Nature within, feduc'd, in vain befriends,
While Honour, with his guard of Pride, defends:
O Nature frail, and faulty in thy frame,
Fomenting wishes, Honour must condemn;
Or O! too rigid Honour thus to bind,
When Nature prompts, and when Defire is kind.

Enter ARCABON conducting CONSTANTIUS, her Garments loofe and Hair difhevel'd, feeming frantick.

ARCA BON.

This, Roman, is the place: 'tis magic ground,
Hid by enchantment, by enchantment found.
Behold them at our view diffolv'd in fear;
Two armies, are two lovers in defpair.
Proceed, be bold, and fcorning to entreat;
Think all her strugglings feign'd, her cries deceit.
Not creeping like a cur that fawns to please,
Nor whine, nor beg---but like a lion feize:
Kill him, and ravish her: for fo would I,
Were I a man; or rather let both die.

The rape may pleafe--

Each was difdain'd; to equal rage refign

Thy heart, and let it burn and blaze like mine.

'Tis fweet to love; but when with fcorn we meet, Revenge fupplies the lofs, with joys as great.

[A chariot defcends fwiftly drawn by dragons, into which she enters at the following lines:

Up to th' etherial heavens where gods refide,

Lo! thus I fly to thunder on thy fide.

[Thunder. The chariot mounts in the air, and vanishes with

ber

CON

CONSTANTIUS.

Fly where thou wilt, but not to blest abodes, For know, where-e'er thou art, there are no gods, [Approaches Oriana, bowing refpefully.

I come not here an object to affright,

Or to moleft, but add to your delight.
Behold a prince expiring in your view,
Whofe life's a burthen to himself and you,
Fate and the king all other means deny
To fet you free, but that Conftantius die :
A Roman arm had play'd a Roman's part,
But 'tis prevented by my breaking heart :
I thank you, gods, nor think my doom fevere,
Refigning life, on any terms, for her.

URG AND A.

What cruel destiny on beauty waits,
When on one face depend fo many fates!
Confin'd by honour to relieve but one,
Unhappy men by thousands are undone.

CONSTANTIUS.

Make room, ye Decii, whofe devoted breath
Secur'd your country's happiness by death;
I come a facrifice no lefs renown'd,
The cause as glorious, and as fure the wound,

[Kneels at Oriana's feet, fhe feems concerned
Oh Love! with all thy fweets let her be bleft,
Thy reign be gentle in that beauteous breast.
Though thy malignant beams, with deadly force,
Have fcorch'd my joys, and in their baneful course
Wither'd each plant, and dry'd up every source;

}

Ah! to Oriana fhine lefs fatal bright,

Cherish her heart, and nourish her delight,
Restrain each cruel influence that deftroys,

Blefs all her days, and ripen all her joys.

[Amadis addreffing to Conftantius.

AMADI S.

Where fortune us'd to fmile upon defert,
Love had been yours; to die, had been my part :
Thus fate divides the prize; though beauty's mine,
Yet fame, our other miftrefs, is more thine.

[Conftantius rifes, looking sternly upon him.

Difdain not, gallant prince, a rival's praise,
Whom your high worth has humbled to confefs
In every thing, but love, he merits lefs.

CONSTANTIUS.

Art thou that rival then? O killing shame!
And has he view'd me thus, fo weak, fo tame?
Like a fcorn'd captive proftrate at his side,
To grace his triumph, and delight his pride?
O'tis too much! and nature in difdain
Turns back from death, and firing every vein,
Reddens with rage, and kindles life again.
Be firm, my foul, quick from this scene remove,
Or madness elfe may be too ftrong for love.

}

}

[Draws a dagger, and stands between Amadis and Oriane, facing Amadis.

Spent as I am, and weary'd with the weight

Of burthening life----I could reverse my fate,
Thus planted, ftand thy everlafting bar;

[Seizing Amadis, holding the dagger at his throat: Amadis Struggles for his fword.

But for Oriana's fake 'tis better here.

[Looking back upon Oriana, stabs himself; all run to support him.

ORIAN A.

Live, generous prince; fuch virtue ne'er should die.

CONSTANTIUS.

I've liv'd enough, of all I wish poffeft,
If, dying, I may leave Oriana blest :
Nor can I now recall my fate----

Th' invader has too fure a footing found,

He fpreads his troops, and covering all around,
He marches unoppos'd: In every vein

Fevers affault, and phrenfies burn my

brain.

The last warm drop forfakes my bleeding heart:
Oh Love! how fure a murderer thou art !

ORIANA.

There breaks the nobleft heart that ever burn'd

In flames of love, for ever to be mourn'd.

A MADIS.

Lavish to him, you wrong an equal flame;,
Had he been lov'd, my heart had done the fame.

FLORESTAN.

Oh emperor, all ages fhall agree,

Such, but more happy, fhould all lovers be.

URGANDA.

No lover now throughout the world remains
But Amadis, deferving of your chains.
Remove that mournful object from the fight.

[Dies.

[Carry off the body.

Ere

Ere yon' bright beam is fhadow'd o'er with night,
The stubborn king fall licenfe your delight;
The torch, already bright with nuptial fire,
Shall bring you to the bridegroom you defire;
And honour, that so long has kept in doubt,
Be better pleas'd to yield, than to hold out.

[Hère an entertainment of musick and dancing.

To be fung.

Make room for the combat, make room,
Sound the trumpet and drum,

A fairer than Venus prepares

To encounter a greater than Mars.
Make room for the combat, make room,
Sound the trumpet and drum,

The gods of defire take part in the fray,
And Love fits like Jove, to decide the great day.
For the honour of Britain

This duel is fought!

Give the word to begin,

Let the combatants in;

The challenger enters all glorious:

But Love has decreed,

Though Beauty may bleed,

Yet Beauty shall still be victorious.

CHORU S.

Make room for the combat, make room,

Sound the trumpet and drum:

A fairer than Venus prepares
To encounter a greater than Mars.
X 2

SONG.