The Tragedy of Sophonisba; Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. by His Majesty's Servants (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1730 Excerpt: ...hurt me, Sophonijba.--Love, Long since I gave it to the passing winds, And would not be a lover for the world. A lover is the very fool of nature; Made sick by his own wantonness of thought, ' His feaver'd fancy: while, to your own charms Imputing all, you swell with boundless pride. Shame on the wretch who should be driven from men, To live with.. Asian slaves, in one soft herd, All wretched, all ridiculous together. For me, this moment, here I mean to bid Farewel, a glad farewel to love and thee. Sophonisba. With all my soul, farewel --Yet, ere you go 5 Know that my spirit burns as high as thine, As high to glory, and as low to love. Thy promises are void; and I absolve thee, Here in the presence of the listning gods.--Take thy repented vows--To proud Cornelia I'd rather be a slave, to Scipio's mother; Than queen of all Numidia, by the favour Of him, who dares insult the helpless thus. (Pausing.) Still dost thou stay? behold me then again, Hopeless, and wild, a lost abandon'd slave. And now thy brutal purpose must be gain'd. Away, thou cruel, and ungenerous, go Masinissa. No, not for worlds would I resume my vow Dishonour blast me then all kind of ills Fill up my cup of bitterness, and shame When I resign thee to triumphant Rome. Oh lean not thus dejectedfo the ground The sight is misery.--what roots me here? (Aside) Alas I have urg'd my foolish heart too far; And love depressed recoils with greater force. Oh Sophonijba Sophonisba. By thy pride she dies. Inhuman prince Masinissa. Thine is the conquest, nature By heaven and earth I cannot hold it more. Wretch that I was to crush th' unhappy thus; The fairest too, the dearest of her sex For whom my soul could dye --Turn, quickly turn, O Sophonijba my belov'd my glory Turn and forgive the vio...