Ange.
Had you not fear'd your Brothers fate, I had
Not seen you now, fair Isabel, which shews,
That you can pity him tho' you slight me.
He may that pity thank, but I your fear.

Isa.
My Lord, I hardly can my self forgive,
That I still sue to you to save my Brother.
But that I hope to wake your Virtue
To spare his Life, and to Reform your own.

Ang.
How desp'rate all your hopeful Visits are?
You bring me Counsel still instead of Love,

And wou'd in storms of Passion make me Wise;
Pilots as well may preach to stormy Winds.

Isa.
And yet as Tempests are allay'd by showr's,
So may your Anger by my Tears be calm'd.

Ang.
You must by yielding teach me to Relent,
Make hast, Night's fleeting progress will be done,
And then your Brothers gloomy Race begins.

Isa.
Then he'l convey your unjust doom on high,
Before that Judge whose pow'r you use so ill,
As if 'twere subject to your Will like Love;
Where you will tremble to approach, My Lord.
The cruel here shall wish they just had been,
And that their seeming Love, had not been Lust.

Ang.
These useless Sayings you from Cloisters bring,
But cannot teach so soon as you were taught:
You must example to my Mercy give,
Claudio shall live if you first save my Life.

Isa.
Have you no words but what are good alone,
Because their ill is quickly understood?
Let Claudio dye, while cruel you seem dead,
By being deaf to all that ask your pity
Till by long custom of forgiving none,
To all forgiveness you are grown Averse,
That in your own behalf, you shall refuse
To hear of Absolution when you dye.

Ang.
How can you rise to such outragious Storms?
From such a modest calm of Bashfulness,
That suppliant Saints to Heaven did emulate.
Sure you have other Passions which provok'd
You can as ill repel. Oh! for the pow'r,
The Charms of Youth, and of a graceful Person,
To stir your Blood, and rouse up your Desires.

Isa.
This my Lord, is from our purpose. [Going.

Ang.
Stay. [He takes a Cabinet off the Table.
Here take in this what still supplies Defects:
The Wealth of many Parents heap'd this Treasure.
In these behold Natures Reserves of Light,
Bright, as the starry Spangles of the Skye,
When Night dress'd finest in her frost appears.

Isa.
They are indeed most rich and most surprizing. [Looking at 'em.

Ang.
Be in this World like other People, Wise,
And take this Treasure as your Beauty's due.
Wealth draws a Curtain o're the face of shame,
Restores lost Beauty, and recovers Fame.

Isa. Aside.
These I will take as Mariana's due,
And as a proof he cannot sure deny. To him.
These sparkling Diamonds do please me strangely!

Ang.
Why take 'em, Madam, they are freely yours.

Isa.
But what can I return for such a Gift?

Ang.
What will not make thee poorer, yet me rich.
I will not tell thee more to save thy blushes.
I'll be as cautious of thy Fame as thou.
Here take this Key, and two hours hence return,
For now thou art known to be here with me.
This will convey thee to the Royal Grotto,
Where we in welcome darkness will discover,
What I require for this Noble Present.

Isa.
But my Brother, shall he too live?

Ang.
He shall—No more of Doubts, he shall.

Isa.
Oh' Heaven Sir, here take your Gifts again,
There's Poison in 'em sure that they infect me.

Ang.
No, no, away my Love, and when you come
I will convince you, that they bear no Poison.

Isa.
Well, I will come if only to restore them;
For Oh! I fear the Guilt will like a Murder,
Haunt my sick Mind till I restore 'em to you.

Ang.
Never fear it, go.

Isa.
But let there be no Light,
For if there be, I swear by all that's good!
Hah! how dare I name or think of what is Good,
With such a purpose?

Ang.
Forget these Scruples.

Isa.
I shall do much to keep these glorious Jewels.
But let there be no Light.

Ang.
I swear there shall not.

Isa.
Two hours hence Sir?

Ang.
And in the Royal Grotto.

Isa. Aside.
I will not fail you—Oh! deluded Man,
To think my Virtue can be bought by Trifles
That Fancy only values—thy Wife shall have 'em,
And thou shalt have thy Wife. [Exit.

Ang.
O! Danae! Danae! comprehensive Image
Of all thy Sex, all spread their laps for Gold,
Yes the whole Venal Sex is bought and sold.
And she that with severest Virtue flies,
Youth, Form, and Merit obstinately denies,
Will yield to worthless Age, if Age will give her Price.

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