disguise Behold your wretched Son your Darling once Now less than Stranger to you banish'd spoil'd Of all my Honours Father Country Name By their vile Arts who with false Counsels arm'd Against my Innocence your mildest Nature Here could I wish I were for ever fix'd Here breath my last and leave my flying Soul Tam. Ye Powrs my Son the wrong'd Arsanes here Heav'n knows with what regret I rob my Throne of So great a Pillar my Kingdom of so good A Prince Heaven knows how I have mourn'd thy absence And curs'd my fond belief to busy Flatterers Credit me Prince I always thought thee injur'd Odm. O damn'd deceitful spightful Queen of Chance Man Hell that I as a Basilisk cou'd dart Poison from my Eyes and blot his growing Greatness Aside Tam. O Mandricard my other Blessing share This mass of Joy that fills my heaving Breast Man And can the Stranger prove so near a Friend A Brother Oh that Name Now by my Arms If ever hate were grounded in my Breast You Valiant Deeds have dispossess'd it all Such Vertue ne'r can find an Enemy Imbraces coolly Now all the subtilest Plagues of Hell prevent thee Aside Ars. O happy day the whitest of my Life Tam. All who are present at this Solemn Meeting Behold your Prince your wish'd for Prince Arsanes In whose just Cause you have so often mutinid And ev'n assail'd our Throne for his revenge Receive take share with me his Royal Heart And with loud shouts of Joy accompany Us to our Palace Thus from their sad Urn Thy Phoenix Vertues to new Glories burn Exeunt Odmar manet solus Odm. Furies and Death and all the Family Of dark Infernal Pow'rs can you see So tamely see me your Chief Instrument Sworn to your Counsels so lost so successless For this Have I trod in all Paths that Hell-ward led Has Envy lost her Snakes and Fraud forgot Her Art Is Malice satisfi'd so soon To glare and snarl and not destroy for this Have Guilty Thoughts disturb'd my Nights and Blood Started my Soul in Fancies broke my Sleeps Bled the Kings Son committed to my charge An Infant to no-purpose is it nothing That my Themyre supplies his Place and Name But doth Arsanes still prevent us Nay He 's grown much higher by his fall our Plots To tread him down to Earth have mounted him Above the Clouds This must not on again Brain whet thy sweet Invention while he climbs That he may fall and set the World in Flames Exit Asteria's Apartment Asteria Zayda Ast. Give give my Passion vent or I shall burst Yes yes ye Pow'rs 't was he 't was Adanaxus That ruin'd me my Father Country all 'T is the same charming Tongue moves Tamerlane That caught Nerina's Heart just so he wept And knelt and pray'd for Mercy at my Feet For his own Life as for my Father's now T is the same Rival of Andronicus The same Triumpher o're the Graecian Slaves Turkey destroy'd I and this faithless Man Crown'd with the Pleasures of a Smiling Field While we each others Story did relate So tenderly and with so much concern Promiscuously we gave our Hearts away Born on the Wings of interchang'd Discourse Then first we sigh'd and smil'd and smil'd and sigh'd And look'd and wonder'd and discours'd again While the young God stood laughing on the Plain And wonder'd at our Sympathy of Souls Wou'd you believe it This same Under-Lover This very Adanaxus from the World From all Mankind was chose to work my ruine Zay Has he not sav'd your Captive Fathers Life Ast. Did he not make him so O trifling Comfort How now what Air what Heav'n is this what Sky What Country whither am I led alass What am I now become Still still my Eyes Behold those various Images of Death And Fatal Ruine they in Prutia saw All pale and shiv'ring there my Mother lies And there my Royal Brother bleeding groans All this and more this dear this trayt'rous Man This smiling false Deceiver has perform'd To them Arsanes Axalla Ax. See there my Lord and think on what your Friend Advis'd you to Ars. I see my Heav'n near Am ravish'd with the light wish and admire Court and hope yet dare not enter in With such a clog of guilt incumber'd round I tremble at the Presence of my Judge Ax. If Conquest were a Crime it was the Gods Not yours nor can she blame your hidden fate How full of Fears is Love Ast. Bless me my Stars Oh I 'm betray'd look Zayda see that Man Oh let us shun that swearing perjur'd Man And never let me trust my Heart again Ars. Madam Ast. What means this rude Assault Ars. Thus low I fall To Beauties and to Mercies Shrine while from Their Oracle I learn my Life or Death Present Despair or Happiness Ast. Expound These Riddles Heav'n Ars. Ha! am I grown so strange So alter'd neither known nor understood Or rather are you so forgetful grown If so let these recall your Memory A Bracelet The Tender Labour of your busie Love This witness of your Vows Ast. What shall I say or do Ungrateful Man but let me not recall My Grief with Words and stab my bleeding Wounds The Gods revenge my Injuries Is going out Ars. Oh hear Your Guilty Penitent his Crime confess Ast. Some weak Evasion or deluding Fable Oh what excuse or wile can you invent In recompence of all my Sufferings Ars. Her every word a bleeding Heart-string cuts Her every Tear a Vein your Sufferings Oh cast on me the burden of 'em all For I can bear for my Nerina's quiet The Pains of Hell with Heav'nly delight Ast. Ill shall I trust so known an Enemy Ars. An Enemy what Horrors seize my Soul Oh clear clear me of that wretched Name Who could have thought the Ridling Fates and meant I shou'd have sin'd in bringing help to him Who gave me birth Ast. 'T is plain you have betray'd For empty Duty have betray'd your Love What Name could make Nerina to forget Her Adanaxus thus ah cruel Man Ars. Forget you had I drunk dull Lethe dry Its Waters had on me wrought small effect Nerina always was is present here My Mind my Soul is nothing but Nerina This very impious Act was for Nerina When losing her I sought in dreadful Battle My long wish'd End Ast. Excuses are but vain For by your Actions I your kindness weigh Captivity and shameful Bands are all The mighty Gifts of your protested Vows Have I not heard you say yes I have heard To me the Tribute of the World was due How fit I was to be a Queen how well A Diadem wou'd with my Beauty Suit Ars. Oh my Nerina if I then must stand Guilty of all the malice of the Stars And what great Heav'n decreed if it be nothing That by my Pray'rs your Royal Father lives Yet sure I've lov'd and for your love despis'd All dangers oppos'd Princes in your Cause Witness the Fury of Andronicus Nerina may remember too some
Odm. Too well dread Prince he fought if all were known He has already half eclips'd your Fame Witness all Tartary which bowing low Kisses the very Ground on which he treads Do not you hear Arsanes mighty Name Eccho'd through every Street long live Arsanes A Thousand Voices ev'n in your Court reply While Tamerlane must stand neglected by And wait upon the Triumphs of his Son Abd. By Hell thou art the very Soul of lying Odm. Nay more I fear it is no false report The specious Acts he wrought in your defence Cut but his way into your Peoples Hearts And a wide Path to his Ambition made This I may safely swear my Lord he 's false Abd The same swear I. Tam. You both are Villains False treacherous perjur'd damn'd Villains Whose spotted Souls regard not Innocence Nor Conscience trembles when you dare accuse it And now to let you know how little Faith Your seeming Counsels fix upon my Soul Call here the Prince Arsanes spight of yours And Mandricards more hateful Policies I 'le Crown his Vertue with Rewards so large Shall raise your envy high as is his Fate Enter Arsanes Come to my Arms my best my Loyal Son Let me embrace thee all my long-wish'd Joys At last are come rise my better self See there the Authors of thy former woes See them that wou'd renew thy Miseries Villain is this a Face shews discontent What wild unstable looks are here what frown What gesture that may render him suspected Ars. I always thought those Men my Enemies Yet I confess Great Sir I have deserv'd All that their envy or your juster wrath Have made me suffer For whom e're he be So just a Prince thinks false or but suspects By Heav'n he 's false nay then 't is a Crime A Crime unpardonable in innocence To say she 's wrong'd Abd. He has a Tongue as smooth To Odmar aside As yours pray Heav'n it may but prove as fatal Tam. You false believe me nor thy Conqueror Your injur'd Vertue claims a Recompence So large with guilty thoughts I blushing hear That now to share that Empire you have sav'd With that your Arms have won will be a light An empty Offering to your vast deserts Men stile us Scythians barbarous and wild But I appeal to the Immortal Pow'rs If ever Rome in all her Pomp cou'd show An Act like what Arsanes has perform'd An Act so good Athens wou'd blush to hear As wanting fit example to compare An Act to brave the Heroes from their Orbs The famous Senate of unconquer'd Minds Start back and think their Glory faintly won So much Arsanes has surpass'd their Deeds An Act Ars. Of which I thought the insolence Might rather raise your Anger than your Love To see an Exil'd Slave who durst return Uncall'd to share the Trophies of your Fame Yet let me plead but this in my defence My Duty to so just a Father and So good a Prince work'd high my ravish'd Soul Nor could my Blood be chill'd with outward fear Or inward grief but boyling in my Veins As one shou'd say 't was part of Tamerlanes Stir'd me to go where Fame and Duty call'd Abd. Ruin'd as handsomely as Hell cou'd wish us Tam. Now in the Face of thy worst Enemies Receive the highest Honours we can give Let loose thy vast Ambition let it fly At Riches Honour Love or once at all Your Word shall guide our Heart your Wishes bind Our Will your Pray'rs command what e're they crave Ask and believe it granted e're you speak Abd. Now cou'd I cut thy Throat instead of his To Odm. Ars. Lawrels and Crowns are Tamerlanes alone And the Rich Entrails of the Golden Earth Serve but to fill the Lustre of his Name It is Great Sir a light Request I make And yet in my esteem worth Worlds so great A Prize the fair Asteria seems to me That were I seated on the Scythian Throne With swarms of Tributary Kings about me And subject Princes waiting my Commands By all my wishes I shou'd scarce enjoy One moments rest without the beauteous Bride Tam. Ye Gods that ever such antipathy Shou'd be united Oh cou'd I but taste The sleepy Waters of dull Lethe's Lake That I might now forget those hateful words I tell thee Prince thy fond Request is vain Which nor consists with Duty nor with Honour She is thy Enemy Arsanes cease To think of her Odm. Take Heart Abdalla see The Prince is Planet-struck and Tamerlane Pursues his ruine Ars. Duty bids me not Dispute your dread Commands yet I must blame The coldness of my Stars and too hard Fate Tam. It is not fancy sure disturbs my mind And leads my wav'ring thoughts to jealousie Yet I cou'd shun thee now Arsanes here Thy dark Request sticks deep Farewell and when You make your next if not as a Son Ask what is fitting for a Friend Exit Abd. 'T is just As Hell and we cou'd wish Odm. Now is our time To shed out all our Poison on his Soul Which Heav'n nor Arsanes may controul Exeunt Ars. Now from a fairest Heav'n of surest hope Am I thus faln O sudden turn of Fortune Quite ruin'd e're I scarce perceiv'd a Change Thus stands some mighty Tower the Bulwark of A Nation shooting up her lofty Head Above the Clouds gaz'd and wonder'd at But in a moment see to Ashes turn'd Its tot'ring pride on some base Traytors Guilt And scarce the marks of all its Glory left Thus But oh the Star that guilds my days She comes and now my fading sorrows pass Like showry Clouds before the Glorious Sun Enter Asteria Ast. My dearest Lord so may you find all Joys My Heart can wish you as you shall unfold The Mystick Secret of that sad Complaint Just now you sent to Heav'n Ars. Most impious were I Could I while I possess those numerous Worlds Of fullest pleasures hanging o're your Brow Those endless Comforts basking in your Eyes And all the Charms which wait upon your Smile Ungratefully and foolishly complain Pard'n me ye Pow'rs if I have offended For to Arsanes you are wond'rous kind Most bountiful who in the fair Nerina All I can ask all I can wish have giv'n Ast. Yes Adanaxus we are free to love And I without a crime can give a Heart With Honour Duty and a Fathers Will. Ars. What is 't I hear what sudden happiness Raps my glad Soul Ast. 'T is true as strange Ars. O Bliss O Harmony but how the wond'rous Change Was wrought dulls all my busie thoughts to guess Ast. Then first I knelt and wept and kiss'd his Feet And told how I had been his Darling from My very Infancy and what Delights My Childish Sports afforded him how dear He priz'd my Mother made him sensible Of his past Joys with her and then conjur'd him By her blest Ashes and Eternal Name To have compassion on me Ars. Words like these Wou'd charm the rav'ning Wolf with hunger pinch'd With a strange softness to forego his
and worship'd 'em like little Idols They 'r like what though they are so polish'd Glass Resembles Chrystal mimically Fair And is not so Ax. But Women are most Women When they are truly Hypocrites Ars. But my Nerina glory of her Sex How have I always thought her more than Woman In whom th' Almighty Painter had exprest The Fairest Pattern of exactest Angels Her Soul he drew the very Lively Image Of some bless'd Saint or ever-happy Martyr But oh she of that Rank of Angels Proves Whose due Commission 's only to destroy Arm'd with fierce Judgments of the Wrath Divine Ax. Then shun those Judgments which you see so nigh So plain so manifest and now shou'd you Ars. I cannot and I pray thee do not curse her 'T is punishment enough sh 'as giv'n her self To one that is unconstant as her self And I with pity leave her to her choice Ax. O the glad Sound and will you quit this fondness And follow Honour and hunt after Fame Ars. No my Axalla think not I can see Her Beauties in my presence ravish'd from me And all the Sacred Store prophanely rifl'd Ax. Then work your just Revenge on him on her On all Ars. Be hush'd and dare not name Revenge The Name of Brother aws my rising Fury And for Nerina she is yet so dear I 'le suffer all things for her quit my Honours My hopes of Scepters and my right to Crowns Nay her dear self for her more certain ease Ax. Strangely resolv'd Ars. Like Love undone by Fate Oh cou'd I tell where blear-ey'd Sorrow dwells Where bellowing out her Soul in discontent The empty Walls reverberate her woe To some such place Axalla let us fly There will I on some cold hard Stone lay down My mournful Head while from my furrow'd Cheeks My frequent Tears promiscuously fall One day I will bewail my own misfortunes Another will I kindly dedicate To the lov'd Memory of Nerina's Father Whole Months and Years in tedious sorrow pass For my Nerina that false much-lov'd Maid Complain of all my angry Foes above With mournful sighs the hollow Ecchoes move And the last Groans of a departing Love To Heav'n these only Vows these Pray'rs I 'le make Nerina may her fatal Choice forsake And from her bosom cast the lurking Snake Exeunt ACT IV. A Councel-Table Enter Tamerlane Odmar Abdalla with other Lords and Attendants Tam. 'T Is time to look about me I have slept Too long lull'd into visionary Dreams Of fleeting pleasures which I waking find Most dangerous and for a seeming Son My Bosom has receiv'd the worst of Foes Arsines fled and Conference with Turkey O Viper Parricide but say my Friends What timely Fortune has his Crimes reveal'd Abd. Ev'n that which ruines all Conspiracies A squeamish Conscience and a light Reward The Ministers he hir'd to his Designs Stand Witnesses against him Tam. Bring 'em forth Exit Odmar and re-enters with two Slaves Odm. Now act the Villains home now is your time Aside to Slaves Tam. Friends to our Crown for Friends you seem to be Whose care has been employ'd to serve our State From those apparent Dangers threatned it We charge you in our Holy Prophets Name Lay forth the Traytors Heart before our Eyes Odm. Swear on the Alcoran your Accusations Are just and true Oh the unhappy Prince Abd. S'heart well play'd Fox he seems to hear with grief What he suborns false Witnesses to swear Aside 1. Slave By all the Orders of Tartarian Pow'rs Bound by Allegiance to our Sovereign We here are present to accuse and swear Arsanes guilty of these Articles No more than which himself did testifie And gave us in Commission to perform First that this Prince holds private Conference With the surviving Race of Bajaset That with the fair Asteria's Love enflam'd He seeks his Rival Brothers hated Life Then with Axalla that he doth combine To Poison Tamerlane our Royal Master And with Asteria to usurp his Throne Tam. Treach'ry unheard beyond the Thought of Man But tell me Friend where bides the Traytor Odm. Speak Say any where Aside to the Slave Sl. n a lone Wood my Lord After a long Complaint against the Prince His Royal Brother full of envious hate And proud disdain after he had rehears'd All his pretended wrongs in Banishment Receiv'd blushing Scarlet deep with Shame He rose to an Arraignment of the State And our establish'd Laws Then impiously against his Father rag'd And swore Revenge Abd. Methinks now Stratagem Comes on to something Aside Odm. These are practis'd Villains 2. Sl. Himself he said was streight for Prusia bound Where the young Rebel Princes wait his coming Tam. Perdition on the Viper how he bites Could e're such baseness spring from Tamerlane Is this his Piety so far renown'd That Loyalty which seem'd inviolable Those Oaths that cou'd have forc'd all Heav'n believe him Is this his scorn of Honours and Rewards And did he starve his hungry Appetite That with a stronger Fury he might run Wolf-like upon our Life and Diadem And gaping swallow all the Golden Prey Fly fly Arsanes breath on what Soil thou wilt Thy hated Life though every Sea shou'd joyn In one vast Ocean their assistant Floods To part us ever though thy adverse Feet In unknown Tracks kick at our upper Earth Though o're the Starry Pole thou soaring fly'st Above old Winter and deep Beds of Snow Our painted Vengeance shall pursue thy Soul And spy thee in thy darkest Caverns hid Pierce through thy Mansion with our sharp Revenge Or send our Curses where we cannot reach Exit Odm. See there Arsanes how the rowling Waves Come on amain and dash thee on the Rock Abd. Methinks we two now like the Sea-born Giants Great Otus and tall Ephaltes stand And grow out all their Acres in a moment Odm. Our Fortunes Friend in this vast Enterprise Have made us free to give the Scythian Throne To whom we please Come Mandricard and claim Thy vast Possessions ask us Heav'n next And we 'l do more with these two Fertile Brains Then e're Briareus with his hundred Hands Exeunt Asteria's Apartment Who is discover'd lying on a Couch a Cupid in Soft Musick descends over her and Sings Song HOw pleasant Vertue are thy Slumbers Sound thy Sleeps and sweet thy Dreams While thee no Fear no Guilt incumbers Danger frights or Thought condemns 2. Thou naked with resistless Armour Dost thy self revenge and shield Thou silent art so sweet a Charmer To thy Reasons all must yield 3. On thy fair Brow sits smiling Honour Iustice waits thy awful Voice Thou Heir to Blessings art thou Owner Of Rich Fortunes Richest Ioys 4. Thou what is Heav'ns greatest Blessing Art the Darling Child of Love Though Heav'n yet hinder from possessing It will all thy Pains remove The Cupid ascends Asteria awakes in great disorder Ast. What Mystick Objects entertain my Soul And hold me in amazement how confus'd Are all my Thoughts kind Joys with Troubles mixt Hope with dread Fear
What mass of Golden Treasure have I lost Then curse your self for your unkind distrust Your little Faith to your Axalla's Counsels That ruin'd the unfortunate Arsanes But let 's behold the faithful Danches comes Enter Danches From your Great Fathers Court his joyful look Denotes some glad Discovery The News Zan. Great Prince what still may please and make you happy I went to Samarcanda but I pass'd Me thought through Streets block'd up with moving Castles So thick so numberlesâ— the People stood While they with Voices undistinguish'd fill'd The Air that Eccho'd nothing but the Stranger The Stranger is the business of the Court The Sweet Discourse of every Ladies Mouth Is what the Stranger did to you they owe Their Trophies and their Fame Ars. And is the Court so monstrously infectious That scarce an hour gone thou 'st learnt to flatter Speak speak thy Errand what of the fair Nerina Zan. Great Sir the Lady which your Friend discover'd Is Daughter to th' impetuous Bajaset The tender sharer of her Fathers Fate Ars. Ha! Withers not my Hand start not my Eyes From their curs'd Orbs Am I not all an Ague So loud a Clap Of sudden Thunder and yet live Ye Gods Have I to ruine her my Sword employ'd My greatest Strength her Country to destroy Was it her Father too whose Fate I sought Then on my self my more than hellish act I thus Revenge Draws his Dagger which Axalla wrests from him Ax. Dear Sir Ars. 'T was friendly done For I confess a death so quiet and So short had been a Balm to ease my Heart Rather than punishment to expiate My great offence to die perhaps the News Might satisfie some Relicks of the War That their great Enemy is dead What then What had I done for Bajaset what for His ruin'd House his flaming Pallace what In lieu of all his pillag'd Scepters Crowns What for Nerina's wrongs whose every Tear Deserves a Life No no Axalla that Which can but once be done let it be long In doing Zan. Dear my Lord divert those thoughts And go where Piety and Honour call The Royal Slave not brooking his disgrace And yielding not himself to Tamerlane Is most unfaithfully condemn'd to Die Ars. To Die Shall then Nerina's Father Die Basely and poorly be a prey to Fate And leave his weeping Daughter all alone ' Midst a rude Multitude of Savage Men Ax. Arsanes cannot think a thought like that Ars. No my Axalla hast we from this place With all the swiftness of a Love in fear That he shall come too late and lose the Prize The Beauteous Prize for which all that have Souls Must needs be Rivals Guide me O my Stars Shorten my Journey to my Paradise By all my hopes Nerina's Father lives Then snatching to my self the Glorious Prize I 'le reap the Fruit of all my Victories Exeunt ACT II. Scene I. Bajaset is discover'd on a Scaffold an Executioner with an Axe and others with Hallbirds Swords c. Enter Tamerlane Mandricard Odmar Abdalla The Executioner being about to strike Enter in hast Arsanes and Axalla Ars. HOld stay thy bloody hand I charge thee strike not Tam. What bold Invader dares thus countermand me Speak say what art Ars. Lay down O mighty Prince A little of thy Thunder and I 'le speak O thou to whose high care Heav'n doth intrust The Rule of Nations Monarch of the Earth So may you Laurels bear from either Pole As you to them shall peaceful Olives joyn And in your Conquests God-like Mercy shew Tam. The Accent of that Voice I sure have known Nor am I unacquainted with that Face All day I could with patience hear thy Story Ars. Not to recount the Changes of my Life Which but for one one only happy Fate Does not deserve a Name yet Sir I 'le tell you There 's Glory in that Fate and to have done You Loyal Service is a Noble Bliss Tam. By all my Lawrels the Triumphant Stranger O Prince for I consider thee no less What shall I what Reward can I repay To thy great Vertue Ars. Not a Thirst of Wealth Or Sacred Famine of Reward or yet A vain Ambition to commend my Deeds Made me presume to meet your Royal Eyes But since Great Sir you do esteem my Acts Worthy a price O hear the Prayers I make By Alha by the Soul of Mahomet By the ne'r-cancell'd Bond of your strict Vow In Heav'ns bright Eye I do conjure thee spare The Royal Captives Life Tam. Thou cou'd'st not ask A thing but this we cou'd not grant Ars. O Heav'n If with a Princes Life you needs must Seal The Glory of your Conquest rip these Veins And draw what Blood is left in expiation For his dear Life Oh hold me not in doubt Tam. Did I but think I did the Slave a favour Spight of my Vow by Heav'n he shou'd not live But as 't is that he fears far worse than Death I by one Act will wisely satisfie Aside This Strangers hopes and glut my own Revenge Yes he shall live remove the Fatal Pomp And lead him to our Palace but know Slave 'T is to this generous Prince thou owst thy Life Baj. For me his Pray'rs ye Stars shed ruine on him Beg in my Cause Precacious Fool be silent To Ars. Ha. Villain why's my Fate so long delay'd To the Exec. Is the Axe not sharp enough or am I held Here to be gaz'd at for a Mark a Shew A Property to please the Idle Vulgar Strike Villain or I 'le spurn thee into Ashes Ha ha ha ha O I could burst with laughter To see these Apes these mistaken Fools Who think they have been generous and kind While they are dully cruel Tyrant blush And know wer 't thou my Slave thus would I glut My self with vengeance on thee so farewell And some Plague seize thee e're we meet again Is led off Tam. Thus to your Prayers we sacrifice our Justice And to your mighty Merits our Revenge To Arsan Ars. Thus at your Royal Feet I cast my self And may those Pow'rs that rais'd and guard your Throne Reward you for this greatest highest favour For which I vow you everlasting Service Man Hail O great Soul of War matchless in Might Odm. Fair Guardian Angel of the Scythian Throne Abd. Desire of Nations Bulwark of this State Ars. Your Vassal Princes knows not to bear These loads of Praise unable to repay Your noble kindness ev'n in Thanks Man So may You always knit fresh Lawrels to your Brow As we to you our Turkish Conquests owe. Tam. 'T is true I as a Warrior must adore Thee in thy Vertues thy Success admire Thy Actions love reward thy Loyalty But something nearer calls thee to my Breast Stamps thy dear Image on my Soul and tells me There is a mightier reason for my love Than any I have yet alledged O Nature My Eyes my Heart both challenge thee my Son Ars. Father if I may dare to use that Name Pulling off his
disorder'd mass of Fancy The End seem'd good but oh that End is vain As fleeting as its Shade as womanish And fond a Dream as to my weary'd Eyes Thought cou'd suggest or Mimick Fancy play Is going out Enter Mandricard staying her Man So on fair Paphos Isle the wanton Queen Her Shelly Chariot drawn with sporting Doves Had lightly enter'd in a smiling Calm Ready to cruise upon her Parent Seas When from a-far the Warlike God espy'd her And brought her back to more substantial Pleasures Ast. What means this fatal Comet to our House Near what new birth of mischief does he shine Man At length my Pray'rs are heard my Vows have reach'd The Deity to which they were address'd Accept O Fairest Pow'r from a Prince The Faithful Sacrifice of Humblest Thanks For all the Blessings you have pour'd upon him Ast. What Blessings or what Prince yet shou'd there be Any my tenderness has gratifi'd He 's chose an ill Ambassador I 'm sure To pay his just Acknowledgments which needs Must taste ungrateful from the Man I hate Man Heav'n how discordant are her Hand and Tongue Think not Asteria Mandricard cou'd trust To any Second his most Bosom Secret I the Receiver-kneel to pay the Debt Ast. If you from me a Kindness did receive I 'm sure 't was small and may be paid with ease Man How unconcern'd she speaks and looks disdain Yes Madam Heart for Heart is easie change Flames will meet Flames and Fires joyn with Fires Ravage through all and leave no middle space Ast. Rav'st thou or do my Ears drink in a Sound As real as 't is monstrous Oh my Stars Protect me and remove the hateful Object Man Yet Princess your fair Hand has otherwise Decipher'd me the Glorious Mandricard Ast. My Hand Man Your Hand which on the happy Paper prest The Praises of your much lov'd Mandricard Ast. Curst be that Hand that writes thee ought but Fiend Curst be that Tongue that speaks thee ought but Monster Man Unfold Great Alha this Mysterious Secret Come you dissemble and a modest shame Defers our Joys Ast. I 'de clasp a Serpent sooner Had my base Hand e're thus bely'd my Heart As an infectious Limb I 'de tear it from My tainted Body for the Wild Beasts or Flames Man You need not now Asteria use such Language There are no Oaths no Promises no Vows To be kept now Sure Death has swallow'd all And cold Arsanes in their ruine lies Ast. Yes I will keep 'em still to punish thee My Faith shall be the Scourge of my Revenge My Constancy shall keep thee on a Rack Of Everlasting Torments and my Oaths Shall one by one strike thee with mad despair Thou art my Slave and thou shalt live like one Thinkest thou fond Fomenter of my Grief I do not hate that Man to Death nay Hell That caus'd Arsanes Ruine Proud Prince I do Remember Sir my Brothers Fathers Wrongs And blush to ask a Grace of me to love No not to look or visit me with Monsters Man You treat me Fair one so severe a way As forces me to plead in my defence If in the War your Brother fell not I But Fortune guiding my far-wandring Steel Cut off the forward Youth For your Great Fathers and Arsanes Wrongs I 'm innocent as harmless Infants are Ast. You innocent so 's Hell so is your Train Of Fellow-Villains Infernal Ministers Are they not Prince Man What e're you 'l have 'em be They are they must and which of 'em but dares Offer to plead his Innocence he dies Ast. Fine Flatterer thus did that supple Tongue Sooth Tamerlane to hate the best of Princes Nor have you ended there but cherish still Your Breast with thinking with what subtle Art You spread your Snares to catch the Prey design'd And glory in the Murderous Success Man How sweet her Looks yet dreadful to approach Madam a Prince repentant begs your Pardon And as the Fury of the Scythian Sword Is now asswag'd untaught to hurt or kill So let your Anger be allay'd with mildness So will the World in peaceful Triumph sit And smilling pall the envious Fates designs To them Ispatia Ha! whence that Hellish Fury like her self Has brought her here Curse on the twining Serpent Shall I ne'r shake her off by Heav'n it comes A swift Contrivance whets my sudden Thought Which shall divide us ever far as Heav'n Or far as Hell their Center hold from Earth Exit Isp. Art thou the watry Sourse from whence this Stream These daily gushings of my Mourning Eyes Burst forth and almost drown my fainting Heart Are those the Comets whose dire Influence Sheds Ruine on me is there in that Voice So sweet an Harmony so full of Charms It can bewitch the Sense of Mandricard Ast. Yes Mandricard has learnt to stoop to me And at my Feet his daily Homage pay Which thus I scorn and spurn ev'n into Wind. Isp. Unsufferable Creature does she scorn him Oh more far more than this I cou'd endure Her Love contemn him nay that is not all She Rivals me and yet professes scorn Is 't not enough you have ensnar'd his Love Caught with a Golden Bait his yielding Heart But you must on his Honour raise contempt And make him cheap Oh Torture Oh my Soul Ast. Know then Ispatia if you are resolv'd To sound my Heart I frankly must confess I hate him hate my Brothers Murderer To death and pray the Gods he may so love So burn with Passion till I pity him Which Furies first shall do unto the Damn'd Nay do not rage but thank me that I hate him For had I lov'd Ispatia had I lov'd You might have found him lock'd within my Arms Not prostrate at my Feet nor had you e're Have been admitted to reprove me for it As now you do Isp. 'T is like I shou'd not Captive Nor am I now perhaps by your good leave Yet I 'le maintain the happiness I 've sought Stay here and pierce through either Heart as far As Sharp ey'd Jealousie can look Ast. Compleat With this one Promise then my Happiness To hold him ever after from my sight But see he comes Enter Mandricard with a Priest Isp. A Priest what Omens now Swell big that holy Harbinger of Fate Man This holy Man Ispatia as of old He joyn'd our Hands before the smiling Gods So wou'd he now our Hearts one Kiss upon The Sacred Alcoran and our Love is Seal'd Isp. Blest Alteration Ast. O thrice happy Hour Isp. What sudden Ague seizes my chill'd Limbs How my Eyes dazle and my Senses swim What have we done my Lord Man O nothing nothing 'T is but a Fit a Qualm a certain Scout Or flying Messenger from Deaths Tribunal To summon thee to Everlasting Rest. Isp. What means my Lord Man Oh 't is a Sovereign Balm A Cure to all Distempers to be plain The Book was poison'd and thou hast drunk the Venom Isp. O Traytor yet e're I expire hear me Man Speak quickly
then Isp. Not long ago my Lord you did receive A Letter from that Princess Ast. Me Isp. With all The Pow'r of Penitence I here implore Your Pardon Man What means the Fury Isp. In her Name You took embrac'd it lock'd within your Bosom The outward Manuscript within your Heart The sweet Contents Man Which do enrich my Soul Isp. But now ungrateful Man be 't spoke at last To fright thy Lawless Passion be it spoke I not Asteria wrote those Fatal Words Which cause my Death Man Then wou'd to Mahomet They may prove thy Damnation too Ast. Oh Heav'n Isp. Well Traytor thou hast had thy Fatal Wish As it is sure I die but know base Poisoner Thy wily Treasons have not set thee free Nor will Ispatia leave thee even in Death I 'le fright thee in thy Dreams I 'le haunt thee waking I 'le scourge thy Conscience with Whips of Remorse The Sting of Serpents shall be nothing to it Yes I will have Revenge I will I 'le strike Thee mad with terror when thou dar'st approach My Rivals Beauties Clasp her and I 'le glide All Cold between and dash the fancy'd Joy O Alha Mahomet O Courteous Heav'n Give me but Power as here I yield my Soul Up to your Mercy in Deaths cruel Pangs Dies Man Remove the hated Body from my sight Ast. And are there Pow'rs in Heav'n and can they see This Sacrilegious Mischief go unpunish'd Man What ever Deities in Heav'n there are They prove the Deed and smile upon the Doer And thus by giving thee reward it now Priest Mandricard and the Priest take her up and are carrying her off Ast. Look down O Mahomet from Heav'n behold My hard distressed Fortune save oh save A Virgins Chastity unsoil'd unstain'd And right with Miracles thy Pow'r contemn'd Enter Axalla and Zanches their Swords drawn Ax. This way this way the mournful Ecchoe calls Oh the bold Traytors Sacrilegious Villains They fight Mandricard and the Priest are beaten off They run they fly now injur'd Vertue seek To Ast. Thy safe Retreat while I pursue the Villains Exeunt Ast. Who e're you be just Mahomet reward you Exit SCENE a Wood. Arsanes sitting melancholly on a Green Bank while his Page sings this SONG BEhold ye Sylvans that frequent This silent sighing mourning Grove Behold the Fountains Birds lament Vnhappy Damons fatal Love Chloris to him her Heart denies For which the gentle Shepherd dies Ch. Chloris to him c. Bright Chloris fairest of her kind That charm'd with Smiles the yielding Swain False Chloris falser than the Wind That turns his Fairy Ioys to Pain Her Vows her Oaths which tir'd Heav'n Were for so many Curses giv'n Ch. Her Vows her Oaths c. Then fill with hollow Sighs the Day With Cypress strow the mourning Green Let nothing fresh let nothing gay O're all the fading Plain be seen â—or see the Swain lies bleeding there Wounded by Love dead with Despair Ch. For see the Swain c. Ars. Thus in a Chaos of cold discontent I pass the weary Minutes breathing forth My daily Passions from my wasted Spirits Unhappy wretched Prince how Destiny Allots unjust misfortunes to thy Youth Which to others is a flowing Spring of good To thee 's a frosty Winter of cold Sorrow Oh my Nerina how thy doubtful Faith Strikes deep my Heart nor can I think thee false To thy false Hand against thy Vertue plead So thus I may gaze here till I am blind Looking on the Letter But never here shall satisfaction find Throwing it away Enter in hast Axalla and Zanches Ax. Live live Arsanes In just Obedience to your great Commands I went to the Apartment of Asteria Where first I heard what seiz'd my Soul with horror And num'd my Senses with a Marble Fear I heard Arsanes your Nerina shrieking With all the Struglings of a Ravish'd Maid When from her Chamber rush'd in furious hast The Villain Mandricard and the prophaner Villain a Priest who grasp'd the Sacred Store Rais'd by the Pow'r of so just an Anger Your Old Mans Blood glow'd with a Youthful Heat While with our Swords I and the Faithful Zanches Pursu'd the Traytors forc'd 'em quit their Treasure And made 'em thankful to their Stars for Life Ars. O Golden Minute Thanks O Gracious Heav'n And thou its kindest happiest Instrument Ax. What Past before her fair Hand will unfold This Letter to your Hand she charg'd me bring Ars. They 'r welcome on what ever Errand sent Axalla see the wond'rous mighty Proof Reading Of her wrong'd Innocence she writes not she But fond Ispatia as dying she confess'd Was Author of those Lines which drove us hither In so much Fury and so much Despair Ax. 'T is as Axalla's Heart cou'd wish it shou'd be Ars. How cou'd I trust these Characters which are Unlike as Faith and Falshood Love and Hate Hope and Despair and shou'd I then have curst Curst her sweet Vertue for anothers Crime Such words wou'd sure have blasted me such words Had gave my Heart the lie had swoln my Tongue With its own Venome nay had press'd and grip'd My thoughtful Sense with wrecks of dire remorse And the black Scourge of self-tormenting Conscience Ax. But see my Lord the tenderest words she writes See at the end of her Complaints her Pray'rs She begs Protection from your Royal Hands Ars. Protect her yes against the Universe Brother and Father Fortunes Darts and Fates Decrees the business of our Watchful Eyes Shall be to mark her Enemies our Strength And well-collected Vertue be her Guard Where e're she moves Let us not wast in words One moment of our Life these happy Hours A swift Obedience calls our Hearts and Hands For from Nerina came the soft Commands Exeunt ACT V. Arsanes Asteria Ars. WIth equal Joy as when the first-born Man Through a sweet Paradise led his Infant Bride With all the Pleasures of a welcome Love Do I unsatiate with Asteria's Charms Pass the glad day Ast. Did not my Fathers Fate Oppose the sweet delights of growing Love This day I cou'd with mighty Queens dispute The Number of bless'd Minutes Ars. Oh my Soul Ast. My Heart I can profus'dly wish Ars. My all that I can ask and Heav'n can give Enter Abdalla with Guards Abd. Or I 'm mistaken or This is the Traytor apprehend him Ars. Whom Abd. Arsanes Sir me thinks you much resemble That great out-witted States-man Prince Ars. 'T is he Slave speak thy Errand Abd. From Tamerlane Ars. No more 't is Blasphemy To ask or to dispute the Cause I go Where e're he calls to shameful Bands or Death Lead on but oh my Heart forget her not Asteria Ast. My Lord Abd. We must not wait Fond Lovers tedious parting 's Lead away Ars. Farewel Fair Star for ever Is led off Ast. He 's gone he 's gone Hurry'd away by Traytors to his Death And oh ye Pow'rs I had not power to speak My last Farewel I le follow though and pierce Without regard
of Life or Being through All that does can oppose me break through Fire Through Flames o're Mountains pass and swelling Seas Through Files of Tartars Swords Lances Javelins Arm'd with resistless Love and Rage I 'le fly Like Lightning in a moment to his Cell With all the force of parting Love embrace him Bath with my Widow-Tears his panting Breast Bask in his Eyes share that Eternal Rest His Noble Soul shall claim among the Blest Exit Mandricard is discovered asleep the Ghost of Ispatia by him with a Dagger in her Hand threatning him Gh. Rest rest my Soul at last great Heav'ns Care Let never Innocence of Heav'n despair Thus sent thus arm'd an injur'd Shade I come To scourge thee Prince for thy untimely Doom Thy Conscience thus just Alha does unseal And to thee all the horrors of thy Crimes reveal With Frenzy shalt thou rage with Sorrow groan And in deep thought thy dazled Senses drown An inward Hell thee Poisoner shall burn Nor shalt thou ever to thy self return Exit Mandricard rises frighted and raging Man I wou'd have torn her and have sacrific'd Her Members to Ispatia's wandring Ghost Nay haunt me not dear Shade I 've sworn to do it With as much Art I 'le work thy Rivals Fate As th' wiliest Devil of 'em all can wish What Sorcery this Turkish Beauty bears Ha! where so swiftly fled have Harlots Wings Then to the Icarian Flood I 'le steer my Course Drain it and rob the unexperienc'd Boy Of his ill-manag'd Quills born on whose Force I 'le mount and catch her in her hottest Chace Enter Odmar Abdalla Odm. My Lord Lord Mandricard Man Did not you see a Monster up the Hill Sharp radiant Arrows arm'd her Magick Eyes Her Face or no Face or her double Face Shew'd crooked Nature shrowded by false Art These well-known marks make ill for her escape Hey follow seek 't is worth our pains and more Millions to one but we shall seize the Witch See ho see there o're yonder Plain she fleets O for an Arrow from Diana's Quiver Spread wide your Nets mark where to Autumn Gray The verdant Spring is chang'd that that 's her Road Made hoary by her Sorcery and Charms She 's near she 's near my Nostrils draw the Scent Of Paints of Powders Daubings strong Perfumes A Whore will scent a Mile so nimble ha 'T is noble Sport so hei follow so hei Runs up and down and out Odm. Was ever such a Change in Nature wrought So sudden yet so perfect Abd. This your Plots Your Stratagems have done had I been heard He had e're this have worn a Crown by Arms Nobly atchiev'd Odm. Thine were the means to sure Destruction this we may amend Abd. Ha ha Dost thou not see our hopes in frenzy drown'd Brave had you fell my way as shameful this Odm. We 'l follow him Abd. In vain Odm. Our Counsels may Abd. Make him a Fool as they have made him mad Odm. What shall I do Abd. Die in the Act like Men. Odm. Or live and work more Ruine Abd. And be found Traytors at last most infamous and base A Noise of Fighting Odm. What Noise is that Abd. 'T is the dear Shout of Battle Abdalla to thy lov'd Vocation Exit Odm. Go I 'le follow and thy dangerous Fortunes share Exit The Scene opening discovers Tamerlane Odmar Abdalla encountring Axalla Zanches and others Ax. Arsanes live or perish all thy Friends Peo Revenge Revenge our Prince Arsanes wrongs Ax. They fly they fly see O the wrong'd Arsanes Thy Succour nigh Tam. and his Party give back Abd. We must not thus give up To Slaves our Lawrels while Abdalla lives Ax. Die then perfidious base eternal Villain Kills Abdalla A Retreat is sounded on Tamerlanes side the Scene closes Enter Tamerlane Odmar Tam. Dead or alive he will my Ruine prove Odm. Dispatch him strait Tam. You 'r rash and unadvis'd Prove thy self worthy of the Name thou bear'st Our Counsellor or die Odm. Your Slaves Advice Meets your Commands let Sir Arsanes live Free him Tam. Ha! say'st thou Odm. These Reports will quell Th' incensed Crowd while I in Ambush laid In some dark secret Corner of the Palace Rush on him swell'd with pride and reeling with The drunkenness of Love end him my Lord Big with large expectations of delight And from your Royal Scepter take the Guilt Tam. Thou art my Soul my Empires Prop and Refuge Who hast reviv'd it sinking from its Ashes Next to our own when thy Blest Hand performs The happy Work of thy projecting Brain I 'le Crown thy Head with Lawrel and with Gold Boasting of thee our Life and Throne to hold Exit Odm. Now Odmar for thy share expect no less Than Scepters for thy dear contriving Wit Ha ha ha ha to see the Shallow King Expect Security and Bliss from me Vain Fools who think we work for any Ends But for our own How tamely the dull Crowd Lay down their Arms and leave their Prince defenceless Die die Arsanes and live Mandricard And I thy happy Father with what ease Odmar a Crown has purchas'd to his Race Me thinks I see my numerous Royal Offspring Steal softly by all Crown'd no more let others By Blood and Civil Wars an Empire gain T is Fraud alone false Titles can maintain Exit A Chamber Enter Arsanes Ars. I wonder how the Grave and Wise define Th' uncertain motions of ambiguous Chance While equally she flatters and destroys 'T is true I 'm free live have large promises To Love and Reign as my high Birth requires But oh what safety 's in that Freedom found From the sweet quiet of the Mind exil'd That I in Chains Enter Axalla Ax. My Lord Ars. What hast my Friend To view this Load of Shame Ax. Ha Prince Ars. I said my Shame Am I not mark'd in every Limb a Villain Ax. This Temper suits not with your Fate my Lord Thick Crowds of Friends expect you at the Court Waiting to Crown your vast Desert with Honour Which Tamerlane by me commands you take Ars. What sort of Honour is to Rebels due Ax. Rebells Ars. Am I not one how came I here Ax. Leave those jealous Thoughts Rank'd in long Rows the gazing People stand An endless Multitude while smiling Virgins From Windows mixt with Joyful Matrons lean All hoping and all wishing praying too For your Approach Arsanes is the Sound The only Sound the Gods can hear from Earth Ars. Triumphant Villain that I am Ax. Ha! Villain Fool that I am to court a dreaming Zealot To sublime Honours stupid thankless Prince Is this the Character our love deserves Traytors and Villains Oh the hateful Name Go Prince and as thy unman'd Soul requires Neglecting Palaces in Dungeons dye Slave-marking Iron press with vilest pain Those Limbs which Sword Steel Fire have sustain'd Farewell Arsanes neither Prince nor Man Ars. Hold Noble Friend pard'n oh Axalla pard'n A few rash words the Act in you was good Friendlike and Just and were
it not forbid Forbid by Duty it were so in me But oh Ax. Still dreaming Ars. Oh my Innocence Thou sacred fort fair Guardian of my Breast Where art thou fled me thinks I 'm left alone Disarm'd defenceless since I saw thee last Ax. Still in the tedious maze of fearful doubts Ars. Where e're I turn I see my Ruine nigh Ax. Mark then your surest way to Life or Death Bright Honour or base Shame the King Arsanes Brooks heavily the scorn of his Commands Your Friends their ill accepted Love repent And sad Nerina all in Tears protests She never thought Arsanes cou'd deny Her any thing Ars. Hold thou hast said enough Words of such wond'rous sense so moving full With Arguments of such prevailing Pow'r Wou'd raise the dull Lethargick from his Dream That Threefold Chain of Duty Friendship Love Wou'd bind the Roving Sylvan Honours Slave Faith draws the Wills of Men to my defence Duty and Love Auxiliary Gods Exeunt Odmar solus Odm. Traytor 't is a Name of vast import Not arm'd with furbish'd Brass nor lock'd in Steel He bears the noiseless Weapons of Deceit Lies politick and subtle Flatteries Raise him to trust what cannot Villains trusted We change destroy make Princes and unmake Unenvy'd be henceforth Cassander fam'd Dire Sylla Close Sejanus Cruel Marius Seditious Gracchi God-like Catiline With all the Glorious Traytors of each Age Not the false Smerdis with his Magick Train Could sound the dark Abyss of Odmars Plots Peop. Long live Great Tamerlane and Prince Arsanes Shout within Odm. Hark now me thinks I see this Lover come Hot with desire see how the too rash Fool With what large hasty steps he meets half way My Daggers Point now Heart for thy Revenge Heav'n guide my Hand where I resolve to strike Here will I make my Vigilant Retreat All Passages but through this Gate are bar'd To the dear Lodgings of his lov'd Asteria While the dark Night shall shrow'd me and my Guilt Retreats Enter Mandricard Man No not so much as one poor Cypress Torch To light her to her Grave ah the much-wrong'd Ispatia Odmar rushes on him and stabs him with a Poniard Odm. As sure a Thrust as ever Malice made Lye there thou empty Blaze of Fame while I Run with false Tears devulger of thy Fate Oh how the Crowd will fret the Prince Arsanes The Noble Prince lies murder'd in the way Help help the Prince is murder'd oh oh oh oh Exit Man Darkness and Horror whither am I going What greedy Horse-leech sucks my Vital Blood And draws me to a Being like Ispatia's Laugh laugh ye Furies and ye Devils grin Scourge me with Scorpions punish me with Flames Eternal Flames tear consume devour me Let Hell surround me with her greatest Torments Severest Plagues prepar'd for blackest Souls But turn the wrong'd Ispatia from my sight Ispatia's Presence is a Thousand Hells Dies Re enter Odmar with a dark Lanthorn Odm. But to be sure thou' rt dead it much concerns By Heav'n 't is Mandricard Death Furies Hell And thou curst Hand false Author of my woe Thou Traytor to my Will and Rebel to my Aim Oh the black Curse of Chance And plague of Accidents so gross an Error Was wrought sure by the envy of the Stars My Mandricard my Son oh oh my Son Enter Tamerlane Tam. Keep back the Rabble and your selves retreat While I survey and mourn my hapless Son Well Friend thou 'st done the business Odm. Very well To make the Strumpet Fortune frisk and laugh Tam. What mean you Friend Odm. I mean there is in Heav'n A Jubilee among Arsanes Stars Tam. That he 's come there Odm. That he is not come there Tam. Thy Mystick Speech I cannot comprehend Nor sound thy Sense no nor thy Ghastly Looks Odm. This will explain 'em all Points to Mandric Tam. By all the Gods 'T is Mandricard Curst Villain Oh my Son Odm. Ha ha ha Tam. What wou'd thy Mirth Odm. Seeing once a Corse On a Black Beer to gloomy Pluto born â—laught to see the Sympathetick Crowd Howl yell lament as they were Parents all What was the Corse to them or they to it Tam. Yet Ridling Slave what hoa my Guards who waits Seize there the Murderer Enter Guards Odm. I scorn to perish by a Fate so base Thus do the Noble dye Stabs himself What mean those Tears To Tam. Know King thou shou'dst have shed those very Tears Some twenty years ago when Mandricard Your Son my Charge a tender Infant dy'd Then the wish'd Glory of my days began He dey'd I to his room my Son advanc'd My own Themyre suppos'd your Mandricard My swell'd Ambition yet did higher aim A King at least the Father of a King I was resolv'd to raise my self Think Sir By me how oft Arsanes has been made By me a Traytor never of himself This was the last unlucky Cheat I acted Which the curst Fates had otherwise decreed And turn'd on me the Ruines of my Wish Scarce can I more my Death comes swiftly on While from my Actions I this Glory draw None cou'd but Odmar Odmars Plots destroy Dies Tam. Remove the wretched Bodies from my sight The hated Traytor and the curst Impostor First let 'em hang a publick Spectacle In our high Road which to the Palace leads Then when all Eyes are glutted with the sight Cast 'em to Birds and Beasts a welcome Prey Enter an Officer Off. Prepare Great Tamerlane for your defence Uproars and Tumults every where are ris'n Fame of Arsanes Death has arm'd the Crowd With Fury Rage Suspicions Frenzies Fears Your self the sole Promoter of his Fate Are sworn arraign'd on you they vow Revenge Tam. Hast quickly and with Trumpets Sound pronounce The Rumour false their lov'd Arsanes lives By blest mistake 't is Mandricard is fal'n Exit off Call to my Arms the Noble Prince Arsanes And his fair Mistress at last my Eyes are open Unseal'd to Truth I see and am confirm'd No close Conspiracy or black Design But Love and only Love their Hearts did joyn Enter Arsanes and Asteria Tam. Thanks O Propitious Heav'n thanks my Stars And all ye Angels Guards of Innocence Which have restor'd and brought into his Right The wrong'd Arsanes welcome O my Son Thy Enemies are dead the Impostors dead And with them all Suspitions of thy Faith Thy Injuries are dead Oh my Arsanes A Father in the Face of Heav'n salutes thee A happy Bridegroom from a Fathers Hand Receive thy Fairer Vertues Fair Reward Ars. O Extasie Oh Paradise of Joy I come scarce hoping for a Pard'n and find A full Reward Inestimable Treasure Eternal Bliss nor is it Fairy Treasure No no I have it here I hold it grasp it A Real Pleasure and Substantial Good But oh let not the fulness of my Joy Make me unmindful of the Noble Giver Oh my Asteria Ast. My Lord Ars. Thus let us kneel With Thanks unto our Father Ast. Our Preserver Ars. Our new Creator thus let us lie prostrate And wonder at our sudden Happines Tam. Rise and believe it granted now witness Heav'n And ye kind Stars that smile upon our Throne With what untroubled Joy I joyn the Hands Of the blest Loyal Pair The Sacred Tye just Alha shall confirm And as we Sign Seal your Eternal Loves Ars. Thanks O our Royal Father God-like Prince And double Author of my happy Being So may Great Alha all your Actions Crown And with Eternal Blessings Guard your Throne As I your worthy Praises loudly sing The Kindest Father and the Justest King Exeunt EPILOGUE By Mr. DRYDEN LAdies the Beardless Author of this Day Commends to you the Fortune of his Play A Woman Wit has often grac'd the Stage But he 's the first Boy-Poet of our Age. Early as is the Year his Fancies blow Like young Narcissus peeping through the Snow Thus Cowley Blossom'd soon yet Flourish'd long This is as forward and may prove as strong Youth with the Fair shou'd always Favour find Or we are damn'd Dissemblers of our kind What 's all this Love they put into our Parts 'T is but the pit-a-pat of Two Young Hearts Shou'd Hag and Gray-Beard make such tender moan Faith you 'd e'en trust 'em to themselves alone And cry let 's go here 's nothing to be done Since Love's our Business as 't is your Delight The Young who best can practise best can Write What though he be not come to his full Pow'r He 's mending and improving every hour You sly She-Iockies of the Box and Pit Are pleas'd to find a hot unbroken Wit By management he may in time be made But there 's no hopes of an old batter'd Iade Faint and unnerv'd he runs into a Sweat And always fails you at the Second Heat FINIS