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
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
the Mad For so Indeed you 'll find him let this Fit of his Wild Frenzy pass I 'm sure 't must have an Interval Let 's take him in his cooler Thoughts To Morrow were a fitter time Mar. You have Instructed me 'T is well To Morrow then Aran. What if we mingled with the Crowd to see him pass Art I think 't were well to observe his Actions That we know to chide him Mar. Do you your Pleasure For me I dare not trust my Temper I know 't wou'd burst and ruin all Farewel Exit Art Art Hark the Trumpets speak him near at hand And see the Pageantry appears They stand a part Enter Cleontes and a Poet preparing the way and ordering the Chorus for the Triumphal Song Aran. What are these Art The same I told you were so busie with the King While I exclaim'd against this Mad Solemnity That cringing Spark now the Rough War is done Has purchas'd a Commission in the standing Guard The other is a Mungril Poet That never writ a Verse he did not like Nor er'e lik'd any more than those the World had damn'd The Vulgar with his Madrigals are caught by th' Ears Excessive Impudence thrusts him into the Court And there they laugh to hear him praise himself Aran. Him I guess to be the Orderer of this Days Foolery What a Chorus too We shall be entertain'd anon Art Peace le ts observe 'em They stand apart Cleo. O Glorious Day were ever seen such Crouds Of pleas'd Spectators Poet. Ah! Happy People Happy Xerxes Now we shall turn the Glass of Time And make it run the Golden Age again Cleo. Now Merit will have leave to show her Head All Arts and Industry the Heav'n-born Gift Of Poetry shall Flourish And Men of Wit like you shall be rewarded Believe me Sir You Grace the Lawrel Great Xerxes did it Honour when he plac'd it there Poet. I think so Cleo. You 'll be the Envy of Parnassus Poet. I always was Sir For d' ye observe me While other Fools were drudging to acquire A Name by the Pathetick and the Dull sublime I unthought of or'e a Bottle would now and then Surprize them with my Madrigals my Songs My Whimms and Knick-Knacks Carry'd the Vogue of Town and Court before me Whipt off the Lawrel from Dispairing Brows And by the Hand of Merit fix'd it on my own Cleo. Were it not time the Paean should be Sung Wee 're just upon the Palace Poet. Yes Sir it shall be sung and Gloriously When I give the Word I love to have 'em Wait a little it makes 'em take The more notice of me Now sound ye Slaves That all the World may Hear my Words Cleo. Prepare the King approaches The Chorus being hang'd on each side the Stage Enter Loyalty Love Peace and Plenty After a Martial Symphony Loyalty Sings Loyalty PRepare blest Sons of Art prepare To Raise the Thundring Voice of War Sing sing and sound the Hero's Fame Let Warlike Notes his Warlike Deeds Proclaim Chorus Sing sing c. Loy Now cease the Noise and while we meet him Let Love and softer Ioys make haste to greet him Love Advances Love Welcome Hero from the Toils of War Welcome as Rest to Pains and Care Welcome as kind returning Day To Souls that dore the Night away Welcome as Hope to Lovers in Dispair Chorus Welcome Hero from the Toils of War Peace and Plenty comes forward Peace Plenty See! see what softer Blessings wait The Happy Triumph of the Great Peace and Plenty fly before him Peace and Plenty make Mankind adore him Peace and Plenty Tune his Soul to Love And give below a Tast of Ioys above Grand Chorus Give him on Earth ye Pow'rs long Love and Peace And after Death Immortal Bliss The Song ended Enter Trumpets sounding a Train of Captive Kings and Princes Women and Children several Nobles bearing Palms Soldiers with Spoils and Trophies Then Xerxes Advances from the farther end of the Stage Xer. Thus in despight of their resisting Fate The unwilling Gods those busie Rivals In my Rising Glory are forc'd With sullen Envy to behold my Triumphs Look from your Christial Battlements look down Ye Pow'rs amaz'd to view a Soul unshaken By these baffled Storms of Chance A Soul That dares resolve to bear your utmost wrongs And grapple with oppos'd Omnipotence Cleo. Thou Deity Ador'd Immortal Xerxes Hail Kneeling To Thee are held the lifted Hands of Persia When War or Tumult wou'd molest her Quiet To Thee she bends her Knee in humble Gratitude For Foes subdu'd Let every Head bow down and kiss the Earth That bears him to our view Soldiers and Children Virgins and Lovers All without distinction kneel Yet lower prostrate as the Vail of Night That wraps the Globe in Darkness Down Bow down And kiss the Earth with Adoration All fall upon their Faces but Mardonius and Aranthes who stand unseen The Sun appears Or'ecast here Art O shame to Glory Aran. Incredible Stupidity Aside Xer. Now by my yet untasted Joys of Power This looks a God It is For see The dazled Sun contracts His Golden Beams he hides his Face and Blushes To behold a Rival Power above him Art Gods How his drunken Fancy swells him Aside Xer. Ha! What means this sudden Face of Death How fell these heaps of prostrate Bodies O Spleenful Fate They 'r dead Malicious Planet Am I left alone to Rule the Monarch Of an Un-peopled World 'T is well ye Pow'rs Your dire Decrees shall be obey'd Up Up From your sleepy Graves Rise all Revive and take New Life from Power to give it Aran. Amazing Frenzy Aside Enter a Messenger Mess. Dread Sir the Reverend Magi are at hand And come with Pious Joy to Gratulate your Triumphs Xer. Let 'em come on and we approve their Zeal Enter the Magi. 1. Mag. Long live Victorious Xerxes Thou Dread Commissioner of Fate in whom Th' Allknowing Gods repose the Care and Business Of the World below From thee Mankind receives Its Happiness so fast our Prayers to Heav'n Are still but Thanks for Benefits enjoy'd 2. Mag. Thou Sacred Head Instruct us to be Grateful Both to the Gods and Thee What Hecatombs Are due for this Auspicious Day How shall we thank the ever Glorious Sun For such a King What Vows What Offerings too Are due to Neptune Who through the dangerous Seas Has thus return'd thee safe to Persia O say Where shall we find out Victims Worthy of their Altars Xer. How now Priest-hood Is this the way Your fawning Piety wou'd sooth an injur'd King Have not those Pow'rs Allarm'd by Sea and Land Oppos'd my spreading Glory Am I not Xerxes still and must at last ignobly sue For Peace by a precarious Sacrifice Yes Slaves I 'll Feast your Gods Ador'd They shall have Offerings Priests they shall Th' injurious Sun the Seas and Wind that saw That sunk and scatter'd my stupendious Navy Shall feel the Vengeance of a Rouzing Deity Give Order that the Wind receive Three
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
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
Gods She kneels Kings are their Images Such Thanks as Heav'n Accepts the humble All that Man can pay Receive O sacred Prince from me who like a God Have giv'n me Life restor'd and more than Life my Husband Nor wou'd I have you think that any Power on Earth But a resistless Love cou'd e'er have forc'd My honest Heart to brave my Prince's Anger Xer. Ay! there indeed thou 'st nam'd a Motive That might excuse the foulest Crime And wash it fair as Innocence Unconquerable Love Oh who can brave his Power A Power that braves the eldest Law of Nature Ev'n Self-defence is lost where he exerts his Sway For who 'd not rather die in Proof of Love Than suffer Life untasting of his Joys When Iove created Love He made a greater God than Iove Hadst thou design'd the Ruine of my Empire At Love's Command 't were Treason not t' obey 〈◊〉 him alone our Hells or Heav'n we prove He bids the Damn'd despair the Happy love Tam. Defend me Heav'n Whither wou'd he drive Aside Xer. Riches Ambition Glory Pride may boast Their several Charms to raise our Souls aloft Yet from the Height of all their towring Thoughts When on the eager Stretch to kiss the Skies Thus do we see 'em lur'd to Earth like me And rest their weary'd Wings upon the Hand of Love takes her Hand Why dost thou turn away Is it such Pain To be belov'd to be ador'd Kneels Can Penitence and humble Tears offend thee The Gods are not averse to those We kneel To Heav'n and taste of Mercy O why why didst thou take an Angel's Form Without the Softness of an Angel's Mind Canst thou not pity me Tam. Alas it is not in my power Still as my Thoughts grow soft my Husband steals 'em from me And he 's so greedy of the Joy he strips my Soul And leaves me cruel to the World beside Xer. Be cruel still yet will I still love on I have Consider'd all the vain Impossibles of Despair Yet have resolv'd to use no other Help but Love But such a Love fed with so soft a Flame So fond of Misery so impotent of Hope It must be inoffensive to the chastest Ears Tam. Why do you hold me like a frighted Dove That trembles in your Hand and murmurs for its Mate 'T is most Inhumane to be cruel 'cause you may 'T is true I am your Slave and in your Power Xer. Behold I throw it off Be free I scorn All Power but humble Passion Which thus disrobes the Purple King And strips him to the starving Lover But shall I must I starve before so fair a Banquet Tam. I have no Room To entertain another Guest You may Disturb my Love but never can be welcome to 't Xer. I 'll bring with me a tender sighing Heart A Lover's Heart that bleeds that languishes And dies to make me welcome Tam. Give it to those that starve on me 't is lost I in a faithful Husband have Eternal Plenty Xer. Husband 's the grossest Food of Love The Ignorant and Vulgar have their Share of him The poor contented Drudge of idle Nature Cheated of Bliss to be the Tool of Propagation But didst thou know the Joys a Lover brings Thus wouldst thou clasp me in thy willing Arms. Embracing her And mad with wild Desire confess Thou hast been fed but never knew'st to taste before Tam. Strike strike me deaf ye Gods O Violence To the Ears of Vertue Xer. Vertue 's the Bane of Bliss and while it checks The Husband's Love Love leaves the Lover free The Miser Husband starves a generous Flame He thinks you lavish when you most are kind And even fears to ask What with a Loose the happy Lover takes He 's still impatient of unknown Delight Begs with unfated Longings to improve the Bliss And adds by asking to the Store of Love By Heav'n she must be mine my Soul 's on fire And while I grasp her thus she must dissolve or burn She melts she pants her Conscious Eyes confess the Joy And sparkle from her Flames within The God of Love lays prostrate all her Charms And thus I seize her yielding to my Arms. Eagerly embracing her Tam. Tyrant 't is false I either melt or burn Exerting thus the Strength of Innocence I dash thee from thy Lustful Hopes for ever Breaking from him Stand off approach me not for if thou dost By all the Wrongs of my undaunted Love These Hands resolv'd with horrid Force Shall tear my guilty Eyes away and pash The reeking Balls upon the Ground before thee Xer. Why then the Spirit ly'd That said I was deceiv'd in Woman-kind I knew my Hopes to conquer thee were vain I now despair and that secures my Pleasure Women that yield to Love or vile Reward Are Things below the Passion of a Monarch's Soul But she that can like thee be deaft to Power To conquering Love yet bear the Rack for Love She is indeed a Banquet for the Gods I 'll be their Taster now And serve up in Ravishment to them Hadst thou submitted to my eager Love Perhaps in Heat of Blood I had enjoy'd thee And after left thee like a common Thing Despis'd and hated for thy easie giving Tam. O happy Thought he teaches me to 'scape him Forgive me Love if now I seem the Thing That Love should most abhor Aside Xer. Now where 's that Hand will hurt those Beauteous Eyes Srive not nor think thy Cries can move yet do Seizing her Hands Resist me still still Curse my hated Flame 'T wil burn the fiercer when oppos'd Methinks thou art not cold as I could wish By Heav'n I 'll grind thy sullen Hate to Love And glut my Vengeance with abhorr'd Possession Tam. And why Abhorr'd Smiling Can there be Horror in so sweet a Pleasure Can Force be needful to the yielding Fair I find you think me what I seem'd all Ice Ah! little little do you know of Womankind Our Lives Our Thoughts Our very Souls are Love Our Tears are Softness and our Coyness Fear Our Frowns Affected and our Smiles decoying Our Hearts are Tender and our Tongues belye 'em Our Wishes secret and our Eyes betray 'em We must be Cruel e're we can be kind And use Resistance to be more Desir'd But when our Cruelty has done its Part And kindly prov'd how Ill the Wretch can bear Then Then Our Joy's secure A look can cure Dispair Looks wantonly on him Xer. Amazement Tam. You thought perhaps because I bore the Rack That I could only bear an Husbands Love Alas I suffer'd that in spite to you Not love to him For you were then my Foe My Interest Brib'd me there to suffer My stollen Pleasures now are all secure The Rack has fix'd my Reputation fair It now shines out with such a glaring Light It blinds the Eyes of Jealousy By Heav'n I know were you unkind or base And should divulge the Joys I now resolve to give So fair my Honour stands it wou'd not be
believ'd Xer. Nay then the Spirit did not lye For I Confess I 'm now deceiv'd in Womankind Tam. And why deceiv'd Cou'd you believe these Eyes the Stars of Love Were fixt Not Planets wandring round the World To search and tast of sweet Variety A Husband's Love perish the stupid Wretch Whose Heart once fir'd seeks not to burn for ever And has an Husbands Fuel to Maintain the Flame I ne're could find it so For me I own An Hundred Eager Lovers have supply'd his room Youth 's form'd to melt and Charm a Womans Heart While he abroad has fought his Country's Dause I 've still been raising Love Recruits at home Xer. By all my Hopes a Strumpet Tam. But all the Conquests that my Eyes have won Are Poor and Low Compar'd to you To make The Monarch of the World Dispair and Weep Is something sure beyond the Power of Love It Prides my Soul to think my Frowns have force And charms me now to dress my Heart in Smiles Xer. Thy Frowns were Smiles to me Thy Smiles are common A Monarch cannot Feed on what has pall'd his Slaves Tam. You seem uneasy Sir permit me touch your Hand To tast your Kisses Now you 're grown so cold Xer. Gods That a Strumpet cou'd appear so Chast Why did I form such Monstrous hopes to tast A Woman's Virtue 'T is Notion all Lewdness and Life are what they take together Tam. And why Is that a Name to Fright you Why did you woo unless to win my Love How cou'd I yield unless I turn'd a wanton Xer. But thou' rt so Foul I loath thee With looser Beauties to delight my Blood Such as will sell their Honour for a Price I 'm hourly serv'd and pall'd 'T is Vulgar No! My Hope was here To tast thy Beauty and thy Virtue too But know that Royal Appetite 's above The Handled Offals of a Common Love Thy Virtue Tainted thou hast lost thy Charms I now condemn thee to thy Husband's Arms But since thy Lust my Furious Love has tam'd As a Reward take all my Guards inflam'd Or if they fail to slake thy loose desire So I am free set all the World on fire Exit Xer. Tam. Gods can it be Is then the Face of Vice So loathsome ev'n to the Vicious Triumph you Guardian Powers of Virtue And let your Case of Innocence this Day To your Eternal Glory be Recorded For this Escape shall tell the World a Tale To make your Precepts more ador'd than ever The looser Beauties now shall blush to hear In what disgrace their lewd Embraces are A Tyrant Lustful and Debauch'd with Power In search of Bliss an Humble Passion wore Conceal'd his Lust his slighted Crown threw by And only hop'd from Loves Authority But when he found his subtlest Art was Vain Unveil'd his Soul and shew'd the Brute again The Trembling Nymph Inspir'd for succor flies To loose Desire safe in that foul Disguise She Palls his Flame he starts and dooms her Back To all that Life can give or happy Lovers take Exit At another Door ACT V. SCENE The Palace Enter Xerxes Attended Xer. THrough all th'unmeasur'd Bounds of Wild Delight I never yet could tast substantial Joy Or know one Pleasure more than Common Men. If I indulge my Appetite I 'm cloy'd Uneasy now with what I lately long'd for If when my Blood is high I taste of Beauty I loose the Bliss because my Power Commands The Peasant there takes more delight than I That Travels through Dispair to sweet Possession When Deaf to Injuries I make my way Through others Ruine Stern Conscience stops me short and will be heard She keeps me waking when the World 's at Rest And stuffs my Pillow with a thousannd Thornes A shout at a distance Ha! what mean those shouts they found of Mutiny Enter Cleontes hastily Cleo. Arm Arm my Lord the City 's in a Tumult Aranthes having forc'd the Prison Gates Has freed Mardonius from the Dungeon Who drags his Chains along the Crowded Streets And calls 'em brave Rewards for Loyalty Xer. Insulting Traytor Cleo. Another Party here produc'd a Rack Stain'd with the Blood of fair Tamira's Wounds Here in another place Three dead Virgins whom you had lately Ravish'd In spiteful Pomp were carried round the Streets To turn the Peoples Hearts against you And I much fear their Fury will be fatal Xer. Meet they no Opposition The Magistrates do they stand Idle They 'r out indeed but shew an Hollow-hearted Power Unarm'd and unresolv'd to quell 'em 'T is said that Artabanus too Xer. Let him Mardonius and Aranthes be prescrib'd Set on each Head an Hundred Talents Mean while to make the Rabbel ours let 'em Have leave to Plunder every Rebels House Then set 'em all on Fire If Children Wife or Servant there have shelter Let none escape but bury all in Flames Allarm the Guards Bar up the Palace Gates and follow me Exit The SCENE Changes to the City Enter Mardonius in Chains Aranthes Bearing his Sword Magistrates and People shouting Aran. Fellows in Arms and you my Friends of Peace Both equally oppress'd beneath a Tyrants Yoke Behold our Liberty in Chains This Loyal Arm and Head busied in Wounds And watching for our Countries Peace and Honour Half starv'd and Fetter'd like a common Traitor Unask'd and unadvis'd of you have we presum'd Presuming first you 'd not condemn the Action To force the Prison and set free this Man Free from a Tyrants Power but still in Chains If you pronounce 'em worthily put on Him and his Sword to your discretion we surrender To arm to execute or free himself and you Is it your Will he be remanded back To end his Life in shameful Bonds Or shall he take that Sword inur'd to Action And lead you forth to brave Revenge and Liberty People Arm him Arm him Liberty Liberty c. They give him the Sword and unbind him Mar. If supple Words My Noble Country-men must speak my Thanks I shall appear ungrateful for this Trust Repos'd If Blows have Eloquence I 'll be a Talker Let it suffice that I am free and Arm'd Not my own Wrongs but yours shall edge my Sword Your Liberties Infring'd your Rights destroy'd Your antient Glory sunk in Sloth and Tyranny Your Ransack'd Houses and exhausted Treasure Your Tender Virgins and your Wives deflower'd The publick Wrongs and poor Tamira's Rack Are Stings too venom'd not to swell Resentment Ev'n to your Wishes Height Once more I 'm Yours Let Heav'n but smile tho' Persia's Head lye low I 've yet an Arm to ward the Tyrant's Blow Exeunt Omnes Liberty c. Enter an Officer and Four Soldiers of Artabanus's Party Offi. Here Gentlemen Place your Selves at the Corner of this Street While I go privately to the House If we can bring his Lady safely to him He 'll not be wanting to Reward our Care A Shout Hark! the Tumult 's near us Ha! What means you Glaring Light It seems some Fire By Heav'n the House of