As short as thou wilt find my hate of thee Like a kind Parent I forgive and take Any submission he is pleas'd to make Scene Fourth Enter Circe with four Women Circ Reproach to thy Great Father and to me To Ithacus The wise Vlysses does not live in thee Would he to Love have sacrific'd a Throne Ah Son this weakness or thy Race disown Ith. Blame not my Passion Madam Love and hate Are less at Mans disposal than his Fate Cir. But let this Monarch your Example prove Pointing to Tho. He knows by int'rest how to govern Love To me he gave his Hand with treacherous art When Iphigenia did possess his Heart Ungrateful King Love on but know I bear The Thunder that can punish you and her Iph. His Passion I with grief and trouble see You cannot suffer more by Jealousie Cir. Curs'd be her Eyes curs'd be that fatal day When she at Aulis on the Altar lay To Iph. Why did the cruel Gods prevent thy fall Those Gods which for thy death before did call No Victim great Diana could appease The Warriour's languish'd in ignoble ease No Ship could spread her Sails for every wind Offended Heaven did in deep Caverns bind Troy's Genius smil'd to see the Fates oppose The Sea and Wind against her pow'rful Foes Then Calcas cry'd here we must ever lie Unless the Princess Iphigenia die The Gods require her blood Calchas is sent To fetch the Virgin from in the Royal Tent. From her sad Moth'rs bosome she is caught And by her Father to the Altar brought Calchas prepar'd to give the fatal wound When from above was heard a heavenly sound It was Diana's voice who from a Cloud Pronounc'd this Sentence to the wondring crowd Your Princess shall not on my Altar bleed She is for Holy Mysteries decreed To Taurica I will the Virgin bear Through the unbeaten Region of the Air. Now thou art come our Empires peace is lost My vast designs for greatness all are cross'd Iph. Calchas how dull and lazy was thy zeal Would I had perish't by the Sacred Steel Would I had dy'd at Aulis in this place I pass a Life unworthy of my Race My hands are ever stain'd in humane blood And arm'd against the innocent and good Circ Your hands do far less mischief than your eyes For which that poor ignoble Rebel dies Pointing to Itha. You Ithacus have by this Passion stain'd All the Renown which you in Arms had gain'd Give a great Victim to your Countries good And save vast Torrent of the Scythian blood Osm Urge him no more since 't is his happiness I wish he ev'n my Rival may possess And may she love the Prince as well as I. I know my remedy must be to die With thee no Rebel will dispute the Throne None will constrain thy heart when I am gone Ith. My Constancy a barren Heart has till'd Which to my labouring Hopes no fruit will yield And I refuse a passion kinder far Than that which Deities to Mortals bear Not Iphigenia can more charming be Tho' partial Love makes her seem so to me Looking on Osmid I 'le look my self into your softer pow'r And now methinks I only you adore Rebel my injur'd Heart and nobly rise Against those Tyrants Iphigenia's Eyes Each thought does represent her now less â—air And all conspires I should your Fetters wear Osm Oh weak Resolves that angry Lovers make Which they are led insensibly to break Safe in thy Hearts strong Fortress Love remains And smiles to see thee struggle with thy Chains One look your Resolutions will defeat And make you sigh for pardon at her feet Ith. Your every Grace my fainting senses arms Against the Force of all her powerful Charms I can look on and yet her Charms despise Looks on Iphigenia And thus provoke the Magick of her Eyes Now to regain my freedom I begin Osm How fast he sucks the subtle poyson in Ith. Thus I her Image from my Bosome tear And hate her now yet she is wond'rous fair Osm Too well this language of the Eyes I know Each look an extasie of Love does show Ith. By Heav'ns when this brave Onset I would make My Heart grows faint and all my sinews shake Revenge and anger which should succour me Like Cowards fly when I her Beauty see And now I melt into more tenderness Than Artless Maids in their first Loves express Osm Poor Prince I will not blame but pity thee Thou art irreparably lost like me With some soft pleasure we 'll delude the care And torment which we suffer by dispair I will with Tears deplore your misery And you with gentle sighs shall pity me Ith. I have one torment Madam more than you I must dispair and be ungrateful too Circ By Force and Art I had a Scepter won Of which these Rebels will deprive my Son They all refuse that he a Crown should wear Which with Osmida he denies to share Thus Love does humane Policy despise And laughs at all the Councels of the Wise Ith. To pardon Criminals and bless them too Only belongs to Deities and you To Circe You must do both from you we hope a Cure For all those Ills which we from Love endure The Gods some secret Remedy may find To cure the Wounds of each afflicted mind Raise the infernal Pow'rs by your strong Charms Cir. To your Requests I will indulgent prove But Heav'n it self has little pow'r o're Love Osm I from the Gods only to death pretend 'T is in that point my Miseries must end Cir. You must retire these Sacred Mysteries With Reverence we conceale from common Eyes Tho. My Soul is with some mighty Fate opprest My Heart does pant and strugle in my Breast I feel I know not what that sayes I am For one that Loves and is a King too tame How weakly Reason too resists desire And like small Show'rs does but augment the Fire Ex. all but Circe and her Women The Scene opens to the inward part of the Cave The Infernal Priests Enter Sung by Circe's Women at the Infernal Sacrifice Priests joyn in the Chorus WE must assemble by a Sacrifice Those Demons who do range about the Skies Their necessary aid you use Those poysonous Herbs and Roots to chuse Which mingled and prepar'd by your strong Art Do to your Charms their chiefest Force impart Your Censors to the Altar take And with Arabian Gums sweet Odours make The Air with Musick gently wound Sweet smells they love and every pleasing sound Cir. The stragling Demons Harmony can fix Calls home the Sences of the Lunaticks And which is most in Temples does prepare And can assemble Man's wild thoughts to Prayer They all walk up to the Altar Priests Sing I. COme every Demon who o'resees The Fates of mighty Monarchies And orders how they rise and set All you who Love and Lust inspire And kindle wild Ambition's Fire The dang'rous Sickness of the Great Chor. Circe the Daughter of the Sun obey Or in
shall dye Cir. His Eyes must be eclips'd his charming Eyes Yes my faint heart thy Sacred Idol dyes Love thou can'st make all Nature bold but me What did the great Medea doe for thee She lost her Father young Absyrtus slew And with bold Jason from her Country flew I love as strongly as Medea cou'd And am as skilful in the trade of blood If any kindness of the Mother rest It shall be quickly banisht from my breast Let lust and rage humanity succeed Rather than thee all humane kind shall bleed Inspirers and performers of each ill Infernal Pow'rs be ready to my will I will the life of my Orestes save Or bury him and Nature in one Grave Exit Circe Orestes goes up the Altar with Pylades There is an entry of Priests SONG By the Priests I. OH Heav'nly Virgin from thy Starry Throne Look down on Scythia thy most holy Seat Our Arms with Victory and Trophies crown 'T is easie to be Good when we are Great II. 'T is just Mankind should at thy Altar bleed Who thy small Empire Chastity invade Whatever happy Lover does succeed From chaste Diana's Province steals a Maid Song again O cheated Mortals what has Life of sweet Who is contented with the present day Our present joy is a vain hope we may From the next hour some ease and pleasure meet That Courtier Life does feed Poor Mortals with a hope they shall succeed We will be wise and dye prepare the sacred Knife Farewel farewel thou valued trifle Life Chorus of Priests Wound wound the Victim pierce his Sacred Breast A Dance of Combatants And give his lab'ring Soul eternal rest Wound wound c. It Thunders As they go to kill Orestes two Dragons rise out of the Earth and bear him away Circe appears in a Chariot drawn by Dragons Tho. This is the Queen oh let me reach her heart E're She delude our Anger by her art How feeble is thy rage I am above All hurts but those which I receive from Love Tho. I 'le find thee Sorceress though thou fly'st to Hell Though you should both with death and darkness dwell Cir. No Kings do ever at bold ills connive And what they dare not punish they forgive I 'le fly to my inchanted Palace where I 'le lose no bliss for any thought of fear Flyes away Tho. You Gods revenge me Clouds swell big and break Why does not Heav'n in i'ts loud Thunder speak Meet her you Light'nings in her Magick flight But Heav'n denies to do the injur'd right My swelling rage in privacy I 'le shrowd And not un-King my felf before the Crowd Exeunt omnes ACT IV. Scene Circe's Inchanted Palace with a beautiful Garden in the middle is seen the Hill Parnassus on which Orpheus is discovered playing on his Lute while Orestes is sleeping on a Bed of Flowers with Circe's Women singing about him SONG Sung by Circe's Women I. SIgh Lovers sigh The God of Love inspires Kind gentle thoughts and warm desires See! the Winds blow the Flowers move 'T is Nature that does sigh for Love II. Hark! hark the Birds Alas they do not sing To welcome in the beauteous Spring But in their untaught Notes complain Of Love our Vniversal pain Ores The dreams of Trophies and victorious Armes Of future Fame have not such pleasing charmes Waking Why did you Sacred Quire the happy wake This gentle sleep let me for ever take How was I from the fatal Altar caught And by what Magick was I hither brought This is the Region of the Spring and here It forms the beauties of a kindly year Sure I am dead and these delicious things Are the divine rewards which Virtue brings In the cool shades of this eternal Grove The Hero rests from all the paines of Love Scene Second Enter Circe Cir. This sweets of youth and ever blooming Spring The joys of Plenty Peace and Health I bring For Love and all his soft delights prepare Be kind as unexperienc'd Virgins are Orest Sure I have seen before that lovely Face Bright fair are you the Goddess of this place Or some dead Lover doom'd to wander here For Deaths calm Mansion these fresh shades appear Cir. I am a Mortal by the Pow'rs above Plac'd here to teach the gentle arts of Love Orest That Tyrant needs to chuse no other Eyes When he would triumph o're the brave and wise She 's killing fair Cir. Hero I come to blame Thy wild ambition and thy thirst of fame Nature did Youth for softer things design For love and pleasures and in Courts to shine Your Warlike Trumpets still so loud have blown The gentle voice of Love was heard by none Fold up your Ensigns rest from toiles of War Come slumber in the bosome of the fair Ores But must not Youth aspire to that renown With which the War does daring Valour crown Cir. Young Souldier go o're-run the World with War Seek ev'ry place where Death and dangers are A brave Destroyer you at last return Whose fatal courage makes whole Empires mourn Ores What Sacred Pow'rs this tenderness inspire Kind amorous thoughts damp all my Warlike fire Cir. Beauty ador'nd with all it's arts to please Little complaints and tender jealousies Prepares Heroick Youth delights for thee Sweeter than Triumph after Victorie Ores In what vain Mists all the Ambitious move There is not any Solid good but Love Cir Can all the Laurels of a bloody Field Such pleasures as a snowy bosome yield Behold a Melting faire with dying Eyes Who sighs and pants whose Breasts doe gently rise With open armes that Spoyler Love does meet And bids him boldly rifle every sweet Embracing Orestes SONG By Circe's Women I. YOung Phaon strove the bliss to taste But Sappho still deny'd He struggled long the Youth at last Lay panting by her side II. Vseless he lay Love would not wait Till they could both agree They idly languish't in debate When they should active be III. At last come ruin me she cry'de And then there fell a Tear I 'le in thy Breast my blushes hide Doe all that Virgins fear IV. Oh! that Age could Lov'es rites perform We make old men obey They court us long Youth does but storm And Plunder and away Ores How fast I languish and how soon I love More swiftly than Youths common pace I move Armies when they begin to disobey And fearful grow melt not so fast away Before the Foe that pushes on the day Cir. We should improve what does so little last We flow alas but late and ebb too fast Orpheus sings GIve me my Lute in thee some ease I find Euridice is dead And to that dismal Country fled Where allis sad and gloomy as my mind II. The world has nothing worth a Lovers care None now by Rivers weep Verse and the Lute are both asleep All women now are false and few are faire III. Thy Scepter Love shall ore ' the Aged be Lay by the useless Darts For all our Youth will guard their
CIRCE A TRAGEDY As it is Acted AT HIS Royal Highness the Duke of YORK's THEATRE By CHARLES D'AVENANT L.L.D. Hor. Velut Aegri somnia vana Licensed June 18 1677 Roger L'Estrange LONDON Printed for Richard Tonson at his Shop under Grays-Inn-gate next Grays-Inn-lane MDCLXXVII THE PROLOGUE Written by Mr. Dryden WEre you but half so wise as you 're severe Our youthful Poet shou'd not need to fear To his green years your Censures you wou'd suit Not blast the Blossom but expect the Fruit. The Sex that best does pleasure understand Will always chuse to err on t'other hand They check not him that 's Aukward in delight But clap the young Rogues Cheek and set him right Thus heartn'd well and flesh't upon his Prey The youth may prove a man another day For your own sakes instruct him when he 's out You 'l find him mend his work at every bout When some young lusty Thief is passing by How many of your tender Kind will cry A proper Fellow pity he shou'd dye He might be sav'd and thank us for our pains There 's such a stock of Love within his Veins These Arguments the Women may perswade But move not you the Brothers of the Trade Who scattering your Infection through the Pit With aking hearts and empty Purses sit To take your dear Five Shillings worth of Wit The praise you give him in your kindest mood Comes dribling from you just like drops of blood And then you clap so civilly for fear The loudness might offend your Neighbours ear That we suspect your Gloves are lin'd within For silence sake and Cotten'd next the skin From these Vsurpers we appeal to you The only knowing only judging few You who in private have this Play allow'd Ought to maintain your Suffrage to the Crowd The Captive once submitted to your Bands You shou'd protect from Death by Vulgar hands The Persons Thoas King of Scythia Ithacus Circe's Son by Ulysses Orestes A Prince of Argos Pylades His Friend Pluto Priests Spirits Circe Queen of Scythia Osmida Daughter to Thoas by a former Queen Iphigenia Priestess to Diana Taurica Clytemnestra's Ghost Four Nymphs used by Circe in her Charms SCENE Taurica Chersonesus CIRCE ACT I. Scene Circe's Cave Thoas Iphigenia Guards and Attendants Iph. THIS sure is the sad region of dispair Where after Death the guilty Souls repair Here is no promise of a blooming Spring No chearful light awakes the Birds to Sing The blasted Trees no leaves or blossoms yield On their bare tops Owles pearch and Ravens build Tho. Those Spirits gladly in these shades obey Who sicken at the view of brighter day In this dark place shut up from mortal sight My Queen converses with the God of Night Prepares her Poysons mutters holy Words Herbs for her Charms th' unwholsome soile affords Here she has promised from their dark abodes By her strong Art to raise th' infernal Gods And to inquire our fate Iph. Can Heaven decree That any lucky Star should smile on me How long a Captive must I here remain How long my hands with horrid murders stain A Goddess who in humane blood delights Ordains me to perform her impious rights Ye Pow'rs that rule the World shall I no more My Country see nor houshold Gods adore Tho. Oh Iphigenia when those Prayers you make When you beg leave this Region to forsake So softly speak that none but Heaven may hear With the harsh Words wound not a Lovers ear For freedom cruel Maid in vain you sue The Pow'rs above will be as deaf as you Alas what pity can you hope to meet Who let poor Lovers languish at your feet Who can behold with unrelenting Eyes A wretched King who for your Beauty dies Iph. Where are your Oaths how often have you sworn Your guilty passion should in secret burn Angerly Must I by death your persecutions fly I am not so confin'd but I can die Scene Second Enter Ithacus Ith. E're we invoke the Gods I hither come From Iphigenia's mouth to know my doom From you my life or death I humbly wait 'T is you and not the Gods that rule my fate The chase of Glory I no more pursue Forgetting Armes I languish here for you Love may incite the Young to hunt for fame But Beauty then must the reward prolame I ask but Hope it is a slender fare But the Camelion-Love can live on Air. Iph. Like some mistaken Zealot you apply True Worship to the wrong Divinity Adore the fair Osmida far more bright And beautiful than first created light More Innocent than Beauty was before It studied Wit or costly Dresses wore Her Mind is Noble and her Greatness free Her Soul like Heaven full of blest Harmony Unless unquiet Love some discord moves Which you must pardon since 't is you she loves Of all those Graces prodigal to you For which in vain the rest of Mankind sue Tho. If we by Policy could govern Love My Daughter's Sighs this Noble Prince might move Since he for suddain exile must prepare Or marrying her be made the Empires Heir Loudly the People for this Union call And their Rebellious fury threatens all But I the Magick of your Beauty know Too well to blame what Love compel's him to Ith. Before I saw your Daughter I had paid My Loves first Tribute to this charming Maid And then the Empire vainly did enjoine That I should give a Heart which was not mine Iph. I 'le hear no more it is too great a fault But to endure your Criminals assault In Vertu 's Combats they that keep the Field Almost as guilty are as they that yield Vertue by flight secures it self Is going Ith. O stay To my dark Hopes will you afford no day Promise at least you will bestow your Love As you 'r directed by the Pow'rs above Iph. What they command I never shall decline To Heav'n my will and person I resign Scene Third To them Osmida Osm I have my Sexes Passions want their Art For by my Eyes still I betray my Heart Thither to gaze on him my Soul does haste And in kind looks I all my Spirits waste Iph. Behold the fair Osmida now appears Her beauteous Eyes are full of Love and Tears Tho. Poor Virgin my commands at first did make To Osm Those Wounds thou didst but in obedience take Osm You bade me all those modest fears remove Which guard at first a Virgins Heart from Love Admire not if I yielded to his Charmes When you had taken from me all my Arms But Ithacus since you my Love despise I with a just disdain will arm my Eyes And in my Breast I shall retain no fire But what my Anger and Revenge inspire Ith. Madam oppress not thus my sinking Fate I bear already a too heavy weight Ah rather an unhappy wretch deplore Who dies because he cannot love you more My Heart 's a Prisoner if it Freedom gains It shall but be to wear Osmida's Chains Osm That Iphigenia's Empire would but be
fair Mouth each must his Sentence wait One for the Sacrifice she must decree The Rites perform'd we set the other free Pyl. If Death does in so fair a form appear No Mortal sure can its approaches fear I thought that Death could only beauteous shew In active Battails in its Scarlet hue With eager toiles I oft have sought it there But find it glorious now to beg it here Iph. Sir can you die does not even Vertue dread To reach the doubtful Mansions of the Dead Pyl. Danger and Death in Camps I learn'd to court In Camps where Death's rough bus'ness is a sport Save my brave Friend me for the Victim take Whom growing worth does not so useful make Iph. But whil'st you plead for him I blush to say Your Vertue leads my choice another way With more success you for your self might sue Since my own Heart would joyn to plead for you Pyl. That trifle Life I stoop not to desire Th' ambition of my Pray'rs will mount up higher Iph Ask ask apace so fast I lavish all I shall have nothing to be liberal Cir. No no let them the first advances make Looking on Orest And give kind looks whom Love and Youth forsake If I speak first may I become the sport Of all and like stale Beauties of the Court Be forc'd unwilling Lovers to invite Woo all young handsome Men and buy delight Pyl. Madam I beg that I to Death may go But I would faine expire belov'd of you For Indian-like I to the Shades below Would with the richest of my Treasures go Iph. The Airy part of Bliss you humbly crave When all its richest substance you may have You may ask all my heart does give so fast I fear 't will give it self away at last Pyl. Ah speak agen and bless my ravish't Ears Iph. I blush to own That you are here so soon victorious grown But Heav'n methoughts bade me receive the Dart And told me 't was a Crime to guard my Heart When in the Temple you to day appear'd You saw how kindly I your safety fear'd And bade you flie but you shall never feel The sad effects of our tyrannick Zeal Against their rage I will your Life defend And grieve I cannot save your Noble Friend Pyl. Arm arm your Eyes with all that Lovers fear Let me see Fierceness Scorn and Hatred there Love and your Beauty make Life seem so sweet That I shall fear Death's horrid shape to meet You 'l make me fear him even in the Field Where he does lasting Fame and Lawrels yield Cir. Beauty did first teach Mankind to obey Whil'st he that soft Inchanter did survey Looking on Orestes The Nets of Pow'r surpris'd the wond'ring Prey Sir though by Custom I am cruel grown To Orestes For you I something soft and tender own Brave Stranger it would much my pity move Should all the hopes of you abortive prove And perish now whil'st yet they 'r in Fates Womb Before they can to their just ripeness come Ores Madam should I your pity need 't would be If for the Victim she refuses me Weary of Life Death's sleep I long to take And shall be froward whil'st I 'm kept awake Cir. You with the Sweets of Youth contend to die From which even Age would on its crutches flie Love only Love has Charmes enow to keep The Soul from coveting that tedious sleep Ores Love has been still a stranger to my Brest Glory and Arms have all my thoughts possest Fame I have courted as the only good And waded to her through vast Seas of Blood But of the World I now am weary grown And in Death's quiet Cell would lay me down Tho. The bloody Queen does in this Stranger find Observing Circe Something that troubles her imperious mind Of all its fierceness she disarms her Face She languishes and softens every Grace Cir. They may the Pow'r of all the World despise To Orest That bear about 'em such commanding Eyes All that have Hearts in your defence will move Under the conduct of victorious Love I speak too much and fear my Eyes declare Much more Heroick Youth you need not fear This tenderness I must with blushes own My very Heart is your Defender grown And you are safe unless the Scythians dare Assault a Life their Queen designs to spare Enter Ithacus Oh! I have talk'd and look'd away my Heart Aside His careless Graces vanquish more than Art Ith. Princes be just enough to think I grieve That I can only fruitless pity give Though to this Crown Heav'n has united me I 've no alliance with its cruelty Tho. Haste to the Temple where the people wait In greedy expectation of their Fate Death's solemn bus'ness they with pleasure see As if 't were but a Pageant Tragedie Cir. The fatal choice depends on the rough King Whom I with Art must to my Party bring Iph. 'T were better Scythia did no Godhead know Than by its ignorance profane it so Me thinks Religion's Sacred Mysteries Should never be expos'd but to the Wise Ex. all but Circe and Thoas Scene Fourth Circe Thoas Cir. Some great Design is labouring in my mind Which is not to proportion yet refin'd One of these Strangers the blest means shall be To make my Son regain his Liberty Tho. Effect that happy Cure that Scythia may To your great Art eternal homage pay Circ You shall know all when that to form is brought Which yet is indigested in my thought Observ'd you him who with a thoughtful brow Appear'd beneath some heavy Fate to bow His Eyes seem'd Sorrows high-Majestick Seat Where it appears both terrible and great Tho. How she describes him with a warm delight Aside And in her thoughts enjoyes him in my sight Cir. Your strict commands to Iphigenia give That she should let that Noble Stranger live His Life will much to my Designs conduce She for the Sacrifice his Friend must chuse Tho. Methinks a secret sympathy I find By which I 'm rather to that Friend inclin'd His open mind is apter to receive Any impression your Designs would give Save him an unsuspecting mind he bears Th' other untractable and rough appears Cir. We like experienc'd States-men disagree And each has Reason for his Policie I many great and pow'rful Reasons have To chuse that Stranger I would have you save Tho. You act by odd and secret means like Heav'n To which a blind obedience must be given I will resign our Fortunes to your care And Iphigenia for the choice prepare Cir. It will a height'ning to my pleasures be That my own Husband should procure for me Now let me hasten to prepare the place Where I my beauteous Stranger must embrace I hope he 's innocent unpractic'd yet In all the wicked and false Arts of Wit Bashfull and kind I love to tame the Strong Mock the Experienc'd and instruct the Young Exit Thoas alone Tho. Yes lustful Queen my Pow'r shall rescue him By Heav'n I 'm made the Pander to her
crime How insolent and careless is her Pride She will not stoop her black Designs to hide In all her Crimes she would be something kind Did she with care the jealous Husband blind In the Election Iphigenia's hand Obeys with humble Duty my command Stranger thou diest it is the fate of all Who in the Fetters of her Beauty fall Exit ACT III. Scene the Temple of Diana Taurica Iphigenia Osmida Iph. WHat danger should not helpless Virgins fear From Lust which is by Pow'r protected here Your Father weary of all Vertue grown Does now aloud his guilty passion own The Tempest of his Soul does hou'rly rise He threatens Rapes and Murder with his Eyes I am a wretched Thing without defence And flie to you the Heav'n of Innocence Your Arms are persecuted Vertues guard You love th' opprest and Chastity reward Here I will ever weep my Honour save Embracing Osmida Let me at least go spotless to the Grave Osm My dearest Ithigenia do not weep Under my Wings you shall securely sleep Tho' like your conqu'ring Eyes your Vertue be Unhappy Virgin fatal still to me Since they do both with so rich lustre shine That they eclipse the fainter light of mine Scene Second Enter Ithacus Approach my Tyrant none does love like me A Rivals fall others with triumph see But I with tenderness for mine can fear And against all in her defence appear Against the oppression of my Father too Who would the ruine of her Fame pursue Iph. How peaceful was this place how calm you were Till Iphigenia's sad arrival here Death quickly shall benight these fatal Eyes Th' unhappy Authors of your Miseries Ith. Rather than entertain his Love expire It were a Crime your safety to desire In this long Journey I the way will lead And trace you out the path which you must tread A full reward for all my pains I have If we' are at last united in the Grave Osm Ah cruel Ithacus ' twoul'd grieve me less Should you such kindness with your Eyes express Enough one look or glance in Love can plead Too well your Heart she in your Eyes may read But whil'st by words your passion you declare You wound my Soul too deeply through my Ear. What Magick can you in her Beauty see Rather to dye with her than live with me Weeping Iph. He must not die but here a Pris'ner stay Till he a mighty debt of Love does pay Osm Alas his Heart must now a Bankrupt be For he has lavish't all that wealth on thee And nothing nothing does remain for me Distress'd alike we all to Death will go We shall not in Death's blest Dominions know The cares which mortal Lovers feel below Iph. Thy cruel Heart cannot such goodness move Go for a Pardon kneel repent and love You Pow'rs that cherish Vertue and prepare Those dreadful Thunders which the wicked fear Can you be never weary to forgive Shall this ungrateful Prince for ever live Osm Now I must chide thy zeal that dares to move In so profane a rage against my Love I can forgive him let us charm our grief And for our miseries seek some relief With tender joy the King will hear me speak I 'le shew him the black crime without disguise Kings are but bad because few dare advise A martial Musick Iph. We have new griefs the Martial sounds we hear Declare the sad Procession to be near Osm But common blood had yet our Altar fed Which was like that of Beasts unpitied shed But these brave Youths seem rather Deities That might expect not be a Sacrifice Iph. The sad election is already made Where I the King or rather Love obey'd Aside The Priests the Captive Strangers and the King Into the Temples holiest part we bring I made my choice and bade the Pophae bind That Youth whom for Victim I design'd We swore our Temples Laws should be fulfill'd And the Great Victim at the Altar kill'd Osm But did the Grecians with firm Vertue wait The unjust stroke of their approaching Fate Iph. All that the Strangers did was great and brave Each begg'd to die and would the other save My Sentence pass'd just as I crown'd the Head Of him who to the Altar must be lead Cold trembling ceas'd me and did stop my breath All appear'd gloomy as the Shades of Death And in this Trance me thoughts a Sacred Voyce With dreadful words seem'd to upbraid my choice My Fathers reverend Ghost did then appear All stain'd with Blood whil'st I dissolv'd with fear It cry'd aloud mourn Iphigenia mourn Thou hast disturb'd my Ashes in their Urne Unhappy Maid thou art about a Deed At which the Earth will groan and Nature bleed This said the angry Form dissolv'd to Air I fear our Stars some dismal fate prepare Osm I 'le from this dismal Scene retire and pray In some close Shade weeping our sins away Ex. Osm Scene Fourth Enter Circe Cir. Death and confusion I am lost betray'd For ever lost where is this cruel Maid Enter four Spirits Perfidious King my careless Spirits appear More than ten thousand Hells my anger fear Weep Iphigenia 't is a mighty cause That from these Eyes such Streams of Sorrow draws Iph. Ah speak what have I done that I must pay So many Tears to wash the guilt away Cir. Lust Zeal Ambition never did incline The blackest Monster to a Crime like thine Ah Iphigenia what did guide thy hand To make that fatal choice the Kings command Iph. In the election I the King obey'd Cir. Curse on my Folly we are both betray'd Know then Orestes Agamemnon's Son Who rang'd about the World himself to shun That Noble Relick of thy glorious Race Is by the Priests conducted to this place Crown'd and prepar'd to die condemn'd by thee Iph. My Brother Heavens Cir. The wretched Victim see The Scene opens to the inward part of the Temple Orestes is discovered crown'd as to the Sacrifice with him Diana's Priests bearing her Images Pylades Guards and Attendants Weep till thy sorrows drown the World and me Iph. Arise arise you vapours of the Night Hide me alas I dread that fatal sight Ores My Iphigenia in thy breast receive Embracing That joyful Soul which will my bosome leave Iph. Dear Brother haste from Death and me escape Fly your ill Genius in a Sisters shape Ores Ah let me now expire since I have seen Her for whose sake I have a Stranger been To Greece and happy rest me thinks 't is sweet Though we doe here in Death's sad Region meet Iph. Why did I beg of Heav'n to see this hou'r Oh! that you had been shipwrack't on our shore You have escap'd the dangers of the Sea It 's Rocks and stormes to perish here by me Ores Weep not for me for I deserve no tears I have out-liv'd my vertue many years 'T is time that I should dye your sorrow keep For those whose fall 't is Piety to weep Thank every God that in this distant place You saw
hearts And Scorne thy fading Empire taught by me IV. Beauty the Thracian Youth no more shall move Now they shall sigh no more But all my noble Verse adore It has more graces than the Queen of Love A soft Symphony The Heavens open Cupid descends upon Pernassus and sings Cup. HOw dull is all the world that none should move In the cause of injur'd Love The bad are safe Hervn's idle Thunder teares Mountains but the guilty spares Mortal our holy Altars then shall be Ever thus profan'd by thee If Poets beauties faithful Traine rebel Vows and incense all farwell How can thy noble Art ungratefull prove Fed by beauty and by Love Hark hark these Bells and Berecinthian Pipes declare That Thrace a Feast to Bacchus does prepare The raging Bacchanals his rites fulfil They shall revenge me and the Rebel kill Enter Bacchanals Song by the Bacchanals FIll all the Bowls with Sprightly Wine And let the women drink Men visit now are very fine Talk much and never think Sure these follies our sex might claime as their due Since mankind incroaches On our small Debauches New manly delights let the women pursue This comfort poor cuckolded Ladies did find To drown in full Bowles The cares of their Souls When the husband is false and the Gallant unkind Chorus In empty Beds we absent Lovers mourn There sits the man that does our Empire scorn He makes the Thracian Youth despise Warm swelling Breasts and dyeing Eyes Make ready your Darts and valiantly fling Let him dye to his groans w'el dance and w'el sing They fling their darts at Orpheus who falls dead they dance then the Mountain disappears Ores Armes and all warlike toile forgotten be Thou soft inchanter Love I 'le follow thee Let my luxurious Eyes survay each Grace Devour the luscious beauties of this face Looking on her eagerly Which warm my blood more than the Trumpets sound And deeper far than Warrs fierce Engins wound Cir. Officious Love shall strew us Beds of Flowers On which w'el sport away our golden hours There let us still with fresh desire pursue Whatever Youth performs and Age would do And when we panting ly new breath to take Musick Love's Trumpet shall our Courage wake Ores Behold the Birds vanquish'd with fierce desire To unfrequented shades in pairs retire See how they melt whilst Youth renews with haste The Banquet greedy Love devoures so fast Shall we less eagerly to pleasures run Ah! pity me Our Eyes enough have done Cir. But will you still be true and cast away Those other Idols you did once obey Ores You shall my heart without a Rival hold And I will be more constant than the old Cir. To some dark Grotto let us then repair Love and my blushes fear the open Air. Scene Third It Thunders Enter a Spirit Spir. Guard you the ever gentle God of Love The King assisted by the pow'rs above Aided by Vesta has dissolv'd your charms And comes to force you from your Lovers arms Fiercer than Thunder is his jealous rage Your life alone his fury can asswage Fled are those Phantoms which by your command In dreadful shapes did at the Entrance stand Fly Circe fly nor is your Palace now By Mists and Clouds conceal'd from humane view They all are vanish't a disorder'd pace Will bring him soon to this unguarded place Cir. In vain the Tyrant does my life persue He cannot wound my bosome but in you Ores From your Sweet breast all sence of fear remove Let naught inhabit there but joy and Love This Sword I but for your protection wear Draws How weak whole Armies of the jealous are Compar'd to Lovers when they beauty guard Cir. This tenderness alas excuse in me I dare not let you fight for victorie My Dear within this secret Covert stay Goes to put him in an Arbor Till I have talk'd the Tyrants rage away Ores Love be no more the passion of great minds Beauty does counsel Valour to retreat Should all the Universe my fall conspire I might be vanquisht but could n'ere retire Cir. Useless alas will all your courage prove Flie I conjure you by the charms of Love The King approaches can you disobey Spirits ascend and force him then away Spirits appear who force Orestes into the Arbor From banefull Weeds gather the falling Dew To the Spirits My charmes are finisht which I must renew Circe this day for mighty ills prepare Be bold as man cruel as Women are Scene Fourth Enter Thoas his Sword drawn Guards Tho. Where have you plac'd this Lover by your charms Or is he quite dissolv'd within your Arms Tremble your fate is written in my brow And Hell refuses to protect you now Prepare a Thousand torments to receive More Hells than jealousy or conscience give Cir Kill me if you grow weary of the Throne Or like a deity can rule alone Who but the mighty Circe can oppose A rapid torrent of invading Foes Your Coward States-men do all danger shun And from the Empir'es Helm in tempests run Their councels Senates too so long protract The young and valiant have no time to act Steady in Councels I alone can be Am quick to act but quicker to foresee Kill the Protect'ress of your Life and State I fear not and perhaps deserve my Fate Tho. I must this Victim to my honour make Though I my Throne and all the Empire shake Cir. But will the Senate your revenge allow To those advising Tyrants you must bow They like the crowd are manag'd by the wise Back'd with their Factions I thy rage despise Tho. I have no rage your Eyes about 'em bear Such pow'rfull Guards you need no danger fear Your Crimes Would weary a forgiving God but you Can all my anger with a look subdue Now you my weakness and your Empire know Brave all my rage and still more guilty grow Injure your King but not what we adore Orestes to the Sacrifice restore Cir. Those servile Flatterers who to Thrones resort To catch at empty bounties of a Court Are less the Slaves to interest and Gain Fawn and dissemble less than you who reign Leave to your guilty Ministers of State That servile cunning to dissemble hate As boldly as a God revenge pursue In that revenge be as impartial too Tho. No no false Queen I own your Eyes have charms That soften all my rage and blunt its Arms Though than the Wind you more unconstant are Though you 'r unkind and false you still are fair Cir. How weak your passion is how rash your fears My Lord I am not false believe these Tears I can though you are Criminal appear Spotless as first created Angels were I saw you did to Iphigenia give The Tribute which my Beauty should receive And then would punish you by Jealousie For all the Tempests you had rais'd in me And did preserve the Grecian Prince by Charms Not to have Him but You within my Arms. Tho. We think it merit blindly to believe Those pious
valiant fight While these sad discords do her Entrails tear A Forein Yoke poor Scythia needs must bear Ith. Madam Will you behold your Countrey fall To you our Gods and we for succour call Our Gods and us the Grecians Captive make Rash and luxurious Princes cannot shake A Throne so much but you can fix it strait Forgive the King pity the sinking State Cir. I am your Heav'n when you your safety doubt And your afflictions make you all devout His Freedom let the Grecian Prince receive The rest to Fate and my wise conduct leave Tho. Curse on thy Arts and doubly curs'd he be Who first debas'd the World to Policie Revenge the Gods do not the Beasts deny Tigers and Wolves are greater Kings than I. Go to his Graecians let the Prince be led I will go find some ease among the dead Exit Thoas SCENE Eighth Guards go to lead off Orestes Circe stops him Cir. My Dear I must accuse your guilty haste Love to enjoyment does not fly so fast No Sigh no Tear not any tender word Not one kind look at parting you afford Ores I dare not look such weakness I betray At every killing glance I melt away Ill-natur'd Wisdom proudly sits above And censures all the tenderness of Love In secret I can weep and sigh aloud And be of all Love 's little follies proud But would not shew my weakness to the Crowd Cir. The censures of the Envious World despise It is beneath a Lover to be wise Ores Let us our selves in some vast Desart hide Where Love shall triumph over all my Pride There I 'le chastise each glorious manly thought Naked and bound they shall to Love be brought Cir. No in that Desart I alone must mourn For you are going and will ne're return To the embraces of some other fly I never will complain but gently dy Ores Here I can stay and at your feet expire But my fierce Souldiers carry Sword and fire To all your Cities by their fury lead And Desolation through your Empire spread Cir. Go calm their rage Weeps There 's an ill bodeing Omen in my Tears Love has a Thousand vain and idle fears Like little States-men ever-troublesome Uneasie and suspecting all to come When you your Ships and Warlike Graecians see Alas you will no more remember me Oh hear not Fame nor your Ambition plead Perhaps they would again your Youth mislead You are Love's Convert now and must be good Taste soft delights and thirst no more for blood Ores I 'le rest from War but sometimes we must fight To purchase ease and to secure delight A flying Camp must hover still about Where Lovers dwell to keep the jealous out When Nature is wound up Expecting Bliss none should her hopes destroy Fierce torments follow interrupted Joy Cir. Fear not the Jealous you will be secure From forreign Foes if all at home be sure Be you but faithful still and trust my care I will an undisturb'd retreat prepare Of purer Clouds Love shall a Palace build Which the bright Sun with Morning Beams shall guild About it Groves where Nature shall be seen Still charg'd with Sweets and ever drest in Green There we 'le taste silent Joys and calm delight Shouting within Ores Farewel alas I must no longer stay The Tyrant bus'ness hastens me away Circe weeps Who linger still behind ah do not mourn I 'le take the Wings of Love and strait return Cir. Alas you will not Ores By those Eyes I will Cir. A Thousand tender fears afflict me still Ruine and Death the sullen Starrs foretell And this appears to be a last farwell Your Greeks will force you from the Scythian Shore And I shall never never see you more But fear no storms for though you prove unkind And leave sad me to languish here behind I 'le court the Seas and flatter ev'ry Wind. To the Sea Gods I will devoutly pray That to safe Ports they may your Fleet convay To flowry Coasts where you shall happy be Unless sometimes you sigh and mourn for me Exeunt severally ACT Fifth SCENE Some publick Place of the City Circes Four Maids 1 Maid THe Moon and Stars give but a sickly light 2 Ma. Birds of ill Omen hither make their flight 3 Ma. Much blood the fiery Queen designs to shed 4 Ma. Orestes from her lustful arms is fled 1 Ma. Her bright allurements did his Youth betray 2 Ma. Careless in her inchanted Groves he lay 3 Ma. From thence his Graecians did their Leaders force 4 Ma. And now they all to Argos steer their Course 1 Ma. She with the Ocean and the Winds does treat 2 Ma. To raise up storms and wrack the Graecian Fleet. 3 Ma. Where e're she moves infectious vapours rise 4 Ma. She breaths destruction blasting with her Eyes Scene Second Enter Circe Cir. He 's gone he 's gone See with what sullen pride His mighty Ships on the smooth Ocean ride The quiet Waves an awful silence keep The dreadful Winds in their deep Caverns sleep All crimes are safe how calm the Seas appear And yet there is a perjur'd Lover there False Men come learn of the unconstant Wind Learn of the Seas nay learn of Woman kind We and the Winds can boast that we are true Fix'd as the Poles compar'd to faithless You. 1 Ma. She to eternal ruine sinks apace 2 Ma. We shall this day with mighty mischiefs grace 3 Ma. End end as nobly as thou hast begun 4 Ma. Things of deep horror shall this night be done Cir. Sink him ye Winds his Ships ye Lightning burn Orestes my Orestes ah return Ruin Eternal plagues I love him yet Repent a little I can all forget Why do I speak to him that cannot hear Nor will the Winds my sorrows to him bear Cruel Orestes whither dost thou flie False Man return stay stay and see me die 1 Maid Do not th' infernal Powr's your quarrel own 2 Ma. Think you their malice is unactive grown 3 Ma. Dread Queen what vengeance are you pleas'd to take 4 Ma. Speak and the frighted Universe shall shake All. Speak and the frighted Universe shall shake Cir. I can no more my Spells or Magick boast My mistick Druggs have all their vertue lost I see the Gods have now decreed my fall I am forsaken and betray'd by all Ev'n my own Son was wounded at the Head Of Troops which he against his Country led The Rebel on the adverse side did fight Ayding that faithless Graecian in his flight Scene Third Enter Ithacus brought in wounded with several Souldiers 1 Ma. Here he is come your pardon to intreat 2 Ma. And then expire contented at your feet Cir. Ah why must I that fatal object see I have no leisure now to weep for thee Ith. Forgive me Madam that my Sword I drew To fight for them who were condemn'd by you But all that I have done was in defence Of Virtue and afflicted Innocence Her fears did wretched Iphigenia bring To me for ayd against
humane life forsake Where Love and Bus'ness keep the World awake Some quiet Mansion seek Where Fame's loud call shall not our slumbers break But happy Ignorance upon thy careless breast Methinks we take the gentlest rest Chorus Sleep sleep within a drousie Cave Dark dark and silent as the Grave Dance Phansy enters with the pleasant Dreams Phansy Dances the pleasant Dreames sing and dance an Entry to the Song to which Musick there is an Eccho in the Clouds Three Spirits reply to the Dancers below Song for the Dreames MAids in Wishes stretch and pant Wives the Nightly blessing want Chorus Careful Love their torment sees Sends e'm Dreams and they have ease Women can be chaste in spite Gallants must retire to Night Chor. Careful Love c. As Morpheus sings the Two first lines the Scene changes into a place of Horror Phobetor Sings BEgone fair Visions to the Court remove Whose bus'ness is to dream of Love And you black terrors of the Night appear You wilde Creations of our Wilder fear You dismal Visions that on guilt attend Furies and Fiends from Hell ascend Religion finds you better far than Law To rule Mankind and keep the World in awe Oh horror horror from Death's gloomy shade Arise arise the frighted World invade An Entry of the frightful Dreames Clytimnestra's Ghost ascends Gho. Awake awake thy Mother's Ghost is come From Death's abode her Urn and quiet Tomb To visit Nature holy things I shun And haunt the Dreames of my inhuman Son Thy Sword did send me to Eternal Night My angry Ghost shall still thy slumbers fright Now humane kind in sleep their cares forsake Even Guilt it self some little rest does take And none but the revengeful are awake A mighty Vengeance Circe does prepare In this deep silence her wing'd Charriots bear The dire Inchantress through th'unwholsome aire Brooding ill Fate she sits upon a Cloud Thrice the bad Genius of the World has bow'd And thrice has own'd her Pow'r the Charm is done And now the dismal bus'ness is begun It Thunders You flying Plagues seise seise this impious Son 1 Maid Her beauty scorn'd Circe resolves to prove Cruel as the first thoughts of injur'd Love Oh tremble tremble and resist no more Beauty 's a Tirant jealous of its Pow'r 2 Maid A black revenge her fury has design'd But sighing at her feet your pardon seek And the relenting Beauty will be kind As the last words which dying Lovers speak Orestes wakes the Scene vanishes the Dreams and Ghost sink down by degrees the Bowr vanishes Ores Descend to burning Lakes hot as thy Lust Ill boding Vision my Revenge was just Night through the World does solid darkness spread The gaping Monuments restore their dead Who range about 't is the last dreadful day The Earth and Heav'ns begin to melt away Darts of Lightning Thunder On Clouds of Fire destroying Angels fly Must this great Frame dissolve and Nature dye SCENE Seventh Enter Pylades and Iphigenia with the Grecian Train Thunder and Lightning here Pyl. Sure all the Elements our fall conspire Loud Storms at Sea at Land consuming Fire Pursues us still Iph. But why should Virtue fear When with their murdring shafts the Gods appear Guilt tremble thou when Heav'ns wing'd Vengeance flies Through frighted Cities or when Storms arise Ores From Earths deep hollow dreadful groans are sent Groans under the Earth And Nature labours with some great event Approach approach dire things shall be disclos'd Drawing Pyl. and Iph. near him My Mind is wilder now than Lust oppos'd Come we 'l out-think young Prophets and out-dream Religion let Ambition be our Theam Come the tumultuous World we 'l visit now There to successful Vice the virtuous bow The Pious quarrel Ignorance is loud All is amiss in Schools the Wise are proud At Court they patient Modesty despise Only the impudent are sure to rise I l sound a Trumpet and the dead shall wake The frighted Planets shall their Orbs forsake And all with me to better Worlds retire SCENE Eight Enter Thoas with the Scythians Tho. If Glory e're thy youthful blood did fire If thy great race has taught thee to aspire Follow where I and my revenge shall lead That undisturb'd we may together bleed Grecian this day thou art decreed to dye If thou dar'st fight and Heav'n stand neuter by Ores Ha! art not thou that hungry Monster Pow'r That feeds on all then does it self devour Tho. All things to Universal Ruin haste Afflicted Nature seems to breath her last My Throne must fall by your Eternal doom To sink with Empire Oh you Gods I come If I have ought deserv'd for ev'ry how'r In which I have groan'd beneath the weight of Pow'r Let me expire reveng'd Makes at Orestes who draws Ores I 'l not ingage Thy clamours shall not rouze my sleeping rage Pyl. draws Pyl. Awake awake the glorious Youth does stand With Wars swift Lightning useless in his hand Tho. Fall on revenge come quicken and inspire Be thou instead of all my youthful fire Fight Ores kills Tho. they drive off the Scythian Soldiers Ores Bold Wretch lie there my Courage now is warm Bloody as Womens Lust deaf as a Storm SCENE Ninth and last Enter Circe with her Maids Spirits Guards and Attendants Circe Unfit for Empire I must Rule no more Firmness I want that strong support of Pow'r 'T is Resolution makes Heav'ns Empire great Like a weak States-man in some turn of State Wild unresolv'd I stand eternal pains High fierce desires are boiling in my Veins I must enjoy him and the fire allay The raging flames that on my Vitals prey But witness Hell I would like Lightning blast Burn and consume whatever I embrac'd Ore Ha Beauty here thy wicked Arts I know What pains and discord doest thou breed below There Wisdom and there Pow'r thou lead'st astray I 'l from thy Poison flie Cir. Orestes stay Oh stay with thy inchanting presence keep These Hells and this tormenting Rage asleep Once you were kind on floury Beds you lay In Bow'rs like infant Nature fresh and gay Wreathing the Mirtle Garlands for your Brows Fixt on your looks and listning to your Vows All day I sate Ores Away bewitching fair Fatal expensive ruinous as War Shall I sit idle by my Senate aw'd While Neighbouring Princes get renown abroad No let me loose I should the World o'recome Did not ill Subjects keep me poor at home I would be one of those the Gods did make With restless Minds to keep the World awake A fam'd Destroyer Cir. Then come joyn with me I hate the World and would destructive be At our command Plagues through the Earth shall range Warr new Religion universal change Hot fighting zeal ambition all that can Bring swift destruction on Ungrateful Man Wing'd with our fury through the World shall flie The World even lov'd by misery but I Would see it lost Nature and Order die See all consume in Universal fire Injoy but him and then my self expire