he says, is an entertainment for a prince; he would have his opinion of her.

Oro. Is he a lover?

Blan. So he says himself: He flatters a beautiful slave that I have, and calls her mistress.

Oro. Must he then flatter her to call her mistress? I pity the proud man, who thinks himself

Above being in love; What, tho' she be a slave,
She may deserve him.

sir.

Blan. You shall judge of that, when you see her,

Oro. I go

with you.

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

A Plantation.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR following IMOIN DA.

Gov. I have disturb'd you, I confess my fault,
My fair Clemene; but begin again,
And I will listen to your mournful song,
Sweet as the soft complaining nightingale's.
While every note calls out my trembling soul,
And leaves me silent, as the midnight groves,
Only to shelter you ;-sing, sing again,
And let me wonder at the many ways
You have to ravish me.

Imo. O, I can weep

Enough for you and me, if that will please you. Gov. You must not weep: I come to dry your

tears,

And raise you from your sorrow.

Immo. Can that be,

When all your actions, and your looks, convince me

That you
wou'd keep me here, still far from those,
For whom the tears I shed must flow for ever?—
Gov. They must not sure-be all the past forgot-
ten;-

Look forwards now, where better prospects rise,
New pleasures court you, and new friends invite.
Imo. Alas! can I-I know not what to say-
Nature has form'd you of a diff'rent kind,
Or thus you cou'd not talk; and shou'd I reason
From what I feel, you wou'd not understand mè.

Gov. O, yes; my heart has all the soft sensations,
Has all, that friendship, and that love inspires--
Imo. Let your heart answer for me, then ;-cou'd
you,

Forc'd to some distant land, unknown, forlorn,
A slave, dependent on another's will,
Cut off from all that habit has endear'd,
Cut off from friendship, from domestic joy-
Could you forget all these ?-Alas! they're past-
[Bursts into Tears.

Gov. O, fair Clemene! there is yet a passion
Which can obliterate all the joys and pains
That others have impress'd; make room for that,
And all I wish is done-look upon me:
Look with the eyes of kind indulging love,
That I may have full cause for what I say:
I come to offer you your liberty,

And be myself the slave. You turn away.

[Following her. But every thing becomes you. I may take This pretty hand: I know your modesty Would draw it back: but you will take it ill, If I should let it go, I know you would. You shall be gently forc'd to please yourself; That will thank me for.

you

[She struggles and gets her Hand from him, then he offers to kiss her.

Nay, if you struggle with me, I must take-
Imo. You may my life, that I can part with freely.
[Exit.
Enter BLANDFORD, STANMORE, and OROONOKO.
Blan. So, Governor, we don't disturb you, I hope :
Your mistress has left you: You were making love;
She is thankful for the honour, I suppose.

Gov. Quite insensible to all I say and do:
When I speak to her, she sighs, or weeps,
But never answers me as I would have her.

Stan. There's something nearer than her slavery, that touches her.

Blan. What do her fellow slaves say of her; can't they find the cause?

Gov. Some of them, who pretend to be wiser than the rest, and hate her, I suppose for being used better than they are, will needs have it that she is with child.

Blan. Poor wretch! if it be so, I pity her: She has lost a husband, who perhaps was dear To her, and then you cannot blame her.

Oro. If it be so, indeed you cannot blame her.

Gov. No, no; it is not so: If it be so, I must still love her; and, desiring still, I must enjoy her.

[Sighing.

Blan. Try what you can do with fair means, and welcome.

Gov. I'll give you ten slaves for her.

Blan. You know she is our Lord Governor's: But if I could dispose of her, I would not now, especially to you.

Gov. Why not to me?

Blan. I mean against her will. You are in love

with her;

And we all know what your desires would have:

Love stops at nothing but possession.

Were she within your pow'r, you do not know
How soon you would be tempted to forget
The nature of the deed, and, may be, act
A violence, you after would repent.

Oro. 'Tis godlike in you to protect the weak.

Gov. Fie, fie, I would not force her. Though she be a slave, her mind is free, and should con

sent.

Oro. Such honour will engage her to consent. Shall we not see the wonder?

Gov. Have a care;

You have a heart, and she has conqu'ring eyes.
Oro. I have a heart: But if it could be false
To my first vows, ever to love again,

These honest hands should tear it from my breast,
And throw the traitor from me.

O! Imoinda!
Living or dead, I can be only thine.

Blan. Imoinda was his wife: she's either dead,
Or living, dead to him; forc'd from his arms
By an inhuman father. Another time,

I'll tell you all.

[To the GOVERNOR. Stan. The slaves have done their work;

And now begins their evening merriment.

Blan. The men are all in love with fair Clemene As much as you, and try their little tricks To entertain her, and divert her sadness. May be she is among them: Shall we see?

[Exeunt.

D

SCENE III.

SLAVES, MEN, WOMEN, and CHILDREN, upon the Ground; some rise and dance.

Enter the LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, STANMORE, and OROONOKO, as Spectators; CAPTAIN DRIVER and several PLANTERS, with their Swords drawn.

A Bell rings.

Capt. Where are you, Governor? Make what haste

you can

To save yourself and the whole colony.
I bade 'em ring the bell.

Gov. What's the matter?

1 Plan. The Indians are come down upon us: They have plunder'd some of the plantations already, and are marching this way as fast as they can.

Gov. What can we do against them?

Blan. We shall be able to make a stand, 'till more planters come in to us.

2 Plan. There are a great many more without, if you would show yourself, and put us in order.

Gov. There's no danger of the white slaves; they'll not stir. Blandford, come you along with me: some of you stay here to look after the black slaves.

[All go out but the CAPTAIN and Six PLANTERS, who all at once seize OROO

NOKO.

1 Plan. Ay, ay, let us alone.

Capt. In the first place, we secure you, sir,

As an enemy to the government.

Oro. Are you there, sir? You are my constant friend.