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
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
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
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
forces her upon him Arch. Hold you have gone too far speak to the purpose Ziph. Ambition therefore was not my Request In Colchis or in Bosphorus to Reign Leave to my Brothers all your Empire and To me this only Beauty for Reward Mith. Reward Wert thou on Mithridates Throne Possess'd of all his Kingdoms were thine eye Like his who guides the day and thou cou'dst call In all thy Journeys what thou saw'st thy own Her eyes wou'd match thy lustre all thy glories Wou'd be but shadows when this Face appear'd Ziph. They wou'd my Lord. Mith. They wou'd my Lord Yet more By all my Royalties a God might wed her And be a gainer by the beauteous Bride Ziph. Such as she is Mith. Not Heav'n it self can mend her Had I as many Tongues as I have Languages Skill'd in all Speeches of the babling World And cou'd at once speak to as many Nations With such a grace as might make Athens blush By Mercury and by the Father of The Muses I shou'd never speak Semandra Mon. O he is gone his vow'd fidelity Is gaz'd away Mith. Tell me her Birth Ziphares She must be more than Royal. Ziph. Fate thy worst Let me be dumb for ever from this moment Arch. In me your Majesty may please to read Her Father what I want in Dignity Be pleas'd to fill up with my Services Mith. Thy Daughter Arch. Yes my gracious Lord my Daughter Mith. O pity that so fair a Star shou'd be The Child of Night that such a stream of Crystal Shou'd have her Spring so muddy Thou dy'st thou saucy old ambitious Dotard Who dar'st to match thy Lees of blood with ours And daub the Throne of the Immortal Cyrus Ziph. Hold hold most awful give Ziphares death Impale me burn me bury me alive But do not wrong this innocent old man These hairs which were made Silver in your service O the good Gods whom fear cou'd never shake Your bitter words have caus'd to tremble see With the disgrace he weeps his Springs of life Which had been dry for fifty years this last Affront has water'd Oh my poor Father Mith. Ha! that Name again Thou art no more my Son For thee Semandra Thou shalt attend our Queen to Court my Fair Where I must learn you to forget Ziphares And match you equal to your birth Sem. My Lord Ziphares Father Mith. Look not back Conduct the Queen Pharnaces O Semandra 'T is to your Tears I sacrifice my Justice To them your Fathers life I 'll not deny Who for Ambition did deserve to die Exeunt all but Ziphares and Archelaus Arch. Dotard and saucy nay the Lees of blood Now by the Gods 't is sprightly as his own O 't is too much to bear Forgive me Prince It breaks the very neck of Loyalty Perhaps he Whores my Daughter too But first Rather than see him wear my glories Spoils Thou my good Sword that has so oft been drawn And dy'd thy self in Roman bowels to The very Guard for this ungrateful King Be faithful to me as thou still hast been And pierce the heart of thy dishonour'd Master Ziph. Oh Archelaus Oh my kinder Father If you are stir'd thus at an angry word What shou'd I be I who am lost indeed I who am stunn'd I who sustain'd the stroke Of all the anger of the Fates at once Semandra O my Love Arch. Restrain your grief As I my rage and let us think apace Tho for my Daughters Virtue I wou'd stake My Immortal part my Fame so dearly bought Yet force which he may use will have its way Consider that Ziph. Consider how shou'd I Consider who grow mad with crouding thoughts Where every one endeav'ring to be foremost Stops up the passage and will choak my Reason Arch. Once more speak humbly to him Perhaps 't is but a sudden short-liv'd fit A gust of Passion that may soon blow over But if you find it rooted in his heart Eat your way through him to your happiness Or perish like your Brother Mithridates Ziph. By Heav'n I think it greatest happiness Never to have been born and next to that To die for who that wears his flesh can bear The curse of Accidents a Change like mine I who some moments past wou'd not have chang'd Condition with the blessed Gods themselves Now in all probability am lost And stand upon the very brink of ruine Arch. Your Destiny 's uncertain Fate as yet Holds the Scale doubtful let us haste to Court Where we shall learn which way the Ballance falls Ziph. Not half an hour ago methought secure I hug'd my self and almost cou'd have wept In meer compassion to th' hard-fated World Thinking how much my state was happier Arch. Yet all the while you did not spy the danger Which crept invisible and undermin'd you Ziph. Alas I did not without fear I stood Like one who on the Beach discries from far A labouring Bark with which the Billows war Pities its state wishing the Tempest gon But views not the near Sea come rolling on So did with me my unseen Fortune play Till the Waves came and wash'd me quite away Exeunt ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Pharnaces and Pelopidas Phar. I 'LL hear no more get me a hundred Horse To be our Guard I 'll bear her hence to night And Ravish her by all the fire that acts This fearless frame I will Declare the diff'rence Is not the Blood of Queens and Princesses Like other Womens Souls alike infus'd Their Banquets richer and the Drinks they taste The very Spirits of the Purple Vine Yet we must think 'em cold as candid Ice Not a thought starting free from warm desires As the bleak Girl upon the Mountain's top Cover'd with Snow beat'n with constant Winds That feeds on Herbs and Roots and drinks the Dew Pelop. What wou'd you have her fall like mellow Fruit Whom yet no Sun has shone upon no warmth To ripen ' bate a little of this fire Phar. Pelopidas I oft have told you that She knew my love before she saw my Father For in the Plunder I first lighted on her Tho afterwards he took my beauteous spoil As now he does my Brother's I alledg'd As late I led her weeping to her Chamber My constant passion and his breach of faith All that a love most violent cou'd put Into a Lover's mouth like mine but she unmov'd Insensible reply'd the King 't was possible At last might kill her with his cruelty Yet to the utmost moment of her life She wou'd adore him with such spotless love Such most Romantick faith and such a deal Of whining grief that in a rage I flung Away and left her talking to her self Pelop. And do you think this haughtiness will carry 't He that will win a most exalted Beauty Must bend his Soul low as he bows his Body Watch every Glance obey her e're she speaks Cast up his eyes at each affected word And swear-Besides her Honour Sir her Honour Obliges her to stand a while
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
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.