like Heavens fixt poles Come furies all whip up my sleeping envy Lash the lean haggard Fiend and make her foam Lend me your scorpions reach the pois'nous bowl That the green gall may stain my venom'd blood And my infâ—ction raise a mad combustion Then from the Port I will behold the Storm And laugh at ruins that my plots perform Exit SCENE Semanthe's Apartment Enter Tachmas Semanthe Lords Tach O! why Semanthe why these falling tears I swear my Love not the last drops of life Just fâ—owing from my heart are dearer to me Than those rich pearls that trickle from thy Eies What on this joyful day it must not be Give me thy gâ—iefs pour all thy sorrows here Heâ—e â—n my breast and pant within my arms Tho' fâ—â—tune frown and every star conspire Yâ—â— wâ— may love Semanthe Sem. O my Lord What Sâ—n â—hall see you mine Is there no power Assisting to our love Tach. My dearer selâ— Let no sad thought poison this happy hour The Gods have sent us to begin our joys No my Semanthe we will never part For ever thus thus in each others arms Ages shall see us flourish Sem. Yes you shall For ever be believed for my poor heart Wou'd fain be â—onded with the hopes of rest Yet there is something here presages ill Were our loves Scene a blissful sylvan Grove And we the happy tenants of its shade An humble rural pair to all unknown Plac't beneath Fortune's aim we might be blest But Oh! the storms and tempests of a Court The Rocks the Quicksands and tossing Seas That love must venture through to gain its port Foil the most resolute powers of my soul. Enter Seliman unseen with Ismael and Arbanes Selim. There needs no more Ismael you retire Whilst Arbanes attends me Exit Ismael Sem. You know the Sophy long has sought my love And tho' I swear I never will be his Nor change the passion I have vow'd you long For more than earth can give or heaven bestow Yet O my Lord my fears are great for you What horrid consequence what rash effect Of wildest fury ought we not to dread From him who when he knows his happy rival Has power to execute his fatal will Tach. No my Semanthe we are now secure From all the darts of Fortune these my friends Soon as I march to my new Government Shall be your guard and privately conveigh you To Georgia which Province your brave Father Had govern'd long and but with death resign'd 'T is now within my power and I doubt not At sight of you but we shall have those friends To join our cause that my enable us To justifie our loves Lords In the publick name We lay our lives and fortunes at your feet Selim. O! man me reason Resâ—rain the sallies of my starting passion Which else will plung me in the gulph of madness Sem. But if that gloomy minute shou'd approach Avert it heaven when I am forc'd to loose you Forgive the Virgin fondness of my love Where shou'd your poor Semanthe run for succour Or shou'd I live to mourn your loss for ever Tach. O stop not here for ever bless my ears With the delightful story of thy love My heart is ravish'd with excessive joy Leaps in my breast And dances to the musick of thy voice O my Semanthe let me die with rapture Thus sigh my soul out on thy Virgin bosome Thus press thee still for ever hold thee to me Emplying the hoarded treasure of my love Till life be spent and I fall pale before thee What shall I say to speak thy wondrous vertue My tongue forsakes me when I wou'd go on Uncapable to form my dazling thoughts And I can only gaze and still admire thee Seliman coming forward Selim. Gaze on devour her all this look's thy last Sem. O heavens we are betraid Selim. O wondrous modesty of guilt discover'd Ingrateful Slave I will not stoop to tell thee How thou hast basely wrong'd thy friend and brother I did design thy death but thank the powers That have reviv'd expiring nature in me But fly be gone to death or banishment And all the publick offices you held By our permission here we take agen The general staff Arbanes now is thine Arb. My service best will speak my gratitude Selim. As Traitors to our Crown and Life your Heads To the Lords Are forfeit to our Laws but meet ignobler fates Madam your Sexes folly pleads your cause But think on him no more learn to forget A slave so much unworthy Arbanes thou attend upon Semanthe And guard her as thou wouldst thy life away Exit Tach. If in my better fortune I have ever Deserv'd thy love Grant me a parting minute with Semanthe And in return my life Shall be too short to shew my gratitude Arb. My Lord the time requires a short farewel And you must make it so I know there are A thousand tender things for you to say Unfit for me to hear Therefore my Lord the guards shall wait without Exit with â—uards Tach. Now my Semanthe Sem. O my most lov'd Lord Support me for my spirits die within me At the least mention of thy banishment Tach. Look up my star my shining happiness Dart through the gloomy Winter of our â—ortune And smile upon me Let us deceive our miseries a while Talk of the joys of love and never think Of parting grief wiâ—l come too fast upon us Sem. Methinks already in some baâ—barous wild Like a benighted Traveller I walk Viâ—wing with watry Eiâ—s the sinking Sun And night displaying her sad Ensigns round No friendly Village near me all before A horrid maze of death without a guide To chear my heavy steps despair and death O wilt thou ne're return to glad my soul And must we never never meet agen Tach. My souls last treasure how I part from thee How far above the world I prize thy love The Almighty searchers of the mind can tell But since irrevocable fate has doom'd That I must ne're be happy O hear my wish For thy content and future peace of mind It matters not what shall become of me When I am gone for ever from thy sight Forget that wretched Tachmas â—ver was O! think not on the wretch for that will grieve thee But give thy love to royal Seliman Give him that Heart that once was mine those vows That spotless faith thou gav'st to me which since 'T is for your peace you Gods I here resign Here on this Altar sigh you all away Kissing her hand Sem. O most unkind why do you use me thus Or wou'd you have me think you never lov'd That thus you wish me from you Tach. My love My dearer self thou miracle of woman For what recorded story ever told One of thy Sex so fond of misery Let â—s live wretched then and ever love So truly love that the relenting Gods At last in justice may redress our wrongs And bring us safe unto each others arms Sun O! if
I ever prove untrue to Tachmas May I resign my honor to a slave Be branded a vile common prostitute And only known by the black marks of shame Tach. O I cou'd hear thee ever but thus resolv'd Let 's try to part Sem. O you must first begin For my heart 's fond and sure to say farewel Wou'd break it quite Tach. Farewel Semanthe witness all you Gods To you I recommend this weighty charge O guard her innocence and secure her faith For sure she will be strongly tempted from me That if our kinder stars shou'd guide me home To these lov'd arms our souls may meet in joy Sem. My heart 's exceeding heavy falling tears Dazle my sight and won't let me see you O do not leave me yet Tach. I must be gone If I stay longer we are both undone My Eies wou'd ever on that object dwell But we must part farewel Sem. Farewel farewel Exeunt ACT. III. SCENE I. Enter Seliman following Semanthe Selim. THe stubborn rocks are wor'n by pouring floods But you tho' cover'd with a constant dew Like weeping marble Give me no hopes but are as hard as ever Sem. Learn hope from widow'd Turtles Or from the melancholy Philomel Who percht all night alone in shady Groves Tunes her soft voice to sad complaints of Love Making her life one great harmonious wo. Selim. Cannot Pactolus strand nor Tagus stream Nor heaps of Pearl join'd with a Persian Crown Bias your thoughts or poise a Subjects love Sem. Tho' your wide Empire with expanded Wings Flew o're the East farther than Cyrus led it Tho' the Sun tenanted his course from you And the rich Indian world confess'd your sway I wou'd prefer my Tachmas my lov'd Lord To all the Pageantries of gaudy power Tachmas whose name but mention'd warms my heart Life of my hopes and charmer of my soul Selim. You were not form'd to run in natures herd Sultry and elbow'd in the crowd of slaves These matchless beauties shou'd adorn a throne Plac't eminently in a shining Orb Dart life or death in every awful look Sem. O Tachmas didst thou know How my assaulted faith maintains the field Sure thou wou'dst fly to my assistance Selim. O Madam taste the pleasures of a Throne The sweets of nature always blow around us Fate cannot reach us The ills she scatters through the Lower world Like Vapours vanish e're they gain our height Joys flow untainted from the bounteous Gods Which the poor Subject takes at second hand No noise molests us but what musick makes Cool gentle breezes fan our hotter hours While we look down and view the sweaâ—ing worlâ— See at your feet I offer all my greatness My Love my Life yet all too little far To purchase one dear look one pitying smile Sem. O rise my royal Lord why shou'd you kneel To me why do you hold me thus Selim. Why dost thou turn away Sem. I must be gone Selim. What! not a look not one dear smile to chear My famish'd love mâ— sad despairing heart But my too happy rival will dispense With this thus thus I print my soul Kissing her hand she breaks from him Ha! gone so soon nay then 't is time to speak By all the pangs of love if thus you leave me Thus tortur'd with the violence of my passion Your Lovers blood alone shall quench my rage Sem. Ah! where shall constancy meet a reward Where shall that poor abandon'd vertue flie For her 't is persecuted to undoing Selim. 'T is not his banishment that shall suffice That I appli'd as a safe remedy In hopes you wou'd forget him by degrees But since I find th' infection spreads upon you I must be quick and snatch the sharpest cure And since he only bars my happiness His death shall guide me on my way to bliss Exit Sem. O leave me not with that destructive sound My Lord Oh stay O hear me e're you go He 's gone and may perhaps intend it too Ah! No Hyrâ—â—â—ian Tigers woud not hurt my Love But a revengeful furious Rival may Tachmas and death O keep 'em distant Heaven For like destroying Planets if they meet My ruine's certain Some God inspire my mind In this wide maze of death a path to find That leads me to the means how I may save My Love or that that leads me to my Grave Exit SCENE changes to the Country Enter Osman with several Officers Osm. FAr hence he cannot be And by the Villages discription It must be the Prince they saw 1 Offi. 'T is strange that misery shoud be so silent The birds in mournful Notes should share his griefs Each Grove shou'd eccho the sad accents back And every bark contain the fatal story 2 Offi. Let 's separate he cannot scape our search Exeunt Enter Tachmas Tach. Greatness the earnest of malicious fate For future woe was never meant a good Baited with gilded ruine 't is cast out To catch poor easie man What is 't to be a Prince To have a keener sense of our misfortunes That 's all our wretched gain The Vulgar think us happy and at distance Like some fam'd ruinous pile we seem to flourish But we who live at home alone can tell The sad disquiets and decays of peace That always haunt the dwelling O ambition How strangely dost thou charm the minds of men That they will choose to starve on mountain tops Rather than taste the plenty of the Vale. Had my kind stars design'd my fortune here Bred among Swains with my Semanthe by me The conquering beauty of some neighbouring village What Ages of content might I have past Till time had quencht both Life and Love together But O! I never more must think of peace Semanthe's gone for ever O Semanthe Exit Re-Enters with Officers Tach. Coâ—e to my Arms my Warriers these are they Who in the piercing Winter of our fortune Cling to our saples sides and keep us warm Once more let me endear you to my heart And now my friends part we like Soldiers here All to our several fates fight for the King As I have done and may your services Be better paid Osm. Oft have we seen fate hovering o're our Camp In all the bloody horrors of a War Nor have we left our General at the view And shall we here desert him basely here Where only hunger or some trivial want Which war has turn'd to nature in us threatens 1 Off. Fate cou'd not part our fortunes in the War Nor shall she now Osm. Were those soft slaves of leachery and ease To head an Army those who thus have wrong'd you How wou'd they voice it o're and o're for Tachmas To come and blunt the edge of War agen 2 Off. Base natures always hate where they 'r oblig'd Enter Arbanes with a Guard Arban My Lord I come empowr'd to take You Prisoner as Traitor to the State Tach. A Traitor Prethee forbear me that and I resign My self to justice up without the stain Of thy black blood upon my
wou'd fain know how we are these great conceal'd persons you talk of 1 Cit. Why thus when our betters are at variance beyond the Arbitration of the bench the suit is remov'd to the Court of Commonalty and decided by the infallible knocks of black bill and paring-shovel then to what ever side we lean that is sure to be weighty 3 Cit. As if you had the cause in your false scales at home Ismael enters to ' em 1 Cit. But observe here comes an Ambassador already give him Audience I say state Affairs I 'le warrant you Neighbours Isma My worthy Country-men my fellow sufferers To you I come to weep this Kingdomes tears To sigh its groaning sorrows out and pour Into your ears its sad calamities You who like kind Physitians always are Assisting with your utmost art and care To search its wounds and with a healing hand Unite its broken and disjointed limbs 1 Cit. Sure he takes me for a bone setter Isma I am like you a Persian all your good Proportionably mine as are you ills Our hopes and lives tied in one common interest Then wonder not that I stand forth to head you Against this barbarous inhumane King That grows in tyranny And like a Torrent from a Mountain's fall If not with speed diverted will o'rewhelm us 2 Cit. Now for Rebellion I ne're Rebell'd in all my Life Omn. All for Rebellon all for Rebellion Isma If to defend your Lives your Liberties Your Laws your Customes and your ancient dues Be to rebel then this is rank Rebellion But sure a just defence may hope a fairer name 2 Cit. Name me no name Sir it shall be nam'd Rebellion or nothing Omn. Rebellion or nothing Rebellion or nothing Isma Then be it so methinks I see oppression Bestride your streets already burning lust Pursue your daughters to your inmost rooms While you stand weeping by and cannot help ' em Your shops forc'd open and your goods expos'd To the wild rapine of licentious Soldiers That live on spoil and all without redress For justice is no more speak woud you this Omn. No no we 'r all for Rebellion Ism. 'T is what you must expect if not prevented Last night O night never to be forgotten Tachmas that model of our ancient glory Tachmas that fought your fields and never thought His blood to rich to buy his Countries peace Was by the Tyrants order barbarously murder'd Murder'd my Country men and when you hear The cause I doubt not But as the story must provoke your tears So they will stir you up to a revenge 1 Cit. Alack-a-day I vow he makes me weep good gentleman Isma 'T was only this he was too good too vertuous A Lover of his Country therefore fell He was your guard your shield but now is gone He fell because he Lov'd you and will you Not solemnize his funeral in blood Will you stand here like statues motionless Weep o're his gaping wounds and not revenge ' em No no I see you only want a Leader And here I offer both my life and fortune To farther the design 1 Cit. Lead us on lead us on we 'l fire the Palace depose the Tyrant and make you King 2 Cit. Ay ay a King of our own making Isma O! you mistake me that is not my end 2 Cit. No 't is the beginning of your Reign and that 's better 1 Cit. We loose time we loose time now for a Coronation Omn. A Coronation A Coronation Exeunt shooting Tachmas in Prison Tach. I think and therefore am hard state of man That proves his being with an Argument That speaks him wretched Birds in Cages lose The freedome of their natures unconfin'd Yet they will sing and bill and murmur there As merrily as they were on the Wing But man that reasoning favourite of Heaven How can he bear it Tho the body finds Respight from torment yet the mind has none For thousand restless thoughts of different kinds Beat thick upon the soul some are comparing The present with the past how happy once I was and now how wretched some presenting My miseries by others happiness Whilst others falsly flattering me to Life Tell me my fortune ripens in the womb Of time and I shall yet be happy Enter Arbanes with Semanthe Arb. Madam behold the Prince alone and thoughtful Sem. Alas My Lord once I was thought a balm For every wound of Fortune but I fear My presence now will but torment him more Tach. Ha! sure my fancy revelling in a dream Presents that form before me see she comes Bright as the Virgin blushes of the morn Rising upon the darkness of my fate And darts a day of comfort through my soul. O my best Life thou dearest O Semanthe I swear while I have thee within my arms I will not loose a thought on my misfortunes Let me unbosome all my longings here She turns away what can this mean you Gods Art thou then alter'd too O speak Semanthe For tho' I thus behold thee cold and chang'd Yet there is something whispers to my soul Thou never canst resolve on Tachmas ruin Sem. O heaven so tenderly he melts my heart I shall want power to tell him of his falshoods Tach. Nay then by all the Gods I know thee well No thou art still the same those languishings Those eager looks those sighs and tears inform me More than a thousand tongues thou lovest me still Sem. Why is our Sex so easie to believe And coz'ning man so artful to decieve Tach. Why my best Life why dost thou thus torment Thy self and me She goes from him By all my hopes you must not leave me thus I will pursue you ever with my prayers Summon you with the gentle call of Love Till you awake and answer to my longings My life my soul following her Sem. O! I can hold no longer Thy tongue has softned me into desire And I am all o're Love my dearest Lord Let me for ever hide me in this bosome Here sigh the tenderest passion of my heart The extasie comes on so fast upon me That words are wanting to express my joy Tach. Good Gods is 't possible hast thou at last My fair offended Dear resolv'd to bless me Is it then true that thus I hold thee fast Panting and balmy to my bleeding heart My reason ebbs and mighty transport sways In full dominion every corner here And I cou'd rave for ever on my Love Sem. And I cou'd hear you ever Arb. O! that I coud run back into my youth To ravish her before him but 't is past And my revenge must lie another way aside Tach. A thought returns upon my memory That bids me chide Semanthe O my Life How coud'st thou see me rack'd with impatience How coudst thou so dissemble with thy Love Was it to try how I cou'd bear it Sem. Ha! Stand off I know thee now thou art that false Betraying perjur'd man that has undone me Tach. From thee good Gods do I hear this from
doats upon the Prince Isma Be patient His kindness is as short liv'd as his anger Bego Thou second blessing which the Gods enrich'd My fruitful youth with comfort of my age Our lives preserver welcome from the War Welcome to me and Ispahan Tach. Is there a Joy in Victory beyond My Mothers safety protecting her you Gods Has overpaid the little I have done My hours of blood and I am still your debtor â—ego Now I could bless these powers that lengthned out My date of life to this most happy day Once more to view the ancient Persian glory Shine out in these my Sons once to behold The face of things serene and fair agen The fruits of peace brooding through all the Land And plenty smiling upon evry brow This as the Mother of my Country but The Spirit of my joy 's reserv'd for you My Sons or let me call you by a nearer name My self thus to behold you meet in friendship To have my blood altho' in different veins Flow in one stream of love and what 's yet more Tho' Empire stands between like a huge rock To break the current and divide you ever O! let it be my glory now my Sons â—o seal the bands of friendship you have tied To bless you thus thus in each others Arms And as a worthy Sacrifice to offer My stock of breath in Prayers for both your welfares Ambo Long live thou best of Mothers Selim. And mark me all my people nay sound our Trumpets To yon bright roof and summon all the Gods As witnesses to this great Stygian vow By the Eternal God-head of the Sun I glory more that I can call thee mine My Friend and Brother than in wearing Crowns Tach. Gods if there be a possibility To speak my thanks but that 's impossible Or if there be a way to gratitude Direct me to 't tho' certain dâ—ath attend Me every step I 'le on to serve the King Selim. I know thou wouldst yet Tachmas O my Brâ—tâ—er Great as I am in Arms Tho' I have Conquer'd through the Asian world And thou maintain'st my glory in the field Still there is wanting to compleat my bliss Semâ—nth's love but that wise Heaven denies me To show I am buâ— man Foâ— had the Gods Granted me her with this vast space of Empire I 'de been their equal not envi'd 'em the joys They boast above nor had a thought of heaven Beyond her beauty But private cares must not usurp this day Lead to the banquet all must be our guests 'T is Seliman invites you Exeunt Omnes Praeter Ismael Semanthe Ism. Madam I know the Princes soul abhors These forms and ceremoniâ—s that detain Him â—rom your arms I have not time to open all my thoughts I must attend the king only prâ—pare If any storm shou'd fall to scape it's fury Exit Sem. Alas what storm and how shou'd I beware What lover ever yet foresaw a danger The God himself is blind and all that love In midnight darkness to his temple move Like a tost bark at Sea the Pilot gone I 'm leâ—t expos'd to winds and waves alone And rocks on every hand to split upon Yet there is one part fair in view where I The fortune of my life and love will try My Tachmas's Arms where I will live or die Exit SCENE a Street Enter Citizens with their Wives 1 Cit. HOt work Neighbours very hot work Bells ringing â—on-fires flaming Crackers flying Conduits runing Engines playing and Buts of Wine tossing about like Church buckets in a fire 2 Cit. Ay ay 't will be a day of serviâ—e therefore I think it convenient our leaky vessels be lain by Omnes Agreed agreed 1 Cit. Yes Doxies you must troop home like obedient Wives and expect us as soon as we in our royal pleasure shall think fit to follow 1 Wom. O but Husband We have not seen the Fire works 2 Wom. And we never saw Fire-works sincâ— we were marri'd â— Cit. And now for the honâ—r of Matrimony you wou'd meet with some red nos'd engineering Corporal and be squib'd for company 2 Wom. Besides 't is a Holi-day and Citizens Wives shou'd be abroad on Holi-days 1 Wom. The King has proclaim'd it and it may be Treaâ—on to go home before night 1 Cit. We your Representatives in the body politick will stay till morning and be loyally drunk for the King 1 Wom. And we your Cyphers if we can find any civil Gentlemen as loyally affected as our selves will do something else for the King before morning Omn. Wom. So farewel husbands Exâ—unt Women 1 Cit. So now we have the day before us 2 Cit. The fear of Cuckoldome is removed and we will be most obediently drunk at the Kings charges Omnes Away away we lose time Ex. shooting God bless the King Enter Soldiers drunk with the former Women 1 Sold. The day is our own the Town surrenders and I must ravish â— Wom. O Lord Sir I am married 1 Sold. And I am a Cuckold-maker 1 Wom. O! but the sin of adultery is a double sin 1 Sold. And I love double sinning with all my heart 't is a method we Soldiers use to cheat the Devil in counting Fornication Pox 't is boys play and Gown-men preach against it but justifie the reasonableness of Adultery by their own â—xample He touzes her while the others speak 2 Sold. S'buds a Months pay is Nothing to thee I cou'd kiss thee to pieces 2 Wom. Well if my husband knew of the ill customes you bring into his family he 'd look as terrible 2 Sold. As a pair of horns can make him but hang him Cuckold that must be I nevâ—r fear an enemy when I have won his Trenches Come come faith you must faith you must ha Enter former Citizens drunk and singing the women shrick and run out the Soldiers aâ—ter ' em 1 Cit. Our Counters rifled our Wives ravish'd and we in the state of Cuckoldome agen I am drunk desperate and can fight for the honor of my vocatiâ—n and confusion of Cuckold-makers Scour scour scour Exeunt SCENE changes to the Palace Enter Ismael with several Lords Isma My Lords I never can enough return This Kingdoms thanks for making him your care Who is the life and being of us all Tachmas the general wish of Persia The peoples longing and the Courtiers soul With what an eagerness the Sophy flew To meat your loves and e're you cou'd demand him Resign'd the Provinces of greatest trust Through his Dominions to his brothers care Lord. My Lord his strange behaviour at the banquet His start of passion and abrupt departure Provokes our wonder Isma Trust my experience in the Sophy's humour The eye of time has seen him through and through Trac'd him through every temper of his soul And shewn him naked to my strictest view And from my observation of his youth Up to his riper years I dare affirm His soul enrich'd with all those qualities That can endear a Monarch to the
avouch it I wou'd not think it of him Sun Know then as to the conquest of the Prince Whose inclinations you so firmly fixt 'T was got so easily I do not think It worth a triumph scarce of being vain For like a slave I found him on the ground Groaning beneath the bondage of your Love And begging liberty from any hand Sem. O Heavens Sun Let it never be said to shame our Sex That any Lady in her youthful bloom When beauty wanders in a thousand charms And not a look can pass without a wound That then she fulsomely detain'd a Lover Against his will and cloyd him with her fondness O! how I loath the sound against his will Sem. Sure thou hast drunk with Adders that thy tongue Thus poisons every word it forms and casts It's venome on my Tachmas constancy Sun There 's no such thing as constancy in nature 'T is but a borrow'd name for seeble beauties Or stale decaying Virgins to make use of True Love shou'd be as wavering as the wind For that remains but while the rapture lasts And palls when sunk to an indifference Sem. You speak of that poor passion in your breast Rais'd by an earthly fume of base desire The suddain fit of a distemper'd Love Where the gross joy mounts not above the sense Not the Seraphick flame that warms the soul Such was the sacred fire that light our Loves That fir'd my Tachmas heart and made him mine Sun Then be it so Rave on in fond conceits Of aery promises of constancy Swell your thin hopes with insubstantial food Whilst I taste real feasts of flesh and blood And in your Tachmas arms reap thousand joys Which dreams but ape and fancy but destroys Methinks already in some smiling Grove I sit embracing the dear man I Love We sigh and kiss and now our transports grow Tumultuous but the thoughts of you Tho Love be lost in Love Still lend us vigor and our joys renew Exit Sem. How the insulting creature Lords it o're me And well she may for such a conquest sure Might make the temperatest Victor proud This may be malice or a plot to try me That 's the last hope between me and despair Enter and Eunuâ—h with a Letter Eun. Madam the trust I have been honour'd with In your service gain'd me the Princes faith From whose hand this Letter I receiv'd For Sunamire with strict injunctions Of care and secresie at which mistrusting Some practices in hand against your Loves I 've brought it to you Sem. I will reward your care Reads the Letter Sunamire REsist no longer the propositions I made you to place the Crown of Persia on your head if you will but make use of a project to rid us of Seliman And do not think that I retain any longer the least thoughts of Semanthe whom my Stars and inclinations have never design'd for me Tachmas Sem. Ah me where has my fortune left me now What unfrequented Coath am I thrown on Naked and helpless to be made a prey To the next coming salvage of the field What Corner of the Earth will now afford A grave Grave to take me in what mountain hide Me and my woes for ever from the world Undone thou most undone of woman kind Falling down drops the Letter Here grean thy sorrows out and let the winds Whisper thy story through the Universe That never list'ning Virgin be agen Betray'd by the known perjuries of faithless men My spirits saint sure 't is the hand of death Knocks at my heart I go I hope to rest Swoonâ— away Enter Seliman Ismael Arbanes Selim. What do I see Semanthe on the ground Breathless and pale Arb. Some signs of strugling life Appear call in her women to assist her Enter Women Isma The train has taken fire now the blow Must follow soon Selim. Gently gently raise her She breaths she comes agen Sem. Bless me where am I in Elizium sure I know it by this train of weeping Maids Who died for Love as I have done stand off We 'l walk and tell sad stories round Of injur'd women and betraying men But I must weep a while the tears will flow If I but think on Strephons cruelty O I wou'd sleep for ever Sinks into her womens arms and is born off Selim. Bear her to her bed Rest may relieve her spirits Ha! this may Unriddle all Finds the Letter Isma Now fortune play thy part Arb. 'T is a design so full of mastery 'T were womanish to doubt of the success Selim. Ha! against my Life Isma Your Majesty seems troubled have you ought Discover'd in that Letter Selim. Only this That I have fester'd here within my breasts A bosome Wolf to lap my vital blood Here Ismael read the foulest Treasons That ever stain'd the innocence of Paper Is then my mercy poison'd into sin And black ingratitude my punishment 'T is just you God! this scourge upon my folly Shows infinite wisdome and was timely sent To warn me of my faâ—e Isma Yet sacred Sir Selim. Appear not in his cause nor dare to reason With my unalterable resolution Shou'd mercy's self with all her Virgin train Melt at my feet by Haly's soul 't were vain Isma What cou'd provoke the Prince Selim. The Fiends can tell but now 't is busie time Sweat at the Aâ—vil of thy brain and forge Quick as the Cyclops arm an angry God A thousand deaths to wait upon my will Arbanes thou secure him till justice calls Him out a sacrifice to my revenge Exit Arb. After him Fix but his wavering temper to this point And then the day 's our own Exit Ismael My fiery soul Disdains the timerous safety in revenge Which Ismael persues My forward sword With resolution steel'd shall guide me safe Through the most desperate attempts Danger has been my Mistress death I 've met On martial Plains in every garb of fate And shall he aw me now since I am in And Fate works up the melancholy Scene Fall Tachmas nature perish all things lie Conâ—ounded in deep Chaos so that I Reveng'd may in the common ruin lie Exit ACT. V. SCENE I. Enter Ismael Arbanes at several Entrances Isma THou meet'st my wishes is the business done Arb. This Sun shall see it finish'd Isma Give it o're would we had never medled Arb. Curse on thy fear that undermines thy wit Isma The Sophy does suspect us Arb. Danger then Urges the Princes death for to defer Betraies a conscious guilt that may undo us He dies this minute that the next may better Advantage our escapes Isma I 've not thus long March'd hand in hand with mischief spent my daies In Courts forsworn my Conscience studied all The knotty arts and rules of policy Which wise men use to their own interests Not to provide me with a ready plank To bear me from the ruine safe to shore Arb. Thou canst not here be safe my Commission Allows a sure protection in the Army Isma I 'le steer a different
course grow popular And into the City Where Coblers square the Government to their Lasts And Tinkers patch the State some friends I 've made Already there brave factious gifted Rogues That Cant their Doctrine to their present wants And Zealously upon a fit of Conscience Sin or Unsin Rebellion to the Croud These are the fittest instruments to gull The easie people hark the Monster roars Shoots within The Rable is assembled to my wish This is the time to work ' em Exit Enter Semanthe Arb. Semanthe here then there is something still For me to finish Sem. Why do I wander this wide barren waste Forsaken and forlorn when a fair prospect Of everlasting rest stands right in view This load of wo that bends me to the ground I can with Life put off yes I will rush Into the arms of death and shelter there There sleep securely all my cares away Nor shall the noise of Empire or of Love Awakeâ— me to wretchedness again Arb. Talk not of dying Madam Heaven looks down With a kind Eie upon your sufferings And has inspir'd me with a Tenderness May prove of service to you Sem. Is there then A seat for pitty left in humane breasts Or is this but a visionary beam Of comfort that thus lightens in my soul If it be so oh let me still dream on Arb. Madam the Prince Sem. Ha! speak that yet again Sweet as the Syrens Song those accents fall And charm me to my ruine tho' he has Undone me ever but to hear his name Awakes my dying spirits from the grave Dispels my grief and charms me into joy Oh! then speak on Delude me from my miseries a while Tell me some story of my perjur'd Dear Tell me he lives is happy whilst I sigh My spirits out in thanks and die in peace Arb. Wou'd you not see him Madam Sem. Oh in vain I wept intreated followed on my knees For when I offer'd at a last Farewel Once more to see my still Lov'd faithless Tachmas The Sophy quite remorsless fled the room And tho' I grasp'd him with the pangs of death Burst from my arms and left me on the floor Arb. Yet Madam you shall see him Tachmas is Within my charge and only I without The Kings command can give you entrance to him Which you shall have Altho' my Life must answer it to the Sophy Sem. All all the Gods reward this wondrous pitty Oh lead me to that dear protesting Creature That perfect Image of betraying man For he will swear and talk such melting things Sigh such a trembling story of his Love Look such a soul of passion from his Eies And all with such unpractic'd innocence That shou'd the Sex of woman-kind stand by As Witnesses of my injurious usage And but to hear him talk as I have done The coldest sure would venture her undoing Exeunt SCENE changes to a Street Enter a Rabble of Citizens 1 Cit. COme Neighbours hang these cheating Shop countenances they are marks the world knows Cuckolds by and tho they be of credit in the City yet let me tell you at this end o' th' Town they strike no more awe into the beholders than a Watch mans Lanthorn after day break 2 Cit. Ay my Wife told me I had a sneaking look and cou'd not huff my debtors but now I 'm charg'd with bottle Ale to rectifie the errors of my face and let me see what upstart Rascal newly come to office shall overlook me I 'l strut and cock and talk as big as wind and froth can make me but I 'l home while my courage lasts ransack my shop books take account of my debts and arrest in a direct Line from the Lord to the Footman 1 Cit. Of that in season but now we are assembled let us put on the gravity of authority and seem as we really are the true Judges of the Nation Omn. I a Judge I a Judge 3 Cit. A Tailor a Judge that 's fine I faith 1 Cit. Why I tell you Neighbours a cross Leg'd Tailor is the very tipe of Justice he measures offences by the Yard and with his sheers snaps off the Kingdoms vermin I mean those shreds those remnants those patches of a commonwealth call'd Gamesters Cuckold-makers and disbanded Officers that are good for nothing but to make our Wives run a madding for forreign Languages brass Swords superannuated Wigs and greazy Scarlet 2 Cit. Humph! a Judge say you very like why Neighbours he has serv'd upon Juries off and on these twenty years and the Devil 's in 't if he main't be free of Judges Hall by this time but then as to us ay there 's the question how we are that is to say how we may be why thus there 's none here but has exercis'd the Arbitrary function of a beadle in his respective Parish and as I take it that must be a foot to the Chair of Government 3 Cit. Ay ay we are all Judges and Judges Children indeed deed I ever thought I was to be a great man I was such a dull Rogue 2 Cit. Well I was once a Justice itinerant in my precincts which in the Vulgar Translation is no more than a Constable but 't was a thriving time Neighbours a very thriving time for the Parish bawds besides all underdealers as procurers and retailers of pleasure amount to let me see let me see a parcel of no no I 'm out t is no matter for fractions but bribes in abundance to wink at copulation I Pimp'd by Commission and drank brandy at the cost of the sinners 3 Cit. Lord I 'm thinking how awkard and slovenly I shall be in my new trappings for a day or to Ha! and if there be occasion for speeches my Tongue will certainly founder my Wife spoil'd my Oratory when she broke my pate for being sawcy 2 Cit. Better and better still few words promise a great deal of thinking and that abundance of judicial understanding Besides you see our City Justices how they manage themselves upon the Bench indeed a Nut crack or some such conceited Hyroglyphical Engine does well in the hand of a Magistrate which having us'd a while you strait grow Lethargick nodo're the cause then start in amazment and condemn at a venture 1 Cit. Ay ay ay ever while you live ever while you live observe that for look you there 's no one but some time or other ther deserves hanging and tho' the prisoner be not yet a Rogue soft and fair all in good time he may be one therefore I say once agen condemn for prevention 3 Cit. Condemnation I 'le have nothing but condemnation in my Court 't will clear the Kingdom of Idlers and then we may father our own Children 2 Cit. Well neighbour Ralph I know you are a good Common wealths man and understand property and priviledge as a man may say but Scholars you know are Infidels still at their quare's and their quomodo's to show their Learning therefore I being somewhat letter'd or so
thee Sem. Alas my thoughts were all employed upon thee My ears devour'd the musick of thy Love My wrongs were silenc'd and my eies were charm'd And had you but continued the soft Scene Had you still practic'd on my easiness Tho with feign'd Love flattering my womanish faith Joy wou'd have done the business of my grief And I had died contented in your arms Tach. What means my fate where wou'dst thou drive my thoughts Sem. 'T is true I came to take my last farewel Of Life and Love of thee and all my cares To tell thee of thy falshoods not upbraid thee To sigh my story out without complaining To suffer on nor murmur at my fate Since you decreed it this was my fond resolve Th' intention of this passionate doting Fool But now O turn of temper thy hard usage Has run me from my reason I am wild Quite mad distracted and must rave a while Rave till I burst and sink down dead with passâ—on Tach. Alas I find it now thou art abus'd And I betraid some Villain has traduc'd My constancy but by the pangs of Love By all the torments of a bleeding heart I ever was most true and still am thine Sem. O Prince forbear if Sunamire shou'd hear Tach. Ha! Goes it there then there is mischief yet That woman bears us most inveterate hate And shou'd not be believ'd against our selves Sem. But O! the Letter Prince Tach. Riddles and doubts Arb. I have a friend my Lord can best unfold 'em Goes to the door Come forth my Sister time has recompenc'd Our expectation with a full revenge Enter Sunamire and Osman disguis'd Sem. Revenge alas that fatal word too late Explains my folly and creates my fear Tach. What shou'dst thou fear my Love thy innocence Will shield thee and for me the fear of death Flew from me when my happiness took wing Sun Infuse the mortal drugs in the gilt bowls Be ready at my call Exit Osman Arb. See where they stand Lull'd in the arms of Love and far remov'd From the apprension of that fatal minute Comes posting to their ruin Sun The thought was lucky With a pretended pity to decoy Semanthe to the snare Arb. To offer her In the first draught the Nectar of her Love Will make the gall of our revenge more bitter But see they turn upon us Sun Sure 't is the error of my sense that shows Semanthe here that poor forsaken thing Alas I pity thee but blush to see My Sexes fondness painted in those tears Lost on a man that scorns thee Sem. Why dost thou awaken me into despair Death is my wish but I wou'd meet it here To Tachmas Sun Nay now my Lord I must become a pleader in this cause The fatal purple rises in her cheeks The Lillies wither and the Roses fade Poor wretch see see she lingers for a look Do not torment the quiet of her death Speak kindly to her bless her with a smile Nay I can see her take a farewel kiss Without a Rivalls fear Tach. Base cruel Woman But Oh! for my Semanthe's sake I will Forbear to curse thee by that gentle name I know thou comest on mischief but I charge thee If thou hast any part of thy soft Sex Working to vertue in thy hard'ned soul Howe're the Sophy and the Gods doom me Beware how thou design'st against my Love Sun How Sir so hard'ned in this coz'ning trade First you betray Semanthe to your scorn Then dare not justifie your Love to me But Sir the Letter speaks your falshood plain Tach. What Letter speak if it be sent from Hell Thou art its chief Commissioner inform me Say hast thou mortgag'd thy last hope of heaven And in some fatal scroul to take my Life Or what 's yet worse to ruine me with her Subscrib'd thy self a servant to the Furies Sun Were I not satisfied that my revenge Requires the secret from me thou shoud'st still Remain in ignorance yes I forg'd the Letter To raise her jealousie of you in hopes A womans spirit working to revenge She might divulge your Treasons to the Sophy Tach. My Treasons Arb. Yes against the Sophy's Life For nothing else cou'd put you in our power Tach. I thought the Line of my aflictions carried But to the end of Life but thou hast found A way to vex my quiet in the grave To sacrifice my fame to after times And blot my story with a Traitors stain Arb. I ow'd thee this proud Prince for this contempt And insolence when to the shame of arms My wounds and blood forgot Tachmas was nam'd To lead those Armies I had bred in War Tach. I know my latest hour comes on apace And now to curse thee were to rob my soul Of this soft satisfaction in my death Oh! let me hold thee fast my only Life Here languish out a farewel to our Loves Gaze on those heavenly Eies That through the Grove of death must light me on To the bright Mansions of their kindred stars Sun So unconcern'd the face of death will turn This Scene of Love appear thou Minister Of Fate come forth and act thy tragick part Enter Osman with four Bowls Tach. What means this fatal pomp all this for me Or to be yet more cruel wou'd you load My mounting spirit with your guilty souls And damn me with your company in death Sun This is your bridal night and we your guests Must wait upon the Ceremony But know my Lord the gilt bowls are prepar'd Only for you and your fair bride for they Are poison'd Tach. Ha! thou can'st not mean her death Or wou'dst thou in one Devilish act outdo The eldest damn'd in Hell O! spare her Life And I will bless thee with my latest breath Nay as I mount report thee to the Gods And tell 'em thou art good Sem. My Lord forbear Solliciting what granted I refuse Life without you By our immortal Loves I am resolv'd on this Alas I swear I think this hour our first happiness And to die thus together is an earnest Sent from the Gods of worlds of joy to come Sun Yes Rival thou shou'dst live be forc'd to live But that the fight of thee for ever wou'd Revive my shame and lay his scorn before me Tach. Give me the fatal bowls and now Samanthd Since thou resolv'st and Fate will have it so I here present thee with a cordial draught That will preserve our Loves i' th' other world Sem. Then chearfully as birds salute the morn After a cold long stormy Winter night We leave these solitary dark abodes And mount to mingle with the shining Gods Tach. O! how I grude the Grave this heavenly form These beauties will inspire the arms of death And warm the pale cold tyrant into life O I cou'd rave for ever but farewel All drink Arb. 'T is to their meeting in the other world To Sunamire Osm. So to my knowledge you will first meet there Aside Tach. 'T is done the business of our fate is