CIRCE A TRAGEDY As it is Acted AT HIS Royal Highness the Duke of YORK's THEATRE By CHARLES D'AVENANT L.L.D. Hor. Velut Aegri somnia vana Licensed June 18 1677 Roger L'Estrange LONDON Printed for Richard Tonson at his Shop under Grays-Inn-gate next Grays-Inn-lane MDCLXXVII THE PROLOGUE Written by Mr. Dryden WEre you but half so wise as you 're severe Our youthful Poet shou'd not need to fear To his green years your Censures you wou'd suit Not blast the Blossom but expect the Fruit. The Sex that best does pleasure understand Will always chuse to err on t'other hand They check not him that 's Aukward in delight But clap the young Rogues Cheek and set him right Thus heartn'd well and flesh't upon his Prey The youth may prove a man another day For your own sakes instruct him when he 's out You 'l find him mend his work at every bout When some young lusty Thief is passing by How many of your tender Kind will cry A proper Fellow pity he shou'd dye He might be sav'd and thank us for our pains There 's such a stock of Love within his Veins These Arguments the Women may perswade But move not you the Brothers of the Trade Who scattering your Infection through the Pit With aking hearts and empty Purses sit To take your dear Five Shillings worth of Wit The praise you give him in your kindest mood Comes dribling from you just like drops of blood And then you clap so civilly for fear The loudness might offend your Neighbours ear That we suspect your Gloves are lin'd within For silence sake and Cotten'd next the skin From these Vsurpers we appeal to you The only knowing only judging few You who in private have this Play allow'd Ought to maintain your Suffrage to the Crowd The Captive once submitted to your Bands You shou'd protect from Death by Vulgar hands The Persons Thoas King of Scythia Ithacus Circe's Son by Ulysses Orestes A Prince of Argos Pylades His Friend Pluto Priests Spirits Circe Queen of Scythia Osmida Daughter to Thoas by a former Queen Iphigenia Priestess to Diana Taurica Clytemnestra's Ghost Four Nymphs used by Circe in her Charms SCENE Taurica Chersonesus CIRCE ACT I. Scene Circe's Cave Thoas Iphigenia Guards and Attendants Iph. THIS sure is the sad region of dispair Where after Death the guilty Souls repair Here is no promise of a blooming Spring No chearful light awakes the Birds to Sing The blasted Trees no leaves or blossoms yield On their bare tops Owles pearch and Ravens build Tho. Those Spirits gladly in these shades obey Who sicken at the view of brighter day In this dark place shut up from mortal sight My Queen converses with the God of Night Prepares her Poysons mutters holy Words Herbs for her Charms th' unwholsome soile affords Here she has promised from their dark abodes By her strong Art to raise th' infernal Gods And to inquire our fate Iph. Can Heaven decree That any lucky Star should smile on me How long a Captive must I here remain How long my hands with horrid murders stain A Goddess who in humane blood delights Ordains me to perform her impious rights Ye Pow'rs that rule the World shall I no more My Country see nor houshold Gods adore Tho. Oh Iphigenia when those Prayers you make When you beg leave this Region to forsake So softly speak that none but Heaven may hear With the harsh Words wound not a Lovers ear For freedom cruel Maid in vain you sue The Pow'rs above will be as deaf as you Alas what pity can you hope to meet Who let poor Lovers languish at your feet Who can behold with unrelenting Eyes A wretched King who for your Beauty dies Iph. Where are your Oaths how often have you sworn Your guilty passion should in secret burn Angerly Must I by death your persecutions fly I am not so confin'd but I can die Scene Second Enter Ithacus Ith. E're we invoke the Gods I hither come From Iphigenia's mouth to know my doom From you my life or death I humbly wait 'T is you and not the Gods that rule my fate The chase of Glory I no more pursue Forgetting Armes I languish here for you Love may incite the Young to hunt for fame But Beauty then must the reward prolame I ask but Hope it is a slender fare But the Camelion-Love can live on Air. Iph. Like some mistaken Zealot you apply True Worship to the wrong Divinity Adore the fair Osmida far more bright And beautiful than first created light More Innocent than Beauty was before It studied Wit or costly Dresses wore Her Mind is Noble and her Greatness free Her Soul like Heaven full of blest Harmony Unless unquiet Love some discord moves Which you must pardon since 't is you she loves Of all those Graces prodigal to you For which in vain the rest of Mankind sue Tho. If we by Policy could govern Love My Daughter's Sighs this Noble Prince might move Since he for suddain exile must prepare Or marrying her be made the Empires Heir Loudly the People for this Union call And their Rebellious fury threatens all But I the Magick of your Beauty know Too well to blame what Love compel's him to Ith. Before I saw your Daughter I had paid My Loves first Tribute to this charming Maid And then the Empire vainly did enjoine That I should give a Heart which was not mine Iph. I 'le hear no more it is too great a fault But to endure your Criminals assault In Vertu 's Combats they that keep the Field Almost as guilty are as they that yield Vertue by flight secures it self Is going Ith. O stay To my dark Hopes will you afford no day Promise at least you will bestow your Love As you 'r directed by the Pow'rs above Iph. What they command I never shall decline To Heav'n my will and person I resign Scene Third To them Osmida Osm I have my Sexes Passions want their Art For by my Eyes still I betray my Heart Thither to gaze on him my Soul does haste And in kind looks I all my Spirits waste Iph. Behold the fair Osmida now appears Her beauteous Eyes are full of Love and Tears Tho. Poor Virgin my commands at first did make To Osm Those Wounds thou didst but in obedience take Osm You bade me all those modest fears remove Which guard at first a Virgins Heart from Love Admire not if I yielded to his Charmes When you had taken from me all my Arms But Ithacus since you my Love despise I with a just disdain will arm my Eyes And in my Breast I shall retain no fire But what my Anger and Revenge inspire Ith. Madam oppress not thus my sinking Fate I bear already a too heavy weight Ah rather an unhappy wretch deplore Who dies because he cannot love you more My Heart 's a Prisoner if it Freedom gains It shall but be to wear Osmida's Chains Osm That Iphigenia's Empire would but be
As short as thou wilt find my hate of thee Like a kind Parent I forgive and take Any submission he is pleas'd to make Scene Fourth Enter Circe with four Women Circ Reproach to thy Great Father and to me To Ithacus The wise Vlysses does not live in thee Would he to Love have sacrific'd a Throne Ah Son this weakness or thy Race disown Ith. Blame not my Passion Madam Love and hate Are less at Mans disposal than his Fate Cir. But let this Monarch your Example prove Pointing to Tho. He knows by int'rest how to govern Love To me he gave his Hand with treacherous art When Iphigenia did possess his Heart Ungrateful King Love on but know I bear The Thunder that can punish you and her Iph. His Passion I with grief and trouble see You cannot suffer more by Jealousie Cir. Curs'd be her Eyes curs'd be that fatal day When she at Aulis on the Altar lay To Iph. Why did the cruel Gods prevent thy fall Those Gods which for thy death before did call No Victim great Diana could appease The Warriour's languish'd in ignoble ease No Ship could spread her Sails for every wind Offended Heaven did in deep Caverns bind Troy's Genius smil'd to see the Fates oppose The Sea and Wind against her pow'rful Foes Then Calcas cry'd here we must ever lie Unless the Princess Iphigenia die The Gods require her blood Calchas is sent To fetch the Virgin from in the Royal Tent. From her sad Moth'rs bosome she is caught And by her Father to the Altar brought Calchas prepar'd to give the fatal wound When from above was heard a heavenly sound It was Diana's voice who from a Cloud Pronounc'd this Sentence to the wondring crowd Your Princess shall not on my Altar bleed She is for Holy Mysteries decreed To Taurica I will the Virgin bear Through the unbeaten Region of the Air. Now thou art come our Empires peace is lost My vast designs for greatness all are cross'd Iph. Calchas how dull and lazy was thy zeal Would I had perish't by the Sacred Steel Would I had dy'd at Aulis in this place I pass a Life unworthy of my Race My hands are ever stain'd in humane blood And arm'd against the innocent and good Circ Your hands do far less mischief than your eyes For which that poor ignoble Rebel dies Pointing to Itha. You Ithacus have by this Passion stain'd All the Renown which you in Arms had gain'd Give a great Victim to your Countries good And save vast Torrent of the Scythian blood Osm Urge him no more since 't is his happiness I wish he ev'n my Rival may possess And may she love the Prince as well as I. I know my remedy must be to die With thee no Rebel will dispute the Throne None will constrain thy heart when I am gone Ith. My Constancy a barren Heart has till'd Which to my labouring Hopes no fruit will yield And I refuse a passion kinder far Than that which Deities to Mortals bear Not Iphigenia can more charming be Tho' partial Love makes her seem so to me Looking on Osmid I 'le look my self into your softer pow'r And now methinks I only you adore Rebel my injur'd Heart and nobly rise Against those Tyrants Iphigenia's Eyes Each thought does represent her now less â—air And all conspires I should your Fetters wear Osm Oh weak Resolves that angry Lovers make Which they are led insensibly to break Safe in thy Hearts strong Fortress Love remains And smiles to see thee struggle with thy Chains One look your Resolutions will defeat And make you sigh for pardon at her feet Ith. Your every Grace my fainting senses arms Against the Force of all her powerful Charms I can look on and yet her Charms despise Looks on Iphigenia And thus provoke the Magick of her Eyes Now to regain my freedom I begin Osm How fast he sucks the subtle poyson in Ith. Thus I her Image from my Bosome tear And hate her now yet she is wond'rous fair Osm Too well this language of the Eyes I know Each look an extasie of Love does show Ith. By Heav'ns when this brave Onset I would make My Heart grows faint and all my sinews shake Revenge and anger which should succour me Like Cowards fly when I her Beauty see And now I melt into more tenderness Than Artless Maids in their first Loves express Osm Poor Prince I will not blame but pity thee Thou art irreparably lost like me With some soft pleasure we 'll delude the care And torment which we suffer by dispair I will with Tears deplore your misery And you with gentle sighs shall pity me Ith. I have one torment Madam more than you I must dispair and be ungrateful too Circ By Force and Art I had a Scepter won Of which these Rebels will deprive my Son They all refuse that he a Crown should wear Which with Osmida he denies to share Thus Love does humane Policy despise And laughs at all the Councels of the Wise Ith. To pardon Criminals and bless them too Only belongs to Deities and you To Circe You must do both from you we hope a Cure For all those Ills which we from Love endure The Gods some secret Remedy may find To cure the Wounds of each afflicted mind Raise the infernal Pow'rs by your strong Charms Cir. To your Requests I will indulgent prove But Heav'n it self has little pow'r o're Love Osm I from the Gods only to death pretend 'T is in that point my Miseries must end Cir. You must retire these Sacred Mysteries With Reverence we conceale from common Eyes Tho. My Soul is with some mighty Fate opprest My Heart does pant and strugle in my Breast I feel I know not what that sayes I am For one that Loves and is a King too tame How weakly Reason too resists desire And like small Show'rs does but augment the Fire Ex. all but Circe and her Women The Scene opens to the inward part of the Cave The Infernal Priests Enter Sung by Circe's Women at the Infernal Sacrifice Priests joyn in the Chorus WE must assemble by a Sacrifice Those Demons who do range about the Skies Their necessary aid you use Those poysonous Herbs and Roots to chuse Which mingled and prepar'd by your strong Art Do to your Charms their chiefest Force impart Your Censors to the Altar take And with Arabian Gums sweet Odours make The Air with Musick gently wound Sweet smells they love and every pleasing sound Cir. The stragling Demons Harmony can fix Calls home the Sences of the Lunaticks And which is most in Temples does prepare And can assemble Man's wild thoughts to Prayer They all walk up to the Altar Priests Sing I. COme every Demon who o'resees The Fates of mighty Monarchies And orders how they rise and set All you who Love and Lust inspire And kindle wild Ambition's Fire The dang'rous Sickness of the Great Chor. Circe the Daughter of the Sun obey Or in
his guilded Beams you ne're shall play II. You who hatch Factions in the Court Sedition in the meaner sort Amongst the Pious holy Strife Tumults in Camps in Senates too Those discords which the good undoe All all that wait on humane life Chor. Circe the Daughter of the Sun obey Or in his guilded Beams you ne're shall play Enter four Spirits Cir. Bring me the juice of every Plant Which grows in those infectious Shades Where Nature hid corrupts or fades Of all that temperate heat or moisture want Bring me the lustful Motacilla's blood And Vervain against Thunder good The juice of baneful Aconite The black and melancholy qualities of these By sympathy the God of Darkness please Whom I must raise up to his hated light Exit one of the Spirits Sung by one of Circe's Women alone LOvers who to their first Embraces go Are slow and languishing compar'd to you In speed you can outdo the winged Wind And leave even Thought creeping and tir'd behind A Spirit rises and layes a Jarre at Circe's feet Sung by Circes Women BEhold quick as thy thought Th' Ingredients of thy Spells are brought By which thy dismal Bus'ness must be wrought Great Minister of Fate In this deep Cave you sit in State Famine and Pestilence about you wait At your dread Word they fly through every Land Whilst their fierce undiscerning rage Does pity neither Sex nor Age. Death is as blind as Love at your command Chorus Each Plant and Herb have all their poyson sent On what new mischief is your Magick bent Cir. Whil'st on the Earth this Juice I pour To the Magicians And that the Priests their solemn Anthem sing Do you tread on this holy flour Those mystick Figures sacred to th' Infernal King Magicians dance A Priest sings alone PLuto arise From those blest shades where Kings and Lovers are Where those no torment have from State and Care And these feel not the torment of Despair The Second Part of the Dance PLuto arise From thy blest Kingdom of Equality Where Birth Wealth Beauty have no tyranny Where all Mankind are fellow-slaves to thee Scene Fifth The Earth opens Pluto arises in a Chariot drawn by Black Horses Circe Pluto Priests Spirits Plut. Why do you call me from Eternal night Unwilling to the world 's more guilty might Cir. I do conjure thee by her conqu'ring Eyes Which even had pow'r to make a God their prize Pity those Lovers who indure more pain Than all the Damn'd thy Empire does contain Vouchsafe in Fates mysterious Books to read What for my Son and Husband is decreed Plu. 'T is destin'd by a pow'r which Gods obey That both should meet a cruel fate this day Cir. Each word has been a thousand deaths to me Ah take my Soul to the dark Shades with thee Plu. Great Circe weep no more Love shakes his Dart The lawful terrour of each noble heart And cries aloud what Deity can dare Proscribe those slaves who my blest fetters wear I 'le punish all by fatal Stix he swears And this he spoke with Frowns but more with Tears The Gods like fearful Senates all debate And their harsh Sentence strive to moderate Cir. Just Heaven Plu. Love from the Gods at last obtain'd That by one means their safety may be gain'd This day two Noble Youths from Argos come Who travel hither by Apollo's doom Let one according to your Empires law Be offer'd to Diana Taurica If one of these a Sacrifice be made They may the Sentence of the Gods evade Whom your fair Priestess chooses let him fall A bloody Victim to attone for all I can no more indure this hated light She waves her Wand and he descends Restore me to the peaceful arms of night Cir. This to the King and to my Son relate To the Priests Do you th' arrival of these Strangers wait To the Spirits And so contrive that by some pow'rful Charms They be depriv'd of all defensive arms Ex. Priests and Spirits With anger and revenge I 've play'd too long Now it is time that I resent my wrong Perfidious King I have resolv'd thy Fate Thy Iphigenia too shall share my hate Sullen and dark the Planets all appear As if some dismal Fate were hatching there Some mighty ill is threatned to us all Witness you Gods I do not fear to fall But I 'le not die alone At Death I 'de smile were all the world to be my Funeral Pile Exit ACT II. Scene the Grecian Fleet. Orestes Pylades Ores THIS is that happy place my generous Friend Where 't is declar'd my Miseries shall end Those miseries which had batter'd down this Fort But that their shock you help me to support I do in our harmonious friendship find Musick to charm the frenzie of my Mind Py. Useless is all my friendly art and care What I would heal is fester'd by despair Within your self a solemn Court you call And at each hour by your own Sentence fall Condemning an unhappy Paricide Whom all the world would have absolv'd beside No more in these dark Clouds of grief appear Orst 'T is Pylades the shape which Guilt should wear A Mothers name should have had power to charme With sacred Reverence my guilty Arm Ah! though she did my Royal Father kill And stain his Bed she was my Mother still I should have left her to the Pow'rs Divine Justice was Heaven's Prerogative not mine Py. Heav'ns distant power ill men but little fear Who must be kept in awe by what is near They impudently sin because they know The Good to Heav'ns slow Court of Justice go And Judgments are so long in coming thence That guilt may Weary praying Innocence Think not the Gods like lazy Monarchs give To their bold Subjects their Prerogative Heav'n had it thought that great revenge its due Would ne're have let it been usurp'd by you Orest This Region is that famous Temples seat Where men with humane blood their Goddess treat To end my griefs it is perhaps decreed That on Diana's Altar I should bleed My Pylades this dismal place forsake You may perhaps the Second Victim make Ah flie this morning Sacrifice declares That Scythia's bloody Zeal no Stranger spares Py. Ah my dear friend Pylades sighs Orest What does your sorrow mean Py. Would I had ne're the fatal Temple seen They had perform'd the holy Rites before Your thoughtful steps had reach'd the Temple Door A lovely Youth did at the Altar bow Garlands and manly Grace adorn'd his Brow When a bright Virgin with a solemn pace All drown'd in tears approach'd the holy place How beautious was her Grief the dress she wore Declar'd that she the bloody office bore She took the crooked Knife and gave the wound The murder'd Victim panted on the ground Whilst I did something in my Bosom feel That wounded deeper than the sacred Steel Orest Defend your Heart that must not be a Prize To any but your Iphigenia's Eyes The Oracle at Delphos did declare I
should recover that lost Sister here Heav'n has pronounc'd that she must be your Bride Fate has the sacred Knot already ty'd Py. No no my heart is from my Bosom flown And I am false to you and friendship grown Our Eyes at last to perfect my defeat With trembling pleasure and confusion meet Her lovely paleness hasty blushes dy'd And she with haste those blushes strove to hide But suddain grief benighted soon her Eyes I trembled to behold the Tempest rise She wept and pointed to the Temple Door She shew'd her hands all stain'd with humane Gore As if she meant I should that Temple flie At whose sad Altar wretched Strangers die Orest I that last action saw and did advance To wake your senses from so deep a Trance I saw the Priestess and her fatal view Did Clytemnestra to my mind renew I did with wonder in her lovely Face The well known features of my Mother trace I then reflected on my former guilt And on the Blood my impious rage had spilt Py. In peace your Mother in her Urn does rest A horrid Musick in the Air. Let not her memory disturb your Breast Sung by Furies I. THis impious Breast you Furies fill With all that Hell of horror does contain Gnaw Gnaw his Heart you Scorpions still But from himself he feels the sharpest pain But from himself he feels the sharpest pain II. For any other humane Crime Tears and Repentance may Oblations be But nothing shall atone for him The damn'd may sooner pardon find than he The damn'd may sooner pardon find than he Orest Hark Pylades me every Fiend of Hell With my black Paricide reproaches still See the Adulterer Aegisthus there And my unhappy Mother's forms appear Pyl. I fear his mind inflam'd by active Thought Is to its former Rage and Fever wrought Orest Oh can there be no expiation made What have I offer'd to appease thy shade Mother and piteous Heaven forget my crime Or you 'le more cruel than Orestes seem Tie up your Scorpions you Eumenides Whom I 'le with bloud of pregnant Ewes appease Pyl. You entertain your self with shapeless Air Nor have you any guilt but this Despair Ores Bankrupt is man unless kind Heav'n will take Repentance all the payment we can make The Heav'ns open Iris appears on the Rainbow and sings SONG I. CEase valiant Hero cease to grieve The Gods thy Pray'rs and Penitence receive You cannot sin so fast as they forgive II. All the attempts of Hell are vain O're that and grief you shall the conquest gain A Pardon your unwilling Crimes obtain III. You Spirits made of Air refin'd With pleasing objects cheer his clouded mind No footsteps leave of former guilt behind A Dance of the Winds Ores My thoughts are become calm and quiet now As first they were e're I to guilt did bow Pyl. Try by soft slumbers to delude your care What pleasant sounds are these which bless the air A pleasant Symphony They sweeter to my ravish't Sense appear Than yielding Whispers to a Lovers ear Orestes and Pylades seat themselves on a Rock Syrens rise out of the Sea and sing SONG I. AH how happy are we Who from bus'ness that graver folly are free Let us Love though the sober should blame us A curse on the Wise They need not advise Age makes too much haste to reclaim us II. Let us carelesly move In the riots of Wit and follies of Love Our age does to pleasure invite us But when we are old And our Blood growes cold Not Art nor Fifteen can incite us Syrens descend and leave them asleep as inchanted Scene Second Enter Circe Spirits appear Cir. You have outdone my wish but to your care One thing remains then you are free as Air. The King grows wicked and does now begin But faintly to resist th' invading sin Assist his tottering Vertue to o'rethrow He must with greater haste be wicked now Bait your temptations with all cunning Arts Which Lust insinuates when it poysons Hearts Our Priestess he must ravish that black crime Serves my designs to ruine her and him One stain'd with Lust my Son must needs despise Then he may yield to fair Osmida's Eyes Spir. Such poyson to his Vertue shall be given That it shall ev'n be past the Cure of Heaven Cir. Diana We have now thy Victim here Looking on the Strangers How goodly and Majestick they appear Two Godheads in that Face their Revels keep The God of Love and peaceful God of Sleep Both in their gayest Robes He 's manly as the Worlds first Hero's were E're Nature was debauch'd by vice or care His Eyes shut up a kindly Spring appear Foretelling pleasures in the opening year Oh how I burn he must have conquering eyes Who in neglectful sleep can thus surprize Ye Gods If in this warlike shape I find A daring courage and an active mind One that had rather Mighty be than Just He may supply my Anger and my Lust I 'm of my Pageant Monarch weary grown He fils my Bed as idly as the Throne Scene Third Enter Thoas Iphigenia Guards who bind and disarm the Strangers My dearest Lord behold the Strangers here Seeing the King Inchanted lie and we no more shall fear It seems that they unseen amongst the crowd This day with us to great Diana bow'd Since from the Temple they are hither brought And in the Fetters of my Magick caught Iph. As I this day the holy Rites perform'd A Youth with strange success my bosom storm'd His Image busie in my Heart I feel Guard him you Angels from their cruel zeal Tho. These Strangers like dark clouds hang o're our Fate Which to be safe we now must dissipate Circe we must resolve that one of these Shall by his fall the angry Gods appease Iph. I 'll see no more let Death benight my Eye Seeing Pyl. bound There there the Noble Youth inchanted lies Why would he in this fatal Country stay My tears and sighs did bid him haste away Wake wake unhappy Strangers who are lost On this unhospitable cruel Coast You must no more your freedom hope to have Than they who are Deaths prisoners in the Grave Still one of those who touch our barbarous shore We offer to the Goddess we adore Ores Surpris'd and bound come to the Altar lead You do but what Heavens justice has decreed Tho. I 'm forc'd by Custom that unwritten Law By which the People keep even Kings in awe To give this doom for which you calmly wait To dy's the easiest action of the Great Pyl. Thy Scepter Prince extends not to this place The shore is common to all humane Race We 're Princes too above all Laws but those Which Heav'n and Nature's silent Pow'rs impose Tho. 'T is by her Laws you are my Captives now For Natures Laws do all to force allow Cir. Kings must not argue what is right or wrong Such little Scruples to the Gown belong Tho. This beauteous Maid is Mistress of your Fate From her
fair Mouth each must his Sentence wait One for the Sacrifice she must decree The Rites perform'd we set the other free Pyl. If Death does in so fair a form appear No Mortal sure can its approaches fear I thought that Death could only beauteous shew In active Battails in its Scarlet hue With eager toiles I oft have sought it there But find it glorious now to beg it here Iph. Sir can you die does not even Vertue dread To reach the doubtful Mansions of the Dead Pyl. Danger and Death in Camps I learn'd to court In Camps where Death's rough bus'ness is a sport Save my brave Friend me for the Victim take Whom growing worth does not so useful make Iph. But whil'st you plead for him I blush to say Your Vertue leads my choice another way With more success you for your self might sue Since my own Heart would joyn to plead for you Pyl. That trifle Life I stoop not to desire Th' ambition of my Pray'rs will mount up higher Iph Ask ask apace so fast I lavish all I shall have nothing to be liberal Cir. No no let them the first advances make Looking on Orest And give kind looks whom Love and Youth forsake If I speak first may I become the sport Of all and like stale Beauties of the Court Be forc'd unwilling Lovers to invite Woo all young handsome Men and buy delight Pyl. Madam I beg that I to Death may go But I would faine expire belov'd of you For Indian-like I to the Shades below Would with the richest of my Treasures go Iph. The Airy part of Bliss you humbly crave When all its richest substance you may have You may ask all my heart does give so fast I fear 't will give it self away at last Pyl. Ah speak agen and bless my ravish't Ears Iph. I blush to own That you are here so soon victorious grown But Heav'n methoughts bade me receive the Dart And told me 't was a Crime to guard my Heart When in the Temple you to day appear'd You saw how kindly I your safety fear'd And bade you flie but you shall never feel The sad effects of our tyrannick Zeal Against their rage I will your Life defend And grieve I cannot save your Noble Friend Pyl. Arm arm your Eyes with all that Lovers fear Let me see Fierceness Scorn and Hatred there Love and your Beauty make Life seem so sweet That I shall fear Death's horrid shape to meet You 'l make me fear him even in the Field Where he does lasting Fame and Lawrels yield Cir. Beauty did first teach Mankind to obey Whil'st he that soft Inchanter did survey Looking on Orestes The Nets of Pow'r surpris'd the wond'ring Prey Sir though by Custom I am cruel grown To Orestes For you I something soft and tender own Brave Stranger it would much my pity move Should all the hopes of you abortive prove And perish now whil'st yet they 'r in Fates Womb Before they can to their just ripeness come Ores Madam should I your pity need 't would be If for the Victim she refuses me Weary of Life Death's sleep I long to take And shall be froward whil'st I 'm kept awake Cir. You with the Sweets of Youth contend to die From which even Age would on its crutches flie Love only Love has Charmes enow to keep The Soul from coveting that tedious sleep Ores Love has been still a stranger to my Brest Glory and Arms have all my thoughts possest Fame I have courted as the only good And waded to her through vast Seas of Blood But of the World I now am weary grown And in Death's quiet Cell would lay me down Tho. The bloody Queen does in this Stranger find Observing Circe Something that troubles her imperious mind Of all its fierceness she disarms her Face She languishes and softens every Grace Cir. They may the Pow'r of all the World despise To Orest That bear about 'em such commanding Eyes All that have Hearts in your defence will move Under the conduct of victorious Love I speak too much and fear my Eyes declare Much more Heroick Youth you need not fear This tenderness I must with blushes own My very Heart is your Defender grown And you are safe unless the Scythians dare Assault a Life their Queen designs to spare Enter Ithacus Oh! I have talk'd and look'd away my Heart Aside His careless Graces vanquish more than Art Ith. Princes be just enough to think I grieve That I can only fruitless pity give Though to this Crown Heav'n has united me I 've no alliance with its cruelty Tho. Haste to the Temple where the people wait In greedy expectation of their Fate Death's solemn bus'ness they with pleasure see As if 't were but a Pageant Tragedie Cir. The fatal choice depends on the rough King Whom I with Art must to my Party bring Iph. 'T were better Scythia did no Godhead know Than by its ignorance profane it so Me thinks Religion's Sacred Mysteries Should never be expos'd but to the Wise Ex. all but Circe and Thoas Scene Fourth Circe Thoas Cir. Some great Design is labouring in my mind Which is not to proportion yet refin'd One of these Strangers the blest means shall be To make my Son regain his Liberty Tho. Effect that happy Cure that Scythia may To your great Art eternal homage pay Circ You shall know all when that to form is brought Which yet is indigested in my thought Observ'd you him who with a thoughtful brow Appear'd beneath some heavy Fate to bow His Eyes seem'd Sorrows high-Majestick Seat Where it appears both terrible and great Tho. How she describes him with a warm delight Aside And in her thoughts enjoyes him in my sight Cir. Your strict commands to Iphigenia give That she should let that Noble Stranger live His Life will much to my Designs conduce She for the Sacrifice his Friend must chuse Tho. Methinks a secret sympathy I find By which I 'm rather to that Friend inclin'd His open mind is apter to receive Any impression your Designs would give Save him an unsuspecting mind he bears Th' other untractable and rough appears Cir. We like experienc'd States-men disagree And each has Reason for his Policie I many great and pow'rful Reasons have To chuse that Stranger I would have you save Tho. You act by odd and secret means like Heav'n To which a blind obedience must be given I will resign our Fortunes to your care And Iphigenia for the choice prepare Cir. It will a height'ning to my pleasures be That my own Husband should procure for me Now let me hasten to prepare the place Where I my beauteous Stranger must embrace I hope he 's innocent unpractic'd yet In all the wicked and false Arts of Wit Bashfull and kind I love to tame the Strong Mock the Experienc'd and instruct the Young Exit Thoas alone Tho. Yes lustful Queen my Pow'r shall rescue him By Heav'n I 'm made the Pander to her
crime How insolent and careless is her Pride She will not stoop her black Designs to hide In all her Crimes she would be something kind Did she with care the jealous Husband blind In the Election Iphigenia's hand Obeys with humble Duty my command Stranger thou diest it is the fate of all Who in the Fetters of her Beauty fall Exit ACT III. Scene the Temple of Diana Taurica Iphigenia Osmida Iph. WHat danger should not helpless Virgins fear From Lust which is by Pow'r protected here Your Father weary of all Vertue grown Does now aloud his guilty passion own The Tempest of his Soul does hou'rly rise He threatens Rapes and Murder with his Eyes I am a wretched Thing without defence And flie to you the Heav'n of Innocence Your Arms are persecuted Vertues guard You love th' opprest and Chastity reward Here I will ever weep my Honour save Embracing Osmida Let me at least go spotless to the Grave Osm My dearest Ithigenia do not weep Under my Wings you shall securely sleep Tho' like your conqu'ring Eyes your Vertue be Unhappy Virgin fatal still to me Since they do both with so rich lustre shine That they eclipse the fainter light of mine Scene Second Enter Ithacus Approach my Tyrant none does love like me A Rivals fall others with triumph see But I with tenderness for mine can fear And against all in her defence appear Against the oppression of my Father too Who would the ruine of her Fame pursue Iph. How peaceful was this place how calm you were Till Iphigenia's sad arrival here Death quickly shall benight these fatal Eyes Th' unhappy Authors of your Miseries Ith. Rather than entertain his Love expire It were a Crime your safety to desire In this long Journey I the way will lead And trace you out the path which you must tread A full reward for all my pains I have If we' are at last united in the Grave Osm Ah cruel Ithacus ' twoul'd grieve me less Should you such kindness with your Eyes express Enough one look or glance in Love can plead Too well your Heart she in your Eyes may read But whil'st by words your passion you declare You wound my Soul too deeply through my Ear. What Magick can you in her Beauty see Rather to dye with her than live with me Weeping Iph. He must not die but here a Pris'ner stay Till he a mighty debt of Love does pay Osm Alas his Heart must now a Bankrupt be For he has lavish't all that wealth on thee And nothing nothing does remain for me Distress'd alike we all to Death will go We shall not in Death's blest Dominions know The cares which mortal Lovers feel below Iph. Thy cruel Heart cannot such goodness move Go for a Pardon kneel repent and love You Pow'rs that cherish Vertue and prepare Those dreadful Thunders which the wicked fear Can you be never weary to forgive Shall this ungrateful Prince for ever live Osm Now I must chide thy zeal that dares to move In so profane a rage against my Love I can forgive him let us charm our grief And for our miseries seek some relief With tender joy the King will hear me speak I 'le shew him the black crime without disguise Kings are but bad because few dare advise A martial Musick Iph. We have new griefs the Martial sounds we hear Declare the sad Procession to be near Osm But common blood had yet our Altar fed Which was like that of Beasts unpitied shed But these brave Youths seem rather Deities That might expect not be a Sacrifice Iph. The sad election is already made Where I the King or rather Love obey'd Aside The Priests the Captive Strangers and the King Into the Temples holiest part we bring I made my choice and bade the Pophae bind That Youth whom for Victim I design'd We swore our Temples Laws should be fulfill'd And the Great Victim at the Altar kill'd Osm But did the Grecians with firm Vertue wait The unjust stroke of their approaching Fate Iph. All that the Strangers did was great and brave Each begg'd to die and would the other save My Sentence pass'd just as I crown'd the Head Of him who to the Altar must be lead Cold trembling ceas'd me and did stop my breath All appear'd gloomy as the Shades of Death And in this Trance me thoughts a Sacred Voyce With dreadful words seem'd to upbraid my choice My Fathers reverend Ghost did then appear All stain'd with Blood whil'st I dissolv'd with fear It cry'd aloud mourn Iphigenia mourn Thou hast disturb'd my Ashes in their Urne Unhappy Maid thou art about a Deed At which the Earth will groan and Nature bleed This said the angry Form dissolv'd to Air I fear our Stars some dismal fate prepare Osm I 'le from this dismal Scene retire and pray In some close Shade weeping our sins away Ex. Osm Scene Fourth Enter Circe Cir. Death and confusion I am lost betray'd For ever lost where is this cruel Maid Enter four Spirits Perfidious King my careless Spirits appear More than ten thousand Hells my anger fear Weep Iphigenia 't is a mighty cause That from these Eyes such Streams of Sorrow draws Iph. Ah speak what have I done that I must pay So many Tears to wash the guilt away Cir. Lust Zeal Ambition never did incline The blackest Monster to a Crime like thine Ah Iphigenia what did guide thy hand To make that fatal choice the Kings command Iph. In the election I the King obey'd Cir. Curse on my Folly we are both betray'd Know then Orestes Agamemnon's Son Who rang'd about the World himself to shun That Noble Relick of thy glorious Race Is by the Priests conducted to this place Crown'd and prepar'd to die condemn'd by thee Iph. My Brother Heavens Cir. The wretched Victim see The Scene opens to the inward part of the Temple Orestes is discovered crown'd as to the Sacrifice with him Diana's Priests bearing her Images Pylades Guards and Attendants Weep till thy sorrows drown the World and me Iph. Arise arise you vapours of the Night Hide me alas I dread that fatal sight Ores My Iphigenia in thy breast receive Embracing That joyful Soul which will my bosome leave Iph. Dear Brother haste from Death and me escape Fly your ill Genius in a Sisters shape Ores Ah let me now expire since I have seen Her for whose sake I have a Stranger been To Greece and happy rest me thinks 't is sweet Though we doe here in Death's sad Region meet Iph. Why did I beg of Heav'n to see this hou'r Oh! that you had been shipwrack't on our shore You have escap'd the dangers of the Sea It 's Rocks and stormes to perish here by me Ores Weep not for me for I deserve no tears I have out-liv'd my vertue many years 'T is time that I should dye your sorrow keep For those whose fall 't is Piety to weep Thank every God that in this distant place You saw
not the misfortunes of our race In Death's cold armes our Royal parents lye Iph. Of this confus'd reports did hither flye And to their sacred shades a Tomb I made Where the Oblations to the dead I pay'd We must defraud past miseries to pay The tribute which we owe the present day For my dead Parents I can weep no more Brother I must my present loss deplore Ores Do not the dying with such sorrow treat For fear the World believe that Life is sweet Iph. Cities are form'd for Peace and civil Rule Nature in Deserts keeps a gentler School No impious Beast preys there on his own kind Tygers the Tygers spare my rage is blind All things but I her sacred Laws obey On my own blood my hungry rage does prey My hand will soon be arm'd against your life Th' officious Priests prepare the fatal Knife Ores Let them come on but e're to death I go The Will of dying Agamemnon know Behold that Prince Pointing to Pylades Iph. Still be those Eyes acurst 'T was there alas my Virtu's shipwrack't first My better Genius never ceas'd to sue A thousand other things did plead for you But from those Eyes Love shot a poyson'd Dart All that was good fled my infected heart Nature did plead no more or Love was there So loud I could no other Suppliant hear I lov'd your Friend Ores Blest be the Pow'rs above Blest be your choice and ever blest be Love Blind as he is he did most wisely guide Give me your hand receive your gentle Bride First to Iph. then to Pyla These Nuptials Agamemnon still design'd And that last bus'ness to my care injoyn'd Iph. Ay me you Gods Ores For ever happy be My Empire Pylades I leave to thee Blest be thy Councels at thy Palace Gate May Victory with all her Trophies wait Cir. Think not of Death all Nature first shall die And in her primitive confusion lie Scene Sixth Enter Thoas and Ithacus Tho. You must not Iphigenia weep alone I from the Priests have your sad story known Let us unite our grief unhappy Maid By me and Heav'n to a black crime betray'd Cir. You cheaply to these Strangers pity give Whom you by solid bounties should relieve My Lord what led you to this dire mistake Is this alas the choice I bade you make Tho. His sentence now is past and he must dye That other Strangers may your use supply Pointing to Pyl. Cir. Alas he cannot Tho. Gods dare you proclaim To me and all the World your guilty flame Thou lov'st him Queen This beauteous stranger must Serve the important bus'ness of thy lust Cir. Old men who no strong proofs of Love can show Fly to their last reserve and jealous grow As lazy Monarchs who the main neglect Think they are wise enough if they suspect We from young Lovers Jealousie may bear Those are but April storms 't will soon be clear But can we bear a tempest from the old Whose kindest season is too rough and cold Recall thy Youth and then presume to be Jealous of so Divine a Good as me Iph. Ah my dread Lord though you deny relief Do not refuse this priviledge to grief Goes to kneel Thoas strives to take her up Tho. 'T is Love's and my prerogative to sue Iph. Here I must weep till I have melted you But oh methinks those Eyes do fiercely move Not with the soft humility of Love Stern Majesty sits like a Tyrant there And threatens murder ruin and despair Cir. She needs must vanquish Love her Standard bears And Beauty's wondrous eloquent in tears Iph. You in revenge my Brother's fall decree 'T is guilt enough to be ally'd to me My fatal pride and my unjust disdain Which has beheld you sigh so long in vain Deserves a thousand tortures let 'em come I 'le humbly on my knees receive my doom Yes let me to those cruel Racks be led Where dying Wretches envy all the dead Where bloody Tyrants feast their Tyrant death Amongst those torments let me yield my breath And if those pains too mild and gentle prove Bring in the torment of despairing Love Call Jealousie and all that Mortals fear Invent a thousand more and fix 'em here But spare my Brother Tho. Ah that pow'r I want This is the only thing I cannot grant Iph. Nothing ah nothing his fierce heart can move How false is the Idolatry of Love What adoration have you pay'd these Eyes You calld 'em Heav'ns and yet their tears despise I doe conjure you by these tears by all That we can tender brave or virtuous call By your dead Mothers Ghost some mercy shew Tho. I must be cruel Heavn's unerring voice Bade us this day be careful in our choice Pronouncing a most dismal fate to all Unless that Victim at their Altar fall Ith. Let 's scorn what e're the Oracle did say We should no Diety but Love obey Cir. If he be sav'd the Gods have all decreed Aside That with the rest my dearest Son must bleed But has a Rebel merited that name Who dares betray his glory and my fame My Son by Heav'n I will disown my blood He does degenerate by being good My high designes his vertue does defeat The vertuous Coward never dares be great But can a Mothers Eyes behold him dead He is my Son and in my bosome bred Bold Love against thy Life a Mother arms And bids her save that Grecian by her charms Tho. Double the Guards about the Temple Gate And bring the noble Stranger to his fate Cir. Compassion what have I to do with thee Aside Trouble the foolish and the good not me Why do the Gods by halves let us be ill Leaving some goodness to afflict us still Iph. Here I invoke all that the world adores Kneels Ye Gods of Heav'n and you Infernal Powers Thee Sacred Image and my Father's shade Come and behold a poor afflicted Maid Opprest with crimes she here devoutly bows But scorn her Prayers be deaf to all her vows If she ask ought but death Ores Ah! Sister live Do not the World of all that 's good deprive Be Virtu's Martyr should the good like thee All covet Death who would Examples be Iph. The actions of the living never plead We envy them but still respect the Dead I 'le dye and will a great Example show Of what the erring World to Nature owe Yes I will leave this World where Innocence Cannot be safe much less be a defence But what 's that lasting home we strive to reach Which our Religious Guides so darkly preach To Pyl. Pyl. Heav'n is a place where all are fair like you All sigh for Love the Lovers all are true Tho. Go seek a shade dark as the Grave and there Weep while this Tragick Pomp is acting here Guards force away Iph. Ores Renown and Arms farewel come Priests draw near Prepare the Sacred Knife and fix it here Cir. Have you no mercy Sir Tho. My anger fly Dare but weep and both of you
hearts And Scorne thy fading Empire taught by me IV. Beauty the Thracian Youth no more shall move Now they shall sigh no more But all my noble Verse adore It has more graces than the Queen of Love A soft Symphony The Heavens open Cupid descends upon Pernassus and sings Cup. HOw dull is all the world that none should move In the cause of injur'd Love The bad are safe Hervn's idle Thunder teares Mountains but the guilty spares Mortal our holy Altars then shall be Ever thus profan'd by thee If Poets beauties faithful Traine rebel Vows and incense all farwell How can thy noble Art ungratefull prove Fed by beauty and by Love Hark hark these Bells and Berecinthian Pipes declare That Thrace a Feast to Bacchus does prepare The raging Bacchanals his rites fulfil They shall revenge me and the Rebel kill Enter Bacchanals Song by the Bacchanals FIll all the Bowls with Sprightly Wine And let the women drink Men visit now are very fine Talk much and never think Sure these follies our sex might claime as their due Since mankind incroaches On our small Debauches New manly delights let the women pursue This comfort poor cuckolded Ladies did find To drown in full Bowles The cares of their Souls When the husband is false and the Gallant unkind Chorus In empty Beds we absent Lovers mourn There sits the man that does our Empire scorn He makes the Thracian Youth despise Warm swelling Breasts and dyeing Eyes Make ready your Darts and valiantly fling Let him dye to his groans w'el dance and w'el sing They fling their darts at Orpheus who falls dead they dance then the Mountain disappears Ores Armes and all warlike toile forgotten be Thou soft inchanter Love I 'le follow thee Let my luxurious Eyes survay each Grace Devour the luscious beauties of this face Looking on her eagerly Which warm my blood more than the Trumpets sound And deeper far than Warrs fierce Engins wound Cir. Officious Love shall strew us Beds of Flowers On which w'el sport away our golden hours There let us still with fresh desire pursue Whatever Youth performs and Age would do And when we panting ly new breath to take Musick Love's Trumpet shall our Courage wake Ores Behold the Birds vanquish'd with fierce desire To unfrequented shades in pairs retire See how they melt whilst Youth renews with haste The Banquet greedy Love devoures so fast Shall we less eagerly to pleasures run Ah! pity me Our Eyes enough have done Cir. But will you still be true and cast away Those other Idols you did once obey Ores You shall my heart without a Rival hold And I will be more constant than the old Cir. To some dark Grotto let us then repair Love and my blushes fear the open Air. Scene Third It Thunders Enter a Spirit Spir. Guard you the ever gentle God of Love The King assisted by the pow'rs above Aided by Vesta has dissolv'd your charms And comes to force you from your Lovers arms Fiercer than Thunder is his jealous rage Your life alone his fury can asswage Fled are those Phantoms which by your command In dreadful shapes did at the Entrance stand Fly Circe fly nor is your Palace now By Mists and Clouds conceal'd from humane view They all are vanish't a disorder'd pace Will bring him soon to this unguarded place Cir. In vain the Tyrant does my life persue He cannot wound my bosome but in you Ores From your Sweet breast all sence of fear remove Let naught inhabit there but joy and Love This Sword I but for your protection wear Draws How weak whole Armies of the jealous are Compar'd to Lovers when they beauty guard Cir. This tenderness alas excuse in me I dare not let you fight for victorie My Dear within this secret Covert stay Goes to put him in an Arbor Till I have talk'd the Tyrants rage away Ores Love be no more the passion of great minds Beauty does counsel Valour to retreat Should all the Universe my fall conspire I might be vanquisht but could n'ere retire Cir. Useless alas will all your courage prove Flie I conjure you by the charms of Love The King approaches can you disobey Spirits ascend and force him then away Spirits appear who force Orestes into the Arbor From banefull Weeds gather the falling Dew To the Spirits My charmes are finisht which I must renew Circe this day for mighty ills prepare Be bold as man cruel as Women are Scene Fourth Enter Thoas his Sword drawn Guards Tho. Where have you plac'd this Lover by your charms Or is he quite dissolv'd within your Arms Tremble your fate is written in my brow And Hell refuses to protect you now Prepare a Thousand torments to receive More Hells than jealousy or conscience give Cir Kill me if you grow weary of the Throne Or like a deity can rule alone Who but the mighty Circe can oppose A rapid torrent of invading Foes Your Coward States-men do all danger shun And from the Empir'es Helm in tempests run Their councels Senates too so long protract The young and valiant have no time to act Steady in Councels I alone can be Am quick to act but quicker to foresee Kill the Protect'ress of your Life and State I fear not and perhaps deserve my Fate Tho. I must this Victim to my honour make Though I my Throne and all the Empire shake Cir. But will the Senate your revenge allow To those advising Tyrants you must bow They like the crowd are manag'd by the wise Back'd with their Factions I thy rage despise Tho. I have no rage your Eyes about 'em bear Such pow'rfull Guards you need no danger fear Your Crimes Would weary a forgiving God but you Can all my anger with a look subdue Now you my weakness and your Empire know Brave all my rage and still more guilty grow Injure your King but not what we adore Orestes to the Sacrifice restore Cir. Those servile Flatterers who to Thrones resort To catch at empty bounties of a Court Are less the Slaves to interest and Gain Fawn and dissemble less than you who reign Leave to your guilty Ministers of State That servile cunning to dissemble hate As boldly as a God revenge pursue In that revenge be as impartial too Tho. No no false Queen I own your Eyes have charms That soften all my rage and blunt its Arms Though than the Wind you more unconstant are Though you 'r unkind and false you still are fair Cir. How weak your passion is how rash your fears My Lord I am not false believe these Tears I can though you are Criminal appear Spotless as first created Angels were I saw you did to Iphigenia give The Tribute which my Beauty should receive And then would punish you by Jealousie For all the Tempests you had rais'd in me And did preserve the Grecian Prince by Charms Not to have Him but You within my Arms. Tho. We think it merit blindly to believe Those pious
falshoods we from Priest receive Faith is Religions happy Lethargy The doubting Wiâ—e we brand with Heresie Husbands should more than the Religious strive Blindly to trust and blindly to believe Be false till you have weary'd Humane kind I 'le think you true and still be safely blind Cir. If you an humble sufferer are grown I all my Love and Innocence disown The impotent and jealous I prefer To the insipid Husband that can bear That blood injurious to your honour spill If you believe her false your Circe kill But witness chaster Pow'rs I am not so I could not bad by your example grow Tho. How blindly we believe when Beauty pleads Which to its snares the rough and cautious leads To his just Fate the Grecian Prince restore You shall be true for I 'le suspect no more Cir. My Lord I will and the next rising Sun Shall see that Sacrifice of horror done Oh Sacred Bow'r unfold thy leafie Arms And be no more protected by my Charms The Bower opens Orestes comes out who is seiz'd by the Guards Tho. Go lead the guilty Traytor to his Fate To the Guards But e're you give the blow my signal wait Orest is led out Empire has taught me many Arts but you Have polish't what the Throne but roughly drew Falser than Cowards when for life they sue I 'm false as Beauties snares as false as you Where is your boasted Art whom smiles deceive The wise and guilty never should believe From Love at least you might have learn't the art To have preserv'd that Idol of your Heart Under the Wings of Love he safely lay Revel'd all night and sported all the day But now lyes naked to each stormy Wind Of which Ten Thousand wrack the jealous mind Cir. This noble jealousie for ever show It stirrs Love's dying Embers till they glow Love would without it dull and lazy grow As Churches whom no Hereticks oppose Rust into ignorance for want of Foes The Region of your Bosome pleases me Though rough and stormy like the North it be Tho. Damn your false smiles I 'le from their poison flye Under those Flow'rs Adders and Scorpions lie What kindness in my Bosome can there be For such an open Prostitute as Thee Cir. Alas you men are artful to deceive And our week sex is easie to believe The instruments of your tyrannick Pow'r Possess him now what would your fury more Tho. His blood his blood triumph my Fury now Exalt with joy thy bold victorious brow And by the Gods he shall not fall alone You shall for all your mighty ills atone Death does not deal with more of humane kind You kiss ' and breath no more thrn evr'y Wind. Your Charms and Persons lay whole Kingdoms waste New Autumn Plagues do not destroy so fast Come every Ghost whose bloods for vengeance call My murder'd Honour see thy Victim fall Cir. Nay then 't is time to throw off all disguise Thy pointless Rage weak Monarch I despise Know that I yet have Magick spells which you With all the force of Heav'n shall ne're undo I saw thy arts and did the Prince restore To mock thy anger and torment thee more Tho. Oh Insolence my Guards where are you flie Bring back the Stranger she shall see him dye Exeunt Guards Cir. How like the Love of thy declining age How boasting but how feeble is thy rage Prince without Pow'r go languish in despair Ridden by all Thy Favourites and impos'd on by the fair Brav'd by the guilty all my Crimes I owne He shall succeed thee in my Bed and Throne Enter Guards with Orestes Thou shalt by Treasons fall Tho. Furies ascend And to my rage your flames and Scorpions lend Cir. Appear all my infernal Guards appear And let no mortal Pow'r invade us here It Thunders her Spirits appear Tho. Die die Adulterer to torments go See if these Treasons you can act below Offers to kill Orestes SCENE Fifth Enter Ithacus who thrusts himself before the King just as he has reach'd Orestes Thunder and Spirits Ith. Hold Thoas hold let not your Sword destroy All that the World should covet to enjoy Mankind and Heav'n this Bosome must defend Your Daughter's Life does on his Fate depend Divine Osmida is a Captive made To the fierce Greeks and their revenge betray'd They trac'd her to that solitude where she Sought peaceful hou'rs from noise and greatness free Her Guards were few and those but slightly arm'd They yielded soon and soon the Town alarm'd With all the Wings of gratitude I flew And from the Cittadel your Forces drew But Oh too late e're I could reach the shore The Royal Virgin to their Fleet they bore SCENE Sixth To them Iphigenia and Pylades Iph. Heav'n does Force and Tyranny declare Against poor Virtue making open War Die Princess Or Osmida's death prevent Brother Your Grecians have a Herald sent To Ores Who from his Bark to the expecting Crowd These words of horror did pronounce aloud Know cruel Scythians if our Prince must bleed A black Revenge the Grecians have decreed To our sad Country we at least will boast To have appeas'd her murder'd Hero's Ghost This said he hastily forsook the shore The Princess all with silent grief deplore Ores Have I not taught that Love is our reward And that all Warriours are but Beauties Guard Go chide their impious rage and bid 'em be Careful of their renown and not of me Bid 'em the Princess to this place convey But at her feet first weep their crime away SCENE Seventh To them a Priest Priest Thoas your Daughter will not fall alone The rapid Storm threatens your Life and Throne Haste haste the Grecian Captives to restore Their Warlike Troops cover our frighted shore The Crowd to whom long Pow'r does hateful grow Fly your soft Yoak revolting to the Foe Shouts of Soldiers Ah save your self hither the torrent flowes O'rethrowing all and gathering as it goes The King stands fixt in a Melancholy Posture Cir. Hah motionless as Death as silent too Rouze thy faint Spirits th' Enemie's in view See! a cold fear sits trembling in his Eyes You 'r brave in peace and after danger wise Stout against Innocence Your anger show In its most dreadful shape before the Foe Dead dead with fear come humbly creep to me I must the Guardian of your Empire be Tho. Let me be wafted to that happy Shore Where cares for Empire vex the mind no more Noiseless as Planets there we move in peace The pains of wounded Honour there shall cease In storms of Jealousie we are not tost No Empire there no Daughter can be lost Ith. He needs must sink beneath this mighty weight Pity a King at the last Ebb of Fate To Circe Swiftly my Tears as his Misfortunes flow Some grief to Tyrants in distress we owe Weeps Apply soft cures to his afflicted mind Gentler than Heav'ns let him your anger find Priest Unless the Gods a Kingdom do unite In vain the wise consult and
Ores Oh noble rage be ready Warriour prove That my great heart stoops to the Tyrant Love Once the soft poison did infect my Mind Like all new Lovers diligent and kind At Circe's feet I lay but she is dead And to the Grave by Mourning Cupids lead Shew me the Tomb that shall her Ashes keep There I will truest Penitence out-weep Cir. Mad as the Winds bring me the pow'rful juice Which Herbs from the Aemonian Vales produce Gather'd at sacred hours refresh his Mind With that cool mixture and the charm unbind Then bring the Mighty Philters that excite The cold and tardy Lover to delight Down fierce desires I wish and think too high Nature my Riots but this hour supply Love's flowing Wealth I would at once consume Intail not my delights on Years to come Ores The Moon does sicken at some dismal sight The Stars grow dim shrowd me Eternal Night Thou art To Circe My Mother's Ghost so melting with desire Wild breathing short her Breasts and Eyes a fire She met th' Adulterer go bear to Hell That shallow plotting man that would rebell He that does factions in a City breed Unfit those Factions to advise or lead That discontented trifle burn and tear But oh thou sacred Ghost Oresâ—es spare Cir. I am thy Mothers Ghost but sent from Heav'n With order to pronounce thy Crimes forgiven My fatal Murder is forgotten now Shake off your Sorrows and uncloud your brow Rest on my bosome calm your noble Mind The Powr's above bad me be soft and kind Embraces him Ores Blest shade am I forgiven away my fear Zeal is deceiv'd to paint the Gods severe Let 's seek the lasting home which Heav'n prepares I am grown sick of life and mortal cares Cir. Come you shall be to a calm Region brought Where Wisdome is no more disturb'd with thought Where Valour rests we will blest Youth remove To the forgetful careless shades of Love In thin attire such as may loosely fly And hide no beauty from the Lover's Eye Trembling I 'le come you in my looks shall read In my short sighs and blushes what I need Then we 'le retire to feast on ev'ry sweet With which the Youthful do the Youthful meet Tir'd with delights Ores Witness yee Pow'rs of Hell Starts from Circe How justly my adulterous Mother fell Thy Lust extends it self beyond the Tomb And thy incestuous Ghost is hither come Circe goes to him and offers to embrace him To tempt the vertue of thy wretched Son No those Embraces Nature bids me shun A Voice under the Earth cries Prepare prepare Hark hark my Father groans a dismal sound He cries Prepare to give the fatal wound Kill kill th'Adultress Stabbs Circe All the Stage is darken'd Cir. Summon all my Art She sinks in the Arms of her Women Furies and Hell the Sword has reach'd my heart Ores Bind me with Fate yet I the Chains will break Are not all Women false Immortals Speak Falser than Science I to Death will run Their falsehoods and my Wretched Self to shun Kills himself and dies Pyl. and Iph. run to him Cir. Pow'r Wisdome guard me from the Tyrant Death All Ma. No Fate has summon'd you must yield your Breath Cir. Is it decreed the World Time Nature call Tell e'm they must prepare to grace my fall Such Greatness cannot cannot sink alone Dissolve the Earth threaten th' Immortal Throne To its first Chaos let the World return This solid Mass yee darted Lightnings burn Spirits bearing Torches flie cross the Stage Earths hollow Caverns let the Winds forsake Burst their dark Prisons and the Center shake My flaming Guard unfix the Poles and tear Each fatal Planet from his shining sphere Horrid Musick It Thunders The Stage is wholly darken'd and the City of a sudden is a fire Iph. Why does my glass of life so slowly run The Miserable even Death does shun Grief kills as slow as Age break stubborn heart Oh happy death how still and calm thou art How toilsome Life Pyl. Move swiftly Heaven with thy avenging fire Whilst in the flame we and the World expire Cir. Destroy destroy the Starry Thrones invade It Thunders I like good peaceful Kings am ill obey'd Must I put Nature off and be refin'd Become all spirit thought immortal Mind Can thought our only torment here on Earth Afford such pleasure at our Second Birth When we 're in Heaven I fear the Pious boast In Death's dark Mist let all of me be lost Dies The End THE EPILOGUE By the Earl of ROCHESTER SOme few from Wit have this true Maxime got That 't is still better to be pleas'd then not And therefore never their own Torment plot While the Malitious Criticks still agree To loath each Play they come and pay to see The first know 't is a Meaner part of sence To finde a fault then taste an Excellence Therefore they praise and strive to like while these Are dully vain of being hard to please Poets and Women have an Equal Right To hate the Dull who Dead to all Delight Feel pain alone and have no Joy but spite 'T was Impotence did first this Vice begin Fooles censure Wit as Old men raile of Sin Who Envy Pleasure which they cannot tast And good for nothing wou'd be wise at last Since therefore to the Women it appears That all these Enemies of Wit are theirs Our Poet the Dull herd no longer fears What e're his fate may prove 't will be his pride To stand or fall with Beauty on his side Books lately Published THE Courtiers Calling Shewing the ways of making a Fortune and the Art of living at Court according to Polity and Morality In Two Parts The First concerning Noble-Men The Second concerning Gentlemen By a Person of Honour Price bound 1 s. 6 d. 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