtue's too divinely bright;
My darkened soul, too conversant with night,
Grows blind, and overcome with too much light.
Here, raise them up--gently--ye slaves, down, down!
Ye glorious toils, a sceptre and a crown,
For ever be forgotten; in your stead,
Only eternal darkness wrap my head.
_Queen. _ Where are you? oh! farewell, I must be gone.
_King. _ Blest happy soul, take not thy flight so soon:
Stay till I die, then bear mine with thee too,
And guard it up, which else must sink below.
_Queen. _ From all my injuries and all my fears,
From jealousy, love's bane, the worst of cares,
Thus I remove to find that stranger, rest.
Carlos, thy hand, receive me on thy breast;
Within this minute how shall we be blest!
_Don Car. _ Oh, far above
Whatever wishes framed, or hopes designed;
Thus, where we go, we shall the angels find
For ever praising, and for ever kind.
_Queen. _ Make haste; in the first sphere I'll for you stay;
Thence we'll rise both to everlasting day.
Farewell-- [_Dies. _
_Don Car. _ I follow you; now close my eyes; [_Leans on her bosom. _
Thus all o'er bliss the happy Carlos dies. [_Dies. _
_King. _ They're gone, they're gone, where I must ne'er aspire.
Run, sally out, and set the world on fire;
Alarum Nature, let loose all the winds,
Set free those spirits whom strong magic binds;
Let the earth open all her sulphurous veins,
The fiends start from their hell, and shake their chains;
Till all things from their harmony decline,
And the confusion be as great as mine!
Here I'll lie down, and never more arise,
Howl out my life, and rend the air with cries.
_Don John. _ Hold, sir, afford your labouring heart some ease.
_King. _ Oh! name it not: there's no such thing as peace.
From these warm lips yet one soft kiss I'll take.
How my heart beats! why won't the rebel break?
My love, my Carlos, I'm thy father--speak.
Oh! he regards not now my miseries,
But's deaf to my complaint, as I have been to his.
Oh! now I think on't better, all is well.
Here's one that's just descending into hell;
How comes it that he's not already gone?
The sluggard's lazy, but I'll spur him on.
Hey! how he flies! [_Stabs_ RUY-GOMEZ.
_Ruy-Gom. _ 'Twas aimed well at my heart;
That I had strength enough but to retort!
Dull life, so tamely must I from thee part?
Curses and plagues! revenge, where art thou now?
Meet, meet me at thy own dark house below! [_Dies. _
_King. _ He's gone, and now there's not so vile a thing
As I--
_Don John. _ Remember, sir, you are a king.
_King. _ A king! it is too little: I'll be more,
I tell thee: Nero was an emperor;
He killed his mother, but I've that out-done,
Murdered a loyal wife and guiltless son.
Yet, Austria, why should I grow mad for that?
Is it my fault I was unfortunate?
_Don John. _ Collect your spirits, sir, and calm your mind.
_King. _ Look to't; strange things I tell thee are designed.
Thou, Austria, shalt grow old, and in thy age
Dote, dote, my hero:--oh, a long gray beard,
With eyes distilling rheum, and hollow cheeks,
Will be such charms, thou canst not want success!
But, above all, beware of jealousy;
It was the dreadful curse that ruined me.
_Don John. _ Dread sir, no more.
_King. _ O heart! O Heaven! but stay,
Named I not Heaven? I did, and at the word
(Methought I saw't) the azure fabric stirred.
Oh, for my queen and son the saints prepare;
But I'll pursue and overtake them there;
Whirl, stop the sun, arrest his charioteer;
I'll ride in that: away! pull, pull him down!
Oh, how I'll hurl the wild-fire as I run!
Now, now I mount-- [_Runs off raving. _
_Don John. _ Look to the king.
See of this fair one, too, strict care be had.
[_Pointing to_ HENRIETTA.
Despair, how vast a triumph hast thou made!
No more in love's enervate charms I'll lie;
Shaking off softness, to the camp I'll fly,
Where thirst of fame the active hero warms;
And what I've lost in peace, regain in arms. [_Exeunt. _
[Illustration]
[Illustration:
EPILOGUE]
Spoken by a Girl.
Now what d'ye think my message hither means?
Yonder's the poet sick behind the scenes:
He told me there was pity in my face,
And therefore sent me here to make his peace.
Let me for once persuade ye to be kind;
For he has promised me to stand my friend;
And if this time I can your kindness move,
He'll write for me, he swears by all above,
When I am big enough to be in love.
Now won't you be good-natured, ye fine men?
Indeed I'll grow as fast as e'er I can,
And try if to his promise he'll be true.
Think on't; when that time comes, you do not know
But I may grow in love with some of you;
Or, at the worst, I'm certain I shall see
Amongst you those who'll swear they're so with me.
But now, if by my suit you'll not be won,--
You know what your unkindness oft has done,--
I'll e'en forsake the play-house, and turn nun. [14]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
FOOTNOTES:
[14] This alludes to the retirement of Mrs. Reeves, or, as she was
usually termed, Madam Reeves, a very beautiful and accomplished
actress, between whom and Dryden there was supposed to be
rather too close an intimacy. She withdrew from the stage to a
cloister. --_Thornton. _
_THE ORPHAN_;
_OR_,
_THE UNHAPPY MARRIAGE_.
Qui pelago credit, magno se foenore tollit;
Qui pugnas et castra petit, præcingitur auro;
Vilis adulator picto jacet ebrius ostro,
Et qui sollicitat nuptas, ad præmia peccat:
Sola pruinosis horret facundia pannis
Atque inopi lingua desertas invocat Artes. --
PETRON. ARB. SATYRIC. , Cap. 83. [15]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
"The Orphan" was first represented in 1680, and printed during the same
year. Thornton, following Langbaine, states that the play was founded
on the story of Brandon, which he reprints in his edition of Otway, and
which forms part of a novel entitled "English Adventures by a Person
of Honour," published in 1676, and said to be by Roger Boyle, Earl of
Orrery. The adventures are supposed to occur to Henry VIII. , who, when
young, is reported to have often wandered abroad in disguise, like
Haroun-Al-Raschid. He is represented going about with Brandon, a young
nobleman, afterwards married to Henry's sister, widow of Louis XII. ,
and founder of the Suffolk family. Brandon relates the circumstances
(which are in substance identical with the story of _The Orphan_) as
having happened to himself, the main incidents being alleged to be
true. A yet earlier play, _The Hog hath lost his Pearl_, by Robert
Tailor (1612-13), has very much the same foundation. As to the
possibility of Monimia's deception through the personation of one twin
brother by another, we must remember that this took place in darkness,
and that not a word was spoken, total silence having been agreed upon
when the secret meeting with Castalio was arranged, on account of the
proximity of Acasto's chamber. Acasto, the guardian of Monimia, is
believed to be a portrait of the first Duke of Ormond (see Carte's
"Life of Ormond").
_The Orphan_ was acted at Covent Garden in 1815, and subsequently at
the Bath Theatre in 1819, when Miss O'Neill performed the part of
Monimia. The celebrated Mrs. Bracegirdle appeared in the character of
Cordelio, Polydore's page, when she was a child about six years old.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS. [16]
Madam,
After having a great while wished to write something that might be
worthy to lay at your Highness's feet, and finding it impossible: since
the world has been so kind to me to judge of this poem to my advantage,
as the most pardonable fault which I have made in its kind, I had
sinned against myself, if I had not chosen this opportunity to implore
(what my ambition is most fond of) your favour and protection.
For, though Fortune would not so far bless my endeavours as to
encourage them with your Royal Highness's presence, when this came into
the world, yet I cannot but declare it was my design and hopes it might
have been your divertisement in that happy season when you returned
again to cheer all those eyes that had before wept for your departure,
and enliven all hearts that had drooped for your absence. When Wit
ought to have paid its choicest tributes in, and Joy have known no
limits, then I hoped my little mite would not have been rejected;
though my ill fortune was too hard for me, and I lost a greater honour,
by your Royal Highness's absence, than all the applauses of the world
besides can make me reparation for.
Nevertheless, I thought myself not quite unhappy, so long as I had
hopes this way yet to recompense my disappointment past; when I
considered also that poetry might claim right to a little share in your
favour: for Tasso and Ariosto, some of the best, have made their names
eternal by transmitting to after-ages the glory of your ancestors; and
under the spreading of that shade, where two of the best have planted
their laurels, how honoured should I be, who am the worst, if but a
branch might grow for me!
I dare not think of offering anything in this address, that might look
like a panegyric, for fear lest, when I have done my best, the world
should condemn me for saying too little, and you yourself check me for
meddling with a task unfit for my talent.
For the description of virtues and perfections so rare as yours are
ought to be done by as deliberate, as skilful a hand; the features
must be drawn very fine, to be like; hasty daubing would but spoil the
picture, and make it so unnatural as must want false lights to set it
off: and your virtue can receive no more lustre from praises than your
beauty can be improved by art; which, as it charms the bravest Prince
that ever amazed the world with his virtue, so let but all other hearts
inquire into themselves, and then judge how it ought to be praised.
Your love, too, as none but that great hero who has it could deserve
it, and therefore, by a particular lot from Heaven, was destined to so
extraordinary a blessing, so matchless for itself, and so wondrous for
its constancy, shall be remembered to your immortal honour, when all
other transactions of the age you live in shall be forgotten.
But I forget that I am to ask pardon for the fault I have been all this
while committing. Wherefore, I beg your Highness to forgive me this
presumption, and that you will be pleased to think well of one who
cannot help resolving, with all the actions of life, to endeavour to
deserve it: nay, more, I would beg, and hope it may be granted, that I
may, through yours, never want an advocate in his favour, whose heart
and mind you have so entire a share in: it is my only portion and my
fortune; I cannot but be happy so long as I have but hopes I may enjoy
it, and I must be miserable should it ever be my ill fate to lose it.
This, with eternal wishes for your Royal Highness's content, happiness,
and prosperity, in all humility is presented by
Your most obedient, and devoted Servant,
THO. OTWAY.
FOOTNOTES:
[15]
High profits tempt the merchant to the main;
The pouch of gold repays the soldier's pain;
The parasite will dine, and fawns to win
The couch and cup; the pander sells his sin.
Genius alone a shivering trade pursues,
And courts without a fee the friendless muse. --A. W. V.
[16] Mary Beatrix Eleonora of Este, daughter of the Duke of Modena.
She was the Duke of York's second wife. The allusion to Tasso may have
proved not altogether delightful to a Princess of this house.
[Illustration:
PROLOGUE. ]
To you, great judges in this writing age,
The sons of wit, and patrons of the stage,
With all those humble thoughts which still have swayed
His pride, much doubting, trembling, and afraid
Of what is to his want of merit due,
And awed by every excellence in you,
The author sends to beg you would be kind,
And spare those many faults you needs must find.
You to whom wit a common foe is grown,
The thing ye scorn and publicly disown;
Though now perhaps you're here for other ends,
He swears to me, ye ought to be his friends:
For he ne'er called ye yet insipid tools;
Nor wrote one line to tell you ye were fools:
But says of wit ye have so large a store,
So very much, you never will have more.
He ne'er with libel treated yet the town,
The names of honest men bedaubed and shown;
Nay, never once lampooned the harmless life
Of suburb-virgin, or of city-wife.
Satire's the effect of poetry's disease,
Which, sick of a lewd age, she vents for ease,
But now her only strife should be to please;
Since of ill fate the baneful cloud's withdrawn,
And happiness again begins to dawn;
Since back with joy and triumph he is come,[17]
That always drove fears hence, ne'er brought them home.
Oft has he ploughed the boisterous ocean o'er,
Yet ne'er more welcome to the longing shore,
Not when he brought home victories before.
For then fresh laurels flourished on his brow,
And he comes crowned with olive-branches now;
Receive him! oh, receive him as his friends;
Embrace the blessings which he recommends:
Such quiet as your foes shall ne'er destroy;
Then shake off fears, and clap your hands for joy.
FOOTNOTES:
[17] The Duke of York; who had returned from Brussels, whither he had
retired to escape the clamours of the Protestant party.
[Illustration:
_DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. _]
ACASTO, a Nobleman retired from Court, and living privately in
the Country.
CASTALIO, } Twin Sons of Acasto.
POLYDORE, }
CHAMONT, a young Soldier of Fortune.
ERNESTO, } Servants to Acasto.
PAULINO, }
CORDELIO, Polydore's Page.
Chaplain.
