--_Semernia_--Words but poorly do express the Griefs of parting Lovers--"tis with dying Eyes, and a Heart trembling--thus-- [Puts her Hand on his Heart.
they take a heavy leave;--one parting Kiss, and one Love pressing sigh, and then farewel:--but not a long farewel; I shall return victorious to thy Arms--commend me to the G.o.ds, and still remember me.
[Exit.
_Queen._ Alas! What pity "tis I saw the General, before my Fate had given me to the King--But now--like those that change their G.o.ds, my faithless Mind betwixt my two Opinions wavers; while to the G.o.ds my Monarch I commend; my wandring Thoughts in pity of the General makes that Zeal cold, declin"d--ineffectual.--If for the General I implore the Deities, methinks my Prayers should not ascend the Skies, since Honour tells me "tis an impious Zeal.
_Which way soever my Devotions move, I am too wretched to be heard above._ [Goes in.
[All exeunt.
SCENE II. _Shows a Field of Tents, seen at some distance through the Trees of a Wood, Drums, Trumpets and the noise of Battel, with hollowing. The _Indians_ are seen with Battel-Axes to retreat fighting from the _English_, and all go off; when they re-enter immediately beating back the _English_, the _Indian King_ at the head of his Men, with Bows and Arrows; _Daring_ being at the head of the _English_: They fight off; the Noise continues less loud as more at distance._
Enter _Bacon_ with his Sword drawn, meets _Fearless_ with his Sword drawn.
_Fear._ Haste, haste, Sir, to the Entrance of the Wood, _Daring"s_ engaged past hope of a Retreat, venturing too far, pursuing of the Foe; the King in Ambush, with his poison"d Archers, fell on, and now we are dangerously distrest.
_Bac._ _Daring_ is brave, but he"s withal too rash, come on and follow me to his a.s.sistance-- [Go out.
[A hollowing within, the Fight renews; enter the _Indians_ beaten back by _Bacon_, _Daring_ and _Fearless_; they fight off; the noise of Fighting continues a while, this still behind the Wood.
Enter _Indians_ flying over the Stage, pursued by the _King_.
_King._ Turn, turn, ye fugitive Slaves, and face the Enemy; Oh Villains, Cowards, deaf to all Command: by Heaven, I had my Rival in my view, and aim"d at nothing but my conquering him--now like a Coward I must fly with Cowards, or like a desperate Madman fall, thus singly, midst the numbers.
[Follows the _Indians_.
Enter _Bacon_ inraged with his Sword drawn, _Fearless_ and _Daring_ following him.
_Bac._ --Where is the King, oh ye perfidious Slaves? how, have you hid him from my just Revenge?--search all the Brakes, the Furzes and the Trees, and let him not escape on pain of Death.
_Dar._ We cannot do wonders, Sir.
_Bac._ But you can run away.--
_Dar._ Yes, when we see occasion--yet--shou"d any but my General tell me so--by Heaven, he should find I were no starter.
_Bac._ Forgive me, I"m mad--the King"s escaped, hid like a trembling Slave in some close Ditch, where he will sooner starve than fight it out.
Re-enter _Indians_ running over the Stage, pursued by the _King_, who shoots them as they fly; some few follow him.
_King._ All"s lost--the Day is lost--and I"m betray"d;--Oh Slaves, that even Wounds can"t animate.
[In Rage.
_Bac._ The King!
_King._ The General here! by all the Powers, betray"d by my own Men!
_Bac._ Abandon"d as thou art, I scorn to take thee basely; you shall have Soldiers chance, Sir, for your Life, since Chance so luckily has brought us. .h.i.ther; without more Aids we will dispute the Day: This Spot of Earth bears both our Armies Fates; I"ll give you back the Victory I have won, and thus begin a-new on equal Terms.
_King._ That"s n.o.bly said!--the Powers have heard my Wish. You, Sir, first taught me how to use a Sword, which heretofore has served me with Success: But now--"tis for _Semernia_ that it draws, a Prize more valued than my Kingdom, Sir--
_Bac._ Hah, _Semernia_!
_King._ Your Blushes do betray your Pa.s.sion for her.
_Dar._ "Sdeath, have we fought for this, to expose the Victor to the conquer"d Foe?
_Fear._ What, fight a single Man--our Prize already.
_King._ Not so, young Man, while I command a Dart.
_Bac._ Fight him! by Heaven, no reason shall dissuade me, and he that interrupts me is a Coward; whatever be my Fate, I do command ye to let the King pa.s.s freely to his Tents.
_Dar._ The Devil"s in the General.
_Fear._ "Sdeath, his Romantick Humour will undo us.
[They fight and pause.
_King._ You fight as if you meant to outdo me this way, as you have done in Generosity.
_Bac._ You"re not behind-hand with me, Sir, in courtesy: Come, here"s to set us even-- [Fight again.
_King._ You bleed apace.
_Bac._ You"ve only breath"d a Vein, and given me new Health and Vigour by it.
[They fight again, Wounds on both sides, the _King_ staggers; _Bacon_ takes him in his Arms; the _King_ drops his Sword.
How do you, Sir?
_King._ Like one--that"s hovering between Heaven and Earth; I"m--mounting--somewhere--upwards--but giddy with my flight,--I know not where.
_Bac._ Command my Surgeons,--instantly--make haste; Honour returns, and Love all bleeding"s fled. [Ex. _Fearless_.
_King._ Oh, _Semernia_, how much more Truth had thy Divinity than the Predictions of the flattering Oracles! Commend me to her--I know you"ll--visit--your fair Captive, Sir, and tell her--oh--but Death prevents the rest.
[Dies.
Enter _Fearless_.
_Bac._ He"s gone--and now, like _Caesar_, I could weep over the Hero I my self destroyed.
_Fear._ I"m glad for your repose I see him there--"twas a mad hot-brain"d Youth, and so he died.
_Bac._ Come bear him on your Shoulders to my Tent, from whence with all the solemn State we can, we will convey him to his own Pavilion.
Enter a _Soldier_.
_Sold._ Some of our Troops pursuing of the Enemy even to their Temples, which they made their Sanctuary, finding the Queen at her Devotion there with all her _Indian_ Ladies, I"d much ado to stop their violent Rage from setting fire to the holy Pile.
_Bac._ Hang "em immediately that durst attempt it, while I my self will fly to rescue her.
[Goes out, they bear off the _King"s_ Body; Ex. all.