Wife Ant. My Father's Wife Witness ye Powers above She was first mine by Sacred Vows and Love But as the Priest our willing hands did ty Herod from me forc'd her by Tyranny For which my Sword I did against him draw He broke Our Match and then I broke his Law Phal No one can say but he in that did ill Yet Sir Forget not he 's your Father still Sam. And to that Sacred Name a Debt is due Ant. And to offended Love there is so too All that I ow'd he to himself did pay That Life he gave he more than took away These guilty Tears which from my Eyes would flow Too little Love and too good nature show Wiping his Eyes Phalt. Blame not that Piety which makes you mourn Consider Sir your Father may return Ant. That thought in your belief should find no room A Prince's Prison's Prologue to his Tomb. The Folly equal to the guilt would be First to Restrain then set a Monarch free He never can again his freedom win Sam. Grant it yet Incest is a Crying Sin Methinks that word alone should make you start Ant. Incest most think is but a term of Art A name with which thePriests keep Fools in aw For no such thing is found in Nature's Law He must himself and not his Fortune blame Who from his Joyes is frighted by a Name Phal What we have said we wish we could unsay Since it augments the Storm it should allay Sam. But in a calmer hour we hope 't will move Ant. You speak your Friendship and I speak my Love Yet I conjure you leave me for some time Else you will both participate my Crime For I am now into a Chaos hurl'd Darker than that which first involv'd the World Phalt. to Sam. His Passion thus oppos'd does higher grow Sam. May Heaven that Quiet which you want bestow Phalt. and Sam. go out Ant. Before she knows I live 't is fit I see If she preserves her Constancy to me But if my feign'd Death made her prove untrue What Herod thinks is done my hand shall do Ant. goes out The Scene is a Magnificent Apartment Enter Solome who is met by Merab Mer. Madam the Prince Sohemus now is come Solo. Call him and when he enters leave the room Merab goes out Solo. How should I without blushes on him look Whom while we lov'd so meanly I forsook Merab introduces Sohemus and then goes out again Sohemus does it not your Soul surprise That Solome is without weeping Eyes When Herod now is Dead a Loss so great That all our Glories in his fall are set Sohe Madam th' Assaults of Fate though nere so rude Have still been Conquer'd by your Fortitude Solo. This Conquest you ascribe to a wrong Cause 'T is Love alone which to my grief gives Laws Nothing can now my Inclinations cross This Joy does more than recompence that loss For I can now do your brave Passion right Our hearts which Power divorc'd Love shall unite Sohe I am amaz'd to hear such words as these Madam have you forgot Cossabanes To whom by Sacred Marriage you are ty'd And how you did my grief for him deride A grief which I one day could not have born And which my Death had cur'd had not your scorn Solo. Though I was forc'd by Herod's stern Command To give the abhorr'd Cossabanes my hand Yet 't was above his Tyranny and Art To make me from Sohemus give my heart Your doubts of me on a false ground are built You should not call my punishment my guilt Sohe Ah to that Punishment you seem'd inclin'd Solo. I seem'd more faulty but to be more kind For had you by my words or Actions seen How firm for you my Passion still has been Your Love or your Revenge had made you run To those extreams I found it wise to shun With Joy I did submit to be his Wife Since I had no way else to save your Life Sohe Could you think fit to me your Love to give Yet hope I could the loss of it outlive Solo. In that fierce Storm we then did both endure A seeming scorn could only be your Cure Sohe The Power of Love for me you never knew Since while you lov'd you seem'd to scorn me too Darkness and light may both together reign As well as perfect Love and such disdain Though a Just Person may a Sin commit Yet his Soul trembles while he 's acting it But when your Vows to me you did decline Nothing but Joy in your fair Eyes did shine Solo. Though for your sake I did that guilty deed Yet while my Face did smile my Heart did bleed I did to break that match all I could do Both with Cossabanes and Herod too But when all fail'd to which I had recourse I from my heart that Brother did divorce And on his Ruin ever since was bent In hope of this blest time Heaven now has sent Sohe These are strange Secrets which you now declare Solo. Listen and I will tell you stranger far 'T was I made Herod to Octavius go And made Pheroras wait upon him too That Caesar having both might more incline To cut off the Male Race of all Our Line 'T was I made Herod to all else unjust And leave his haughty Wife to your sole trust With Orders if he Caesar did not win You instantly should put to Death his Queen Sohe He told me none but I those Orders knew Solo. You see he told you then what was not true Sohe But to what end did you those Crimes pursue Solo. For my great End That of obtaining you Sohe Madam against the Power of Heaven you strive Solo. How 's that Sohe Is not Cossabanes alive Solo. 'T is Man not God makes Marriages by force Therefore this day I sent him a Divorce Sohe That right is only by our Sex enjoy'd Solo. That Usurpation I for you destroy'd 'T is just where two under one Contract are That they alike the priviledge should share Affection only ties true Wedlock Bands Where hearts divide in vain Priests join the hands He now in his Arabia does reside Where I have sent him leave to choose a Bride Now if you act your Prince's last Command Nothing between us and our Joyes doth stand For when the Queen you have of Life bereft I only of both Royal Lines am left Then will a Crown which my free Love bestows Sohemus starts and trembles Make some Atonement for my breach of Vows Why do you start and such disturbance show Sohe 'T is at the Mischiefs you would make me do Solo. To a true Subject then can any thing Look like a Crime when 't is t' obey his King Sohe Those who by Power alone have Scepters sway'd Ought not when Dead to have their wills obey'd Only to Lawful Kings that Duty 's shown Solo. Then do it for my sake or for your own I would have done it ere I spoke of it But that to me it did appear unfit That
VAnisht Well have they manag'd their Escapes They owe their Safeties to their airy shapes Their flesh did with such fear their Souls subdue That after Death their Ghosts turn'd Cowards too Poor senseless Devils that could themselves perswade To frighten him by whom they Ghosts were made I blush that I the honour did afford Of scaring them by drawing of my Sword Herod puts up his Sword Who waits without A Gentleman comes in Gent. Your Brother Sir has been Above an hour attending Her Call him in The Gentleman goes out That Brother is my Brother but in name He does by Honesty aspire at Fame By Virtues Charms to Glory he pretends And scruples by bold Crimes to reach great ends Pheroras comes in Pher. Sir by those Spies which are employ'd by me To watch the Jews I find they all agree And to your Palace Gates great numbers crowd And without fear their Anger tell aloud Her Those who by talk do give their anger vent To great and bold Revenges are not bent I 'd more suspect them if they did not so Pher. Yet winds will murmure ere the storm does blow In Policy when you strict Justice do Seem to lament at what they force you to This may the Jews from their despair withhold Her A King who fears does make his Subjects bold Monarchs by solid Rules should Vassals steer Dissembling is too near ally'd to fear Who to please Subjects some degrees shall fall Does give them hopes he may descend from all Do not a talking Conquer'd People fear They cannot raise such Storms as I feel here Putting his hand on his Breast Pher. I cannot guess from whence this Storm should rise Since you have vanquish'd all your Enemies Winning Agrippa you Octavius win Her The worst of Storms are those which are within O Heavens If to wear Crowns to which I was not born Is Sin Why do you thus my Head adorn But if in that I did your will pursue Why do you punish what you made mé do Pher. How should I see till you unseal my Eyes Whence this Internal Tempest Sir does rise Her My Sister in her Rage such things exprest As ever since have stole away my rest The fatal words through my Ears pierc'd my Heart And are above the Cure of Time or Art Pher. 'T is strange her talk takes such deep root in you Her I dare not think her words are false or true Pher. Can you but in suspence such Torments find Her Suspence 't is the worst torture of the Mind Our Reason and our Valour it controuls 'T is in one word the Chaos of our Souls From one Resolve I to another run I know not what to meet or what to shun Pher. Then Sir to my suspence pray give an end Trust with your Griefs your Brother and your Friend Her Solome in her truth or by her Art Would make me think Another has her Heart Pher. What Her d' you mean Her What Her else can it be But my Proud Queen which could so torture me If to my Love another she prefers I 'll tear out both her Lovers Heart and Hers. Then I 'll in Flames reduce them both to Dust Flames which shall be as burning as their Lust And when those Thrones of Love to Ashes turn I 'll mix their guilty Ashes in one Urn There we shall see what Charming Fires are bred In Hearts united when those Hearts are dead This Brother 's an Experiment may be Worthy an Injur'd King's Philosophy Pher. Give not your Anger Sir such guilty vent A Sin you Fancy then a Punishment Is this the weight which made your Soul to bow Her You talk as if a heavier I could know Pher. If Vertue did not the Queens Actions guide Her Honour would be guarded by her Pride Her Honour o'r Love rarely the Field does win When Pride does keep the Gate Love will get in Pher. But Love an Entrance always is deny'd Where Womans Vertue heighten'd is to Pride Her To such extreams it is unsafe to trust Where Vertue turns to Pride Love may to Lust. Sin will from Sin but too ill guarded be Nor durst my Sister trifle thus with me Pher. Believe me Sir Our Sister has mistook She has not prov'd it on the Queen but look Falshood and Lust which so deform'd appear Durst not approach much less reside in Her In her where Virtue to such height does rise It shines both in her Actions and her Eyes Solome comes into them Her Sister I to Pheroras did declare That you of the Queens Virtue Jealous are If ought but Truth leads you to what you do The Death I meant for her shall fall on you Methinks at this your Colour comes and goes Does it your Anger or your Guilt disclose Solo. 'T is a just Anger does my Face infect Oh Heavens Can Herod Solome suspect And can he of that Friendship have a doubt Which all the actions of her Life make out Dismiss Pheroras and you soon shall see With what Injustice you suspected me Her Brother leave Solome with me alone Pher. Since you Command me Sir I must be gone Pher. goes out Solo. Before the fatal Secret I declare Which will with Horror bristle ev'ry Hair And make you summon all your Fortitude To help you to support a shock so rude Tell me without Reserve Have you not seen Since your Return a Coldness in the Queen Greater by much than you observ'd before Her May be I have Proceed but ask no more Solo. What did you think in her this Change had wrought Her Tell what you know and ask not what I thought Solo. Then know yet stay for I begin to fear Truths against Her would but offend your Ear. Her Play not thus with my Anger 't is not good The Storm you rais'd must be supprest by Blood It wounds my Soul as long as it endures 'T is the Queens Death shall end it or else Yours Solo. Alas I would not live one moment more If Sir my Death your Honour could restore Her My Honour Speak I 'm rackt by this delay Solome 'T will rack you worse to hear what I can say Her Rack me then higher yet if it can be That I may others Rack as you do me Tell me oh tell me of that Man the Name Who durst presume to rob me of my Fame He might all other Crimes have safer done Than only to have wish'd for but this One Solo. Sohemus is the Person who I dread Has more than offer'd to have wrong'd your Bed For when alas we of your Death did hear The thought of which makes me yet shake with fear And that I prest him those Commands t' Obey Which you on him for the Queens Death did lay He said forbid it Heaven that I the Sin should do Which words he spoke blushing and trembling too By which it was too evidently seen He had a guilty Passion for the Queen For whom so warmly he did then appear That he told me you an Usurper
none Her Since all were present at the black Debate 'T is they the Guiltless must discriminate My Resolution is on Justice built Who in this Case conceals does share the guilt Pheroras take my Guards and carry all The Sanhedrim into the Judgment-Hall There torture them till you from some have got Who first propos'd and then approv'd the Plot. Phalt. The Jews will rise in Tumults through despair Her Tumults the Frenzies of the People are And who in Frenzies strive must be withstood Such fits are quickly cur'd by letting Blood Sam. 'T is hard with a whole Nation to dispute Her But harder when Kings are not Absolute He of a Throne should be unworthy held Who to his will makes not his Subjects yield Who to obtain that end his Life does give Does dy more glorious than he else can live Brother you seem as if you were afraid Go you and see these Orders now obey'd To Phalt. Sam. and Asdr. Pher. Sir I will never give you cause to say That what you Order I dare not obey Come all with me Pher. Phalt. Sam. and Guards go out Her Abner to thee alone My Counterfeited Passion I made known But now I fear 't is Mariana's due That false Love made to her must change to true Love by her Eyes that Fiction would upbraid And burns me in those Flames with which I play'd Abn. Sir since the Queen some coldness did express While she unrivall'd did your heart possess May it not Sir provoke her to despair Seeing another in that Glory share Her Perhaps it may Perhaps too It may not Few Women are by reason lost or got Since to the Love I paid her shee 'd not bend I try'd a different way to reach my end Yet Abner I must say to be possest As much of hers as she is of my Breast And to enjoy that Monarchy alone I would despise the Universal Throne Though I her Coyness and her Pride abhor Yet her triumphant Beauties I adore Oft I resolve her coldness to resent But I as often that Resolve repent How was it Mariana did receive Those Jewels which to her I bid you give Abn. As soon as the vast present she had seen She said I had mistook her for the Queen But when to her I solemnly did swear That they by you presented were to her She trembl'd instantly then blushing said They were too mighty Presents for a Maid And beg'd me I would make you her Excuse Since 't was her Vertue did those gifts refuse Then from the Chamber she in hast did go Her She had good Cause the Off'ring was too low 'T was fit so great a Beauty should decline A present made by any hand but mine O Love where didst thou get the Power or Art Thus to erect two Thrones within one heart That Empire must be stormy and decay In which at once two different Powers bear sway My Queens aspiring Soul does daily rise Her Mind is as Imperious as her Eyes While Mariana with as Conquering Charms By her humility my heart disarms Thus to subdue me Opposites agree Yet both produce the same effects in me Let the Queen know I 'm to the Garden gone And tell her I expect her there alone Herod and Abner go out several ways The Scene the private Gallery of Herod's Palace Sohemus meets Mariana Sohe O Sister I am now for ever lost My flatt'ring hopes by my ill Stars are crost The Queen to my Address does cruel prove My Services she takes but slights my Love While Solome her former flame renews And with such guilty Love my Love pursues That I perceive 't is the Decree of Fate I must be ruinâ—d by her Love or hate Mar. If you but for the Queen can Love admit Solome must be paid with Counterfeit Else all your hopes of Life will be but Dreams Her Soul no Passion knows but in extreams Sohe Sister you know my Heart could never brook Whatever did but like dissembling look Mar. Dissembling must to you uneasy be And to perswade you to it is to me But since on you depends all I hold dear My Virtue now indulges to my fear When in this Love you did at first engage The sad effects of it I did presage Now my Prophetick fears I find are true But may it not be yet supprest by you Sohe O 't is in vain me to that change to move Who once lov'd well can never cease to Love Mar. Then you at first lov'd Solome but ill Or by that Rule you ought to love her still And if for her a Passion you did feign For both Our Sakes dissemble it again Sohe Though once her Beauties gave my Heart the Law Yet her Change froze more than her Eyes can thaw And you as well may raise the dead again As Love which has been murther'd by disdain Solome order'd me to meet her here Sister retire yonder she does appear Mar. O ere I go let me this promise win That you 'l not think what saves us both a Sin This on my Knees I would of you implore Mar. says the last Verse as she is going out Sohe I 'll do what Honour bids me and no more Enter Solome Solo. Though the last usage I endur'd from you Made me resolve your Ruine to pursue And by the Power which I with Herod have I with one word can send you to your Grave Yet Love has purchast for you a Reprieve And makes me this last meeting to you give You know the trust which he on you did lay And Love I know made you that trust betray Herod as Lawful King you would not own Either of these by me to him made known Would raise his Anger and Revenge so high As nothing but your Death could satisfy Sohe Madam you need not to your Brother sue To take a Life that is abhorr'd by you From me your Will shall no resistance meet I freely lay it Madam at your Feet Solo. Your Life Sohemus would my Blessing prove If you would reassume your former Love She puts her hand before her face Sohe Why would you have that Passion live again Which when you could reward you did disdain In pity Madam do not press me more To suffer Shipwrack twice upon one Shore Solo. I told you Herod forc'd me to that Crime Sohe Force which once aw'd you may a second time Solo. But to repeat a Sin few dare consent Of which they once did really repent Sohe Herod I know will make you soon repent Of that Divorce you to your Husband sent Solo. Brother and King Husband of best degree Are empty Names to one that loves like me Do but declare that I possess your Heart Then all the rest trust to my care and Art Those who oppose me I 'll to Death pursue And in vast Crimes shew as vast Love for you Sohe So much your Servant I resolve to be That you shall never act a Crime for me Solo. Perfidious Man since you my Love disdain I 'll
tear you hence where you too long did raign All those Objections you to me did move Were now I see to triumph o're my Love And when all Obstacles I would subdue I find my greatest nay my Only You. Sohe Were I as proud or false as now you say I might with ease you by your Love betray But by my Faithfulness I make you shun Crimes which would make you hate your self when done Ah Madam 't is severe to use me thus We give not Laws to Love but Love to us Could we at will quench or revive â—is Flame You 'd kill that Love which now you blush to name If what I say cannot your wrath asswage Here in my Blood be pleas'd to drown your Rage Opening his Arms. If over Love I could the Victor prove To whom I give my Life I 'd give my Love Solo. Too deep a wound thy bold contempt affords Ere to be heal'd by Fawnings and by words Since thou with scorn my proffer'd Love dost brand 'T were too great Death to perish by my hand Striking her Breast Thus with one blow Love's Image I deface Revenge do thou ascend and take the place In thy black Empire few successless prove Whose Hearts are fill'd with Rage as once with Love Solome goes out Sohe I see her fury cannot be withstood She will allay this tempest in my Blood Yet to my Death 't is nobler to submit Than to Contract a guilt which merits it Sohemus goes out The Scene the first obscure Grotta Enter Antipater Pollio Ant. Disswade me not by all my hopes I swear Nothing shall hinder me to wait on her Poll. Your Life in doing it will hazard run Ant. 'T will run more hazard if it be not done For Life on no account to me is dear But only as it does belong to her Poll. Lose not that Life which for her sake you prize Ant. Ah 't is not Life while banish'd from her Eyes To them Phaltiel and Samias Phalt. Sir from the Judgment-Hall we now are come Where forty noble Jews receiv'd their doom Th' Arabians putting many to the Rack Which in the Plot did not at all partake The rest urg'd by a Vertue most sublime The guiltless clear'd and did confess their Crime But those which were absolv'd did boldly say They 'd rather perish than be sav'd that way Sam. Never did men so generously contend Each would have lost his Life to save his Friend Ant. My Father's Crown and Life in danger lies Attempted thus by them who Death despise Sam. He that in this great Action led the way Was Abner's Father aged Barzillai All hop'd the favour Herod shews the Son Would for the Father a Reprieve have won But as we came out of the Hippodrome The Orders that he first should dye were come Ant. What is this Abner for whose sake you thought My Father might from his revenge be brought Since my disgrace he did to favour climb Phalt. To draw him Sir at length requires much time He is to give his Character in short In War most fierce most humble in the Court Who merits favour yet obtains it not In him unask'd an Advocate has got Respect for him he in all hearts has bred Because it is not sought but merited Malice does fear such Vertue to pursue Which makes him favour'd without Envy too Enter Hazael hastily who takes Antip. aside Haz. Tamar your Trust did with such Joy receive And in such Raptures learnt you were alive That in disguise as you desir'd she 's gone To Nathan's Tomb to meet you there alone Your stay with her she begs may be so short As none may mind her absence from the Court Where over her there are suspicious Eyes Ant. My Joys from this blest meeting take their Rise My generous Friends excuse me for one hour I 'm drawn from hence by Love's Resistless Power Mean while disperse your selves in several ways For this rough Justice must a Tempest raise And drive into despair the furious Jews What ere you learn let me soon hear the News Ant. and Haz. go out hastily Phalt. I 'll try to stay him Sam. Do not 't is in vain Reason and Love never together reign Sam. Phalt. and Poll. go out The Scene is the Palace-Garden Enter Herod and the Queen Her 'T is to Agrippa Madam that I owe At once my Liberty and Kingdom too With such success he did my Cause debate As he did alter what was thought my Fate Queen Does it not meanly in a Monarch show Both those to a Proud Roman King to owe. But to his Subject thus in Debt to run Is what I should elect by Death to shun Her Freedom you seem and Empire to abhor Queen No I love both but I love Glory more For those who do not Glory more esteem Than Life and Empire cannot merit them Her You my Return so coldly entertain As if some other in your heart did reign Queen I for your absence had no cause to mourn Nor can I joyful be for your Return Neither in me had reason to prevail Since I but change my Jaylor not my Jayl Your part Sohemus acted you being gone And now you are return'd you act your own Her While Rules of Honour you on me obtrude You quite forget your Debts of gratitude 'T was I that rais'd you to my Bed and Crown When all your House were by their Fate cast down Queen You made them Victims to your Pride and Hate And then ascribe their Ruins to their Fate With them I rather would have lost my Life Than be Condemn'd to live their Murtherers Wife Her Madam there are affronts which press so near That 't is beyond the strength of Love to bear Queen And there be Loves which so offensive are That to be hated were more pleasant far Her Take heed your Death may end so bold a strife Queen You should not threaten me with Death but Life Her Oh Cursed Herod to give all thy heart To her who is unworthy of a part Queen 'T is hard to credit I have all your heart Sure Mariana does possess a part Love that divided is must quickly fall Her Then Mariana shall possess it all Unworthy 't is of Monarchs nay of Men To pay their Loves where they 're not lov'd again He merits scorn who tamely scorn endures Yes I 'll recal my heart as you do yours Queen The losing such a heart should I take ill Which you can give and take when ere you will Pray teach me too how I should grieve for it Yet such a Passion is for her most fit Whose Family you for her sake thought good To waft to Heaven through a Sea of blood Of this new Love let this new proof appear By the like passage pray Sir send me there The greatness of your Love will more be seen In making me your Martyr than your Queen Her Spight of affronts so sensible and high Yet for your Beauties sake you shall not dye Since while you scorn me
I my wrath subdue Judge how I 'd love you would you love me too Queen Love you Methinks at those two words alone I hear the Ghosts of all th' Asmoneans groan Should I once more that guilty motion hear Out of their bloody Urns they 'd all appear And could I grant that Love which now you crave They 'd fright me with their looks into my Grave Her As well your weakness as your hate I see Can you fear Ghosts and not fear angring me The dead nere to the living durst appear Ghosts are but shadows painted by our fear But were your House reviv'd did they all reign My looks would fright them into Ghosts again Looks which if you your Crimes do not redeem Shall act on you what I but talk'd of them Queen Your trembling Limbs could not your weight sustain If once you saw me head that Ghastly Train The sight would make the Crown upon your brow Totter as much as Usurpation now If you doubt this let me to them be sent Heavens how I long to try th' Experiment Her Imperious Woman by thy Pride and hate Thou hast at length hurl'd on thy self thy Fate Were I as timorous as thy weak Sex Me thy Contempt more than thy Ghost would vex Ho who waits there Enter Gentleman Go instantly and call Some of the Arabian Guards and Asdrubal Exit Gentleman Since thou so longst in hope to frighten me To be a Ghost that Ghost thou now shalt be In my Apartment thou thy Life shalt lose And I that place before all others chose That if thy Ghost to me it self dare show The trembling shape shall not have far to go Queen Though all the Asmoneans dy'd by your Command Yet let your Wife pray dy by your own hand You should in Justice some distinction place In murth'ring her and others of her Race I do not beg you would delay my Fate But that your self would shed the blood you hate Since I the Title of your Queen possest Do not deny my first and last request Here let your Sword your own Revenge pursue Opening her Arms. And pierce that Heart your feign'd Love could not do Her Feign'd Love Witness ye Sacred Powers above What she calls feign'd till now was Real Love A Love which here did with such Empire Reign As nothing could have quench'd but her disdain Ah what to prove it could I more have done Enter Asdr. and the Arabian Guards hastily Than for thy sake to kill my only Son Seize on the Queen and let her then be led To my Apartment there to lose her Head Asdr. The Queen Sir Her Yes the Queen Didst thou not hear Or is that Question ask'd me by thy fear Asdr. How should I touch the Partner of your Bed Her Her Death delay'd shall forfeit thy own Head Asdr. Madam Thus at your Feet my self I lay To beg your Pardon that I dare obey Queen You have it Sir why should you troubled be At once obeying him You pleasure me Asdrubal takes the Queen by the Hand to lead her out Her Now let her to her Death be sed away Queen 'T is your first Order I with Joy obey Asdrubal leading her out but still looks back toward Herod Her Heavens with what Tortures is my Bosom torn I neither can Revenge nor bear her scorn My Soul was rack'd till I her Death decreed And now the Doom is given my Heart doth bleed When Asdrubal has almost led the Queen off the Theatre Herod goes hastily and taking her from him says How dar'st thou on my Queen thus lay thy hands Asdr. The Sin I do is Sir by your Commands Her To wait on Kings thy Judgment is too weak Thou knowst not when Justice or Rage does speak If Passion hurls us out of Reasons way 'T is the best Duty then to Disobey Queen If you Reprieve me from the wish'd for Blow You 'll grieve at it e're long as I shall now Her Your Hate and your Disdain I will outbrave Love has reverst the Doom which Anger gave You with the Guards have leave now to retire Asdrubal and the Guards go out Queen Death is deny'd because I Death desire Her Madam retire and do not by your stay Augment that Storm which Love strives to allay Queen Heaven knows I go from hence with greater grief Condemn'd to Live than now to lose my Life The Queen goes out Her How great a Soul does this Asmonean show Her generous Heart will rather break than bow While I who have Battles and Kingdoms won Yield to her Pride and blush for it when done Herod walks in deep melancholy about the Stage Enter Solome who having consider'd a while Herod's disorders says Solo. What fitter time to tell it him than now When Grief and Rage sit mingl'd on his Brow All Passions must in him at once combine To make him act those mischiefs I design I met the Queen as she from hence did go To Herod She scarce would look on me Her It may be so Solo. Your Sister with respect should treated be Her Respect for you Why she hath none for me Solo. How can one Woman's Pride keep you in awe Whose word alone gives to two Kingdoms Law Her Ah 't is by much an easier task to guide Two mighty Kingdoms than one Womans Pride Solo. Your Fame is lost if aw'd thus by your Wife You ought to take away her Pride or Life Her To one who begs I death to her would give 'T is the worst Punishment to let her live Solo. If Death she does desire why should she strive For that from you she to her self can give Her Perhaps she would have me her-Murth'rer prove Solo. Life Sir is sweet to one that is in Love Her In Love Solo. Yes Sir in Love I say Her With who Hold I would think your malice speaks not You. Solo. No 't is my Love and Duty makes me tell A Truth which 't were a Sin should I conceal Nor could they both more generously appear Than now in telling what you dare not hear Her No more Why should I let into my Breast What would for ever rob me of my Rest Aside A thousand horrors in that narrow Room Have found their Cradle and may find their Tomb. This fatal Subject do not then pursue To Solo. But pity both your King and Brother too Who to the other Torments of his Life Knows he should hate but cannot hate his Wife They both go out ACT III. The Scene opens Herod appears asleep under a Magnificent Pavilion Hircanus and Aristobulus's Ghosts enter attended by several other Ghosts in white having great stains of blood over all their Garments They dance Antick Dances with black Iavelins in their hands The Dances ended they fall all in into one Rank and march up to Herod brandishing the Points of their Weapons towards him Herod wakes of a sudden starts up and draws his Sword at which all the Ghosts vanish He stares about him a while and then sayes Her
unwelcome is that 's brought by you Or com'st thou to accuse me that did wed The bloody Tyrant who cut off thy Head Ah Generous Prince it was to save your Life That I did yield to be the Monsters Wife My kindness only made me seem untrue And for your sake I became false to you Ant. Madam I am not Dead Queen Not Dead O why Do you alas the fatal truth deny But know for I now see what you would do I dread not Death when I may go with you This unkind Doubt of me does make me fear Lovers in the other World love less than here Ant. By your fair Eyes the Oath I value most I am Antipater and not his Ghost And if of what I swear you doubtful stand Allow me to confirm it on your hand Queen Take it but wonder not I tremble so That 's sit whether you are a Ghost or no. Antipater kneels kisses her hand in such transports that she endeavours to withdraw it but he still holds it Ant. Why to this Joy would you a period give Queen I would not know by guilty proofs you live She withdraws her hand I am convinc'd that you no Spirit are But how you scap'd I beg you will declare He rises Ant. To tell that story I too dearly pay Yet since it is your will I must obey When Herod's Guards did my Revenge prevent To Massada I was close Pris'ner sent The Generous Samias to whose Friendly Care The Orders for my Death intrusted were Beheaded a young Slave of his by night And to his Body paid my Funeral right Which made all Palestine and Herod too Think he had done the Sin he bid him do Thus Heaven preserv'd whom Herod meant to kill By which I now have priviledge to kneel He kneels And beg thus at your Feet that you will give That Joy which if deny'd I dare not live Queen Rise Generous Prince Ah what is 't you implore Ant. That Blessing now you could not grant before Queen Into the blackest Incest I shall run If I should wed the Father then the Son Ant. True Love mistaken Scruples should despise The hand of Death cancels all humane tyes Dare you not end what Love made you begin Queen Prince I for you dare dy but dare not Sin Ant. By such false Maxims be not kept in awe Queen But Incest is forbid by Heavens great Law Ant. If Incest Madam be the Sin you fear I of that Incest the whole Guilt will bear My Love were neither generous nor true Would I not act one Crime to purchase you Queen Ah do not ask what Heaven bids me deny Ant. Then give me leave here at your Feet to dye Ant. offers to draw his Sword Queen Hold Generous Prince I might as soon agree To Sin for you as let you dy for me But if you think your Cure in Death to find Be not so Cruel to leave me behind Do not refuse what now I press you to Or live with me or let me dy with you Ant. Alas when of your dying I but hear All my despair I yield up to my fear A great knocking at the door Tamar within O Madam Madam Queen That 's Tamar's Voice Retire awhile I know Something Important brings her hither now Ant. retires within the Scene The Queen lets in Tamar Tamar Madam I hope this Rudeness you 'll excuse Since 't is to bring you most surprising News Herod whom we believ'd till now was dead From his Restraint is by Octavius freed And Caesar on him has confirm'd the Crown And what 's as strange Herod is now in Town He fear'd some Insurrection from the Jews And therefore brought of his Success the News The Sanhedrim to his great Fortune bend And through the Streets they all on him attend Queen Never a greater Change was wrought by Fate To them Dina hastily Din. Madam the King is at the Palace Gate Queen Will my Misfortunes never have an End In my Apartment all of you attend Dina and Tamar go out Antipater comes out Queen You hear the News of this prodigious turn Ant. Yes Madam but what News should make me mourn For I have nothing now to hope or dread Herod's alike to me alive or dead Yet my Complaints my Duty shall subdue Since I can now complain of none but you Queen Do not complain of her whose only fault Is that she loves you much more than she ought After these guilty words I dare not stay Shame now like Herod hurries me away Mariamne goes out Ant. Prodigious Fate what is 't thou dost mean How in an instant hast thou chang'd the Scene But thou hast Joyful hours as well as sad The good I 'll court and I 'll outbrave the bad Antip. goes out at the door he entred ACT II. The Scene opens The Temple appears and Herod seated on a Throne within it On his right hand Annanelus the High-Priest stands drest in all his Pontifical Habits On his left hand Pheroras Abner Phaltiel Samias Asdrubal with all the Courtiers and the Guards The Singing Priests are all in their white Robes with wreaths of Laurel on their Heads after some time of silence the chief Singer lifts up his right hand and then the whole Quire of Priests sing the following Song SONG THose Clouds which dare the Sun obscure But a short time endure And when he breaks what did his Light confine His Beams with brighter Lustre shine So Herod's Danger which we did deplore Serves but to raise his Glories more He now appears to his glad Subjects sights Like cheerful Mornings after stormy nights In sign that we this blessing prize We offer up whole Herds in Sacrifice And flaming Incense on our Altars burn To Celebrate Our King's return Since to this Temple he new Life does give His Fame shall in his Piety still live Flames are seen behind the Theatre in the Temple This Song is to be sung twice by the whole Quire of Priests at the first ending of the Song Herod descends from the Throne walks out over the Theatre attended by all having a Canopy of State carryed over him by four By that time the Priests have ended the Song the second time the last of the Procession are to be gotten off the Theatre and then the Scene of the Temple is to be closed by the Scene of Herod's Apartment Enter Herod Pheroras Abner Phaltiel Samias Asdrubal and the Arabian Guards Pher. The Sanhedrim are at your Palace Gate And beg admittance Her No. There let them wait By Fear not Love they now are hither drawn Base Spirits when insulting fails they fawn When they but dreamt Fortune had cast me down They did consult how to bestow my Crown Since they 'll not tell on whom that guilt does fall Rather than punish none I 'll punish all Justice must not be mockt Pher. But Justice then Should not designedly punish guiltless Men. Because to you the faulty are not known You 'll punish All rather than punish
lessen Herod's rage My Brother 's guiltless Madam but you know The King thinks no one who he hates is so Queen May Heaven direct you in the Happiest way While I what you desire of me obey They go out several ways The Scene Herod's Apartment Herod with Asdrubal and some of the Guards comes from within the Scene on the Theatre at the same time Sohemus by another of the Theatre Doors enters on it Sohe The Princess Sir bad me here wait on you Her Now Guards perform that which I bad you do The Guards immediately seize on Sohemus and disarm him Her Thy guilt without my telling lets thee know For what Crime 't is that I have us'd thee so Sohe Though I must judge your usage Sir severe Yet I with Joy would this Oppression bear Were I the only guiltless you pursue Her That name of all belongs the least to you To thee whose Lust has to my Queen confest That Secret I intrusted to thy Breast Which She of all the World should not have known Traytor in vain thou wilt thy Guilt disown My Sister who reveal'd will prove thy Sin Heaven's How I fear'd that it had been the Queen Sohe aside lifting up his Hands and Eyes Her His lifting up to Heaven his Hands and Eyes Does Evidence his Crime by his Surprize This Storm which thou hast rais'd dost thou not dread Look on me Look Have I not star'd thee dead Sohe Looks cannot make one of my Courage fall Her What my Looks cannot do my Dagger shall Herod stabs Sohemus thrice who falls Sohe By my Compliance I thy Throne have built My Death 's the Justice due to that base guilt Which by my Hand I had aton'd on thee Had not thy bloody hand prevented me Thunder the Sword of Heaven does sure design That Death for thee which it deny'd to mine Tyrant receive this Truth from my last Breath If Man has an Existence after Death My Ghost shall haunt thhee out in every place My gaping Wounds shall stare thee in the Face Till thou thy Life a burthen shalt esteem Great as thy Subjects found it was to them Sohemus dies Her Would every Foe of mine all hope had lost But that of frighting of me with his Ghost Guards to his Grave bear that perfidious Man There let him tell my Secrets if he can They all go out the Guards bearing off Sohemus's Body ACT IV. The Scene the Queens Bed-Chamber The Queen Seated Tamar and Dina stand on each hand of her Tam. 'T Was Mariana's sad and fatal Chance To meet the Body as they bore it thence As soon as she beheld her Brother dead From her fair Face the bright Vermilion fled And in an instant in her Charming Eyes We saw a Cloud blacker than Night arise Her Limbs seem'd by their trembling to declare Her Sorrow was too great a weight to bear Then on his bloody Corps her Self she threw Whilst from her Breast extorted Curses flew Din. She his pale Cheeks a thousand times did kiss Till her red Lips infected were with his And to the Wound which through his Breast had made A passage to his Heart her Heart she laid In hope which was the end she did pursue By the like Sympathy 't would kill her too Then with a look in which Death Printed was Through her cold Lips these moving words did pass Herod Thy Steel my Friendships Truth has Crown'd Since to kill both thou didst but give one Wound Then in a Groan she gave her Sorrows vent A Groan so vast her Breath at once it spent Which to her Soul to Heaven a passage gave The only brighter dwelling it could have Din. To such a Death our stock of Tears was due And Sorrow after so contagious grew As those who bore them to one Grave to rest Seem'd by their Looks of more than Life divest Queen She in that Fate which you deplore is blest Her storms of Life are past and she at Rest And to her Death this envy'd Praise is due She taught such Friendship as the World ne'er knew Yet for my Loss in her these Tears I owe And truer Tears no Friend did e'er bestow The Queen weeps Leave me for my Disorders such are grown As I am only fit to be alone Tamar and Dina go out The Queen having mus'd a while Antip. discovers himself the Queen starts steps back and stands amaz'd Queen Ha! Antipater Ant. Yes Madam it is he Queen At such a guilty hour to visit me Prince 't is your first offence but 't is too vast Ant. I come to beg that it may be my last Since without seeing you I cannot live And since that leave your Virtue will not give Thus prostrate Madam at your Feet I lye Kneeling And humbly beg you 'll give me leave to dye Queen What brought you hither and who hid you there Ant. The highest Love and most undone Despair Queen Ah Prince What is it that you now have done Ant. That which I had nor Power nor Will to shun But as I paid what to my Flame is due So Madam I will be as just to you Justice would lose her Name could she deny That who offends you merits not to dye And since my Love into this Crime has run This hand shall punish what my Love has done He rises draws his Sword turns the Hilt to the ground and when he is going to cast himself upon the Point she snatches up the Sword by the Hilt Queen Oh Heavens What was it that you meant to do Ant. To end my Torments and be just to you Queen Though I your guilty visit much deplore To kill your Self I should lament much more Ant. You cannot to my Death such Sorrows give As I shall feel if doom'd by you to live Queen How ill those words do with your Love agree Is Life a Curse while you can live with me Oh Antipater this is too severe I have my share in all those griefs you bear And nothing can alas my Sorrows heal Unless kind Heaven would Iudah's Laws repeal Which were a Sin to wish or to implore Ant. Then Madam let 's resolve to live no more If th' other Life be what is taught us here Such Loves as ours must needs be happy there Queen Those who the Blessings of that Life would win Must not leave this by any Act of Sin Did not the dread of that our Journey stay I would not hinder you but lead the way Tamar comes in hastily Tam. Madam forgive the rudeness of my fear Oh Heavens the Prince alas how came he here Herod with Abner through the Gallery comes And all his Guards have seiz'd the Passage-Rooms Sure he has learnt Antipater's here Ant. draws his Sword Ant. Now Madam Fate does on my side appear For Herod or else you and I must fall Our Safeties for my ready Arm do call And to that Sword no Sin ascrib'd can be Who takes his Life that first took you from me Hee 'll think you guilty