who am bound by Oaths and solemn Vows To love Ziphares By my Father's Order And by the tenderest Inclination too Mith. You strike me dead Sem. Oh do but think my Lord How wou'd Mankind when they shall read my Story Tear all the Rolls or throw 'em to the Flames How wou'd the weeping Maids curse my remembrance Shou'd I for pride of Power a Golden Promise A gaudy Nothing prove ingrateful perjur'd Leave all the goodness of the Earth to languish And break for ever with his matchless Virtue Mith. You have said and I confess it to be Heav'nly I know and till I saw your Eyes I lov'd The Virtue of my Son I lodg'd him near My Heart and set him down my Successor But now Oh hear and wonder at your Power Spight of his Noble Acts tho to his Arm I owe my Life tho Justice speaks so loud And the soft Tongue of Nature pleads so well I hate him more than I did ever love him Sem. Alas wou'd I had dy'd when first you saw me Mith. Had he conspir'd my Death usurp'd my Throne Perhaps I might have doom'd him to be slain Yet sure I shou'd have wept to see him die But now since he must Ravish that lov'd Gem I prize above the World tearing you from me Giving me twenty Deaths and cutting through My very Soul shou'd I my Empire give To buy his Fate I 'de think it vastly sold. Sem. Then blasted be the Form that charm'd your Eyes His Fate Oh Gods then you design his Death To reap the Bloody Harvest of his Life And Atreus-like to feed on your own Bowels But know Proud Monarch there are Powers who see And punish Crimes like yours Nor can I doubt But they will save from your most Impious Rage My poor lov'd Lord the Innocent Ziphares Weeping Mith. Those Waters more inrage my Jealous Flame And those heav'd Sighs but spread my Anger 's Wings Your Fatal Kindness hastens on his Death And that untimely Doom which I forbore To execute seems necessary now You give him all your Stock of richest Love Your Tears your longing Looks your Smiles your Groans And over-bless him with your lavish kindness But niggardly to me you will not spare A pitying Glance one Pearly drop to Ransom The Soul of this despairing Mithridates Andravar go and bear the Prince to Prison Sem. Stay Andravar the King has call'd you back See he repents Nay I must hold you then And if you stir you take Semandra with you O Mithridates O ungrateful Prince What was it you did order But behold His Eyes are fix'd upon the ground he blushes To think he cou'd so monstrously Decree To murder the sweet hopes of all his Kingdoms The Gods be prais'd for this Serene Repentance Yet with the fright I fear I shall not sleep Till Death does close my Eyes Mith. O rise Semandra Sem. Never I never will Oh all you pitying Powers will not my cryes And piercing Woes move you to melt his Soul Can you be deaf Oh Cruel Mithridates Did you but know the workings you have made The heavy plight the panting Passions here If you had but a Grain of all that World Of Love you swore you once had for Semandra You cou'd not see me thus Misery distracts My Reason shou'd you turn to a new rage Which I must fear unless you Vow to save him I cou'd not bear it you shou'd see me fall Cold pale and with my Deaths Convulsions grasping Your water'd feet but never more rise Mith. Give me your Beauteous Hand I swear upon it By all those Powers we worship by our Self When e're Ziphares dies Semandra kills him She shall alone have Power to give him Death Or to recal his most untimely Fate Enter Ziphares and Archelaus Thus dearly do I buy the Red Impression Which my Lips make but take it take it from me My Blood boils up again my Spirits kindle That lovely Brand has lent my wishes flame And I am lost again in vast desire Ziph. Semandra live I once to see thee more Tho in my Father's Arms 'T is Heav'n to gaze On thy assaulted Honour thus to see thee Thus tempted from me with the Charms of Empire Yet not consenting No I 'll not think the World Laid at thy Feet Cou'd win thy Faith Yet O dread Sir forgive me If that my boding Heart suspects you more Then all that Heav'n cou'd send down great and charming Or Hell cou'd raise up horrid to destroy me Mith. O Glory Arch. O consider Sir on that Think how the Romans will despise your Wars If Love now drive you Speak my Lord he yields Ziph. Oh Royal Sir or if the Name of Father Can move you more by that I will Conjure you By all the Charms of Stratonice's Eyes When first they drew you to adore their lustre By all the Pains you gave her when she bore me By all the Obedience I have paid you long And by the Blood I yet intend to lose In your behalf oh grant me my Semandra Sem. Ev'n by the Passion my unhappy Beauty First kindled in you but I hope is dying Give me Ziphares give him to my Longings Mith. 'T is done the Conquest is at last obtain'd And Manly Virtue Lords it o're my Passion It shall be so away thou feeble God I banish thee my Bosom hence I say Be gone or I will tear the Strings that hold thee And stab thee in my Heart The Wars come on By Heav'n I 'll drown thy laughing Deity In Blood and drive thee with my brandish'd Sword To Rome I will yes to the Capitol There to resume thy Godhead once again And vaunt thy Majesty without controul But never Reign in Mithridates Soul Arch. O wonderful effect of highest Virtue O Conquest which deserves more Triumphs than A hundred Victories in Battel gain'd Ziph. You must you shall be now the Lord of Rome Her Fate shall bow beneath your Awful Scepter O let me not enjoy the Life you promis'd The vast possession of the rich Semandra If I strike not Rome's Eagles to the Earth Take the Imperial Standard Chase their Legions And bring in Triumph all their Leaders bound Mith. Andravar haste Proclaim throughout the City My Son Ziphares General against the Romans Exit Andravar Come to my Breast once more my dearest Son In spight of Love thou art again my Child Thus with a Father's bowels I receive thee Thus melting o're thee with the tenderest Nature I pray the Gods to Crown thy Youth with glory Ziph. Oh Happiness Oh Joy Oh blessed Tears Reward this Goodness Heav'n for Poor Ziphares Is now so lost he knows not what to say Let me devour your hands with Filial dearness Were my whole Life to come one heap of Troubles The pleasure of this moment wou'd suffice And sweeten all my griefs with its remembrance Sem. Oh happy hour if I not set thee down The whitest that the Eye of Time e're saw Let me ne're smile when I remember thee
you stamp is Royal other Pretenders to Satyr but file and wash they live by the Clippings of your Wit and dip their Silver in your Bath to make it pass for Gold Self-preservation bids me say no more of your Lordships Poetry lest I dam my own who aim at nothing so much as the Honour of being thought by your Lordship My Lord Your most Humble Obedient and Devoted Servant NAT. LEE MITHRIDATES King of Pontus ACT I. SCENE I. The outer-part of the Temple of the Sun A noise of Musick and tuning Voices is heard Enter Pharnaces Pelopidas Phar. TO Night to Night this fatal Moment now Our dreadful Father's Nuptials are preparing And I must lose bright Monima for ever Ambition too is barr'd Scepters and Crowns And all the golden Quarries now are lost Zphares O Ziphares happy Brother Thou hast dislodg'd me by thy late Exploits And now usurp'st my Father's Brest alone Curs'd be the Pow'r that bless'd thee on thy way To overthrow Triarius curs'd the Stars That glitter'd round thy Head when by thy Arm So many Tribunes and Centurions fell As made Rome groan and broke Lucullus heart Pelop. Hear me my Lord. Phar. This Morning on a Mountain Above the Clouds his Triumph was perform'd And I assisted at the Sacrifice Why gave I not this Body to the Flames To be devour'd among the tortur'd Slaves Rather than liv'd to see his Conquest Crown'd I saw it O Pelopidas these Eyes Saw Mithridates with a Torch give Fire To the vast Pile which like a Pyramid Stood high upon the Hill as that on Earth Pelop. Will you but give me leave Phar. I saw the blaze Of his immortal Honour heard the shout Of all the Court which did torment the Air To that degree that Birds fell round us dead And that thin Region where we scarce cou'd live When first we did ascend became so fat With the rich Steam of Blood and boyling Gold And flowing Gums that we were forc'd remove Nay I believe the glutted Gods themselves Were almost choak'd with the prodigious Odors Pelop. Yet have you done Phar. To the green Neptune then Because at Sea old Archelaus had Been Conqueror with my Brother in their Names An Off'ring was decreed a Chariot all With Emeralds set and fill'd with Coral Tridents Was with a hundred Horses wild as Wind From off the top of that most dismal place Plung'd to the bottom of the slimy Deep Pelop. Let me intreat you call your Reason home And listen to your faithful Servant's Counsel You cannot hate your Brother more to Death Than I his Friend the General Archelaus ' Has got the start of me in the King's favour And tho without being vain I think my self The better Souldier he by Polities Has push'd me from the Dignities I bore The Lion's outed by the Fox Phar. But with full cry Let us unkennel him rather rebel Than bear it thus 't is mine 't is thy concern Nor let the Name of King or Father awe us A Mistress and a Throne most specious Titles The God of Battel rages in my Breast And as at Delphos when the glorious Fury Kindles the Blood of the Prophetick Maid The bounded Deity does shoot her out Draws every Nerve thin as a Spider's Thred And beats the skin out like expanded Gold So with the meditation of the Work Which my Soul bears I swell almost to bursting Pelop. In all the many changes of my Life I have not known one equal yet to yours At other times so moderate so true A Soveraign o're your self you seem'd to want Those Passions for your Slaves who Lord it now Phar. I 'me hush'd if thou hast ought of comfort speak Pelop. This Night your Father has decreed to Marry The Daughter of Palemon Phar. What can hinder Pelop. Nothing yet mark my Brother Tryphon is High-Priest o' th' Sun whom all the rest obey Him have I wrought that when the Nuptial Rites Begin some strange presages shall fall out Disorders unexpected to foreshow The Gods are much offended at the Marriage How this may work with one of mighty Faith In holy Fables one of various humor Whom every day new Beauties set on Fire Be you the Judge Phar. Methinks it has a Face But yet there 's wanting what I cou'd have wish'd Had it been Janus-like back'd with another When Mithridates frighted from his Queen Warn'd by false Oracles shou'd have retir'd Perplex'd yet strugling with the pangs of Love Then to have laid a Beauty to his longing Some fair unknown proud of her gaudy Bloom T' have quench'd his thirsty wishes that had been A Masterpiece But let him Marry her Sure Death shall wait upon his laughing Hymen And when the God has given her to his Arms Fate with unerring force shall part 'em ever Pelop. Yet raging 'T is as you have said and more More than excelling Mischief cou'd invent That is not best We have already rais'd him Andravar my Lieutenant General Scorn'd by your Brother whom he therefore hates First form'd the Plot Old Archelaus's Daughter The fair Semandra Mistress to Ziphares Is destin'd to be made your Father's Prey Phar. Excellent Engine now thou work'st indeed Thou hast hit the Vein the Life-blood of his Heart I cannot see ought in the extent of Art Or Nature that can mend it O Ziphares Still Conquer rise with Triumphs high as Heav'n So such a Bolt as this be sure to wait thee Enter Andravar But see the brave Lieutenant come to my Arms And tell me shall Semandra be the King's Andr. I think my Lord that I may safely swear it Phar. Thy bluntness merits praise and says thou' rt fit To serve my best revenge Love or Ambition Andr. Great Mithridates whom I well have study'd Tho he has weather'd forty Winter Fields Yet rises in his vigor ventures more Nor feels decay of strength none Learn'd as he In Nature's Garden whence to his Constitution Most excellent he adds such helps by Art That by his looks he might be thought Immortal The World too knows he is as Amorous now As when the first Sighs heav'd his youthful Brest And his first Tears bedew'd the Shrines of Love Phar. The Consequence Andr. He often has been pleas'd To make me honour'd with his private thoughts Whereon my General and I agreed Knowing your love to Monima And hatred to your Brother with one blow To drive the business that shou'd Crown your wishes Therefore I daily fill'd your Father's Ears With praises of Semandra rais'd his wonder Describ'd her dress and each particular grace Her Eyes her Hands her Lips with all their beauties And have so fir'd him that there only wants A view to perfect all and that will be To Night Phar. How know'st thou that Andr. I learnt it all From a She-slave that waits upon Semandra Who told me that Ziphares with consent Of Archelaus wou'd beg her of the King When he this Night shou'd Monima Espouse Soft Musick Nor doubt but when he once has seen
Semandra The Charms of his new Queen will vanish Hark The sacred Musick sounds The King and Queen are coming Enter Archilaus Ziphares Semandra See your Brother Semandra and her Father Phar. O my lab'ring Brest how hopes and fears Toss my wrack'd Heart like a poor Bark about But soon the Calm will come or I must perish in the Tempest Exeunt Phar. Pelop. and Andr. Ziph. By Heav'n my Love thou dost distract my Soul There 's not a Tear that falls from those dear Eyes But makes my Heart weep Blood O my Father All is not well I found her in the Morning Not like a Bride with all her Maids about her Half-smiling now half-serious with her thoughts Of what must come nor warm nor bright nor blushing But Oh the Gods I found her on the Floor In all the storm of grief yet beautiful Sighing such breath of sorrow that her Lips Which late appear'd like buds were now o'reblown Pouring forth tears at such a slavish rate That were the World on Fire they might have drown'd The wrath of Heav'n and quench'd the mighty ruine Arch. Nothing my Lord 't is all but Virgin 's fear Marriage to Maids is like a War to Men The Battel causes fear but the sweet hopes Of winning at the last still draws 'em on Sem. Alas my Lord Weeping Ziph. What but alas no more when by the Hand I led her to the Temple thus she sigh'd And hung upon me If thou truly lov'st me If I may credit my Semandra's tears Think 'em not drops of Chance like other Womens The Weather of their Souls The Christal bubbles Which they can make at will Oh satisfie The longings of my braest and tell thy sorrows Sem. That I do love you Oh all you Host of Heav'n Be Witness that you are dear to me Dearer than Day to one whom sight must leave Dearer than Life to one that fears to dye O thou bright Pow'r be Judge whom we adore Be Witness of my Truth be Witness of my Love But yet I fear Ziph. That fear give me that fear Semandra Produce it in the ugliest form it has If ought that is deform'd can come from thee Sem. I shall my Lord since you are pleas'd to hear me Uunfold my doubts the cause of all my Tears First then I must complain of my hard Stars That did not dart kind Lustre on my Birth For tho at present while your young Blood boyls Your Reason cannot get the Rein of Passion Yet it will come when long possession cloyes you Then you will think what Queens you might have had With Kingdoms for their Dower perhaps you may Prove so unkind to tell me of it too Or if you shou'd not yet your Eyes wou'd speak Weeping Enough to break the heart of poor Semandra Ziph. Why dost thou stab me with the tenderness Of thy false fears and melt me into mourning 'T is most unseasonable on our Wedding-day To be seen thus I know thou canst not doubt me No thou most lovely of the fairer kind Think not a Crown can ever change my Virtue Ah who wou'd leave the warmth of this lov'd Bosome For the cold cares which black Ambition brings Sem. Spight of ill-boding Dreams unlucky Omens You must you shall you ought to be believ'd And if I weep again it is for joy That I this Night shall be your happy Bride Ziph. Oh Mithridates mighty as thou art Before whose Throne Princes stand dumb as Death With folded Arms and their Eyes fix'd to Earth Dishonour brand me if I wou'd not chuse A private Life with her whom my Soul loves Rather than live like thee with all thy Titles The King of Kings without her Arch. Pray my Lord Defer till Mid-night these strong Extasies Fate yet may put a bar betwixt our hopes And then the loss wilt be more hardly born The Scene draws discovering the inner part of the Temple Mithridates holding Monima by the Hand his Queens Concubines Sons and Daughters attending Three Roman Captains L. Cassius Q. Oppius and Manius Aquilius bound in Gold Chains with many other Slaves standing at distance Mith. Not yet O Rome great Tyrant of the World Hast thou subdu'd the Asian Emperor In thy despight I hold my glory still Still tread upon the Necks of conquer'd Kings Still make thy Consuls tremble at my Name And in one mightiest Word to sum up all A Word which like a Charm might raise the Ghosts Of Pyrrhus and the experienc'd Hannibal To envy and be dazled at my deeds A Word a Name that comprehends all Honors All Titles Riches Power all Majesty In spight of Rome I 'm Mithridates still Aquil. The Nations must confess that Alexander Cou'd not more dreadful to the East appear Than you ev'n Rome wou'd buy her peace with joy Cou'd you at reasonable rates afford Your Royal Friendship tho by your command Most dreadful to Italian Memory In one dark Day damn'd in the Book of Fate A hundred thousand murder'd Romans fell Mith. Darest thou fomenter of these Wars to talk Thou purple Source of all these bloody streams Which have for more than thirty years o'reflow'd The Asian Banks and dy'd Euphrates red Darest thou Commissioner in chief to put The Earth in Arms and set the World on flame Once think of Peace Now by the Fire-rob'd God Thou shalt have punishment that fits thy Crimes Aquil. The bravest must submit when Fortune frowns Mith. Desire of Wealth the Lust of shining Dirt And Palace Plunder caus'd thee with Arm'd Legions T' invade a King whose Father was Rome's Friend But by the asserted Justice of my Cause The help of Heav'n and of my own Right-hand I conquer'd thee and thou art now my Slave Guards strait convey him to the Market-place Take off his wealthy Chains and melt 'em down Then for a terrible Example to All sordid Wretches Souls made up of Avarice Pour down his Throat the rich dissolved Mass And gorge his Entrails with the burning Gold Mon. Not my dear Lord upon your Nuptial Day Mith. On any Day my Queen to do a Justice Which all the Gods and all good Men must like For Lucius Cassius and for Quintus Oppius A milder Destiny 's in store Away with him And now proceed we to the sacred Rites Aquil. Yet e're you join hear me proud Emperour Hear what the Fates have put into my brest I see my Death by Roman Arms reveng'd And what Lucullus had so well begun Pompey shall end Pompey thy glory's ruine This hour that gives me Death shall be the last Of all thy quiet swift domestick jars Shall overtake thee thou shalt add more blood To that already shed from thy own Bowels And when at last subdu'd in all thy Wars Spoil'd of thy Queens thy Sons and Daughters slain Thou seek'st some corner of thy conquer'd Empire To hide thy abandon'd Head in then the load Of all thy woes shall come one whom thou least Shalt fear long nourish'd in thy impious breast Shall stab thee to the
at distance Phar. T is almost empty Honour Courtship all But gaudy Nonsense O Pelopidas Rather than buy my Pleasure with such baseness I 'de be a Brute Now by my Life methinks The happier Creature cast before thy eyes The generous Horse loose in a Flow'ry Lawn VVith choice of Pasture and of Chrystal Brooks And all his chearful Mistresses about him The white the brown the black the shining bay And every dappled Female of the Field Now by the Gods for ought we know as Man Thinks him a Beast Man seems a Beast to him Pelop. Be more considerate less rash and hot I have thought of an Expedient to gain her Phar. Thou art my better Genius and shalt flourish VVhen Archelaus like a blasted Tree Lies rotting to the ground Pelop. Did Mithridates Know of your Love to Monima Phar. He did As publickly I show'd it as Ziphares Yet he who like the Hesperian Dragon thinks The Golden Fruit of Beauty all his own Flew at me as a Thief who while he slept Had stoln his Prize and made me pay it back Or swore my life shou'd be the fatal forfeit Pelop. 'T is as I cou'd have wish'd thus then the King VVhose Heart Semandra kindles into Flame Cools every hour to his new-marry'd Bride And will not Bed her till the Coronation A meer put off wading in deep disgust And wishing for pretence to part for ever Phar. VVhich he shall have this Head of thine has thought it Pelop. I and the needful Andravar VVho feels the Pulse of his Affection VVill swear boldly As Witnesses who had both seen and heard The jealous Monima inrag'd with Love But more for what her vast Ambition lost Strove to revive the passion that you bore her But you most generously oppos'd her Charms Which with unwillingness you shall confess And beg your fiery Father to forgive her Phar. Pithy and short thou art the Soul of Counsel Pelop. The very breaking of the business throws Her into Prison where while I guard the door Your Highness may with as much ease perform Your pleasure as your faithful servant thought it Phar. In thanks the vilest fawning lying Slave Wou'd speak thee fairer than Pharnaces shall But let my deeds be grateful to my Souldier Enter Andravar What news my Andravar Andr. Your Guardian-spirit Now lays about him and invisibly Acts wonders for you madding all the Court Semandra weeping and your Father burning Monima like a Widow'd-Turtle mourning Old Archelaus pushing on his Fate And Amorous Ziphares led by love To tumble from the top of all his hopes Defiance from the Roman Consul Glabrio I sent and the third Pontick War renew'd But Love so rocks your Fathers drouzy brain That all the Trumpets of the thundring Legions Can scarce awake him See where he comes Enter Mithridates attended His haughty courage scarce submitting to The weight which presses him but striking out Mith. She must be mine this admirable Creature Her Charms are now inevitable grown And while I seem to fright her from my Son I talk and gaze and dote to my undoing See her no more lose her with weighty thoughts And drown her in the Ocean of thy Power In vain I strive with cares to keep her down In vain does business sink her to the bottom This Bladder Love still bears her up again Phar. Like a caught Lyon raging in the snare He plunges in his passion spends his force And struggles with the Toil that holds him faster Mith. See her no more and live Impossible As well I might bid Meteors keep their lustre When all the shining Exhalation's spent That fed their short-liv'd glory Enter Monima Mon. O Mithridates O my cruel Lord I come with all the violence of grief To take my last farewel Mith. What means the Queen Mon. The Queen O mockery of State Pageant of Greatness wondred at a while But strait neglected like a common thing I come my Lord to beg O Heav'ns your leave Your Royal License to retire from Court And since my Father by your bounty Reigns At Ephesus I there wou'd go to mourn And languish out my wretched Life's remain Mith. Why will you add new troubles to my Bosom Already burthen'd with the Wrath of Heav'n By your unnecessary grief Mon. From Earth I fear And not from Heav'n those Cloudy Cares are drawn Mith. No matter whence they 're dangerous to partake The tender Face of Beauty cannot bear 'em For if from Earth they come their Damp will stifle And if from Heav'n their Influence is blasting Mon. Were you but kind my Lord as once you were What blasting cou'd I fear what dangers drest In all the horrours of most dreadful Death But you are pleas'd that I shou'd not complain Andr. Semandra by your Majesty's appointment Attends without Mith. Fair Monima retire You will oblige me by a confidence I cannot be but yours affairs of State Now take me from you Mon. Say the affairs of Love I wou'd my Royal Lord but cannot blame you I feel a Spirit within me which calls up All that is Woman wrong'd and bids me chide But you are Mithridates that dear man Whom my Soul loves else were you all the Kings All Worlds all Gods I cou'd let loose upon you For those deep injuries which I must suffer Cou'd like the fighting Winds disturb all Nature With venting of my wrongs but I am hush'd As a spent Wave and all my fiery Powers Are quench'd when I but look upon your Eyes Where like a Star in water I appear A pretty sight but of no Influence And am at best but now a shining Sorrow Exit led by Pharnaces Mith. O Love if that the Face of such Affection Such modest Sweetness and such humble Virtue As my Queen bears fix not my wandring Heart Break break thy Bow and burn thy useless Arrows By Heav'n her kindness strikes my troubled Soul Enter Semandra with Andravar attending But see she 's lost again Semandra comes Who drowns like blushing Noon her paler dawn And shows like Summer to the Infant Spring Semandra what still weeping will not all The Wealth which the Sun sees throughout the East Dry up your Tears methinks an Empire might Suffice for any loss I give you all my Power And with it such a heart as nought but Love Cou'd bow I throw it bleeding at your Feet Behold behold Semandra while I blush The great effects of your Commanding Beauty Sem. Were you yet greater than you are which scarce The Gods can make you tho no bounds but Heav'n Did limit your large Sway tho in your person all The Graces met that ever Man adorn'd The Blush of Rising Youth the Conquering Eyes The Noble Smiles and those most passionate Beauties Which drew my Heart to Idolize your Son I cou'd not love you Mith. Oh unmerciful Sem. You said my Lord but now You blush'd to think of your degraded Power How then ought I to blush I who shou'd be The daily Curse of your repining Subjects I
MITHRIDATES King of Pontus A TRAGEDY Acted at the Theatre Royal By their Majestie 's Servants Written by NAT. LEE Hi motus animorum atque haec certamina tanta Pulveris exigui jactu compressa quiescent Virgil. Georg. l. 4. Licensed March 28 1678. ROGER L'ESTRANGE LONDON Printed by R. E. for James Magnes and Rich. Bentley in Russel-street in Covent-Garden near the Piazza's 1678. To the Right Honourable CHARLES Earl of DORSET MIDDLESEX One of the Gentlemen of His MAJESTIES BED-CHAMBER c. My Lord VVHen I call to mind what I have observ'd of your Wit and Judgment the truest and most impartial I ever knew my thoughts of writing after my loose manner to your Lordship are a little dash'd and the meanest of 'em has the sense to tell me I ought to be as curious and correct in a Dedication to one Man as in that of a Play to a whole Nation There is no doubt a Transport in ev'ry Poet who writes an Epistle but for the most part they are dazl'd with the Eminence of their Patrons and at best we can but call it an Awful Delight But I profess what those to whom I am disagreeable will impute to want of Modesty I make this Tragedy an Off'ring to your Lordship with as much freedom pleasure and perfect satisfaction as ever Mithridates receiv'd when he found himself in the Arms of his Fairest Mistress You stand Equal with the Greatest and your Quality shou'd cause a Dread in the hardiest Writers But on the other hand there is such an innate sweetness of temper such a most remarkable goodness in all your Actions a Character peculiar to you more than any man alive that the meanest modestest of Poets may approach you Methinks I feel a sort of chearful springing Pride when I see your Lordship stand forth to this last Birth which sure if I had ever any lovely is much the Fairest Child Happy Fortune must attend it and Heav'n and Earth be pleas'd where you approve I accost you my Lord without Formality and wou'd appear before the severest Judge in the plainest Garb or rather nakedness of thought as some and those not of the least courage go to the most bloody Test of valour all unarm'd An over-care in things of this nature does often turn to affectation and what was meant a Guard proves an Encumbrance We may stiff'n our imaginations with making 'em too quaint and polish till we are nothing else but gloss I am infinitely pleas'd to be as plain as I can nor care I how it pleases others tho I am sure it does that I have laid this Play at your Lordships feet All my Acquaintance that wish me well applaud my choice for I may safely affirm by the judgment of the Town without being censur'd for a Dawber there 's not a man whom all men love but you you are beheld in all the Company you Honour as if you were the Genius of that Prince who was call'd the Delight of Mankind and are ador'd with all the love and admiration which e're the Noble Titus found in Rome Ziphares is an imperfect Figure of your self I cast him in your Mould and fashion'd him as well as my weak Fancy cou'd to that Perfection the Court so universally allows you When I design'd to draw him for the Ladies endearing soft and passionately loving I thought on you and found the way to Charm ' em And 't is most certain he who obliges those Fair Criticks to be of his Party has the surest Cards that ever Poet plaid I cannot but own the Honours they have done me and entreat your Lordship to secure 'em my Friends There is yet a greater Honour I wou'd beg of your Lordship and so important I cannot name it without apprehension Mithridates being in your hands desires to be laid at the Feet of the Queen Her Majesty who is the Sublimest Goodness and most merciful Vertue that ever blest a Land has been pleas'd to grace him with her Presence and promis'd it again with such particular praises the effects of her pure Bounty that shou'd he not express his Gratitude almost to adoration he wou'd deserve another Fate when he is next represented than what he has hitherto receiv'd I have endeavour'd in this Tragedy to mix Shakespear with Fletcher the thoughts of the former for Majesty and true Roman Greatness and the softness and passionate expressions of the latter which makes up half the Beauties are never to be match'd How have I then endeavour'd to be like ' em O faint Resemblance As Pizarro says of the Mexicans And those who now remain Appear but as the Shadows of the Slain It may be objected I broke the Scenes in the beginning of the Third and Fifth Acts those who are so nicely curious to be offended at this over-sight may for their satisfaction leave 'em out and the Play will be entire I apply my self to your Lordship as Montaign does to his Reader in his Chapter of Books I will says he love the Man that shall trace me For I have many times found fault with an Expression as I pretended was in a Play of my own and had it dam'd by no indifferent Criticks tho the immortal Shakespear will not blush to own it But I am confident your Lordship will find me out and I desire to be so found a Refiner on those admirable Writers the Ground is theirs and all that serves to make a rich Embroidery I hope the World will do me the Justice to think I have disguiz'd it into another fashion more suitable to the Age we live in for if I cou'd perswade my self there were nothing of mine extraordinary in the Play I wou'd not have dedicated it to the best of Men. Mediocribus esse Poetis Non dii non homines non concessere columne Here you must give me leave to tell the World that Pillars and Altars too ought to be rais'd to your Lordship if the greatest Genius of Poetry deserves em Your thoughts in some select Poems I have seen are rich and new as the Golden American World your Expressions justly strong your words Emphatical as chosen men for an Enterprize of Glory As it was observed of the Army of Alexander the Great every Souldier look'd like a Commander and every Commander like an Alexander so in your admirable Draughts all things are so excellent we know not where to fix we stand on Hills of so vast a breadth that the Valleys are not seen it looks like Heaven all about us and Fancy is lost in the infinite Beauty of the Prospect Your Writing dazles with clearness and Majesty you draw like Holbin without Shadows Qui Genus humanum ingenio superavit omnes Praestrinxit stellas exortus uti Aetherius Sol. Your Images are so great we look like Dwarfs beneath you and then so lively represented tho of dead low Objects animated by your Genius Credas simulacra moveri Ferrea cognatoque viros spirare metallo What e're
heart and end thy days That this all this and more may light upon thee I pray the Gods and so the Furies seize thee Mith. Away to Death with the Prophetick Fool. Ex. Guards with Aquilius Tryphon begin and let the Altar smoak With such rich Victims to the well-pleas'd Gods That they may smile from Heav'n and give us joy Here follows the Entertainment after which the King and Queen return from the Altar to sit in state An Image of Victory descends with two Crowns in her hands but on a sudden the Engines break and cast the Image forward on the Stage with such violence that they dash in pieces Mithridates starting up Mith. Ha! whence how fell this out Now by my Arms Our Nuptials are not pleasing to the Gods 'T is for some fault of mine O Monima That Heav'n denies thy beauties to my bosome Thus when we did approach the hallow'd Vault A Prophesying Priest with start-up Hair With rolling Eyes and Nostrils wide as Mouths Stopt us i' th way and said we were no Match As well the noblest Salvage of the Field Might tamely couple with a fearful Ewe Tygers ingender with the timorous Deer Wild muddy Bores defile the cleanly Ermin Or Vultures sort with Doves as I with thee 'T is a cross thought and much disturbs me here Mon. Command me dye e're give your Majesty Cause of the least disturbance O my Lord Think you that I wou'd lye within your Arms To hear you sigh and give me Tears for Love Or think you 't is to Empire I aspire Rather dismiss me from your Breast the Haven Where I had hoarded all my happiness And cast me out to a wide Sea of weeping Mith. How e're the Pow'rs above shall deal with me Racking my heart with what they have set down Thou art our Queen Mon. O 't is an empty Name A senseless sound except I am your Love I find I find that I am lost for ever I have but slept charm'd with a golden Dream And now am wak'd to beggery again Why did you take me from my Father's Wing Who tho a petty Prince was yet a World Of warmth to me why did you tempt me forth With burning Love and the bright Comet Power Mith. Fright not thy tender heart with false suspicions I will be ever thine But give me leave A little to digest with serious thoughts The anger of the Heav'ns Andravar Andr. My Lord Phar. They whisper General To Pelop. Ziph. coming forward Stars by your leave Ill Omens may the guilty tremble at Make every accident a Prodigy And Monsters frame where Nature never err'd May the fear'd Conscience start at falling Meteors And call the schreme of every hooting Owl Or croaking Raven Fate 's most dreadful Voice For me I laugh at 'em shou'd now the Heav'n Flame with a thousand Fires ne're seen before And Thunder beat the Winds from every corner Not for the Calm of all the Universe Wou'd I put off my Joys a moment longer Stand back my Love and when I call come forth A minute makes us blest or wretched ever Comes to the middle of the Stage and kneels Mith. Is there in all the space of our wide Empire Ought of that most inestimable value To make Ziphares kneel Ziph. There is my Lord Thus to adore you Mith. O Celestial Powers Mark me your Subject out for all misfortunes The Curses of the Roman Manius fall Heavy upon me Fortune's giddy Wheel Which we have fix'd with our Majestick weight Turn round with me when I deny him ought That he can ask with Honour Rise my Son Ziph. rising Since on the great Request which I shall make The peace or trouble of my Life depends The torment or the pleasure of my Soul Eternal griefs or everlasting joys I wou'd recall to your remembrance Sir The toils and hardships which my early Valour Has undergone the many Fields I'have fought And Conquer'd too and as of old the Romans Who sought the Consulship made bare their breasts Lac'd with long Scars and studded o're with Thrusts The Noble Wardrobe of the Scarlet War I wou'd with bolder mention of my deeds Display my Wounds to move your Royal Favour And offer to the blood which I have shed All my heart holds for sealing of your promise Mith. O had'st thou fought so poorly as thou speak'st Thy Actions all the Laurels which lye green Upon thee strait wou'd wither and be dust To mention but thy last thy last of Wars Which ev'n the breath of Majesty makes vile So much below thy Valour is all Language Ziph. The glory of that Battel is your own Mith. To thee we owe the day our life and Empire When six Centurions bore me from my Saddle And laid me groveling for the violent Horse To tread my Soul out how did my brave Ziphares Break through their walls of Steel leap o're the Ramparts Of the dead bodies that had fenc'd me in On his own Courser mounting me to life Pious even in the mouth of Slaughter while On foot himself he with his Battel-axe Bore down the Legions drove whole Troops before him And brought their Eagles drooping from the Field Demand I say ask me most Royally I will be lavish to thy vast Ambition And Crown thy wishes like a giving God Ziph. In thankfulness I bend me to the Earth Once more fall prostrate to your Majesty And pray the Gods to give you length of days Come forth come forth my Fairest break my Day Appear and Charm dazle the whole Assembly Semandra comes forward Mith. A wonder Ha! Ziph. She is my Lord the Boast The lovely Chance-work Master-piece of Nature Who blush'd to see what her own hands had made As if mistaking Moulds she unawares Had cast Semandra in a Form Divine Sem. These praises breath'd from any Lips but yours Lord of my life and Idol of my love Wou'd make me sink with shame or scorn the Flatterer But as they come from you from that lov'd Mouth The tender Off rings of your fond Desires I take 'em all and die upon the sound To the driven Air my flying Soul is fasten'd Each word each sillable you spoke is mine Yes I am fair a Queen a Goddess any thing That my dear Lord is pleas'd to have me be Mith. She talks Ziph. And with so good à Grace That nothing but her Wit can Charm beyond it Late in the Camp I languish'd with a Fever And sure had dy'd but for this fair Physician Who in the midst of all my fiery pains When Art was at a loss and I lay gasping Wou'd quite beguile my sufferings with her Songs Her welcom Pity and her soft Endearments Now laying her chaste Cheek cold with her Tears To mine she wou'd abate the raging fire Now with warm sighs kindle my fading spirits And when I fainted with a Kiss recal me Mith. By Heav'n she weeps and I cou'd drink the Dew Phar. He takes the poyson fast as I cou'd wish Pelop. And Prince Ziphares
Nor ev'n in wishes offer at a Joy Shouting within Mith. Hark! with loud Cryes the Souldiers send their joys Go then with the best Blessings I can give thee Conduct my chearful Subjects to the Field Take all the sighing Virgins wishes with thee Subdue the Consul and receive Semandra Ziph. O do not doubt me my most Royal Lord If now I Conquer not thus helpt thus promis'd Thus prais'd incourag'd and thus over-blest I am the Mark for all The Synod of the Gods to shoot their Fires at Mith. Semandra veil your Beauties from my eyes I wou'd not trust their Influence tho I thank The Pow'rs above so strongly Reigns my Virtue I think I might and fear not a relapse In an Apartment proper for your grief You shall be plac'd till yours and my Ziphares Return in Triumph where no eyes shall see Your private walks nor mark your secret sorrow I thus divide you that your meeting may Be yet more grateful Haste my Son to Battel Be short in parting for there is no end Of Lovers Farewels The Powers above preserve you Exit Mith. with Pelop. and Andra. Ziph. Farewel Semandra O if my Father shou'd Fall back from Virtue 't is an impious thought Yet I must ask you cou'd you in my absence Solicited by Power and Charming Empire And threatned too by death forget your Vows Cou'd you I say abandon poor Ziphares Who mid'st of Wounds and Death wou'd think on you And whatsoe're Calamity shou'd come Wou'd keep his love sacred to his Semandra Like Balm to heal the heaviest misfortune Sem. Your cruel question tears my very Soul Ah can you doubt me Prince A Faith like mine The softest Passion that e're Woman wept But as resolv'd as ever man cou'd boast Alas why will you then suspect my Truth Yet since it shows the fearfulness of Love 'T is just I shou'd endeavour to convince you Make bare your Sword my Noble Father draw Arch. What wou'dst thou now Sem. I swear upon it Oh Be witness Heav'n and all avenging Powers Of the true love I give the Prince Ziphares When I in thought forsake my plighted Faith Much less in act for Empire change my love May this keen Sword by my own Fathers hand Be guided to my Heart rip Veins and Arteries And cut my faithless limbs from this hack'd body To feed the ravenous Birds and Beasts of prey Arch. Now by my Sword 't was a good hearty wish And if thou play'st him false this faithful hand As heartily shall make thy wishes good Ziph. O hear mine too If e're I fail in ought That Love requires in strictest nicest kind May I not only be proclaim'd a Coward But be in deed that most detested thing May I in this most glorious War I make Be beaten basely ev'n by Glabrio's Slaves And for a punishment lose both these eyes Yet live and never more behold Semandra Trumpets Arch. Come no more wishing Hark the Trumpets call Sem. Preserve him Gods preserve his Innocence The Noblest Image of your perfect selves Farewel I 'm lost in Tears Where are you Sir Arch. He 's gone Away my Lord you 'l never part Ziph. I go but must turn back for one last look Remember O remember dear Semandra That on thy Virtue all my Fortune hangs Semandra is the bus'ness of the War Semandra makes the Fight draws every Sword Semandra sounds the Trumpets gives the Word So the Moon Charms her watry World below Wakes the still Seas and makes 'em Ebb and Flow. Exeunt ACT III. SCENE I. The Field Enter Ziphares bloody with Souldiers Ziph. ARe these are these the Masters of the World O my brave Friends how have you fought to day You fought as if you all had Mistresses Who from some Battlement beheld your Valour And from your Arms expected all their Fortune Oh had you heard 'em clap their tender hands Beat their white Breasts and rend the wond'ring Heav'ns With their shrill cryes you cou'd not have done more Your looks were Basilisks to Roman Blood Your very Breath was as the furious North And drove the Legions like the Chaff before you Nor was I idle witness the wounds I feel Tho Glabrio at distance shun'd the force Of my far-darted Javelin yet it struck A Tribune down and did not useless fall What more remains but that we haste to meet Victorious Archelaus plunder their Tents And loaded with the Laurel we have won March to Synope shouting all the way Long live the King of Kings great Mithridates Enter Archelaus attended Arch. O Prince thou Life thou Soul of all the Army To whose dear hand thrice I did owe my life When thrice this day my Horse was kill'd beneath me O Renown'd day this one day of thy Valour Has drown'd in dark Oblivion all my Wars Like Time it self thy Glory shall run on While mine my fifty Iron-years of battel Lies smeer'd in dust and moulder into Ashe s. Ziph. Yes Father now I cou'd grow proud of Conquest Since it must give your Daughter to my Arms. Methought to day when I had given the word Semandra Victory declar'd her self E're yet a Death by any hand was given Ev'n now my blood more heats my youthful veins My Cheeks grow redder with the expectation Of Love's dear promis'd joys than when I strove In flame of fight with all my toil upon me To cut my way and win the famous Field Arch. Grant me you Gods before the hand of Death Comes like Eternal Night with her dark Wing To bar the comfortable light for ever From these my aged eyes O let me see A Grandchild of my Princes Sacred Blood To call him mine to feel him in my Arms To hear his innocent talk and see him smile While I tell Stories of his Fathers Valour Which he in time must learn to imitate Grant me but this you Gods and make an end Soon as you please of this old happy man Ziph. I feel a gladness lightning in my breast The kindled joy disperses quickly through me And says E're yet the setting-Sun has quench'd His Love in his cold Mistress Bed Semandra shall be mine ev'n all Semandra The thought is Extasie these Arms shall hold her Fast to my throbbing Breast these ravish'd eyes Gaze till they 're blind with looking on her Blushes These stifling Lips shall smother all her Smiles And follow her with such pursuit of Kisses That ev'n our Souls shall lose themselves in pleasure Arch. First send a Flying Messenger with news Of our great Victory Ziph. Ziphares self Must be the Harbinger of his own joy I 'll go with the best-mounted Cavalry While you behind conduct on easie March The weari'd Army Once more let me lock My Father thus Arch. My heart bodes happiness Ziph. 'T were sin to doubt since Fortune had no hand In what our Swords by dint of Valour won She to the Brave was ever a curst Foe But I at last have bound her to my Chariot By Conquering Virtue to be drag'd along And
while her broken VVheel is proudly born She shall be forc'd our Triumph to adorn Exeunt severally SCENE II. The Palace-Garden Enter Pharnaces and Andravar Andr. THen there is hope my Lord th' unsetled King May yet relapse and fall to Love again Phar. 'T is certain that the end will Crown our wishes Late as I pry'd about Semandra's Gardens Mad that our Plot a-ground so plough'd to bear Shou'd yield no Fruit still thoughtful how to work him And watching for some accident to fit Our purpose and redeem the last design I chanc'd to spy the fair Semandra sleeping But in that posture she appear'd so lovely Bold as I am she Charm'd me into wonder But strait thy General came to rescue me VVho took the hint immediately and went To see the King Andr. I guess the good design To draw him on to see our beauteous Foe Phar. You have it and 't is more than half effected I saw 'em walk Pelopidas by his action I know did kindle him with wondrous praise But once to view the bright Semandra sleeping But the King stopt as if he fear'd to go Then side-long glanc'd and sigh'd and walk'd again Rubbing his hand upon his Face to hide The rising Blushes but behold 'em here Enter Mithridates Pelopidas Mith. What are her Charms to me Pelop. 'T is true they are not And yet methinks the sight might draw down Jove Yet I 'de not ask you for the World to see her But that I think you 're Master of your promise I thought your God-like frame your strength of mind Not to be shook therefore I woo'd you Sir In Curiosity to see a Wonder But if you doubt your self Mith. I think I need not I think my Vertue is resolv'd but yet I fear and therefore I will go no farther Pelop. 'T is well resolv'd and yet methinks 't wou'd raise Your pity more than love to see the tears Force through her snowy lids their melting course To lodge themselves on her red murm'ring lips That talk such mournful things when strait a gale Of starting sighs carries those Pearls away As Dews by Winds are wafted from the Flowers Mith. 'T is wondrous pitiful by Heav'n it is I feel her sorrow working here it calls Fire to my breast and water to my eyes And if I durst Pelop. If you the least suspect Your temper if the smallest Breath of Love But stir your heart let me Conjure you Sir Not to go on the dazling manner will Disturb your quiet and confound your Reason Mith. 'T will be as well tho I believe no Power Can change my Virtue yet 't will be as well If you relate exactly what you saw Pelop. Behold her then upon a Flowry Bank With her soft sorrows lull'd into a slumber The Summers heat had to her natural blush Added a brighter and more tempting red The Beauties of her Neck and naked Breasts Lifted by inward starts did rise and fall With motion that might put a Soul in Statues The matchless whiteness of her foulded Arms That seem'd t' imbrace the Body whence they grew Fix'd me to gaze o're all that Field of Love While to my ravish'd eyes officious winds Waving her Robes display'd such handsom Limbs As Artists wou'd in Polish'd Marble give The Wanton Goddess when supinely laid She Charms her Gallant God to new enjoyment Mith. Something there is stirs mightily my Breast 'T is Pity sure it can be only Pity Who knows but that her multiplying fears And cruel griefs in time may give her death 'T were most Inhumane therefore not to go And comfort her with praises of Ziphares I 'll tell her how he Conquers how he comes Triumphant from the Consul's overthrow To take the Noble Wreaths he has deserv'd Embraces from her Arms Circles more rich Than all the Crowns my fruitless Valour won Yet stay I will not speak of him 't were rude To break her rest I 'll see her when she wakes Pelop. Then you dare trust your heart Mith. 'T is sure I dare By Heav'n my Friends I dare I feel such strong Collected Manly Virtue that I 'll on Pelop. Oh sacred Sir turn back if Conquer'd by Her Beauties you shou'd love again I know Pelopidas must bear the blame of all Therefore my Lord. Mith. Away by Heav'n I 'll go Pelop. Oh 't is impossible if once you lov'd But you must certainly relapse Therefore your fearful Servant kneels and begs You wou'd turn back Alas he 's conscious now What a gross fault his foolish tongue committed By tempting unawares your Reason forth Mith. I 'll see her yes it is resolv'd I 'll see her With all that World of Charms thou hast describ'd Therefore arise and lead the way Pelop. Alas My Lord I fear you but it is your pleasure And I 'm your Slave Mith. Reply not but obey Exeunt Mith. Pelop. Phar. I feel a pleasant expectation breeding His starts his stops by Mars he loves her still Joyn then the much prevailing circumstance Of Time and Place the absence of my Brother To make Guilt bold the loneness of her Mansion Both strong Incentives to a violent Lover Andr. Then Love has blest you on the other hand Since by our subtil practices we brought Monima to disgrace with whom you may Divert till we have gain'd our full Revenge I have the guard of her Phar. I 'm glad thou hast Then to compleat the ruine of Ziphares I hear his Mother fearful of th' Event Of this long War and loving him as life With Pompey holds private Intelligence And has to Rome giv'n all those Castles up Which she had charge of to preserve her Son Andr. This when occasion calls I 'll aggravate To mad your Father more But see the General Enter Pelopidas Pelop. He 's gone he 's ruin'd quite transported with The Extasie of Love I left him kneeling Close to her side winding about his Heart Such Nets of Beauty as must hold him fast Therefore when he approaches us for comfort Showing his griefs and seeking shroud for guilt Let us incourage to our utmost power What e're his Violent Love dares put in act Enter Mithridates Mith. Torment of heart Oh feeble Virtue hence I blow thee from the Palace to the Cottage To build in Hearts of Hinds bless their rude hands VVith thy lean recompence of endless labour For me since I have burst th' ungrateful Chain That held me to thee like a shackled Slave I will enjoy what e're the Gods have given And surfeit on the Beauties of Semandra Oh my dear Son my best my own Pharnaces By Heav'n thou never did'st oppose my pleasure As does Ziphares but I 'll cast him out That Bosom-Wolf who laps my dearest blood And lodg thee there thou wilt not rack me thus Phar. The Gods forbid But why Sir will you bear it Pelop. I cou'd not think you lov'd her at this rate Therefore I hope forgotten Virtue yielded To bolder pleasures and you quench'd your fires Mith. Drawn by resistless Love
into our hearts Well have I lost my dearest blood in battel Since once again I see my Royal Father Mith. Ziphares rise I hear you have fought well Too well perhaps for Mithridates peace You Triumph'd too I hear Ziph. Alas my Lord I fear Pelopidas and Andravar Have been too busie with your Ear. By my best hopes by your most Sacred Life I wou'd not Triumph till your Orders came At least they told me that they came from you If they were false Mith. They were your Friends who brought Those Orders therefore you are not in fault Nor ought you share the Crimes of Stratonice Ziph. Of Stratonice Ah what has she done Ah Sir what Villain has tradue'd my Mother Give me to know Mith. Perhaps you 're ignorant Wou'd I had been so too but to the purpose I promis'd when the Consul was o'recome To give Semandra to you Seem not sad You love your Father well but Prince I know Your Passion for Semandra is the highest I 'll send her to you if you please retain her Exit Ziph. Is this then thy reward unnecessary Virtue Why do we wear thee thus to our undoing O inauspicious Stars thy Father hates thee Because thou art too good went it not so I fought too well His eye disdain'd me too And held my High Desert at hateful distance But let it be there 's satisfaction still In Innocence and conscious Glory tells me My Griefs shall fly like Clouds before Semandra Enter Semandra But see the Sun that drives ' em O my Star Thou Day that gild'st my little World of comfort Give me thy warmth let me upon thy Bosom Breath all my Victories Alas the King My cruel Father Ha! what now Semandra Not fly into my arms O all you Pow'rs That Nurs'd our tender Loves she turns away Hast thou too caught the coldness of my Father Clear me you Gods and fix my Understanding To this one view left I mistake all measure And run to madness What not look upon me By Heav'n if thus if thus I shou'd behold thee Tho in a Dream 't wou'd make me wish to sleep for ever O my dear Life thou shalt not hide thy kindness But to dissemble thus a moment longer Wou'd quite destroy the Passionate Ziphares I 'll force thy hand thus to my trembling lips Sem. The kiss you ravish Prince is dangerous And let me now Conjure you by your Love If you can love after what I injoyn you Upon your life offer the like no more O Man me Reason with thy utmost force Or Passion with the dreadful starts it makes Will soon Divorce my Soul from this weak Body What hast thou said and Ah! what have I heard Fair cruel faithless for the blood I lost Dost thou thus meet me Raise thy eyes from Earth And tell me Have I Ah have I deserv'd This usage from my dear ador'd Semandra Sem. You deserve all things but you must not ask My Love unless you wish me most unhappy Ziph. O you good Gods is it then come to this Shall I shall I but speak it once again Unhappy did'st thou cou'dst thou say unhappy Sem. I 'de have you strive my Lord to love me less Ziph. If you wou'd have it so be witness Heav'n If for your quiet you injoyn me this I 'll strive but oh 't is most impossible Ah may I not presume to ask if this The reason be why I shou'd love you less That the too happy King may love you more Your silence does confirm Ziphares lost And all that I cou'd fear is come upon me Ah Barbarous King I 'll bear thy Bonds no longer But cast off Duty as thou hast all Love Thou bloody Author of this wretched Being Tyrant Sem. Take heed Ziphares how you wrong your Father I 've heard you give another Character So diff'rent from this last of Mithridates Methinks you scarce appear the same Ziphares Whom once I knew Ziph. It is most sure I do not But to convince me more quite to compleat The cruel sum of all my desp'rate woes And sink me ever what Madam have you heard Me say or rather what is 't you wou'd say In ill-time prais'd of this inhumane Father Sem. Have I not heard you speak the tender'st things How but for some few faults so small that scarce The Eye of Envy or of Hate cou'd find 'em He wou'd be perfect as the Gods themselves A King so awful that the Romans fear'd him A King so merciful Barbarians lov'd him A King Ziph. No more I am confirm'd she 's lost The King she 's gone the Beauty of the Earth All that in Woman cou'd be Virtue call'd Is lost Corrupted are her Noble Faculties The temper of her Soul is quite infected Inconstancy the Plague that first or last Taints the whole Sex the catching Court-disease Has spotted all her white her Virgin Beauties Sem. You think me false Ah 't is but just you shou'd But Prince I swear I am not what you think me Yet never can be yours Ziph. O confusion Never O horror never can be yours Thou tear'st my heart call back those dreadful words Tho thou art going yet thou art not gone Ah e're it be too late behold me gasping Come to my Arms Oh leave me not for ever Fall on my Bosom I 'll forget thy weakness Try to deceive my self with specious Reasons Never upbraid thee that thou once wert false But with my tears wash all thy stains away Counsel Sem. Since tears O help me Heav'n are vain take take my Chear your sad heart and grieve Oh grieve no more Ziph. Then thou art lost resolv'd upon my ruine Sem. Your life 's too precious I resolve against it Not for ten thousand Worlds What was I saying Aside What shall I say Live live thou lost Ziphares Ziph. No thou perfidious Maid thou wretched Beauty Ziphares loves thee still so well he loves thee That he will die to rid thee of a torment Where are thy Vows O think upon thy Father How this will cut him this thy cruel Change And break his aged heart or e're he dies Think if his kindled rage shou'd execute What he has sworn to hack thy beauteous Limbs Tear thy false flesh into a thousand pieces Sem. If that were all my fear Ziph. What hardned Oh my Stars So quickly perfect in the cursed Trade I shall go mad with the Imagination O heart tho Heav'n had op'd the pregnant Clouds And teem'd with all the never-erring Gods To swear on Earth Semandra had been false Semandra had been false to her Ziphares I wou'd not have believ'd Sem. I cannot hear this grief nor must I cure it Farewel O Prince Instruct me Heav'n to save him Aside Ziph. Stay thee there 's something e're we part for ever That I wou'd speak if I cou'd make it way Sem. Speak then and speak the mournful'st things you can To break both hearts Ziph. Thou hast undone me like a Silver-Frost Thou com'st upon the Flower of
is certain Death with loss of Honour Exit Mith. Farewel Semandra thou most wrong'd of Women But I 'll this instant go to Monima And if I find what I suspect Pharnaces I 'll cut thee off as an infectious limb And for those Villains I shall quickly know The wrong she has had whose accus'd Innocence If your foul words have sully'd with black slander Think not to scape for shou'd you ride on Charms Take Winds to bear you or the Lightning's speed With panting horrour to the brink of Hell I 'de sweep you from the Verge to flames beneath And sink your Villanies with weighty death Exit Phar. First sink your self your Crown and Love together Pelopidas this comes of your cool counsel Had I been heard Monima had been gone By this enjoy'd and Crown'd my Royal Bride And we receiv'd as Conquerors by the Romans Hast thou not heard how when Tygranes came And cast his Diadem at Pompey's feet He call'd him King and rais'd him by that Name To sit as Equal to the Roman Consul By all the Gods I will not stay a moment But take immediately my flight except You swear to side with Rome call Pompey hither And haste with all the Forces we can make To joyn his Army and betray my Father Pelop. A sudden thought of lucky mischief comes Old Archelaus is arriv'd but left The labour'd Army some few furlongs hence You know the violent love the Souldiers bear The Prince your Brother and we know too well And so do all the murmuring Citizens How cruelly your Father lately us'd him But that great Mole the Multitude ne're sees Who works their Prince but still take all on trust Therefore I instantly will spread amongst em How Archelaus was Conspirator Against the Prince and finding more advantage To have the King his Son in-law by Letters Basely compell'd his Daughter to the Marriage Phar. Millions to one but this will set 'em on To tear curst Archelaus like mad Dogs Besides I find by frequent murmures how His Subjects are quite tir'd with length of War And but last night I know no less than twelve All Captains who conspir'd to take the part Of Pompey and intreated me to Head ' em Andr. Pursue the Treason and be sure it cool not While I with Tryphon hasten to the Army A Priest will colour well our enterprise There will we give out all that Treachery Can raise to fire 'em how the King has doom'd The Prince to death having first ravish'd from him The Fair Semandra for whose sake he dies Phar. While I immediately to Pompey send Who comes I hear on hasty march to fight Our Army and besiege us in our Walls Pelop. Thus shall the Prince and I rule all within And you with the High-Priest my Brother play Your Parts without Phar. I long to be in action And sure Rome must for the great overthrow Give me my Father's Crowns which gratitude Shall distribute to both your utmost wishes Pelop. We must not doubt your bounty But away Enter Ziphares with Ismenes at distance Your melancholy Brother may o're-hear us Ex. Phar. Pelop. Andr. Ziph. Oh my hard Fate why did I trust her ever What Story is not full of Womans falshood The Sex is all a Sea of wide destruction We are the vent'rous Barks that leave our home For those sure dangers which their smiles conceal At first they draw us in with flatt'ring looks Of Summer-Calms and a soft gale of Sighs Sometimes like Syrens Charm us with their Songs Dance on the Waves and show their Golden Locks But when the Tempest comes then then they leave us Or rather help the new Calamity And the whole Storm is one injurious Woman The Lightning follow'd with a Thunder-bolt Is Marble-hearted Woman all the Shelves The faithless Winds blind Rocks and sinking Sands Are Women all the wracks of wretched men Prithee Ismenes while I lay me here Charm me with some sad Song into a slumber SONG by Sir Car Scroop 1. ONe night when all the Village slept Myrtillo's sad despair The wand'ring Shepherd waking kept To tell the Woods his care Be gone said he fond thought be gone Eyes give your sorrows o're Why shou'd you waste your tears for one That thinks on you no more 2. Yet all the Birds the Flocks and Pow'rs That dwell within this Grove Can tell how many tender hours We here have pass'd in Love Yon' Stars above my cruel Foes Have heard how she has sworn A thousand times that like to those Her Flame shou'd ever burn 3. But since she 's lost Oh! let me have My wish and quickly dye In this cold Bank I 'll make a Grave And there for ever lye Sad Nightingales the Watch shall keep And kindly here complain Then down the Shepherd lay to sleep But never wak'd again Enter Archelaus Arch. How now Ismenes Prithee gentle Boy Instruct me where to find thy Royal Master VVhat dost thou weep I charge thee bring me to him Isme. See there my Lord. Arch. Bless me you Heav'nly Pow'rs Upon the Earth It cannot be thy Master Is that a posture for a Conqueror He who so bravely beat the Romans back A General and Triumpher Haste and show me Isme. By Heav'n it 's true my Lord there lies the Prince Arch. Something my heart presag'd when having left The Army I came posting to the Court And scarce receiv'd a welcom from my Friends They said the Prince had Triumph'd but I saw Not the least track of such a Glory left No glimmering twilight of so full an Honour There has been foul play and I 'll find it out Ziph. Away Semandra cruel VVoman leave me Arch. Ha! goes it there Ziphares Prince arise Ziph. Ha! who is there old Archelaus Arch. VVhy Do I not see you in a Chariot VVith all the Pride of Asia's brightest Gems VVhy mount you not the Throne which you deserve The Lords of Colchis waiting as your Slaves Give me some reason why I see you thus Ziph. Alas he had no hand in her revolt Nor knows not yet perhaps how she has us'd me VVhy do I seem thus strange then Oh Archelaus For I must never call thee Father more Pardon my faulty carriage Arch. Forbear these strict imbraces Your tears your hanging on my Bosom thus Your sighs reduce my Age to sobbing Childhood And make an Infant of your poor Old Man Ziph. Did I not say I never more must call Thee Father Arch. Yes you did Ziph. Fond foolish sorrow Thou art thou-shalt thou must be still my Father My Brother Sister Mistress all my Friend For all but thou have left me no kind eye Pities the suff'rings of abus'd Ziphares They fly all fly from my infectious Fortune Arch. Nay good dear Prince stand up you smother all Your words with groans dry up this womanish grief And speak dear Sir declare the cursed cause The baleful Spring the Source of all this mischief Ziph. VVou'd you believe it scarce can I my self Oh Heav'ns and oh
must shovel in and when you see The Head of Mithridates in this hand Then think who ever dar'd for Rome like me Or bought an Empire at a price so dreadful Then yield the Beauty I so much desire And all those Crowns to which my thoughts aspire Exeunt SCENE II. Enter Ziphares Archelaus Ziph. 'T Is late the gath'ring Clouds like meeting Armies Come on apace and Mortals now must die Till the bright Ruler of the rising Day Creates 'em new the wakeful Bird of Night Claps her dark wings to th' Windows of the dying General Good-night Arch. Sir I 'll not leave you yet I do not like the dusky boding Eve Well I remember Sir how you and I Have often on the Watch in Winter walk'd Clad in cold Armor round the sleeping Camp Till cover'd o're from head to foot with Snow The Centinels have started at our march And thought us Ghosts stalking in Winding-sheets And do you think I cannot watch you now Thus cover'd and beneath this bounteous Roof Sleep Sir I 'll guard you from suspected danger Ziph. Danger there 's none no shadow of a harm Dear General you 'l oblige me to retire We 'll meet to morrow with the earliest dawn I 'm troubled now and heavy in the morning Soon as you please you shall have entrance here And then I trust the bounteous Gods you 'll find A wondrous alteration Sleep may Charm My talking griefs and hush 'em fast for ever Arch. 'T is that I fear I tell you there are Deaths Brooding this night abroad A Recluse Priest Surpriz'd with mortal sickness was this Evening As he himself desir'd ta'n from his Bed And carry'd to the Closet of the King Where after some close conference he expir'd Immediately your Father Orders gave For doubling all his Guards and went in fury To Monima's Apartment where 't was said Pharnaces had been gone a while before Ziph. I ever thought that Brother most ambitious But what is this to me Arch. What follow'd does Concern both you and me and all the East For streight when the sick Priest had breath'd his last The sacred Oyl which for a hundred years Supply'd the Sun behind the Golden Vail Went out and all the mystick lights were quench'd Strange doleful Voices shrilly eccho'd through The darkned Fane the Monuments did open And all the Marble Tombs like Spunges squeez'd Spouted big Sweat the Curtain was consum'd With wondrous flame and every shining Altar Dissolv'd to yellow puddle which anon A flash of thirsty Lightning quite lick'd up While through the Streets your murder'd Brothers rode Arcathias Mithridates and Machares And madded all the schreaming multitude Is not this strange Ziph. The Gods reproach my slackness Aside 'T is strange most wondrous strange Once more I pray thee By all our Friendship leave me to my self Arch. Ah Prince you cannot hide Your purpose from your narrow-searching Friend I find it by the sinking of your Spirits Your hollow speech deep musings eager looks Whose fatal longings quite devour their objects You have decreed by all the Gods you have This night to end your Noble Life Ziph Away I never thought thee troublesome till now Arch. I care not spite of all that you can do I 'll stay and weep you into gentleness Your faithful Souldier this old doting Fool Shall be more troublesom than one that 's wiser By Heav'n you shall not hurt your precious life I 'll stay and wait you wake here till I die Follow you as a fond and fearful Father Wou'd watch a desperate Child Ziph. I 'll tell thee then Since thou wilt tear the Secret from my breast And dive into the bottom of my Soul This night must end me make not a reply 'T is fix'd as fast and sure as are my woes Did'st thou but know what 't is to love like me And to be so belov'd O Archelaus Yet to be past all hope of happiness Of ever tasting those desir'd Beauties Of any dawn least glimpse or spark of comfort Did'st thou not hate me much even thou wou'dst kill me Arch. If that my death for that indeed 's but little Cannot once move you from this dreadful deed Yet Prince your Country which must fall without you Your bleeding Country must obtain at least That you wou'd live to free her from her Foes Your Glory calls your sinking Father begs That you wou'd save your Country from the Romans Ziph. Much I indeed have got by Conquering Rome And to much purpose lost my dearest blood Much have my wounds deserv'd and Heav'n can tell How Nobly I have been rewarded for ' em I tell thee Archelaus I have sworn Were I to live I wou'd not fight again The World shou'd neither better be nor worse For me But I waste time and to convince thee Since thou wilt have the trouble to behold My death I bid thee now farewel for ever Arch. Hold Sir Ziph. I will and talk as calmly to thee As any dying Roman of 'em all I have consider'd well of what I do And I will perish with as little noise As Fate cou'd wish that wou'd not be accus'd Arch. I 'll follow you Ziph. I wou'd intreat thee not Thou hast no sorrows that are past the sufferance And sure my flying Soul will hang her wing When she shall feel thy weighty death upon her O Archelaus leave me to my Fate If thou must see me fall I charge thee live At least so long to tell Semandra of me Bear her some Token of my ill-star'd Love Which Empire cou'd not win to live without her Dip in the blood which trickles from my heart Thy Handkerchief and bid her keep it for me As a Remembrance now and then to mourn me Swear to do this Arch. This I will do and mark me cruel Prince If thus thou violate that Royal Frame Tearing the gallant Spirit from his Mansion I swear by what I tremble at thy death I 'll double all thy wounds upon Semandra Ziph. Ha! Arch. I 'll tear her piece-meal and so hack her limbs Thou shalt not know her in the other World Ziph. Oh torture dear good Archelaus hold I know thou canst not mean such cruelty Why dost thou rack me thus with thoughts in death That are much heavier ev'n than death it self Why dost thou make my eyes thus swim in tears I charge thee do not hurt her for the sake Of all the Gods be gentle to my Love I beg for mercy to the soft Semandra Alas if she deserv'd as she is faultless She cou'd not bear the wounds which we can bear Arch. Give me your promise then that you will live Live but this night or I have sworn her death Ziph. Thou hast found the means to Charm me into life And keep me on the Rack but no more threats Against Semandra 't was unkindly done And I grow angry at my Fates delay Arch. Why will you be thus froward Live to night Be careful of your self but till the Morn Methinks there may
be wonders wrought e're then Ziph. O Archelaus 't is impossible Had she been Ravish'd by another Man I cou'd have clear'd her with the Villains Blood But by my Father touch'd what Miracle Can work me into hope Heav'n here is Bankrupt The wondring Gods blush at their want of pow'r And quite abash'd confess they cannot help me Arch. Sure by you lifted Torches I discern Your Father moving this way Ziph. Ha! my Father How my flesh trembles I cou'd do a deed Wou'd make us both run mad Draw Archelaus Yet stay what Devil starts thus in my blood And turns my Reason to this maze of folly No let us suffer more if possible Yet I will shun his Presence Oh you Pow'rs Is that a Crime answer me if it be And I will meet him tho his sight should blast me Exeunt as Mithridates Captain of the Guards and Attendants enter Mith. Betray'd and by my Son given up a Prey For the Insulting Romans to devour Pharnaces is the Traytor that Pharnaces Who was t' inherit all that space of Empire Which Fortune gave to this unhappy King O Friends when from the Palace-gate we sally'd And drove the bold Assailants through the City The Impious Boy Charg'd as I foremost rode And brav'd my Fury with his Bever up But Oh the Gods I who before had crimson'd My Arms with Blood of Rebels I who mov'd With Whirlwinds swiftness still on every side And tost like Leaves the weightiest Foes about me Now stood as if Gorgonian Charms had fixt me Nor know I more Capt. Your Sword Great Sir when you A while had gaz'd on that Audacious Prince Fell from your hand your mighty Spirit left you And as some famous piece of Antick-work When the sunk Props and wasted Beams decay Staggers and nods before the ruine comes So wav'd your Royal Fabrick e're it fell And as our Arms receiv'd you curs'd Pharnaces Born by Ambition to a murder new Offer'd a wound and 't was with great expence Of lives we bore your Body to the Palace Mith. My Senses blaze my last I know is come My last of hours 't is wondrous horrid now My lawless love and boundless pow'r reproach me But I will think no more on 't Come my Friends Let 's meet these Romans and my Rebel-Son Let 's kill till we are weary then lye down And rest for ever O 't is Noble Ruine Creatures of vilest make upon disgust With Knives or Cords set loose their Coward Souls But we will live in spite to grieve the World While life will last or any Spirits hold O that like Serpents hewn we still might move Our Limbs lopt off and kill with every parcel Enter Semandra Sem. 'T is done my Ruine is at last reveng'd And cruel Mithridates is no more That famous wicked man shall kill no more Faln is the Murderer he shall love no more Another's right shall Ravish now no more Mith. O horrour snatch me Furies from her presence Gape wide O Earth and swallow me alive Sem. I go before and never shall we meet On Earth again inhumane Mithridates Yet I rejoyce not be my Witness Heav'n At those Calamities that come upon thee But think 'em just and with a dread reflection Behold thy Fate and wonder at the Gods Not but thy Son my Love my lost Ziphares And I in lamentable Shapes made up By Death 's own hand will tell 'em all thy Story For ever thus thou Ravisher of Honour I leave thee to the Vultures of thy Conscience To all the Stings Ambition feels in death Or Lust the Rape committed O you Pow'rs Make firm my hand for an Exploit to Crown My Life whose bus'ness shall be quickly done Exit Mith. Away to Arms to Arms plunge deep in blood Be quick to die Were all the Roman Piles And Scythian Darts and Parthia's poyson'd Arrows Shot through this Body her words wou'd be more I 'll not endure 't rush to the fatal War I wou'd be drunk with Death and steaming Slaughter To stupifie the sense of inward torment Haste then and wallow in the murd'ring Field Through all the Avenues to battel flie They who have liv'd in blood in blood must die Exeunt Trumpets Enter Pelopidas Andravar their Swords drawn with a Lamp Pelop. Yonder he Sallies furious for Destructions And now full scope is given to act our bus'ness And end the sad Ziphares Andr. I am glad The chance is faln to us to death nay more To Hell I hate him and to have him slain By any hand but mine wou'd pall the Murder Pelop. The Palace now is drawn Of all the glitt'ring Host that twinkled here Following their King to shoot the Gulph of Ruine And it was order'd well by Prince Pharnaces While with the Romans he dispatch'd his Father That we shou'd kill his drooping Brother Ha! I hear some tread your Lamp must wink awhile Enter Ziphares Ziph. Oh 't is too much I never shall sleep more How loud the Voice of Fate sounds every-where Trumpets and Drums yet old Archelaus With grief and watching spent in spite of all Those Tides of Care that swell'd e're-while so high Lies like a Child that braul'd himself asleep Ismenes too that wept to see me mourn Falls on his breast and nods his tears away So sleeps the Sea-boy on the Cloudy Mast Safe as a drowzy Tryton rock'd with Storms While tossing Princes wake on Beds of Down Pelop. 'T is he prepare Andr. Both perish if he escape Ziph. This darkness fills my breast with horror now Now I may do the deed which done all 's sure It shall be so and thus I will deceive him But then he kills Semandra Whence this light Swords Vizors what Assasinates are these Wou'd they were more for ruine is my wish Yet I disdain to fall by Villains hands Beats 'em off Enter Semandra with a Dagger in her hand Sem. Where do I wander in the dismal Shades Of this black night there 's not a Soul beneath Who dy'd as I must do for fatal Love Knows better all the gloomy Arbours there Than I each Chamber in this House of Death 'T was here the God-like Prince did wooe me first Sigh'd his first Vows and wept me into passion Where shall I find him that most perfect Soul Whose whiteness will to after-ages answer For all the spotted loves of perjur'd men Meet him I must and run into his arms But with a Roman blow which first shall drive This Ponyard to my heart then rush upon him Then clasp him close then he 'll believe me true Enter Ziphares Ziph. This way the Cowards fly this way the noise goes I think thou hast it there and canst not scape me Sem. I thank the Gods I shall not Let me kiss The hand that kills me Oh too gracious Heav'n Semandra now is happy Ziph. Semandra what What say'st thou Speak again thou dismal voice Sem. Oh that I cou'd see your face before I die Those eyes where I wou'd look my Soul away Ziph.