The Garden.
Enter Silvio and Francisca.
Silv. Well, dear Francisca, will Cleonte come, And all alone into the Garden?
Fran. My Lord, she will; I have at last prevail’d, to what intent she knows not; this is an Hour wherein you’ll scarce be interrupted: The amorous Entertainment you have prepar’d for her, will advance your Design; such Objects heighten the Desire. Is all ready on your part?
Silv. It is, and I am prepared for all the Resistance she can make, and am resolv’d to satisfy my insupportable Flame, since there’s no other hope left me.
Fran. She’s coming, Sir, retire.
[Exit Silvio into the Garden.
Oh, how he kills me! Well, at least this pleasure I have whilst I am dying, that when he possesses the fair Cleonte, he for ever ruins his Interest in her Heart, and must find nothing but her mortal Hate and Scorn.
Enter Cleonte.
Cleo. Francisca, why art thou so earnest for my coming into the Garden so early?
Fran. Because, Madam, here without Interruption you may learn what the Lady Clarinda has to tell you.
Cleo. Is that all? go wait upon her hither then.
Fran. Yes, when your more pleasant Affair is dispatch’d, I will —
[Aside.
[Exit Francisca.
Cleo. Can this be Love I feel?
This strange unusual something in my Soul,
That pleads so movingly for Silvio there;
And makes me wish him not allied to me?
[A noise of rural Musick is heard within the Trees, as Pipes,
Flutes, and Voices.
Hah! what pleasant Noise is this? sure ’tis i’ the Air — Bless me, what strange things be these!
Enter Swains playing upon Pipes, after them four Shepherds with
Garlands and Flowers, and four Nymphs dancing an amorous Dance to
that Musick; wherein the Shepherds make Love to the Nymphs, and put
the Garlands on their Heads, and go out; the Nymphs come and lay
them at Cleonte’s Feet, and sing.
1 Nymph. Here at your Feet, we tribute pay,
Of all the Glories of the May.
2 Nymph. Such Trophies can be only due
To Victors so divine as you,
Both. Come, follow, follow, where Love leads the way,
To Pleasures that admit of no Delay.
1 Nymph. Come follow to the amorous Shade,
Covered with Roses, and with Jessamine.
2 Nymph. Where the Love-sick Boy is laid,
Panting for Love’s charming Queen.
Both. Come follow, follow, where we lead the way,
To Pleasures that admit of no delay.
[Lead her out.
The Scene changes to a fine Arbour, they leave her and vanish.
Cleo. I am all Wonder.
Enter Silvio in rapture, not yet seeing Cleonte.
Silv. I’m all on Fire, till I enjoy my Sister;
Not all the Laws of Birth and Nature
Can hinder me from loving — Nor is’t just:
Why should the charm of fair Cleonte’s Eyes,
Me less than Aliens to her Blood surprize?
And why (since I love Beauty every where,
And that Cleonte has the greatest share)
Should not I be allowed to worship her?
The empty Words of Nature and of Blood,
Are such as Lovers never understood.
Prudence in love ‘twere Nonsense to approve,
And he loves most that gives a Loose to Love.
Cleo. Silvio here!
Silv. Hah — yonder she’s!
[Sees her.
And now my Passion knows no Bounds, nor Laws.
Cleonte, come, come satisfy my Flame.
[Runs to her, and takes her passionately by the hand.
These private Shades are ours, no jealous Eye
Can interrupt our Heaven of Joy.
Cleo. What mean you? do you know I am your Sister?
Silv. Oh that accursed Name! — why should it check me?
[He pauses.
Wouldst thou had rather been some mis-begotten Monster,
That might have startled Nature at thy Birth:
Or if the Powers above would have thee fair,
Why wert thou born my Sister?
Oh, if thou shouldst preserve thy Soul, and mine,
Fly from this Place and me; make haste away,
A strange wild Monster is broke in upon thee;
A thing that was a Man, but now as mad
As raging Love can make him.
Fly me, or thou art lost for ever.
Cleo. Remember, Silvio, that you are my Brother,
And can you hurt your Sister?
[Weeps.
Silv. Shouldst thou repeat those Ties a thousand times,
‘Twill not redeem thee from the Fate that threatens thee.
Be gone, whilst so much Virtue does remain about me,
To wish thee out of Danger.
Cleo. Sure, Silvio, this is but to try my Virtue.
[Weeps still.
Silv. No, look on my Eyes, Cleonte, and thou shalt see them flame with a strange wicked Fire.
[Looks wildly on her.
Yet do not look, thy Eyes increase it.
— Alas!
[Turns away, and hides his Eyes.
And I shall still forget I am thy Brother:
Go, go, whilst I have power to take my Eyes away,
For if they turn again, it will be fatal.
Cleo. Pray hear me, Sir.
Silv. Oh, do not speak; thy Voice has Charms
As tempting as thy Face; but whilst thou art silent and unseen,
Perhaps my Madness may be moderate;
For as it is, the best Effects of it
Will prompt me on to kill thee.
Cleo. To kill me!
Silv. Yes; for shouldst thou live, adorn’d with so much Beauty,
So much my Passion is above my Reason,
In some such fit as does possess me now
I should commit a Rape, a Rape upon thee:
Therefore be gone, and do not tempt Despair,
That merciless rude thing, but save thy Honour,
And thy Life.
Cleo. I will obey you, Sir.
[Goes into the Garden.
Silv. She’s gone — and now [Walks, and talks in stopping.] my hot Fit abates — she is my Sister — that is, my Father’s Daughter — but — what if his Wife deceiv’d him — or perhaps — (which is the likelier thing) my Mother play’d the false one — for ’twas her Trade to do so — and I’m not Son to Ambrosio — Oh, that she were in being to confess this Truth, for sure ’tis Truth; then I might love, and might enjoy Cleonte — enjoy Cleonte! [In transport.] Oh that Thought! what Fire it kindles in my Veins, and now my cold Fit’s gone —
[Offers to go, but starts and returns.]
— No, let me pause a while —
For in this Ague of my Love and Fear,
Both the Extremes are mortal —
[Goes into the Garden.
Enter Ambrosio and Marcel.
Amb. I’m reconcil’d to you, since your Brother Silvio would have it so.
Mar. My Blood flows to my Face, to hear him named.
Amb. Let there be no more Differences between you: But Silvio has of late been discontented, keeps home, and shuns the Conversation which Youth delights in; goes not to Court as he was wont. Prithee, Marcel, learn thou the cause of it.
Mar. I do believe I shall, my Lord — too soon.
[Aside.
Amb. I’m now going to my Villa, and shall not return till Night; by the way I mean to visit your Wife, that was design’d to be, the rich Flavia, and see if I can again reconcile her to you; for your Neglect has been great, and her Anger is just.
Mar. I rather wish it should continue, Sir, for I have yet no Inclinations to marry.
Amb. No more, I’ll have it so, if I can.
Mar. I’m silent, Sir.
[Ex. Ambrosio and Marcel.
Enter as from out of the Garden, Cleonte, Clarinda, Francisca,
Dormida, from amongst the Trees, sadly; Silvio who starts at
sight of them.
Cleo. I am satisfied you knew not of my Brother’s being in the Garden.
[To Franc.
Silv. Clarinda with my Sister! and in our House! she’s very fair — and yet how dull and blasted all her Beauties seems, when they approach the fair Cleonte’s — I cannot shun a tedious Compliment; to see the fair Clarinda [Goes to Clarinda.] here, is a Happiness beyond my Hope; I’m glad to see her kind to the Sister, who always treated the Brother with so much Scorn and Rigour.
Clar. Silvio! sure I’m betray’d.
[Aside.
[He talks to her.
Enter Marcel, and is amaz’d.
Mar. Hah! Silvio with Clarinda in our House! Oh, daring Villain! to make this place a Sanctuary To all thy Lusts and Treachery! Now I’m convinc’d, ’twas he that wounded me, And he that fled last Night with that false Woman. [Cleonte goes to Marcel.
Silv. You need not fear me now, fair Maid, I’m disarm’d of all my dangerous Love.
Mar. It was by his contrivance that she came, [To Cleonte.] do not excuse him, but send her quickly from you, lest you become as infamous as she. —
Cleo. Oh, how I hate her now; I know my Brother Silvio loves her.
Mar. How every Gesture shows his Passion, whilst she seems pleas’d to hear him. I can endure no more —
Cleo. What will you do?
[She goes to them.
Mar. Nothing, dear Sister,
But if I can be wise and angry too:
For ’tis not safe t’attack him in the Garden.
How now, Silvio — under the Name of Brother,
I see you dare too much.
[Snatches away his Sister and Clarinda.
Silv. What mean you by this rude Address, Marcel?
Mar. I’ll tell ye, Sir, anon. Go get you in.
[To the Women, who go in.
Silv. Well, Sir, your Business now?
Mar. It is not safe to tell you here, tho I have hardly Patience to stay till thou meet me in St. Peter’s Grove.
Silv. I will not fail you, Sir, an Hour hence.
[Goes in after them.
Mar. I dare not in this Rage return to upbraid Clarinda, lest I do things that mis-become a Man.
[Goes out.