take Phed. The Persian Monarch's Love Now I 'le proclaim My Constancy to my Darius's flame My courage in this cause shall act such things Aside I 'le prove my Faith by my disdain of Kings I 'le treat him so that Fame shall witness be None ever Lov'd or ever scorn'd like me Are you the Judge to prosecute the Laws Of Justice in those bold Offenders cause Why then kind Judge do you forsake your Throne E're you 've the Tryal heard or Justice done Smerd. Your bold Offender does repent his Fact And I but ill his Judge's part could Act. To beg his pardon I resign my seat From being his Judge to be his Advocate Phed. But lest his Crime should want a just Revenge As you change yours I will my Office change From his Accuser to his Judge whilst I To Act your Justice will your seat supply Steps into the Throne Enter Patasithes unseen For since he Loves I 'le use a Mistress's pow'r With all the rigour of a Conquerour Pat. Ha! what strange Interlude must here be shown A Woman seated on the Persian Throne Aside Phed. This diff'rence Kings with common Captives have Onely the Title of a Royal Slave And how can Beauty rule a Nobler way Then to command thus whilst their Slaves obey Pat. 'T is she I 'le stop But stay I 'le use no force I 'le check her pride by a more subtle course Aside Phed. Although you Monarchs are exempt from Laws As wanting higher Pow'rs to Judge your cause Yet that you Smerdis may have Justice done Since you want Laws I 'le Judge you by my own Smerdis what can you say in the defence Of your late rude and salvage violence When Ravisher your guilt so high was grown T' attempt my Virtue and to blast your own Smerd You know I was not Author of that Fact Hâ—nour nor Love durst ne're such stains contract For they Heav'ns favour would but ill implore Who first prophane the Deity they adore Phed. Honour and Love are but respective things Greater or less in Subjects or in Kings In which if Kings transgress the more sublime Their greatness is the greater is their Crime And though you 're now transform'd into a Prince That Title does but heighten your offence Smerd. Such Beauty does so well become the Throne Be pleas'd fair Judge t' accept it as your own Where you shall Reign in glory and give Law To him that wears the Crown of Persia. Phed. I scorn your Throne and him that proffers it My pow'rs too great an equal to admit Descends from the Throne No Smerdis Phedima is not so low As to descend unto a Throne and You. Two lights together cannot equal shine Mine will Eclipse your glory or yours mine And 't would a lesser Honour be to have A King my Equal than a King my Slave Exit and after her Smerdis Pat. Is Love an object for his mind which shou'd Be now imploy'd with thoughts of War and Blood Cambyses now may his revenge pursue And eas'ly conquer where Love can subdue Love does debase all Courage and he is Like tame Beasts onely fit for Sacrifice But I 'le invent a Cure Studies Well I 'le remove Her safe enough both from his pow'r and Love Love is a Passion for luxurious peace When idleness indulges the disease But not for Active souls I 've found the way To turn that current which I cannot stay Exit Scena tertia Scene the Palace Enter Smerdis with a Letter Smerd. He that so well a King can counterfeit Should scorn to stick at any smaller cheat From his own Copies too I have so near Pursu'd Theramnes Hand and Character That the most curious nay Theramnes's eye Did he but see 't could scarce the cheat descry Well it must take I shall so happy prove Both to find out and to confound their Love Enter Theramnes who seeing Smerdis offers to withdraw Theramnes stay Ther. I fear I am too rude Smerd. Theramnes no a Friend cannot intrude Ther. But I have prest into your privacies Smerd. Friendship above all private business is Unless it be the high concerns of Love And Honour But there we two equal prove Rivals in both Ther. What means my King Smerd. I mean Onely one Beauty o're us both does Reign Ther. No you whose Empire 's greatness is above All Rivals should admit none in your Love And think you that my confidence aspires To Court that Beauty which my King admires Smerd. Think you I can believe you never saw The eyes and charms of the fair Phedima Or can you utter so prophane a word To say she can be seen and not ador'd Ther. Love like Religion never chose one way That all should to one object homage pay The Sun does to the World his sight afford But by the Persians onely is ador'd Smerd. Because the rest o th' World are ignorant And do the knowledg of his God-head want But you who know how great Divinity In Phedima's most sacred breast does lye Can't but adore her Ther. Yes I can do more I am beyond her Beauties charms and pow'â— In this one glory I out-rival you Those eyes which did the Persian King subdue Their pow'rs too weak to Captivate my heart Smerd. His Love 's too strong to be compell'd by Art Or forc'd to a Confession Aside 'T was th' excess Of passion made my jealousie transgress But now I 'm satisfy'd That I may prove I don't suspect your Loyalty nor Love I will intrust this Letter to your care But you must first on your Allegiance swear Ther. I swear And in obedience to your will Whatever you command I will fulfill That to a Subjects care you dare intrust Since your commands can be no less than just Smerd. Present that Letter then to Phedima And if she chance to ask by whom 't was writ Beware you do not tell her but withdraw Lest that she should refuse the reading it Then carefully forbear to visit her Untill such time that she an answer sends For by that means I shall my suit prefer And you will thus oblige your best of Friends And then Sir whatsoe're her answer be For through your hands 't will come present it me Exit Theramnes with the Letter Though he so resolutely did maintain He did not Love their Love is but too plain How could she else such cruelty have shown To him who with his Love proffer'd his Throne Her passion has some more than common tye When proffer'd Crowns can't shake her constancy And that Theramnes is the Object too What was it else made him so rashly Vow When he but late Acted her Champions part To right her wrongs on her Offenders heart When the slight wrongs could onely cause afford For a Womans anger and a Lovers Sword But yet this Letter will my doubts remove I shall discover their intrigues of Love â—f so By treach'rous smiles I will his ruine Act As stranded Vessels in a calm are Wrackt Exit Scena quarta
Mistress but your second self a Friend Osir. My Rival Sir name him what Friend is he Dar. I am unknown to him and he to me Strangers to each Osir. This is a Riddle too A Friend and one you never saw nor knew Dar. But Sir I am no stranger to his Fame Theramnes's Virtues do my Friendship claim Osir. But whence arise this mystick sympathy Dar. 'T was Phedima's fair hand that made this tye His worth his deeds his service she commends That 't were unjust we should be less than Friends She gives him such a glorious Character That being his Friend I do but second her And then her Letters tell me how that she Has giv'n him such a Character of me That he already is impatient grown Till both of us are to each other known Osir. Friendship a stranger progress never made That by a Mediatour is convey'd You court Theramnes's Love a Friend unseen As Kings by Proxies Court a Forreign Queen Enter Messenger who delivers Darius a Letter Dar. From whence Mess. From Susa Sir Dar. Then may it prove Kisses the Letter Some kind and happy Embassy of Love Opens the out-side Letter and reads Auretta to her Lord Darius THe greatness of your generous favours and the confidence you have been pleased to place in me has obliged me having found this Letter escap'd from my Ladies hand to present it to yours as a token that I am still your most faithfull confident of your passion and Advocate in your Love Auretta Opens the inclosed and reads Theramnes to the Constant Phedima The Prologue 's strange but I 'le suppress my doubt And stay my wonder till I 've read it out Reades to himself and seems much disorder'd Osir. What sudden change does in his Face appear Such looks Darius brow ne're us'd to wear It must be something more than common blasts Of Fortune can raise storms within his breast Dar. Your most faithful and most happy adorer Theramnes Reads aloud Are these the plagues of Love Am I betray'd Has she a Contract with Theramnes made And can Heav'n suffer it Sir if you dare Ouâ—-face the worst of Treasons reade e'm there Gives the Letter to Osiris Try if your courage does not start to see A more inhumane Barb'rous cruelty Than Heaven or Hell Furies or Faâ—e or all Raginâ—â—â— But Woman can invent but these are small And petty sportive Crimes in them to prove False and disloyal to their Oaths and Love Is this the Man she prais'd Is Love so blind I could not see my Rival in her Friend Osir. She does your merits wrong But 't is the Fate Having read the Leâ—â—â— Of Lovers Sir to be unfortunate Dar. But since Darius such hard fortune beaâ—s I will out-do the malice of my stars I 'le be more cruel than my Fate I 'le make My just revenge my injur'd cause partake Revenge the onely pleasure of despair Him from her breast or her from his I 'le tear I 'le end my wrongs by his or my own Fate Losing her Love I will deserve her hate His blood or mine my fury shall aâ—one I 'le cause his fall or crush him with my own Exeunt Scena tertia Scene a private Walk Enter Phedima and Orinda Phed. Theramnes sure durst not commit a Fact Should forfeit all his Honour in one Act. The Virtues of his breast so numerous were He could not in one moment raze out all Great Virtues like great Empires ruin'd are They by degrees must sink before they fall To dare to write that which he needs must know Was false and I must needs resent it so Orind. No more I see Theramnes walk this way Phed. Then to resolve my doubt Orinda stay And tax him of his Love and by degrees Search out the grounds of his late injuries And sound his heart and how he does resent My Cruelty and his late banishment Exit Phedima within the Scenes to over-hear them Enter Theramnes Orind. â—heramnes let me but one question move Ther. Your pleasure Madam Orind. Did you ever Love Ther. What does she mean that she whom I adore Should ask me that I ne're durst speak before Assist me Courage that I may but prove So Valiant as to tell her that I Love Aside Orind. What does your answer need so great a pause Ther. And can you doubt th' effect who are the cause How can you think that he who sees your eyes Can be exemptd from their Victories To doubt I love you your own pow'r suspect From such bright charms who can his heart protect Strangers to Love must Strangers be to you Oâ—ind See how his confidence flatters me too But I perceive his Art he by this pause Seeks to divert me from my Sisters cause By forcing me t' a blush on my own score Aside That I may tax him in her name no more His guilt 's so great that he 's asham'd to hear But â—hall Sir these expressions needless are to him I know your Love Ther. What could my stars do more Then that Orinda knew my Love before Aside Orind. Since you your self a Captive do confess Theramnes then leave it to me to guess Your Conquerour Ther. How cunningly she would my passion hear Yet seems asham'd that I should tell it her Aside Well in such language I 'le my passion dress She shall not blush to hear what I 'le express Orind. But of what date has this your passion been Ther. Since the first day I had my Conqu'rour seen In a deep silence and as great a fear In vain I spent a long and tedious year And like that year now it 's whole course is run There find my self where I at first begun Orind. And could your passion to this height advance And you not dare to give it utterance Ther. My passion Madam I could ne're disguise So much but she might reade it in my eyes Beauties thaâ— in our hearts nourish a fire Like to the gods that do those flames inspire Their Servants silence seldom do mistake But know their wishes though they never speak Thus I have utter'd it Orind. And only thus Ther. Perhaps some few sighs an escape have made But those I checâ—t as too ambitious â—earing they had my high-plac'd Love betrai'd Orind. Did you ne're write to her whom you ador'd Ther. My passion ne're such courage could afford I never did nor durst Orind. Falseman I saw That Letter which you wrote to Phedima Where you so boldly did your Love defend And to heâ— heart so great a right pretend As if you there had been so long a guest That nothing could remove you from her breast Ther. What does she mean Unless she jealous be I Love else-where and tryes my constancy Aside If it be so how can I happier prove For where there 's jealousie there must be Love Orind. Speak did you not presume to tell her how You claim'd her Love by Contract and by Vow Can you deny 't or think I never saw Theramnes to the Constant
our Loves repair Till our kind flames shall kindle to a Star Now Executioner Osir. Hold you mistake Osiris lives and had Heav'n for his sake And yours been kind he 'd liv'd t' have dyed for you Mand. Osiris lives Oh then might I live too Osir. Know then that when you saw me last when I Was by Cambyses's rage condemn'd to dye It was the Tyrant's Fortune to prefer Lord Artaban to be my Murderer But he Pitying my Youth and something which he read Did in my looks for his compassion plead In a compliance to the Tyrant's breath Disguis'd me in a borrow'd Mask of Death And thence till now my Person did secure To free me from the Tyrant's eye and pow'r Mand. Which does the greater wonder seem to see Osiris live or come to dye for me Osir. You need not wonder since you know the cause Love has a pow'r above all Nature's Laws Dying for you I should so happy prove T' have done a deed worthy my self and Love To shew your Friendship let my Princess live To Darius Dar. Oh now you ask what I want pow'r to give 1. Priest The Persian Laws like to their god the Sun In one unalterable course must run And she must dye noâ— must you favour show Because our gods and Laws will have it so Osir. If Heav'n delights in humane Sacrifice May not my Death those cruel gods suffice To save her Life on me that Grace confer To fall a Sacrifice to Heav'n and Her Mand. Hold Sir your zeal your rashness does declare Lovers in all things but in Death may share Know then kind Rival that'tis only I Mandana in Mandana's cause must dye Ther. Mandana Runs to her To see you Madam I must bless my eyes But I must curse'em when I see she dyes Aside Mand. Prince Intaphernes what strange Stars have sent You here to see that Fate you can't prevent Ther. I do conjure you spare this Princess's blood Kneels to Dar. By all that 's Friendship all that 's great and good Dar. Theramnes rise New wonders you create Ther. 'T is Nature's tyes make me her Advocate 2. Priest You need no Arguments to plead her cause For she must dye to satisfie our Laws Ther. If then your Laws such cruelty exact To save her Life I 'le justifie the Fact To the Priests Oh Sir you must her Life reprieve you know To Dar. That to her Hand you do your Scepter owe. Dar. I from Cambyses's Death my Crown derive Not from her guilt that did his Death contrive Come then Theramnes plead her cause no more I want not Friendship but I want the pow'r To save her Life though for Theramnes's sake Yet 't is our Laws not I that life will take Our Laws which do this cruelty enjoyn I cannot save her Life for him who gave me mine Now Executioner But hold I see No Kings of Persia from her pow'r are free She Murder'd him and now she conquers me My pity tells me that she must not dye Mand. Sir your delays are but your cruelty And since my Death is by your Laws design'd A speedy Justice Sir is onely kind Osir. Hold Sir I 'le interpose ' twixt her and Death And in my Breast the Fatal weapon sheath Mand. 'T is I must dye You do your Princess wrong Live though I dye But do not live too long For dying I to Heav'n a Stranger go Wand'ring alone whilst you stay here below And wanting your kind presence I shall be A Pilgrim in that vast Eternity But that my Soul may not mistake her way I 'le track your steps and in your shadow play When I 'm resolv'd to Air a subtle guest I 'le hov'ring flye and steal into your Breast And in my Aiery Pilgrimage I 'le make Mandana's Soul part of that breath you take I 'le keep my Image in your brest entire Inspiring you with chast and jambent fire Sometimes I will with gentle whispers flow Sometimes I will a stormy murmur blow And in this Language my addresses make Breathing that Love which I want words to speak Osir. O cruel Princess now you are unkind To think when you are dead I 'le stay behind For when Osiris sees Mandana dye Sorrow will Act that which their hands deny Mand. My thoughts were fixt on Heav'n But for your sake Something I know not what does pluck'em back And I could wish to live 1. Priest Our Laws you wrong In the deferring of her Death thus long Dar. Since Lives and Laws depend upon my breath He meets his own that does but name her Death 1. Priest Great Sir you do forget that Crown you wear Dar. 'T is true I do And Scepters sacred are Act you my part whilst I avert my eyes My pity shall pay homage when she dyes And since she suffers for my Empire 's sake A Monarch's tears Part of that Royal Sacrifice shall make 1. Priest Now Executioner Enter Prexaspes lead in by Guards Prex. Hold Sir till I Will give you leave to strike and her to dye 1. Guard He from the Prison an escape has wrought But we surpriz'd him in his flight and brought Him here before you Prex. Think you a Prison could my pow'r controul When Empire was too narrow for my soul I from your Chains Sir have my self set free To tell you You ascend your Throne by Me. But be not proud nor think Prexaspes has On you alone confer'd his Acts of grace To shew the World that I am complaisant Her Life I as my gracious favour grant Point to Mand. For it shall ne're be said a Woman's Name Usurpt Prexaspes's Treasons or his Fame A Woman shall not my great Rival be The Fate of Kings onely belongs to Me. Cambyses Amasis and Smerdis all Those Pageant Princes by my hand did fall And had not Fortune my Ambition crost You had your Lives too with your Empire lost 'T is true your Laws require my blood but know I 'le rob you of the Honour of that blow High spirits have this Refuge Sir and I My greatness and my pow'r expir'd can dye But he who did the Fate of Kings command Does scorn to fall by any common Hand Since my Life was unactive Fame shall tell Not how Prexaspes liv'd but how he fell Draws his Dagger Thus he your greatness and your pow'r defies And thus Prexaspes by Prexaspes dyes Stabs himself and falls Dar. Thus may all Traytors fall Prex. Ye gods I come For since the World could not afford me room Since all the barren Fates could not supply My hand with blood I 'le mount into the Sky And hang a blazing Comet in the Air That thus the World Me when I 'm dead may â—eat Whilst o're the Earth new horrours I contract Still threatning what I cannot live to act Dyes Dar. This mighty work of Fate we must admire Thus the gods guard those Virtues they inspire His blood thus spilt has this kind Justice done It saves your Life and punishes his own To
be so cruel to reprove Her heart which to Darius does incline Whom all the World can do less than Love At least if I may judge all hearts by mine Enter Smerdis who having a while gaz'd upon her advances to her she seeing him draws her Veile over her Face Smerd. Madam too late you do my sight deprive What 's in a moment born an Age may live This makes you think that since your pow'r is such Where an assault has won a siege too much Having th' assurance of your Conquest found You hide the Weapon now you 've given the wound Enter Patasithes unseen Pat Ha! this strange language does mysterious sound It is a Riddle which I can't expound Smerd. Yet you must pity those chaste flames you raise The gods themselves smile on their Voâ—aries And yet the Heav'ns when they vouchsafe to smile Suffer no Clouds to interpose the while But your injurious Veile permits no glance Should my fond hopes with the least glimpse advance Phed. Stranger what means this language and how dares Your ill-bred confidence assault my ears This boldness merits more than my disdain And frowns can punish Smerd. Yet your self restrain The Pow'r of both whilst you thus Veil'd confuâ—e That punishment your frowns should execute The 〈◊〉 Lightning never wounds when thus A 〈◊〉 of Clouds is drawn 'twixt that and us Unveiles her Phed. A Persian Ladies honour is profan'd Who bears this usage from an unknown hand What frenzy has possest your soul Smerd. Your eyes Do ill to make my heart their sacrifice And then condemn him who does offer it Phed. My scorn 's too little where th' affronts so great Proffers to go Smerd. Hold cruel fair and your just anger stay With such repentance I 'le my fault repay That I will shew my Love is so sublime That it can expiate a Lovers Crime Pat. Ha! how does his distracted fancy rove Prefer'd to Empire to submit to Love Aside Smerd. I prest too far I must confess yet though Your coyness threaâ—ned it invited too Thus curious we in t ' angry Comets pry Which but at best threaten ill destiny When our inquiry does not reach so far To know the aspect of a milder Star Pat. Th' Infection spreads No longer I endure To see that which I must prevent or cure Love like the stars that rule 't should active move You are too idle Sir to be in Love To Smerd. Come Sir she 's yours Phed. Ye gods Smerd. Hold Sir you wrong Pat. I only tell you that you talk too long Lovers should not such tedious treaties hold Love is a thing that 's sooner done than told But you mistake Love takes a Nobler course Conquests are not by parley won but force Here take her then Thrusts her rudely to Smerd. Phed. Defend me Heavens Smerd. Rash Man Hold your rude hands you all that 's good profane Phed. Audacious To Pat. Oh I understand you now To Smerd. Have you Confed ' rates and Assistants too How dares your salvage fury grow so rude To force that Virtue which you can't delude Smerd. Dispell your fears your Virtue is secure Since your protection is in your own pow'r Thus doubly guarded by the pow'rs of Heav'n And by those pow'rs Heav'n to your charms has giv'n Phed. No Ravishers no more this language use The success failing you the guilt excuse Your sting-less fury wants the pow'r to hurt You know you are within the Persian Court Your Violence chose an improper stage This sanctuary guards me from your rage Exit Pat. See with what courage she her cause protects You but the King but she the Tyrant Acts. But she derives her pow'r from your tame fears She knows that Lovers dare not give offence Thus fear makes gods who deify'd the stars But onely those who fear'd their Influence If you then Lov'd why did you not enjoy Can a Kings Modesty his hopes destroy Smerd. Such base and unjust deeds would but proclaim Mean Impostor greater than I am Pat. 'T is Kings make Justice and not Justice Kings And in that name you may Act greater things And still be just The Persian King's design No Woman more than for a Concubine And in that onely name she should not have The Courtship of a Mistress but a Slave You then should force her whom you could not move Smerd. Force may support my â—mpire not my Love Beauty like Majesty is sacred too And must it then be thus profan'd by you Pat. Your thoughts and passions are too humble grown You do forget you 're seated on a Throne Exit Smerd. Can Patasithes so inhumane prove He gave me Empire but destroys my Love This is that Phedima I 've seen before What I then but admir'd I now adore My privacy my passion then confin'd A flame too noble for so low a mind Now nothing my Love's freedom can controul My Empire 's limits do enlarge my soul. Exit Scena quinta Scene continues Enter Theramnes and Phedima Phed. Their rudeness was so great Ther. And do they live Not you nor Heav'n can this offence forgive Against you there can be no venial Crimes Your anger ought to kill where it condemns And I 'le be th' Executioner But teach Me where I may those rude offenders reach And I will force their guilty blood to more Than blush for their bold Crime Phed. That cannot be For they are men I never saw before Strangers alike to Honour and to me Ther. Do but describe e'm then and you shall see To find e'm revenge shall in your name Quick-ey'd as Envy be and swift as Fame Phed. By all I can describe I understood Their Virtues are inferiour to their blood By th' Habit which they wore they seem'd to be Some of the â—â—rsian chief Nobility Ther. My â—â—â—'rest in the Persian Court shall shew How much my zeal in your just cause can do To find those Ravishers such search I 'le make That in their very eyes their guilt I 'le track I on my honour â—ow I 'le use such Arts Who e're they are to reach their guilty Hearts Exit Phed. Theramâ—es stay Alas he 's gon too far How fierce and swift the wings of Honour are I fear that he will some rash Act perform Hurried like waves that swell into a storm And yet his zeal I cannot but approve Friendship a second Rival is to Love Finis Act. primi Actus Secundus Scena prima Scene continues Enter Smerdis Smerd. LEt Heav'n whatever Fate for me design 'T is Smerdis must make Smerdis glory shine My stars can but their utmost pow'rs dispense But I 'le Act things above their influence Enter to him Theramnes pensively not seeing Smerdis Ther. It must be done I 'm bound by Honours Laws And more 't is in Orinda's Sisters cause I want not courage and I dangers scorn Aside Yet on mine Honour such an Oath I 've sworn That I want power to perform my Vow Smerd. What serious thought sits on Theramâ—â—s brow Come
in your looks some great design I reade Or some request â—or which your eyes do plead Name it it shall be done Nothing shall makâ— me from my promise shrink For I dare Act whatever you dare think Ther. You cannot Act that kindness which I want Smerd. You cannot ask that which I cannot grant At your request Ther. Sir in a Ladies cause I am engag'd by Honours sacred Laws In her Revenge to Act a Champions part To right her wrongs on her Offender's heart But I shall be as blind in my pursuit As is that Justice I would Execute Nor can your pow'r where th' Objects are unknown Direct my hand nor reach them with your own Smerd. Theramnes you a Prince's pow'r mistake Monarchs the secrets of the skyes can track And search Heav'ns counsels hoâ— then can mankind Act in a Cloud that which we cannot find I 'le find them if they live But Sir her name Who does this Justice and your courage claim The time the place where they did Act their Crime Ther. The Scene it was your Palace Sir the time This Morning and her name is Phedima Smerd. That onely name does all my spirits awe Aside Then as I promis'd in your cause I joyn Ther amnes draw your Sword as I draw mine Draws To give the blow will direct you where And that you may not misâ—his Heart strike here Points to his Breast That you more boldly may her cause defend Know her Offender is your King and Friend What does your courage shake and must you pause When Honour calls you in a Ladies cause Or is 't your fear that does resist your Vow Ther. Though Vows are sacred so are Monarchs too 'T is not Great Sir the want of Courage stays My hand 't is Reverence o're my Valour sways Theramnes dares not think much less act that Which the most salvage Lyons tremble at For Lyoâ—s dare not 'gainst their Prince Rebel They want the pow'r to hurt and I the will Smerd. These slight excuses are too weak you must Perâ—orm your Vow or be proclaim'd unjust Ther. A stronger â—ye that promise does remit And I am now more just in breaking it No tyes of Honour ever yet could be So strong as the strict bonds of Loyalty Smerd. Then on your Loyalty I command you do What Honour and your Vow has bound you to Ther. And can you give so cruel a Command 'T is Death against my King to lift my Hand Smerd. And what is worse 't is Death 〈◊〉 disobey Ther. But dying thus I dye the nobler way Theramnes dares not strike but he dares dye When you will have it so Smerd. My Cruelty You do mistake Theramnes you shall live For that which I command I can forgive Ther. But you command what Heav'n cannot permit Smerd. The wills of Kings and Heav'n together meet You 've made a Vow to reach my heart and Heav'n To that great act it 's free consent has giv'n Your friendship not your sword shall act that part For you unarm'd Theramnes reach my Heart Embraces him Ther. Your favours are advanc'd to that vast height I fear that I shall sink under the weight Smerd. Sir since you are engag'd by Honours Laws To perform Justice in this Ladies Cause Go use all Arts and Arguments to bring Her to the presence of the Persian King Inform her that He knows those Ravishers And that their Insolence has reach'd his ears Since Justice to the right of Kings belongs Tell her He shall be proud to right her wrongs And as their Judge do Justice in defence Of Beauty and of injut'd innocence Ther. I go Smerd. And with success return and may Those Stars that govern Love direct your way Exit Theramnes This gen'rous contest gave me means to try Theramnes's Friendship and his Loyalty And happily I have contriv'd t' obtain The sight of my fair Conqu'rour once again But oh I can but think how I must now Be both the Judge and the Offender too But though I justly then deserv'd her frown Because she did not know I wore a Crown Now I more Nobly will her passion move I 'le make my Crown an Agent for my Love If she esteem her heart a gift too great I then will purchase what I can't intreat Enter to him Prexaspes in disguise lead in by the Guards Capt. of the Guards This Fellow Sir we in the Palace saw And that which we from his deportment draw His too suspicious looks and garb descry A guilty fear the mask of Treachery Smerd. Audacious Rebel Slave what bold design Prex. Sir my design is just Smerd. And so is mine And of my Justice thus I 'le give you proof See instantly the Traytor 's Head struck off To the Guards Enter Patasithes Prex. T' express that I dare dye for you that breath That rules Prexaspes life may give him death Undisguises himself Smerd. Prexaspes Pat. Ha! Prexaspes Smerd. Fatal chance Your care has witnest your Allegiance To the Guards Withdraw Exeunt Guards Dear Friend your doom is chang'd and now I must condemn my guilty self not you Embraces him Prex. In this disguise I from the Camp am come To tell you I have seal'd Cambyses doom Lead by my Counsel Sir he does design A three dayes Truce before the siege begin To which you must consent Things must appear as smooth as calmest Seas And Susa wear the flatt'ring smiles of peace Pat. Monarchs and Statesmen have these mutual â—yes They by each other do advance and rise Whilst he speaks they whisper Prex. I 'le gain you entrance Smerd. Well I do consent Prex. Your being unknown all dangers will prevent The Tyrants life shall with his Empire end Smerd. A Monarch's Patron and an Empire 's Friend Exeunt Scene continues Enter Theramnes and Phedima Ther. And Madam that you might see Justice done I promis'd to conduct you to his Throne But pardon me if I have gone too far When honour and my Friendship makes me erre Phed. Honour and Friendship too have their excess But since I may my Innocence express And in their Justice my revenge pursue Theramnes I submit to follow you Exeunt Scena Secunda The Scene open'd appears Smerdis seated on a Throne attended by Guards and other Attendants Enter again Theramnes and Phedima Ther. He to their tryal will th' Offenders bring Look there and see your Judge the Persian King Phed. Sure you mistake the Throne or I the Prince Ther. His Majesty that error will convince Exit Smerd. Fair Excellence Steps from the Throne 'T is true the name of Prince I changed have For that more glorious Title of your Slave But I recall that breath I should transgress Against your Beauty were my greatness less He must be more than Prince and Monarch too That so great Beauty dares adore as you Hence 't is your Royal Lover Persia's King Presumes to make his heart your Offering The Noblest Present that his Love can make And yet the lowest you can stoop to
Scene a Chamber Enter Phedima and Orinda with Aâ—ossa Auretta and other waiting Ladies Orind. Sister you are so fortunate to have The Persian Monarch for your Beauty's Slave Phed. No in my Love Ambition has no part Monarchs may rule an Empire not a heart Whilst my Darius lodges here my breast Too narrow is for any other guest May Smerdis still the Persian Scepter bear And may he still Reign ev'ry where but here Points to her Breast Orind. Does then your Breast no other thoughts produce Love like Wars Combats should admit some truce Your pardon Sister if so bold I prove To tell you what Oriâ—da thinks of Love Atossa sing the Song I taught you Aâ—ossa sings She that with Love is not possest Has not for that the harder heart I think the softer and more tender breast Would dull would dull would dull and damp the dart Away with melancholy fits Whose strange effect our eyes disarms Deposes Beauty and distracts our wits Whilst we grow pale grow pale and lose our charms Love does against it self conspire Such languishing desires imparts That quench the fuel yet preserve the fire Clouding those eyes those eyes whence Love takes darts Enter Theramnes with a Letter Ther. This Letter your perusal asks Phed. From whom Do you Theramnes in Embassage come Ther. My message Madam you will find writ there Both in the Subject and the Character Exit Phedima opens the Letter and reads to her self and seems disorder'd Orind. What strange disorders in her looks arise How she casts darts of fury from her eyes Phed. Shame and confusion has so fill'd my breast That I want patience to reade out the rest Sister do you proceed look and see there What you will blush to reade and I to hear Orinda reades the Letter Theramnes to the Constant Phedima SInce our mutual Vows of Love have rais'd me to a pitch above hope or fear to such an assurance of your affection that I find the greatest Monarch in the World cannot supplant me in your esteem nor raise his Love on the ruines of mine You then who have given my passion life have given it also confidence to request the speedy crowning of our desires to avoid the trouble of more numerous Rivals which your Beauty cannot but daily add to your former Conquests But since the immediate service of my King will not permit me as yet to wait upon you be pleas'd to send me an Answer but such an one as I doubt not but you will as shall proclaim me as I am your most faithful so your most happy adorer Theramnes Phed. Proud Traytor to my Honour and his own His confidence swells to a height unknown To dare Orind. Why Sister Lovers dare do more Phed. Lovers why did he ever speak before Or utter the least syllable or word T' express I was the object he ador'd Contracts and promises which I have giv'n Perâ—idious Lyar both to Me and Heav'n Orind. But perhaps he your kindness has mistook For Lovers track their Fates in ev'ry look Their Ladies do impart and ev'ry glance Does to an unknown height their hopes advance The Languages of Ladies smiles suffice For Lovers to reade contracts in their eyes Did you ne're smile or some kind favours show Phed. Yes what my Friendship did oblige me to But could his proud thoughts so ambitious prove To dare to think my Friendship was my Love No Traytor no. Theramnes you shall find Choosing a Mistress you have lost a Friend But that which my disdain and anger moves Is not so much because Theramnes Loves Th' effects of Beauty Beauty can forgive And we can pity those we can't relieve But that which merits my just scorn is this That he should think my Conquest easie is Whilst in this Letter which you now have read He does for Triumph not for Conquest plead As if a Ladies breast no courage held But our â—ame souls were onely taught to yield Orind. Your furious anger too much freedom finds Silence becomes the passions of great minds Phed. Sister I 've done Auretta go and burn This Letter Thus I 'le Triumph in my scorn Auretta Condemn'd to th' fire That Sentence which you give Aside Too cruel is I 'le grant it a reprieve Exit Auretta with the Letter Phed. But seeing he an answer does require I 'le be so kind I 'le grant him his desire But such an answer as shall make it known I understand his merits and my own Exâ—unt Scena quinta Scene a Pavilion Royal. Enter Cambyses and Prexaspes Camb. Enough I am convinc'd of Smerdis Fate 'T is well my blood does not disturb my State How sits the Cloud upon Mandana's brow Prex. She does no time but to her tears allow Camb. Marble sheds tears but cannot softer grow Her heart's still hard and ever will be so You said you for her griefs a cure design'd Prex. Sir to divert these troubles from her mind I have design'd after a Martial dance A masque of Captive Princes shall advance Adorn'd with Chains and Coroners of gold Seated upon whose necks you shall behold A Prince Triumphant deckt with Martial spoyls Amidst your Trophies and great Cyrus toyls Hid in the Trophies of this Pageant King An Eagle on the sudden shall take wing A Crown fixt to her Talons As she flyes And hov'ring mounts still nearer to the Skyes When at the utmost height she finds her Chain Does her intended Liberty restrain Her Fetters shall her tow'ring flight recall Forc'd down she at Mandana's feet shall fall And there depose her Crown Camb. Conduct her in And let this glorious Scene of Love begin Exit Prex. Thus I 'le describe my passion Love sounds best Like â—racles in Mysteries exprest Enter Prexaspes and Mandana The King and Mandana seated a Martial Dance is perform'd the Dance ended the Scene opens and the Masque is represented at which Mandana rises and offers to go out at which Cambyses follows her and the Scene shuts Camb. Stay cruel Princess stay Are your fair eyes Afraid to look on their own Victories Or are you startl'd at your own great pow'r To see your Slave in the Worlds Conquerour Who from your influence does his greatness take And Conquers onely for Mandana's sake Mand. O Fatal Beauty was 't Mandana's eyes That made you win her Crown and Sacrifice Her Fathers blood Camb. Your losses I 'le restore With Crowns more bright than Amasis e're wore Mand. No Tyrant know my soul 's not sunk so faâ— To stoop to my great Fathers Murderer Have I my self no better understood Then thus to found my greatness on his blood Your proffer'd Crowns cannot my thoughts controul You have subdu'd my Empire not my soul. Camb. Madam how dare you thus provoke his hate Who 's the disposer of your Crown and Fate Mand. Ay Sir you of my Life and Throne dispose And those are trifles I could wish to lose But know proud King my Virtue I 'le secure My Honour is above a Tyrant's pow'r
cruel long Dar. Thus you repeat those Triumphs you have won Your mercy conquers as your eyes have done Phed. But see you pay such Honours to his Grave As may deserve that pardon which I gave Dar. Since pray'rs noâ— tears cannot his Fate recall But so much Virtue by my hand must fall This to his dust is but a lawful debt Who shin'd in glory shall in glory set I will erect new Trophies to his Fame What from his Life I took I 'le pay his Name Orind. My grief with yours as Rivals shall contend To Phed. I have a Lover lost you but a Friend Exeunt Scena quarta Enter Prexaspes and Mandana Prex. Can you refuse Cambyses's Love who wou'd To purchase yours wade to new Crowns in blood 'T is strange that he cannot your heart subdue To whom the Conquest of the World is due Mand. Thy soul and his in this were Rivals still You never overcome but when you kill Prex. But Madam what I reade in those fair eyes Has poyson in 't There 's something in that Form Aside Disturbs my soul and does my courage strom Madam your Beauty Oh turn it away Should â— on that bright Object longer stay Lead by my wand'ring fires I should my senses quit And lose my self by gazing after it Madam Continuing â—ith his eyes fixt upon her Mand. Is not your Message yet exprest Prex. Your eyes won't give me leave to tell the rest Mand. I must confess his Love I would not hear Death's frowns I can his smiles I cannot bear Prexaspes name no more Cambyses's flame Prex. Then Madam I may tell him in your name I am his Rival Aside Her subtle Darts have made my heart their Prize That sure my soul 's transparent as my eyes To let her Image in But tell me can your Breast so cruel prove To banish from your heart all thoughts of Love Mand. Now my Osiris I remember thee Aside Sighs Prex. Her alter'd Visage wears a Mystery A broken sigh joyn'd with a fainting look Just so my Love its sudden birth first took Her Actions copy mine sure my disease Aside Infectious is and does new Subjects seize For the fame signs argue the same desires Perhaps she feels my pains and meets my fires If so Thanks to my Stars Since nobly you My heart have won so nobly use it too What start You think it is Cambyses Mand. No. Both thee and thy inhumane deeds I know Could I but think that Love could be a guest To thy black soul and harbour in thy breast The very name of Love 't would odious make Prex. You must seem cruel for your honour's sake No more of this Advancing up to her Mand. Stand off Your aim you miss What stoop to him that Murder'd Amasis Prex. That was Cambyses's fault Mand. No Slave thy hand Thy hand did Act what he did but command Prex. But his command did to your Life extend Which I did from his cruelty defend And 't was my favour that you did not dye Mand. No Barb'rous Villain 't was thy cruelty Yee sacred Pow'rs above what was my guilt That with my Fathers blood mine was not spilt My Death Heav'ns Fatal kindness did prevent Reserving me for greater punishment Prex. What can it be a punishment to rest In the Protection of a Prexaspes's Breast It cannot be Mandana Come I see You 've learnt the Female slights of Modesty Advances up to her and proffers to kiss her hand at which she steps from him What a retreat As 't is in Natures Laws so 't is in Love Th' effect's the same if th' Earth or Sun do move And so our Love the same effect procures If your heart move tow'rds mine or mine tow'rds yours Come then Rudely stepping to her Mand. This Language Sir I cannot hear I can my Death not thy addresses bear To thee Mandana's Breast thus kind can prove To entertain thy Sword but not thy Love What art thou slow and dost thou sluggish stand When belov'd Murder does invite thy hand Prex. Captive take heed lest you provoke my hate 'T is but ill policy to tempt your Fate You trust my Love and therefore you presume But Madam know your scorn has chang'd your doom Nought but your Love your ruine shall recall For they who once from my high favour fall Never leave sinking till they reach their Graves Mand. 'Twixt Love and â—age like meeting â—ides he raves Aside That Death he threatens gladly I 'de obey That Life I owe to Amasis â—'de pay Yet Amasis Do but this fault if it be one forgive If for Osiris I could wish to live Enter Cambyses who meets Prexaspes going off Camb. Prexaspes is Mandana yet more kind Prex. I cannot meet her in so good a mind Camb. Since my late frowns and threaâ—ings could not move Your Breast I 'le treat you with a milder Love To Mand. Prex. She thinks I 'm some tame Lover of the common sort Whom they use cruelly to make 'em sport Aside No she shall find my Love does higher flye I 'le either â—each her how to Love or dye Exit Camb. I of my frowns a Nobler use should make To awe the trembling World make Empires quake And check Heav'ns Thunder 'T is not fit my brow â—he terrour of the World should threaten you No you shall find Cambyses for your sake As mild and calm as Loves soft charâ—s can make Mand. Cambâ—ses no rage and be cruel still Tyrants are only kind then when they kill My Death 's the only kindness you can do My life I hate since 't is preserv'd by you Camb. Hold You 're ungrateful Though you 've 〈◊〉 Thus thus Cambyses will your favour win You shall enjoy Osiris Do not start 'T is he alone that lodges in your heart To win your favour this brave deed I 'le do Be cruel to my self and kind to you Fame shall no longer to the World impart That I want pow'r to win a Ladies heart For since all other means succesless prove To gain your kindness I 'le resign my Love â— to my Rival will with Honour yield As the retreating Parthians win the field Osiris Madam is for you decreed He is I and the gods have so agreed Mand. Oh now I fear Camb. Now for his Arms prepare Draw back that Curtain The Scene opens and on a Table appears the Body of Osiris beheaded an Executionâ—â— with the suppos'd head in a vessel of blood Take your Lover there Since you all lesser offerings despise Take there take there your Beauty's sacrifice Mand. Osiris murder'd And can Heaven be An idle gazer on his destiny Gods can you suffer this and yet lay claim To this low'â— World Or is your Thunder tame To let the Tyrant live Are not y' afraid Who here below all Virtue has betray'd When there 's none left on Earth he may pursue The next blow he intends will be at you Oh no this stroke by your consent was given To rob the World to add new
CAMBYSES King of Persia A TRAGEDY Acted by His Highness the Duke of York's Servants Written by ELKANAH SETTLE Gent. Aut Famam sequere aut sibi convenientia finge Scriptor Hor. de Arte Poet. Licensed March 6. 1670. Roger L'Estrange LONDON Printed for William Cademan at the Pope's Head in the Lower Walk of the New-Exchange 1671. TO THE Most Excellent and most Illustrious PRINCESS ANNE Dutchess OF BUCCLUGH MONMOUTH Wife to the most Illustrious and High-born Prince IAMES Duke of MONMOUTH May it please your Grace SInce the great Characters and Subjects of serious Plays are representations of the past Glories of the World the arrogance of an Epistle Dedicatory may pretend to some Iustice in offering the Heroick Stories of past Ages to their Hands who are the Ornaments of the present Once Persia was the Mistress of the Earth the Royal Seat of the Monarchs of the Universe Then as that God the Sun which they ador'd lends his kind ' Rays to all lesser lights so all the Tributary Glories of Inferiour Princes shin'd by reflection from the Persian Crown But now that Sovereignty must cease and the Eastern Monarch Cambyses can pretend to no greatness of his own but comes to borrow Glories from the Western World in seeking a Patronage from your favourable goodness The same Cambyses whom History has represented to beâ—â— Blasphemer of the gods a Prophaner of Religion and a Defacer of Temples is by your power become a Convert and humbly payes his Devotion to that Divinity to whose protection he commitâ— himself and Fortune But whilst I thus boldly proceed to Dedicate this trifle to your Grace forget to ask pardon for the meaness of the Offering and the confidence of him that offers it Crime unpardonable were not your Mercy as signal as your other Virtues For when kind Heaven honours the World with some Worthy and Illustrious Person in which Rank your Grace musâ—â— claim an eminent place who besides your late Affinity are Allied to that Royal Race to which England owes its three last Monarchs Heaven I say besides the Great Souls High Spirits and Noble Thoughts it lends such Persons endues them too with more Familiar Virtues as Courtesy Generosity and a Condescension to entertain the Addresses of Inferiour Mankind and to smile on the Endeavours of the meanest of their Subjects and Admirers Else they would be forced like Planets to move in a Sphear alone and Greatest Monarchs should they admit of none below them would make their Palaces but solitary Prisons The assurance therefore of these Virtues which particularly possess so large a seat in your Heroick Breast animate me to present this Poem to your Hands that it may take Sanctuary there where in its Infancy it received protection As he that 's born under some happy Planet owes the success of his whole Life to the Predominance of that kinder Star that ruled at his Nativity The Entertainment you gave it in loose sheets when it first saw light encourages me to this presumption now in its riper growth to devote it wholly to your Self and under that Title to stile it happy Since thus Guarded I dare expose it to the World and stand in less awe of Censures when your Influence protects it For as that timerous Pilot in a Storm was Condemn'd for fearing Shipwracâ—â— when his Vessel carried Caesar this Poem caâ— fear no dangers when it carries your Name for iâ— Defence But besides the fortunate and glorioâ— Advantages this Piece may justly challenge from thâ— Favour of so Indulgent a Patroness it entitles 〈◊〉 to this happiness the opportunity this Dedicatâ—â—â— gives me of writing my self Madam Your Graces most Humble and most Obedient Servant ELKANAH SETTLE The Actors Names Cambyses the true King of Persia. Mr. Betterton Prexaspes His Favourite Mr. Harris Otanes Father to Phedima Orinda Heir to the Persian Crown Persian Princes Generals of Cambyses's Army Mr. Crosby Darius Contracted to Phedima Mr. Smith Artaban A Persian Lord of Cambyses's Train Mr. Norris Osiris a Young Captive Prince Contracted to Mandana Mrs. Long. Smerdis an Impostor Usurper of the Persian Crown Reigning in the Name of Smerdis Younger Brother to Cambyses privately Murder'd by Prexaspes known only to Prexaspes and Patasithes Mr. Medbourne Patasithes His Friend left Deputy of Persia during Cambyses's Progress into Egypt Mr. Sandford Theramnes A Disguis'd Syrian Prince now General of Smerdis's Army privately in Love with Orinda Mr. Young Phedima in Love with Darius Mrs. Jennings Orinda Her Sister Mrs. Dixon Mandana A Captive Princess Heiress to the Egyptian Crown Daughter to Amasis slain by Prexaspes at Cambyses's Command Mrs. Betterton Auretta and Atossa waiting Ladies to Phedima and Orinda Two High Priests Persian Magicians Captain of Guards to Smerdis Villains Ghosts Spirits Masquers Messengers Executioners Guards and Attendants The Scene Susa and Cambyses's Camp near the Walls of Susa. PROLOGUE WIth no small pains our Author has this day Brought on the Stage a damn'd dull serious play But what the Devil is he like to gain If Wits like States with a joynt pow'r might Reign A Poet's labour then were worth the while Could he plead Custom and demand your smile But that was ne're in fashion Poets ought To write with the same Spirit Caesar fought Indiff'rent Writers are contemn'd for now There grow no Lawrels for a common brow None but great Ben Shakespear or whom this Age Has made their Heirs succeed now on the Stage As Eagles trye their Young against the Sun The self-same hazard all Young Writerâ— run They are accounted a false bastard Race That are not able to look Wit i' th' Face And therefore must expect an equal Fate To be disown'd as illegitimate Thus conscious of their weaknesses and wants They know their doom as deserts to young Plants You no more Mercy to Young writers show You damn and blast'em e're they 've time to grow Thus you have learnt the Turkish Cruelty When Elder Brothers Reign the Younger dye But as those Turks when they 're for Death design'd This favour from their Cruel Brothers find Strangled by Mutes who fitted for the Fact Want Tongues to speak the Cruelty they Act. Knowing the dangers of a publick shame Our Rhimer hopes his Fate may be the same He humbly legs if you must cruel be You 'd make no noise when you his doom decree But if you damn him damn him silently CAMBYSES Actus Primus Scena Prima Scene a Pavilion Royal. The Curtain drawn is represented Cambyses seated on a Throne attended by Otanes Darius Artaban Prexaspes Guards Slaves and Attendants with the Princess Mandana and Ladies Cambyses descends from the Throne Camb. THe trembling World has shook at my Alarms Asia and Africa have felt my Arms. My glorious Conquests too did farther flye I taught th' Egyptian god Mortality By me great Apis fell and now you see They are compell'd to change their gods for me I have done deeds where Heaven's high pow'r was foyl'd Piercing those Rocks
my fortune too The hand of War more cruel wounds ne're gave Osiris too is the proud Tyrant's Slave Could Providence this unjust deed design Osiris should wear any Chains but mine She Weeps Our Fate the malice of our Stars does prove If there be any Stars that envy Love Enter to her Osiris Osir. Do you remember those strict Vows you made And those soft Charms in whispers you convey'd When I and Egypt both did happy prove They in their King I in Mandana's Love Mand. I do Osiris And remember too I alwayes paid my promises to you Osir. Your Constancy confirms that happiness Which your high favour did at first confer But souls so much divine can do no less As gods are constant 'cause they cannot erre This day I hope our Mutual Loves shall crown Mand. Yes Sir it shall if Heaven will give us leave Osir. When you Mandana smile Heaven cannot frown Mand. No unkind fate does your fond hopes deceive You know Osiris that I made this Vow That with my Love I would my Crown bestow And from her Vow Mandana will not start I 'le give an Empire when I give a heart But since my Captive fate my Crown has lost Your hopes and mine thus equally are crost To give you less would seem too low a thing My heart alone 's too mean an Offering Osir. In this decree you do too cruel prove To think that Fortune can give Laws to Love And to your Beauty you 're injurious grown You cannot borrow lustre from a Crown No he who in Mandana's Breast does Reign Is taught all meaner Empires to disdain Mand. Osiris no your too fond zeal mistakes Love will admit no Slaves but what it makes Love by our miseries would sullied be Eclips'd and Clouded in Captivity Our Fate the Crowning of our Love controuls Osir. We have but Captives fortunes not their fouls Their fouls to th' highest pitch of greatness rise That can the empty frowns of Fate despise In our dark fortune Love will shine more bright As Diamonds borrow lustre from the night Mand. No no you must your hopeless Love forgo You must Osiris Love will have it so Osir. And can you give what I shall ne're enjoy Can Love a Lovers happiness destroy Mand. If e're my Stars my ravisht Crown restore She Sighs Till then expect that I can give no more Osir. You are too cruel Mand. No I am too kind This resolution in my breast is sign'd Proffers to go out at which Osiris offers to speak I do command you urge no more Osir. You may Command my Death you know I must obey Mand. No my Osiris live and live to be More happy then you can be made by me Yet from your Breast Let not Mandana be so far remov'd But still you may remember that we Lov'd Exit Osir. Oh my hard fate She does deny me Love yet bids me live Yet 't is her kindness does this sentence give How strangely is my Happiness destroy'd Her too much Love Love's ruine has decreed As Lamps that surfeit when they 're overcloy'd Do perish by that Oyl on which they feed Exit Scena tertia The Scene a Palace Enter Smerdis and Patasithes with Guards and Attendants Pat. 'T was by Heaven's pleasure and our wills decreed To place the Crown of Persia on your head Let dull successive Monarchs idly wait To be enthron'd by the flow hand of Fate And Phoenix-like expect their rise and power Onely from th' ashes of an Ancestour You by a Nobler force have Empire gain'd Wresting the Scepter from Cambyses hand Thus on his ruine you his Throne ascend And make the means as glorious as the end Smerd. The Fate of Crowns depends on common chance Fortune and pow'r may to a Throne advance But to confirm that Crown our pow'r affords Requires our souls more active than our Swords Pat. You must yet Act unseen and veile your pow'r Untill your Thunder 's in your hand secure Till then Sir you your Majesty must shrowd Like Lightning taking birth first from a Cloud Till you like that a full-blown glory wear And gain at once both reverence and fear Enter Theramnes Ther. Your Subjects joys grow loud as is your fame Persia speaks nothing now but Smerdis name And their excessive joys so high advance Their Piety's joyn'd with their Allegiance Rendring thâ—t Homage which to Heaven is due Adoring less the rising Sun than you Smerd. 'T is this must make my Sov'reignty compleat Those joys that speak them Loyal speak me great Ther. You Conq'rours have out-done your name affords The subject of more Trophies then their swords Great Cyrus glories must submit to you He Conquer'd Nations you their hearts subdue Smerd. This is but half a Conquest who defends A Crown conquers his Foes as well as Friends And now our cause for speedy action calls Cambyses is in sight of Susa's Walls Go then Theramnes muster all our Force Our Syrian Infantry and Persian Horse Pâ—epare such strength that it may be exprest That we can conquer if he dare resist Ther. I do not Conquest doubt whilst Monarchs are Themselves above plac'd in a higher sphear You like the Heav'ns your sacred pow'rs dispense You 'll give us Conquest by your Influence Exit Smerd. See how the fond deluded World mistakes And what false light my borrow'd glory makes Yet such as dazles Persia. This disguise Has rais'd so thick a mist before their eyes That my best Friends Theramnes and the croud Of wondring Subjects all are in one Cloud And their mistaken Faiths so far advance That they seem Rivals in Allegiance Like their Devotion who the gods implore Men first believe and then they do adore Pat. Thus Kings and Beauty in this Title share 'T is the adorers eye makes Beauty fair The Persians thus by their Allegiance show You 're the true Prince if they but think you so Smerd. I by such Arts do the Worlds Empire sway As the Worlds frame does Natures Laws obey Mov'd by a Cause admir'd but never known Secrets of State and Heav'n agree in One. Thus I and thus the gods themselves disguise Their high'st designs in darkest Mysteries Exeunt Scena quarta The Scene continues Enter Phedima and Orinda Orind. Love in my breast should with slow progress move Were there no other interest in Love Phed. Why what more can there be Orind. Yes I would have My Beauties Captive be my Honours slave Brave Conq'rours scorn the prize they win whilst they Aim onely at the fame of Victory But your too humble Love takes a low flight When you thus dote upon a Favourite Can your Darius Phed. Can Darius seem Unworthy then of Phedima's esteem 'T were Impious to wish my passion less His merits not my Love have their excess Orind. Love like a pleasant Dream disturb'd or crost The fancy wakes and then the pleasure 's lost My presence then will but injurious prove Scornfully Silence and privacy are fit for Love Exit Phed. And can she
Exit Camb. Captive farewel Since you so stubborn prove I will take care you shall be taught to Love A gust of passion has uncalm'd my soul My blood does with a livelier motion roul A fierce assault my drowsie soul does storm And bids my Love wear a more manly form My Reason now shall my blind passion guide I 'le be a Vassal to her Eyes not Pride Since then my mildness could not win a smile I 'le learn to court her in a rougher stile Enter Oâ—anes Darius and Artaban My lab'ring thoughts must now make truce My Lords Will there be an imployment for our Swords How strong 's their Garrison how great their Force Otan Their number Sir is fifty thousand Horse And twice that number is their Infantrie Camb. Then they are fit to be o'recome by me You then must know from whence this War does spring And who would be my Brother and your King Dar. Who but your Brother durst your seat supply A baser blood could ne're have thoughts so high Camb. You are mistaken Sir he wears no Crown Unless that some kind god has lent him one Smerdis is dead Otan How dead And by whose hand Camb. It was by his and 't was by my command Points to Prex. Otan Then the War 's done you 've rob'd us of our Foe Camb. Ay Sir of him I rob'd you long ago 'T is not my Brother that does wear my Crown Artab Your Brother dead yet Smerdis in your Throne Dar. Who then is he dares that high Title claim Usurping both your Empire and his name Camb. False Patasithes whom I rais'd above Either my Subjects Envy or their Love Has in requital rob'd me of that Throne Under whose lustre he so bright was grown Thus the Moons kindness does the Suns requite Eclipsing him from whom she takes her light His Kinsman Smerdis he does subtly bring To represent my Brother and your King Enter to them Smerdis disguis'd What 's he that to our Presence does intrude Smerd. Sir 't is my Loyalty that makes me rude Prex. 'T is he Great Sir who in our cause does joyn The chiefest Agent in our Grand design Camb. And do you know that Smerdis Sir that wou'd Lay claim both to my Empire and my blood Smerd. Dread Sir to me he is so near ally'd He from my breast cannot his secrets hide Camb. But are you sure he is your trusty Friend To Prex. Prex. As sure as all the tyes on Earth can bind Smerd. On this great King we 've founded our design The charge of Susa's Western Gate is mine And that which to our safety does conduce You know the cons'quence of a lazy Truce Truces which seem but Martial Masques and are The Crimes of Peace drest in the garb of War Know then during this Truce his Forces be Arm'd onely for their ease and Luxurie You then this Night shall with your Army wait I 'le give you entrance at the Western Gate Then on the East I 'le give a false Alarm That e're his Party shall have time to Arm You shall have forc'd your Passage won the Town Seiz'd the Usurper and regain'd your Crown Camb. Well I 'le this Night advancing in their head To Susa my Triumphant Forces lead None but my Sword my quarrel should decide Dar. Conquest and you Sir ever were ally'd But Sir the breach of Truce a stain will be To the bright glory of your Victory 'T will an Eclipse to your great Fame produce Camb. Why Sir was it not I that made the Truce Dar. It was Camb. Then what I made I may destroy In this design you must your Swords imploy Dar. When you command the cause we do not weigh You 've taught our Swords to Conquer and obey Camb. See that our entrance be with care prepar'd To Smerd. We shall not want success nor you reward Exit Cambyses Otanes Darius and Artaban Smerd. Nought but his death shall for reward suffice For when he enters Susa's Walls he dyes 'T is the last Conquest that his Sword shall have To win that ground on which he makes his Grave Brave Friend Prex. His death shall make our Friendship good No tyes so strong as what are writ in blood Exeunt Finis Act secundi Actus tertius Scena prima Scene The Palace Enter Smerdis Patasithes and Captain of the Guards Capt. THe Guards are set the Ambuscado laid Pat. All preparations for the deed are made Smerd. You know your charge in this design go wait And give him entrance at the Western Gate Exâ—unt Paâ—asithes and Capt. Enter Theramnes with a Letter Ther. Great Sir your Royal pleasure is obey'd Your Letter I with my own hand convey'd And this I guess her answer does declare For though it does no superscription bear From hence 't is yours I do the more presume Your Titles being too large for so small room Smerd. Yes they are large When they beyond the name of King extend To that more glorious Title of your Friend Embraces him You know your charge Sir in this Nights design Ther. Rivals in Empire can't together shine This Night Cambyses dyes Whilst Smerdis is Crown'd for our King he for our Sacrifice Exit Smerd. Now if I find he does her Love enjoy Opening the Letter Her kindness then her Lover shall destroy I know his courage and I will take care In this Nights cause he shall engage so far To meet his Death 'T is a small Crime to prove False to my Friendship to promote my Love Reades the Letter Phedima to Theramnes PRoud Traitor since your confidence has rais'd yoâ— to a pitch above fear or shame to dare to profane my eyes with such a scrowl of Blasphemies in taxing Phedima of a Contract to Theramnes Since your guilty passion has made this your first address know that you have rais'd your Love on the ruines of your Friendship and that your guilt may be your punishment may you Love still and to that height that I may triumph in my scorn and make my cruelty able to give deeper wounds than my eyes Love and dispair But since your eternal Banishment can onely give a stop to all future Crimes of this Nature never dare to see me more This does dissolve my fears These lines do shew Smerdis is happy now but cruel too To be thus jealous of so brave a Friend But since I did 'gainst Friendships Laws offend I 'le Act such things as shall my fault redeem Kings can both Act and expiaâ—e a Crime And though Theramnes Friend did the offence Theramnes King that Crime will recompense Exit Scena secunda Scene the Camp Enter Darius and Osiris Dar. During this Truce we will to Susa go To pay a debt I to my Princess owe. Two Sovereigns young Prince have each their part The King my hand and Phedima my Heart But Sir your Friendship shares part in my Breast I can't give y' all but trust you with the rest This Visit too is not alone design'd T' a
your â—ude fury did but ill reward From these bold Ravishers whose blood he spilt Points to the two Villains Rescu'd my Life and recompenc'd their guilt Ther. My ling'ring spiritâ— do still faintly hault Death sure has laid a siege not an assault Aside Dar. Since you mistake his Love you shall not err â—'le shew you't in a plainer Character Have you forgot so soon since you first saw Theramnes to the constant Phedima Dare you reade this Gives her the Letter Phed. What is 't I dare not do Looks upon the Letter Has false Auretta then betray'd me too Aside This pamphlet I have seen and read and more But did Theramnes ever see'â— before Know you this hand Gives the Letter to Theramnes And do you know this Breast To Dar. Suspitious man dares your weak faith digest Such base low thoughts of me to dare to think My Virtue can grow less or Courage shrink Your Crime had been more venial and less strange T' have thought my Beauty then my soul could change Whatever I durst Act I dare defend Ther. Is this the kindness of my King and Friend Aside It bears my Name but not my Character Throws away the Letter My passion is not written there but here Points to his Breast In Phedima's fair eyes such glories shine As may command all hearts to yield But mine But from her Charms I did my Breast defend And I am not your Rival but your Friend Dar. And can you your own Name deny and see That Letter witness of your perjnrâ—e Ther. That Letter Sir is forg'd and counterâ—eit Dar. By whom Ther. You must not know by whom 't is writ Dar. Then will â— force Ther. You shall not Sir nor must I break my promise nor betray my trust Since Honour does my secâ—ecy enjoyn Rather than break my Vow I 'le own it mine Dar. Then will I force that breath to be your last â— Ther. That Fatal sentence is already past Dispute no more of that forg'd Character But what your Valour Sir has writ reade here Points to his wounds Yet though your Sword has made my blood ebbe low My courage still to the same height doe flow And still my breast is large enough t' afford Room for your Friendship as it did your Sword No more your groundless jealousies pursue My Conquest to Orinda's eyes is due But I want breath not words for my defence To prove Theramnes's injur'd innocence Yet if I win your Friendship I can't call This my defeat who conquer when I fall Falls And may Theramnes now so happy prove Who in his life could not deserve your Love To win Orinda's pity when he dyes To Orind. In Life your Slave in Death your Sacrifice Faints away as dead Phed. Now see what your mistaken rage has done And Triumph at the Conquest you have won Look there and tremble if you have a sense Of horror equal to his innocence Dar. He 's gone too late thy innocence appears The current of my rage now turns to tears Osiris run call all the help that 's near Whilst I my helpless griefs eccho to th' Air. Exit Oâ—iris Yet the kind gods have not plac'd Heav'n so high But that our sighs and pray'rs may mount the Sky Was this the onely way to reach his heart Where he too generously gave me part Could I thy Innocence no sooner find Is cruel Jealousie like Love too blind Enter Osiris with Attendants who take up the Body of Theramnes Thy blood by my unhappy hand was spilt Love like Religion in th' excess grows guilt Thus Love turns Jealousie when too sublime As Superstition is Devotion 's Crime Use all the Arts that may restore his breath To Osiris and the Attendants who carry off Theramnes Or beg at least one hour's reprieve of Death That â— t' his parting soul in tears may tell My griefs and take my long and last farewell Exeunt Osiris and Attendants But hold one debt more to his Virtue 's due Osiris stay with my dead Friend I 'le go To th' other World thus thus Goes to fall upon his Sword Phed. You are too bold Hold your rude hands Stays him Dar. And does she bid me hold Phed. Yes Sir she does she dares not see you dye Dar. Your kindness then recalls my destiny Passionately Phed. Darius live For by your hasty fall Changing her voice Your Death would be too mild and pain too small Your blood would be too Prodigally spilt Live only to be punisht for your guilt Oâ— if th' experiment of Death you 'd trye 'T is fit you know yor sentence e're you dye Death is but half the rigour of your Fate Living you merit dying force my hate And fall unpity'd Now strike if you dare Try if your courage equals your despair Then she whose kindness did your hand recall Will be more kind she 'l smile to see you fall Dar. Oh now I dare not dye A strange reprieve When cruelty has pow'r to make me live Before her kindness did recall the stroke And now her frowns my sentence do revoke Beauties have this prerogative alone Their pow'r is equal when they smile or frown My guilt deserves the greatest punishment Tortures can yield or Justice can invent And I could willingly endure the weight Of all that I deserve except your hate Orinda whilst they have been speâ—king having casually taken up the Letter and viewed it hastily brings it to her Sister Orind. What Seal is this Phed. The Arms of Persia Know you that Seal Gives the Letter to Darius Dar. Till now I never saw It was the Signet of the King Phed. This Seal Does then Theramnes's Innocence reveal For in your absence Sir the Persian King To me has made his heart an Offering And had I broke my Vows to you I 'de been No longer Sir your Mistress but his Queen When I that Royal Present would not take He thought 't was for some happy Rival's sake Knowing th' esteem â— to Theramnes bore He judg'd my cruelty was on his score From thence like you his jealousie he took Whilst he our Friendship for our Love mistook Then forg'd that Letter in Theramnes's Name To trace our passionâ— and disturb our flame Then judge Sir whether I inconstant prove Who for your sake reject a Monarch's Love Since you now see I am below a Throne And have refus'd the proffers of a Crown Dar. You have too much my burden'd soul or'eâ—charg'd My guilt's too bad a theme to be enlarg'd But now I find my Crimes will have no end At once I 've wrong'd my Mistress and my Friend But you 've so much of Heav'n you can forgive Kneels Phed. Yes Sir I could could but Theramnes live Dar. I with my tears will wash away my Crime With my loud sorrows I 'le reach Heav'â— and Him I 'le pay such Incense for my black offence 〈◊〉 â— take whiteness from his Innocence Phed. Darius rise His Pray'rs and Love 's too strong And I am too kind to be
would say any thing who had done so much Otan We are convinc'd Dar. Long may thy Brother live and live to be Heir to thy Conquests but not Cruelty Prex. Prexaspos well by Treasons thou didst grow They made thee great and shall preserve thee so Aside Exeâ—nt Scena Secunda Scene the Palace Enter Smerdis and Patasithes Smerd. Cambyses dead The Heav'ns themselves two Suns at once can't beaâ— Not Earth below two Monarchs in one Sphar Persia's too narrow both for him and me His glorie 's shrunk to give mine Liberty Pat. No doubt 't is to Prexaspes that you owe Your Empire 's safety in this happy blow Smerd. To him the deed but to my self the cause State-interest binds stronger than State-laws With such high proffers I 've oblig'd his trust As can do more than make a Statesman just You know I 've promis'd him the Median Crown I give him Honours to secure my own We Monarchs to our selves our Fortunes owe Our Agents Act but what we bribe 'em to Poor Mortals thus may the Gods honour raise By building Temples to exalt their praise But 't is the gods themselves that do afford Those Mortals breath by which they are ador'd Enter to them Prexaspes My best of Friends Embraces Prex. Prex. Next to Cambyses He Leaves you his Empire for a Legacy Knowing how weighty Crowns and Scepters are I 've been so kind to ease him of that care But Sir he did before his death convince His Nobles that you were not the true Prince But by such Art I did their Storm asswage That for the present I have calm'd their Rage And in your cause such Arguments did bring That they believe you Brother to our King But Sir you know that Statesmens jealousie Does onely sleep then when it seems to dye At each distast and ev'ry small mistake Their Jealousie when 't is disturb'd will wake And then their fury will break forth to deeds You are not safe then whilst they wear their Heads Smerd. 'T is not consistent with my Empire 's good To stain my name with the chief Persian blood Pat. He by mild deeds must represent the King Sâ—btlâ— as Serpents but without their sting Smerd. That Act would seem too cruel the same Arts That won 'em must preserve my Subjects hearts Prex. To save your Honour then that deed I 'le do Smerd. Name it my safety shall depend on you Prex. Theramnes's late concealment gives you just Suspition of his Loyalty and trust If then your pleasure would confer that grace To constitute me Gen'ral in his place I will invite 'em to my Tent and they For th' entertainment all their Heads shall pay Then to suppress all future Mutinies That may from this Tyrannick Act arise Their Deaths I 'le publish and the cause proclaim Forging such hainous Treasons in their Name Persia shall do not less than think it just And to my Justice as their Guardian trust Smerd. But grant the Persians should not think it so But th' Act condemn Prex. Do you condemn it too And if your Subjects murmur or Rebell 'Cause by my hand the Persian Princes fell Then instantly to satisfie their rage And shew you did not in my guilt engage Degrade me from my Office and inflict All punishments that may seem just and strict And I 'le submit to th' Sentence thus you 'll seem As far from the consent as from the Crime Smerd. Well your Commission shall be forthwith sign'd My Army's conduct to your charge resign'd Prex. May Heav'n success to Persia's Crown afford Whilst you the Scepter bear Smerd. And you the Sword Exeunt Scena tertia Scene changes to the Garden Enter Phedina and Orinda Phed. Sister you now can by Experience prove What lately you defy'd the Pow'r of Love 'T is strange the dead Theramnes should obtain That Conquest whom alive you did disdain What rash Infection does your soul invade That you who scorn'd him living court his shade A Love like yours was never heard before T' embrace his Memory and Name adore Orind. Sister since I have all assaults withstood He by no common force my heart subdu'd Such glorious pains my Captive soul endures My Love 's beyond such abject thoughts as yours Your humble passions court each fond desire And your Breasts tamely of themselves take fire You make your hearts too mean a Sacrifice Taking infection from your Lovers eyes He did more Nobly to my heart aspire He gave me fuel e're he gave me fire His Wounds his Death his Glory and his Fame They mov'd my pity and that rais'd my Flame Nay of his Love he Nobler proofs has giveâ—n When his late wounds had made him ripe for Heav'n His dying breath before his soul retir'd Bequeath'd his Love to me and then expir'd His dying breath his passion did proclaim Thus Phoenix-like expiring in a Flame Then 't is but just that I should faithfull be Thus to preserve so brave a Legacy Phed. But your affection is from hopes debarr'd When you can Love and not expect reward Love's kindnesses are lent not giv'n for when There is no hopes to be repaid agen It should expire Dead Lovers bankrupt prove Death does exempt 'em from all debts of Love Orind. No Love is seated in their souls and they With them their passions to the Skyes convey For when kind Heav'n does entertain their souls And to the sacred list of Stars enrowls In Heav'n they pay those debts on Earth they owe They shine and smile on us that stay below They still their Loves and favours do dispense Acting their kindness in their Influence And when in Heav'n we both together meet There we out tyes for ever shall unite No objects then my passion remove Till it grows up to an Immortal Love Phed. Sister till now I thought there could not be A Love like mine but you out-rival me But stay my Father 's here let us retire And there hear out that passion I admire Exeunt Scena quarta Scene continues Enter Otanes Darius and Artaban Attended Otan 'T is strange our entrance to the King deny'd Dar. Now my Prophetick fears our doubts decide He durst not give us entrance since he knows He to his being unseen his safety owes Otan Then must we to his pow'r obedience yield As men to unknown gods do Temples build Let dull and credulous ignorance advance Faith and Religion not Allegiance Must we be onely govern'd by a Name Enter to them Prexaspes with Guards the Guards stand off at a distance unseen by Otanes and Darius Prex. Prexaspes must Prexaspes's Crimes proclaim And now my Lords I do confess my guilt The blood of Smerdis by my hand was spilt And 't is th' Impostor that Usurps the Throne Otan And dare Prexaspes his bold Treasons own Prex. Yes Sir he dares and thank Heav'n too that thus Has by my Treasons made me glorious Though my late fear did make my duty fail And from your knowledge Smerdis's Death conceal Now I'm above
seize the Palace and the Treasury You Otanes have sworn Confed'racy With Persia's Enemy the Scythian King All these and other Treasons I could bring But you shall dye then to the World they all Shall publisht be to justifie your fall Otan Blasphemous Lyar Artab Is not our Murders which you have decreed Sufficient but our honours too must bleed Prex. Your Lives and Honours must no longer shine But be extinguisht to make way for mine Smerdis must be depos'd by me alone And then Prexaspes steps into his Throne That my ambition may arrive to this First I 'le take off your Heads then strike at His. Otan Though Smerdis be he whom I most do hate Could I but beg one dayes reprieve of Fate I 'de be the first should thy designs betray Prex. Ay Sir so in the other World you may These will be pretty stories for the dead And for that end you first shall lose your Head Strike him The Executioner bows down his Scymitar in sign of denial What disobey'd Or is it blood you fear To the Executioner Since my design wants an Interpreter And your tame soul can't construe my intent Slave thou shalt dye to trye th' experiment To you my Lords this Honour I 'le afford To fall by me and this Almighty Sword Draws his Scymitar Stand fair Stay one thing I forgot I 'm told You leagues of Friendship with Theramnes hold Darius hearing Theramnes's Name â—ight A sigh I know to such a Friend is due But be not troubled he shall follow you Friends must not part I 'de thoughts t' have had him here And for your sakes and mine I wish he were That he might see this Arm. Advances to strike off Otanes's head at which the Executioner undisguises himself and appears to be Theramnes at which the Guards seize Prexaspes disarm him and unbind Otanes Darius and Artaban and restore their Swords and bind Prexaspes Ther. Thou hast thy wish He sees that Arm and so shalt thou feel his Prex. Traytors unhand me slaves what do you know Who'tis you should obey Ther. Yes Sir they do And so shall you know too Your Guards are mine And your life Traytor Prex. Curse on your design And curst be all the Stars that rul'd this day That could or durst Prexaspes's life betray Am I at once of all my hopes depriv'd Ther. Your greatness grew too fast to be long-liv'd Dar. Theamnes living and preserv'd to be The Author of our Lives and Liberty What sudden change does all my thoughts surprize Or dare I trust the witness of my eyes How stiff I am and undispos'd to move These pleasant charms unwilling to disprove Like him who Heav'n in a soft dream enjoys To stir and wake his Paradise destroys Otan As Ship-wrackt men who on some shoar are cast Look back upon the dangers they have past Their horror so much of the wrack retains The scarcely know their safety nor the means This miracle of Honour done by you Kind Sir obliges and confounds us too The explication we from you must know Ther. To Love and Friendship you your safeties owe. Theramnes could not see him â—all nor I Points to Darius Could live to see Orinda's Father dye Hearing that you in Prison were detain'd By my Usurper by Prexaspes's Hand His bâ—ack intentions rouâ—'d my soul alarm'd My sleeping spirits and my courage arm'd I was resolv'd in spight of Fortunes hate Either to follow or prevent your Fate But being from all other means debarr'd My onely means was left to win the Guard Which their old General with ease did sway They had not quite forgot whom to obey 'T was by their help I am so happy grown To save your Lives on which depends my own Dar. The greatest wrack my wond'ring soul endures Is how you have preserv'd your Life not ours Ther. Know then when you did of my Life despair And left me to brave Megabyses's care That fam'd Physitian whose great skill can prop Mens sinking Frames and Humane ruines stop His Art the pow'r of Destiny controuls Gives Laws to Nature and Reprieves to souls When he had by his subtle knowledge found My parting Life still struggled in my wound Then what strange skill what unknown Arts he us'd What pow'rful balms he to my wounds infus'd Great Miracles are still great Mysteries That were too hard to tell let it suffice He forc'd my flying soul to a retreat And re-inforc'd my senses in their seat But then hearing your dangers I prevail'd T' have my death publisht and my Cure conceal'd Till in your Service I a proof could give I had done something to deserve to live Dar. You do too much my burden'd soul o'recharge For to bear this I must my soul enlarge My joys are but too weighty for my heart Artab To make 'em lighter let us bear a part Dar. No Sir this is so great a happiness Dividing of it cannot make it less Brave Friend Embraces Theramnes Otan But now I have a cause affords A Nobler Subject for all Loyal Swords Ther. Name it for what cannot Theramnes do When he 's imploy'd for Loyalty and You Otan 'T is the deposing Smerdis Ther. How beâ—ray Him who the Scepter and my Sword does sway Otan Whaâ— an Impostor Ther. Hold this must not be Can you forget what 's due to Majesty Were 't not from you Do not abuse your Friend He is my King and him I must defend Dar. He whom you serve that borrow'd Title wears Shame to a Throne and to the Name he bears Alas that Traytor the true Smerdis slew Points to Prex. Prex. Ay and intended the same Fate for you Ther. And what is an Impostor then maintain'd To wear a Crown and by my guilty hand A base low Traytor too and could my Sword A Sanctuary to his Crimes afford But Sir can you forgive me this offence Otan Your Sword can your Sword 's errours recompense Ther. Once more the Executioner's my part My Sword shall now do Justice on his heart To right my wrongs I in your cause will joyn Otan We cannot fail in such a brave design Dar. But for this Action we must be prepar'd To strike like Thunder e're the blow be heard Otan But e're I go I must his sentence give Traytor thy punishment shall be to live To Prex. Thou in this Prison and these Chains shalt lye I love you not so well to let you dye Exeunt all but Prexaspes Prex. Curses pursue Theramnes All is gone I 'm faln into a Prison from a Throne And what 's the worst of miseries I still Keep the desire though not the pow'r to kill I should not wish my ruine to recall Had I but sunk an Empire in my fall And made all Persia in my ruine â—hare That when Posterity my deeds should hear It should such horror from my name contract Trembling to heaâ— what I made sport to Act. But now must calmly dye Had I but first Like Earthquakes through the trembling World disperst Shook
Natures frames and all Mankind o'rethrown I then could dye not to survive alone But now must tamely perish Well I see The gods themselves act by State-policy They therefore spightfully my Fate decreed 'Cause if my rising glories did proceed They knew my pow'r to that vast height would sway Prexaspes would have grown more fear'd than they The Scene shuts upon him Scena Secunda Scene the Palace Enter Smerdis leading Phedima Smerd. My Faith 's confounded by my happiness 'T is the height makes the object seem the less Have you this blessing really design'd Not Madam that I doubt you can be kind But he Whose happy doom an Oracle has giv'n May doubt th' intent though not the pow'r of Heav'n Phed. You urge too much what I 've too plain exprest And force my blushes to make out the rest Smerd. Pardon my doubt 'T was my excess of joy That did my sence of happiness destroy This day fair Excellence prepare to be Possessor made both of my Throne and Me. All glories do to Love inferiour prove As glory waits on Crowns so Crowns on Love Proffers to lead her out Phed. But Sir to Heav'n I solemnly have vow'd That till the gods have their consents allow'd I ne're would yield my Love Whom they design Must take his Title from their Voice not mine Permit me then to execute my Vow First pay my debts to Heav'n and then to You. Smerd. To th'â— Temple then we instantly will haste And there I 'le hear my happy sentence past To their consents I will the gods conjure What common charms can't do yours will procure And Heav'n that does all lesser Victims prize Can't but accept a Lovers Sacrifice Exeunt Scena Ultima The Scene open'd appears a Temple of the Sun uncover'd according to the Antient Custome with an Altar in the middle bearing two largâ— burning Tapers and on each side a Priest standing Enter to them Smerdis leading Phedima 1. Priest Hail King of Kings third of that Royal Name Heir to great Cyrus's Empire and his Fame 2. Priest Hail Mighty Monarch whose high Race begun From the World's Conqu'rour and our god the Sun Smerd. Summon your god-heads I demand from Heav'n In one Petition more than e're was giv'n I ask not Crowns those I esteem less dear Crowns I can give for I bestow one here Bowing to Phedima 1. Priest Sir since your greatness and her Beauty is So near alli'd to their Divinities You by such tyes do the gods Friendship bind Heav'n were unnatural were it unkind Smerd. I then would know whether the gods approve That I should be made happy in that Love Which they themselves inspir'd If by their Voice They will consent to this our Royal Choice I 'le store their Altars and I 'le make 'em shine With the most glorious of all flames but mine All this and greater things than this I 'le do With such Magnificence that Heav'n shall know Who 't is it has oblig'd 1. Priest The Pow'rs of Heav'n Need not these bribes Their favour 's freely giv'n Do but with patience Mighty Sir attend Untill our Rites and Pow'rful Charms we end And you shall know how kind their pleasures are When you great King are their Petitioner You subtle Spirits that do flye Around the Regions of the Sky And as a spy or as a Guest Can pierce into the closest breast And make discoveries of all Events that in your Circuits fall Swift as your own wing'd Lightning send Your nimblest Herauld to attend This Royal Pair That they may know What Fate Heav'n does their Loves allow You who in borrow'd shapes appear And cheat the eye but not the ear Within this Aiery Circle here waves his wand round I do conjure you to appear Obey our Charms as we obey your pow'rs And tell that Monarch's Fate whose Fate tells ours A Glorious Spirit descends behind the Altar and speaks Spir. To shew how Heav'n does your desires approve Th' immortal gods in kindness to your Love Have for your wounded heart this Fate in store After this happy day to bleed no more For Persia's glory their high pow'rs design Your Love shall like these sacred Tapers shine Points to the Tapers on the Altâ—r And to compleat what Heav'n intended has Your Love and hopes shall end in an embrace And to your Beauty the just gods ordein To Phed. You onely for the Persian Monarch's Queen Your Merits have form Heav'n this favour found Your Love and You shall both this day be Crown'd But what my Message has not full exprest Your Fortunes and success shall speak the rest Asceds again Smerd. Let Heav'n and Fortune keep the rest in store Till my soul 's large enough to wish for more Now Madam I with boldness dare declare When Heav'n is kind that I presume you are Phed. If 't is my Fate that cannot be repeal'd Which Heav'n has granted and the gods have seal'd Smâ—rd That our advancing joys may ne're retreat Now let our Nuptial tyes our Loves compleat As Smerdis advances leading Phedima towards the Alter a soft Musick is heard suppos'd in the Air. What pleasant Musick 's this that charms my ears 1. Priest Some Aiery Consort from the lower Sphears A sacred Tribute which the gods do pay To add a glory to your Nuptial day Here two glorious Spirits descend in Clouds by whom this Song is sung 1. Spir. KIngs from the Gods and from our Elements Derive their greatnes and descents Since they are sparks of Heav'n 'T is just they have from us this Title giv'n To share our Pow'r and God-heads too As being Heav'ns Deputies of State below 2. Spir. No no 't is otherwise decreed Heav'ns Councels do more cautiously proceed Monarchs as Rivals to the gods should find Heav'n must not by State-laws be kind The gods for their own greatness sake None but themselves immortal make The glories and the pow'r of Kings Are fading things Like th' objects of soft dreams desir'd Courted Enjoy'd and in th' embrace expir'd And vanisht whilst they are admir'd Then Smerdis Smerdis Smerdis 't is high time to wake The Song ended the Musick turns into an Alarm at which a bloody Cloud interposes between the Audience and the Spirits and being immediately remov'd the Ghosts of Cambyses and the true Smerdis appear in the seats of the former Spirits Smerd. Ha! Smerdis and Cambyses whom the one I of his Title rob'd to ' ther his Throne But sure the gods mistake ' emselves to think That Smerdis's courage can at shadows shrink Are these the Tragick Masquers of the Sky Whose Aiery nothing onely cheats the eye Let wandring fires and meteors make them stray Who do not know their Guider nor their way But such weak trifles cannot Smerdis fright Your gods too late my envy'd greatness spight I have out-done the utmost they dare do Mock on Smerdis defies your gods and you I am above your threats such empty things Borrow the form but I the pow'r of Kings No keep your