Here This way show the Bodies to the King Great Sir two of the Conspirators This Moment Breath'd their last Xer. Was 't not my strict Command to take 'em all alive Who was it dar'd to kill ' em Cleo. My Lord it was their own Dispair For e're we cou'd beset the Orchard These two with several more who just before Escap'd us Made an Attempt to leap the Wall We Interposing in the Moment Demanded 'em our Prisoners At this they looking round with hopeless Eyes To one anothers Breasts their pointed Swords advanc'd And rusht at once to an Embrace Of Friendship and of Death Xer. O spiteful sullen Traytors Bring in the Torture By Heav'n I 'll have 'em Rackt to Life again Mem. My Lord these Wretches are but the Limbs Of the Conspiracy it only halts for want of them If you would have it husht for ever Cut off the Head their Artabanus Xer. Thou hast inform'd my Rage Say Slaves Among those that fled saw you Artabanus Cleo. No my Lord we rather choose to let them fly Than give him time to 'scape while we pursu'd em If with the rest he was he 's still i' th House my Lord. Mem. Then we are secure of him I left him here But see they 've found his Wife If he lies yet conceal'd she must of course Be privy to the Place Enter Tamira Guarded Xer. Now Is Artabanus found Guard My Lord we 've left no place unsearcht That Jealousy can enter but can no where find him And when we urg'd his Lady to discover him She call'd us Fools and said we askt her Idle Questions Xer. So brave But this is done in spite to me The Traytress knows I love and therefore she insults But thus I tear the Passion from my Breast And in its room take fell Revenge and Hate Aside Bring in the Rack I 'll try if that can make A Woman speak her Mind Mem. 'T is here my Lord. Xer. See you that Lady Tam. Yes and feel it in my Thoughts Xer. What think you of it Tam. That I could bear it Sir t' avoid a greater pain Xer. What 's that Tam. Disloyalty to my Husband and my Love Xer. That shall be try'd Where is your Husband Tam. I have hid him Sir Xer. Where Traytress Tam. I dare not tell you Sir he has commanded me I should not Xer. He then commands thee to the Torture If thou wouldst 'scape it speak for I will know Tam. You shall You ask to know Where I have hid my Husband Then I must tell you Tyrant in my Heart Where you nor yours can enter to remove him Mem. Put her to the Tryal Sir the Rack keeps no Secrets Women are so impatient of a little pain That only squalling in their Natural Labour They 'll forswear Mankind Aside to Xerxes Xer. By Heav'n I 'm pleas'd to see her Folly rave Thou talk'st as if the Rack were but a sport Hast thou Been ever sensible of any pain like this Tam. Ten thousand times a greater I have known The pains of hopeless Love Nay after that The Agonies of Blushing to Reward The Man that lov'd me Xer. How feelingly she talks of Love ev'n in The Face of Horror Art thou not afraid of Death Tam. No! This Moment from my Window I beheld These two unhappy Wretches run into His Arms and see how soon they 're quiet Death Alas He 's now my nearest Friend look here I wear him in my Bosom Sir My Husband plac'd him there Xer. Thy Husband To what end Tam. During his Absence to keep Dishonour from me Xer. O the Inveterate Slave Memnon Walk unobserv'd Behind and rest the Dagger from her Aside Mem. I shall my Lord. He steals round Tam. That Whisper has a Meaning I am jealous of By Heav'n 't is so The Villain meets my purpose Observing Mem. Xer. Once more Where is thy Husband Confess and yet preserve thy Life Tam. Thus far I will confess That I am now indeed Almost afraid of Death For it would grate my Soul To leave my Husbands Ruin unreveng'd For I dispair again to make him happy And that the only wish that makes me fond of Life Forgive me Duty if I mistake the Breast But great Revenge and Love Instruct me here Stabs Mem. Xer. Disarm her Seize her Slaves I 'll trust the Tygress loose no more Mem. Furys and Death she 'as reacht my Heart Dyes Tam. So may all Traytors dye 'T is done The Noble Task that Love had set me For the Remains of Life is nobly ended And now I am at leisure for The Idle Holy day of Death Xer. No sullen Traytress thou shalt be Years a dying Tam. Let me be Ages Sir Xer. Begin the Torture I 'd have my Glory live for ever By Heav'n she mocks my Vengeance They bind her Now where are your smiles of Scorn Lady Tam. Here in my Soul which thus contemns the Tyrant Thinking to bow it down to Baseness Alass my Body now wou'd sink to th' Earth With horror of yon Agonizing Tortures But that my daring Soul shoots like a temper'd Spear Quite through the falling Trunk and give it power to stand Now satiate thy Rage strip off my trembling Flesh And when thou 'st Piece-meal torn these frailer Limbs away Still shalt thou leave unmov'd a naked Mind Erect to Heaven Xer. Away and drag her to her Fate She is carried off My stern Revenge will brook no more defiance Cleo. My Gracious Lord might your poor Slave advice Xer. Preserve thou thy own Life and tempt me not I tell thee Vengeance takes up all my Soul Cleo. But yet you see my Lord she minds it not You are not thus reveng'd she mocks the Torture Now Sir may I Advise Xer. Advise me What Not ev'n the damn'd can Groan With more variety of Pain Look there Cleo. I see my Lord and plainly see from this Were she in your Arms she 'd feell at once A greater Pain and you a sweeter Vengeance Methinks she 's lovely yet Her Charms new pointed See! How her Snowy Bosom heaves and swells With Inward Pains Disdaining to confess ' em O Miracle of distressful Beauty Xer. Not yet a Groan No Sigh or Tear for Mercy Reveal thy Husband yet and I forego My Justice By yon' Heav'n she 's Dumb and dauntless See! How she knaws her Lips and firms her Brow With sullen Virtue she supports her Soul And bears it with unheaded Resolution Cleo. Stupendious Woman Xer. Forbear a while To the Executioners Cleo. With half this Pain I 've seen a Malefactor Make the Torturer tremble with his Groans Can all this Fortitude be born of Love Xer. If it be What Mortal Man can Merit such a Love If Love can make her smile in such a raging Pain What must he do when wrapt in real Pleasure What Racks of Blissful Joy what Raptures must she give By Heav'n they must be tasted Unloose and seat her by me She is brought in all Bloody I 'm now a Convert to
her Undaunted Virtue Thou Glorious Woman whose Unconquer'd Soul Inspite of Wrongs resolves my Rage to pity For ever now thine and thy Husbands Injuries 〈…〉 Too little to Reward thy Constancy But if thy Husband's Life and Safety can Nay and his Friends too they are thine Thy Goodness has redeem'd ' em Tam. What said you Sir You do not flatter me Weeping Xer. Search round my Kingdom for a Wish 't is thine Or Wealth or Empire all too poor a Gift For such exalted Virtue But ask O speak and teach me to be grateful Tam. O my cheer'd Heart Shall I not ask in vain Xer. Speak and enjoy thy Wish Tam. Indeed it is an humble one I ask Not Wealth or power I ne're was fond of Dignity Nature and Reason ever taught me to believe No taste of Life cou'd be but in the Free Th' intire Possession of the Man that lov'd me Give me his Life and him the Life of those Unhappy Friends his rashness has engag'd And I am more than happy Xer. All this I had resolv'd unask'd Can nothing more be giv'n to chear thy Life Tam. A little more If I might speak Xer. Speaking is to enjoy Tam. Then give us leave my Husband Sir Our little Infant and my self with the Remains Of our Inheritance to seek Retirement On some remote and unknown Clime Where Power and State may never more Disturb the Peace of our unmurmuring Love Xer. Draw up a Pardon strait for Artabanus And those with him concern'd in this Conspiracy Here Fair one take this Ring Give it thy Husband Be that thy Triumph and his Pasport through the World Now gently raise and bear her to the Palace And let our own Physicians have the care of her Tam. Alas my Lord I want no Art such words as these Wo'd heal a Wretch expiring of his Wounds O let me kiss your Sacred Feet And thank you with my grateful Tears of Joy Thus let me weep and wash your cruel Guilt away Till Gods and Men stand wondering at your Virtue Xer. Rise Fair Creature Live and enjoy the Man that loves thee Tam. Now you indeed have rais'd me rais'd me Sir From Death to Life to Love and to my Husband But hast O lead me to him e're my Wounds are cold That I may fold his Body in these Bleeding Arms And print it or'e with Crimson Characters Of Eternal Faith And now let base Detraction blush To call us Cowards or Inconstant Souls Since ev'ry Drop that falls from me May to our injur'd Sex's Glory prove That Racks nor Hell could shake a Woman's Love Exit Xer. Then thou' rt the first that never could be won And therefore only fit to feed a Love Luxurious as my own Now follow her Seize her Husband the Moment she discovers him And bear him to the Scaffold Cleo. You gave your Royal Word to spare him Sir Xer. No Fool I gave my Word to find him out Justice demanded him and since the Rack Produc'd him not I might with Justice then Make use of Policy and now I 'm both Secure of my Revenge and Love Cleo. Then she must not die Sir Xer. Oh! no! she lives and shall be lov'd to Ruin I 've prov'd her Vertue now and find It worthy of a Siege I 'll further try If all the moving Penitence of Love can take her If as I would she still resist that Pow'r The noblest Way to conquer is to storm 'T is Opposition gives the Victor Glory Oh! what a noble Gust will swell my Soul When she lies drown'd in Tears and trembling in my Grasp Nay after my abhorr'd Possession I 'll hold her down With smiling Spite and talk my Raptures o'er In her unwilling Ears I 'll pour such Tales Of Loose Desire her very Soul shall feel the Rape And though Her Words may beg I wou'd her Life destroy I 'll make her Eyes confess that she partakes the Joy Exit ACT IV. The Scene the Palace Enter Xerxes attended a Messenger offering him a Letter Xer. WAit on me to morrow I 'm not at leisure now for Business Mess. To morrow Sir may be too late They 're of Importance and concern The Safety of your Royal Person Xer. I tell thee Slave my Will 's my Safety When Danger dares to face me I 'll command it from my Person Mess. But Sir Xer. No more My Pleasures wait Enter Cleontes Now my Cleontes What News from Love How does Tamira bear her heavy Change of Fortune Cleo. Oh! never never did the weeping Eyes Of Pity view a Scene so mournful When first We seiz'd and forc'd her Husband from her Arms She wrung her Hands and shriek'd and tore her flowing Hair Beating her Breasts and in her wild Despair She broke through all the Guards with an amazing Force And strain'd her Arms once more around him We strove to part him from her Hold but she Still clung and clasp'd with such Convulsive Force That from her half-heal'd Wounds the starting Blood Agen sprung forth And sprinkl'd those with Pity that oppos'd her Mov'd by that Sight we stopt a while To let her take a short a last Farewell Quite Breathless now her Head upon his Bosom lean'd She wept and spoke with dying Eyes The tender Anguish of her Soul He press'd her close and call'd My Life She sigh'd and groan'd and offer'd an Embrace But there alas her wasted Spirits sunk And left her on the Floor expiring Xer. Extravagance of Love If only to behold her parted from a Husband's Arms Were such a mournful Sight Oh! what a Beauteous Ruin will her Sorrows make When rifl'd of her dearer Honour She weeps and wails with swoll'n Eyes looks up to Heav'n And chides the Neuter-Gods for their Neglect of Innocence But say How have you dispos'd her Husband Cleo. While she lay fainting on the Ground We hurry'd him to Prison then us'd all our Care To bring her back to Life Xer. Is she then recover'd Cleo. To Life she is but hardly to her Senses She speaks to none nor minds another's Speech Pensive she sits with folded Arms Fixing to th' Earth her Blood-shot Eyes and looks The piteous Image of true Mourning Misery Xer. How are her Wounds Cleo. By virtue of an Arabian Plant she has Already lost the Pain They were at first Xer. Use all the Power of Art to chear her Spirits But keep her still within the Palace When you perceive she is inclin'd to talk Let me hear of her Mess. I beg your Majesty Xer. Agen this Plague Whence are these Letters Mess. From my Master Sir the Governor of your New erected Fort. Xer. Reads Ha! He tells me here some Rebels are in Arms That you are able to inform me farther Say Who what are they Mess. Most of 'em are those the Grecians left unslaughter'd Xer. In Arms Mess. Yes Sir and in Order too They have been Long us'd to War You taught 'em first the Trade And now they say they 'll set up for themselves Xer. So blunt
He that neglects the Regal Office Should be compell'd to lay it down And we who feel the smart of that neglect Are only proper Judges where to place it Aran. Let us but once more see Mardonius Sworded We shan't be long to seek a Man that 's fit To weild a Scepter I long To hear how he receives our Undertaking Why lingers Memnon thus may we believe He 's not refus'd Access to him Art You may I have unbarr'd the Prison Gates with Gold A Servant Whispers Artabanus Come Gentlemen the Night begins to wast Our Small Collation waits us Aranthes Pray conduct our Friends I 'll give some Orders In the House and follow You. Exit Aran. with the rest Enter Tamira in her Night Dress Weeping Art What mean these Tears Tamira Tam. O can you love like me and ask that Question T is true I counsel'd what you have undertaken Yet cannot help my Womans Fears Not but I love your Honour more than both our Lives Yet when I run or'e the Frightful Hazards The Dangers imminent you meet To purchase and preserve it than I could wish Some Humble Shepherd were my Love Whose sole Ambition were a Rosy Chaplet Not a Crown Who in some sweet Retreat of blooming Nature Naked of Honours but Enrich'd with love Might give and take delight unknown to Crowns And drive with undisturb'd Repose The melting Hours before us Art Be witness Heaven how these words Transport me For still thy Fears I know are born of Love And Love 's of Kin to Honour Could'st thou behold Ev'n in the softest Moment of our Joy Our Native Country in Distress The Bloody Arm Of Tyranny just rais'd to give the Wound And not with Horror throw me from thy Arms To stop the Blow Think what a Glorious Tale Futurity shall Register of him That first stept out to save her And if opposing Death should cross the Brave Attempt Then shall it farther still be said for thee This Man this honest Man the Memorable Artabanus Beyond his Life his Country Lov'd Yet equal with his Country lov'd Tamira Tam. O shall it then be said Tamira's Fears Oppos'd this Glorious Enterprize Perish That Wife is so Impatient of her Joys That to Indulge her Love at home Would turn her Husband's Honour out a starving No! Go on my dearest Lord leave me and cheer Those Gallant Friends have sworn to assist you If you return wtih Life my Love will find A thousand thousand ways to welcome you Hark! What knocking 's that who can it be thus late A loud knocking Do you expect more Friends my Lord Pray Heav'n no ill be towards us Art Be not concern'd my Love I guess 'T is Memnon from the General within there Hast to the Portal know first their Business Enter a Servant Er'e you give admittance unless it be To my Lieutenant Memnon Be calm my Love Tam. I cannot while this Noise continues You shall not stir my Lord Heavens How I tremble Art Now who is it Re-enter Servant with the Steward Serv. My Lord your Steward Art The News Stew. Defend your self my Lord Some Danger 's towards you Going to my Rest within the outward Lodge I heard the thronging tread of Passengers Whom from the Window I discover'd To be the Guards They now are Marching round the Orchard Wall In Order to beset the House I heard 'em say too as they pass'd along Kill none let 'em be taken all alive Art Death and Horror we are betray'd Tam. O Fly My Lord Let me conjure you by the Pangs Of my distracted Love fly fly er'e yet A moment can befriend you Art Impossible I leave my Friends in danger Tam. Run hast and rouze 'em from the Jaws of Ruin To the Serv. O Fatal Enterprize Art That we may gain some time to think lead you The Servants to the Eastern Gate To the Steward Command 'em on their Lives to keep it Barr'd 'Gainst all would force their Enterance Gods Was ever Noble Action so untimely born O Tamira Tam. What Power what Fate can stop our headlong Ruine Some pittying Gods look down and stretch an Arm To keep our Lives and Love unparted O that the Earth wou'd open wide and take us thus Thus undivided to the Centre Throwing her Arms on him Art If we deserve your Rage ye Pow'rs Now hurle your Thunder to destroy us But strike us closer not asunder with your Bolts O! must we part Tamira Curst be the Hell born Slave that durst betray Our Honest lives Ill rest betide his Frighted Soul Devouring Guilt Like the Promethean Vulture knaw his Perjur'd Heart And mark him for the Carrion of Mankind Ara. within Ruin'd betray'd and lost Art O my Friends Enter Aranthes and the rest in Disorder Aran. Destraction Memnon Art Ha! what of him Aran. He He That curst that Canker'd Slave for fear Or base Reward has sold us all I now Descry'd him by the Distant light of Torches In Conference with the King who Smiling comes 'I th Rear to catch us in the shameful Toil Art O that a curse wou'd kill the Villain Aran. Let 's send it then upon our pointed Sword Since w'have no hope of safty left Here let us fix our stand and if the Villain Dares to Face us rush all at once to reach his Heart And die like Men Reveng'd upon our Ruin Art Impossible to 'scape such Numbers No! Let 's down to th' Postern Gate and try To leap the Orchar'd Wall or now the Darkness of The Night Befriends us Mingle with the Guards That are in search of us seem Hot as they In the persuit and that way take our chance To scape 'em Undiscover'd a loud Noise without Aran. A way they are upon us Succeed or not we know at last to die Exit with the rest Art I follow you Tamira holds Arta. Tam. My Lord my Love I cannot leave you O let me part with you and life together Art This is no time to part like Lovers Nor yet to tell thee half my Fears The King Revenge and lust I can no more But shou'd thy Frighted Virtue call for help Let this speak for me gives her a Dagger Tam. By Heav'n it shall and Home But do not Venture To the Orchard Here in the House below there lies A Secret Vault in former Times of some Religious use And now is only known to me There I conjure you lye Conceal'd till safty call you forth Nor Hell nor Envy can Betray you thence unless I prove Unfaithful Art O might we never part till then Hark! They are Entering show me Exeunt After a Noise of the Gates being Broken down Enter Xerxes Memnon Officers and Guards with Torches Xer. Where Where 's this Infernal Brood of Traytors By Heav'n I 'll Crush 'em in the Nest Away Look out Search every Hole that Fear can Creep into Nor Earth nor Hell shall Hide 'em from my Vengeance Enter at the other Door Cleontes and Guards Dragging in two of the Conspirators Dead Cleo.
Mess. They talk but little Sir they look their Thoughts And threaten in their Silence Xer. Aranthes at the Head of ' em Mess. I saw and spoke with him Xer. What said the Traytor Mess. He bid me tell you Sir Unless the General Were free to morrow he 'd himself find Hands To force the Prison-Gates Xer. So Resolute What was their Number Mess. When first I view'd 'em they appear'd Not above Ten Thousand But in Four Hours I perceiv'd 'em doubl'd Xer. Ha! It may be dangerous then too far T' incense a gathering Power It must be so Here take the Royal Signet haste and stop The Execution of Artabanus Exit an Attendant Nor is it Fear that makes me do it But on my second Thoughts it may advance The glorious Project of my loose Desire For she 'll believe when I protest it so Aside That Love of her has made me pitiful Beside the News will call her Spirits home And make her fit so much the sooner for my Arms. Post to thy Master back Bid him draw out Those Forces under his Command and meet the Rebels Mess. The Rebels Sir are more than thrice his Number Xer. No more But let him do 't or die Mess. I am gone Sir And if he takes my Counsel His few shall make their Number greater Aside Xer. I 'll think no more nor shock my Ease To entertain a Thought of Toilsome Arms But yet I am not safe till these are quell'd Let Hood-wink'd Fortune use her Sensless Will Man sees in vain and does in vain oppose her Fight or neglect 'em still my Fate 's decree'd Nor is 't in me to shun a future Ill Unless with Pow'r to act Heav'n gives me Will. Yet thus to live in Doubt a Torment is Then Magick Art shall set my Mind at Peace I 'll to the Magi's Cave whose Charms shall prove What Fate 's design'd my Empire and my Love Exit The SCENE changes to the Magician's Cave Re-enter Xerxes alone Xer. Come forth ye Pow'rs on Futurity You that with Pow'rful Charms unlock The Cabinets of Heav'n and steal from thence The hidden Fates of Kings and Empires The Magi appear Haste from your gloomy Cell and summon all Your Art to wait a Monarch's Pleasure Mag. Command us and our Art obeys Xer. Tell me what End my Empire is decreed If I by Foes or Foes by me shall bleed Tell me what Pleasure I in Love shall know If Love or Force shall make the Fair One bow Exert your Art and prove what Spells can do Mag. Prepare the Charm The Charm must be To Sophiel who delights in Harmony 1st Mag. sings Sophiel Old Sire of Early Fate Who seest before the Gods debate That know'st of yet Unbeing Things The Fates of Uncreated Kings Of Men of Empires and the Doom Of Thousand Thousand Years to come 1st Mag. Appear 2d Appear 3d. Appear 1st Mag. Sophiel By the Moon 's pale Beam That faintly glimmers o'er the Stygian Stream Appear c. 2d Mag. Sophiel By the Ocean's Ebb and Flow Whose Hidden Cause we ne'er cou'd know Appear c. 3d Mag. Sophiel By the Subterraneous Winds that make The trembling Earth and Centre shake Chorus Appear Thrice Thrice invok'd appear Whether in Air thy Form does stray Or under Earth by Charms is bound Swift swift as Light'ning dart away Or fierce as Thunder tear the Ground Sophiel arises in the Form of an Old Man all in White and speaks Soph. Too curious Man Why dost thou seek to know Events which good or ill fore-known are Woe Th' All-seeing Pow'r that made the Mortal gave Thee every thing a Mortal State should have Fore-Knowledge only is enjoy'd by Heav'n And for his Peace of Mind to Man forbidden Wretched were Life if he fore-knew his Doom Ev'n Joys fore-seen give pleasing Hope no Room And Griefs assur'd are felt before they come Yet loose the Charm be wise O send me back And what 's decreed by Fate with Patience take Mag. Thou beg'st in vain to cross our Monarch's Will What he commands Spirit I charge thee Fell Speak or I 'll bind thee in an Everlasting Spell Soph. O! spare me and I speak nor blame my Care I thought in Kindness I might say Beware Know then rash Man thou 'st lost the happy Hour Which fav'ring Fate once gave within thy Pow'r While thus thou liv'st in Thoughtless Luxury Slighted of Friends of Foes despis'd thou 'lt die In Madness only fam'd to late Posterity But thou in Love a stranger Fate shalt know The Fair One shall but shall to Vertue bow With humble Love pursue and thou shalt find Thou art deceiv'd Alas in Woman-kind He descends Xer. Spirit thou ly'st I ne'er despis'd shall die I 'll change my Death to prove that Fate can lye Shou'd Fortune threaten what thy Words declare I 'd free my Soul to be reveng'd on her And for my Love I will the Raptures know She shall to Love or Force not Vertue bow Vertue may please and give dull Souls a Feast But Ravishment's a Joy for Gods to taste Exit The SCENE changes to a private Room in the Palace Enter Cleontes and an Officer and Servants setting out a Banquet Cleo. Dispatch dispatch the King approaches Off. I guess the meaning of this Preparation But is the Lady in a Condition think you To be entertain'd Cleo. Her Husband 's Liberty and Pardon have re-call'd her Spirits Off. Has she seen him then Cleo. She has I saw there first Meeting here i' th' Palace Off. Sure 't was a joyful one Cleo. It was indeed Joyful even to a Face of Sorrow So movingly she wept her Griefs away 'T were hard to judge which seem'd the greater Pain The Terrour of his Death or the distracting Joy Of his Return to Life For ev'n there she fainted Off. Where is her Husband now Cleo. After the Hurry of their Joy was over He beg'd her Leave to visit brave Mardonius She loth to part but more unwilling to deny Dismiss'd him on his Promise of a quick Return That Visit was the only thing cou'd part 'em And now the King 's secure of Opportunity If in the Interim her Husband should return Your Orders are to give him no Admittance See all the Anti-Chambers clear'd Away she 's here Exeunt Enter Tamira alone Tam. How tedious are the absent Hours of Love Life 's an unpleasing Dream when he 's not with me 'T is worse 't is Death and wishing to be born agen I am impatient of my State When when my Love Sure Time stands still to fly the faster at our Meeting Our Hours in Love have Wings in Absence Crutches What can this Musick mean Address'd to me Soft Musick Enter Xerxes bowing at a distance Good Heav'n the King and yet I read no Terrour In his Looks Innocence should never know The Guilt of Fear I 'm yet To thank him for my Husband's Life To Xerxes When bounteous Heav'n gives a surprizing Joy We bend our grateful Knees to thank the
above But hark you Sir Are you sure 't is Artabanus's Wife Cleo. The same I mention'd several But most the King inclines to her Poet. By Iove we 'll Dub his Lordship then we 'll Dub him Now my Revenge is perfect He gave me Nothing for my last Dedication Aside Cleo. I guess the King expects her at the Mask But see our General and Artabanus with him I like 'em not they 'r Enemies to you and me Poet. Oh! Let me alone with ' em You say the King has Possitively Commanded none shall pass his Presence Arm'd Cleo. He has I 'll retire and Inform him They are here while you demand their Swords Enter Mardonius Artabanus and Aranthes Mar. What mean these double Guards Poet. Safety Sir Safety Mar. What art thou Poet. I am a Wit Art I 'll not take your word Sir Aran. O 't were Charity my Lord since he can't keep it Poet. I 'll write no more Dedications my Lord Art 'T is well resolv'd 'T were Insolence To Libel Men of Honour For what wer 't else To tell the World they like a Muse Which just before the world had Damn'd Poet. Your Lordships Picture was not ill drawn before it Art 'T was every where unlike me Thou drew'st my Honours all or'e white Without one touch of shade to heighten it It look'd to me a flat insipid nothing Poet. The very Image of your Lordships Gratuity Art 'T is a vain Pride not Gratitude Rewards The Undeserving to Encourage thee Were an Affront to Real Merit To the Presence on my Lord Poet. You must leave your Sword Sir Mar. Who demands it Poet. Your Humble Servant Sir Mar. Here Take it Slave Presenting the Point Poet. Auh not by the wrong Handle I beseech you Sir Mar. The meaning of this Insolence You Gentlemen Is it the King's Command Guard My Lord it is Art 'T is likely dispute it not my Lord There Gentlemen They give their Swords Mar. Gods That a Man so great in Arms Should ever know the guilt of Fear See where he comes Amidst his Court of Women now O shameful Change Enter Xerxes follow'd by a Train of Ladies Cleontes in Discourse with him Tamira amongst them Xer. Did you see her say you Cleo. She follows in the Train my Lord. Xer. Let her be near us at the Mask I wou'd Appear a gentle Lover first and try The force of Passion and Heart wounding Eloquence I know tho' Real they would plead in vain But that 't is heightens my delight For when She thinks the Lamblike Lover dying In the vain pursuit The bounding Lyon then Shall start and drag th' unwilling Prey Aran. Health to your Majesty Xer. Aranthes welcome welcome Artabanus Valiant Mardonius welcome Mar. I never durst be a Coward Sir But now Methinks you should not know me for Mardonius I us'd to wear a Sword Xer. O! 'T were needless unless you had Enemies Mar. There still are Graecians Living Sir Xer. And they were born to live Mar. Yes and Conquer too Your Pardon Sir I love 'em not tho' they deserve my Love Xer. Ha! Art Take heed my Lord your words have mov'd the King Mar. Then does yours soften him For I want Temper Xer. Aside I 'll find a fitter time to silence him Such Men are hateful and will oppose my Pleasures Art We came to Intreat a private Hour with your Majesty Xer. The Court at present is dispos'd to Mirth And Pleasure After the Mask I 'm yours Aran. We 'll Attend your Majesty Xer. Your Entertainment shall be soft And pleasing what the Musick wants may be Supply'd in Love But that 's a Feast my Lord. To Art You never seek abroad that are so sure A welcome Guest at home Art I owe that Blessing Sir to your Indulgence And see she 's here Your Majesty will pardon me Xer. 'T is your Duty Sir By Heav'n Art goes to Tam. He loves her after four Years Enjoyment Had she been mine er'e this I 'd loath'd The Sight of her Not but she's Fairer than the Beams of Day Softer than a Lovers hope and Virtuous to an Insolence Tam. To Art I hope you'er not displeas'd my Lord. Art No! But what was it brought you hither Tam. Indeed the hopes of seeing you Art D' ye not fear the King should Gaze upon you Tam. If you fear it I 'll retire Art No 't wou'd be observ'd But yet beware of him He often dwells upon your Praise of late Tam. Indeed I 'm sorry if it troubles you Else could hear it with Indifference Xer. Come Sirs our Entertainment waits us Artabanus You 'll trust me near your Lady Art That Trust will be her Protection Sir Xer. Begin the Mask While a Symphony is Playing Luxury arises sleeping on a Bed of Roses and Mercury Enters to him Mercury Awake soft Luxury awake The smiling Gods befriend thee And with Pleasures here attend thee Now Feast thy Senses and Receive The sweetest Ioy the Gods can give Awake c. The Scene Drawing discovers several Deities Attended by their several Pleasures Cupid Advances Cupid With me these Rival Gods contend And Each asserts his Power to bless Thy Voice alone the strife must end Who knowest all Pleasures in Excess And wanton Cupid comes to prove Life has no Ioy like Lawless Love Luxury What kind Reward shall I receive From them to whom my Voice I give Cupid That thou Unbrib'd mayst give thy Voice Eternal Freedom to possess thy Choice Mars advances to a Warlike Symphony Mars Sound sound the Trumpet sound The Warriours Soul Allarm He Fights They Fly and now with Conquest Crown What God can give a Nobler Charm Lux. No more no more Ah throw thy Arms away For with 'em Love shall Sport and Play The Trumpet now shall softer sound And swell and weep and gently wound Hymen Descends Hymen If softer Love can make thee Blest That Bliss in Marriage is possest Indifference Interrupts him Indiff Away away no Life can be Like that Mankind enjoys in me Indifference is the happiest State On which no Care or Sorrows wait Nothing hating nought admiring Never Wanting ne're Requiring Never Pining for Possession Nor yet slighting kind Occasion Ioy is welcome still to chear me Sorrow never shall come near me Mar. and Indiff together If Peaceful Iows can make thee blest In him or me they are possest Lux. Begon Dull Pair I cannot take Or grant a Ioy in either Be chain'd for ever Back to Back And wander through the World together Chorus Begon Dull Pair he cannot take c. The Pleasures Bind Marriage and Indifference together and drive them off the Stage Then Venus advances Venus Would you know the sweetest Ioys Which Virtue wisely keeps from Fools Then steal a Mistriss Break all Tyes That would confine your Love to Rules From Vulcan forct to hide my Charms I Modest still and Cold must prove But Ah! when in my Warriours Arms I live and give a loose to Love Lux. and Venus All other Loves
run or'e the Stage and Xerxes in Disorder Omn. Fly Fly they are Entring they are upon us Fly Exeunt Xer. Confusion How the Slaves forsake me They 've caught me in the Snare Nor can I 'scape 'em now Let 'em go all I 'll stand the shock alone The fearful Stag at Bay will Fight Will dye reveng'd upon his Hunters And the fierce Lyon's wilder in the Toil Shall Danger shake a Monarch's Soul Now by my Crown 's Right Royal Majesty I will not fall What Hoa my Beaver Slaves I 'll put the Godhead on and Destiny Shall tear her Idle Scrolls of Fate decreed For she has written false of me I will not dye Nor shall my Foes have power to Face me Thus with this Awful Front I 'll look the Raging God within And Frown 'em into Fear Thou Pale fac'd Slave Shout Clashing Enter a Soldier Sol. My Lord Your Guards are half destroy'd The rest Revolted all to Artabanus Who like a Deluge with his Force comes Rowling in Xer. Let him Rowl on He meets a Rock will stand unmov'd his Roar And dash him into Dew Shout again Enter Artabanus Pressing back his Followers Art On pain of Death let no Man follow me Xer. How darest thou Slave With that Rebellious Face Confront-thy King Or Tempt the Vengeance of a waking Deity Art When Kings are Cast in Molds Divine We find their Actions Great and Pitiful Pity 's the Noblest Composition of a God But thou hast none No soft Compassion ever toucht thee Tygers and Wolves to thee are tame See here The Handkerchief The ruful Flag proclaims thee worse than Tyrant Or if a nearer Name can reach thee Devil Xer. Traytor Art From any Mouth but thine wou'd shock my Soul Or if I am a Traytor Ev'n those just Powers that gave me Vertue When they behold the Wrongs that rais'd my Arm Will sure allow I was not prompt to Ill Not easily disloyal My Vertue did its part If held it struggled stoutly to be tame But here 's a Force would break the strongest Hold And turn ev'n Pity to Revenge and Rage If yet the Horrour of the Deed Has left thee Temper speak What had the poor Tamira done to merit such a Death Why hast thou kill'd The tendrest Mother and the softest Wife Xer. But that I know to say will gall thy Heart I 'd spurn thee Traytor for this bold Demand Daring to ask a Reason of thy Monarch's Will But as a God to Thunder-strike thy Soul I tell thee Slave I Whor'd her to a Dis-liking And then she was unfit for Life Nor cou'd I brook to let her live for thee After the Stamp of Royal Love was on her Art O savage bloody Tyrant The Horrour of his Words Has numm'd my Senses and drowns my weak Revenge in Tears Xer. Now By my Glorious Brother in the Skies My Words have more than Power of common Kings They 're something near 'T is Second Fate To strike this hardy Soldier pale with Fear He weeps he dies I 've look'd him to a Ghost Art And art thou dead Our Infant-Love for ever parted No more of Woman now Farewell Nor need I this to dry my Tears The Thirst of Vengeance rages in my Blood And drinks 'em faster than they flow Hear hear me Gods Revenge your Heads prophan'd Kneels And as the Cause the woeful Cause is yours So from this Arm your not unwilling Instrument Hurl swift Destruction to the Tyrant's Heart Rising Xer. I laugh at all that Fate can do Come on rash Fool And if thy Life 's a Pain as sure a Rebel 's ought Thus Hand to Hand oppos'd Death never took A Nobler Form to face thee Art Now By the Sun 's Refulgent Ray I meet thee worthy of my Rage Oh! I cou'd thank thee that thy Blood 's so high That Manly Fury in thy Eyes transports me It sets the Noble Front of Honour in my View And heightens my Revenge with Glory They fight and after some Passes Xerxes speaks Xer. Confusion How he dallies with my Fury But thus I pour it all at once And certain send thee to the Shades Art And thus the Gods re-pay thee Both fall Xer. Furies and Hell They 've struck me now indeed But if there be Hereafter I 'll revenge it still Rebellion from the lowest Shades shall rise And give 'em fresh Alarms of War More dreadful than their puny Giants Rage The desperate Fiends by me to Freedom led Shall dash their Chains against their Crystal Tow'rs And shake their Heav'n to Horrour Oh! I am faint My gushing Blood flows inward to my Throat And drives out Life before it Ha! 't is false I am not dying No! I 'm weary of the World And now will sleep for ever Dies Art When I behold this Sight I wish to follow thee Death cannot be more terrible His Hand is on me and his Looks are mild To be no more is now to be most happy Oh for a Friendly Witness of my Glory Hark! A Trumpet My Fortune's kind I hear 'em coming Enter Mardonius and his Party Oh! welcome Friend My Fellow-Soldiers welcome See there the Wounds of Persia cur'd the Tyrant's dead By me he fell and poor Tamira is reveng'd Mar. Horrour on Horrour Thy Tamira lives And comes with eager Love to meet thy Arms Oh! rather had she died than thus to meet thee Art What means my Friend Tamira living Mar. Run Haste and tell her of this bloody Chance If she would see her Husband she must fly Exit a Soldier Alas my Friend That Gory Handkercher Was only by the Tyrant thrown to gall thee Thy poor Tamira lives This Moment dragg'd along By the rude Rabble I redeem'd her safe But hark Aranthes brings her on He faints A Trumpet at a distance O Cruel Gods can you not lend one Hour To a departing Lover Art Grieve not for me Give to my Wife thy Tears She 'll need a Friends Compassion Let not her Sorrows For I know she 'll mourn my Fall be desperate Her little Infant will require some Care I charge her live for that Commend me to her Heart and let her know My latest dying Words and Thoughts Confest her Loving more than Life belov'd Dies Mar. He 's gone O Freedom dearly bought Unwelcome Peace Without the Life that gave it But see his frighted Widow comes O mournful Thought O piteous Woman Enter Aranthes with Tamira She runs to the Body Tam. Where where 's my bleeding Lord Stand off O give him to my Arms Hah Speechless and pale Oh! Aranthes Help ho she sinks le ts raise her from him Tam. Oh! we must never part But with more Pain than Bodies lose their Souls Dear Sir for Pity 's sake oppose me not Ev'n in your Eyes I read a Friend 's Concern But mine 's a nearer Tye a Wife Alas I was his Wife his tender Wife belov'd Mar. Indeed I pity thee But yet call Reason to thy Aid Tam. Ah! Do I not my Lord Are not my Tears my Duty Have I not Cause to tear my Flesh to bleed And dash me on the Ground Oh! cou'd my Tears but fall like Showers from Heav'n This dismal Object sure wou'd drown the World Mar. Be comforted fair Creature Nothing is ours Nature but lends us Life Since Death's a Debt that all must pay Tam. Since he is dead is there a Comfort left me Oh! I cou'd out-weep the Southern Clouds Away And give my Sorrows Room Stand off And let me fill my Arms with Woe Embracing the Body Grudge me not this This Ease of Misery indulg'd Let me but talk a while and gaze and kiss His cold unfeeling Lips and you shall see me quiet Hush'd as the Cradle-Babe When chidden by its angry Parent to a Slumber Weeps over him Aran. Give her her Way my Lord Her Grief swells higher when oppos'd Mar. By Heav'n this stubborn Heart that has unmov'd Walk'd by a Heap of groaning Foes At this sad Sight is melted down to Woman Tam. Hush Who 's that weeps so loud You 'll wake my Lord He is not well he slumbers and a cold Damp Sweat is on his Brow O my poor Love Hark! hark He calls me in his Sleep He chides Says I am unkind and fear to follow him As if the Terrour were not in Life behind him Ha! What means this Friendly Weapon at my Breast It looks not sure as if the Hand of Chance But Love had laid it to relieve my Woes 'T is so 'T was Love and Love applies it here She stabs her self with her Husband's Sword Aran. O fatal Deed Mar. O rash Despair Tam. Call it not rash when there 's such Ease in Death But Death alas is never wholly kind For tho' I 'm pleas'd to think I had not Power T' out live my Lord yet Oh! it grieves my Heart That I have robb'd an Infant of its Mother Oh! be a Friend to that and teach him Sir To keep the Middle-Paths of Active Life When wild Ambition or too powerful Love With eager Heat would drive him blindly on Be kind and warn him with his Parents Ruin Dies Mar. There broke The tend'rest Heart that ever sigh'd in Love But Love was her Undoing for once In wild Revenge to right her Love betray'd She struck a Ponyard to the Villain Memnon's Heart The Gods have frown'd but Men must pity her Nay Heav'n but half resents her Fault gives her A kind a not untimely Death 'T was then Too late to live when all she lov'd was gone Remove the Bodies never more to part Living one chaste Bed now one Grave shall hold ' em But here the Gods with Terrour strike Mankind Turning to Xerxes Let Kings and jarring Subjects hence be warn'd Not to oppress or drive Revenge too far Kings are but Men and Men by Nature err Subjects are Men and cannot always bear Much shou'd be born before Revenge is sought Ever Revenge on Kings is dearly bought Yet to our Woes the Gods this Comfort give From those that die the Living learn to live The END