Enter the Governor with OROONOKO, BLANDFORD, STANMORE, and the planters.

Gov. Thou glorious man! thou something greater

sure

Than Cæsar ever was! that single arm

Has sav'd us all: accept our general thanks.

[All bow to Oroonoko.

And what can we do more to recompense
Such noble services, you shall command.
Clemene too shall thank you—she is safe-
Look up, and bless your brave deliverer.

[Brings Clemene forward, looking down on the ground.

Oro. Bless me indeed!

Blan. You start!

Oro. Oh, all you gods,

Who govern this great world, and bring about
Things strange and unexpected! can it be?
Gov. What is't you stare at so?

Oro. Answer me, some of you; you who have

And have your senses free: or are you all

Struck through with wonder too?

[Looking still fixed on her.

Blan. What would you know?

Oro. My soul steals from my body through my

eyes;

All that is left of life I'll gaze away,

And die upon the pleasure.

Gov. This is strange!

Oro. If you but mock me with her image here: If she be not Imoinda

[She looks upon him, and falls into a swoon; he runs to her. Ha! she faints!

Nay, then it must be she: it is Imoinda:
My heart confesses her, and leaps for joy,
To welcome her to her own empire here.
"I feel her all, in ev'ry part of me.
"Oh, let me press her in my eager arms,
"Wake her to life, and with this kindling kiss

"Give back that soul, she only lent me. [Kisses her.

"Gov. I am amaz'd!

"Blan. I am as much as you.

"Oro." Imoinda! Oh, thy Oroonoko calls.

[Imoinda coming to life.

Imo. My Oroonoko! Oh, I can't believe

What any man can say. But, if I am

To be deceiv'd, there's something in that name,

You cannot be mistaken: I am yours,

Your Oroonoko, all that you would have,

Your tender loving husband.

Imo. All indeed

That I would have: my husband! then I am

Alive, and waking to the joys I feel :

They were so great, I could not think 'em true;

But I believe all that you say to me :

For truth itself and everlasting love

Grows in this breast, and pleasure in these arms.
Oro. Take, take me all: enquire into my heart,
(You know the way to ev'ry secret there)
My heart, the sacred treasury of love:
And if, in absence, I have misemploy'd
A mite from the rich store; if I have spent
A wish, a sigh, but what I sent to you;
May I be curs'd to wish and sigh in vain,
And you not pity me.

Imo. Oh, I believe,

And know you by myself. If these sad eyes,
Since last we parted, have beheld the face
Of any comfort, or once wish'd to see
The light of any other heav'n but you,
May I be struck this moment blind, and lose
Your blessed sight, never to find you more.
Oro. Imoinda! Oh, this separation

Has made you dearer, if it can be so,
Than you were ever to me. You appear
Like a kind star to my benighted steps,
To guide me on my way to happiness :
I cannot miss it now. Governor, friend,
You think me mad: but let me bless you all,
Who, any ways, have been the instruments
Of finding her again. Imoinda's found!
And ev'ry thing that I would have in her.

[Embracing her with the most passionate fondness. Stan. Where's your mistress now, governor?

54

Gov. Why, where most men's mistresses are forced

to be sometimes,

With her husband, it seems: but I wont lose her so.

[Aside. Stan. He has fought lustily for her, and deserves her, I'll say that for him.

Blan. Sir, we congratulate your happiness: I do most heartily.

Gov. And all of us; but how it comes to pass"Oro. That will require

"More precious time than I can spare you now.
"I have a thousand things to ask her,

"And she has many more to know of me.
"But you have made me happier, I confess,
"Acknowledge it, much happier, than I
"Have words or pow'r to tell you.

Captain, you,

"Ev'n you, who most have wrong'd me, I forgive.

"I wo'not say you have betray'd me now :

"I'll think you but the minister of Fate,
"To bring me to my lov'd Imoinda here."

Imo. How, how, shall I receive you? how be worthy

Of such endearments, all this tenderness?
These are the transports of prosperity,
When fortune smiles upon us.

Oro. Let the fools

Who follow fortune, live upon her smiles;
All our prosperity is plac'd in love,

We have enough of that to make us happy.
This little spot of earth, you stand upon,

Is more to me than the extended plains

Of my great father's kingdom. Here I reign
In full delights, in joys to pow'r unknown;
Your love my empire, and your heart my throne.

[Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE 1.

Enter ABOAN, with several Slaves, and HOTMAN.

Hotman.

WHAT! to be slaves to cowards! Slaves to rogues, who can't defend themselves!

Abo. Who is this fellow he talks as if he were acquainted with our design is he one of us?

[Aside to his own gang. Slave. Not yet: but he will be glad to make one, I believe.

Abo. He makes a mighty noise.

Hot. Go, sneak in corners; whisper out your griefs,

For fear your masters hear you: cringe and crouch
Under the bloody whip, like beaten curs,

That lick their wounds, and know no other cure.
All, wretches all! you feel their cruelty,

As much as I can feel, but dare not groan.
For my part, while I have a life and tongue,
I'll curse the authors of my slavery.

Abo. Have you been long a slave ?