Har. Captain, you're a dead man; I'll spare your torture for your quality; prepare for execution instantly. Tow. I am prepared. Fisc. You die in charity, I hope? Tow. I can forgive even thee: My innocence I need not name, you know it. And all my business here on earth is done. With the more cheerfulness, because thou liv'st The last remembrance of my faithful service; Enter ISABINDA. [Exit. Isab. Is it permitted me to see your eyes Once more, before eternal night shall close them? Tow. I summon'd all I had of man to see you; "Twas well the time allow'd for it was shorts I could not bear it long: "Twas dangerous, And would divide my love 'twixt heaven and you. I therefore part in haste; think I am going "Tis for your ease, since you must stay behind me, To think I was unkind; you'll grieve the less. Har. Though I suspect you join'd in my son's murder, Yet, since it is not proved, you have your life. Tow. I charge you, love my memory, but live. Har. She shall be strictly guarded from that violence, She means against herself. Isab. Vain men! there are so many paths to death, And the pale shade take me in his cold arms, Enter COLLINS, and then PEREZ, JULIA following him. Har. No more; your time's now come, you must away. Col. Now, devils, you have done your worst with tortures; death's a privation of pain, but they were a continual dying. Jul. Farewell, my dearest! I may have many husbands, But never one like thee. Per. As you love my soul, take hence that wo man. My English friends, I'm not ashamed of death, I'm justly punish'd; for her sake I die: By his procurement I should have kill'd. [He is led off. * During the French invasion of 1672, the Dutch were obliged to adopt the desperate defence of cutting their dykes, and inundating the country. Till, at the last, your sapp'd foundations fall, [He is led out with the English; the Dutch Van. Her. Ay, ay, we'll venture both ourselves and children for such another pull. 1 Dutch. Let him prophecy when his head's off. 2 Dutch. There's ne'er a Nostradamus of them all shall fright us from our gain. Fisc. Now for a smooth apology, and then a fawning letter to the King of England; and our work's done. Har. 'Tis done as I would wish it; Now, brethren, at my proper cost and charges, EPILOGUE. A POET Once the Spartans led to fight, Venetians do not more uncouthly ride,* Than did their lubber State mankind bestride; So we before your eyes their Indies lay: Let Cæsar live, and Carthage be subdued !‡ The situation of Venice renders it impossible to bring horses into the town; accordingly, the Venetians are proverbially bad riders. + The poet alludes to the king's evil, and to the joint war of France and England against Holland. Allusions to Cato,-who presented to the Roman Senate the rich figs of Africa, and reminded them it was but three days sail to the country which produced such excellent fruit,-were fashionable during the Dutch war. The Lord Chancellor Shaftesbury had set the example, by applying to Holland the favourite maxim of the Roman philosopher, Delenda est Carthago. When that versatile statesman afterwards fled to Holland, he petitioned to be created a burgess of Amsterdam, to ensure him against being delivered up to England. The magistrates conferred on him the freedom desired, with the memorable words, "Ab nostra Carthagine, nondum deleta, salutem accipe." |