Volume Iv Part 60 (2/2)

_Cur._ Yes, Sir, it shall, for you must die.

_Fred._ Sure thou art mad to tell me so, whoe'er thou be'st, Whilst I have this about me. [Draws.

_Cur._ That, Sir, you draw in vain; stand off-- [Offers a Pistol.

_Fred._ What new conceited Preparation's this?

_Cur._ Sir, when you know this Face, it will inform you.

[Pulls off his false Beard.

_Fred._ _Curtius_! I am betray'd, oh Villain! [Offers to fight.

_Cur._ Ho, within there-- [He calls, and all the masked Men come out, and offer their Pistols at _Frederick_.

_Fred._ Hold, I am the Prince of _Florence_.

_Cur._ These, Sir, are Rogues, and have no sense of ought, But Mischief in their Souls; Gold is their Prince and G.o.d,--go, be gone-- [They withdraw.

--See, Sir, I can command them.

_Fred._ _Curtius_, why dost thou deal thus treacherously with me?

Did I not offer thee to fight thee fairly?

_Cur._ 'Tis like the Injuries, Sir, that you have done me; Pardon me if my Griefs make me too rude, And in coa.r.s.e terms lay all your Sins before you.

--First, Sir, you have debauch'd my lovely Sister, The only one I had; The Hope and Care of all our n.o.ble Family: Thou, Prince, didst ravish all her Virtue from her, And left her nothing but a desperate sense of Shame, Which only serv'd to do her self that Justice, Which I had executed, had she not prevented me.

_Fred._ In this, upon my Soul, you do me wrong.

_Cur._ Next, (Oh, how unlike a brave and generous Man!) Without a Cause, you cast me from your Bosom; Withdrew the Honour of your promis'd Friends.h.i.+p, And made me partner in my Sister's Fate; Only with this difference, that she You left to act a Murder on her self; And mine you would have been so kind to've done With your own hand, but my respect prevented it.

--Next, Sir, you ravish'd _Laura_ from me, And under a pretence of sacred Friends.h.i.+p, You prov'd your self the worst of Enemies; And that's a Crime you dare not say was Ignorance, As you perhaps will plead your Sin to _Cloris_ was.

_Fred._ _Cloris_, why, what hast thou to do with _Cloris_?

_Cur._ She was my Sister, _Frederick_.

_Fred._ Thy Sister!

_Cur._ Yes, think of it well, A Lady of as pure and n.o.ble Blood, As that of the great Duke thy Father, Till you, bad Man, infected it.

--Say, should I murder you for this base Action, Would you not call it a true Sacrifice?

And would not Heaven and Earth forgive it too?

_Fred._ No, had I known that she had been thy Sister, I had receiv'd her as a Gift from Heaven; And so I would do still.

_Cur._ She must be sent indeed from Heaven, If you receive her now.

_Fred._ Is _Cloris_ dead? Oh, how I was to blame! [Weeps.

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