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Show i *So OROONOKO. A Lovers Caufe, a wretched Woman's Caufe That will become your IntercelTion. [To the Wm i Plan. Never mind 'em, Governor•; he ought to made an Example for the good of the Plantation. 2 Plan. Ay, ay, 'twill frighten the Negroes from tempting the like again. _ _- .' i Pto. What, rife againft their Lords and Made this rate no M a n is fafe from his o w n Slaves. 2 Plan. No, no more he is. Therefore one and Governor, w e declare for Hanging. Om. Tlan. Ay, ay, hang him, hang him. Wid. What! hang him! O ! forbid it, Governor, Char. Luc. W e all Petition for him. J. Stan. They are for a Holiday; Guilty or not, is not the Bufinefs, hanging is their Sport Blan W e are not fure fo wretched, to have thefe, The Rabble, judge for us: The changing Croud; The arbitrary Guard of Fortune's Power, W h o wait to catch the Sentence of her Frowns, And hurry all to Ruin fhe Condemns. Stan. So far from farther Wrong, that 'tis a frame H e fhould be where he is: Good Governor Order his Liberty : H e yielded up Himfelf; his all, at your Difcretion. Blan. Difcretion! no, he yielded on your Wordj And I a m made the cautionary Pledge, The Gage and Hoftage of your keeping it. Remember, Sir, he yielded on your Word} Your Word! which honeft Men will think Ihould be T h e l^ft Refort of Truth, and Truft on Earth: There's no Appeal beyond it, but to Heav'n: A n Oath is a recognifance to Heav'n, Binding us over, in the Courts above, T o plead to the Indi&ment of our Crimes. That thofe w h o 'fcape this World fhould fuffcrthen But in the c o m m o n Intercourfe of Men, ( Where the dread Majefty is not invok'd, His Honour net immediately concern'd, Not made a Party in our Interefts,) Oar Word is all to be rely'd upon. A (j / vdSBSJCfE O R O O N O K O . IJI Wid. C o m e , come, you'll be as good as your Word, w e know. Stan. He's cut of all Power of doing any harm now, if he were difpos'd to it. Char. But he is not difpos'd to it. Blan. T o keep him, where he is, will make him foon Find out fome defperate way to Liberty : He'll hang himfelf, or dafh out his mad Brains. Char. Pray try him by gentle Means: We'll all be Sureties for him. Om. AH, all. Luc. W e will all anfwer for him now. Gov. Well, you will have it fo, do what you pleafe, juft what you will with him, I give you leave. [Exit. Blan. W e thank you, Sir; this way, pray come with me. [Exeunt. The SCENE drawn pews Oroonoko upon his Back, his Legs and Arms firetcht out, and chained to the Ground. Bnter Blanford, Stanmore, &c. Blan. O miferable Sight! help every one, Afiift m e all to free him from his Chains. [They help him up, and bring him forward-looking Moft injuf'd Prince! h o w (hall w e clear our felves? We cannot hope you will vouchfafe to hear, Or credit what w e fay in the Defence, And Caufe of our fufpe&ed Innocence. Stan. W e are not guilty of your Injuries, No way confenting to 'em; but abhor, Abominate, and loath this Cruelty. Blan. It is our Curfe, but make it not our Crifll A heavy Curfe upon us, that w e muft Share any thing in common, ev'n the Light, The Elements, and Seafons, with fuch Men, Whofe Principles, like the fam'd Dragons Teeth, Scatter'd, and fown, would fhoot a Harveft up Of fighting Mifchiefs, to confound thcmfelves,. And ruin all about'em. . „ down >». * > i |