the Bless'd above Kissing her hand Ind. Oh stay or take me with you when you go There 's nothing now worth living for below Mor. I leave you not for my expanded mind Grows up to Heav'n while it to you is joyn'd Not quitting but enlarg'd A blazing Fire Fed from the Brand. Dies Mel. Ah me he 's gone I die Swoons Ind. Oh dismal day Fate thou hast ravish'd my last hope away O Heav'n my Aureng-Zebe She turns and sees Aureng-Zebe standing by her and starts What strange surprise Or does my willing mind delude my eyes And shows the Figure always present there Or liv'st thou am I bless'd and see thee here Aur. My Brother's body see convey'd with care Turning from her to his Attendants Where we may Royal Sepulture prepare With speed to Melesinda bring relief Recal her spirits and moderate her grief Half turning to Ind. I go to take for ever from your view Both the lov'd Object and the hated too Going away after the Bodies which are carried off Ind. Hear me yet think not that I beg your stay Laying hold of him I will be heard and after take your way Go but your late repentance shall be vain He struggles still She lets him go I 'll never never see your face again Turning away Aur. Madam I know what ever you can say You might be pleas'd not to command my stay All things are yet disorder'd in the Fort I must crave leave your audience may be short Ind. You need not fear I shall detain you long Yet you may tell me your pretended wrong Aur. Is that the bus'ness then my stay is vain Ind. How are you injur'd Aur. When did I complain Ind. Leave off your forc'd respect And show your rage in its most furious form I 'm arm'd with innocence to brave the Storm You heard perhaps your Brother's last desire And after saw him in my arms expire Saw me with tears so great a loss bemoan Heard me complaining my last hopes were gone Aur. Oh stay and take me with you when you go There 's nothing now worth living for below Unhappy Sex whose Beauty is your snare Expos'd to trials made too frail to bear I grow a fool and show my rage again 'T is Nature's fault and why should I complain Ind. Will you yet hear me Aur. Yes till you relate What pow'rful Motives did your change create You thought me dead and prudently did weigh Tears were but vain and brought but Youths decay Then in Morat your hopes a Crown design'd And all the Woman work'd within your mind I rave again and to my rage return To be again subjected to your scorn Ind. I wait till this long storm be over-blown Aur. I 'm conscious of my folly I have done I cannot rail but silently I 'll grieve How did I trust and how did you deceive Oh Arimant would I had di'd for thee I dearly buy thy generosity Ind. Alas is he then dead Aur. Unknown to me He took my Arms and while I forc'd my way Through Troops of Foes which did our passage stay My Buckler o'r my aged Father cast Still fighting still defending as I past The noble Arimant usurp'd my name Fought and took from me while he gave me fame To Aureng-Zebe he made his Souldiers cry And seeing not where he heard danger nigh Shot like a Star through the benighted Sky A short but mighty aid at length he fell My own adventures 't were lost time to tell Or how my Army entring in the night Surpris'd our Foes the dark disorder'd fight How my appearance and my Father shown Made peace and all the rightful Monarch own I 've summ'd it briefly since it did relate Th' unwelcome safety of the man you hate Ind. As briefly will I clear my innocence Your alter'd Brother di'd in my defence Those tears you saw that tenderness I show'd Were just effects of grief and gratitude He di'd my Convert Aur. But your Lover too I heard his words and did your actions view You seem'd to mourn another Lover dead My sighs you gave him and my tears you shed But worst of all Your gratitude for his defence was shown It prov'd you valu'd life when I was gone Ind. Not that I valu'd life but fear'd to die Think that my weakness not inconstancy Aur. Fear show'd you doubted of your own intent And she who doubts becomes less innocent Tell me not you could fear Fear 's a large promiser who subject live To that base passion know not what they give No circumstance of grief you did deny And what could she give more who durst not die Ind. My love my faith Aur. Both so adult'rate grown When mix'd with fear they never could be known I wish no ill might her I love befall But she ne'r lov'd who durst not venture all Her life and fame should my concernment be But she should onely be afraid for me Ind. My heart was yours but Oh! you left it here Abandon'd to those Tyrants Hope and Fear If they forc'd from me one kind look or word Could you not that not that small part afford Aur. If you had lov'd you nothing yours could call Giving the least of mine you gave him all True love 's a Miser so tenacious grown He weighs to the least grain of what 's his own More delicate than Honour's nicest sense Neither to give nor take the least offence With or without you I can have no rest What shall I do y' are lodg'd within my breast Your Image never will be thence displac'd But there it lies stabb'd mangled and defac'd Ind. Yet to restore the quiet of your heart There 's one way left Aur. Oh name it Ind. 'T is to part Since perfect bliss with me you cannot prove I scorn to bliss by halves the man I love Aur. Now you distract me more shall then the day Which views my Triumph see our loves decay Must I new bars to my own joy create Refuse my self what I had forc'd from Fate What though I am not lov'd Reason's nice taste does our delights destroy Brutes are more bless'd who grosly feed on joy Ind. Such endless jealousies your love pursue I can no more be fully bless'd than you I therefore go to free us both from pain I pris'd your Person but your Crown disdain Nay ev'n my own I give it you for since I cannot call Your heart my Subject I 'll not Reign at all Exit Aur. Go though thou leav'st me tortur'd on the Rack 'Twixt Shame and Pride I cannot call thee back She 's guiltless and I should submit but Oh! When she exacts it can I stoop so low Yes for she 's guiltless but she 's haughty too Great Souls long struggle ere they own a crime She 's gone and leaves me no repenting time I 'll call her now sure if she loves she 'll stay Linger at least or not go far away Looks to the door and returns For ever lost and I repent too late My foolish
pride would set my whole Estate Till at one throw I lost all back to Fate To him the Emperor drawing in Indamora Attendants Emp. It must not be that he by whom we live Should no advantage of his gift receive Should he be wholly wretched he alone In this bless'd day a day so much his own To Indamora I have not quitted yet a Victor's right I 'll make you happy in your own despight I love you still and if I struggle hard To give it shows the worth of the reward Ind. Suppose he has o'rcome must I find place Among his conquer'd Foes and sue for grace Be pardon'd and confess I lov'd not well What though none live my innocence to tell I know it Truth may own a gen'rous pride I clear my self and care for none beside Aur. Oh Indamora you would break my heart Could you resolve on any terms to part I thought your love eternal was it ti'd So loosly that a quarrel could divide I grant that my suspitions were unjust But would you leave me for a small distrust Forgive those foolish words Kneeling to her They were the froth my raging folly mov'd When it boil'd up I knew not then I lov'd Yet then lov'd most Ind. to Aur. You would but half be blest Giving her hand smiling Aur. Oh do but try My eager love I 'll give my self the lie The very hope is a full happiness Yet scantly measures what I shall possess Fancy it self ev'n in enjoyment is But a dumb Judge and cannot tell its bliss Emp Her eyes a secret yielding do confess And promise to partake your happiness May all the joys I did my self pursue Be rais'd by her and multipli'd on you A Procession of Priests Slaves following and last Melesinda in white Ind. Alas what means this Pomp Aur. 'T is the Procession of a Funeral Vow Which cruel Laws to Indian Wives allow When fatally their Virtue they approve Chearful in flames and Martyrs of their Love Ind. Oh my foreboding heart th' event I fear And see sad Melesinda does appear Mel. You wrong my love what grief do I betray This is the Triumph of my Nuptial day My better Nuptials which in spight of Fate For ever joyn me to my dear Morat Now I am pleas'd my jealousies are o'r He 's mine and I can lose him now no more Emp. Let no false show of Fame your reason blind Ind. You have no right to die he was not kind Mel. Had he been kind I could no love have shown Each vulgar Virtue would as much have done My love was such it needed no return But could though he suppli'd no fuel burn Rich in it self like Elemental fire Whose pureness does no Aliment require In vain you would bereave me of my Lord For I will die die is too base a word I 'll seek his breast and kindling by his side Adorn'd with flames I 'll mount a glorious Bride Exit Enter Nourmahal distracted with Zayda Zay She 's lost she 's lost but why do I complain For her who generously did life disdain Poison'd she raves Th'invenom'd Body does the Soul attack Th'invenom'd Soul works its own poison back Nour. I burn I more than burn I am all fire See how my mouth and nostrils flame expire I 'll not come near my self Now I 'm a burning Lake it rowls and flows I 'll rush and pour it all upon my Foes Pull pull that reverend piece of Timber near Throw 't on 't is dry 't will burn Ha ha how my old Husband crackles there Keep him down keep him down turn him about I know him he 'll but whiz and strait go out Fan me you Winds what not one breath of Air I burn 'em all and yet have flames to spare Quench me pour on whole Rivers 'T is in vain Morat stands there to drive 'em back again With those huge Bellows in his hands he blows New fire into my head my Brain-pan glows See see there 's Aureng-Zebe too takes his part But he blows all his fire into my heart Aur. Alas what fury 's this Nour. That 's he that 's he Staring upon him and catching at him I know the dear man's voice And this my Rival this the cursed she They kiss into each others arms they run Close close close must I see and must have none Thou art not hers give me that eager kiss Ingrateful have I lost Morat for this Will you before my face poor helpless I See all and have my Hell before I die Sinks down Emp. With thy last breath thou hast thy crimes confest Farewel and take what thou ne'r gav'st me rest But you my Son receive it better here Giving him Indamora 's hand The just rewards of Love and Honour wear Receive the Mistris you so long have serv'd Receive the Crown your Loialty preserv'd Take you the Reins while I from cares remove And sleep within the Chariot which I drove Epilogue A Pretty task and so I told the Fool Who needs would undertake to please by Rule He thought that if his Characters were good The Scenes entire and freed from noise and bloud The Action great yet circumscrib'd by Time The Words not forc'd but sliding into Rhime The Passions rais'd and calm'd by just Degrees As Tides are swell'd and then retire to Seas He thought in hitting these his bus'ness done Though he perhaps has fail'd in ev'ry one But after all a Poet must confess His Art 's like Physick but a happy ghess Your Pleasure on your Fancy must depend The Lady 's pleas'd just as she likes her Friend No Song no Dance no Show he fears you 'l say You love all naked Beauties but a Play He much mistakes your methods to delight And like the French abhors our Target-fight But those damn'd Dogs can never be i' th' right True English hate your Monsieur 's paltry Arts For you are all Silk-weavers in your hearts Bold Brittons at a brave Bear-garden Fray Are rouz'd and clatt'ring Sticks cry Play play play Mean time your filthy Forreigner will stare And mutter to himself Ha gens Barbare And Gad 't is well he mutters well for him Our Butchers else would tear him limb from limb 'T is true the time may come your Sons may be Infected with this French civility But this in After-ages will be done Our Poet writes a hundred years too soon This Age comes on too slow or he too fast And early Springs are subject to a blast Who would excel when few can make a Test Betwixt indiff'rent Writing and the best For Favours cheap and common who wou'd strive Which like abandon'd Prostitutes you give Yet scatter'd here and there I some behold Who can discern the Tinsel from the Gold To these he writes and if by them allow'd 'T is their Prerogative to rule the Crowd For he more fears like a presuming Man Their Votes who cannot judge than theirs who can FINIS
I 'll use it for I need just such a Friend You must perform not what you think is fit But to what ever I propose submit Arim. Madam you have a strange Ascendant gain'd You use me like a Courser spurr'd and rein'd If I fly out my fierceness you command Then sooth and gently stroke me with your hand Impose but use your pow'r of Taxing well When Subjects cannot Pay they soon Rebel Enter the Emperor unseen by them Ind. My Rebels punishment would easie prove You know y' are in my pow'r by making Love Arim. Would I without dispute your will obey And could you in return my life betray Emp. What danger Arimant is this you fear Or what Love-secret which I must not hear These alter'd looks some inward motion show His cheeks are pale and yours with blushes glow To her Ind. 'T is what with justice may my anger move He has been bold and talk'd to me of Love Arim. I am betray'd and shall be doom'd to die Aside Emp. Did he my Slave presume to look so high That crawling Insect who from Mud began Warm'd by my Beams and kindl'd into Man Durst he who does but for my pleasure live Intrench on Love my great Prerogative Print his base Image on his Sovereign's Coin 'T is Treason if he stamp his Love with mine Arim. 'T is true I have been bold but if it be A crime Ind. He means 't is onely so to me You Sir should praise what I must disapprove He insolently talk'd to me of Love But Sir 't was yours he made it in your name You if you please may all he said disclaim Emp. I must disclaim what e'r he can express His groveling sense will show my passion less But stay if what he said my message be What fear what danger could arrive from me He said He feard you would his life betray Ind. Should he presume again perhaps I may Though in your hands he hazard not his life Remember Sir your fury of a Wife Who not content to be reveng'd on you The Agents of your passion will pursue Emp. If I but hear her nam'd I 'm sick that day The sound is mortal and frights life away Forgive me Arimant my jealous thought Distrust in Lovers is the tender'st fault Leave me and tell thy self in my excuse Love and a Crown no Rivalship can bear And precious things are still possess'd with fear Exit Arimant bowing This Madam my excuse to you may plead Love should forgive the faults which Love has made Ind. From me what pardon can you hope to have Robb'd of my Love and treated as a Slave Emp. Force is the last relief which Lovers find And 't is the best excuse of Wooman-kind Ind. Force never yet a generous Heart did gain We yield on parley but are storm'd in vain Constraint in all things makes the pleasure less Sweet is the Love which comes with willingness Emp. No 't is resistance that inflames desire Sharpens the Darts of Love and blows his Fire Love is disarm'd that meets with too much ease He languishes and does not care to please And therefore 't is your golden Fruit you guard With so much care to make possession hard Ind. Was 't not enough you took my Crown away But cruelly you must my Love betray I was well pleas'd to have transferr'd my right And better chang'd your Claim of Lawless might By taking him whom you esteem'd above Your other Sons and taught me first to love Emp. My Son by my command his course must steer I bad him love I bid him now forbear If you have any kindness for him still Advise him not to shock a Father's will Ind. Must I advise Then let me see him and I 'll try t' obey Emp. I had forgot and dare not trust your way But send him word He has not here an Army to command Remember he and you are in my hand Ind. Yes in a Father's hand whom he has serv'd And with the hazard of his life preserv'd But piety to you unhappy Prince Becomes a crime and duty an offence Against your self you with your Foes combine And seem your own destruction to design Emp. You may be pleas'd your Politiques to spare I 'm old enough and can my self take care Ind. Advice from me was I confess too bold Y' are old enough it may be Sir too old Emp. You please your self with your contempt of Age But Love neglected will convert to Rage If on your head my fury does not turn Thank that fond dotage which so much you scorn But in another's person you may prove There 's warmth for Vengeance left though not for Love Re-enter Arimant Arimant The Empress has the Anti-chambers past And this way moves with a disorder'd haste Her brows the stormy marks of anger bear Emp. Madam retire she must not find you here Exit Indamora with Arimant Enter Nourmahal hastily Nour. What have I done that Nourmahal must prove The scorn and triumph of a Rival's Love My eyes are still the same each glance each grace Keep their first lustre and maintain their place Not second yet to any other face Emp. What rage transports you are you well awake Such Dreams distracted minds in Feavers make Nour. Those Feavers you have giv'n those Dreams have bred By broken Faith and an abandon'd Bed Such Visions hourly pass before my sight Which from my eyes their Balmy slumbers fright In the severest silence of the night Visions which in this Cittadel are seen Bright glorious Visions of a Rival Queen Emp. Have patience my first flames can ne'r decay These are but Dreams and soon will pass away Thou know'st my Heart my Empire all is thine In thy own Heav'n of Love serenely shine Fair as the face of Nature did appear When Flowers first peep'd and Trees did Blossoms bear And Winter had not yet deform'd th'inverted Year Calm as the Breath which fans our Eastern Groves And bright as when thy Eyes first lighted up our Loves Let our eternal Peace be seal'd by this With the first ardour of a Nuptial Kiss Offers to kiss her Nour. Me would you have me your faint kisses prove The dregs and droppings of enervate Love Must I your cold long-labouring age sustain And be to empty joys provok'd in vain Receive you sighing after other Charms And take an absent Husband in my Arms Emp. Even these reproaches I can bear from you You doubted of my Love believe it true Nothing but Love this patience could produce And I allow your rage that kind excuse Nour. Call it not patience 't is your guilt stands mute You have a cause too foul to bear dispute You wrong me first and urge my rage to rise Then I must pass for mad you meek and wise Good man plead merit by your soft replies Vain priviledge poor Women have of tongue Men can stand silent and resolve on wrong Emp. What can I more my friendship you refuse And even my mildness as my crime accuse
Nour. Your sullen silence cheats not me false Man I know you think the bloudiest things you can Could you accuse me you would raise your voice Watch for my crimes and in my guilt rejoyce But my known virtue is from scandal free And leaves no shadow for your calumny Emp. Such virtue is the plague of humane life A virtuous Woman but a cursed Wife In vain of pompous chastity y' are proud Virtue 's adultery of the Tongue when loud I with less pain a Prostitute could bear Than the shrill sound of Virtue virtue hear In unchaste Wives There 's yet a kind of recompensing ease Vice keeps 'em humble gives 'em care to please But against clamorous Virtue what defence It stops our mouthes and gives your noise pretence Nour. Since Virtue does your indignation raise 'T is pity but you had that Wife you praise Your own wild appetites are prone to range And then you tax our humours with your change Emp. What can be sweeter than our native home Thither for ease and soft repose we come Home is the sacred refuge of our life Secur'd from all approaches but a Wife If thence we fly the cause admits no doubt None but an Inmate Foe could force us out Clamours our privacies uneasie make Birds leave their Nests disturb'd and Beasts their Haunts forsake Nour. Honour 's my crime that has your loathing bred You take no pleasure in a virtuous Bed Emp. What pleasure can their be in that estate Which your unquietness has made me hate I shrink far off Dissembling sleep but wakeful with the fright The day takes off the pleasure of the night Nour. My thoughts no other joys but pow'r pursue Or if they did they must be lost in you And yet the fault 's not mine Though Youth and Beauty cannot warmth command The Sun in vain shines on the barren Sand. Emp. 'T is true of Marriage-bands I 'm weary grown Love scorns all ties but those that are his own Chains that are dragg'd must needs uneasie prove For there 's a God-like liberty in Love Nour. What 's Love to you The bloom of Beauty other years demands Nor will be gather'd by such wither'd hands You importune it with a false desire Which sparkles out and makes no solid fire This impudence of Age whence can it spring All you expect and yet you nothing bring Eager to ask when you are past a grant Nice in providing what you cannot want Have conscience give not her you love this pain Sollicite not your self and her in vain All other Debts may compensation find But Love is strict and will be paid in kind Emp. Sure of all ills Domestic are the worst When most secure of blessings we are curst When we lay next us what we hold most dear Like Hercules invenom'd Shirts we wear And cleaving mischiefs Nour. What you merit have And share at least the miseries you gave Your days I will alarm I 'll haunt your nights And worse than Age disable your delights May your sick Fame still languish till it die All Offices of Pow'r neglected lie And you grow cheap in every Subject's eye Then as the greatest Curse that I can give Unpiti'd be depos'd and after live Going off Emp. Stay and now learn How criminal soe'r we Husbands are 'T is not for Wives to push our crimes too far Had you still Mistris of your temper been I had been modest and not own'd my Sin Your fury hardens me and what e'r wrong You suffer you have cancell'd by your tongue A Guard there seize her she shall know this hour What is a Husband 's and a Monarch's pow'r Guard seizes her Enter Aureng-Zebe Nour. I see for whom your Charter you maintain I must be fetter'd and my Son be slain That Zelyma's ambitious Race may reign Not so you promis'd when my Beauty drew All Asia's Vows when Persia left for you The Realm of Candahar for Dow'r I brought That long contended Prize for which you fought Aur. The name of Step-mother your practis'd Art By which you have estrang'd my Father's heart All you have done against me or design Shows your aversion but begets not mine Long may my Father India's Empire guide And may not breach your Nuptial Vows divide Emp. Since Love obliges not I from this hour Assume the right of Man's Despotie pow'r Man is by Nature form'd your Sexes head And is himself the Canon of his Bed In Bands of Iron fetter'd you shall be An easier yoke than what you put on me Aur. Though much I fear my int'rest is not great Kneeling Let me your Royal Clemency intreat Secrets of Marriage still are Sacred held There sweet and bitter by the wise conceal'd Errors of Wives reflect on Husbands still And when divulg'd proclaim you 've chosen ill And the mysterious pow'r of Bed and Throne Should always be maintain'd but rarely shown Emp. To so perverse a Sex all Grace is vain It gives 'em courage to offend again For with feign'd tears they penitence pretend Again are pardon'd and again offend Fathom our pity when they seem to grieve Onely to try how far we can forgive Till lanching out into a Sea of strife They scorn all pardon and appear all Wife But be it as you please for your lov'd sake This last and fruitless trial I will make In all requests your right of merit use And know There is but one I can refuse He signs to the Guards and they remove from the Empress Nour. You 've done enough for you design'd my Chains The Grace is vanish'd but th' Affront remains Nor is 't a Grace or for his merit done You durst no farther for you fear'd my Son This you have gain'd by the rough course you prove I 'm past Repentance and you past my Love Exit Emp. A Spirit so untam'd the world ne'r bore Aur. And yet worse usage had incens'd her more But since by no obligement she is ti'd You must betimes for your defence provide I cannot idle in your danger stand But beg once more I may your Arms command Two Battels your auspicious Cause has wonn My Sword can perfect what it has begun And from your Walls dislodge that haughty Son Emp. My Son your valour has this day been such None can enough admire or praise too much But now with reason your success I doubt Her Faction's strong within his Arms without Aur. I left the City in a Panic fright Lions they are in Council Lambs in Fight But my own Troops by Mirzah led are near I by to morrow's dawn expect 'em here To favour 'em I 'll Sally out ere day And through our slaughter'd Foes enlarge their way Emp. Age has not yet So shrunk my Sinews or so chill'd my Veins But conscious Virtue in my breast remains But had I now That strength with which my boiling Youth was fraught When in the Vale of Balasor I fought And from Bengale their Captive Monarch brought When Elephant 'gainst Elephant did rear His Trunck
Love less bears a Rival than the Throne Mor. To me the cries of fighting Fields are Charms Keen be my Sable and of proof my Arms. I ask no other blessing of my Stars No prize but Fame nor Mistris but the Wars I scarce am pleas'd I tamely mount the Throne Would Aureng-Zebe had all their Souls in one With all my elder Brothers I would fight And so from partial Nature force my right Emp. Had we but lasting Youth and time to spare Some might be thrown away on Fame and War But Youth the perishing good runs on too fast And unenjoy'd will spend it self to waste Few know the use of life before 't is past Had I once more thy vigour to command I would not let it die upon my hand No hour of pleasure should pass empty by Youth should watch joys and shoot 'em as they flie Mor. Me-thinks all pleasure is in greatness found Kings like Heav'ns Eye should spread their beams around Pleas'd to be seen while Glory's race they run Rest is not for the Chariot of the Sun Subjects are stiff-neck'd Animals they soon Feel slacken'd Reins and pitch their Rider down Emp. To thee that drudgery of Pow'r I give Cares be thy lot Reign thou and let me live The Fort I 'll keep for my security Bus'ness and public State resign to thee Mor. Luxurious Kings are to their People lost They live like Drones upon the public cost My Arms from Pole to Pole the World shall shake And with my self keep all Mankind awake Emp. Believe me Son and needless trouble spare 'T is a base World and is not worth our care The Vulgar a scarce animated Clod Ne'r pleas'd with ought 'em above Prince or God Were I a God the drunken Globe should roul The little Emmets with the humane Soul Care for themselves while at my ease I sat And second Causes did the work of Fate Or if I would take care that care should be For Wit that scorn'd the World and liv'd like me To them Nourmahal Zayda and Attendants Nour. My dear Morat Embracing her Son This day propitious to us all has been You 're now a Monarch's Heir and I a Queen Your youthful Father now may quit the State And finds the ease he sought indulg'd by Fate Cares shall not keep him on the Throne awake Nor break the golden Slumbers he would take Emp. In vain I struggl'd to the Goal of Life While Rebel-Sons and an imperious Wife Still dragg'd me backward into noise and strife Mor. Be that remembrance lost and be 't my pride To be your pledge of peace on either side To them Aureng-Zebe Aur. With all th' assurance Innocence can bring Fearless without because secure within Arm'd with my courage unconcern'd I see This pomp a shame to you a pride to me Shame is but where with wickedness 't is joyn'd And while no baseness in this breast I find I have not lost the birth-right of my mind Emp. Children the blind effect of Love and Chance Form'd by their sportive Parents ignorance Bear from their birth th'impressions of a Slave Whom Heav'n for play-games first and then for service gave One then may be displac'd and one may Reign And want of Merit render Birth-right vain Mor. Comes he t' upbraid us with his innocence Seize him and take the preaching Brachman hence Aur. Stay Sir I from my years no merit plead To his Father All my designs and acts to duty lead Your Life and Glory are my onely end And for that Prize I with Morat contend Mor. Not him alone I all Mankind defie Who dares adventure more for both than I Aur. I know you brave and take you at your word That present service which you vaunt afford Our two Rebellious Brothers are not dead Though vanquish'd yet again they gather head I dare you as your Rival in renown March out your Army from th' Imperial Town Chuse whom you please the other leave to me And set our Father absolutely free This if you do to end all future strife I am content to lead a private life Disband my Army to secure the State Nor aim at more but leave the rest to Fate Morat I 'll do 't Draw out my Army on the Plain War is to me a pastime Peace a pain Emp. to Mor. Think better first To Aur. You see your self inclos'd beyond escape And therefore Proteus-like you change your shape Of promise prodigal while pow'r you want And preaching in the Self-denying Cant. Morat Plot better for these Arts too obvious are Of gaining time the Masterpiece of War Is Aureng-Zebe so known Aur. If Acts like mine So far from int'rest profit or design Can show my heart by those I would be known I wish you could as well defend your own My absent Army for my Father fought Yours in these Walls is to inslave him brought If I come singly you an armed guest The World with ease may judge whose Cause is best Mor. My Father saw you ill designs pursue And my admission show'd his fear of you Aur. Himself best knows why he his Love withdraws I owe him more than to declare the cause But still I press our duty may be shown By Arms. Mor. I 'll vanquish all his foes alone Aur. You speak as if you could the Fates command And had no need of any other hand But since my Honour you so far suspect 'T is just I should on your designs reflect To prove your self a Loyal Son declare You 'll lay down Arms when you conclude the War Mor. No present answer your demand requires The War once done I 'll do what Heav'n inspires And while the Sword this Monarchy secures 'T is manag'd by an abler Arm than yours Emp. Morat's design a doubtful meaning bears Apart In Aureng-Zebe true Loyalty appears He for my safety does his own despise Still with his wrongs I find his duty rise I feel my Virtue strugling in my Soul But stronger Passion does its pow'r controul Yet be advis'd your ruine to prevent To Aur. apart You might be safe if you would give consent Aur. So to your welfare I of use may be My life or death are equal both to me Emp. The Peoples hearts are yours the Fort yet mine Be wise and Indamora's love resign I am observ'd remember that I give This my last proof of kindness die or live Aur. Life with my Indamora I would chuse But losing her the end of living lose I had consider'd all I ought before And fear of death can make me change no more The Peoples love so little I esteem Condemn'd by you I would not live by them May he who must your favour now possess Much better serve you and not love you less Emp. I 've heard you and to finish the debate Aloud Commit that Rebel pris'ner to the State Mor. The deadly draught he shall begin this day And languish with insensible decay Aur. I hate the lingring summons to attend Death all at once would be the
nobler end Fate is unkind me-thinks a General Should warm and at the head of Armies fall And my ambition did that hope pursue That so I might have di'd in fight for you To his Father Mor. Would I had been disposer of thy Stars Thou shouldst have had thy wish and di'd in Wars 'T is I not thou have reason to repine That thou shouldst fall by any hand but mine Aur. When thou wert form'd Heav'n did a Man begin But the brute Soul by chance was shuffl'd in In Woods and Wilds thy Monarchy maintain Where valiant Beasts by force and rapine reign In Life's next Scene if Transmigration be Some Bear or Lion is reserv'd for thee Mor. Take heed thou com'st not in that Lion's way I prophecy thou wilt thy Soul convey Into a Lamb and be again my Prey Hence with that dreaming Priest Nour. Let me prepare The pois'nous draught his death shall be my care Near my Apartment let him pris'ner be That I his hourly ebbs of life may see Aur. My life I would not ransome with a pray'r 'T is vile since 't is not worth my Father's care I go not Sir indebted to my grave You pai'd your self and took the life you gave Exit Emp. O that I had more sense of vertue left Aside Or were of that which yet remains bereft I 've just enough to know how I offend And to my shame have not enough to mend Lead to the Mosque Mor. Love's pleasures why should dull devotion stay Heav'n to my Melesinda's but the way Exeunt Emperor Morat and Train Zayd Sure Aureng-Zebe has somewhat of Divine Whose virtue through so dark a clowd can shine Fortune has from Morat this day remov'd The greatest Rival and the best belov'd Nour. He is not yet remov'd Zayd He lives 't is true But soon must die and what I mourn by you Nour. My Zayda may thy words prophetic be Embracing her eagerly I take the Omen let him die by me He stifl'd in my arms shall lose his breath And Life it self shall envious be of Death Zay Bless me you Pow'rs above Nour. Why dost thou start Is Love so strange or have not I a heart Could Aureng-Zebe so lovely seem to thee And I want eyes that noble worth to see Thy little Soul was but to wonder mov'd My sense of it was higher and I lov'd That Man that God-like Man so brave so great But these are thy small praises I repeat I 'm carri'd by a Tide of Love away He 's somewhat more than I my self can say Zay Though all th'Idea's you can form be true He must not cannot be possess'd by you If contradicting int'rests could be mixt Nature herself hast cast a bar betwixt And ere you reach to this incestuous Love You must Divine and Humane Rights remove Nour. Count this among the Wonders Love has done I had forgot he was my Husband 's Sone Zay Nay more you have forgot who is your own For whom your care so long design'd the Throne Morat must fall if Aureng-Zebe should rise Nour. 'T is true but who was ere in love and wise Why was that fatal knot of Marriage ti'd Which did by making us too near divide Divides me from my Sex for Heav'n I find Excludes but me alone of Woman-kind I stand with guilt confounded lost with shame And yet made wretched onely by a name If names have such command on humane Life Love sure 's a name that 's more Divine than Wife That Sovereign power all guilt from action takes At least the stains are beautiful it makes Zay Th'incroaching ill you early should oppose Flatter'd 'tis worse and by indulgence grows Nour. Alas and what have I not said or done I fought it to the last and Love has wonn A bloudy Conquest which destruction brought And ruin'd all the Countrey where he fought Whether this Passion from above was sent The Fate of him Heav'n favours to prevent Or as the curse of Fortune in excess That stretching would beyond its reach possess And with a taste which plenty does deprave Loaths lawful good and lawless ill does crave Zay But yet consider Nour. No 't is loss of time Think how to farther not divert my crime My artful Engines instantly I 'll move And chuse the soft and gentlest hour of Love The Under-Provost of the Fort is mine But see Morat I 'll whisper my design Enter Morat with Arimant as talking Attendants Arim. And for that cause was not in public seen But stays in Prison with the captive Queen Mor. Let my Attendants wait I 'll be alone Where least of State there most of Love is shown Nour. My Son your bus'ness is not hard to ghess To Mor. Long absence makes you eager to possess I will not importune you by my stay She merits all the Love which you can pay Exit with Zayda Re-enter Arimaut with Melesinda then Exit Morat runs to Melecinda and embraces her Mor. Should I not chide you that you chose to stay In gloomy shades and lost a glorious day Lost the first fruits of joy you should possess In my return and made my Triumph less Mel. Should I not chide that you could stay and see Those joys preferring public Pomp to me Through my dark Cell your shouts of Triumph rung I heard with pleasure but I thought 'em long Mor. The Public will in Triumphs rudely share And Kings the rudeness of their joys must bear But I made haste to set my Captive free And thought that work was onely worthy me The Fame of antient Matrons you pursue And stand a blameless pattern to the new I have not words to praise such Acts as these But take my Heart and mold it as you please Mel. A trial of your kindness I must make Though not for mine so much as Virtue 's sake The Queen of Cassimeer Mor. No more my love That onely suit I beg you not to move That she 's in Bonds for Aureng-Zebe I know And should by my consent continue so The good old man I fear will pity show My Father dotes and let him still dote on He buys his Mistris dearly with his Throne Mel. See her and then be cruel if you can Mor. 'T is not with me as with a private Man Such may be sway'd by Honour or by Love But Monarchs onely by their int'rest move Mel. Heav'n does a Tribute for your pow'r demand He leaves th' opprest and poor upon your hand And those who Stuards of his pity prove He blesses in return with public Love In his distress some Miracle is shown If exil'd Heav'n restores him to his Throne He needs no Guard while any Subjects near Nor like his Tyrant Neighbours lives in fear No Plots th' Alarm to his retirements give 'T is all Mankinds concern thaâ— he should live Mor. You promis'd friendship in your low estate And should forget it in your better Fate Such Maxims are more plausible than true But somewhat must be given to Love and you
I 'll view this Captive Queen to let her see Pray'rs and complaints are lost on such as me Mel. I 'll bear the news Heav'n knows how much I 'm pleas'd That by my care th' afflicted may be eas'd As she is going off Enter Indamora Ind. I 'll spare your pains and venture out alone Since you fair Princess my protection own But you brave Prince a harder task must find To Morat kneeling who takes her up In saving me you would but half be kind An humble Suppliant at your feet I lie You have condemn'd my better part to die Without my Aureng-Zebe I cannot live Revoke his Doom or else my Sentence give Mel. If Melesinda in your love have part Which to suspect would break my tender heart If Love like mine may for a Lover plead By the chaste pleasures of our Nuptial Bed By all the int'rest my past suff'rings make And all I yet would suffer for your sake By you your self the last and dearest tie Mor. You move in vain for Aureng-Zebe must die Ind. Could that Decree from any Brother come Nature her self is sentenc'd in your doom Piety is no more she sees her place Usurp'd by Monsters and a savage Race From her soft Eastern Climes you drive her forth To the cold Mansions of the utmost North. How can our Prophet suffer you to Reign When he looks down and sees your Brother slain Avenging Furies will your life pursue Think there 's a Heav'n Morat though not for you Mel. Her words imprint a terror on my mind What if this death which is for him design'd Had been your Doom far be that Augury And you not Aureng-Zebe condemn'd to die Weigh well the various turns of Humane Fate And seek by Mercy to secure your State Ind. Had Heav'n the Crown for Aureng-Zebe design'd Pity for you had pierc'd his generous mind Pity does with a Noble Nature suit A Brother's life had suffer'd no dispute All things have right in life our Prophet's care Commands the beings eve'n of Brutes to spare Though int'rest his restraint has justifi'd Can life and to a Brother be deni'd Mor. All Reasons for his safety urg'd are weak And yet me-thinks 't is Heav'n to hear you speak Mel. 'T is part of your own being to invade Mor. Nay if she fail to move would you perswade Turning to Inda My Brother does a glorious Fate pursue I envy him that he must fall for you He had been base had he releas'd his right For such an Empire none but Kings should fight If with a Father he disputes this prize My wonder ceases when I see these Eyes Mel. And can you then deny those Eyes you praise Can Beauty wonder and not pity raise Mor. Your intercession now is needless grown Retire and let me speak with her alone Melesinda retires weeping to the side of the Theatre Queen that you may not fruitless tears employ Taking Indamora 's hand I bring you news to fill your heart with joy Your Lover King of all the East shall Reign For Aureng-Zebe to morrow shall be slain Ind. The hopes you rais'd y 'ave blasted with a breath Starting back With Triumphs you began but end with Death Did you not say my Lover should be King Mor. I in Morat the best of Lovers bring For one forsaken both of Earth and Heav'n Your kinder Stars a nobler choice have given My Father while I please a King appears His Pow'r is more declining than his Years An Emperor and Lover but in show But you in me have Youth and Fortune too As Heav'n did to your eyes and form Divine Submit the Fate of all th' Imperial Line So was it order'd by its wise Decree That you should find 'em all compris'd in me Ind. If Sir I seem not discompos'd with rage Feed not your fancy with a false presage Farther to press your Courtship is but vain A cold refusal carries more disdain Unsetled Virtue stormy may appear Honour like mine serenely is severe To scorn your person and reject your Crown Disorder not my face into a frown Turns from him Mor. Your Fortune you should rev'rently have us'd Such offers are not twice to be refus'd I go to Aureng-Zebe and am in haste For your Commands they 're like to be the last Ind. Tell him With my own death I would his life redeem But less than Honour both our Lives esteem Mor. Have you no more Ind. What shall I do or say Aside He must not in this fury go away Tell him I did in vain his Brother move And yet he falsly said he was in love Falsly for had he truly lov'd at least He would have giv'n one day to my request Mor. A little yielding may my love advance She darted from her eyes a sidelong glance Just as she spoke and like her words it flew Seem'd not to beg what yet she bid me do To her A Brother Madam cannot give a day A Servant and who hopes to merit may Mel. If Sir coming to him Mor. No more set speeches and a formal tale With none but States-men and grave Fools prevail Dry up your tears and practise every Grace That fits the Pageant of your Royal place Exit Mel. Madam the strange reverse of Fate you see To Ind. I piti'd you now you may pity me Exit after him Ind. Poor Princess thy hard Fate I could bemoan Had I not nearer sorrows of my own Beauty is seldom fortunate when great A vast Estate but overcharg'd with Debt Like those whom want to baseness does betray I 'm forc'd to flatter him I cannot pay O would he be content to seize the Throne I beg the life of Aureng-Zebe alone Whom Heav'n would bless from Pomp it will remove And make their wealth in privacy and Love Exit ACT IV. Aureng-Zebe solus DIstrust and darkness of a future state Make poor Mankind so fearful of their Fate Death in it self is nothing but we fear To be we know not what we know not where Soft Music. This is the Ceremony of my Fate A parting Treat and I 'm to die in State They lodge me as I were the Persian King And with luxurious Pomp my death they bring To him Nourmahal Nour. I thought before you drew your latest breath To smooth your passage and to soften death For I would have you when you upward move Speak kindly of me to our Friends above Nor name me there th' occasion of your Fate Or what my Interest does impute to Hate Aur. I ask not for what end your Pomp's design'd Whether t'insult or to compose my mind I mark'd it not But knowing Death would soon th' Assault begin Stood firm collected in my Strength within To guard that breach did all my Forces guide And left unmann'd the quiet Senses side Nour. Because Morat from me his being took All I can say will much suspected look 'T is little to confess your Fate I grieve Yet more than you would easily believe Aur. Since my inevitable death you know
You safely unavailing pity show 'T is Popular to mourn a dying Foe Nour. You made my Liberty your late request Is no return due from a grateful breast I grow impatient till I find some way Great Offices with greater to repay Aur. When I consider Life 't is all a cheat Yet fool'd with hope men favour the deceit Trust on and think to morrow will repay To morrow's falser than the former day Lies worse and while it says We shall be blest With some new joys cuts off what we possest Strange couzenage none would live past years again Yet all hope pleasure in what yet remain And from the dregs of Life think to receive What the first sprightly running could not give I 'm tir'd with waiting for this Chymic Gold Which fools us young and beggars us when old Nour. 'T is not for nothing that we life pursue It pays our hopes with something still that 's new Each day 's a Mistris unenjoy'd before Like Travellers we 're pleas'd with seeing more Did you but know what joys your way attend You would not hurry to your journeys end Aur. I need not haste the end of Life to meet The precipice is just beneath my feet Nour. Think not my sense of Virtue is so small I 'll rather leap down first and break your fall My Aureng-Zebe may I not call you so Taking him by the hand Behold me now no longer as your Foe I am not cannot be your Enemy Look is there any malice in my eye Pray sit Both sit That distance shows too much respect or fear You 'll find no danger in approaching near Aur. Forgive th' amazement of my doubtful state This kindness from the Mother of Morat Or is 't some Angel pitying what I bore Who takes that shape to make my wonder more Nour. Think me your better Genius in disguise Or any thing that more may charm your eyes Your Guardian Angel never could excel In care nor could he love his charge so well Aur. Whence can proceed so wonderful a change Nour. Can kindness to desert like yours be strange Kindness by secret Sympathy is ty'd For Noble Souls in Nature are alli'd I saw with what a brow you brav'd your Fate Yet with what mildness bore your Father's hate My Virtue like a String wound up by Art To the same sound when yours was touch'd took part At distance shook and trembled at my heart Aur. I 'll not complain my Father is unkind Since so much pity from a Foe I find Just Heav'n reward this act Nour. 'T is well the debt no payment does demand You turn me over to another hand But happy happy she And with the Bless'd above to be compar'd Whom you your self would with your self reward The greatest nay the fairest of her kind Would envy her that Bliss which you design'd Aur. Great Princes thus when Favourites they raise To justifie their Grace their Creatures praise Nour. As Love the Noblest Passion we account So to the highest Object it should mount It shows you brave when mean desires you shun An Eagle onely can behold the Sun And so must you if yet presage Divine There be in Dreams or was 't a Vision mine Aur. Of me Nour. And who could else employ my thought I dream'd your Love was by Love's Goddess sought Officious Cupids hov'ring o'r your head Held Myrtle wreaths beneath your feet were spread What Sweets soe'r Sabean Springs disclose Our Indian Jasmine or the Syrian Rose The wanton Ministers arround you strove For service and inspir'd their Mother's Love Close by your side and languishing she lies With blushing cheeks short breath and wishing eyes Upon your breast supinely lay her head While on your face her famish'd sight she fed Then with a sigh into these words she broke And gather'd humid kisses as she spoke Dull and ingrateful must I offer love Desir'd of Gods and envi'd ev'n by Iove And dost thou ignorance or fear pretend Mean Soul and dar'st not gloriously offend Then pressing thus his hand Aur. I 'll hear no more Rising up 'T was impious to have understood before And I till now endeavour'd to mistake Th' incestuous meaning which too plain you make Nour. And why this niceness to that pleasure shown Where Nature sums up all her joys in one Gives all she can and labouring still to give Makes it so great we can but taste and live So fills the Senses that the Soul seems fled And thought it self-does for the time lie dead Till like a String scru'd up with eager haste It breaks and is too exquisite to last Aur. Heav'ns can you this without just vengeance hear When will you thunder if it now be clear Yet her alone let not your Thunder seize I too deserve to die because I please Nour. Custom our Native Royalty does awe Promiscuous Love is Nature's general Law For whosoever the first Lovers were Brother and Sister made the second Pair And doubled by their love their piety Aur. Hence hence and to some barbarous Climate fly Which onely Brutes in humane form does yield And Man grows wild in Nature's common Field Who eat their Parents piety pretend Yet there no Sons their Sacred Bed ascend To vail great Sins a greater Crime you chuse And in your Incest your Adult'ry lose Nour. In vain this haughty fury you have shown How I adore a Soul so like my own You must be mine that you may learn to live Know joys which onely she who loves can give Nor think that action you upbraid so ill I am not chang'd I love my Husband still But love him as he was when youthful grace And the first down began to shade his face That Image does my Virgin-flames renew And all your Father shines more bright in you Aur. In me a horrour of my self you raise Curs'd by your love and blasted by your praise You find new ways to prosecute my Fate And your least-guilty passion was your Hate Nour. I beg my death if you can Love deny Offering him a Dagger Aur. I 'll grant you nothing no not ev'n to die Nour. Know then you are not half so kind as I. Stamps with her foot Enter Mutes some with Swords drawn one with a Cup. You 've chosen and may now repent too late Behold th' effect of what you wish'd my Hate This Cup a cure for both our ills has brought Taking the Cup to present him You need not fear a Philtre in the Draught Aur. All must be poison which can come from thee Receiving it from her But this the least T'immortal Liberty This first I pour like dying Socrates Spilling a little of it Grim though he be Death pleases when he frees As he is going to drink Enter Morat attended Mor. Make not such haste you must my leisure stay Your Fate 's deferr'd you shall not die to day Taking the Cup from him Nour. What foolish pity has possess'd your mind To alter what your prudence once design'd Mor. What if I
please to lengthen out his date A day and take a pride to cozen Fate Nour. 'T will not be safe to let him live an hour Mor. I 'll do 't to show my Arbitrary pow'r Nour. Fortune may take him from your hands again And you repent th' occasion lost in vain Mor. I smile at what your Female fear foresees I 'm in Fate 's place and dictate her Decrees Let Arimant be call'd Exit one of his Attendants Aur. Give me the poison and I 'll end your strife I hate to keep a poor precarious life Would I my safety on base terms receive Know Sir I could have liv'd without your leave But those I could accuse I can forgive By my disdainful silence let 'em live Nour. What am I that you dare to bind my hand To Mor. So low I 've not a Murder at command Can you not one poor Life to her afford Her who gave up whole Nations to your Sword And from th' abundance of whose Soul and Heat Th'o'rflowing serv'd to make your mind so great Mor. What did that greatness in a Woman's mind Ill lodg'd and weak to act what it design'd Pleasure 's your portion and your slothful ease When Man 's at leisure study how to please Soften his angry hours with servile care And when he calls the ready Feast prepare From Wars and from affairs of State abstain Women Emasculate a Monarch's Reign And murmuring Crouds who see 'em shine with Gold That pomp as their own ravish'd Spoils behold Nour. Rage choaks my words 't is Womanly to weep Aside In my swoll'n breast my close revenge I 'll keep I 'll watch his tender'st part and there strike deep Exit Aur. Your strange proceeding does my wonder move Yet seems not to express a Brother's love Say to what Cause my rescu'd life I owe. Mor. If what you ask would please you should not know But since that knowledge more than Death will grieve Know Indamora gain'd you this Reprieve Aur. And whence had she the pow'r to work your change Mor. The pow'r of Beauty is not new or strange Should she command me more I could obey But her request was bounded with a day Take that and if you 'll spare my farther crime Be kind and grieve to death against your time Enter Arimant Remove this Pris'ner to some safer place He has for Indamora's sake found grace And from my Mother's rage must guarded be Till you receive a new Command from me Arim. Thus Love and Fortune persecute me still And make me Slave to every Rivals will Aside Aur. How I disdain a Life which I must buy With your contempt and her inconstancy For a few hours my whole content I pay You shall not force on me another day Exit with Arimant Enter Melesinda Mel. I have been seeking you this hour 's long space And fear'd to find you in another place But since you 're here my jealousie grows less You will be kind to my unworthiness What shall I say I love to that degree Each glance another way is robb'd from me Absence and Prisons I could bear again But sink and die beneath your least disdain Mor. Why do you give your mind this needless care And for your self and me new pains prepare I ne'r approv'd this passion in excess If you would show your love distrust me less I hate to be pursu'd from place to place Meet at each turn a stale domestic face Th'approach of jealousie Love cannot bear He 's wild and soon on wing if watchful eyes come near Mel. From your lov'd presence how can I depart My eyes pursue the object of my heart Mor. You talk as if it were our Bridal night Fondness is still th' effect of new delight And Marriage but the pleasure of a day The Metall 's base the Gilding worn away Mel. I fear I 'm guilty of some great offence And that has bred this cold indifference Mor. The greatest in the world to flesh and bloud You fondly love much longer than you shou'd Mel. If that be all which makes your discontent Of such a crime I never can repent Mor. Would you force Love upon me which I shun And bring course fare when appetite is gone Mel. Why did I not in Prison die before My fatal freedom made me suffer more I had been pleas'd to think I dy'd for you And doubly pleas'd because you then were true Then I had hope but now alas have none Mor. You say you love me let that love be shown 'T is in your power to make my happiness Mel. Speak quickly to command me is to bless Mor. To Indamora you my Suit must move You 'll sure speak kindly of the man you love Mel. Oh! rather let me perish by your hand Than break my heart by this unkind command Think 't is the onely one I could deny And that 't is harder to refuse than die Try if you please my Rival's heart to win I 'll bear the pain but not promote the sin You own what e'r perfections man can boast And if she view you with my eyes she 's lost Mor. Here I renounce all love all Nuptial ties Hence forward live a stranger to my eyes When I appear see you avoid the place And haunt me not with that unlucky face Mel. Hard as it is I this command obey And haste while I have life to go away In pity stay some hours till I am dead That blameless you may court my Rival's Bed My hated face I 'll not presume to show Yet I may watch your steps where e'r you go Unseen I 'll gaze and with my latest breath Bless while I die the Author of my death Weeping Enter Emperor Emp. When your Triumphant Fortune high appears What cause can draw these unbecoming tears Let cheerfulness on happy Fortune wait And give not thus the Counter-time to Fate Mel. Fortune long frown'd and has but lately smil'd I doubt a Foe so newly reconcil'd You saw but sorrow in its waning form A working Sea remaining from a Storm When the now weary Waves roul o'r the Deep And faintly murmur ere they fall asleep Emp. Your inward griefs you smother in your mind But Fame's loud voice proclaims your Lord unkind Mor. Let Fame be busie where she has to do Tell of fought Fields and every pompous Show Those Tales are fit to fill the Peoples ears Monarchs unquestion'd move in higher Spheres Mel. Believe not Rumor but your self and see The kindness 'twixt my plighted Lord and me Kissing Morat This is our State thus happily we live These are the quarrels which we take and give Aside to Mor. I had no other way to force a Kiss Forgive my last Farewel to you and Bliss Exit Emp. Your haughty carriage shows too much of scorn And love like hers deserves not that return Mor. You 'll please to leave me judge of what I do And not examine by the outward show Your usage of my Mother might be good I judg'd it not Emp.
could move Do not I know him could his Brutal mind Be wrought upon could he be just or kind Insultingly he made your love his boast Gave me my life and told me what it cost Speak answer I would fain yet think you true Lie and I 'll not believe myself but you Tell me you love I 'll pardon the deceit And to be fool'd my self assist the cheat Ind. No 't is too late I have no more to say If you 'll believe I have been false you may Aur. I would not but your crimes too plain appear Nay even that I should think you true you fear Did I not tell you I would be deceiv'd Ind. I 'm not concern'd to have my truth believ'd You would be cozin'd would assist the cheat But I 'm too plain to joyn in the deceit I 'm pleas'd you think me false And whatsoe'r my Letter did pretend I made this meeting for no other end Aur. Kill me not quite with this indifference When you are guiltless boast not an offence I know you better than your self you know Your heart was true but did some frailty show You promis'd him your Love that I might live But promis'd what you never meant to give Speak was 't not so confess I can forgive Ind. Forgive what dull excuses you prepare As if your thoughts of me were worth my care Aur. Ah Traitress Ah ingrate Ah faithless mind Ah Sex invented first to damn Mankind Nature took care to dress you up for sin Adorn'd without unfinish'd left within Hence by no judgment you your loves direct Talk much ne'r think and still the wrong affect So much self-love in your composures mix'd That love to others still remains unfix'd Greatness and Noise and Show are your delight Yet wise men love you in their own despight And finding in their native Wit no ease Are forc'd to put your folly on to please Ind. Now you shall know what cause you have to rage But to increase your fury not asswage I found the way your Brother's heart to move Yet promis'd not the least return of Love His Pride and Brutal fierceness I abhor But scorn your mean suspitions of me more I ow'd my Honour and my Fame this care Know what your folly lost you and despair Turning from him Aur. Too cruelly your innocence you tell Show Heav'n and damn me to the pit of Hell Now I believe you t is not yet too late You may forgive and put a stop to Fate Save me just sinking and no more to rise She frowns How can you look with such relentless eyes Or let your mind by penitence be mov'd Or I 'm resolv'd to think you never lov'd You are not clear'd unless you mercy speak I 'll think you took th' occasion thus to break Ind. Small jealousies 't is true inflame desire Too great not Fan but quite blow out the Fire Yet I did love you till such pains I bore That I dare trust my self and you no more Let me not love you but here end my pain Distrust may make me wretched once again Now with full Sails into the Port I move And safely can unlade my breast of Love Quiet and calm why should I then go back To tempt the second hazard of a Wrack Aur. Behold these dying eyes see their submissive awe These tears which fear of death could never draw Heard you that sigh from my heav'd heart it past And said If you forgive not 't is my last Love mounts and rowls about my stormy mind Like Fire that 's born by a tempestuous Wind. Oh I could stifle you with eager haste Devour your kisses with my hungry taste Rush on you eat you wander o'r each part Raving with pleasure snatch you to my heart Then hold you off and gaze then with new rage Invade you till my conscious Limbs presage Torrents of joy which all their banks o'rflow So lost so blest as I but then could know Ind. Be no more jealous Giving him her hand Aur. Give me cause no more The danger 's greater after than before If I relapse to cure my jealousie Let me for that 's the easiest parting die Ind. My life Aur. My Soul Ind. My all that Heav'n can give Death's life with you without you death to live To them Arimant hastily Arim. Oh we are lost beyond all humane aid The Citadel is to Morat betraid The Traitor and the Treason known too late The false Abas deliver'd up the Gate Ev'n while I speak we 're compass'd round with Fate The Valiant cannot fight or Coward flie But both in undistinguish'd Crouds must die Aur. Then my Prophetic fears are come to pass Morat was always bloudy now he 's base And has so far in Usurpation gone He will by Paricide secure the Throne To them the Emperor Emp. Am I forsaken and betray'd by all Not one brave man dare with a Monarch fall Then welcome death to cover my disgrace I would not live to Reign o'r such a Race My Aureng-Zebe Seeing Aureng-Zebe But thou no more art mine my cruelty Has quite destroy'd the right I had in thee I have been base Base ev'n to him from whom I did receive All that a Son could to a Parent give Behold me punish'd in the self-same kind Th' ungrateful does a more ungrateful find Aur. Accuse your self no more you could not be Ungrateful could commit no crime to me I onely mourn my yet uncancell'd score You put me past the pow'r of paying more That that 's my grief that I can onely grieve And bring but pity where I would relieve For had I yet ten thousand lives to pay The mighty sum should go no other way Emp. Can you forgive me 't is not fit you shou'd Why will you be so excellently good 'T will stick too black a brand upon my name The Sword is needless I shall die with shame What had my age to do with Love's delight Shut out from all enjoyments but the sight Arim. Sir you forget the danger 's imminent This minute is not for excuses lent Emp. Disturb me not How can my latest hour be better spent To reconcile my self to him is more Than to regain all I possess'd before Empire and Life are now not worth a pray'r His love alone deserves my dying care Aur. Fighting for you my death will glorious be Ind. Seek to preserve your self and live for me Arim. Lose then no farther time Heav'n has inspir'd me with a sudden thought Whence your unhop'd for safety may be wrought Though with the hazard of my bloud 't is bought But since my life can ne'r be fortunate 'T is so much sorrow well redeem'd from Fate You Madam must retire Your Beauty is its own security And leave the conduct of the rest to me Glory will crown my life if I succeed If not she may afford to love me dead Aside Aur. My Father's kind and Madam you forgive Were Heav'n so pleas'd I now could wish to live And I shall live With
Nor was it fit you shou'd Mor. Then in as equal Ballance weigh my deeds Emp. My Right and my Authority exceeds Suppose what I 'll not grant Injustice done Is judging me the duty of a Son Mor. Not of a Son but of an Emperor You cancell'd Duty when you gave me pow'r If your own Actions on your Will you ground Mine shall hereafter know no other bound What meant you when you call'd me to a Throne Was it to please me with a Name alone Emp. 'T was that I thought your gratitude would know What to my partial kindness you did owe That what your Birth did to your Claim deny Your merit of Obedience might supply Mor. To your own thoughts such hopes you might propose But I took Empire not on terms like those Of business you complain'd now take your ease Enjoy what e're decrepid Age can please Eat Sleep and tell long Tales of what you were In flow'r of Youth if any one will hear Emp. Pow'r like new Wine does your weak Brain surprise And its mad fumes in hot discourses rise But time these giddy vapours will remove Mean while I 'll taste the sober joys of Love Mor. You cannot Love nor pleasures take or give But life begin when 't is too late to live On a tir'd Courser you pursue delight Let slip your morning and set out at night If you have liv'd take thankfully the past Make as you can the sweet remembrance last If you have not enjoy'd what Youth could give But life sunk through you like a leaky Sieve Accuse yourself you liv'd not while you might But in the Captive Queen resign your right I 've now resolv'd to fill your useless place I 'll take that Post to cover your disgrace And love her for the honour of my Race Emp. Thou dost but try how far I can forbear Nor art that Monster which thou wouldst appear But do not wantonly my passion move I pardon nothing that relates to Love My fury does like jealous Forts pursue With death ev'n Strangers who but come to view Mor. I did not onely view but will invade Could you shed venom from your reverend shade Like Trees beneath whose arms 't is death to sleep Did rouling Thunder your fenc'd Fortress keep Thence would I snatch my Semele like Iove And midst the dreadful Rack enjoy my Love Emp. Have I for this ungrateful as thou art When Right when Nature struggl'd in my heart When Heav'n call'd on me for thy Brother's claim Broke all and fulli'd my unspotted Fame Wert thou to Empire by my baseness brought And wouldst thou ravish what so dear I bought Dear for my Conscience and its peace I gave Why was my Reason made my passion's slave I see Heav'ns Justice thus the Pow'rs Divine Pay Crimes with Crimes and punish mine by thine Mor. Crimes let them pay and punish as they please What Pow'r makes mine by Pow'r I mean to seize Since 't is to that they their own greatness owe Above why should they question mine below Exit Emp. Prudence thou vainly in our Youth art sought And with Age purchas'd art too dearly bought We 're past the use of Wit for which we toil Late Fruit and planted in too cold a Soil My Stock of Fame is lavish'd and decay'd No profit of the vast profusion made Too late my folly I repent I know My Aureng-Zebe would ne'r have us'd me so But by his ruine I prepar'd my own And like a naked Tree my shelter gone To Winds and Winter-storms must stand expos'd alone Exit Aureng-Zebe Arimant Arim. Give me not thanks which I will ne'r deserve But know 't is for a Nobler Price I serve By Indamora's will you 're hither brought All my reward in her command I sought The rest your Letter tells you See like Light She comes and I must vanish like the Night Exit Enter Indamora Ind. 'T is now that I begin to live again Heav'ns I forgive you all my fear and pain Since I behold my Aureng-Zebe appear I could not buy him at a Price too dear His name alone afforded me relief Repeated as a charm to cure my grief I that lov'd name did as some God invoke And printed kisses on it while I spoke Aur. Short ease but long long pains from you I find Health to my eyes but poison to my mind Why are you made so excellently fair So much above what other Beauties are That ev'n in cursing you new form my breath And make me bless those Eyes which give me death Ind. What reason for your curses can you find My Eyes your conquest not your death design'd If they offend 't is that they are too kind Aur. The ruines they have wrought you will not see Too kind they are indeed but not to me Ind. Think you base Interest Souls like mine can sway Or that for Greatness I can Love betray No Aureng-Zebe you merit all my heart And I 'm too Noble but to give a part Your Father and an Empire am I known No more or have so weak a judgment shown In chusing you to change you for a Throne Aur. How with a Truth you would a Falshood blind 'T is not my Father's love you have design'd Your choice is fix'd where Youth and Pow'r are joyn'd Ind. Where Youth and Pow'r are joyn'd has he a name Aur. You would be told you glory in your shame There 's Music in the Sound and to provoke Your pleasure more by me it must be spoke Then then it ravishes when your pleas'd ear The sound does from a wretched Rival hear Morat's the name your heart leaps up to meet While Aureng-Zebe lies dying at your feet Ind. Who told you this Aur. Are you so lost to shame Morat Morat Morat You love the name So well your e'ry question ends in that You force me still to answer you Morat Morat who best could tell what you reveal'd Morat too proud to keep his joy conceal'd Ind. Howe'r unjust your jealousie appear It shows the loss of what you love you fear And does my pity not my anger move I 'll fond it as the froward Child of Love To show the truth of my unalter'd breast Know that your life was given at my request At least Repriev'd When Heav'n deni'd you aid She brought it she whose falshood you upbraid Aur. And 't is by that you would your falshood hide Had you not ask'd how happy had I dy'd Accurst Reprieve not to prolong my breath It brought a ling'ring and more painful death I have not liv'd since first I heard the news The gift the guilty giver does accuse You knew the price and the request did move That you might pay the Ransome with your love Ind. Your accusation must I see take place And I am guilty infamous and base Aur. If you are false those Epithets are small You 're then the things the abstract of 'em all And you are false you promis'd him your love No other price a heart so hard