English

SCENE V.

KING, RHODOLINDA, GONDIBERT, BIRTHA, ASTRAGON, PHILOSOPHERS &c. as after the Banquet.

G ONDIBERT .

This royal Overflowing of your Bounty
Restrains my fault'ring Tongue, which fain wou'd speak
The thankful Language of my grateful Heart. —
My Actions shall declare my Zeal and Duty.

King .

Dear to my Soul as when, adorn'd with Spoils,

SCENE IV.

Enter Tibalt.

Where shall I hide my ignominious Head?
I hate the Light, and cannot bear myself.
— Curse on the Weakness which betray'd my Virtue.
How am I fall'n from Honour! O my Soul —
And how become the Instrument of Hell,
To murder Innocence which never wrong'd me!
— Drawn by a Woman to forego my Faith
To worthy Ulfinore — to mingle Poison
Ev'n for my General's Bride! — Rejoice, Prometheus ;

SCENE III.

Enter Ulfinore.

U LFINORE .

Perdition on his Head! the lurking Villain —
'Twas He that drew this Danger on my Lord,
'Twas He acquainted Laura with his Love,
Against th' inviolable Laws of Friendship,
'Twas He declar'd me Traytor to the King:
O wou'd some God but give Him to this Arm,
A Victim to the Fury of my Vengeance,
With fell Delight I'd riot in his Blood,

SCENE II.

Enter Rhodolinda, Laura.

R HODOLINDA .

Thou tell'st me Wonders.

Laura .

Greater wait behind.
Soon as I reach'd the sage Urganda 's Cell,
A Flight of Owls and Batts and Raven-Wings
With hideous Clang, I tremble to relate it,
Beat the thick Air, and Adders thro' the Brakes
Hiss'd rusling, grumbled underneath the Ground,

Enter Birtha.

BirthA .

A Sweet Sensation melting round my Heart
Springs up and overflows my Soul with Joy,
Which conjugal Affection only feels;
A secret Glow and Throbbing to impart
The dear Assurance of our mutual Safety.
I'll steal upon his Sorrows like a Slumber
Pregnant with Bliss to sooth a Fever's Rage
Tumultuous charging thro' the languid Patient,
After long Tossings on the Bed of Sickness;
The balmy Comfort sinks into his Senses

Enter Tibalt.

T IBALT .

The Soldiers, Sir, in mutinous Disorder,
Allegiance broken, in a civil Storm
Led on by Ulfinore , with hideous Clamours
Rush from the Camp, and threaten Desolation,
Unless the Duke be quickly freed from Prison.

King .

From Prison freed! hah! — Who imprison'd Gondibert?
Thy Words confound me — speak — or else Thou dy'st.

Enter Astragon and Birtha.

A STRAGON .

Forgive us, Royal Sir, forgive your Servants —

B IRTHA .

Forgive your humble suppliant who implores
Your Pardon to my Lord, tho' not to me.
Here let your Indignation sate its Fury
Upon my wretched Head: I'll dye with Pleasure
To satisfy the Justice of your Anger:
But spare my Gondibert , O spare my Husband,
For Mercy's Sake for Piety's forgive Him;

SCENE IV.

Enter Aribert. Guards at a Disiance .

A RIBERT .

My Daughter's Passion hurry'd me too far:
Now cooler Reason mounts again her Throne,
I blame myself. True, Gondibert 's Refusal
Might well alarm a Woman in her Weakness:
Besides, my Hopes are cross'd: my every Wish
Was center'd in Him for my Son and Heir:
By Blood ally'd, I fix'd on Him alone.
His Virtues might have dignify'd a scepter,

SCENE III.

BIRTHA, THULA, ASTRAGON.

B IRTHA .

Are these the Comforts of a Bridal-Day?
The Sighs of Ecstasy are sunk in Sobs
Of Bitterness. A Prison deep, and dreary
As the dark Mansions of the Dead, receive Him,
Receive my Lord and Husband! Oh, my Heart,
What Hoards of Rapture didst thou fondly promise,
What golden Scenes, what Flows of endless Joys,
What Calms of Fortune, and what Smiles of Love!

SCENE II.

Enter Tibalt and Guards.

G ONDIBERT .

What mean these Guards , and Tibalt in Disorder?
You seem to labour with some mighty Message
That's big with Fate: whate're it be declare it.

T IBALT .

Unwilling we approach with bleeding Hearts
And faultering Tongues, but Orders from the King —

G ONDIBERT .