the VVinds And think that VVomen talk'd observe the Rain And think that VVomen wept or in the Clouds Behold Semandra's Form still fleeting from me But speak I lose my Senses with my Woes Arch. He has sav'd thy life come make a handsom lye In recompence Sem. I will be short as true When you were gone to Wars the King relaps'd How prompted Heav'n best knows and when with Conquest You came from Battel he with dreadful threats Compell'd me to receive you in that manner Ziph. Ah cruel Creature what what Menaces What fear of death cou'd so have made Ziphares Receive Semandra Sem. Not Racks nor all the Tortures Which Hell combin'd cou'd put into the hearts Of bloodiest Tyrant shou'd have forc'd me to 't But oh your life which he with deepest Oaths Had sworn to take unless I seem'd to scorn you That dash'd my Spirits bafled all the daring Of my defenceless heart there I confess The Woman work'd I trembled and agreed To see you so rather than lose you ever Arch. Now by my Arms she has come off with wonder Sem. And think my Lord reflect upon your self I dare believe so dearly once you lov'd me That were you certain I shou'd lose my life Unless you us'd me in that very manner I know you wou'd constrain your flame awhile And seem as cold and as reserv'd as I. Ziph. Oh heart oh bleeding Love but speak Semandra For there is wondrous Reason mighty Sense In what you say and I cou'd hear you ever Sem. When you were gone the cruel King came in And without stop propos'd the fatal Marriage Which being deny'd he forc'd me to the Temple Yet at the Altar I deni'd my hand Invok'd the Gods with the most violent sorrow Tears sighs and swoonings curst the frighted Priests Struck down the Censors and like one distracted I mangled my own flesh but all in vain I was suppos'd his Queen and so enjoy'd Ziph. Then still thy heart thy heart was mine Semandra Sem. It was it is for ever shall be yours Ziph. Oh at thy feet let me for ever lye Thus hang upon thy knees with dying grasps Thou most wrong'd Innocence abus'd Semandra Sem. Oh my dear Lord you shall not kneel without me Ziph. Thou art not false then Sem. Cou'd you think me so False to my Life my Soul my All I have Ziph. I did I thought thee false and I deserve To die for wronging thy most matchless Faith For thou art true constant as pining Turtles Constant as Courage to the Brave in Battel Constant as Martyrs burning for the Gods Arch. What Changes drive bus'ness of the World Come no more weeping rise Think on the King if he shou'd take you thus Ziph. Oh rise Semandra what what are we doing Why Archelaus why did'st thou cut me off The moments pleasure which my thoughts were forming Thy cruel breath quite broke the brittle Glass Of my short life and stopt the running Sand. What shall we do Semandra Sem. Part and die Ziph. Die 't is resolv'd but how that that must be My future care and with that thought I leave thee Go then thou Setting-star take from these eyes These eyes that if they see thee will be wishing O take those languishing pale fires away And leave me to the wide dark Den of Death Sem. Something within me sobs to my boding heart Semandra ne're shall see Ziphares more Ziph. Away then part for ever part Semandra Let me alone sustain those rav'nous Fates Which like two famish'd Tygers are gone out And have us in the Wind. Death come upon me Night and the bloodi'st deed of darkness end me But oh for thee for thee if thou must die I beg of Heav'n this last this only favour To give thy life a painless dissolution Oh may those ravish'd Beauties fall to Earth Gently as wither'd Roses leave their Stalks May Death be mild to thee as Love was cruel Calm as the Spirits in a Trance decay And soft as those who sleep their Souls away Exeunt ACT V. SCENE I. Pelopidas Andravar Priest incompass'd with Romans Pelop. ROmans who send your Laws far as the Sun His Beams and whom the Universe beholds With joy yet dreads your anger as the Gods Why move you to the ruine of this Tyrant To the sure death of bloody Mithridates As if you fear'd or car'd not he shou'd die Can you suspect an Ambush or that we Shou'd dare betray you yielding thus our persons Our Lives our Prince himself into your hands Andr. This man to whom the servile Priests bow down Who wears a Crown in honour of his place And sacred worth abandons all his glories T' attest the truth of what we have declar'd Enter Pharnaces But see the fierce the brave the Great Pharnaces Comes on to meet you waves his Royalties Therefore O mighty Romans give him Audience Phar. That I am rough and of an untaught Spirit All the East knows I ever scorn'd those Slaves VVith whom I have been bred and when my Father Order'd Barbarian Princes for my Masters In Arts and Arms I spurn'd 'em from my presence And rather chose since Rome might not instruct me Nature in all my Actions for my Guide Hence cou'd I brook more hardly the fierce mind Of our Inhumane Parent Mithridates My Eldest Brother's Fate did kindle first My fiery Soul to a most swift revenge For when the State of Bosphorus demanded That Prince for King he bound the gallant Youth In Golden Chains and doom'd him to be slain Two more were by his boundless fury strangled And ev'n the last but me the brave Ziphares Last night was murder'd in the Tyrants Palace In whose sad cause the Squadrons which he led Of late so valiantly against you Romans Attend some furlongs hence to joyn your Banners If this be true not to recount the Slaughters Of all his Queens and poyson'd Concubines I think the World Rome I shou'd first have nam'd Will little censure this so just revolt If you suspect me false behold Pharnaces Ne're yet detain'd but free as roving Lyons That swept at will like Winds in Deserts wild Behold him with these Noble Hostages Your Pris'ner to be bound the Slave of Rome Rom. Capt. Lead us on to Victory Omnes To Victory Phar. On them you Race of Heav'n you Seed of Gods And to Immortalize Pharnaces Name Plant me like Thunder breaking from this Cloud Foremost while all the ratling Engines follow Monima whom this Tyrant ravish'd from me I hear is fled to Pompey her I ask For my reward with half his spreading Empire But I waste words let 's act and then make claim And O remember when we storm the Town Remember that most horrid Massacre Of Asia whet on that your blunted Spirits Till with the motion Lightning edge your Souls To mow off hoary Heads hurl Infants puling From the lug'd breast kill in the very Womb To Beauties cries be deaf make all Synope But one vast Grave to hold the infinite bodies Which we
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
into our hearts Well have I lost my dearest blood in battel Since once again I see my Royal Father Mith. Ziphares rise I hear you have fought well Too well perhaps for Mithridates peace You Triumph'd too I hear Ziph. Alas my Lord I fear Pelopidas and Andravar Have been too busie with your Ear. By my best hopes by your most Sacred Life I wou'd not Triumph till your Orders came At least they told me that they came from you If they were false Mith. They were your Friends who brought Those Orders therefore you are not in fault Nor ought you share the Crimes of Stratonice Ziph. Of Stratonice Ah what has she done Ah Sir what Villain has tradue'd my Mother Give me to know Mith. Perhaps you 're ignorant Wou'd I had been so too but to the purpose I promis'd when the Consul was o'recome To give Semandra to you Seem not sad You love your Father well but Prince I know Your Passion for Semandra is the highest I 'll send her to you if you please retain her Exit Ziph. Is this then thy reward unnecessary Virtue Why do we wear thee thus to our undoing O inauspicious Stars thy Father hates thee Because thou art too good went it not so I fought too well His eye disdain'd me too And held my High Desert at hateful distance But let it be there 's satisfaction still In Innocence and conscious Glory tells me My Griefs shall fly like Clouds before Semandra Enter Semandra But see the Sun that drives ' em O my Star Thou Day that gild'st my little World of comfort Give me thy warmth let me upon thy Bosom Breath all my Victories Alas the King My cruel Father Ha! what now Semandra Not fly into my arms O all you Pow'rs That Nurs'd our tender Loves she turns away Hast thou too caught the coldness of my Father Clear me you Gods and fix my Understanding To this one view left I mistake all measure And run to madness What not look upon me By Heav'n if thus if thus I shou'd behold thee Tho in a Dream 't wou'd make me wish to sleep for ever O my dear Life thou shalt not hide thy kindness But to dissemble thus a moment longer Wou'd quite destroy the Passionate Ziphares I 'll force thy hand thus to my trembling lips Sem. The kiss you ravish Prince is dangerous And let me now Conjure you by your Love If you can love after what I injoyn you Upon your life offer the like no more O Man me Reason with thy utmost force Or Passion with the dreadful starts it makes Will soon Divorce my Soul from this weak Body What hast thou said and Ah! what have I heard Fair cruel faithless for the blood I lost Dost thou thus meet me Raise thy eyes from Earth And tell me Have I Ah have I deserv'd This usage from my dear ador'd Semandra Sem. You deserve all things but you must not ask My Love unless you wish me most unhappy Ziph. O you good Gods is it then come to this Shall I shall I but speak it once again Unhappy did'st thou cou'dst thou say unhappy Sem. I 'de have you strive my Lord to love me less Ziph. If you wou'd have it so be witness Heav'n If for your quiet you injoyn me this I 'll strive but oh 't is most impossible Ah may I not presume to ask if this The reason be why I shou'd love you less That the too happy King may love you more Your silence does confirm Ziphares lost And all that I cou'd fear is come upon me Ah Barbarous King I 'll bear thy Bonds no longer But cast off Duty as thou hast all Love Thou bloody Author of this wretched Being Tyrant Sem. Take heed Ziphares how you wrong your Father I 've heard you give another Character So diff'rent from this last of Mithridates Methinks you scarce appear the same Ziphares Whom once I knew Ziph. It is most sure I do not But to convince me more quite to compleat The cruel sum of all my desp'rate woes And sink me ever what Madam have you heard Me say or rather what is 't you wou'd say In ill-time prais'd of this inhumane Father Sem. Have I not heard you speak the tender'st things How but for some few faults so small that scarce The Eye of Envy or of Hate cou'd find 'em He wou'd be perfect as the Gods themselves A King so awful that the Romans fear'd him A King so merciful Barbarians lov'd him A King Ziph. No more I am confirm'd she 's lost The King she 's gone the Beauty of the Earth All that in Woman cou'd be Virtue call'd Is lost Corrupted are her Noble Faculties The temper of her Soul is quite infected Inconstancy the Plague that first or last Taints the whole Sex the catching Court-disease Has spotted all her white her Virgin Beauties Sem. You think me false Ah 't is but just you shou'd But Prince I swear I am not what you think me Yet never can be yours Ziph. O confusion Never O horror never can be yours Thou tear'st my heart call back those dreadful words Tho thou art going yet thou art not gone Ah e're it be too late behold me gasping Come to my Arms Oh leave me not for ever Fall on my Bosom I 'll forget thy weakness Try to deceive my self with specious Reasons Never upbraid thee that thou once wert false But with my tears wash all thy stains away Counsel Sem. Since tears O help me Heav'n are vain take take my Chear your sad heart and grieve Oh grieve no more Ziph. Then thou art lost resolv'd upon my ruine Sem. Your life 's too precious I resolve against it Not for ten thousand Worlds What was I saying Aside What shall I say Live live thou lost Ziphares Ziph. No thou perfidious Maid thou wretched Beauty Ziphares loves thee still so well he loves thee That he will die to rid thee of a torment Where are thy Vows O think upon thy Father How this will cut him this thy cruel Change And break his aged heart or e're he dies Think if his kindled rage shou'd execute What he has sworn to hack thy beauteous Limbs Tear thy false flesh into a thousand pieces Sem. If that were all my fear Ziph. What hardned Oh my Stars So quickly perfect in the cursed Trade I shall go mad with the Imagination O heart tho Heav'n had op'd the pregnant Clouds And teem'd with all the never-erring Gods To swear on Earth Semandra had been false Semandra had been false to her Ziphares I wou'd not have believ'd Sem. I cannot hear this grief nor must I cure it Farewel O Prince Instruct me Heav'n to save him Aside Ziph. Stay thee there 's something e're we part for ever That I wou'd speak if I cou'd make it way Sem. Speak then and speak the mournful'st things you can To break both hearts Ziph. Thou hast undone me like a Silver-Frost Thou com'st upon the Flower of
is certain Death with loss of Honour Exit Mith. Farewel Semandra thou most wrong'd of Women But I 'll this instant go to Monima And if I find what I suspect Pharnaces I 'll cut thee off as an infectious limb And for those Villains I shall quickly know The wrong she has had whose accus'd Innocence If your foul words have sully'd with black slander Think not to scape for shou'd you ride on Charms Take Winds to bear you or the Lightning's speed With panting horrour to the brink of Hell I 'de sweep you from the Verge to flames beneath And sink your Villanies with weighty death Exit Phar. First sink your self your Crown and Love together Pelopidas this comes of your cool counsel Had I been heard Monima had been gone By this enjoy'd and Crown'd my Royal Bride And we receiv'd as Conquerors by the Romans Hast thou not heard how when Tygranes came And cast his Diadem at Pompey's feet He call'd him King and rais'd him by that Name To sit as Equal to the Roman Consul By all the Gods I will not stay a moment But take immediately my flight except You swear to side with Rome call Pompey hither And haste with all the Forces we can make To joyn his Army and betray my Father Pelop. A sudden thought of lucky mischief comes Old Archelaus is arriv'd but left The labour'd Army some few furlongs hence You know the violent love the Souldiers bear The Prince your Brother and we know too well And so do all the murmuring Citizens How cruelly your Father lately us'd him But that great Mole the Multitude ne're sees Who works their Prince but still take all on trust Therefore I instantly will spread amongst em How Archelaus was Conspirator Against the Prince and finding more advantage To have the King his Son in-law by Letters Basely compell'd his Daughter to the Marriage Phar. Millions to one but this will set 'em on To tear curst Archelaus like mad Dogs Besides I find by frequent murmures how His Subjects are quite tir'd with length of War And but last night I know no less than twelve All Captains who conspir'd to take the part Of Pompey and intreated me to Head ' em Andr. Pursue the Treason and be sure it cool not While I with Tryphon hasten to the Army A Priest will colour well our enterprise There will we give out all that Treachery Can raise to fire 'em how the King has doom'd The Prince to death having first ravish'd from him The Fair Semandra for whose sake he dies Phar. While I immediately to Pompey send Who comes I hear on hasty march to fight Our Army and besiege us in our Walls Pelop. Thus shall the Prince and I rule all within And you with the High-Priest my Brother play Your Parts without Phar. I long to be in action And sure Rome must for the great overthrow Give me my Father's Crowns which gratitude Shall distribute to both your utmost wishes Pelop. We must not doubt your bounty But away Enter Ziphares with Ismenes at distance Your melancholy Brother may o're-hear us Ex. Phar. Pelop. Andr. Ziph. Oh my hard Fate why did I trust her ever What Story is not full of Womans falshood The Sex is all a Sea of wide destruction We are the vent'rous Barks that leave our home For those sure dangers which their smiles conceal At first they draw us in with flatt'ring looks Of Summer-Calms and a soft gale of Sighs Sometimes like Syrens Charm us with their Songs Dance on the Waves and show their Golden Locks But when the Tempest comes then then they leave us Or rather help the new Calamity And the whole Storm is one injurious Woman The Lightning follow'd with a Thunder-bolt Is Marble-hearted Woman all the Shelves The faithless Winds blind Rocks and sinking Sands Are Women all the wracks of wretched men Prithee Ismenes while I lay me here Charm me with some sad Song into a slumber SONG by Sir Car Scroop 1. ONe night when all the Village slept Myrtillo's sad despair The wand'ring Shepherd waking kept To tell the Woods his care Be gone said he fond thought be gone Eyes give your sorrows o're Why shou'd you waste your tears for one That thinks on you no more 2. Yet all the Birds the Flocks and Pow'rs That dwell within this Grove Can tell how many tender hours We here have pass'd in Love Yon' Stars above my cruel Foes Have heard how she has sworn A thousand times that like to those Her Flame shou'd ever burn 3. But since she 's lost Oh! let me have My wish and quickly dye In this cold Bank I 'll make a Grave And there for ever lye Sad Nightingales the Watch shall keep And kindly here complain Then down the Shepherd lay to sleep But never wak'd again Enter Archelaus Arch. How now Ismenes Prithee gentle Boy Instruct me where to find thy Royal Master VVhat dost thou weep I charge thee bring me to him Isme. See there my Lord. Arch. Bless me you Heav'nly Pow'rs Upon the Earth It cannot be thy Master Is that a posture for a Conqueror He who so bravely beat the Romans back A General and Triumpher Haste and show me Isme. By Heav'n it 's true my Lord there lies the Prince Arch. Something my heart presag'd when having left The Army I came posting to the Court And scarce receiv'd a welcom from my Friends They said the Prince had Triumph'd but I saw Not the least track of such a Glory left No glimmering twilight of so full an Honour There has been foul play and I 'll find it out Ziph. Away Semandra cruel VVoman leave me Arch. Ha! goes it there Ziphares Prince arise Ziph. Ha! who is there old Archelaus Arch. VVhy Do I not see you in a Chariot VVith all the Pride of Asia's brightest Gems VVhy mount you not the Throne which you deserve The Lords of Colchis waiting as your Slaves Give me some reason why I see you thus Ziph. Alas he had no hand in her revolt Nor knows not yet perhaps how she has us'd me VVhy do I seem thus strange then Oh Archelaus For I must never call thee Father more Pardon my faulty carriage Arch. Forbear these strict imbraces Your tears your hanging on my Bosom thus Your sighs reduce my Age to sobbing Childhood And make an Infant of your poor Old Man Ziph. Did I not say I never more must call Thee Father Arch. Yes you did Ziph. Fond foolish sorrow Thou art thou-shalt thou must be still my Father My Brother Sister Mistress all my Friend For all but thou have left me no kind eye Pities the suff'rings of abus'd Ziphares They fly all fly from my infectious Fortune Arch. Nay good dear Prince stand up you smother all Your words with groans dry up this womanish grief And speak dear Sir declare the cursed cause The baleful Spring the Source of all this mischief Ziph. VVou'd you believe it scarce can I my self Oh Heav'ns and oh
you ever-burning Lights Who have beheld at midnight from your Orbs Our flames that kindled bright and chaste as yours Which of you all which most malignant Star Show me that envious Fire that crost our loves That I may curse him from his fatal Sphere Arch. Name it I say the ground of all this trouble I feel a warm revenge run through my blood As if I had put off some forty year Methinks I stand as fit to fight the Cause Of Friendship now as then I cou'd my Love's But speak Ziph. Thy Daughter Arch. Well I guess'd Fate wounded there Ziph. Semandra my most fair dear gentle Mistress Arch. If she be false she is no longer fair Ziph. That sweet protesting Creature that pure whiteness Where I so deep had writ my Vows in blood Is taken from me Arch. By her own consent Ziph. Most certain That Eternal Bond of Oaths Committed to her keeping now is Cancell'd Ev'n her fair Hand the Seal of all my Love Her Hand has given her faithless Heart away Arch. Then she is false you know her to be so Ziph. False false as waters winds or wand'ring fires She is more false than Woman can believe Arch. The opening of her treachery come how was 't Particular revenge wou'd know particulars At first I guess'd she did receive you kindly Ziph. Quite contrary as if she ne're had seen me Quite alter'd quite estrang'd reserv'd and cold With all the coyness of a base-born Beauty Made proud with Pow'r not one tender look The very Accent of her Voice was chang'd Nor was she to be known but by her Beauty Nought else cou'd speak her to my Sense the same O nothing but the Face of my Semandra Arch. When my keen Sword shall glitter in her eyes Doubt not but I shall make her know you well And tho you never grace her with your favour For she is now unworthy your imbraces Yet I will bring the Traytress to your knees Ziph. Can it be Thou shou'dst be ignorant she 's past the giving Arch. I have not met the news which your swoln eyes Appear so big with Ziph. Here I am lost again Here all my courage which has born the blow Of sternest War shrinks like a beaten Coward Here I confess my Piety gives way I cou'd fall out with the forgetful Gods And curse the cruel Author of my Being No Tyrant no thou bloody Parent think not That I will bear it longer I 'll forget Like thee all nature all remorse all pity And snatch her from thee wedded as you are Arch. What Wedded Marri'd Ziph. Wedded Marri'd Bedded He has enjoy'd her rifled that fair Casket Where all the riches of my life were laid Yes yes you Gods I saw 'em pass along Pass to the Temple through the crouded Streets Saw 'em come back darted my wishing eyes At her false Face with such accusing glances She fainted in the Chariot yes I saw her Sink pale and dying down but there I lost her And left her to the Revels of the Night To be enjoy'd ev'n this last night enjoy'd Arch. By all the Honours which she has dishonour'd She shall not live another Ziph. Oh my Father Cou'd you but guess the pains that I endur'd Oh all the subtillest fits of sharpest sickness Were nothing to the torments which I bore I tim'd ev'n their disrobing kisses smiles The first imbraces and the racking joy But there methought Fancy it self was stopt It cou'd no more The limit of my life Was found the end of all my joys on Earth Arch. She dies not Destiny shall save her from me As she has sworn and as she has forsworn I 'll draw my Sword bath'd in her dearest blood From forth her Heart-strings while the rank red VVeeds Cling to my reeking Blade or wou'd you more I am grown up to your anger Ziph. General hold I have been Impious in my vented rage For which oh pardon me my Royal Father And you most injur'd Pow'rs whom I offended And oh what-ever shall become of me Forgive the fair the false the lov'd Semandra If while I live thou mark her gentle Limbs With the least wound it ends Ziphares life Or if thou hurt her after I am dead Thou 'lt raise my Ashes up in Arms against thee Isme. My Lord the Queen Semandra's coming hither Ziph. Say'st thou Isme. The Queen But see she enters Ziph Ha! Enter Semandra Sem. Oh Ziphares Oh Prince Oh thou most wrong'd Ziph. How can this be Madam you ought at least To have sent me word for now instead of Songs I can present you nothing but my tears A beating heart and groans that will not suit VVith your most happy state your blest condition Sem. Ah did you rightly understand my suffrings You wou'd not wound a bleeding dying Creature But I 'll endure yet more VVhen I am dead And 't is too late you 'l murmure to your self At least I might have heard what the poor VVretch Cou'd say Arch. Oh Syren but I will be hush'd Aside Ziph. VVhat canst thou say if I resolve to hear thee Thou wilt but tear the wounds which thou hast made This Visit was most cruel why com'st thou then For fear I shou'd forget thee Merciless VVoman Arch. Yet let us hear her Prince let 's hear the Sorceress That when sure Vengeance overtakes her Crimes She may have nought to answer Sem. The good Gods Reward that Voice of Mercy First then my Lord. Ziph. No I 'll be gone Fly Archelaus fly She has a Tongue that can undo the VVorld She eyes me just as when she first inflam'd me Such were her looks so melting was her language Such false soft sighs and such deluding tears VVhen from her lips I took the luscious poyson VVhen with that pleasing perjur'd breath avowing Her whispers trembl'd through these credulous ears And told the story of my utter ruine Arch. Nay 't is impossible to clear her self And it was Impudence to offer at it Therefore thou shameless Off-spring of my Blood I 'll cut thee from me thus with all thy Crimes Die as thou did'st desire Half-drawing stopt by Ziph. Ziph. Hold thy hand I charge thee touch her not Arch. By Heav'n she dies I may dispose my own she shall not live Ziph. By all the Gods she shall while I have breath And if thou draw'st I 'll guard her life with mine I shou'd be loth to lift my Arm 'gainst thee Of all Mankind but were my Father here Resolv'd to give her Death I wou'd oppose him Sem. Draw then and sheath your weapons in my breast In curst Semandra's Heart but for the VVorld Oh Father do not wound the Prince Ziphares And oh Ziphares do not hurt my Father Upon my knees I beg you to be calm And hear me thus Ziph. Oh rise false as thou art Thou once wert Empress of my Soul and I Still drag thy Chains Speak then Semandra speak For I 'm so doz'd so weary with complaining That I cou'd stand and listen to