please, just what you will with him, I give you leave.

[Exit.

Blan. We thank you, Sir; this way; pray come

with me.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

OROONOKO upon his back, his legs aud arms stretched out, and chained to the ground. Enter BLANDFORD, STANMORE, &c.

Blan. Oh, miserable sight! help, every one,
Assist me all, to free him from his chains.

[They help him up, and bring him forward, looking down.
Most injur'd prince! how shall we clear ourselves?
We cannot hope you will vouchsafe to hear,
Or credit what we say in the defence
And cause of our suspected innocence.

Stan. We are not guilty of your injuries,
No way consenting to 'em; but abhor,
Abominate, and loath this cruelty.

"Blan. It is our curse, but make it not our crime;

"A heavy curse upon us, that we must

"Share any thing in common, ev'n the light, "The elements and seasons, with such men, "Whose principles, like the fam'd dragon's teeth, "Scatter'd and sown, would shoot a harvest up "Offighting mischiefs to confound themselves, "And ruin all about 'em,

"Stan. Profligates!

"Whose bold Titanian impiety

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

"Of giants, and forget the race of men.

"Blan. We are not so: believe us innocent. "We come prepar'd with all our services, "To offer a redress of your base wrongs. "Which way shall we employ 'em? "Stan. Tell us, Sir:

"If there is any thing that can atone ?
"But nothing can: that may be some amends".
Oro. If you would have me think you are not all
Confederates, all accessary to

The base injustice of your governor :
If you would have me live, as you appear
Concern'd for me; if you would have me live
To thank, and bless you, there is yet a way
To tie me ever to your honest love:
Bring my Imoinda to me; give me her,
To charm my sorrows, and, if possible,
I'll sit down with my wrongs, never to rise
Against my fate, or think of vengeance more.
Blan. Be satisfy'd, you may depend upon us,
We'll bring her safe to you and suddenly.

Char. We will not leave you in so good a work.
Wid. No, no, we'll go with you.

Blan. In the mean time.

Endeavour to forget, Sir, and forgive;

And hope a better fortune.

[Exeunt.

Oro. [Alone] Forget! forgive! I must indeed forget,

When I forgive: but while I am a man,

In flesh, that bears the living marks of shame,
The print of his dishonourable chains,

My memory still rousing up my wrongs,

I never can forgive this governor,

This villain; the disgrace of trust, and place,
And just contempt of delegated power.
What shall I do? if I declare myself,

[Pausing.

I know him, he will sneak behind his guard
Of followers, and brave me in his fears.
Else, lion-like, with my devouring rage,
I would rush on him, fasten on his throat,
Tear a wide passage to his treacherous heart,
And that way lay him open to the world.
If I should turn his Christian arts on him,
Promise him, speak him fair, flatter and creep
With fawning steps, to get within his faith,
I could betray him then, as he has me.
But am I sure by that to right myself?
Lying's a certain mark of cowardice;
And, when the tongue forgets its honesty,
The heart and hand may drop their functions too,
And nothing worthy be resolv'd or done.
"The man must go together, bad, or good:
"In one part frail, he soon grows weak in all.
"Honour should be concern'd in honour's cause,
"That is not to be cur❜d by cóntraries,

"As bodies are, whose health is often drawn
"From rankest poisons." Let me but find out

An honest remedy, I have the hand,

A ministring hand, that will apply it home,

[Exit.

SCENE III.

The Governor's-House. Enter Governor,

Gov. I would not have her tell me, she consents; In favour of the sex's modesty,

That still should be presum'd; because there is
A greater impudence in owning it,

Than in allowing all that we can do.

"This truth I know, and yet against myself
"(So unaccountable are lovers ways)
"I talk, and lose the opportunities,

"Which love, and she, expects I should employ. "Ev'n she expects:" for when a man has said All that is fit, to save the decency,

The women know the rest is to be done,

I wo'not disappoint her.

[Going.

Enter BLANDFORD, the STANMORES, DANIEL, Mrs. LACKITT, CHARLOTTE, and LUCY.

Wid. Oh, Governor, I'm glad we've lit upon you, Gov. Why, what's the matter?

Char. Nay, nothing extraordinary. But one good action draws on another. You have given the prince his freedom: now we come a begging for his wife: you won't refuse us.

Gov. Refuse you! No, no, what have I to do to refuse you?

Wid. You won't refuse to send her to him, she

means.

Gov. I send her to him!

Wid. We have promised him to bring her. Gov. You do very well; 'tis kindly done of you: ev'n carry her to him, with all my heart.

Luc. You must tell us where she is.

Gov. I tell you! why, don't you know?

Blan. Your servant says she's in the house.

Gov. No, no, I brought her home at first, indeed; but I thought it would not look well to keep her here; I removed her in the hurry, only to take care of her. What! she belongs to you: I have nothing to do with her.

Char. But where is she now, Sir?

Gov. Why, faith, I can't say certainly: you'll hear of her at Parham-house, I suppose: there, or thereabouts: I think I sent her there.

Blan. I'll have an eye on him.

[Aside.

[Exeunt all but the Governor.

Gov. I have ly'd myself into a little time,

And must employ it: "they'll be here again;' "But I must be before 'em."

[Going out, he meets Imoinda, and seizes her.

Are you come?

I'll court no longer for a happiness
That is in my own keeping: you may still

Refuse to grant, so I have power to take.