then to bear They should have made me a tame patient Fool If they had meant to exercise my Patience But they have cast me in a fiery Mould Of wrong Impatient furious for Revenge Why should they tempt us where our Virtue fails Why do they give us frailties yet expect That we should act as free from any Weakness If Nature must resist to all attacks Why is not Nature fortify'd alike In every part Why are we fram'd so brittle If we must never break O had they try'd my Courage Had Jove commanded more than Juno bid The strong Alcides he had found me proof But Patience is the Virtue of an Ass That trots beneath his burthen and is quiet A Man 's above it and I scorn my Load Which I 'll shake off or perish Pat. Oh Love Thou bane of the most generous Souls Thou doubtful Pleasure And thou certain Pain What Magick 's thine that melts the hardest Hearts That fools the wisest Minds What Art is this That on so long Experience of all Ages So known so try'd a Traytor should be trusted Ach. Now by th' Immortal Gods this Rape has pleas'd her She willing went delighted with the Change Oh! She could never from her heart forgive My Rage at Sack'd Lyrnessus when mounting up The mighty Wall thrô Darts and Stones and Spears I fill'd the Streets with flaughter of her Friends Her seven Brothers at her feet lay dead She only scap'd her wondrous Beauty sav'd her And in the midst of Fury made me tame Sleep sleep ye Ghosts lie quiet in your Graves Briseis has reveng'd your bloody Deaths Oh! She has thrust a Dagger in my Heart I feel the pois'ned Point Here here it sticks It tears and burns and I shall sleep no more Pat. Suppose her false And count this mighty Loss A Woman and a Woman you 've enjoy'd Compose your self nor let the Great Achilles Be thus disturb'd about a Trifle Ach. And art thou False Briseis art thou false Was then thy tenderness thrô Fear not Love And didst thou like a Serpent twine about me Only to sting And does this Parting please O how she clasps Atrides in her Arms So she hugg'd me and with her darting Kisses Met me half way as now she meets his Lips How close she clings and how with rapture melts Achilles is forgot Or if remember'd 'T is but to curse me for her slaughter'd Brothers Pat. If she is false she is not worth this care If she is true her Virtue will secure her Ach. No She is true By all the Gods she loves me Her Vows were just her Tenderness sincere There could be no Deceit in such embraces The Joys she felt were mighty as my own I saw it in her Eyes that dy'd away I felt it in her Arms that claspt me close And in the eagerness of every Kiss Love could not be dissembled in those Moments But what 's her Love her Virtue or her Truth The Ravisher has caught her she must yield O how that Image stings Now now he drags her His Lustful Arm strong twisted in her Hair In his right hand with his drawn Sword he threatens See! She resists And with her tender Nails She tears his Cheeks and struggles out of breath On Heaven she calls on her Achilles calls Help Help she crys I can resist no longer The Ravisher's too strong and Innocence Too weak for Lust Help Help Achilles help Arm Arm Patroclus let our Squadrons move Draw every Sword to save my Ravish'd Love Nor leave the slaughter till the Tyrant lies Struck to the Ground and cut to pieces dies Exit Achill Pat. Love is a Phrensy that the Gods have sent To punish Sins for surest Vengeance meant To Love is to be doom'd in Life to feel What after Death the tortur'd meet in Hell The Vulture dipping in Prometheus side His bloody beak with his torn Liver dy'd Is Love The Stone that labours up the Hill Mocking the Labourer's toil returning still Is Love Those streams where Tantalus is curst To sit and never drink with endless thirst Those loaden Boughs that with their burthen bend To court his taste and yet escape his hand All this is Love That to dissembled Joys Invites vain Men with real griefs destroys Exit Patroclus The Scene Changes to Agamemnon's Pavillion Enter Agamemnon attended Nestor Ulysses Talthybius whispering the King Ag. 'T is well Talthybius be it your care To see all fitting Honours paid we would Seem Just not Terrible And thô our Heart Be shut to any other Love Respect Is every Woman's due Nestor King of Pyle What says the Holy Man Exit Talthybius Nes. He 'll not be mov'd Ag. But did you press him with your utmost art With all that force of Famous Eloquence As I have heard you when the Squadrons fly Stop Armies in a Rout make Cowards turn And run on certain Death Nes. All that was fit I said Ag. And did you tell him of my wondrous Love How much I grieve but at this name of parting That I 'd to Argos send her Crown'd my Queen That she should Reign in Clytemnestra's stead That I would give him all the Wealth of Greece Empty my Coffers ransack Kingdoms for him Nes. aside Half the price might purchase the whole Sex Ag. And did you Weep my Nestor could you Weep For fad Atrides Down thy Reverend Cheeks Flow'd the round drops Did you add Tears to Words Nes. I wept indeed aside For a new Hellen born That brings more woes to Greece Ag. Inhuman Priest Why have the Gods such Servants The Gods are Merciful But Priests are Bloody Peevish Hard-Hearted Positive and Proud Curst obstinate Old Man A-part to Ulysses A word Ulysses Saw you Chruseis Uly. I did as you commanded and inform'd her Of this hard decree I would I had not Ag. Thou art a Judge of Tenderness Ulysses The Fair Penelope whom thou hast left Oft gives thee waking thoughts Oh! If to part Thô but to meet again be such a pain What is 't to part for ever How bore she the surprising Sentence Uly. At first she wept and as we see the Sun Shine thrô a shower so lookt her beauteous Eyes Casting forth Light and Tears together Ag. You told it not as a thing fixt and certain Uly. Not wholly fixt but scarce to be avoided To Tears succeeded Rage like claps of Thunder And then a Calm I left her in a Swoon Ag. Oh my torn Heart Enter Chruseis Chru. And must we part Atrides must we part And do you say it Has your Tongue pronounc'd The Sentence of my Death Have you consented Oh Agamemnon All my Fears were true My hopes were false built on your faithless Vows 'T is scarce an hour since with your Lips to mine Pressing my Body in your eager Arms You Swore and call'd down every God to witness That nothing ever should divide our Loves And the next News is that we part for ever Ag. What will the Fates do with me Chru. The Greeks
The Safety and the Glory of all Greece This Day of such Importance to the Publick And then thy private Grudge shall be my own To single Fight I 'll challenge Agamemnon Let us preserve him for our own Revenge 'T is base to see a Foe oppress'd with odds Make Vengeance sure but let it then be brave Ach. Thou hast o'recome me and my Heart like Wax Melts at thy Tears and can deny thee nothing Go then Patroclus where thy Glory calls And thou alone of all the Greeks be safe What mean my eyes by these unusual drops No Thou must stay Oh! think again Patroclus The good Maenetius when at Pthia lâ—st We parted gave thee weeping to my Charge Take here said he all that my Soul holds dear And safe return him to support my Age. Well have I kept my Word behind my Shield I plac'd thee still my Body was thy Armour Still side by side we fought and never parted My Friend my-dearest Friend why wilt thou leave me Pat. At night I 'll come all glorious back again And fill your Tents with Spoils of slaughter'd Foes The Greeks and Trojans that beheld me fight Beneath your Buckler shelter'd by your Sword And think Patroclus is too weak alone Shall see that I can fight without a Guard Ach. Oh cruel Honour that obliges thee To go and me to stay My Soul till now Ne're felt such strife not when I lost Briseis Then wilt thou go Pat. O melt me not with so much Tenderness My heart that beat but now with Manly Virtue Is soften'd like a Woman's Ach. Go then whilst all thy Courage is upon thee But go attended like Achilles Friend Take all my Troops and put my Armour on Look like Achilles like Achilles fight Be thou victorious perish all the rest Let Agamemnon like a beaten Slave Fly to his Ships and there be burnt or drown'd Let Fire and Sword all other Greeks destroy Till Thou and I alone are left to conquer Troy Exeunt severally The Scene returns to Agamemnon's Pavilion Enter Nestor and Ulysses seeming in discourse with Chruseis Nes. Let but some modest Matron come in view How unregarded and unmarkt she goes O let her pass they cry she 's good for nothing But let some flanting Minx come prancing by All Eyes are on her and all Necks are bow'd Oh how they strive and justle to get nearest Hide hide your Heads ye Gods from Mortal Worship When such as these divide our Adorations Uly. It looks more like a Triumph than a Rape To joyful Tunes the merry Timbrels play While Captive Queens like Minstrels dance and sing Trumpets and Tymbals sound Olympus high The Voice of Victory made a Call to Lust In graceful Order each Battallon's drawn And in the Front our Princes stand in Arms Shining with Gold and nod their stately Plumes Saluting as she passes Armour that's Proo To Swords and Spears and to the Javelins Thrust Gives easy Passage to one Glance of hers Whilst with disdainful State she treads along And looks regardless of such petty Conquest None but their King their General But hark Again the Trumpets This way bends the Sound Sure she approaches Madam will you meet The Show It may be worth your Curiosity Chr. D' ye mock me Greek Am I become your scorn I thank ye Gods though Love is mine no more Yet Vengeance is Ungrateful Man And was I kept with so much Form of Truth To be but left with greater Infamy Forsaken Oh the disgraceful word False Is he false No let him if he dares I 'll stay that he may perish Exit Chruseis Nes. Nay then we are again outwitted Uly. Is 't not in Art to tempt a Woman once To stray from Wickedness Or to beguile her Into good Are then their Stars so strong That they are fated to be mischievous Enter Agamemnon attended Ag. Bid Diomed with his Aetolian Horse Observe 'em from you Hill To live and conquer is the Noblest Fate But the next Glory is a Gallant Death Success O Jove and Victory are thine Fortune is thine my Honour is my own Facing my Doom with my drawn Sword I 'll stand Nor turn my Back upon thy wrathful Bolt Uly. Yet might I advise Ag. Still the same Argument Thou know'st my Answer I am fixt I see my Fate ye Gods and I accept it Life is not worth the Price you ask To live With her I love was my first Wish My next Is to dye with her Uly. But this word more and I have done Ag. Spare thy self the pains Thy words like Winds Against an Oak regardless whistle by The Leaves are troubled but the Root is fix'd I say thou may'st displease but canst not move I am not to be mov'd Uly. Then hear me as an Advocate for Love The Friend of Love For what so sweet in Love As Change If you must love then love Like other men Love like th' Immortal Gods Variety the Luxury of Love Ag. I understand thee not Trust me Ulysses I fear thy Brain is troubled Uly. Thus I unfold the Riddle Briseis Rape I neither counsell'd nor approv'd you know it Much urg'd and much provok'd against your Nature Unwilling to all Violence you did it Make the best use of what is past recall Take her and give Chruseis to the Gods So shall you love and be victorious still Live and enjoy Exchanges like to this Love does allow and practise every hour She 's handsome and a Woman a kind Woman What would you more And what does Love require But beautiful and kind Ag. Far be such wicked Counsellors from Kings How dar'st thou Traytor tempt my honest heart To such vile Purposes When I am false Forsake me all that 's true What! parcel Love Like common Dole by Scraps to every Eye That hungers after Lust shall I do this No. My frank Soul gives largely all at once Nothing by halves True Love has no Reserves Yes my Chruseis I am only thine Only and all The Soul that 's snatch'd by Death Returns no more Nor will her Eyes give back The Heart she keeps in her Eternal Chain Uly. Behold Briseis entring Timely she comes To end this Argument her Eyes will plead More strongly than my Tongue To them I leave it Exit Ulysses Enter Officers and Attendants Then Briseis Agamemnon approaches her bowing respectfully Ag. Forgive me Madam Bri. E're thou speak'st hear me Thy vain Intent I easily divine 'T is Love thou 'dst mention Ag. With needless Fears Bri. Approach me not Perhaps you thought because I lov'd Achilles 'T was possible some other might succeed If once some Man more charming than the rest Has found the way to melt a Womans heart Strait every Fool presumes to be as welcome Ag. Give me but leave Bri. No you shall never have my leave to Love Or did you think because your Empire 's wider In Power and Wealth exceeding my Achilles With higher Offers to corrupt my Faith Though Hearts for Hearts uncertainly prevail Riches
met When next we part 't is never to meet more I am your Murderer by my fatal stay For me the sullen Sun withholds his beams And â—â—oots these Shafts and heads 'em all with Plagues For me the Gods withdraw their wonted aids For me they lead the Trojans to the Field Shall I consent And shall I help the Foes Of Agamemnon I obstruct the means Of his deliverance Will then my Love Do nothing for my Lord who would do all For me No Agamemnon no For me you must not dye nor be disgrac't Live Agamemnon live Be great be glorious While by a voluntary Exile I Appease my cruel Father and his Gods And doom my self to save thy Life and Honour Ulys. Oh unexpected turn O wondrous Virtue Glorious resolution henceforth be styl'd The Saviour of the Greeks Ag. Peace Sycophant nor dare to sooth her phrensie These thoughts are but the vapours of a Mind Disturb'd Reason shall soon dispel the fume And disappoint your curst malicious Joy To Chru. I know thou can'st not mean what thou hast said Yet my Heart pants and every Nerve is shaken Upon my Forehead sits a damp like death My Blood runs cold I feel the Channel freeze Scarce will my trembling Limbs support my Weight But shake like Cowards on a day of Battle Is this well done Chruseis Chru. Your generous Love has show'd the way to mine Fearing to part you firmly chuse your Ruin Fearing your Ruin I consent to part To part of every evil is the worst All other ills you chuse but I chuse that Love prompting you to perish for my sake Prompts me to keep you safe whate'er it cost Empire and Life and Glory are your Victims The Joys of Life and Love it self are mine Nes. Well argu'd still Pray Heaven she be in earnest Ag. Thy Love is grown a wondrous Sophister Such Arguments but ill become thy Faith Can'st thou pretend to love me and yet leave No 't is impossible in love to part With what we love Confess confess the truth And say thou dost not love own own thy Falshood Racant thy Vows or yet resolve to stay Chru. Yes I would stay were I the only threaten'd Were the doom mine and did the Thunder rowl And the blew Lightning shoot alone at me I 'de chuse to dye like thee and not to part In these dear Arms I 'de wait the stroke of Jove And perish pleas'd like thine should be my choice For thee for thee this Ruin is prepar'd Not on my Head but thine the Vengeance falls And for my sake my Presence is the cause Chruseis is the Murderer of Atrides The Cup of Pleasure is the Bowl of Death The Gods have mixt it with the deadliest Poyson Nor dare I give thee more Ag. O give it on There is such pleasure in the killing draught 'T is worth the dying for Chru. Be calm be calm Atrides think agen Consult your reason and be then convinc'd Were your Case mine you would resolve like me You would you would you could not see me perish And know your self the cause Ag. O Chruseis Chru. Is there a proof in love that you would give And shall not I Oh! 't is a cruel proof But it must be 't is past 't is past recal Come back come back Renown that turn'd away Return ye Lawrels to my Monarch's brow Love like a scorching Sun has dry'd ye up And burnt your growth and kist away your sweets But Love is now self banisht for your sakes With his own hand he cuts his root away And leaves you room to spread Ag. O curst estate of Kings O fatal Glory O Victory 's dear-bought Pernicious Greatness What must I loose to purchase the vain breath Of Fools and Sycophants the Voice of fame Oh! what a Jewel must be thrown away To get a bawble what substantial pleasures How many hours of Love and of content Are lost and sacrific'd for sensless trifles All Heroes are but Lunaticks mis-call'd That cheat themselves and part with all that 's precious For Toys and Gew Gawes Chru. The Gods have for themselves alone reserv'd A quiet state Kings are their Stewards here Entrusted with the Conduct of the World And like good careful servants must submit Their single profit to the general well-fare Had Agamemnon been a private Man Some Shepherd or an humble Villager Our Loves had then been happy Ag. Take back your Office Gods Your Royal Thraldom I 'll be your Slave no longer on these terms Here I discharge my-self of Kingly burthen Divest my self of Power and Dignities Of Crowns and Scepters your Imperial Loads Be constant to thy Word Thy Agamemnon Will make himself the thing that thou hast wisht A Shepherd or an humble Villager In some far Cave remote from interruption We 'll love away our lives Not the least Dream Of Glory shall invade our lone Recess These Arms shall be the Circle of my Wishes Thy Eyes the only Lights that I 'll adore Morning and Night I 'll sacrifice to them Be they propitious let them shine upon me I 'll own no other Gods Chru. My Virtue shrinks within the close embrace O let me fly I cannot stand the Combat Another such and we are lost for ever Trumpets within Hark! Hark! the Trumpets sound the Clash of Swords Draws near The Gods have given me notice The slaughter is renew'd and every Man That falls Chruseis is his Murderer Have patience Gods but yet a little while I come I come your will shall be fulfill'd Give me but time to take one last embrace Let me thus rush upon him Once more for my whole life and then come Death Come Madness any thing but Life or sense My dearest dearest Agamemnon Ag. Thus will I clasp thee fast Thus thus for ever In vain In vain thou 'lt struggle to get loose Not Men nor Gods shall cut thee from my Arms I 'll dye but I will never quit my hold Chru. Thus let us kneel Thus lockt in my Embrace Whil'st I implore the Gods with this last Pray'r Oh all ye Powers that unrelenting see These Griefs and have deny'd our loves your mercy Accept the sacrifice that here I make The noblest Love the truest undefil'd With the least stain If ought is due to Virtue Let the reward of what I do be his And let not me out-live this fatal day Depriv'd of Love upon his precious head Double all other blessings Crown his Life With honours equal to his noble mind Let him not pass a day without some triumph Let him not have a Foe in Earth or Heaven Or if he must have Foes make e'm his means Only to come at Glory Please his Nights and Days With something new and every hour be blest That the remembrance of his lost Chruseis May sit more light upon his heart One kiss And then no more Oh Agamemnon 't is the last Farewell for ever His Lips are cold Speechless and Pale And on my bosom droops His Head like a dead weight
he bears a Golden Scepter Thô on his Reverend Head a Crown he wears The marks of his high Office thô to Kings Equal in Dignity his humble Mind Shuns Worldly Pomp Ag. So humble and a Priest my Love That 's strange Chru. He comes not here I know it by my fears For Honours nor for Wealth for me he comes To take me from your Arms and from your Bosom And bear me where I ne'er shall see you more Will Agamemnon let him Ag. What Armies brings he with him in his Train That he should think here in my very Camp To force my Treasure from me Chru. Legions of Gods attend his Pious call That shoot with Shafts unseen And O perhaps These Deaths that have already strew'd the Plain Are owing to his Prayers Ag. Thy Fears are needless What is there to offend him in our Loves That from a Captive you become a Queen That Agamemnon King of mightiest Kings Is Slave to his Chruseis That the Man Whom Princes serve serve thee Chru. Such Honours might perhaps move other Men But Oh! His rigid Virtue nice severe Allows to Nature nothing Ag. If Honours he contemns we 'll give him Gold Wealth he shall have enough to Ransom Kings I 'll empty all my Treasures at his Feet Priests will take Gold Well may they sell their Daughters Who sell their Gods Enter Talthybius Tal. The Great Achilles With Nestor and the Prince of Ithaca Approach your Royal Tent. Ag. They sent us word that somewhat of import They would reveal that does concern us much Our Honour and our Peace and would restore Health to our Soldiers to our Arms Success Retire my Fair nor vex thy gentle Mind With needless doubts Thô Men and Gods conspire I 'll hold thee fast My Life my Soul Farewel He leads her to the Door Exit Chruseis Enter Achilles Nestor and Ulysses Uly. Health to the King nor can we wish him better In Camps where foul Infections seize on all And mix without distinction Base and Noble Ach. Atrides heeds not that Secure of Love What tho' the Soldiers die the Princes murmur What tho' Troy stand so but Chruseis smile The publick Griefs are general to all But Thee Oh happy Agamemnon Ag. The King of Myrmidons of all Mankind Might have spar'd that reproach for 't is well known Brave as he is oft when the Trumpet sounds He 'l loyter For a parting Kiss from his Briseis Nest. What cruel woes have Women brought to Greece For Empire and for Honour once we fought But the New Mode is Women Cursed Sex Of all our Plagues the Worst Nor will our Camp Be free whilst there 's one Woman left Ag. Old Age may make us all thus Cynical But Nestor once was Young and then a Woman After the tug of a hard Foughten-Field Past for a Blessing But to our Business now At your request Achilles we are met First let us sit They sit Agamemnon and Achilles in two Chairs of State at the Upper end of the Table Nestor and Ulysses on each side If you have onght to urge Of publick Good Ought that can heal our wounds And stay the Vengeance of offended Jove Speak freely Princes Agamemnon's heart Bleeds for his People If the Gods require His Life a Sacrifice to save the rest And to atone their Wrath The King shall die Nest. Well have you vow'd O King and I rejoyce Rises To find such Piety O Jove confirm it Kings above other Mortals are requir'd To be observant to the Pow'rs divine Since on their Actions Good or Ill depends The Publick Peace O Gods what crimes are these Whose Crimes No private Man's since a whole Nation suffers No little fault the Vengeance is too great And much I fear whoe're th' offender be This Criminal is obstinate in Guilt For mark it well these Judgments by degrees Grew more and greater daily The Disease First on our Cattle seiz'd The generous Horse That bore his Rider safe thrô armed Ranks Snapping in sunder Darts and Spears then fell Unhurt Untoucht From Beasts it spread to Men The merry Greeks as at their Cups they sit Drop in the midst of Laughter As some huge Tow'r At which Men gaze astonish'd at its strength If Waters undermine and Springs unseen Sap its foundation Unawares comes down And covers with its ruins all the Place So look our strong Battalions and so fall VVhole Ranks at once and the Dead lie on heaps O Phoebus Stay thy hand that shoots unseen All Pestilence all Feavours are from thee These shafts are thine restrain thy murdering wrath For pious Agamemnon King of Kings Has vow'd to do thee justice He sits Ulysses rises Uly. Great are our Ills Too grievous to be born Had we a King less Pious Kings there are Who slaves to their own Wills regard not Fame What thô their People weep their Eyes are dry What thô they starve Their Coffers still are full Thô Heaven by surest tokens of its wrath Give warning to repent They mind not Heaven But still go on and own no Gods but Lust. Such Kings are hated here despis'd hereafter Their memory 's are curst the Widows tears And Orphans wrongs reveng'd upon their Issue What Glories then O mighty Agamemnon What Honours here what Praise in after-times What Love of Men what Favour of the Gods Will crown thy pious deeds who looking down With aking heart on thy griev'd Peoples suffâ—ring Hast vow'd to give whate're the Gods exact Thô dear as Life to stay their Miseries Ag. Nestor in Wisdom nearest to the Gods By long experience of three Ages taught O were thy Strength proportioned to thy Mind Achilles would be weak compar'd to thee Could but thy Body bending under Years Act thy high Thoughts Troy should not stand a Day And thou Ulysses Prince of Ithaca Forward in Fight and fam'd for Stratagem Be witnesses to Men of what I swear And thou O Jove the giver of all Laws Rises all rise And Phoebus too who from thy Orb above Art conscious to what Mortals do or say O Seas O Earth and you impartial Pow'rs Below who judge and punish Perjury Bear an eternal Record of my Oath If I have err'd and not atone my Crime Sits all sits Whatever way the Deities ordain If I obey not as at Aulis once When to appease Diana's cruel rage My Iphigenia was led forth to bleed Publick Dishonour and Domestick strife Be then my doom If any other Prince Thô Menelaus Ajax Diomede Or thô last nam'd the first of all the Greeks Divine Achilles honour'd as a God Be Author of these Plagues if thrô respect Thrô favour or thrô fear I spear the Guilty On me and mine still light this heavy Curse Ach. Then hear Atrides what the Gods declare What they require and who 's the Guilty Man 'T is Thou art this Offender Ag. Ha! Ach. Nay Frown not Son of Atreus for 't is true Frowns do not fright Achilles but provoke Apollo is th' offended God and thou The
Criminal But not for Vows forgot Or Hecatombs omitted come these Plagues But for his Priest who 's Daughter 's here detain'd Against his Will Chryses himself is come With his Demands as Legate from high Heaven And holy Chalcas who reads every Page Of secret Fate and knows the Hearts of Gods More Plagues denounces till she be restor'd Ag. Chryses and Chalcas are two Lying Priests Thou the Fomenter of Eternal Broils And this a Plot to vex me Nest. What you have heard Atrides is most true Such is the Will of Heaven But grieve not King He comes not empty handed to demand His Daughter back The Priest a Ransom brings As might content Ag. The Avarice of a Priest Were I old Nestor past the Age of Love I might sell mine I scorn this proffer'd Treasure My Honour 's now concern'd to keep my Love Lest the Malicious World that censures Kings Like common Men should say of Agamemnon That like a sordid Slave he chang'd for Gold All that his Soul held dear Ach. But like a sordid Slave to Lusts as vile You matter not to sacrifice your Fame To brave the Gods with violated Oaths To sell your Faith your Glory and the Lives Of Millions for a Woman Ag. Proud Myrmidon provoke me not too far Upon thy Life no more Ach My Life Who dares attempt it Ag. Ha! Who dares They rise and laying their Hands on their Swords stand in a posture of Drawing Nestor and Ulysses interpose Uly. Take heed Achilles and respect the King Who strike at Kings repeat the Giants crime And strike at Jove Nest. to Ag. You know his temper Cholerick and Fierce Provoke him not Atrides 't is not well You that should shew th' Example of good Order Whom all the Princes and the Kings of Greece Have chosen their Leader For shame command your self Ag. Unconscionable Men Must I of all the Greeks Must I be robb'd of what the Chance of War Has made my Prize I only I debarr'd Of what to every Centinel's allow'd What petty Leader is there in the Camp Whom I disturb When when did I invade Another's Pleasures Nestor Ulysses speak And Thou Achilles Did I ever wrong You of your Rights Or with Lascivious rage Force from your Tents your Captives Princes speak Why then these wrongs to Me Uly. Not we Atrides but th' Immortal Gods Nest. Can Agamemnon that Religious King Who not deny'd his Daughter to the Gods Refuse a Stranger and a Captive Ach. Leave leave him to his Fate and let Troy stand Whom Heaven abandons Men in vain support What harm has Troy done us Nor came we here But for his sake Ungrateful as he is My Troops I 'll lead from this Infectious Air And let him moulder here in Plagues alone Ag. Go when thou wilt in an unlucky hour Thou cam'st And may ill Fate go with thee Lead hence thy Myrmidons to Pthia back And plague some other Country with thy Pride Or back to Lycomede's Daughters whence Ulysses forc'd thee hither to fulfill The musty Prophecies of Doating Priests That Troy without thy aid could not be conquer'd There hide thee in thy Woman's Dress again And with inhospitable Lust debauch Some new Deidamia Ach. Had Mars himself said this Lays his hand on his Sword Ag. Keep in thy Rage We know that thou can'st fight I am thy Witness who have seen thee pierce The Dardan Ranks So would Thersites fight Had he been dipt in Stix Or had Lame Mulciber Wrought him a Coat of Arms not to be pierc'd What Slave with an invulnerable Skin And with impenetrable Armour on Would be a Coward Ach. Thus I reply This Injury's thy last Draws Nestor and Ulysses hold him Ag. Not so Achilles there remains behind A greater yet Where are our Guards Talthybius and Eurybates Nest. Sheath sheath your Sword The King shall make amends Enter Talthybius Eurybates and Guard Uly. You were too fierce and so would you be mov'd Were your belov'd Briseis threatned Ach. Not all his Guards shall save him They hold him he struggles Ag. Hurt not but keep that roaring Lion in And thou Talthybius with our choicest Troops Haste to Achilles Tent and fetch Briseis Kill all that dare resist 't is my Command Exit Talthybius I 'll let thee know by what thy self shalt feel What 't is to part two Lovers Ach. struggling Thou dar'st not do it By the Gods thou dar'st not Ag. Thou turbulent Invader of my Love Be this thy Punishment and learn from hence How to respect Superior Majesty Now let him loose to save To the Guard His Mistress if he can Ach. Love calls me hence e'er I can take thy Life But my next Labour my Revenge shall be Tremble Atrides that my Hands are free Exit Achilles Uly. Oh Gods What Joy to Priam will this bring What Grief to the Achaeans Nest. O Agamemnon this double Violence Ag. I guess your meaning Nestor but intend Nor Love nor Violence to fair Briseis Untouch'd with all respect she shall remain Till I have humbled this Proud Myrmidon But O Chruseis Love Piety and Honour pull at once All several ways Nor know I which to follow O Jove assist me in this doubtful strife And if thou doom'st my Love Condemn my Life Exeunt The End of the First Act. ACT II. SCENE I. The Scene changes to the Tents of Achilles Enter Achilles and Patroclus Pat. FOrgive their Ignorance Ach. Their Ignorance was Cowardice Patroclus I 'll hear no more The faithful Dog flies at the Robbers throat That would break in to force his Master's treasure But Dogs are watchful Servants true to trust Men are the first to prey upon their Lords In danger they forsake us shifting still From side to side as they can mend their bargains Are these are these those daring Myrmidons That threaten Hector with their valiant boasts And could they stand Spectators of my wrongs With Arms a-cross behold my rifled Tent Nor with drawn Swords and lifted Spears rush in To kill the Ravishers Pat. What could such a handful Ach. They should have dy'd if not enough to Conquer Each standing in his Rank with Shield to Shield Have made a Wall and barr'd the Passage up Briseis O Briseis art thou lost And do I live And art thou ravish'd from me And art thou unreveng'd O had'st thou dy'd Had we been sunder'd by the common Course Of Mortal things Necessity and Fate Th' inevitable doom of will-ful Gods Had made these Griefs less painful Had'st thou been false And left me Then I had hated For Falshood is a Cure for strongest Passions Contempt succeeds and to Contempt Aversion But thou wert true our Loves were in the Spring And yet we part A humane Pow'r divides us A Man less worthy than my self has forc'd thee And I must tamely bear it Pat. The Gods are sparing even to those they love And stint their Bounties to the Best of Men A Man and never cross'd would be a God Ach. They should have form'd my Nature
the Greeks will have it Chalchas has dreamt Nestor has made a Speech Achilles Frownd And Mighty Agamemnon must obey Has then this Leader of the World in Arms No will no reason of his own Must he Who Governs all by every one be Govern'd Had Paris thus Paris who was no King No General of no Authority Had he for a few threats resign'd his Hellen Troy had been free'd from danger Priam wept Cassander Prophesied and Hector rag'd The People cry'd aloud to give her back The furious Greeks with Fire and Sword demand her Burn burn said he Proud City Illium fall Father Brothers Country perish all But still be Hellen mine My Love be mine Has Paris then more Love than Agamemnon More Courage to look danger in the Face Or I less Charms to make my Lover bold Agamemnon stands silent seeming in great distraction of Thought and looking sometimes steadfastly upon her Nest. Were Agamemnon but a private Man So might he love and to a Woman's arms Resign all other care Thô that be Weakness But for a King who has the charge of Nations Entrusted with the glory of his People Of many Kings confederates in his quarrel The Vengeance of the Gods Chru. Why should the Gods be angry at our Loves I leave no Husband no Pollution bring I am no Hellen. Uly. The Gods are absolute whate'er they will Must be obey'd Nor ought we ask the Cause See how he stands distracted with his Thoughts This way and that way moving in his mind Oh! Let him take the Path that honour leads And veil those Eyes that break his heart with doubts Chru. My Glory is offended at his doubts Nor shall the Man who had my leave to love Forsake me till I please Try all your Arts Plot Plot Ulysses and thou Nestor tempt him With all the strength of pow'rful Eloquence Join Greeks and Heaven Ambition Piety Like Gods tugging at the Chain of Jove I will oppose my Eyes and bring him back Ag. Oh Chruseis Uly. Had Iphigenia been thus obstinate Our Fleet at Aulis might have anchor'd still But she came forth a Victim to the Gods And chearfully obey'd their cruel call Th' assembly wept She only she look'd glad And offer'd to the Knife her willing Throat To save her Father Can a Mistress be Less kind and tender than a Daughter Chru. O that the Gods commanded but my death How gladly would I die To Die and Part Is a less Evil But to Part and Live There there 's the Torment Change ye Gods my doom Take take my Life t' attone your bloody wrath Come lead me to the Altar let me bleed Is there a single drop within these Veins Is there a Limb that I would leave unmangled To give my dearest Agamemnon Joy Agamemnon takes her in his Arms. Ag. Live Live Chruseis Live Immortal Thus And thus Embrac'd and be of Life as sure As it is sure that we will never part Nest. apart to Ulysses This Hellen in our Camp Is worse then her at Troy O why have Women Beauty But as the Syrens Voice To ruine All they meet Uly. to Nestor Let 'em alone to please themselves a while I have a Plot shall sunder 'em when most They think themselves secure Chru. My dear Atrides may I trust your Love Tell me my King whilst thus around thy Neck I throw my Arms and press thee to my Bosom Will you forsake me Ag. Empire and Victory be all forsaken All but Chruseis Yes ye partial Powers To Plagues add Poverty Disgrace and Shame Strip me of all my Dignities and Crowns Not one of all your Curses will be felt Whilst I can keep this Blessing Take Oh! take Your Scepters back and give 'em to my Foes Give me but Life and Love and my Chruseis 'T is all I ask of Heaven Nest. Think of your Oath Atrides how you swore Chru. Yes he has sworn Be witness Heaven and Earth Be witness Sun and Moon and every Star Be witness all ye Gods that he has sworn Is there an hour either of Night or Day Free from some Oath of Everlasting Love Think think on that Atrides Ag. Since perjur'd either way I 'l chuse the best Be broke all Oaths but what I made to thee Nest. Then farewell Troy 'T is better sailing back Than stay consuming here with Plagues Ag. And so we will to Night we will Embark Draw-in your Anchors hoise-up every Sail What is this Town that I should lose one Hour Of smiling Love to win it O Chruseis Thy tender truth has mov'd my Soul so much I will be deaf to every call but thine Be it your care Ulysses to dispose Our Troops to march Uly. I 'll carry no such orders Nor would they pay Obedience if I should They love your Honour better Ag. Our cause of War is Scandalous and Mean The quarrel of a Bully for a Jilt So many valiant Trojans as have dy'd These fertile Fields for nine Years space with slaughter And made the swift Scamander run with blood And Menelaus who in single fight Struck to the ground this Ravisher for dead Has satisfy'd our Vengeance and our Honour Chru. Atrides no. Your Glory must be mine Nor can you thus retreat without disgrace Believe me Prince who lightly weigh their Fame Make but ill Lovers Honour 's the strongest Ty That Chain once broke there 's nothing left to bind It is my Pride that the first Man on Earth Loves me Oh Agamemnon keep that Name Be glorious still Send for my Cruel Father Thy Love may teach thee Eloquence to move him Remember that Chruseis is at stake Nor think it mean to Kneel to Beg to Weep This be your present Task I leave you to it Adding no more but thus and note it well Be constant in this Tryal of thy Love Mine may be next Fate in each other's hand Has plac'd a mighty Trust Be true to thine Thy are be Love And Glory shall be mine Exit Chruseis Ag. By Mars her Father's Spirit mov'd her Tongue And his Prophetick Fury shook her Soul Nest. Right Woman still Then Foulest when most Niceness they pretend They 'l talk of Honour whilst they 'r acting Shame Uly. She brought these Plagues yet Counsels you to stay Can this be Love Ag. Now by the Gods she loves me Peace Blasphemers Conceptions may like Oracles be dark To humane search till by Events explain'd Oh! I have faith for every word she speaks And when I leave her may the Furies seize me Enter Chalcas Chal. Hear Agamemnon all ye Princes hear Thus to the Gods in sacred Synod met Has Jove pronounc'd Let not one God be seen Henceforth to help the Greeks Our self to day Will lead the Trojans on to vengeful Fight Mars whets his Sword and Phoebus keens his Darts And the broad Cyclops forge unerring Bolts Juno and Pallas and the Friends of Greece In vain implore But Chidden stand aloof Nor dare reply Yet e'er the Doom be Seal'd Or writ by Fate irrevocable
down If possible attone this Wrath of Heaven Appease the Gods and send Chruseis back The Cause the cursed Cause of all our Plagues Ag. Prophet be dumb I read thy purpose and I know thee well Thy fatal Voice ne'er boded good to me Brib'd by Achilles still with popular lies Devising Prophecies to cross my Will Think not that I forget Seditious Priest 'T was thy curst Tongue pronounc'd my Daughter's Death The Gods are Just and Merciful and Mild Nor made such harsh Demands 'T was Priest-craft all Chal. From Heaven these warnings come O hear me King Be yet advis'd Ag. Not Fate 's more fixt Whate'er the Gods have purpos'd My Purpose is immutable as theirs Nor think me rash or obstinate in this Debated and Deliberate's my resolve Whatever Eloquence can urge or frame I have fore-thought And shall I part with love More precious than my Life to save my Life What Fool would barter Blessings for a Curse And Life without Chruseis is the worst That Fate can find Chal. But Millions are concern'd Ag. And can they better die than for Chruseis The World 's a worthless Sacrifice for her More worth than thousand Worlds Let Chaos come Confusion seize on all whene'er we part Intr'est Ambition Piety Renown Pity and Reason I have weigh'd 'em all But O how light When Love is in the Scale Chal. If Love with every breath can drive it thus No more let Glory lodge in Humane breast Ag. The Gods that with unnumber'd Eyes look down From their high Firmament all stuck with Lights See nothing half so Glorious or so Bright Glory that common Mistress of Mankind Courted by all but by so few possess'd For which so many Rivals hourly fall Early I saw was tempted and enjoy'd But Love has led me to new Realms of Bliss Where Pleasures blossom with Eternal spring Enjoyment's made immortal by desire And Joys flow-in on Joys and Rapture streams All other sweets are visionary bliss Nothing but Love substantial extasie Nest. Oh! That a Face should thus confound our Reason This is meer Wildness Phrenzie Raving Lunaticks talk better Sense If this be Love Why then to Love is to be Mad stark Mad. Chal. Not for thy self for thou seem'st pleas'd with ruine But for the Lives and Honours of all Greece Do I emplore Nestor Ulysses join Entreat him all Weep Princes for your Glories are at stake Weep all ye Soldiers for your Lives condemn'd Melt melt this stubborn King Oh Agamemnon To thee I kneel thus hanging on thy Robe Who never wept or knelt but to the Gods Let Pity and let Piety prevail Behold in me their Representative The Gods of Greece all prostrate at thy Feet To save their Altars that e're Night are doom'd A prey to Trojan rage Uly. Not for my self or that I fear to die Would I avert these Fates Ag. Gods 't is too much why am I hunted thus Let loose my Robe O Love How hard a Fate is thine Obtain'd with Trouble and with Pain preserv'd Never at rest Re-enter Chruseis Haste to my Rescue my Chruseis come O hide me from these Tyrants in thy Arms Thou only bring'st me Peace Chal. She only brings you Ruine Nest. Infamy Uly. Inevitable Fate Chru. I fear'd th' advantage that my absence gave Forgive my doubts that bring me back again By Gods abandon'd and Mankind pursu'd All all are Foes to your Chruse is now Nothing but Love pleads for me Ag. And Love 's enough What argument so strong Absent and Present thou art still the same My Faith 's the same What thô the Hunter flies The strucken Stag bleeds on Th' impression that thou leav'st upon my Soul Lies there so deep so lively and so full That Memory recalls no other Thought But only Love And only Love of thee Chal. Chryses will have a better answer Ag. No other will I give So tell him Prophet O there is wondrous Eloquence in Eyes Let him complain and arm all Heaven against me Yet stay Our self will hear what he demands Fain would I reconcile my Love and Fame Judge me ye Powers I would be justifi'd In all I do But come what will Gods ye may make us Perish but not Part. Give me thy hand Thô the Winds beat and loud the Billows roar Firm stands the Rock Unshaken from the Shoar Against my Love thô Heaven and Earth combine So will I cleave to Thee for Ever thine The End of the Second Act. ACT III. SCENE I. Enter from one side of the Theatre Agamemnon attended From the other Chryses follow'd by Priests Trumpets sounding Ag. ART thou that Holy Man so near the Gods Admitted to their Synods to encline Their hearts to Men to represent our Griefs And move redress for the afflicted World Yet art thy self obdurate to our Prayers Can'st with dry Eyes behold a Monarch weep And preaching Mercy yet thy self have none Chry. Art thou that King renown'd for pious deeds Who from far Argos to the Dardan Coast Ha'st led so many Kings to punish Rapes Yet art thy self a Ravisher Ag. Thy Daughter was a Captive of the War My liberal Stars made me the precious Gift Thy right is lost by Conquest she is mine Chry. Then as a Captive I demand her back Paying her Ransom which by right of War None can refuse Ag. Keep keep thy sordid Pelf The Gleanings of thy Trade by holy Taxes Should that bright God whose Minister thou art Who in his spacious round from Pole to Pole Surveys the hidden Treasures of the deep Then lifting up his prying Eyes to Land Searches the secret bowels of the Earth O should he bid me for my lov'd Chruseis All that his Eye beholds his Beams create In that vast Circle of the girded Globe By Mars it were too little Priest I tell thee She is above all Ransom Chr. Then ransomless restore her Ag. Ungrateful Man are these are these my thanks When by the right of War I might have sold As others did thy Daughter for a Slave A Houshold druge to some far distant Land I kept her for my self to be my Queen To raise her as in Beauty in degree Superiour to all others of her Sex What would thy Pride have more Chr. Consent is free I tell thee King thou shalt not force her from me Ag. Have I us'd force What have I left unsaid What have I left unbid to tempt thy Pride Or glut thy Sacerdotal avarice Will Pow'r and Riches bend thy stubborn Soul Take Argos and Micene all I have Will Pray'rs and Tears prevail Behold me Weep Will Adoration touch thee See me Kneel Thus prostrate at thy Feet as to the Gods Chr. Were Clytemnestra Dead Ag. Were Clytemnestra Dead Her doom is seal'd Yes she shall die she has deserv'd it long Whilst I pursue my Brother's wrongs at Troy My Brother's Fate has caught me Whilst I Besiege a vile Adulterer here Adultery is got to my own Bed Chr. How fatal still to thee and to thy Blood Has Beauty ever
Fatal to all that have thee shunn'd on Earth Depress'd and shown but in severest Trials Condemn'd to solitude then shining most When black Obscurity surrounds Poor poor But ever beautiful Art Your thoughts are much disturb'd you think too much Chru. Could I not think I were most happy But to the purpose Something I must resolve quickly resolve For Fate comes on apace and treads us near To stay is to undo the Man I love Shall I shall I do that Art Ulysses Madam Ulysses Entring Chru. Ha! thou hast rouz'd a thought no 't is impossible To doubt's an injury to suspect a Friend Is breach of Friendship Jealousy's a Seed Sown but in vicious Minds prone to mistrust Because apt to deceive I 'll think no more on 't Draw near Ulysses let me view thee well Look up look on my facè erect and bold That humble Cringe and that malicious Smile Those downcast Eyes betray thy treacherous Soul I tell thee Greek thou hast a lying look My Love 's above thy Malice Uly. Far be all Malice from my honest meaning But thus unwelcome Truths are still receiv'd No Secret have I told nor idle Rumour But publick Certainties Briseis Rape Is now the common talk of every tongue But for what end what purpose far be 't from me T' interpret such Violence indeed Looks strange exceeding strange to have no meaning And thus much may I add without offence When Ladies can foresee approaching Change 'T is good to be before-hand with a Lover Better to leave than to be left But you know best I advise nothing He has sworn say you Not to forsake and having rais'd your hopes To that degree 't were cruel to delude Yet I have known many an eager Lover Protesting Love to death defying Ruin When Reason and all Remedies have fail'd Cur'd by another Love Nothing so common As Love excluding Love For just as Poyson Is expell'd by Poyson so one Woman Drives another out Frown not nor be displeas'd What I suggest is meant but to forewarn Chru. What you suggest is false is false Ulysses Beware the Vengeance of an injur'd Lover Not Blasphemy's more hateful to the Gods Than to a Lover is his Faith traduc'd Uly. It may be false and it may not 'T is wise to arm 'Gainst every Ill that 's barely possible You have his Word the Gods his Oath he loves you And loves he not the Gods Both ways engag'd To part and not to part But now we saw him Doubting and unresolv'd perplex'd to chuse Who once has doubted may do so again And why this other Woman Why Briseis Just at this time just now the very moment When Fate pronounc'd your parting Implies it not Design of Change Intention to supply The space in Love that Destiny has doom'd And seems it not to say Take take her Gods But let me first provide a Successor Love like an eager Gamester overlooks But Reason an impartial stander-by Sees this and more Chru. Reason seems Malice when it comes from thee This might have weight from any other mouth From men professing treachery and deceit Even Truth it self 's suspected I know you false insinuating sly I know Atrides just and full of honour Nor will I doubt his truth Uly. The King is just and you are just to think it Oh 't is a wondrous proof of strong Esteem Not to mistrust a Friend though there were ground And here are grounds weighty appearances I say in any other man 't would look suspicious That 's all But sure the King is full of honour Oaths indeed in Love differ from other Cases They bind that 's true But as in vanquish'd Towns The Conquer'd to the Conqueror takes an Oath Yet if another comes of greater Power And drives him out that former Oath is null'd Nor is it Perjury to swear anew For who can help his Fate Just so in Love Men swear And so observ'd 'T is Constancy Chru. Who would be wicked and yet fear the name Excuse their yielding still by pleading Force But speak Ulysses truly if thou canst For I would know my danger You have seen This Miracle Report still adds And smallest things are magnify'd by Fame Is she indeed so dangerous Uly. What Images shall Eloquence prepare To paint a Form so perfect and Divine Others by slow degrees advance in Love And step by step and leisurely get ground We Article with Judgment e're we yield Reason rejecting oft where Fancy's fond She seizes hearts not waiting for Consent Like sudden Death that snatches unprepar'd Like Fire from Heaven scarce seen so soon as felt All other Beauties seem inferior Stars At her appearance vanishing apace When e're she mounts they set Chru. 'T is worth my Pride to brave a Foe so Fair Cease cease my Eyes to Weep resume your Pow'r Yoâ—â— Glory in this Battel is concern'd Approach thou Rival for my Monarch's heart I 'll face thy Beauties with as many more With Eyes oppos'd to Eyes and Charms to Charms I 'll fight it out and Combat for his Love And let him be inconstant if he can Uly. None who have Eyes but must allow your pow'r If she has any equal it is you But Fortune holds the Scale for all Events Light is the Balance where Desert is weigh'd If but a Grain of better Luck's against it How many Beauties scarce regarded pass While Thousands with worse Faces gather Crowds Beauty it self owes many slaves to Luck In dangers imminent retreats are wise And a new Face has strange prevailing Charms Chru. From Cowardice not Prudence springs Despair Who doubt their Fortune are not Wise but Fear Uly. Her 's are the Odds by being Unenjoy'd Were there but that O 't is a powerful Charm Th' Ill-favour'd and the Ugly and the Old Pass with this Charm the Charm of being New Chru. I see your snare The Greeks would have me gone The King resists and you would bait his Eyes With a new Beauty to supplant my pow'r You counsel flight lest I should stay and Conquer Therefore I 'll stay to add this Triumph more Thou plott'st against thy self Vain vain Projector My Honour needs no Lessons you can give I see my way and will consult my Fame Enter Briseis Guarded and led in Strugling Bri. Let go ye Slaves How dare you disobey Achilles will not leave me unreveng'd How dare you touch with Impious hands what 's his If not his Wrath that keeps the World in Terror Then fear my Frown that makes Achilles tremble Uly. to Chruseis I must acqaint the King with her arrival Forgive the Office Madam Exit Ulysses Bri. Loose me I say Chr. Stand off ye Ravishers And let my Eye Take a just view of this Imperious Beauty Let go your Impious hold 't is my Command They leave her at Liberty and stand at distance She comes forward Bri. Whose Voice is this that has more Pow'r than mine With shame this freedom I receive that 's ow'd To any other Frown but to my own