due But haughty Courage from your blood I drew Zelm. My will unquestion'd power shall express Hell shall not daunt nor heaven make it less What fools think pride my Judgement calls divine A Soaring essence that like Jems does shine In the Ambitiou's souls of such as love Abliss from nature glean'd not from above We should not differ from the common Crowd Were not our greatness lycens't to be proud Though adoration to mortallity Be counted vain by dull hypocrisie I think it reason if adrest to me My state as worthy is of Sacrifice As Ioves with all his troops of deities Phillo On what prodigious pride her Spirit soars That thus she dars blaspheme the heavenly powers aside Ptoll. Since then your Clemency is pleas'd to place Me once more in the Sun beams of your grace Let me not too too insolent apear In tendring a petition to your ear Whose grant my grateful heart with thanks will store And what I now admire I shall adore Zelm. Haste to declare your Suit I will not say 'Ts your unknown but yet I think it may Ptoll. In your attention I am far more blest Than in that vote by which I was releas't But can I in your favour basking lye Lul'd with delight and see my Father die Unatural unkind and Cruel too Therefore thus low most mighty Queen I sue To your reviving breath for a reprieve Though he be still confin'd yet let him live Think what a horrid Crime it is to shed Queen Starts His blood who is the part'ner of your bed Kind nature cannot but dispute his Cause Plead his desert Religion and the Laws Besides his fortune may his Crime defend His Soul was great and knew not how to bend Brave minds like Palmes do most themselves advance When most deprest by the strong hand of Chance And his uncurb'd Soul till that moment free Soon felt the shame in losse of Majesty The nations love will flow if your forbear But if persist they 'l onely love for fear Cheer then their drooping hearts and save the King Zelm. Away thou daring fool base fordid thing Gods can strong prison walls men vertue teach The Boy 's grown Zealous and has learn't to preach And with grave Morals that all sense disown Thinks from my lofty head to charm the Crown Did I this frozen Snake from bondage bring Warm'd by my grace so soon to shew his sting Have I oft nourisht him with my one blood To leave the track of glory and grow good Degenerate wretch what blisse could'st thou divine From his raign that thou mayst not reap in mine What though he shar'd my bed without controul His Rival brave Ambition shares my Soul And when brave spirits glory to be great Religion's uselesse and the Law a cheat The blessings others Covet I despise The Gods and nature equally I prize Had I with patience liv'd so long alone Till providence had help't me to this Throne In spite of all its pow'r I might I see Have mourn'd the loss of royal dignity But by ambition rais'd my pow'r I know And from my Throne dare laugh at all below Therefore recal that breath pronounc't before And here a Pardon instantly implore Or never stir from the cold Pavement more Ptoll. Prostrate beneath your foot I bend thus low kneels It is a Posture I in duty owe But to repent and my past suit recal Were abject base and most unnatural Nor can I quell my soaring thoughts so soon Let it suffice it was a fruitless boon Zelm. Though your denial insolent appear It shews you share my blood despising fear Live and your hearts ambition to regain I give you leave to wish nay hope to reign Ptol. Unconstant hope and full of flattery You are immortal sure you cannot dye Zelm. Though Death proves vassal to my soaring fate My pow'r is boundless and I may create I in your reign may disspate my fears My youth being past and some few hundred years But could your tongue request the Kings reprieve Knowing I must not reign if he should live By his decease succession I dare own And by your nonage can command the Throne But had he liv'd fate had my power beguil'd Ill fare those Realms where Monarchs are too mild My will shall now the charms of greatness prove Respect and fear best shews a subjects love And womens courage by ambition warm'd Dares laugh at danger though all Hell stood arm'd Exeunt ACT. IV. SCENE I. Zelmura Sola Zelm. HE 's dead and thus far my designs are blest Since of the Throne I solely am possest The name of Goddess bright divinely fair Has charm'd me so methinks I am all air The Gods why have not I more pow'r then they Men dare not me but most them disobey This head that never wanted a design To satisfie ambition shall divine Into the peoples hearts when factious grown And wrest out their intentions with a frown But whilst my mind in these affairs I move I play the tyrant with my Smoother'd Love My heart with Passion for the Prince it warm'd And he is with my Sisters beauty charm'd But thrive my Plots that bud with tender growth And what he now admires he then shall loath Mileta Milet. Maddam Zelm. Set Amasis free Exit Melet. And bid her wait me in the Gallery Shall theams of Vertue make Zelmura pine All ills of womens frailty I resign I bear a Spirit brave and masculine My pleasures are my Gods and passions birth Uncurb'd and lawless is my Heaven on Earth Exit SCENE II. Enter Ptollomy Phillopater Achmades Ptol. The injur'd peoples murmurs now grow loud And many into Private factions croud So look't the sick and fester'd state of Rome By mighty Iulius Tyranny o'recome Phillo Their fate though bad was better far then ours Caesar and Pompey though their fame and powers Were mighty and divided ye both stood As potent Champions for the Publick good But in Zelmura's actions 't is made known She vallues no disasters but her own Achm. Unvallued Sumes of Gold she hourly heaps And by oppressing taxes treasure reaps Whilst helpless Age in holes unpittied lye Forc't by the dearth of food to starve and dye Enter Zelmura and Amasis See where she comes Zelm. Fate has decreed it so And I in vain should a resistance shew Phillo I read a storm in her reverted Eyes aside Zelm. How dare you interrupt my pryvacies to them Have we no passage free this insolence Merits the worst of my displeasure Hence Phillo What throngs of Demons her ambition sway aside Zelm. What 's that your murmur Phillo Nothing but obey Exeunt Zelm. That I do Love him is as certain true As that he Loves and is belov'd by you And as the pow'r is boundless that is due To my high state so is my passion too Your glimmering Love do's in small embers shine But a consuming Aetna flames in mine Forget him then since mildly at you hand I beg what I have power to command
follow me To fetch the glorious palm of victory Death 's but a triffle unto those that dare Pain only seizes such as basely fear Slain in your Countries cause you shall possess The quintessence of heavenly happiness In green cool shady Grottoes you shall dwell And from your heaven see the Syrians hell That vext with tortures shall in caverns pine For aiming at a fate so high as mine Ptoll. Let your free votes your willing minds relate Omn. Long live Zelmura Goddess of our fate Enter a Souldier Souldier The foe great Queen is Marching within sight All resolute and ready for the fight The Souldiers only for your orders stay To try the happy fortune of this day Zelm. Now they are brave since Jointly they proclaim Their lives as vassals to immortal fame There is no bliss like honour 't is the Star That guides the noble Hero's from a far Draws him from earth where fear and horrour swims To dwell with Gods and radiant cherubims Whilst the poor soulless slave that do's possess Nothing but earth to frame a happiness Pines here below for dross and hourly dies For what bright honour makes my soul despise Beat an alarm raize our Banners high In such a Cause it is a bliss to die Exeunt SCENE II. Zichmi Amasis Zichmi MAdam in slighting thus my proffer'd Love You slight your bliss and happiness remove The Queen to me your person did assign With a strict charge to keep you still confin'd But your desert such cruelty withstands And makes me slight her arrogant commands If Gentle Fair my Joyes you would enthrone And grace my servent passion with your own Amas. Can Heaven such insolence unpunisht bear If by the Queens command Sir you appear My rude controuler and my Jailor here Perform your Duty with a careful breast But dare not thus my privacy's molest Least to my sister I declare at large How ill her Argus did perform his Charge Zichm These threats are vain the Queens whole pow'r I slight She is preparing for the dreadful fight Involv'd in blood and horrour but I mean In Love to prove a more delightful Scene 'T is true I am not lifted to that heigth To be a King and so reputed great Yet love makes me a Monarch in conceipt And in your arms I shall be nobler far Then Romans in their greatest triumphs were Amas. My arms was e're such arrogance yet seen D' you know me Sir I 'm sister to the Queen A Princess whose high fate you should admire And not molest with your abas'd desire Zichm I know your high estate and therefore move My suite thus humbly to request your Love I will not say I merit your high birth That were to set a price upon your worth But passion keeps my senses from dispair In Love and Death all mortals equal are Amas. By that ill rule you half mankind deprave And make a Monarch equal with a slave Since both may Love but canst thou hope to be Rais'd by unruly Love equal to me Recant dull fool before it be too late And draw not on your self a certain fate Zichm Fate afright those that fear some mighty power All firm allegiance I renounce this hour I hate the Queen and dare declare it too Thus boldly in my lawless Love to you My late observ'd fidelity was shewn Not for the Nations profit but my own Amas. And can you hope to live when this is known Zichm My thoughts reach not so far controuling Love Usurps my heart and do's all doubts remove I shroud a fire that surpasses Hell Amas. Cannot the thought of death your passion quel Zichm Death no let such base fears weak souls annoy I love you and your beauty's will enjoy But I 'me too tame some women I have known Love to be forc't and perhaps you are one goes to seize on her Amas. Stand off what Demon do's thy breast inspire To use a Princess thus Zichm Love and desire Why do you look like one that is amaz'd takes hold of her To see a fury you your self hath rais'd Amas. Guard me good heavens have you no remorce to him Think you I ever can be won by force mildly Good Gods what flinty natures men possess Cruel as Tigers in the Wilderness And hungry Lyons thirsting after prey Though void of sense more pity have than they Can you e're think if mildness you remove Your threatnings ever can increase my Love Love a soft peircing motion should bequeath Known by the pulse an eye or short quick breath But you the utmost bounds of Passion shew And treat a Virgin as you treat a foe Zichm Forgive me then and think I did express Letting her go My late rash words but through my love excess I now too late repent the insolence And beg thus low a pardon for the offence Fair Lovely Kind I would be milder yet Can you my past unmanly Crime forget In other Acts our reason rules above But proves a vassal to our haughty Love Remember Madam fates controuling Laws And let your charming beauty plead my cause Amas. This yet is something better noble minds Humility not stubborn roughness binds Their uncurb'd souls forc't down still upward tends Like unwrought steel that breaks before it bends Oh cruel fate that thus can force my tongue Against my heart t' extenuate a wrong aside Forcing my nature driven to dispair To cherish Vipers that infect the air Exit Zichm So she begins to yeild when women pawse A little Courtship the agreement draws I 've long desir'd enjoyment of her Love But ne're till now durst my petition move Wanting occasion to perform my will And daring boldness for an act so ill Not that I own much passion but my spleen This way revenges me upon the Queen The Queen to whom I mortal hatred bear A hate deserv'd unbounded and severe Nor can a Petty Jar an abject strife In the depriving of her single life Abate the plague of my revengeful breath Her sisters rape must usher in her death That action will not only horrid be But fix a stain on her Posterity T is now the army 's are engag'd if fate Permits her once more to be fortunate And gain the conquest this shall launch her breast shewes a dagger But if the foe is with the palm possest I to her face this impious Act will own And to the Syrian King betray the town Till night I 'le leave her to consult but when Black misty Clouds shuts up the day from men If by disdain she slights a milder Course Deny'd like Roman Tarquin I will force Exit SCENE III. Alarm Both Army 's ingag'd Egyptians and Syrians after a skirmish the Assyrians beat the Egyptians over the Stage Enter Zelmura her Sword drawn Zelm. SHame and confusion sieze 'em how they run Their slow feet now outstrips the Postern Sun Oh Coward nature that with fear controuls Over the better half of humane souls Your Sex be ever branded for this deed A Sex that only
o're weaker foes But know my life is not at your dispose And 't is most safe though not for your renown Instead of seeking mine to guard your own Melech This insolence my honour cannot bear Guards go and bind 'em both Moar. Stir if you dare This ground is fatal he that first comes on Sets but the race which thou at last shalt run Cover'd with wounds I will thy pow'r oppose I' th' midst and thickest number of my Foes Though fatal yet some pleasure it will be To see thy mighty God head stoop to me Let the blind Queen of Chance her Envy shew And save thy life by some succeseless blow Deny'd all help and pass'd defence withstood I 'l rip my breast and drown thee with my blood Melech ' Dsdeath go take kill him to the Guards Zelm. Hold he shall not die stopping the guards I onely must dispose his destiny But that obedience to your will be shewn to the King Of my too great requests this shall be one Souldiers retreat I have the Kings whole power And leave me to appoint his fatal hour Melech Ask Something else this Suit I cannot grant Zelm. Your bound by Oath take heed how you recant Melech My Oath what 's that go go once more take sieze Zelm. He meets his death who his command obeys turning to Moarons side Perjur'd and poor send now your forces on By heaven we 'l cut the props from your weak Throne In his defence to my last drop of blood I 'le meet thy pow'r though through a crimson flood I wade to the atcheivement to make known A faithless King 's a traitor to his crown Unless immediately you pronounce peace And cause your factious multitude to cease Melech Retire a while to Guards and Souldiers Madam you have your will But what curst Feind seduc't you to this ill Surpasses knowledge but the Prince shall live Him you dare thus protect I dare forgive Moar. Forgive your words are still so arrogant Fit answers for such Epithites I want Forgive your slaves some impious offence Such as can crowch with humble penitence And know whilst valour in my breast does live She cannot me protect nor you forgive Melech Yet though your courage with your pow'r concur You now are glad to take your life from her Moar. 'T is false my life is at my own dispose Sprung from the stalk on which my courage grows Nor would I for a slow destruction stay But boldly run and meet death half the way Honours broad path my soul so well has known That now to live or dye to me 's all one Melech The rugged path of death few men would choose Had they the licens't power to refuse Which death your ransome Sir shall now excuse Live fearless in our Court and free from ill I 'me now your friend though much against my will aside Zelm. This grant has back my good opinion gain'd He forfeits worth whom perjury does stain Honour the Souls of Monarchs best does grace Contempt and rigour onely suite the base To morrow you shall know my last request 'Till when it must be treasur'd in my breast You 'l keep your vow Melech My oath has made it good And if I fail infection seize my blood Zelm. Disperse brave Prince the cloud upon your brow To fate not onely you but all must bow Heaven does mishaps for greatest souls create The bravest men are most unfortunate Moar. Heaven then 's a cheat so are the Gods and fate If there no difference be in punishment A Traitor is as happy as a Saint And may as soon a glorious blessing share As he that spends his life in sighs and prayer Melech Your rashness voted 'gainst heavens excellence Betray more haughty passion Sir than sense Motives of sorrows raign or love impure But in our Court your grief may find a cure Amas. Spiritual affairs be the Zealots care persued by such as dote on their dispair Your worth may Sir a fitter work improve Imploy'd in Acts of honour wit or Love Moar That love must then be yours what charms are here touching her hand My beating heart much alter'd do's appear And I the marks of unknown passion bear But I must hide it Since proud fate to day In my defeat its malice did display My life I 'le cherish with design to prove My soul the ills of Fortune is above The Plagues the Gods inflict with scorn I 'le bear And I will live cause sate shall see I dare Exeunt ACT. II. SCENE I. An Alcove Discovers Moaron and Amasis Enter Psamnis Psam MY happy wishes good success have met Yonder the Amourous Lovers smiling sit How greedily their darting eye balls rove Each look displayes the extasie of Love I knew She lov'd him though a modest Pride Which still with untaught Virgins do's reside Made her conceal it but of this no more I must to Syria to renew our power The Prince did so command and I will be Though not renown'd lov'd for fidelity Exit SONG within BEgon dull fear and servile duty fly Where mischeifs hourly rove Whilst here we own no other Deity Nor Monarch know but Souls ensnaring Love Love whose refreshing Ioys such rapture brings Such life such charming power 'T would warm the sinews of enervate Kings And make 'em young once more II. Let sordid Mortals toil for Earths increase And Glory in their gains We with new charms will one another please And laugh to see the harvest of their pains In quiet let 'em share their happiness With hope and fortune great Whilst we each day each hour that Heaven possess Which they expect at last III. Then feed my flame bright Deity of Love With Lulling extasies That whilst I in this Orb of Beauty rove I in conceipt may Soar above the Skyes Reasons a term by drowzy Zealots fain'd Which rapting bliss destroys Nature do's always fiercest pleasures lend When freely sense enjoys Moar. Not all the Odours of those happy fields Where Cassia grows and the fain'd Phaenix builds Arabias treasures or the choice perfume Of India's fragrant entrals dare presume ' Ere to compare with thee thou softest fair Thy presence would extenuate despair In all the Damn'd below and make 'em live In hope Hells worst of Torments to survive Amas. If I not knowing my own power possess So large a portion of controwling bliss The greatest mandate you shall ere fulfil Shall an entreaty be to love me still But should my passion prove an injury I should not blame your will but I should dye And e're my death I 'de one kind thought implore Then rest assur'd I could deserve no more Moar. Never Oh never shalt thou see that day No sooner shall the Early Sun display His beams about the World but I will fly To visit thee the Idol of my eye Where by thy side I 'le sit for ever free And waste my life in endless extasie Thy looks my bodies hunger shall repreive For if Camelions blest by Nature
Amas. A barb'rous Pow'r that can so cruel prove To fright a Virgin from a vertuous Love A Love with mutual vows so firmly bought That Death lyes coutcht in a dispairing thought Zelm. Dispair no that sad guest I will remove I give you leave to hope but not to Love A look methinks might satiate one so young Your growing Passion cannot yet be strong And though affection he on me bestowes And Loves not you yet you may hope he does Amas. He cannot be unjust his purity Ne're lent attention to inconstancy Our Passions like our vertues equal were Though not too fierce as much as we could bear Zelm My nature do's a swifter pleasure prove She hates dull vertue that does firmly Love Besides your pulse so temperate and slow Inspires me to believe your Love is so Amas. A temperate Love with modest passion grac't Excell a feircer and will longer last A chast heart to itself 's a Paradice But Love if wanting modesty is vice Zelm. Are these Stale Morals theams for you and me These Musty relicks of dull Piety Know fool that Vertue and Religion now Is not embrac't for practice but for shew To sooth the vulgar errours of these times And set a shining Gloss upon our crimes If I were poor I might have zealous been But Moral vertue is below a Queen And modesty with passions that aspire Agrees like water when comixt with fire Amas. Oh impious Age that licenses such crimes Zelm. Thou art a fool I know 'em prudent times Few waste their breath in Pray'r but th' ignorant Piety suits not us but such as want For to be Potent rich and zealous too I think is more then flesh and blood can do Ams. Of that I had but learning to dispute And the gross errours of your words confute But from the theam you wildly have digrest Come to the Point and tell me your request Zelm. 'T is this that you 'd suppress your extasie And prudently resign the Prince to me Perform it well and you my heart have won T is somewhat strange but yet it must be done Amas. Resign ' my Love a horrid Cruelty Yet though I cannot doe it I can die Zelm. Die then offers to stab her and by thy Speedy death remove The onely fatal Rival of my Love Amas. Oh hold for though with death I am not scar'd Forbear a little I 'm not yet prepar'd Zelm. My rage brooks no delay do it or bleed Amas. Hold oh for pity speak declare the deed What must I doe Zelm Visit the Prince with me And there renounce your former constancy Though Love he still endeavour to explain Meet all his favours with a Coy disdain Shrouding your eyes in frowns speak void of fear For I 'le be plac't where I can see and hear Be haughty that no plot he may descry But if you fail that moment you shall die Amas. Such tiranny was never yet exprest Zelm. Of too great Evils you may choose the least Amas. Let me consider yes it shall be done pawse The pow'r of fate may alter what 's begun His hate to her may Jealousie remove aside And prove a means still to preserve our Love I will perform your suit but in the deed to the Queen I give my self a wound will ever bleed As dying Pellicans their blood resign So to procure your blisse I ruin mine Zelm. Le ts thither streight if thou perform'st it well Thou bringst me heaven Amas. but my self a Hell Exeunt SCENE III. Enter Ptolomy Phillopater Achmades Ptol WHo at the Tilt last night most honour won Phillo The noble Caliph Micerenus Son Obtain'd the Ruby he five Warriours forc't To leave the field and twice five more unhorst Himself unhurt still prancing round the place Manag'd his foamy Steed with ample grace When brave Cephrenes hoping victory Charg'd him whose fight I could not stay to see Enter Zichmi Your haste does some unlook'd for news declare Zich To arms to arms we are surpriz'd I fear For standing on the Eastern Tow'r whose height Makes the Skies frown and Earth shake with its weight I saw the Beacons near the shore on fire Which to the Skies did in small sparks aspire And the next object which my eyes did grace Were armed Troops that mov'd towards this place The City trembles at these new alarms And in the Streets the stubborn faction swarms For by a Post new come report is spread They 'r Syrian Troops and by the Sultan led Ptol. Unlook'd for mischief oh my boding fears Achm. Has the Qeen heard the news Zichm There 's no one dares Possess her with it Ptol. Ha not dares yes I Were death the sequal would th' adventure try Let base and sordid spirits nourish fears My courage shall supply my want of years Streight raise what pow'rs you can to Zichmi be it your care to Phillo To calm the Commons and prepare for War Great Gods permit not Egypt thus to fall Revenge not private Crimes in general The blot in future Ages will remain And on your Godhead fix a lasting stain But e'er our necks endure captivity Like Romans our own swords shall set us free Exeunt SCENE IV. A Prison Moaron reading Moar. COntent is Pilot to a happy State And 't is a bliss to be unfortunate A rigid Text yet Seneca was wise He taught men how disasters to despise To purge their lives from ill and learn to die By occult Reasons in Philosophy But had he lov'd like me he had confest No Hell like to a confin'd Lovers breast The branded wretch that tugs the slavish Oar Spent with dispairs and wants controuling pow'r Yet still contented lives in hopes to see Once more the long wisht hour of Liberty But I contemning my unhappy Stars Still waste my life in Labyrinths of Cares Enter Zelmura and Amasis at the door Zelm. Yonder he sits now boldly enter here And from this place your words can reach my ear Exit behind Amas. Hold now my heart Moar. Hath heavens what 's this I see Can prison walls shrowd such divinity Amas. D' you know me Sir Moar. Not yet for Joyes extream Perswades my fancy that I do but dream Amas. Awake then and beleive Moar. Such was her hand kising her hand And such the sweetnesse that did first command And fetter my rough heart my doubts are gone But tell me Sweet how came you thus alone How could you scape the guards and not beseen By cruel Spyes from the more cruel Queen Or did the Gods Compassionating Love To yield me comfort drop you from above Amas. My coming was not at so strange a rate But from the entrance of the Castle gate Through all the guards I had a passage free Who void of doubts gave me this liberty Moar. Unlookt for happinesse Amas. hold Sir you shew Too much of Joy till you my businesse know Moar. What businesse can you have but to remove Doubts that molest us and renew our Love Amas. Grief ties my tongue how shall
I utter it aside Moar. Silence bright Soul for Lovers is not fit Say what ill news Amas. Aid me ye Deities Then breifly thus our love with mutual ties Of firm affection oft has dar'd our fate And thereby made us both unfortunate This makes me conscious of what griefs arise From wilful love what plagues what Miseries As freind to your good fortune to request That you would change I cannot speak the rest aside Love charms my utterance and denies me power Zelm. behind Do it or do not hope to live an hour Moar. To change my Love how do not give my sense Cause to reprove such charming Excellence Your breath till now stand Roses in the bud The Western gales were not so sweet so good But this request has soild your lustre so What was divine does now but mortal shew Amas. Let not vain hopes too much beguile your Youth Our holy Prophet ne're spoke more truth For to make kind our future destiny You may suppress your love and so must I. Live happy therefore and past Joyes restore But from this moment never love me more 'T is out and now shroud me some gloomy cloud Exit Moar. Such words the Gods durst not have spoke so loud Rend Earth i' th' midst and split ye fatal Skies Whose Planets dare to appoint such prodigies To Caves immense let th' Ellements retire And mix together earth air sea and fire Till mingled in confusion all may be As first they were in natures infancy For since this age do's pristine ills surpass Oh happy Choas where no falshood was A barb'rous Princess who would beauty trust Who would believe in vertue or be just If vertue this allows in noble blood Vertue 's a crime and vice it self is good The Gods themselves if tamely this they see Are false and baser than mortallity Enter Zelmura Zelm. What Demon Sir hath alter'd thus your fate I met my Sister at the Castle gate Fire darting from her eyes her lovely face So chang'd with rage it banisht all her grace Calling you base perfidious false and then Musing a while she 'd fall to Curse agen Such rapid frenzies posted from her breast I could no less then think she was possest For she methinks whom passion did so blind Might have found words more gentle and more kind But ignorance of the truth me hither draws To know the reason and enquire the cause Moar. The Cause why Madam ' dsdeath I cannot tell 'T is the same Cause that damns the souls in Hell A Heaven lost for want of loving well Zelm. Come come dissemble not you slighted her That you to me your passion might prefer And though I 'me haughty vassals you Shall find a temper that to Love is due If without more delayes you prove your bliss And your long closely smoother'd Love confess Moar. What strange Chimera's Madam plague your mind Love you by Heaven I hate all woman kind Not you alone but all curst Crockadiles Ye couch damnation in seducing smiles I 've lost my faith to think 't is Heaven to Love My sense do's now i' th' contrary move For if a Hell there be as it is said 'T is felt when highth of passion is delay'd Zelm. Perhaps you 'r loth the Guard your words should hear Whisper Sir speak it softly in my ear Your merits soon will weigh the ballance down And make me cherish what deserves a frown Moar. Frown on your amorists that causeless dote For by the Azure Heavens I love you not To be your slave I never did consent Nor need I whisper what I never meant Zelm. Hah never meant it was it not for me You slighted thus my sisters amity Could for meaner Causes faith remove Then th' happiness that still attends my Love 'T is contrary to reason and you try My utmost patience if you this deny Moar. D'sdeath Madam do ye think I can be brought To cherish Passion by perswasions wrought Bereav'd of reason that should crimes reprove Forc't to affect and fool'd into a Love Your eyes my heart do rather freez than warm And your addresses rather vex than charm Fate makes me to despise what you propound If this be Love I have a Mortal wound Zelm. Gods can I hear this tamely die proud fool And with thy blood my boundless passion cool Goes to stab him he wrests the Dagger from her Zelm. Take it and boast thou hast more strength than I But fixt it here and see how I can die Moar. No live and o're such abject fate controul You merit it you have a noble soul. Zelm. Oh I could curse but it will do no good And tear this burning fever from my blood But Love the prouder Tyrant conquers me Enter Ptollomy hastily Hah whence proceed these suddain new Alarms Moar. Fate grant I guess aright Ptollo To arms to arms The Potent Syrians with a mighty host Are past resistance landed on our Coast The City trembles and the factions swarm And with their uncurb'd shouts augment th' alarm Use some swift means great Queen to stinct this strife Least the unruly tumult seek your Life Zelm. Curse on the faithless slaves but art thou sure The troops approaching are the Syrian power Ptollo Our Messengers affirm it and we may From Turrets easily discern 't is they Zelm. They 'r welcome and they 'r coming do's produce In me much Joy my rusting sword wants use All low thoughts vanish now to empty air I will no leasure for dull passion spare War may perhaps from my brave heart remove The agony of this tempestious Love Whilst my heroick fate once known before Shall guide my sword to conquer 'em once more Moar. This happy news do's with my wish comply And gives me present hopes of liberty Enter Achmades Phillopater Zichmi Achm. The foe 's already come so near that we From our high towers may their banners see The people trembling with a suddain fright Run through the streets and Curse the fatal light But th' factions I have with perswasions wrought And in good order to the Pallace brought Your presence Madam their mistrusts will clear And make them dare the foe they late did fear Zelm. That satisfaction they shall reap from me I knew they durst not long perfidious be My breath can lift 'em up or cast 'em down Save with a smile or Martyr with a frown Go and with speed draw up the Cavalry to Achm. And in Battalia place the infantry Exit Achm. Possess their minds with hopes of great reward And cull the choicest soldiers for my guard to Phillopater You to your charge and Ptollomy take care Exit Phillopater There be no tumult that may stint the war Zichmi thy faith so noble hath been shewn In the defence of my exalted Throne That to thy guard my sister I resign By careful and close pris'ner her confine Till you my Signet for her freedome see Zichmi I 'le not dispute but act your great decree Exit Zelm. And now one act of honour I
live Onely by Air Air then shall be my food A diet fit for our o'reflowing blood Refresht with smiles my heart shall baffle death And surfet on warm gusts of Rosie breath Amas. Oh no for though great Love our hearts controuls 'T is a repast fit only for our Souls A natural food our bodies it must supply And we refuting that shall surely dye And then the Gods too mindful of our fates Against our souls approach will shut heavens gates Moar. The Gods perhaps their wrath will shew on me But when they shall thy brighter spirit see They 'r ill weigh'd rage they will conceive a sin And from their Thrones hast to conduct thee in Then leading thee through the Coelestial Signs Whilst at thy sight each envious Goddess pines They 'l seat thee there in State whilst I shall be Seeing thee cherisht by each Deity In Heaven opprest with Earthly Jealousie Amas. In vain your fears do such disasters bode Were I a Goddesse you should be a God I would create new Laws in heaven for thee And never blush at the Impiety So great my love so strong my constancy Moar. Blest in each others arms we would despise The troops of the Inferiour Deities But let us now with soaring thoughts dispence And prove on earth loves precious influence Bear witness heaven that now our Actions veiw How Little life I prize compard with you You whose perfections can such blessings give That for your sake I onely with to live Amas. And I your vertues though I blush to tell Confess my Soul I love not halfe so well Moar. When to our blisse a pleasant Race we run How swift the minuits are how quickly gone The time seems envious of our happinesse And strives to put a period to our bliss By an unlookt for hast but let 'em fly Each project of curst Fortune I defie And glorying in your heavenly presence prove Noblessing e're can match the charms of Love Exeunt SCENE II. Zelmura Sola Zelm. IT shall be done it must nor can there be A pow'r but heaven to alter my decree And that I may have int'rest in heavens Love For a short time I will religious prove Kneel to the Gods adore their pow'r and state Be just and pious meerly to be great I'm Egypts Queen my pow'r like a huge stream O'reflows small shrubs yet I am not supream My will is limited my orders stand But as the Copies of the King command Who in security now tramples on Those wreaths which I in war with danger won Coheirs in Empire shines but dimly bright Whilst eithers lustre darkens t'others light But I like Titan fixt alone would shine And dare all other Beams to equal mine Nature begone thou faint soft hearted thing What though he be my husband and my King Ambition is my Soul and die he must And 't is sufficient that I think it just Had Providence ordain'd I should have been A theam of Pity a kind vertuous Queen I had submitted to that harmless name And followed Piety But as I am The Child of War all Courage and all Fire My deeds above the sense of good aspire Die then dull King for since no way is known But by thy death for me to mount thy throne I am Resolv'd all thoughts of good to quell And raign first here though I raign next in hell The cause of your unmanner'd hast declare Enter Ptolomy hastily Ptol. My news exacts your courage and your care The King has had some close intelligence How Psamnis sent to Syria by the Prince To raise new Powers and get his Ransome paid Intends again our Nation to invade Knowledge of which hath so provok't his wrath He swore a no less Rash then mighty Oath Before the mornings dawn t' exault a flood And drown all Danger in the Princes blood Zelm. That breath has damn'd him hell has not endued The Fiends with half so much ingratitude He shall not no his doom I will recall By all the Gods if they permit his fall I will destroy the World kill and disrobe Nature of her perfections shake the Globe To its first Chaos and by actions prove Nothing can match a Womans hate or love Enter Amasis Amas. Ah! Sister can you thus your steps retard The noble Prince drag'd rudely by the guard Stands in the Presence bound Zelm. bound hell and death Here me you pow'rs above and shades beneath You that on Thrones of Day abhor the Night And you whom horrours of cold death delight Hear and assist my haughty enterprize For since controwling fate wears a disguise Since Nature takes a Pride Mortality To mould in Plots and Jugling villany I am resolv'd my influence to shew And fright the World with Natures overthrow Like some great conflagration I 'le appear And first with smoky flateries charm his ear Till I my hearts desire have obtain'd His his whole power by his promise gain'd That done from cloudy thickness I 'le aspire And Scorch opposers like consuming fire Exeunt SCENE III. Melechadel Zichmi Achmades Moaron held by Guards Melech AM I to be out brav'd Gods has my fate Made me as oft victorious as great Seated my Throne upon the conquer'd heads Of those that seek the paths ambition treads And shall I now stand tame when threatned by A weak low Object of my Clemency Wars vassal no my rage shall tempests grow And the fierce pow'r of inrag'd Monarchs show Lead to the Scaffold by my Crown I 'le try If thus inspir'd you can submit to dye If in the Book of fate my doom appear To be the next I 'le meet death void of fear And smile to think thou art my harbinger Moar. Tyrant not all thy tortures nor the Hell Fixt in thy Conscience shall my Courage quell My Spirit shall contemne thy basest deed And spite of torments dare thee to proceed The Bright all-seeing Sun when I shall dye From Reeking Mists will draw my soul up high Where on a Star I shall with Glory shine And in infernal Caverns see thee Pine Melech Dream on dream on of visionary joyes Your fancy quickens with these pleasing toyes Lead him away alas he weary growes These dull delayes but hinder his repose His power would conquer Crowns beyoad the Sun Did he not want a head to set 'em on Zichm Pardon dread Sir I If presume so far To tell your Majesty the chance of war Is incident to all men Kings have been The subjects of disasters not foreseen Blur not the trophies then of victory With the black stain of so much infamy Kings are like Gods when vertue they obey But that once lost they are but common Clay Melech Your Moral Phrase I cannot understand Vertue do's it not ly in my command What I decree is just although exprest A Miracle to an inferiour breast Vent your dull sentences where publick wrongs Lye brooding to be judg'd by publick tongues My will the power of factious souls shall awe A Monarchs mandate is his Subject
can in vice exceed Were I a man and consequently blest With that excelling vigor they possess My Arm with Trophies should this realm have stor'd Of Monarchs that paid tribute to my Sword But henceforth let the title only frame A lasting blot to mens eternal shame For if a womans Courage can convince 'T is fit the Sex should bear preheminence With smiles I 'le meet with death but first set free My Captiv'd soul from Griping Jealousie My Sisters death my fears shall soon remove I cannot dye and leave her here to Love And the brave Prince I know will soon consent But what I fear I will with haste prevent Exit SCENE A Tent Royal. Selabdin Aldabar and Souldiers Phillopater Ptollomy Achmades Prisoners Selab Sound a retreat to our remaining Pow'rs Since fate now plainly shews the conquest ours I 'e it your charge to keep the Pris'ners Close to Aldabar Till at my leasure I their fate dispose But see the Author of our happiness And brave disposer of our good success Enter Moaron Psamnis and Souldiers Moaron kneels to Selabdin This lowly Posture do's some suit express T is thine what e're it be thou canst not want A Boon that lyes within my pow'r to grant Moar. Encourag'd then by awful Majesty I boldly ask these pris'ners liberty And though this Land we have by conquest gaind From hostile acts I beg you to refrain And still permit the noble Queen to reign In this a Fathers kindness will be seen This gives me pow'r to gratifie the Queen Who Goddess like while I incompast round With troops of Horse when reeling on the ground Dispairing of all aid my Sword I held Up brandisht thus to give a last farewel With an unmatcht command their rage appeas'd And from a swift destruction me releas'd If then dread Sir my merits claim a Place In th' unvallued blessings of your grace Give back her Kingdome set these pris'ners free And by one act of generosity Perfected let your glorious deeds relate You excel all in honour as in fate Selab To render back a Nation bravely won Honour sole Ransome and to please a Son In stubborn hearts perhaps regret might move Where proud ambition swayes paternal Love But I so well thy mind and vertue know In a less act my Love I cannot shew Thy suit is granted do what likes thee best Either to sign a Peace or still molest This act shall shew to forraign Enemies How much I honour above profit prize Moar. This noble grant all heaven do's out do The drowsie Gods can Monarchy bestow But to such fame their title is not good They give no Kingdoms won with loss of blood They Sit on easie Thrones and take delight Being far themselves from hurt to see us fight But were they flesh and frail Mortallity As timerous and as prone as we to die They'd soon confess a dear bought Nation given Would quite surpass the bounty of their heaven Phillo To souls so fraught with Honours Dignity 's Vnbinds the Pris'ners The Gods do justly bestow victory 's Ptollo This act 's so great it were too much to do For any Son of Glory less than you Achm. Since fate decrees our future Dignity Should the brave off-spring of your bounty be Wee 'l to the Queen this joyful news declare And from the peoples hearts vanish dispair Selab No tumult let on pain of Death be shown When we shall enter with our pow'r the town And see that none my present deeds dispute This act of honour shall be absolute Moar. In this brave grant you doubly bless your Son Selab 'T is fit you should dispose a Crown you won My age Fame's Lawrels ne're can better know Than when they nobly flourish on thy brow For when the Winter of my blood shall seize My heart and chillness usher a disease Thy fame resounding load from every tongue Shall thaw my veins and once more make me young Exeunt SCENA Vltima Zichmi Amasis Zich THese dull delayes do only bliss remove Coucht in the essence of united Love Madam you too much time in thought have spent Dull thought a friend to passion ne're was meant Dispeirce those frowns that fatal storms presage And by consenting make this hour an age Amas. Consider Sir what torments will succeed The Curst persuance of so foul a deed Zichm I have consider'd on my certain fate I know my death this crime must expiate But e're I dye in Heav'ns bright Sphere I 'le rove And reach an immortallity by Love Each minuit will our bliss make more sublime And put new Sands into the Glass of time Amas. I cannot Love you thus this rudeness bears So strange a shape it do's increase my fears Calm your fierce passion let the Love you own To my desert in your respect be shewn Be milder Sir soft kindness may proclame My free consent to what I dare not name But your impatience do's my passion charm And 'gainst your hateful suit my fancy arm No succour yet approaching no blest aid Ye Heav'nly pow'rs releive an injur'd Maid aside Hem'd in with horrour and past help distrest Zichm In this your sexes frailty is exprest Thus you with glossing Phrases hope to blind And then deceive with falshood half mankind But this gross pill must then be swallow'd by One that dotes more upon your face than I 'T is true I Love you but my grosser flame Burns not so clear and has a Courser name Then that which dotards Court you with a fire Sprung from hot blood and nourisht with desire And therefore I that am not blinded yet Can look through the thin vail of your deceipt And find that you my passion have delay'd In expectation of some posting aid Perhaps because you do mislike my hair I am not as you wish me fat or fair For 't is not vertue or dull modesty That makes your stubborn tongue my suit deny No sense of ruin'd Honour is embrac't But only grief the pleasure will not last Since then I know your Sex prone to be kind Since your denials plainly shews your mind I am resolv'd thus the effects to prove And make revenge my cheifest act of Love goes to seize her Amas. Help help oh help Enter Zelmura Zelm. Hah our high blood defam'd Sink Impious slave to Hell perjur'd and damn'd Rushes in and e're he can get his Sword that leys on the Table wounds him mortally Zichm 'T is done thy bloody Sword has forc't its way Hell and curst fate still traitors thus repay Oh that I could but lift my arm so high To strike one stroke though I were doom'd to lye Ever in flames and in Hells Sulphure fry I would thy soul through thy life blood persue And to revenge my Brother stab that too But 't is too late I 'me gone dies Zelm. Hast then and die A horrid Scene of lasting infamy Amas. Oh let me kiss the Sword that did the deed And my dear honour from that traitour freed Heaven of my injur'd
innocence took care 'T was the effects of a chast Virgins pray'r Zelm. Our base Egyptians lives dishonour'd choose Whilst the fierce foe victoriously persues I only hither fled to thy defence Least you should suffer by their insolence 'T is true I think the Syrian Prince retains Of his late love to you some small remains And might be brought his forces to remove And to restore the Crown a prize to Love But deeds wherein your fame and honour lies I would do nothing without your advice Her secret thoughs will now be Straight exprest aside And by this Plot I soon shall sound her breast Amas. Let not such blest Events be then withstood My life 's too little for the Nations good Instruct me sister what I have to do To save the State I 'd fate it self persue Zelm. No action our great danger can convince By your consent again to love the Prince Amas. To Love the Prince what tides of blessings meet I love him more than Angels do their Seat An ardent passion do's my breast inspire My life is not so dear Zelm. Furies and fire aside Amas. If that blest action can extend your sway Le ts hence and see how gladly I 'le obey Zelm. Oh horrid Amas. that all doubts I may remove I long to see the Object of my Love Zelm. Behold it then drawing her Sword This is thy Lover this relucent toy The latest bliss thou ever shalt enjoy Dull fool my Jealousie was strong before But this confession has inflam'd it more I did expect that when I had remov'd Your passions cause you would forget to Love But your late words have rais'd my fears again And in my heart caus'd an unusual pain A pain so feeling that compar'd to this Tortures are Joys and Hell a Paradice Therefore prepare to die Amas. To die oh no. Zelm. Stand firmly now and bravely meet the blow Amas. I cannot oh such horrid thoughts remove I will perform your will renounce my Love I 'le hate the Prince his proffer'd Love defie Rail slight I can do any thing but die Confine me to some Dungeon wanting light Whose obscure Walls inclose perpetual night Or place me here do any thing to give Your self a choice content but let me live You in my death all cruelty surpass Alas I yet ne're knew what woman was Take pity of my Youth and spare my breath Heaven knows as yet I am unfit for death Zelm. Unfit for Death how vainly you remove My Cautious doubts were you unfit to Love I might believe your argued policy But being fit to Love you 'r fit to die Amas. Nature our hearts to passion do's bequeath Zelm. But nature always must submit to death Within few years the tyrant will grow bold Amas. Then Sister do but stay till I am old Zelm. Oh fie should lifes reprieve so tedious be Your death would be an act of charity By dying young fame Lawrels will provide And tell succeeding ages how you dy'd Amas. A fatal glory that no fame can have But in the gloomy Mansion of the grave Zelm. Besides some comfort 't is you do not die Alone lot I will keep you company When my brave sword hath sent thee to thy rest Warm with thy blood it then shall peirce my breast But should you live and fervently renew His Love that only to my merit 's due I my revenge in t'other world would boast And daily haunt thee with my restless Ghost But in your Death I rest shall find and you A happiness unthought of shall pursue shout These shouts declare the Enemy's intent I must make hast least fate the deed prevent Love guide my hand wounds Amasis Amas. Hold hold look how I bleed Let this suffice oh do not now proceed Zelm. Fond foolish Girle why dost retard thy bliss Hadst thou stood still thou hadst been dead e're this And free from danger there wounds her again Amas. will nothing do Gods must I die thus poorly basely too Assist me Heaven Runs and snatches up Zichmi's Sword and then comes to the Queen Zelm. Is your courage warm'd Amas. So now thanks fate as well as you I 'me arm'd Infernal fury come if I must die I 'le give my self a noble destiny If death to nature be a debt we owe I 'le meet it bravely come you move too slow Zelm. 'T was bravely done this act I must commend It saves your life if you can well defend Amas. 'T is gone yet in my Death my tongue shall move fight and Amasis falls Upon no theam but my unspotted Love I feel my life in lukewarm streams depart And natures palefac't tyrant gripes my heart Take Cruel Queen and by my death receive In him the Quintessence of all that 's brave Whilst I surrender heaven that life it gave Dies Zelm. Farewell to pity thee is now too late A stubborn heart best suits a wretched State And I that scorn'd the ills of destiny Will dare its worst effects and fearless die But what is death or whither do I go To heaven or some dark Region plac't below If any State or government serene Be where I am should hell encrease its spleen And strive to oppose yet I would be their Queen Stay thou bright soul of my dear sister stay And be my star to guide me on the way She 's cold as earth no greifs her Spirits seize Her pain is vanisht and she sleeps in peace And I too long delay now she is gone But my past promise straight I will make known And thus revenge her Murder by my own Stabs her helf Enter Selabdin Moaron Aldabar Ptollomy Psamnis Phillopater Achmades Saphrena And Guards Moar. entring Hold hold Oh baleful object dismal fate Snatches the dagger from her Zelm. No Sir 't is done your triumph comes too late Too late you think my glory to defame And fix a blemish on Zelmura's name Besides this hand that did but lately bear The lofty Scepter ill would fetters wear These two my Sword did late from life remove Pointing to Amasand Zichm One for his Lust t'other for too much Love Phillo Unconstant chance that could permit this deed See here great Queen your Son and subjects freed Your Cruel hand has rob'd you of your bliss For at Moarons suit you now possess Your fertil Land your Crown is back restor'd By him that won it with his conqu'ring Sword Zelm. To my lost fame they ill their bounty use To give what I for ever must refuse Moar. What envious demon did your rage incite This to eclipse your sisters glorious light Oh Cruel Queen how could you peirce her breast In whose Angellick sight mankind was blest Her excellence made heaven appear a shade And had not a frail mind her Mortal made She would have been a Goddess more divine Then e'r in Starry robes do's yonder shine Zelm. Let not your fancy faithless thoughts persue Know Sir she to your Love was heavenly true It was my pow'r made her your flame withstand Nor