Five Plays E-Book

Mercy Otis Warren

• Herausgeber: Seltzer Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 140

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

The Adulateur, a five-act play, published in 1773; The Defeat, excerpts from a play, published 1773; The Group, a three-act play, published in 1775; The Blockheads, a three-act play, published in 1776, shortly after the British withdrew from Boston The Motley Assembly, a farce, published in 1779. Mercy Warren (1728-1814) was sister of James Otis and wife of James Warren, both leaders in the early stages of the American Revolution. These plays of hers are of historical, not dramatic interest. Her main work is her history of the American Revolution (The Rise, Progress and Termination of the American Revolution Interspersed with Biographical, Political, and Moral Observations).

Leseprobe

MERCY OTIS WARREN: FIVE PLAYS

Published by Seltzer Books

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The Adulateur, a Tragedy, as it is now acted in Upper Servia by Mercy Otis Warren

The Blockheads: or the Affrighted Officers, A Farce

The Defeat by Mercy Otis Warren

The Group by Mercy Otis Warren

The Motley Assembly, a Farce, published for the entertainment of the curious by Mercy Otis Warren

The Adulateur, a Tragedy, as it is now acted in Upper Servia by Mercy Otis Warren

Boston: Printed and sold at the New Printing Office Near Concert Hall, 1773

"Then let us rise my friends, and strive to fill

This little interval, this pause of life,

(While yet our liberty and fates are doubtful)

With resolution, friendship, Roman bravery,

And all the virtues we can crowd into it;

That Heaven may say it ought to be prolonged."

        Cato's Tragedy

Dramatis Personae

Rapatio -- Governor of Servia

Limput -- Married to Rapatio's Sister

Hazelrod -- L.C. Justice. Brother to Lumput

Dupe -- Secretary of State

P____ ______p -- an Officer

Gripeall -- Captain Bashaw

Baghshor -- Aga of the Janizarie

Meagre -- Brother to Rapatio

E______r -- a Friend to Government

Brutus -- Chief of the Patriots

Junius -- Patriot

Cassius -- Patriot

Portius -- Patriot

Marcus, a Young Patriot

Citizens, Senators, Ghosts

Act I, Scene I

A street in Servia

Enter Brutus and Cassius

Brutus:

Is this the once famed mistress of the north

The sweet retreat of freedom? Dearly purchased!

A clime matured with blood; from whose rich soil,

Has sprung a glorious harvest. Oh! my friend,

The change how drear! The sullen ghost of bondage

Stalks full in view -- already with her pinions,

She shades the affrighted land -- the insulting soldiers

Tread down our choicest rights; while hoodwinked justice

Drops her scales, and totters from her basis.

Thus torn with nameless wounds, my bleeding country

Demands a tear -- that tear I'll freely give her.

Cassius:

Oh! Brutus, our noble ancestors,

Who lived for freedom, and for freedom died:

Who scorned to roll in affluence, if that state

Was sickened over with the dread name of slaves:

Who in this desert stocked with beasts and men,

Whose untamed souls breathed naught but slaughter --

Grasped at freedom, and they nobly won it;

Then smiled and died contented. Should these heroes

Start from their tombs and view their dear possessions,

The price of so much labor, cost and blood,

Gods! What a pang it would cost them; yes, they'd  weep,

Nor weep in vain. That good old spirit,

Which warmed them once, would rouse to noble actions

E're they would cringe they'd bathe their swords in blood;

In heaps they'd fall, and on the pile of freedom,

Expire like heroes or they'd save their country.

Brutus:

Oh! Cassius, you inspire a noble passion,

It glows within me, and every pulse I feel,

Beats high for glory. I sprang, and Oh! it fires me,

I sprang from men who fought, who bled for freedom:

From men who in the conflict laughed at danger;

Struggled like patriots, and through seas of blood

Waded to conquest. I'll not disgrace them.

I'll show a spirit worthy of my fire.

Tough malice dart her stings; though poverty

Stares full upon me; though power with all her thunder

Rolls over my head; thy cause my bleeding country

I'll never leave -- I'll struggle hard to thee,

And if I perish, perish like a free man.

Cassius:

You're not alone -- there are, I know, ten

Never bowed the knee to idol power. Repeated insults

Have roused the most lethargic. Even the old man

Whose blood has long creeped sluggish through his veins

Now feels his warmth renewed, his pulse beat quick,

His eyes dart fire. He grasps his sword.

And calls on youth to aid him.. Yes my son,

My little son, who sportive climbs my knees,

Fondly intreats my aid, and lisps out freedom.

But see our friends -- their generous bosoms flow

With manly sentiment. I will accost them.

Patriots hail!

Enter Junius and Portius

Portius:

All hail my friends!

Well met I trust, and with one heart and mind,

We have lately seen a piece of pageantry,

Near Imports mansion, big with mighty meaning.

The period dawns when all those parricides

Who long had sported with their country's ruin

Begin to tremble. Shame, contempt crowd on them.

The boy despises, and the stripling smiles.

Brutus:

'Tis well -- here lies my hope: let but a sense,

A manly sense of injured freedom wake them,

The day's half won. The cold inactive spirit

That slumbers in its chains -- at this I tremble.

Oh! patriots rouse. The distant branches lopped,

The root now groans. Let not the thought of power,

Ungenerous thought! freeze up the genial current.

'Tis not a conquest, merely, leads to fame --

The attempt enobles. Yes, the suffering patriot

Towers while he bleeds and triumphs while he dies.

Junius:

When Brutus speaks, old age grows young.

Whatever right I've lost! I've still a dagger,

And have a hand to wield it -- 'tis true it shakes --

With age it shakes: Yet in the cause of freedom,

It catches vigor. You shall find it strike

The tyrant from his throne.

Brutus:

Thou good old man.

Thy words a noble ardor kindle in me.

Come patriots, let the bright example fire you.

By all that's sacred! by our father's shades!

Illustrious shades! who hover over this country,

And watch like guardian angels over its rights:

By all that blood, that precious blood they spilt,

To gain for us the happiest boon of Heaven:

By life -- by death -- or still to catch you more,

By Liberty, by Bondage.  I conjure you.

All:

Nor is it vain. We swear, e'er we'll be slaves,

We'll pour our choicest blood. No terms shall move us.

These streets we'll pave with many a human skull.

Carnage, blood and death shall be familiar,

Though Servia weep her desolated realms.

Brutus:

'Tis bravely spoken. And now thou power supreme!

Who hatest wrong and wills creation happy,

Hear and revenge a bleeding country's groans;

Teach us to act with firmness and with zeal:

Till happier prospects gild the gloomy waste.

While from our fate shall future ages know,

Virtue and freedom are thy care below.

Exeunt.

Act I Scene II

A chamber in Repatio's House

Enter Rapatio, alone

Rapatio:

Hail happy day! in which I find my wishes,

My gayest wishes crowned. Brundo retired,

The stage is clear. Whatever gilded prospects

Ever swam before me -- home, places, pensions --

All at command -- Oh! my full heart! it will burst!

Now patriots think, think on the past and tremble.

Think on that gloomy might when, as you phrased it,

Indignant justice reared her awful front,

And frowned me from her -- when ten thousand monsters,

Wretches who only claimed mere outward form

To give a sanction to humanity,

Broke my retirement -- rushed into my chamber,

And rifled all my secrets -- then slung me helpless,

Naked and destitute, to beg protection.

Hell! what a night was this -- and do they think

I'll ever forget such treatment! No. Ye gods --

If there is any secret sympathy,

Which born and bred together, they may claim,

I give it to the winds -- out! out! vile passion,

I'll trample down the choicest of their rights

And make them curse the hour that gave me birth;

That hung me up a meteor in the sky,

Which from its tail shook pestilence and ruin.

But here comes Dupe, a creature formed by nature

To be a sycophant.  Though I despised him,

Yet he's too necessary for my purpose,

To be relinquished, I'll take him by the hand --

Give him a bow and buoy up his hopes --

He's mine forever.

Enter Dupe

Dupe:

It gives me highest joy to see your honor

Servia's sole ruler. What though not complete

And primly seated in the chair of power,

Yet all the reins of government you hold.

And should that happy period ever arrive

When Bundo quits for thee entire possession,

Remember Dupe, and think on former friendships.

Rapatio:

I'll not forget. And well thou said I held

The rains of power; and I will make them feel it.

And, happy for me, all the posts of honor,

Are filled with beings wholly at my service.

The b___h what are they? Creatures of my own;

Who if I spoke would mangle law and reason,

And nobly trample on the highest ties.

And hence the soldier whose security

Is the prime basis of my government

May scoff, insult, nay, in the face of day,

Abuse the citizens, yet go unpunished.

P_____p too, a happy creature this

To serve a turn, though men whose breath was slaughter

Should urge the meanest of our servants on,

To bathe their daggers in their masters' blood,

P_____p stays, proceedings -- At my nod

Will break through every tie of law and justice

And bid those monster go. -- In short all orders

Obey my summons, and perform my will.

Dupe:

What halcyon days! And have I lived to see them?

And share them too? Enough -- I've lived my day.

Rapatio:

But tell me Dupe, they say these muttering wretches

Grow fond of riot, and, with pageantry,

Do ridicule the friends of government.

Dupe:

The thing is fact. The worthy citizen

Finds property precarious -- all things tend

To anarchy and ruin.

Rapatio:

I'll make the scoundrels know who sways the scepter.

Before I'll suffer this, I'll throw the state

In dire confusion, nay I'll hurl it down,

And bury all things in one common ruin.

Over fields of death; with hastening step I'll speed,

And smile at length to see my country bleed:

From my tame heart the pang of virtue sling,

And mid the general flame like Nero sing.

Exeunt.

Act II  Scene I

Enter Brutus and Cassius

Brutus:

Ha! is it come to this? And did you see it?

Cassius:

I saw it and could paint a scene of woe

Would make the sun collect his scattered rays

And shroud himself in night. While numbers crowded

Thoughtless of harm to see the pageantry,

And sportive youths played games in the street,

That wretch, that cursed E______r,

Whom long this country blushed to own her son --

Urged on by hell and malice, unprovoked --

Hurled through the crowd promiscuous death and slaughter --

One youth, unhappy victim fell -- he lies

Reeking in gore, and bites the hated ground.

Brutus:

Oh! This poor land -- what scenes await it!

This is the dawn -- if murders open here,

What will the day disclose!  Oppression strews

Her earliest paths with blood -- gods! are we men?

And stand we still and bear it?  Where's our sense?

Our ancient sense of freedom? Even the boy,

Should we be tame, would feel his pulse beat high:

And nobly grasp the sword he scarce could wield.

Cassius:

It must be so -- we'll right ourselves or die --

But what approaches here?

Enter Portius and a crowd

Portius:

Who's there?

Brutus:

A friend.

Portius:

Ha! Brutus, take the sword and bravely plunge it.

Brutus:

In whom?

Portius:

A wretch.

Brutus:

A wretch?

Portius:

A murderer

Let not one motive damp thy rising ardor.

The parent weeps his child, the staff of age,

Untimely slain. Pity, revenge -- rage -- fury --

Ten thousand boisterous passions glory within me

And call for blood. Not this poor wretch alone --

The grand prime spring shall fall a sacrifice.

Though all his legions fondly hovered round him.

I'd cut my way through all -- and this my sword

Drench in the tyrant's blood, then on the pile

Of bleeding freedom, pour the rich libation.

Brutus:

Stay, Portius stay -- let reason calm thy passions.

Let us not sully by unmeaning actions

The cause of injured freedom: this demands

A cool, sedate and yet determined spirit.

Portius:

Brutus, thy mind composed can reason well,

But when I see even innocence itself

Can find no shelter --- my pulse beat high!

I'm all on fire? -- speak to the distant winds!

Command a storm! or lull a hurricane!

Brutus:

But hear me, Portius, one word more I ask thee.

You know the foes of freedom, eagle-eyed,

Watch every deed. They wish to see us act

Up to the character they long have painted.

Headstrong -- rebellious -- factious -- uncontrolled --

Rather to justice drag the murderer.

Portius:

Brutus, you know who fill the sacred bench.

Rapatio's tools, mere creatures of the tyrant,

Depend upon it, they'll vilely wrest the law,

And save the villain -- yes, depend on it,

Should he be brought before that bribed tribunal,

They'll plead his cause and save the murder's life.

Brutus:

Well, Portius, that's with them.

We've done as patriots ought --  like men who scorn

The name of faction -- men who nobly act

From sense of honor. If they save the villain

Theirs is the guilt of blood: and he who holds

Impartial justice will demand an answer.

Portius:

'Tis well -- you've charmed my angry soul to rest.

I'll go and soothe the boisterous multitude,

Calm all their souls, and make them act like free men.

Exit

Brutus:

Oh Cassius -- Oh! my friend -- my heart it bleeds,

It bleeds to hear the groans of gasping freedom.

Could but my life atone and save my country,

Pleased could I bare this breast and die in transport.

Cassius:

No Brutus, live, and live to rescue virtue.

For this ten thousand motives crowd upon us.

Our fathers seem to murmur in their tombs,

And urge us on. Last night as I lay musing

On evils past, and trembling at the future

A gleam of light broke in on my retirement.

My father's ghost burst on my startled fancy,

And froze the current of my blood -- he stared --

Horrid he stared -- then frowned and spoke in thunder.

"Cassius attend. Where is that noble spirit,

I once instilled -- behold this fair possession

I struggled hard to purchase, fought and bled

To leave it yours unsullied -- Oh defend it,

Nor lose it but in death." He spoke and vanished.

Yes, I replied, thou injured shade, I will defend;

And e'er I'll lose it, meet ten thousand deaths.

Brutus:

Nor these alone -- all those who fought for freedom,

Chide the unmanly sloth -- meanwhile, my friend,

Let's see the mournful obsequies performed.

Give to the dust, the relics of a youth,

Untimely cropped, and lost -- like some gay flower

Waked to life -- awhile, it cheered out sight,

And promised pleasure, when the rigorous north

Blasted its bloom, and froze up every sweet,

Let's pay this last sad tribute to the dead,

Together in the funeral pomp let's go

Share in their grief, and join the general woe.

Exeunt.

Act II Scene II

Enter Bagshot and Rapatio

Bagshot:

It must not -- shall not be -- the dirty scoundrels,

Foaming with passion animate each other --

Abuse my men and trample on my bands.

Rapatio:

Insulting dogs! and are they wrought to this?

'Tis well -- a scene now opens to my mind.

and hark'ee Bagshot -- should these high swollen wretches

Again insult, remember you are soldiers --

Bagshot:

Well then, since you approve,

I'll give those orders, which I dare not do

By my mere motion.

Repeated wrongs have blown up all their courage.

They stretch like steeds, and snuff the distant battle;

And like the vulture, couch in dreadful ambush

And wait a day of carnage -- fire, adieu --

Exeunt.

Act II Scene III

Changes to a street in Servia

Enter Brutus, alone

Brutus:

To be the sport of every flying moment --

The butt at which old time may throw his shafts,

And vex him oft -- light tennis ball of fortune --

This is thy fate, O man. Weak helpless creature,

Designed to crawl with other little reptiles

Round this dull globe of earth -- to sport a while,