(Where the dread majesty is not invok'd, To thank, and bless you, there is yet a way
His honour not immediately concern’d,

To tie me ever to your honest love:
Not made a party in our interests)

Bring my Imoinda to me; give me her,
Our word is all to be relied upon.

To charm my sorrows, and, if possible,
Wid. Come, come, you'll be as good as your I'll sit down with my wrongs; never to rise
word, we know.

against my fate, or think of vengeance more. Stan. He's out of all power of doing any harm Blan. Be satisfied, you may depend upon us; now, if he were disposed to it.

We'll bring her safe to you, and suddenly. Char. But he is not disposed to it.

Char. We will not leave you in so good a work.
Blan. To keep him where he is, will make Wid. No, no, we'll go with you.
him soon

Blan. In the mean time,
Find out some desperate way to liberty: Endeavour to forget, sir, and forgive;
He'll hang himself, or dash out his mad brains. And hope a better fortune.

[Ereunt.
Char. Pray try him by gentle means: we'll all
be sureties for him.

OROONOKO alone.
Om. All, all.

Oro. Forget! forgive! I must indeed forget,
Lucy. We will all answer for him now. When I forgive: But while I am a man,

Gov. Well, you will have it so; do what you In flesh, that bears the living marks of shame,
please, just what you will with him, I give you The print of his dishonourable chains,
leave.

[Erit. My memory still rousing up my wrongs,
Blan. We thank you, sir; this way, pray come I never can forgive this governor,
with me.

[Ereunt. This villain; the disgrace of trust and place,

And just contempt of delegated power.
The Scene drawn, shews OROONOKO upon his What shall I do? If I declare myself,

back, his legs and arms stretched out, and I know him, he will sneak behind his guard
chained to the ground.

Of followers, and brave me in his fears.

Else, lion-like, with my devouring rage,
Enter BLANDFORD, STANMORE, &c. I would rush on him, fasten on his throat,
Blan. O miserable sight! help every one, Tear a wide passage to his treacherous heart,
Assist me all to free him from his chains. And that way lay him open to the world.
[They help him up, and bring him forward,

(Pausing. looking down.

If I should turn his Christian arts on him,
Most injur'd prince! how shall we clear ourselves? Promise him, speak him fair, flatter, and creep,
We cannot hope you will vouchsafe to hear, With fawning steps, to get within his faith,
Or credit, what we say in the defence

I could betray him then, as he has me.
And cause of our suspected innocence.

But am I sure by that to right myself?
Stan. We are not guilty of your injuries, Lying's a certain mark of cowardice :
No way consenting to 'em; but abhor,

And when the tongue forgets its honesty,
Abominate, and loathe this cruelty.

The heart and hand may drop their functions too,
Blan. It is our curse, but make it not our crime; And nothing worthy be resolved, or done.
A heavy curse upon us, that we must

The man must go together, bad, or good :
Share any thing in common, ev'n the light, In one part frais, he soon grows weak in all.
The elements and seasons, with such men, Honour should be concern'd in honour's cause,
Whose principles, like the fam’d dragon's teeth, That is not to be cured by contraries,
Scatter'd, and sown, would shoot a harvest up As bodies are, whose health is often drawn
Ot fighting mischiefs, to confound themselves, From rankest poisons. Let me but find out
And ruin all about 'em.

An honest remedy, I have the hand,
Stan. Profligates!

A ministring hand, that will apply it home!
Whose bold Titanian impiety

[Erit.
Would once again pollute their mother earth,
Force her to teem with her old monstrous brood

SCENE- The Governor's House.
Of giants, and forget the race of men.

Enter Governor.
Blan. We are not so: believe us innocent.
We come prepard with all our services,

Gov. I would not have her tell me, she con.
To offer a redress of your base wrongs.

sents;
Which way shall we employ 'em ?

In favour of the sex's modesty,
Stun. Tell us, sir,

That still should be presumed, because there is
If there is any thing that can atone;

A greater impudence in owning it,
But nothing can; that may be some amends- Than in allowing all that we can do.

Oro. If you would Itave me think you are not all This truth I know, and yet against myself,
Confederates, all accessary to

(So unaccountable are lovers' ways)
The base injustice of your governor;

I talk, and lose the opportunities,
If you would have me live, as you appear Which love, and she, expect I should employ :
Concern'd for me; if you would have me live Ev’n she expects : For when a man has sau

All that is fit, to save the decency,

Not to go farther. Curse on my delay! The women know the rest is to be done.

But yet she is, and shall be in my power. I will not disappoint her.

(Going. Blan. Nay then it is the war of honesty; I know you, and will save you from yourself

. Enter to him BLANDFORD, the STANMORES,

Gov. All come along with me. (Ereunt. DANIEL, Mrs LACKITT, CHARLOTTE, and LUCY.

SCENE— The Last. Wid. O governor! I'm glad we have lit upon

Enter OROONOKO. you. Gov. Why! what's the matter ?

Oro. To honour bound! and yet a slave to love! Char. Nay, nothing extraordinary. But one I am distracted by their rival powers, good action draws on another. You have given And both will be obey'd. O great revenge ! the prince his freedom : now we come a begging Thou raiser and restorer of fall’n fame! for his wife : you won't refuse us ?

Let me not be unworthy of thy aid, Gov. Refuse you? No, no, what have I to do For stopping in thy course: I still am thine ; to refuse you?

But can't forget I am Imoinda's too. Wid. You won't refuse to send her to him, She calls me from my wrongs, to rescue her. she means.

No man condemn me, who has

never felt Gov. I send her to him !

A woman's power, or tried the force of love: Wid. We have promised him to bring her. All tempers yield, and soften in those fires :

Goo. You do very well; 'tis kindly done of Our honours, interests, resolving down, you : ev’n carry her to him, with all my heart. Run in the gentle current of our joys; Lucy. You must tell us where she is.

But not to sink, and drown our memory; Gov. I tell you! why, don't you know? We mount again to action, like the sun, Blan. Your servants say she's in the house. That rises from the bosom of the sea,

Gov. No, no, I brought her home at first in- To run his glorious race of light anew, deed; but I thought it would not look well to And carry on the world. Love, love will be keep her here: I removed her in the hurry, on- My first ambition, and my fame the next. ly to take care of her. What! she belongs to

Enter ABOAN, bloody. you: I have nothing to do with her. Char. But where is she now, sir?

My eyes are turn'd against me, and combine Gou. Why, faith, I can't say certainly: you'll with my sworn enemies, to represent hear of her at Parham House, I suppose: there, This spectacle of horror. Aboan ! or thereabouts: I think I sent her there. My ever faithful friend! Blan. I'll have an eye on him. (Aside. 'Abo. I have no name,

| E reunt all but the Governor. That can distinguish me from the vile earth, Gov. I have lied myself into a little time, To which I'ın going: A poor abject worm, And must employ it: they'll be here again ; That crawlid a while upon a bustling world, But I must be before 'em.

And now am trampled to my dust again. (Going out, he meets IMOINDA, and seizes her. Oro. I see thee gash'd and mangled. Are you come?

Abo. Spare my shame, I'll court no longer for a happiness

To tell how they have used me: But believe That is in mine own keeping: you may still The hangman's hand would have been merciful. Refuse to grant, so I have power to take. Do not yet scorn me, sir, to think I can The man that asks deserves to be denied. Intend to live under this infamy. (She disengages one hand, and draws his sword I do not come for pity, to complain.

from his side upon him. Governor starts and I've spent an honourable life with you, retires, BLANDFORD enters behind him. The earliest servant of your rising fame, Imo. He does indeed, that asks unworthily. And would attend it with my latest care: Blan. You hear her, sir, that asks unworthily. My life was yours, and so shall be my death. Gov. You are no judge.

You must not live. Blan. I am of my own slave.

Bending and sinking, I have dragg'd my steps Gov. Be gone, and leave us.

Thus far, to tell you that you cannot live: Blan. When you let her go.

To warn you of those ignominious wrongs, Gov. To fasten upon you.

Whips, rods, and all the instruments of death, Blan. I must defend myself.

Which I have felt, and are prepared for you. Imo. Help, murder, help!

This was the duty that I had to pay; [IMOINDA retreats towards the door, faroured by 'Tis done, and now I beg to be discharged.

BLANDFORD; when they are closed, she throros Oro. What shall I do for thee?
down the sword, and runs out. Governor takes Abo. My body tires,
up his sword, they fight close, and fall, BLAND And will not bear me off to liberty:
Ford upon him. Servants enter, and part I shall again be taken, made a slave.
them.

A sword, a dagger, yet would rescue me. Goo. She shall not 'scape me so. I've gone I have not strength to go to find out de.th, too far,

You must direct him to me.

prey!

arms.

Oro. Here he is, [Gives him a dagger.

And for his sake, I'll think it possible
The only present I can make thee now; A Christian may be yet an honest man.
And next the honourable means of life,

Imo. O ! did you know what I have struggled
I would bestow the honest means of death.

through,
Abo. I cannot stay to thank you. If there is To save me yours, sure you would promise me
A being after this, I shall be yours

Never to see me forc'd from you again.
In the next world, your faithful slave again. Oro. To promise thee! 0! do I need to pro-
This is to try. (Stabs himself:] I had a living

mise?
sense

But there is now no farther use of words.
Of all your royal favours, but this last

Death is security for all our fears.
Strikes through my heart. I will not say fare-

(Sheus Aboan's body on the floor. well,

And yet I cannot trust him.
For you must follow me.

[Dies. Imo. Aboan!
Oro. In life and death,

Oro. Mangled and torn, resolved to give me
The guardian of my honour! Follow thee!

time
I should have gone before thee: then perhaps To fit myself for what I must expect,
Thy fate had been prevented. All his care Groan'd out a warning to me, and expired.
Was to preserve me from the barbarous rage Imo. For what you must expect !
That worried him, only for being mine.

Oro. Would that were all.
Why, why, you gods! why am I so accurst, Imo. What! to be butcher'd thus-
That it must be a reason of your wrath,

Oro. Just as thou seest.
A guilt, a crime sufficient to the fate

Imo. By barbarous bands, to fall at last their
Of any one, but to belong to me?
My friend has found it, and my wife will soon : Oro. I have run the race with honour; shall
My wife! the very fear's too much for life;

I now
I can't support it. Where? Imoinda! Oh! Lag, and be overtaken at the goal?
(Going out, she meets him, running into his Imo. No.

Oro. I must look back to thee. [Tenderly.
Thou bosom softness ! down of all my cares ! Imo. You shall not need;
I could recline my thoughts upon this breast I'm always present to your purpose. Say,
To a forgetfulness of all my griefs,

Which way would you dispose me?
And yet be happy! But it will not be.

Oro. Have a care,
Thou art disordered, pale, and out of breath! Thou’rt on a precipice, and dost not see
If fate pursues thee, find a shelter here.

Whither that question leads thee. O! too soon
What is it thou would'st tell me?

Thou dost enquire what the assembled gods Imo. 'Tis in vain to call him villain.

Have not determined, and will latest doom. Oro. Call him governor: is it rot so?

Yet this I know of fate, this is most certain, Imo. There's not another, sure.

I cannot, as I would, dispose of thee;
Oro. Villain's the common name of mankind And, as I ought, I dare not. Oh, Imoinda!
here;

Imo. Alas! that sigh! why do you tremble so?
But his most properly. What! what of him? Nay, then 'tis bad indeed, if you can weep.
I fear to be resolv'd, and must enquire.

Öro. My heart runs over; if my gushing eyes
He had thee in his power.

Betray a weakness which they never knew,
Imo. I blush to think it.

Believe, thou, only thou could'st cause these
Oro. Blush! to think what?

tears: Imo. That I was in his power.

The gods themselves conspire with faithless men,
Oro. He could not use it!

To our destruction.
Imo. What can't such men do?

Imo. Heaven and earth our foes !
Oro. But did he? durst he?

Oro. It is not always granted to the great,
Ino. What he could, he dared.

To be most happy: if the angry powers
Oro. His own gods damn him then! for ours Repent their favours, let them take 'em back:

The hopes of empire, which they gave my youth,
No punishment for such unheard-of crime. By making me a prince, I here resign.

Imo. This monster, cunning in his flatteries, Let them quench in me all those glorious fires,
When he had wearied all his useless arts, Which kindled at their beams : that lust of
Leap'd out, fierce as a beast of prey, to seize me.

fame,
I trembled, feared.

That fever of ambition, restless still,
Oro. I fear, and tremble now,

And burning with the sacred thirst of sway,
What could preserve thee? What deliver thee? Which they inspired, to qualify my fate,
· Imo. That worthy man, you used to call your And make me fit to govern under them,
friend-

Let them extinguish. I submit myself
Oro. Blandtord.

To their high pleasure, and devoted bow
Inio. Came in, and saved me from his rage. Yet lower, to continue still a slave;
Oro. He was a friend indeed to rescue thee! Hopeless of liberty: and if I could

have none,

men

1

Live after it, would give up honour too, Parting in death, makes it the easier.
To satisfy their vengeance, to avert

You might have thrown me off, forsaken me,
This only cursc, the curse of losing thee. And my misfortunes: that had been a death
Imo. If Heaven could be appeas'd, these cruel | Indeed of terror, to have trembled at.

Oro. Forsaken! thrown thee off! Are not to be entreated or believed:

Imo. But 'tis a pleasure more than life can O! think on that, and be no more deceived.

give, Oro. What can we do?

That with unconquer'd passion to the last, Imo. Can I do any thing!

You struggle still, and fain would hold me to Oro. But we were born to suffer.

you. Imo. Suffer both.

Oro. Ever, ever! and let those stars, which are Both die, and so prevent them.

my enemies, Oro. By thy death!

Witness against me in the other world,
O! let me hunt my travell’d thoughts again; If I would leave this mansion of my bliss,
Range the wide waste of desolate despair; To be the brightest ruler of their skies.
Start any hope. Alas! I lose myself,

0! that we could incorporate, be one, 'Tis pathless, dark, and barren all to me.

[Embracing her.
Thou art my only guide, my light of life, One body, as we have been long one mind;
And thou art leaving me.--Send out thy beams That blended so, we might together mix,
Upon the wing; let them fly all around, And losing thus our being to the world,
Discover every way: is there a dawn,

Be only found to one another's joys !
A glimmering of comfort? The great God, Imo. Is this the way to part?
That rises on the world, must shine on us.

Oro. Which is the way!
Imo. And see us set before him,

Imo. The god of love is blind, and cannot find Oro. Thou bespeak’st,

it.And goest before me.

But quick, make haste, our enemies have eyes Imo. So I would in love,

To find us out, and shew us the worst way
In the dear unsuspected part of life,

Of parting: think on them.
In death for love." Alas! what hopes for me? Oro. Why dost thou wake me?
I was preserved but to acquit myself,

Imo. O! no more of love!
To beg to die with you.

For if I listen to you, I shall quite Oro. And can'st thou ask it?

Forget my dangers, and desire to live. I never durst inquire into myself

I can't live yours.

[Takes up the dagger. About thy fate, and thou resolv'st it all.

Oro. There all the stings of death Imo. Alas! my lord! my fate's resolv'd in Are shot into my heart:--What shall I do? yours.

Imo. This dagger will instruct you. Oro. 0! keep thee there: let not thy virtue

(Gites it him. shrink

Oro. Ha! this dagger !
From my support, and I will gather strength, Like fate, it points me to the horrid deed.
Fast as I can, to tell thee-

Imo. Strike, strike it home, and bravely save Imo. I must die:

us both. I know 'tis fit, and I can die with you

There is no other safety. Oro. 0! thou hast banished hence a thousand Oro. It must befears,

But first a dying kiss

[Kisses her. Which sickened at my heart, and quite unmann'dThis last embrace-- (Embracing her.

And nowImo. Your fears for me; I know you fear'd my Imo. I'm ready. strength,

Oro. O! where shall I strike? And could not overcome your tenderness, Is there the smallest grain of that lov'd body To pass this sentence on me: and indeed That is not dearer to me than my eyes, There you were kind, as I have always found | My bosom'd heart, and all the life-blood there? you,

Bid me cut off these limbs, hew off these hands, As you have ever been: for though I am Dig out these eyes, though I would keep them Resigned, and ready to obey my doom,

last
Methinks it should not be pronounc'd by you. To gaze upon thee: But to murder thee!

Oro. O! that was all the labour of my grief. The joy, and charm of every ravish'd sense,
My heart and tongue forsook me in the strife: My wife! forbid it, nature.
I never could pronounce it.

Imo. 'Tis your wife,
Imo. I have for you, for both of us.

Who on her knees conjures you. O! in time Oro. Alas! for me! my death

Prevent those mischiefs that are falling on us. I could regard as the last scene of life,

You may be hurried to a shameful death, And act it through with joy, to have it done. And I too dragg'd to the vile governor; But then to part with thee !

Then I may cry aloud: when you are gone, Imo. 'Tis hard to part.

Where shall I find a friend again to save me? But parting thus, as the most happy must, Oro. It will be so. Thou unexampled virtue!

me.

Thy resolution has recovered mine:

But let me pay the tribute of my grief, And now prepare thee.

A few sad tears to thy loved memory, Imo. Thus with open arms,

And then I follow

(Weeps over her. I welcome you, and death.

But I stay too long.

(A noise again. [He drops his dagger as he looks on her, and The noise comes nearer. Hold, before I go, throws himself on the ground.

There's something would be done. It shall Oro. I cannot bear it.

be so. O let me dash against this rock of fate,

And then, Imoinda, I'll come all to thee. Dig up this earth, tear, tear her bowels out,

(Riscs. To make a grave, deep as the centre down, To swallow wide, and bury us together!

BLANDFORD and his Party enter before the It will not be. O! then some pitying God

Governor and his Party, swords drawn on (If there be one a friend to innocence)

both sides. Find yet a way to lay her beauties down

Gov. You strive in vain to save him, he shall Gently in death, and save me from her blood !

die. Imo. O rise! 'tis more than death to see you Blan. Not while we can defend him with our thus.

lives. I'll ease your love, and do the deed myself- God. Where is he? (She takes up the dagger, he'ris in haste to Oro. Here's the wretch whom you would have take it from her.

Put up your swords, and let not civil broils Oro. O ! hold, I charge thee, hold.

Engage you in the cursed cause of one Imo. Though I must own,

Who cannot live, and now entreats to die. It would be nobler for us both from you. This object will convince you.

Oro. O! for a whirlwind's wing to hurry us Blan. 'Tis his wife! To yonder cliff, which frowns upon the flood :

(They gather about the body. That in embraces lock'd we might plunge in, Alas! there was no other remedy. And perish thus in one another's arms !

Gov. Who did the bloody deed ? Imo. Alas! what shout is that?

Oro. The deed was mine: Oro. I see 'em coming,

Bloody I know it is, and I expect They shall not overtake us. This last kiss, Your laws should tell me so. Thus self-conAnd now farewell.

demn’d, Imo. Farewell, farewell for ever!

I do resign myself into your hands, Oro. I'll turn my face away, and do it so. The hands of justice—But I hold the sword Now, are you ready?

For you—and

for myself. Imo. Now. But do not grudge me

(Stabs the Governor, und himself, then throws The pleasure in my death of a last look:

himself by IMOINDA's body. Pray look upon mé-Now I'm satisfied.

Stan. He has kill'd the governor, and stabb’d Oro. So fate must be by this.

himself. [Going to stab her, he stops short ; she lays Oro. 'Tis as it should be now. I have sent her hand on his, in order to give the blow.

his ghost Imo. Nay, then I must assist you;

To be a witness of that happiness And since it is the common cause of both, In the next world, which he denied us here. 'Tis just that both should be employ'd in it.

(Dies. Thus, thus 'tis finish’d, and I bless my fate, Blan. I hope there is a place of happiness

[Siabs herself. In the next world for such exalted virtue. That where I lived, I die, in these loved arms. Pagan or unbeliever, yet he lived

[Dies. To all he knew : And if he went astray, Oro. She's gone. And now all's at an end There's mercy still above to set him right. with me.

But Christians, guided by the heav'nly ray, Soft, lay her down; O we will part no more. Have no excuse if we mistake our way. [Throws himself by her.

(Ereunt omnes

EPILOGUE.

WRITTEN BY CONGREVE, AND SPOKEN BY MRS VERBRUGGEN. You see we try all shapes, and shifts, and arts, Your different tastes divide our poet's cares: To tempt your favours, and regain your hearts. One foot the sock, t'other the buskin wears. We weep, and laugh, join mirth and grief together, Thus while he strives to please, he's forced to do't, Like rain and sunshine mix’d, in April weather. / Like Volscius, hip-hop, in a single boot.