The Stolen Heiress Part 7

_Eug._ _Irus_, my Lord.

_Pirro._ Your Name as well as Habit speak you poor.

_Eug._ I'm poor enough, my Lord.

_Pirro._ Very poor?

_Eug._ Very poor, my Lord.

_Pirro._ Would you not gladly mend your Fortunes.

_Eug._ I wish your Lordship would shew me the Way.

_Pirro._ What think you now of taking Revenge for your Sister's Rape, ha?

_Eug._ Alas! my Lord, that I wou'd have done long ago, but Want prevented my Escape.

_Pirro._ Say'st thou so? my Friend: well, poison this _Eugenio_, and thou shalt not want; for thy Reward, a thousand Crowns are thine.

_Eug._ Think it done, my Lord, nor will I receive my Hire till I have brought you a certain Proof _Eugenio_ is no more; all I ask is but your Hand to the Agreement, my Lord, that I may be sure of my Reward.

_Pirro._ I'll give it thee----We must be safe, for his Father will be asham'd to prosecute, after his reported Death. I must confess I lov'd _Lucasia_ as an Heiress, but was she ten times as fair, I would not marry her without the Dowry, therefore make sure my Fortune by thy Master's Death.

_Eug._ He dies this Night.

SCENE _changes to the Grove_.

_Enter_ Palante, Lucasia, _and_ Clerimont.

_Pal._ 'Tis done, 'tis done, the Sacred Knot is ty'd, And bright _Lucasia_ is for ever mine.

I ne'er till now did taste the Sweets of Life; Or the transporting Extasy of Joy.

Burst not ye feeble Ministers of Nature, With the vast Excess of swelling Pleasure.

Oh! my Friend, what shall I say to thee?

_Cler._ This is no Time for Talk or Transports, Make Use of my Fortune, and fly till the Pursuit is over.

_Pal._ Oh! _Clerimont_, I'm bankrupt every Way, Both to thee, and to my fair _Lucasia_.

Still thou art sad, my Love.

_Luc._ My Sadness does proceed from Fear for thee, Take your Friend's Counsel, let us fly this Place.

Hark! What Noise is that? ha me, we're lost.

_Enter_ Gravello, Eugenio, Rosco, _and Officers_.

_Grav._ Fall on Officers, there they are.

_Cler._ Thieves.

_Pal._ Villains!

_Grav._ Thou art thyself the Thief and Villain too; Give me my Daughter thou Ranter.

_Pal._ First take my Life.

_Grav._ Fall on, I say; down with 'em if they resist.

_Luc._ Oh! we are undone, wicked, wicked _Laura_.

_Pal._ Come on, Slaves.

_Cler._ We shall not surrender tamely.

[_They fight, but are disarm'd by the Mult.i.tude._

_Grav._ So, keep 'em fast, we'll have 'em faster shortly.

For you, Minion, I shall secure you from a second 'Scape.

_Luc._ Yet do but hear me, Father.

_Grav._ Call me not Father, thou disobedient Wretch, Thou Vagabond, thou art no Child of mine; My Daughter was bred up to Virtue.

_Luc._ For you my Mother wou'd have done as much: If Need had so required; Think not that my Mind e'er stray'd from Virtue; Oh! listen to the Voice of my Prayer, and Crown It with rich Mercy.

_Grav._ Off, Strumpet, Officers away with the Criminals, They both shall die.

_Pal._ Now I must speak, oh spare my Friend, for he Is innocent.

_Cler._ If thou must die, _Palante_, I have no Other Wish, but to suffer with thee.

_Grav._ That Wish a.s.sure thyself thou shalt obtain.

_Luc._ Oh, stay blood-thirsty Men, stay and hear me But a Word, and that shall be my final Resolution.

If thou, my cruel Father wilt not hear, But dost proceed to spill the Blood of him In whom my Life subsists, remember, Sir, I am your Daughter, once you did love me; Oh! tell me then, what Fault can be so great To make a Father murderer of his Child?

For so you are in taking his dear Life; Do not think that I will stay behind him.

No, whilst there's Asps, and Knives, and burning Coals; No _Roman_ Dame's Example shall outgo My Love.

_Pal._ Oh! my _Lucasia_, thou hast touch'd my Soul!

Barely but to imagine thou must die, Will make me restless in my silent Grave.

Is not my Death sufficient, barbarous Man?

But must _Lucasia_'s Woe be added too?

Dry up those Tears, my Wife, my lovely Bride, Or thou wilt make me truly miserable, Preserve thy Life, that I may after Death, In thee my better Part survive.

For thee and for my Friend my only Prayers shall be, If you both live, _Palante_ dies with Pleasure.

_Grav._ Away with 'em, and let the Law decide it.

_Luc._ I too alike am guilty; O let me share the Punishment with them, Thou shalt not go alone, take me with thee; Here are my willing Hands, quick bind 'em fast, [_Runs and clasps_ Palante.

Else here I'll hold 'till my last Breath expires.