As painful, and as quick, as yours can be.
I feel for my Imoinda and myself;
Imoinda, much the tenderest part of me.
But though I languish for my liberty,
I would not buy it at the Christian price
Of black ingratitude: they sha'not say,
That we deserv'd our fortune by our crimes.
Murder the innocent!

Abo. The innocent!

Oro. These men are so, whom you would rise against:

If we are slaves, they did not make us slaves;
But bought us in an honest way of trade,
As we have done before 'em, bought and sold
Many a wretch, and never thought it wrong.
"They paid our price for us, and we are now
"Their property, a part of their estate,
"To manage as they please. Mistake me not."
I do not tamely say, that we should bear
All they could lay upon us: but we find
The load so light, so little to be felt,
(Considering they have us in their pow'r,
And may inflict what grievances they please)
We ought not to complain.

Abo. My royal lord!

You do not know the heavy grievances,

The toils, the labours, weary drudgeries,

Which they impose; burdens more fit for beasts,
For senseless beasts to bear, than thinking men.
Then if you saw the bloody cruelties

F

They execute on every slight offence;

Nay, sometimes in their proud, insulting sport,

How worse than dogs they lash their fellow-creatures, Your heart would bleed for 'em. Oh, could you know How many wretches lift their hands and eyes

To you for their relief!

Oro. I pity 'em,

And wish I could with honesty do more.

Abo. You must do more, and may, with honesty. Oh, royal Sir, remember who you are:

A prince, born for the good of other men ;
Whose god-like office is to draw the sword
Against oppression, and set free mankind :
And this I'm sure you think oppression now.
What though you have not felt these miseries,
Never believe you are oblig'd to them:
They have their selfish reasons, may be, now,
For using of you well: but there will come
A time, when you must have your share of 'em.
Oro. You see how little cause I have to think so:
Favour'd in my own person, in my friends;

Indulg'd in all that can concern my care,

In my Imoinda's soft society.

[Embracing her.

Abo. And therefore would you lie contented down

In the forgetfulness, and arms of love,

To get young princes for 'em?

Oro. Say'st thou! ha!

Abo. Princes, the heirs of empire, and the last

Of your illustrious lineage, to be born

To pamper up their pride, and be their slaves?

Oro. Imoinda! save me, save me from that thought. "Imo. There is no safety from it: I have long "Suffer'd it with a mother's labouring pains; "And can no longer. Kill me, kill me now, "While I am bless'd, and happy in your love; "Rather than let me live to see you hate me : "As you must hate me; me, the only cause, "The fountain of these flowing miseries: "Dry up the spring of life, this pois'nous spring, "That swells so fast, to overwhelm us all.

"Oro." Shall the dear babe, the eldest of my hopes,

Whom I begot a prince, be born a slave ?
The treasure of this temple was design'd
T'enrich a kingdom's fortune: shall it here
Be seiz'd upon by vile unhallow'd hands,
To be employ'd in uses most profane?

Abo. In most unworthy uses; think of that; And, while you may, prevent it. "Oh, my lord, "Rely on nothing that they say to you.

"They speak you fair, I know, and bid you wait: "But think what 'tis to wait on promises,

"And promises of men who know no tie
"Upon their words, against their interest:
"And where's their interest in freeing you?

"Imo. Oh, where indeed, to lose so many slaves? "Abo. Nay, grant this man, you think so much (c your friend,

"Be honest, and intends all that he says;

"He is but one; and in a government,

"Where, he confesses, you have enemies,

"That watch your looks; what looks can you put on, "To please these men, who are before resolv'd "To read 'em their own way? Alas, my lord!

"If they incline to think you dangerous,

"They have their knavish arts to make you so :
"And then who knows how far their cruelty
"May carry their revenge!

Imo. To every thing

"That does belong to you, your friends and me: "I shall be torn from you, forced away,

Helpless and miserable: shall I live
To see that day again?

"Oro. That day shall never come."

Abo. I know you are persuaded to believe
The governor's arrival will prevent
These mischiefs, and bestow your liberty:
But who is sure of that? I rather fear
More mischiefs from his coming. He is young,
Luxurious, passionate, and amorous :

Such a complexion, and made bold by pow'r,
To countenance all he is prone to do,

Will know no bounds, no law against his lusts.
If, in a fit of his intemperance,

With a strong hand he shall resolve to seize,
And force my royal mistress from your arms,
How can you help yourself?

Oro. Ha thou hast rous'd.

The lion in his den; he stalks abroad,

And the wide forest trembles at his roar,

I find the danger now. My spirits start
At the alarm, and from all quarters come
To man my heart, the citadel of love.

Is there a pow'r on earth to force you from me,
And shall I not resist it? "nor strike first
"To keep, to save you: to prevent that curse?
"This is your cause, and shall it not prevail ?"
Oh, you were born always to conquer me.
Now I am fashion'd to thy purpose: speak,
What combination, what conspiracy,
Would'st thou engage me in? I'll undertake
All thou would'st have me now for liberty,
For the great cause of love and liberty.

Abo. Now, my great master, you appear yourself.
And, since we have you join'd in our design,
It cannot fail us. I have muster'd up

The choicest slaves, men who are sensible
Of their condition, and seem most resolv'd:
They have their several parties.

Oro. Summon 'em,

Assemble 'em: I will come forth and shew
Myself among 'em: if they are resolv'd,
I'll lead their foremost resolutions.

Abo. I have provided those will follow you. Oro. With this reserve in our proceedings still, The means that lead us to our liberty

Must not be bloody.

"Abo. You command in all.

"We shall expect you, Sir.

"Oro. You sha'not long."