find no way Qu. My better Angel fly then swift as time Or thought thou 'gainst a Queen in gaining him But use such secresy as stoln Loves should have Be dark as the hush't silence of the Grave Ard. Madam distrust not but that I shall do Both what is to your Love and Honour due Qu. Honour a very word an empty name How dully wretched is the Slave to Fame Give me the Soul that 's large and unconfin'd Free as the Ayr and boundless as the Wind Nature was then in her first excellence When undisturb'd with puny Conscience Mans Sacrifice was pleasure his God sence Enter Tessaphernes Tiss Madam by th' Kings command I 'm to you sent Wh'attends your Royal presence in his Tent. Qu. I go Exeunt Qu. and Ardella Tiss Now all is Ripe me-thinks I see Treason walk hand in hand with Destiny And both in a kind Aspect smile on me Now the whole Court proceeds to solemnize The Nuptials of proud Alcibiades Where ev'ry thing does as I 'd wish combine To give a happy end to my designe It is the custom at a Marriage Feast The Bridegroom With a full Bowl presents his cheifest guest The Cup 's by my great secresy and care With strongest potion all infected are Which when our Alcibiades shall bring And offer as his duty to the King The Poyson and his sudden death will seem Fully a Trayterous design in him Then must the Crown descend on me and so I feast my Rage and my Ambition too Let Cowards spirits start at Crueltie Remorse has still a stranger been to me I can look on their pains with the same eyes As Priests behold the falling Sacrifice Whilst they yell out the horrour of their moans My heart shall dance to th'Musick of their groanes Exit Enter Captain of the Guards Cap. Look that your care and diligence be great See the Guards doubled and each Cent'nal set Exit The Scene drawn discovers the Tent of a Pavilion in it an Altar behind which are seated the King and Queen attended by Tissaphernes Patroclus and the rest of the Camp about the Altar stand several Priests of Hymen K. Each day brings some surprize of pleasure here Love vyes his Tryumphs with the God of War Six Priests of Hymen Dance The Dance ended Enter chief Priest and Priestess of Hymen Priest leading Timandra and the Priestess Alcibiades Priest Sings Distracting Jealousies and fears Heart-breaking sobs and restless tears Fly to the breasts that are Wrack't with despair In this Preisâ— Or this Cho. No tears but those of Joy no paintings but of bliss Priesâ—ess Yes yes by Love alone we seâ— On Earth the glorys of a Diety For 't is the greatest work above To be innocent and Love Those then that flame so nobly here What Ravishing delights must they have there Cho. Who on Earth to their honour are just and their Love Must reap the chief blessings above Priest Let 's then proceed and Hymens aid implore To joyn those hands whose hearts were link't before Priesâ—ess Agreed Prest Agreed Priesâ— Agreed Prest Agreed Cho. Hymen Oh Hymen come away Crown the wishes of thâ—s day See see these pure refin'd desires Wait at thy Torch wait at thy Torch to improve their fires Whilst this Chorus is singing Hymen enters with his Torch and joyns their hands with a Wreath of Roses which the Priestess strikes with her Spear and breaks then they offer both parts upon the Altar This Ceremony ended a Dance is perform'd by four Priests and Priestesses of Hymen all carrying in their hands short Spears muffl'd with flowers and boughs of fruit after which a Bowl is brought in and presented to Alcibiades who immediately upon the receipt bows to the King who descends with the Queen and receives the Bowl of him then spâ—aks K. To shew how strict a Reverence I have For ev'ry thing that Loyal is and brave Drawing near to Tissaphernes This signal honour only due to me Thus Tissaphernes I confer on thee Presents him the Bowl Thus Tissaphernes I confer on thee Presents him the Bowl Tiss Confusion what means this K. Nay do not start It is the offering of a grateful heart Come drink to such a depth as may express Thy wishes for their Joy and Sparta's happiness Tiss I must obey your Majesty Proffering to drink le ts fall the Bowl and seems to Swoun back Pat. Alas my Father K. How fares our worthy Friend Hence quickly for our chief Physitians fend So much this Aged Hero I esteem I rather could part with my Crown than him Tiss My health Sir needs no other help than this faintly That you will pardon its Infirmities The Wine was of so strong an Excellence Its Spirits prov'd too mighty for my sence Alarum without Enter Officer Off. Dread Sir your Camp th' Athenian Force Alarm's Without the City Gates th'appear in Arms. And with a numerous and Warlike train Begin their March upon the Neighb'ring Plain Their bloody Ensignes all display'd appear And hold an am'rous Combat with the Ayre Loosly they flye and with a Wanton play Seem to salâ—â—e the Sun-beams in their way Whilst their shrill Trumpets rattle in the skye As if with Musick they 'd charm Victory And this Triumphant Pride does higher grow That they may make a Conquest fit for You. K. 'T is well ev'ry Battalia Re-inforce With my late fresh supplyes of Persian Horse Their Fate no longer will delay endure Prepare to fight 'em in this very hour I 'd have this day hereafter famous be For the Renown of Love and Victory Shouâ—s from afar Enter another Officer 2d Off. The Enemy Sir does on the Plain appear And with Re-ecchoing shoutings pierce the Ayr. K. So Beasts decreed for slaughter e're they fall With their own Bell'wings ring their Funeral Finis Actus Secundi ACT Third Scene First The Camp Tissaphernes Tiss CUrse on my niggard Staâ—rs they were so poor That my Revenge prov'd greater than their pow'r My fury had begot so vast a Birth Fate wanted strength enough to bring it forth Trumpets afar off sound a Charge That sprightly sound darts fiercely through my soul Oh that I might one minute fate Controule Could but command one happy fatal Dart To send it self into 〈◊〉 Gen'rals heart Enter King and Queen attended K. Thus must proud States submit when Monarchs claim They govern in a rude disorder'd frame As Stars in a dim Senate rule the Night But Vanquish at the Suns more Potent light Athens now feels the fury of my heat A pow'r like theirs divided can't be great It may tumultious and num'rous show But ne're contract to give a steady blow Qu. In States those monstrous many-headed pow'rs Of private int'rest publick good devours 'T is true when in their hands a rule they gain They know to use that power not maintain Like Pyrats in a Fleet a while they may Seem dreadful but when by some juster force Oppos'd Each his own safety seeks and shrinks away
how grows Gratitude to that degree To be afflicted thus and weep for me Drax. Alas that is the least that I could do To our worst Enemies our Tears we owe. Friendship to such a noble height should rise As their devotion does in Sacrifice Who think they shew a zeal remiss and small Except themselves as nobler Victims fall With as great courage could I for you dye And my Triumphant Soul to Heav'n should fly There I again my Friendship would renew And lay up chiefest joyes in store for you Tim. What vast and boundless flights does Friendship take Beyond what search can see or fancy track 'T is the improvement of the part divine When souls in their Seraphick transports joyn In souls united so we friendship see As many glorys make a Diety Enter Alcibiades from the back part of the Scenes Drax. Madam yonder he comes who must retrieve Your drooping hopes and your faint joyes revive Tim. My Alcibiades how I begin To think my misplac't jealousy did sin Go meet him seem all troubled and in tears And with the tale I taught thee wound his ears Mean while I will with-draw my self this way Nor would my swelling passion let me stay Goes to the Door Alcib What ayrie Visions o're my eyes there move Like the good genius of an absent Love Where e're I turn me I me-thinks espy Timandra's Image softly gliding by Such fond Ambition Love his Slaves does teach To make 'em fancy what they cannot reach For oh Divine One How sickly joyes honour and greatness grant When thee the glory of my soul I want Drax. My Lord Alcib Guard me ye pow'rs Draxilla here And weeping too Oh my Prophetick fear What is 't your coming here would seem to tell Relate oh quickly is my Princess well Drax. Oh Sir In that unhappy fatal Night When to the Spartan Camp you took your flight When by the cruel Senaâ—e you were drove Both to forsake your Country and your Love Timandra and my self and we were sate In her Apartment grieving for your fate No sooner with sad Jealousies opprest Her wearied soul in sleep sought after rest But grief new Scenes of misery brought in And plaid in Dreams its horrours o're agen Sometimes her tender Arms she 'd forward stretch Then fiercely at the empty ayr would catch Wearied with grief she then would milder be And in a hallow sigh send out Ah Me At last she rose and 'bout the Chamber walkt Sometimes she started then stood still and talkt Anon repeat some short and pithy pray'r Agen grow wild and tear her pretious hair Till having so wrought sorrow to that height That her soul grew too tender for the weight E're I my courage could collect to go And give a hindrance to the fatall blow She with her Dagger stab'd her self and said Thus dy'd Timandra that unhappy Maid Alcib Ye Gods Is 't thus your Justice you dispence To lay th'reward of Guilt on Innocence What though these Sacriledgious hands have thrown Your Images those Pageant Glorys down Must you revenge on her I lov'd transfer You might have plagu'd me so y 'ad pitty'd her But thus I 'le send my soul where it may tell She lov'd too rashly but not lov'd too well Oh Sister do not hinder me my death Sighs are the only use I 've left of breath Offers to fall on his Sword but is hindred by Draxilla One blow will put an end to grief and Me. Enter Timandra Tim. That Sir you must not do nor must I see Al. starâ—s Why fly you back nay if you shun me now I shall grow apt to think my fears too true Alcib Oh Heavens does then my dear Timandra live The Joy's too mighty for me to receive This was the greatest bliss Heav'n had to give How rashly did my impious rage prophane Your Goodness oh but wash away that stain Then I with Victims will your Altars load And have a Sacrifice for ev'ry God Till by those holy fires this black offence Be purg'd and purify'd to Innocence But dearest how could you so cruel be To let such bliss be drest in misery To tell me you were dead How could you think but th' horror of that breath Must damp my Soul and chill me into death Tim. Alas my fears could find out no relief But thus t' assault you in the garb of grief This tryal of your Faith my Joy secures As Thunders usher in refreshing show'rs Alcib Let us no longer then to doubts give way But hast to th'Consummation of our Joy So with our bright united flames dispell Those anxious mists that on our bosoms dwell Being of no other Jealousie possess But which shall kindest prove and love the best Tim. And when our faithful happy hearts shall be Firmier united by that sacred tye How in an endless Road of bliss weâ—l move Steering our motions by our perfect Love There we with pleasure will recount each woe Which we have pass't and others undergoe There we 'll reflect o' th' various hopes and fears The mournfulâ—sighs and the impatient tears Of distrest Lovers whilst we 'll kindly thence Through a strange mystical Intelligence Give 'em Redresses by our influence Till so by ours Their full-grown Joyes receive a happy birth As Planets in their kind Conjunctions bless the Earth Alcib Then my Timandra to our Bliss let 's fly There 's but one minute more to Extasy Exeunt Enter Queen and Ardella Queen Oh my Ardella whither shall I turn I 'm all o're â—lame in ev'ry part I burn Ar. Your Majesty Queen Fool Majesty what 's that Th' Ill-natur'd pageant mockery of fate When her ungrateful sportive pow'r she 'd show Raising us high To barr us of the benefits below But I 'le her servile Policy despise And make her stoop to Loves great Victories Th' Almighty Pow'r of Heav'n came down from thence To tast the sweets of Am'rous Excellence Why then should Princes that are Gods below Think that a sin which Heav'n is proud to do Ard. But Madam is it not a cruel thing T' abuse a Loving Husband and kind King Qu. Dull Girle thou knowst noâ— what a Husband is Alas they never reach the height of bliss But ignorantly with Loves Magick play Till they raise Spirits they want pow'r to lay In that brave Alcibiades there swarm So many graces he 's all over charm Such killing Ayres in each part of him move His Brow darts Majesty and his Eye Love Oh my Ardella I am lost in thought I fain wou'd have thee yet 't is false I 'd not Ard. Madam your Royal pleasure but relate I 'le be as faithful and as firm as Fate Qu. Art thou then skilful in Loves subtle arts Cunningly to lay Ambuscades for hearts Canst thou express a melting kind desire And give a feeling draught of Loves soft fire Ard. Madam so subt'ly I 'le his heart betray As one who by some great Magicians pow'r Is hurry'd through the Regions in an hour And for return again can
and Recompence Alcib But Sister if I might one Question move Drax. Your pleasure Sir Alcib Could you not Madam Love The Friend in whom I 'm happy since I came In honour's as renown'd as in his name He when I to him often would Relate The sad adventures of my love and fate So much your gallant Friendship did admire That with your Character he grew on fire And bears a flame so noble and sublime As not to love agen would be a crime Drax. Sir that 's a thing I cannot now discourse Love rarely Conquers with a sudden force Nor must I that acknowledge as my due Which was perhaps a Complement to you If any thing in me he can approve I may believe it gallantry not Love Alcib I shall no more your modesty offend Pardon a forward Zeal to serve my Friend But if ought add a blessing 't will to see You made as happy as you have made me Exeunt Enter Tissaphernes and Patroclus Tiss D' you understand Patroclus what y 'ave done Have you consider'd that you are my Son Patr. Sir 't is a title I am proud of Tiss How can you then descend to things so base That blot my Glory and my Name deface Whilst thus your blinded folly so adores The only Traytor that my soul abhorrs Patr. How Sir I doat upon the man you hate No I had never thoughts so impious yet By all my hopes if any wretch there be Sâ—unhappy to be held your enemy Rather then in my Breast his image bear I 'd raze it from my heart or stab it there Tiss Stay least you should pronounce too rash a doom Believe it is a blow will wound you home But I will try What gen'rous resolution you express Know then you must hate Alcibiades Patr. Protect me heav'n can you command thatâ— Should break that knot you did so lately tye Was 't not your love that did our friendship joyn Did not your kind imbraces second mine Tiss Embraces Love and kindness what are these The outward varnish that our hearts disguise Hast thou so long with Courts conversant been The various turns of power and greatness seen And hast thou not this mistery yet found Always to smile in 's face we mean to wound Come you must hate him nay and kill him too Patr. Oh let me rather beg my death from you Can you command me Sir to wound a heart Whereof I do profess so great a part In that I should prove a self-murderer Peircing his Breast I stab m' own image there Tiss Come lay these idle boyish scruples down Do as becomes your Vertue and my Son Can you behold him rev'ling in my place And turning all my honours to disgrace And can you of so little value prize The honour of your blood not to shed his Patr. Oh Sir no farther urge this horrid Theam 'T will blast your gloryes and your wreathes defame Do but look on that liâ—e you would destroy See if it ben't as spotless and â—erene As that which in their heav'n blest Saints enjoy Pure and untouch't but with a thought of sin By all th' endearments of a filial love kneels And if that charm cannot your pitty move By my dear Mothers ghost whose dying prayâ—r Bequeath'd me her chief treasure to your care This unjust cruel enmity lay down And do not in his friend destroy your Son On the past brav'ry of your youth look back There the bright paths of all your Triumphs track Think what 't will be those gloryes to exchange For a base brutal infamous revenge Oh Sir recal recal the dire decree T is such a deed as fate will shrink to see Tiss Then 't is the â—itter to be done by me Give this unmanly Childish pitty o're Or ne're presume to call me Father more Patr. Then see how I resigne that int'rest here rises Thus all the bonds of duty cancel'd are Whilst such black horrourâ— in your soul I see Y' are not my Father but my enemy Now against me let all your vengeance come Thus thus my breast for your revenge has room Brave Alcibiades No since such barbarous mischiefs you dare do I 'l dye for him but scorn to live for you Why don't you strike Sir is your rage grown faint Tiss I fear I 've too much trifl'd with this boy Curse on his honour 't will my hopes destroy But I 'l smooth all in time Oh my dear Son Now art thou worthy to be cal'd my own None but a heart that 's truly noble cou'd Ever deserve a Title to my blood No may ye both in your brave friendship be As truly happy as I am in thee That 's curst aside Patr. Is then my father kind can he approve Our friendship does he once more crown our love Oh Sir let thus m' acknowledgment be giv'n As we for blessings offer thanks to heav'n kneels Tiss Rise rise thou comfort of my Age I now Have understood all I could wish to know Alas in this disguise I did but try The strength and vertue of thy constancy 'T is a refreshment to this heavy head To prove that vertue which my self have bred Thus blest in peace I 'l to my Grave descend As the declining Sun goes down at night Pleas'd with the rising of an off-spring light Patr. Such mystick wayes fate does our loves confirm As rooted Trees stand faster by a storm After this shock our friendship 's more secure As Gold try'd in the fire comes forth more pure Exit Tiss There 's some foundation yet for my design The Captiv's brave I 'l try to make him mine Unwearied I will let my fury range And leave no heart unsearcht to find revenge Exit SCENE a dark Tent. Theramnes in Chains The. How sweet a quietude's in fetters found That it seems almost freedom to be bound Though thus confin'd my agile thoughts may fly Through all the Region of variety Here in a trice I can the World run o're And finish whole years labours in an hour But oh my Mistress my Timandra lost That is the only bitterness I taste This outward fetter but my Body chains But that the freedom of my Soul detains Why by my Rivals Sword did I not fall So bravely have embrac'd one death for all Yet why should I court such an abject â—ate Courage is the supporter of the great Methinks I 've something yet to do might prove Becoming both my courage and my love I 'l hah this does my busie thoughts prevent Enter Tiss Is that old friend for a Tormenter sent Good Sir upon what message are your come Am I then destin'd to some harder doom Tiss No I am come to give your sorrows ease I know you hate Sir Alcibiades Nay and I know you love Timandra too The. Well Sir all this I know as well as you Tiss Come if you dare be brave be 't on this theam Dare you Sir ravish her and murder him The. For what dark ends do you this question
dares be so to Love 3. How soft the delights and how charming the joy Where love and injoyment each other support Let the Cynical fool call pleasure a toy Who ne're fame i' th' Camp had nor love in the Court O so kindly the Combates each other succeed Where 't is Triumph to dye and a Pleasure to bleed Alci The Air is charming Qu. Retire Exit Ardella No lively Symptoms of a growing â—ire I 'l urge him further My Lord your 〈…〉 Y' are ill Cold drops upon your brows appear I 'l wipe 'em off come Sir your fears remove You need not blush to tell me 〈◊〉 you love I 'l do it for you nay I 〈◊〉 will do Blush for my self 〈…〉 for you Sure this will take 〈…〉 wonder mean Is love so strange Alci Oh name that agen Could you such wrong to royal 〈◊〉 do Think what 's to heav'n and to your vertue due Qu. Must I be hated then and Sir by you angerly Pish why d' you talk of heav'n and 〈◊〉 now mildly Alci Not new-made mothers to their infants bear A firmer passion or a tend'rer care Show me yours or your honours enemy See with what vigour t' your revenge I 'le fly For you with life I willingly could part But whilst that lasts Timandra has my heart Qu. The heavy pleasures of the marriage Bed Dull repetition soon will 〈◊〉 dead Taste fresher joys and when they 〈…〉 Then the old pleasures may seem 〈…〉 Alci Could I expect to have such language heard Where beauty and such innocence appear'd Qu. Can you my 〈…〉 And is 't so difficult a 〈…〉 Alci Love Madam only 〈…〉 As you are fair 〈…〉 I 'le love you as the 〈…〉 Qu. A Sister 〈…〉 So little we can hardly name what ' t is Where is the transport 〈…〉 〈…〉 to a sharp appetite Alci I know y' are 〈…〉 Your beams the lustre of a King adorn That King whose piety me happy made And can I in return profane his bed Though Madam I 've liv'd free and never seâ— Limits to any thing we call delight Yet raise not new rebellions in blood Beauty hath darts too keen to be withstood Qu. Yet all its power has no force o're you Your cruel heart's immoveable but know 'T will to your honour be but ill apply'd That for your love a Queen neglected dy'd Alci What is 't you majesty would have me do Qu. Are you so ignorant that you don't know Alci Death not to have some sense were to unman My self but I 'le be conqu'rour if I can Should I be made a captive to her charms Er'e I am warm in my Timandra's arms One stratagem I 'le for my freedom try Madam no longer I 'le your pow'r deny to the Queen For if these eyes had ne're Timandra known You only might have call'd my heart your own But whilst with her I enjoy love and life And you remain the mighty Agis wife Know this is all I can in justice do I 'm ready on your least commands to shew I live for her but yet could dye for you Qu. Must I then only border upon bliss Rest on the confines of my happiness As Souls that are excluded heav'n for sin See all its glories but can't enter in Alci No Madam free from the dull clogâ— of sense We 'l reap delights of nobler excellence Our entwin'd Souls each other shall enjoy Tread vertues paths and never loose their way But if one in his motion chance to err Strait regulate it by the other's sphear Till at the last When the short Zodiack of this life w 'ave past With new imp't Zeal beyond the Stars wee 'l fly There meet and mingle to a Deity Qu. Then to all hopes of happiness adieu Since my chief bliss I 've lost in loosing you Oh the Tyrannick cruelty of fate That lets us know our happiness too late Yet why shou'd I to fears and sorrows bend If only on their fate my hopes my depend A Rival and a King I may remove There 's nothing difficult to them that love Exit Queen Alci She 's gone Greatness thou gaudy torment of our Souls The wise mans fetter and the range of fools Who is 't wou'd court thee if he knew thy ills He who the greatest heap of Honour piles Does nothing else but build a dang'rous shelf Or â—rect Mountains to o'rewhelm himself Exit Scene a Grove adjoyning to the Camp Enter Tissaphernes and Theramnes disguis'd Tiss Now Sir y' are free and prosperously move To reap the long wisht harvest of your love One minute and y' are in Timandra's arms New fetter'd in the power of her Charms Methinks the thought ev'n my old blood Alarms The. His rage sure works him to an extasie How the old Monster hugs his villany Good Sir dispatch I cannot brook delay I wast in expectation of my joy But hearâ— did you not hear a murm'ring talk Tiss Perhaps 't is she come in this Grove to walk Stay here they are by heav'n the same 't is she They go to the door Retreat a while blest opportunity Enter Timandra with a Book in her hand and Draxilla Tim. Methinks Draxilla when Atlanta ran And slaughter was the only prize she wan Her power a too cruel rigour bore To kill those she had wounded so before Theramnes throws off his disguise The. Then Madam be not guilty of her ill Me the poor wretch y 'ave wounded do not kill Ah in your heart if such a sence there be Of the injustice of her cruelty How much more pitty from your breast is due To him who ev'ry minute dyes for you Tim. My Lord Theramnes by what lucky hap Have you from guards and prison made escape The. Who wears your sacred image in your breast Is of such pure Divinity possest And from ignoble bondage so secure That feeble chains fall off and loose their pow'r Tim. Then Sir in your intended flight make haste Least by some fatal chance y' are once more lost The. No I enjoy a nobler safety here No danger dares approach when you are near These Groves to lovers bliss are dedicate Free from th' uncivil outrages of fate Coâ—e let 's to something like delight draw nigh And loose our selves a while in extasie seizes roughly on her Tim. Guard me ye powers Draxilla help my Lord Tiss Good gentle Madam if you please one word Draxilla runs out crying help and Tissaphernes after her The. I cannot see my Rival blest alone Must he reap all the sweets and I have none Tim. This outrage on my knees I beg forbear See Sir it is Timandra sheds a tear Tiss returns Her whom you vowd you lov'd with noble flame Oh do'nt by savage lust prophane that name If 't is the envy of your Rivals joy Remove remove th' offence some other way Save but my honour and my life destroy The. Such tenderness might cool anothers blood But I am too unhappy to be good Let vertue to dull Anchorites repair
his fate so grateful you esteem Let her be Pris'ner too but far from him He must not be so happy to have her For fetters would be blessings were she there Go see you execute our orders strait Tim. Thus we with smiles will entertain our fate My dearest Lord farewel let not a sigh Or tear proclaim we greive our parting 's nigh Were it to quit our happiness a pain Joy were not then a blessing but a chain No let us part as dying Martyrs do Who leave this life only to gain a new Greif equally ignoble were as vain Since we at least in Heav'n shall meet again Alci So from their Oracles the Deities Instruct the ignorant World in Misteries But part that word would make a Saint despair Obedience cannot be a vertue here If so ye Gods ye have such precepts giv'n That an example would confound your Heav'n You duties beyond your own omnipotence enjoyn Can you forsake your Heaven or I leave mine Till when thus King I 'm fix't beyond remove With all the Cements of an endless love Kill me thou yet shalt of thy ends despair My Soul shall wait upon her ev'ry where Nay I 'd not fly to Heav'n till she came there K. Shall I thus see my self out-â—rav'd away He is a Traytor that but seems to stay Alcibiades snatches a Sword from one of the Guards Alci Now I am arm'd death to that wretch that stirs K. Sir do you think to look us into fears Disarm him Guards or kill him They sight and disarm him Tiss Push home ye Dog Alci Sordid slaves Thus ev'ry Ass the helpless Lyon braves Adieu divinest of thy Sex adieu I never thought that I could part till now Now I deserve the worst fate has in store That in so brave a cause should do no more The Guards offer to lead him off Yet stay one look Thus does the needle steer To his lov'd North and fain would come more near When in the eager prospect of his joy He is by some rude artist snatch't away Farewel Tim. Farewel and if your memory E're trouble you with such a thing as I Let not a sigh come from you but beleive I 'd rather be forgot then you should grieve Alci Such worth shall in each Temple have a shrine What to regain her would I not resign But she 's too heav'nly to be longer mine Exeunt several ways Guarded and looking back â—t each other K. She 's gon but oh what mighty charms there lye Couch't in the narrow circle of an eye Had she but stay'd another minute here I had worn chains and been her Prisoner And still I fear my heart is not my own For if so bright when to a Dungeon gone How would she shine Triumphant on a Throne Exit Qu. So now or never must my love succeed Vainly weak King hast thou his doom decreed In this beginning of his fall th' ast shown But the imperfect figure of thy own Few hours remain 'twixt thee and destiny Till when grow dull in thy security Timandra's and thy death is one design Then if a Crown can tempt him he is mine Exit Act. V. Scene I. Tissaphernes Solus Tiss NOW like a Lyon on my prey I 'le feast Revenge thou solace to a troubled breast Could but Theramnes in Elizium know How would his Chost rejoyce at what I do Theramnes Ghost rises Gh. Oh no Tiss Death what is that I hear and see Begon dull Ghost if thou art damn'd what 's that to me Gh. From deepest horrour of eternal night Where Souls in everlasting torments groan Where howling fiends be chain'd and where 's no light But thickest darkness covers ev'ry one I come to warn thee mortal of thy sin Short time is here left for thee to remain 'T were fit that thy repentance soon begin For think what 't is to live in endless pain Farewel Descâ—nds Tiss 'T was an odd speech but be it so Pish Hell it self trembles at what I do And it 's â—ubmission better to express Sends this Embassadour to make it's peace Let idle fears the superstitions awe With me my resolution is a law Repentance now would be too late begun Ages can't expiate what I have done And if below for Souls such torments are Methinks there 's yet some brav'ry in despair The easie King looks little in his State His Crown is for his Head too great a weight But I will ease him and adorn this brow Thus to my aimes no limits I 'l allow Revenge Ambition all that 's ill shall be My bus'ness so I 'l baffle destiâ—ie Hell no I 'l act such things whilst here I have abode Till my own Trophyes raise me to a God Enter Queen Qu. Now such an Engine is it I would have I know he is a Traytor and is brave I 'l bait him with ambition that may move Then if complacent to my ends he prove In seeming to comply with his design I 'l make him but an instrument to mine For when success me to my wishes calls I 'l shake him off and then unpropt he falls My Lord Tiss Madam Qu. My Father lov'd you well I 've heard him oft of your achievements tell When in his Camp such gallant deeds you wroughe And always victory and triumph brought Tiss Madam your Father was all good and just Qu. Be could why may not I your honour trust Tiss You wrong it 〈◊〉 your Father lives in you As I was his I am your Champion too Though old against your Foes this Sword shall 〈◊〉 Your right name but your Traytor and he 's dead Qu. Nay Sir the Traytor 's not alone my Foe His injuries extended are to you To you to whom he owes all he enjoy Yet basely him that gave him growth destroys Whilst for his ills he would his kindness plead To heap your honours on your Rivals head Rally your Courage up if you are brave And at once mine and your own honour save Tiss Your Majesty would mean the King Dâ— ye try My resolution or my Loyalty Qu. Your Courage Sir is known your Loyalty If you have any you 'l find due to me Through me these honours you in Sparta bore And 't was my Father made you great before Now know it is the King whose perjurâ—d Soul Has done me injuries so base and foul That all that 's good will blush at his vowes past To me all in anothers love are lost Nay with my honour too my life must bleed He with the General 's has my fall decreed To take the fair Timandra to his bed Let 's go surprize him now he 's full of Wine Revenge me on his life his Crown is thine Tiss Madam indeed the injuries you feel Cry loud nor do I tamely see my ill But you must swear to me you will be true Qu. By all that 's holy I 'l be so to you Tiss I 'l do 't but Madam know I undertake To hazard life and honour for your sake
Was it for this my stratagems I lay'd To ruin her to be by her betray'd Curse on my narrow fate but yet to shew That I love murder too as well as you Thus perjur'd Queen offers to stab the Queen but is hinder'd by the Lords Qu. See how he 'd still pursue His Treason hence to justice with him go Hourly let on the Rack his pains encrease Till he the horrour of his guilt confess Tiss That shall not need I 'l own the deed as mine But glory in 't it was a brave design The King kill'd and I ruin'd to compleat Thy lust all by 〈◊〉 stratagem was great So great that for its sake I can with satisfaction yâ—ild my breath Else I should take no pleaâ—â—re in my death But e're I go be pleas'd to eâ—â—ertain The last kind precepts of a dying man Be bloody false revengful lustâ—â— That can be found recorded on Hells 〈◊〉 Embrace where-e're you rising vertue see Down with it and set up impietie Make that your theam leave nothing ill undone So copy Tissaphernes when he 's gon Who leaves this counsel as a Legacy 'T is my Religion and I 'l in it dye Exit Tiss guarded Qu. Hence with the wretch Mean while to my dead Lord I 'l sorrows pay And after his sigh my own life away So now they are gon hah who comes there Enter Ardella Ard. 'T is I. Q. Ardella on that thing cast back an eye 'T was once a King but thank these hands now none Nay start not Tissaphernes too is gon Ardella starts His treasures all are thine as a reward Ard. You are too kind Qu. See strait a draught prepar'd And Murderers Timandra next must fall You know our will let it be done Ard. It shall Exeunt severally SCENE a darkn'd Tent. Timandra asleep upon a Couch a Spirit comes and Sings Merli Come my Salla come away Thy Merli calls Salla within Whither Merli Hither w 'ave no bus'ness to day And where innocence sleeps we securely may play Salla I come Enters Merli So welcome my dear But first let 's disperse the black Clouds that are here Both. Round about this place we range And it 's gloomy darkness change To a bright delightful Grove A proper Scene for happy love The SCENE changes to Elizium Merli Next to divert this fair one all Our wing'd Companions we 'l call And the Ayr for musick charm Whilst they their measures here perform Both. Come all you bright forms that inhabit the Ayr And ease with your pleasures the cares of the fair Here frolick 〈◊〉 oh no longer delay But let each clap his wings and away Several Spirits of the ayr descend and Dance Salla Now let us discover the mansions of rest Where lovers with eternal joyes are blest A glorious Temple appears in the Ayr where the Spirits of the happy are seated See fair one see not long e're you To those glorious seats shall go Another Spi. The lustful Queen thirsts for your blood And you are for the World too good Merli Nor shall you come alone your lovers too Must meet a Fate the same with you Salla But here your troubles all shall cease 'T is the Seat of endless bliss Cho. Here in endless pleasures they Keep eternal Holyday Here they Revel Sport and are Crown'd with joys still new and rare Their pleasures too can never dye But like themselves have Immortality Merli See the kind Spirits smile and now They 'l bless her with a nearer view The whole body of the Temple moves downward Cho. Descend oh ye gloryes descend Who with blessings eternal are crown'd To this Nymph your kind influence lend Whilst all the Sphears with harmony resound Merli She wakes let the apparition go By th' damp upon my wings I know Something ill is drawing near Come Salla come away Oh come away my dear They all vanish and the SCENE changes again to the Tent. Tim. I 've had a dream might make a lover blest Oh th' sweet delights of everlasting rest Queen appears at the entrance How this the Queen what can her coming mean Qu. Ardella with the Ruffians here remain I 'l in and with soft words her temper try If without him she 'l live she shall not dye Madam to Timandra Tim. Your pleasure Qu. Oft' I 've heard y' are brave But the best proof of gallantry you gave When of your noble Lord you were bereft And such a bliss with so rare patience left Tim. Madam our flames a nobler passion rules Then fondness th' idle guilt of wav'ring fools Our loves knew a far higher excellence Then the half pleasures of a minutes sense Qu. Then you may love since you can with him part He has made a conquest o're my tender heart Love governs here and since my Husband 's dead Fate and my choicest wishes have decreed He should both in his love and throne succeed Tim. Do you believe Empires or Crowns can make Him his Timandra and his faith forsake Or think you I an Attome will resign Of that heart which by holy vows is mine No I will keep him maugre cruelty Qu. But Madam do you know what 't is to dye Tim. Yes 't is to lay these clogs our bodys by And be remov'd to blest eternity By death relief from all our griefs we gain And by one put an end to years of pain By that we in one minute find out more Then all the busie gown men study for Who after in dull search th 'ave ages spent Learn nothing but to know th' are ignorant Death is a blessing and a thing so far Above that worst of all our frailties fear It claims our joy since by it we put on The top of happiness perfection Quit him no never whilst I here have breath He 's mine in spight of cruelty or death Qu. Then enter ye grim Ministers of fate Enter Murderers with Poison Does not your stubborn courage now abate Tim. No my resolves more fixt and firm are grown Bring dreadfull'st racks and tortures yet unknown Provide one for each sense and then do thou Tempt me my love and int'rest to forgo Midst of my pains I 'l smile and tell thee no. Qu. But minion soon your insolence shall cease Come since such resolution you express Take this demur not do 't Gives her a bowl of poison Tim. And is this all I thought t' ave had a more Heroick fall Expected to have noblest tortures met Not by dull poison to have found my fate But any way I can thy pow'r defie 'T is for my Alcibiades I dye offers to drink Qu. Yet yeild and live Tim. Live what have I to do With life when giv'n by one so base as you Thus I despise it Drinks Qu. What dismal tortures strait will on her seize after Timandra has drank the Poison So 't was a health to Alcibiades Tim. Now blush at what thy impious rage has done My Alcibiades is still my own And if thou him embrace when I am