Char. You would have a husband, and I provided for you as well as I could.

me.

Widow L. Yes, yes, you have provided for

Char. And you have paid me very well for❜t; I thank you.

Widow L. "Tis very well: I may be with child too, for aught I know, and may go look for the father.

Char. Nay, if you think so, 'tis time to look about you, indeed. For my part, Mrs. Lackitt, your thousand pounds will engage me not to laugh at you. Then my sister is married to your son; he is to have half your estate, I know; and indeed they may live upon it very comfortably to themselves, and very creditably to you.

Widow L. Nay, I can blame nobody but myself.

Char. You have enough for a husband still, and that you may bestow upon honest Jack Stanmore.

Widow L. Is he the man then?

Char. He is the man you are obliged to. Jack S. Yes, faith, widow, I am the man. Widow L. Well, well, I see you will have me even marry me, and make an end of the business.

Stan. Why, that's well said; now we are all agreed, and all well provided for.

Enter a SERVANT to STANMORE.

Serv. Sir, Mr. Blandford desires you to come to him, and bring as many of your friends as you can with you.

Stan. I come to him. You shall all go along with me. Come, young gentleman, marriage is the fashion you see; you must like it now. Dan. If I don't, how shall I help myself? Lucy. Nay, you may hang yourself in the noose, if you please, but you'll never get out on't with struggling.

Dan. Come, then let's e'en jog on in the old road.

Cuckold, or worse, I must now be contented: I'm not the first has married and repented.

[Exeunt. Enter LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, BLANDFORD, and Planters.

Bland. Have you no reverence for future fame?

No awe upon your actions, from the tongues, The censuring tongues, of men, that will be

free?

Bland. Discretion! no; he yielded on your word;

And I am made the cautionary pledge,
The gage and hostage of your keeping it.
Remember, Sir, he yielded on your word;
Your word; which honest men will think

should be

The last resort of truth and trust on earth: There's no appeal beyond it but to Heaven. Stan. He's out of all power of doing any harm now, if he were disposed to it.

Char. But he is not disposed to it.
Blund. To keep him where he is, will make
him soon

Find out some desp'rate way to liberty:
He'll hang himself, or dash out his mad brains.
Char. Pray try him by gentle means: we'll
all be sureties for him.
Omnes. All, all.

Lucy. We will all answer for him now. Lieut. Well, you will have it so; do what you please, just what you will, with him: I give you leave.

[Erit. Bland. We thank you, Sir; this way; pray come with me. [Exeunt.

Oro. If you would have me think you are not all

Confederates, all accessary to
The base injustice of your governor;
If you would have me live, as you appear
To thank and bless you; there is yet a way
Concern'd for me; if you would have me live
To tie me ever to your honest love;
Bring my Imoinda to me; give me her,
I'll sit down with my wrongs, never to rise
To cheer my sorrows, and, if possible,
Against my fate, or think of vengeance more.
Bland. Be satisfy'd, you may depend upon

us,

We'll bring her safe to you, and suddenly. Char. We will not leave you in so good a work.

Widow L. No, no, we'll go with you.
Bland. In the meantime,
Endeavour to forget, Sir, and forgive;
And hope a better fortune.

[Exeunt all but OROONOKO.
Oro. Forget! forgive! I must indeed forget
When I forgive: but while I am a man,
In flesh, that bears the living marks of shame,
The print of his dishonourable chains,
My memory still rousing up my wrongs,
This villain; the disgrace of trust and place,
I never can forgive this governor,
And just contempt of delegated power.
What shall I do? If I declare myself,

I know him, he will sneak behind his guard
Of followers, and brave me in his fears.
Else, lion-like, with my devouring rage,
I would rush on him, fasten on his throat,
Tear a wide passage to his treacherous heart,
And that way lay him open to the world.

[Pauses.

If I should turn his Christian arts on him, Promise him, speak him fair, flatter, and creep

With fawning steps, to get within his faith,
1 could betray him then, as he has me.
But am I sure by that to right myself?
Lying's a certain mark of cowardice:
And, when the tongue forgets its honesty,
The heart and hand may drop their functions
And nothing worthy be resolv'd or done. [too,
Let me but find out

An honest remedy, I have the hand,

A minist'ring hand, that will apply it home.

[Exit.

SCENE III.-The LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR'S

House.

Enter LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR. Lieut. I would not have her tell me she In favour of the sex's modesty. [consents; Enter BLANDFORD, STANMORE, JACK STANMORE, DANIEL, CHARLOTTE WELDON, and LUCY.

What's the matter?

Char. Nay, nothing extraordinary. But one good action draws on another. You have given the prince his freedom: now we come a begging for his wife: you wont refuse us. Lieut. Refuse you? No, no, what have I to do to refuse you? I send her to him! You do very well; 'tis kindly done of you; carry her to him, with all my heart.

even

Lucy. You must tell us where she is. Lieut. I tell you! why, don't you know? Bland. Your servant says she's in the house. Lieut. No, no, I brought her home at first indeed; but I thought it would not look well to keep her here; I removed her in the hurry only to take care of her. What! she belongs to you: I have nothing to do with her.

Char. But where is she now, Sir? Lieut. Why, faith, I can't say certainly: you'll hear of her at Parham-house, I suppose: there or thereabouts: I think I sent her there. Bland. I'll have an eye on him. [Aside. [Exeunt all but LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR. Lieut. I have lied myself into a little time, And must employ it: they'll be here again; But I must go before 'em.

[Going out, he meets IMOINDA, and seizes her.

Are you come?

I'll court no longer for a happiness
That is in my own keeping: you may still
Refuse to grant, so I have power to take.
The man that asks deserves to be denied.

[She disengages one hand, and draws his
sword from his side upon him; Gov-
ERNOR starts and retires. BLANDFORD
enters behind him

Imo. He does indeed, that asks unworthily. Bland. You hear her, Sir, that asks unworthily.

Lieut. You are no judge. Bland. I am, of my own slave. Lieut. Be gone, and leave us. Bland. When you let her go. Lieut. To fasten upon you. Bland. I must defend myself. [IMOINDA retreats towards the door, favoured by BLANDFORD; when they are closed, she throws down the sword and runs out. GOVERNOR takes up his sword, they fight, close, and fall, BLANDFORD upon him. Servants enter and part them. Lieut. She sha'n't escape me so; I've gone too far,

Not to go further. Curse on my delay,
But yet she is, and shall be, in my power.
Bland. Nay, then it is the war of honesty;
I know you, and will save you from yourself.
[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Enter OROONOKO.

Oro. To honour bound! and yet a slave to I am distracted by their rival powers, [love! And both will be obey'd. O great revenge! Thou raiser and restorer of fall'n fame! Let me not be unworthy of thy aid, For stopping in thy course. I still am thine; But can't forget I am Imoinda's too. She calls me from my wrongs to rescue her. No man condemn me, who has never felt A woman's power, or tried the force of love; To run his glorious race of light anew, And carry on the world. Love, love will be My first ambition, and my fame the next.

Enter ABOAN, bloody.

My eyes are turn'd against me, and combine
With my sworn enemies, to represent
This spectacle of horror. Aboan!
Aboan. I have no name

That can distinguish me from the vile earth,
To which I'm going: a poor abject worm,
That crawl'd awhile upon the bustling world,
And now am trampled to my dust again.

Oro. I see thee gash'd and mangled!
Aboan. Spare my shame,

To tell how they have us'd me; but believe,
The hangman's hand would have been merci-
Do not you scorn me, Sir, to think I can [ful.
Intend to live under this infamy?
I do not come for pity, to complain.
I've spent an honourable life with you;
The earliest servant of your rising fame,
And would attend it with my latest care:
My life was yours, and so shall be my death.
You must not live;
Bending and sinking, I have dragg'd my steps
Thus far, to tell you that you cannot live:
To warn you of those ignominious wrongs,
Whips, rods, and all the instruments of death,
Which I have felt, and are prepar❜d for you.
This was the duty that I had to pay.
'Tis done, and now I beg to be discharg'd.
Oro. What shall I do for thee?
Aboan. My body tires,

And wo'not bear me off to liberty:
I shall again be taken, made a slave.
A sword, a dagger, yet would rescue me.
I have not strength to go and find out death,
You must direct him to me.

Oro. Here he is, [Gives him a dagger.
The only present I can make thee now:
And, next the honourable means of life,
I would bestow the honest means of death.
Aboan. I cannot stay to thank you. If
there is

A being after this, I shall be yours
In the next world, your faithful slave again.
This is to try. [Stabs himself.] I had a living

That worried him, only for being mine.
Why, why ye gods! why am I so accurs'd,
That it must be a reason of your wrath,
A guilt, a crime sufficient to the fate
Of any one, but to belong to me?

My friend has found it out, and my wife will

soon :

My wife! the very fear's too much for life.
I can't support it. Where's Imoinda? Oh!
[Going out, he meets IMOINDA, who runs
into his arms.

Thou bosom softness! Down of all my cares!
I could recline my thoughts upon this breast
To a forgetfulness of all my griefs,
And yet be happy: but it wo'not be.
Thou art disorder'd, pale, and out of breath!
If fate pursue thee, find a shelter here.
What is it thou wouldst tell me?

Imo. 'Tis in vain to call him villain.
Oro. Call him governor : is it not so
Imo. There's not another sure.

Oro. Villain's the common name of mankind
here,

But his most properly. What! what of him?
I fear to be resolv'd, and must inquire.
He had thee in his power.

Imo. I blush to think it.
Oro. Blush! to think what?
Imo. That I was in his power.
Oro. He could not use it?
Imo. What can't such men do?
Oro. But did he? durst he?
Imo. What he could he dar'd.

Oro. His own gods damn him then! For
ours have none,

No punishment for such unheard of crime.

Imo. This monster, cunning in his flatteries, When he had weary'd all his useless arts, Leap'd out, fierce as a beast of prey, to seize I trembled, fear'd, [me.

Oro. I fear and tremble now. What could preserve thee? What deliver thee? Imo. That worthy man, you us'd to call your

friend

Oro. Blandford?

Imo. Came in, and sav'd me from his rage. Oro. He was a friend indeed, to rescue thee! And, for his sake, I'll think it possible A Christain may be yet an honest man.

Imo. O did you know what I have struggled through,

To save me yours, sure you would promise me Never to see me forc'd from you again.

Oro. To promise thee! Ol do I need to promise?

But there is now no further use of words.
Death is security for all our fears.
[Shows ABOAN's body on the floor.
And yet I cannot trust him.
Imo. Aboan!

Oro. Mangled and torn, resolv'd to give
me time

To fit myself for what I must expect,
Groan'd out a warning to me, and expir'd.
Imo. For what you must expect?
Oro, Would that were all.

Imo. What, to be butcher'd thus-
Oro. Just as thou seest.

Imo. By barb'rous hands to fall at last their
prey?

Oro. I have run the race with honour, shall
I now

Lag, and be overtaken at the goal?

Imo. No.

Oro. 1 must look back to thee. [Tenderly.

Imo. You sha'not need.

I am always present to your purpose; say,

Imo. 'Tis your wife,

Who on her knees conjures you. O! in time,
Prevent those mischiefs that are falling on us.
You may be hurried to a shameful death,
And I too dragg'd to the vile governor;
Then I may cry aloud. When you are gone,
Where shall I find a friend again to save me?
Oro. It will be so. Thou unexampled virtue !
Thy resolution has recover'd mine:
And now prepare thee.

Imo. Thus, with open arms,
I welcome you and death.

[He drops the dagger as he looks on her, and throws himself on the ground.

Oro. I cannot bear it.

O let me dash against the rock of fate,
Dig up this earth, and tear her bowels out,
To make a grave, deep as the centre down,
To swallow wide and bury us together!
It wo'not be. O! then some pitying god
(If there be one a friend to innocence)
Find yet a way to lay her beauties down
Gently in death, and save me from her blood.
Imo. O rise, 'tis more than death to see you
thus.

I'll ease your love, and do the deed myself-
[She takes up the dagger, he rises in haste
to take it from her.
Oro. O hold, I charge thee, hold.
Imo. Though I must own

It would be nobler for us both, from you.
Oro. O! for a whirlwind's wing to hurry

us

To yonder cliff, which frowns upon the flood;
That in embraces lock'd we might plunge in,
And perish thus in one another's arms.
Imo. Alas! what shout is that?
Oro. I see 'em coming.
They sha'not overtake us. This last kiss,
And now farewell.

Imo. Farewell, farewell for ever!
Oro. I'll turn my face away, and do it so.
Now, are you ready?

Imo. Now. But do not grudge me
The pleasure, in my death, of a last look;
Pray look upon me.--Now I'm satisfied.
Oro. So fate must be by this.

[Going to stab her, he stops short ; she lays her hand on his, in order to give the blow. Imo. Nay, then I must assist you. And since it is the common cause of both, 'Tis just that both should be employ'd in it Thus, thus 'tis finish'd, and I bless my fate,, [Stabs herself.

That, where I liv'd, I die in these lov'd arms. [Dies. Oro. She's gone. And now all's at an end with me.

Soft, lay her down: O we will part no more.
[Throws himself by her.
But let me pay the tribute of my grief,
A few sad tears to thy lov'd memory,
And then I follow- [Shouts; weeps over her.
But I stay too long.
[A noise again.
The noise comes nearer. Hold, before I go,
There's something would be done. It shall be

| Engage you in the cursed cause of one
Who cannot live, and now entreats to die
This object will convince you.
Bland. 'Tis his wife.

[They gather about the body. Alas, there was no other remedy. Lieut. Who did the bloody deed? Oro. The deed was mine: Bloody I know it is, and I expect [demn'd, Your laws should tell me so. Thus self-conI do resign myself into your hands, -But I hold the sword The hands of justiceFor you and for myself.

[Stabs the GOVERNOR and himself, then throws himself by IMOINDA's body. 'Tis as it should be now, I have sent his ghost To be a witness of that happiness In the next world, which he denied us here. [Dies. Bland. I hope there is a place of happiness In the next world for such exalted virtue. Pagan or unbeliever, yet he liv'd To all he knew: and, if he went astray, There's mercy still above to set him right. But Christians, guided by the heavenly ray, Have no excuse if they mistake their way.

[Exeunt.