_Dia_. Yes, that _Diana_, Whom, maugre all the Penitence thou shew"st, Can scarce forgive the Injuries thou hast done her.
_Bel_. I shew a Penitence for injuring thee!
By Heav"n, I never cou"d do one, or other; All that I am is the divine _Celinda"s_.
_Friend_. He"s stark mad! [_Aside_.
_Bel_. But since she cannot pardon, I can die.
[_Offers to fall on his Sword_.
_Cel_. Canst thou not credit me? She pardons thee.
Live--and enjoy--_Diana_.
[_Turns her Face from him_.
_Bel_. What art thou, who know"st her Heart so well?
Art thou my Rival? the blessed Youth, to whom She has given her Vows?--Live, and enjoy, _Diana_!
--Yes, yes, thou art my Rival, and I"ll kill thee.
_Cel_. Do, whilst I meet thy Sword.
[_Opens her Arms_, Diana _stays him; he lets fall his Sword, and gazes_.
_Bel_, Dull--dull Adorer! Not to know my Saint.
Oh, how I have profan"d! To what strange Idol Was that I kneel"d, Mistaking it for a Divinity?
_Cel_. To your fair Wife _Diana_.
_Bel_. Oh cruel Maid!
Has Heav"n design"d me any but _Celinda_?
_Dia_. Maid! Bless me!--did I then love a Woman?
--I am pleas"d thou should"st renounce me; make it good, And set me free from Fetters which I hate.
_Bel_. If all our Laws can do"t, I will--for here Ends all my Claim. [_To_ Celinda.
_Friend_. Was this the Wife you did demand of me?
_Bel_. Yes, I had no other.
_Dia_. Fair Maid! forgive me all my shameful Pa.s.sion, And charge my Fault upon your Beauty only.
_Cel_. Excellent Creature! I shou"d sue for that, Which my Deceit will never make me hope.
_Bel_. And art thou true to Love, and all thy Vows?
Whilst I to save my Fortune, (That only which you"d make me merit thee) Gave my unwilling Hand to this fair n.o.ble Maid.
--Ah, _Friendlove_, when thou hear"st my Story told, Thou wilt forgive, and pity me.
_Dia_. What was"t you said, Sir? _Friendlove_!
_Friend_. Yes, Madam, I hope the Name can make no difference; Or hate that still, so you but love the Man.
_Dia_. Though I"m again defeated, yet this last Proves least offensive; nor shall an empty Word Alter my fix"d Resolves, to love you still.
_Friend_. Then I am blest!
_Bel_. But yet the Office of the Priest has past: What Remedy for that?
_Dia_. My Uncle"s Pow"r, the Nearness of our Blood, The Contradiction of our Circ.u.mstances.
_Bel_. And above all that, my Contract with _Celinda_.
--Methinks I feel a Joy spread o"er my Heart, The blessed Omen of approaching Happiness.
_Cel_. I do believe thee; for by Sympathy, Mine takes new Fire and Hope.
_Dia_. I have already writ to my Uncle, and the Messenger a.s.sur"d me, he would gratify my Desires; that done, I will be yours.
[_To_ Friendlove.
_Bel_. But why thus drest? it might have led my Rage, Full of Despair and Jealousy to have hurt thee.
_Cel_. Sir, when the Letter came of your being married, I will not tell you all the Effects it had Upon my desperate Soul; But this I know, I had resolv"d to die, But first to see you. Your Page inform"d the Nurse All that had past, and of the last Night"s Ball; And much concern"d, she got this Habit for me, And inform"d me how "twas I was to act, And that my Brother (describing of his Dress) was gone before.
This made me haste, lest e"er I came His Rage had done the Business which it went for.
_Friend_. And so it had, hadst thou not hinder"d me; For I, Sir, was the Man who drew on you.
_Bel_. And was it thou that didst defend my Heart, That I might live to pay thy Goodness back?
_Cel_. It was to save your Life, and to expose my own.
_Dia_. Come, let"s in, and consult what"s best for us to do.
_Bel_. Come, my _Celinda_.
Let us no longer doubt, the Pow"rs above Will be propitious to united Love.
[_Ex_. Cel.
_Enter_ Servant.
_Serv_. Sir, my Lord Plotwell is at the Door in his Coach.
_Dia_. My Uncle come! Sir, we will not doubt our Fortune.
But how came he to know of my being here?
_Serv_. Madam, I fear he follow"d me after I had given him the Letter.
_Enter Lord_ Plotwell, Charles, Trusty.
_Lord_. _Bellmour_ and _Diana_ kneeling!
[Bel. _and_ Diana _kneel_.
--Rise; the Joy I have to see you thus, makes me Resolve to grant you any thing, and pardon All that"s past.