have me do If I Love Altomaer can I love Gayland too Love is the very Soul of the Creation And Constancy the Soul of Love And then Can I love twice She whose divided Heart Admits more Loves than one does but like her That breaks a precious Diamond into Sparks And makes that worthless was before inestimable King Alas I do not court thee to be false 'T is then thou' rt false when thou lovest Altomar False to thy Blood thy Honor and to me To love below the Daughter of a King But fix thy Eyes on an Imperial Head And then thou' rt truly Just Thou canst not guess The Charms of Love within a Monarch's Arms Thy Beauty on a Throne shall not shine only For thy long Youth but be even in thy Age triumphant Whilst to pursue the Trophies thou hast won Thy young Heroick Sons shall conquer Kingdoms And their fair Sisters Kings Art Oh misery King Nor is this all t' embrace the Crown I offer Consider thou wilt make thy Father great All my Ambition bounds in this Alliance In this blest Marriage from my Blood will spring That Race shall fill the Africk Throne for ever Art Oh Ruine Mer. Your Gracious Father Art Dares that Villain speak Remove that hated Monster from my Sight Mer. And that proud Devil from the World Aside Art Alas what is that gay vain thing call'd Empire You 'd have me lose my Peace and Heav'n to purchase When from this Heart my Altomar's dear Throne Its Lord I banish 't is a pain so great Horror and Hell will fill the empty Seat King A Daughter Death why was she born to plague me Ye Gods what ways ye find to make Man wretched Our very Heirs the Branches of our selves Are not our own The Gallant and the Great Mix active Fires to mould their Likenesses Whilst some malignant Planet sheds his Venom Clubs in his Dross to bastardize their Souls And grafts a Fool upon a Royal Stock Enter Messenger Mess My Lord the Emperor King Now Rebel Daughter I must be short prepare to entertain This mighty man with all yout kindest Looks Breath one harsh Note to shew your Soul 's untuned Ruffle that Face but with one angry Blast And the next hour your Darling breathes his last Obey me or expect the Traytor 's Head Enter Gayland attended Art Nurs'd in a Palace and a King my Parent And yet thus wretched would I had met my Altomar In some more hospitable Desart born What tho' we lived with Brutes and Savages They would be kinder than inhumane Fathers King Great Sir I leave you to your Fate Success And Victory your long-known Slaves attend you Exit Gayl Majestick Excellence I come to lay A Monarch at thy Feet So Lov 's soft Goddess War 's fierce God disarms Melts down his Native Fury in her Arms Softens the Influence of his angry Fires And blunts the Edge of Fate Art Excellent Vanity Gayl Madam I ne'er was truly great till now What are the Courts of Kings if Love 's not there What 's the unpolisht slaughtering Warrier but A nobler Savage till by Love refined War Victory and Crowns But the rude Oar and the rough Minerals bring Whilst 't is Love melts and Beauty stamps the King Art In what big Tone this gilded Organ speaks Aside But now to answer him Oh Love assist me Great Sir Gayl Speak fair Divinity Art Methinks You magnifie Love's little God too much And add too glittering Plumes to the blind Boy Alas his unfledg'd Wings soar not so high Does not th' exploding World at best call Beauty A short-liv'd Bloom Love Man's Effeminacy And Woman only Natures fair Defect Gayl Hold beauteous Brightness Artemira's Eyes Shall make a Convert of that senceless World Ascend my dazling ThronÄ— and then see what The Tributary World shall pay to Beauty Thus Crown'd thou shalt not only be adored By prostrate Nations but those Nations Lord. Thus the Imperial Monarch of the Skies Melts his Eternal Day in Juno's Eyes So shalt thou reign like her but blest above Her humbler Joys in a more faithful Jove Art Insufferable Vanity Oh Love how vast A difference is betwixt the God-like Altomar Aside And this poor Image of a King Gayl By Heavens So glorious shall my Artemira shine That Humane Eyes shan't dare look up so high But blinded stand with thy o'erflowing Light Art Great Sir your Bounty promises such Wonders That to experience your prodigious Favors I have a Boon to beg Gayl Speak and command it Art It will offend you Gayl By my Crown it shall not Art Have I your Promise Gayl Upon the word of Majesty Art I 'm satisfied and now dare freely speak Great Sir no common Pride ought to embrace Those Glories you intend for me but Sir Suppose I lov'd before and love an Object Below your Royal Greatness For alas All Beauties are not born to conquer Kings Yet may be happy far below a Crown And tho' the mighty Gayland only ought To storm and conquer yet I hope you 'l promise me You 'll win me bravely and not seek to force My Heart till you have nobly conquer'd it Enter Altomar disguised and Morat Gayl By these white Charms I swear Kissing her Hand By Alla and my own Imperial Honor I 'll never wear this Jewel till I 've won it Mor. Keep your Disguise or we are lost for ever To Altomar Alt. Her yielding Hand snatcht to his greedy Lips Seiz'd and devour'd by that invading Tyrant Aside Art Then I 've my Wish now my loved Altomar I 've cut off all his Hopes t' invade thy Right He 'll never wear thy Jewel till he has won it Aside And that is never For this Heart 's invincible And if there 's Strength in Vows or Oaths or Honor I 'll make him know he 's perjur'd but t' attempt it Alt. What riotous pleasures revel in her Eyes By Hell he has talk'd her to an Extasie Aside Gayl A favor'd Rival the only thing I wanted By Heav'ns she 's now a Conquest fit for me Who e'er thou art poor Wretch love on court on Guard all the Forts of her encompast Heart That when I storm I may have the Charm to try How at my Sun such poor thin Shadows fly Art Now Royal Sir your Gallantry Alt. Oh horror Aside Art Your matchless Gallantry has so much Honor And so much Charm that it has given me all My utmost wish could ask Alt. She 's gon She 's gon Aside Gayl Oh my fair Saint what infinite Mass of Glory Do my vast Hopes embrace Come bright illustrious fair let Fools and Cowards Invoke the help of the kind Powers above Call on each Star to aid their dastard Love On my own Strength my Tug of Fate shall lie And let the gazing Gods stand Neuter by Exeunt Manent Altomar and Morat Alt. Oh I am lost not the dark Womb of Earth That teems with tortur'd Ghosts in the black Realms Of Vengeance has a Soul so lost
Emperor Will raze my City lay my Kingdom waste All buried in one heap of Desolation Alt. Revenge their Tyrant Emperor Yes Sir I kill'd him and so kill'd him that Th' applauding World must justifie the Blow An Emperor like a mean-spirited Slave He came and poorly braved me in my Chains Then in the basest most unmanly fury He struck his Dagger at my naked Breast But from his hand unarm'd I snatch'd the Ponyard And in a brave Defence thus stain'd thus goar'd Tript up the Heels of the Gigantick Coward And with his weight I made his Grave shake under him King Hold Brutish Impudence canst thou plead excuse For this infernal Deed Better a thousand low-born Souls like thine Should float in Shoals through Tides and Seas of Blood Than the least Vein of Majesty should bleed Or a Crown'd Head but ake Alt. A Crown'd Head so at that rate a Villain May be an Emperor at his Coronation Murder and Hell held up the Canopy Whilst Blood and Treason dyed his Royal Purple No Voice of Majesty no Sound of Glory But Massacre Rebellion Desolation King Silence this Blasphemy What profane Breath Has Treason in Despair What if his Dagger Aim'd at thy naked Breast So angry Gods Strike impious Men. Does Thunder aim at Thunder Or should an injured Monarch play the Dueller Thy Pride I 'm sure provok'd his sacred Rage And 't was but just thy forfeit Life should pay for 't Enter Arremira and Women King But bold Assassinate thy impious Fury Could lift thy Hand against the Life of Majesty The best of men thou hast traiterously kill'd And like a Traytor thou shalt die Alt. A Traytor Art Die Oh my startled Soul Alt. No cruel Lord I kill'd him nobly bravely kill'd him King No grapling Roman in Romes Amphitheater Took an encountring Lion by the Throat And tore his Heart out with a Rage more manly King Oh Giant Insolence But I lose Breath he dies and instantly His Execution Achmat be thy Charge First publish him a Traytor to the State Then build a Scaffold in the open Forum A Wrack and Torturers prepared be ready T' appease the Blood of this great murder'd Monarch By all my Hopes th' Assassinate shall die With the same solemn Form of Death our Law And Custom dooms a Traytor to our Crown Alt. Ah Sir you ne'er was barbarous till this Hour Die for an honorable piece of Justice Done in my own Defence and like a Traytor Proclaim'd a Traytor branded and exposed T' a trayterous publick Shame My Death I scorn to fear But to die infamous is more than dying Shame is the only Wound great Souls can feel Art Oh hear me Sir whilst I have Life to speak Look on that Gallant Youth that Mine of Honor Faith Truth and Love the very Soul of Angels And Model of a God Alt. Oh matchless Sweetness Art And must that Throne that bright Celestial Temple Be rased by sacrilegious impious Hands Inhumane King but Oh I can no more Faints King No Traytress thou hast done too much Thy Eyes young Witch light this dire Conflagration And only blaze t' a King and Kingdoms Ruine Art Ah my dear Lord I 'm going unkind heart To break so soon and not to stay for Altomar Swoons Alt. She faints she faints that injur'd Beauty dies Look up my Star shine out dear clouded Brightness Now King thou' rt more than exquisitely cruel For if your Tyranny must break that Heart My Wrongs are Pageants to this last dire Blow King Why Villain let her faint and die what then Sleep on thou Scandal of my Blood sleep on For ever whilst I never sleep again Exit King Alt. Divine sweet Excellence look up and live 'T is thy kind Altomar that bids thee live Art From Deaths cold Sleep what voice of Pity wakes me Ah my dear Lord is 't you What a blest Change Is here Did not my cruel Father Fright my poor Soul away with the Ghastly Vision Of my dear murder'd Lord And do I wake in Altomar's kind Arms Alt. Yes Royal Sweetness thy Tyrannick Father Though he has decreed thy Altomar must die Art Nay then why were my closing Eyes Torn open to behold this hated Light More terrible than Death's eternal Night Alt. Let not the Torrent of thy Sorrow swell Too high Thy Altomar is not so lost He has Glories Pleasures Joys and thy kind Father Has through his burning Rage some Sparks of Pity He has left this Treasure in my dying Arms And kindly crowns the Victim e'er it bleeds Art And must you die I cannot will not bear it Ye angry Gods if this be the Reward Of Truth and Love and unkind Providence Ordains two faithful Hearts a Fate so dismal Poor Love I fear has but few Friends in Heav'n Alt. Indeed my sweetest Saint 't is very hard That I must gaze on those bright Eyes no more Grasp thy dear Knees lie at thy Feet no more Till we shall meet agen above the Stars A very sad long Journey for a Lover But we shall meet agen and what tho' 't is Beyond the Grave To win this glorious Prize The Race can never be too long The way too craggy nor the Goal too far No my best Life the Stars are not so distant Nor are the Battlements of Heav'n too high To scale for so much Beauty Art Oh my Altomar How sad a Story shall we leave behind us Henceforward when some melancholy Virgin Looks out a lonely Cell to mourn and die She 'll read no more the tender mournful Tales Of ravisht Philomel or bleeding Lucrece But turning o'er our more unhappy Loves Read till she has sight her dying Taper out And drown'd her Eyes in Artemira's Woe Oh let me sigh my Soul into thy Arms And powre a flowing Deluge on thy Bosom Alt. Best of thy Sex thou softest Virgin Sweetness Who would not die thus mourn'd thus loved thus pitied With thy kind tender Sighs and melting Eyes Such gentle Showers and fragrant Gales around him When the luxurious Anthony In dissolved Pearl drank Kingdoms at a Draught He lived not with that Pleasure that I die I in this Nectar taste Eternity Enter Achmat and Guards Ach. My Lord I come to make a harsh Divorce Art Oh bloody Tyrant Father Alt. Hold yet stay Ach. My Lord our Haste Alt. Black Instrument of Hell May I not stay to take my last Farewell My only Life a long and last Adieu But he that goes to die sure ought to take His leave upon his Knees So have I seen The Beauteous Image of the Queen of Love Adorn'd with all her Graces her fair Hand Her blushing Cheeks and murmuring Lips all Sweetness And at the Feet of the Celestial Form Her humble Cupid hanging round her Knees Oh Love let me make up that pious Figure Low at the Feet of my dear Goddess bow And mourn and weep till I 'm as blind as thou Ach. Sir our Commission brooks no more delay Alt. Merciless Slaves Art My dearest Altomar
remembrance Your black Ingratitude to your kind King For all the numerous Honors I had given you That glorious Structure my vast Hopes had rais'd Thou hast at one blast blown up And the only Remnant of my Royal Blood Thou hast made for ever wretched Art Wretched can my Altomar's Dear Love make Artemira wretched No Mistaken King I 've loved so well that know To die for Altomar has more of Heav'n in 't Than Ages on the World 's Imperial Throne King Take Hence the Syren Oh Love thou unextinguishable Brand Of Vengeance take her from his Sight be gone She from this Minute ne'er shall see him more Art Stay merciless Villains savage Blood-hounds stay Alt. And art thou gone Exit forced out Snatcht from my panting Side Remorsless King how can you be so cruel To a poor dying Wretch at his last Gasp To tear that Beauty from my bleeding Arms Thro' all the Graves my gaping Wounds can show You never stab'd me till this killing Blow King What Sounds are these Trumpets heard Enter Messenger Mess An Envoy from the Army Enter Envoy Env. Great Sir I come from the Imperial Camp To tell you that the mutinous Souldiers tired With an Usurper's Yoak demand a Successor From the true Royal Line And by their Threats And Clamors to the General Abdalla Have forced him to discover that Prince Altomar A noble Youth residing in your Court But Stranger to his own great Quality Is the true Heir to th' Empire of Morocco And in th' united Peoples Voice I come To call him to a Throne King How Sir is Altomar The Royal Heir to th' Empire of Morocco Env. Yes Sir the Blood of their last murder'd Monarch Muly Labas runs in his Veins his true Name Muly-Mesude but by a borrow'd Title Preserved an Infant in the Court of Egypt T' escape the mortal Rage of the old Bloody Empress King What Words are these Env. But all his Injuries Are cancell'd in his Coronation day From his long Night like a gay Bridal Sun He to his new wedded World sets out in Glory King Oh never never will that morning rise See there that Glorious Sun is set for ever Haste take that Sacred Martyr from the Wrack Be quick ye Slaves They cut him down and set him on a Chair Env. What have ye done King Yes Fates what have I done A deed for which the Furies want a Name Martyr'd a Monarch on a Gibbet Damnation shape me such a Deed in Hell In Vengeance to a base Usurper's Blood Like an infatuated Savage Indian I 've built an Altar to a worshipt Devil And sacrifie'd a King t' a Rebell 's Ghost Alt. And was I born an Empire's Heir for this King Oh Altomar most sacred injured Lord What dismal Wrongs does Heaven ordain for thee What Plagues what Hells for me The only man of all Heav'ns whole Creation That could have made me great my Daughter blest Her Love immortal and my Name eternal I have most barbarously massacred The noblest Blood that Royal Veins e'er held I have let out to drown the sinking World Alt. Ah Sir did you not name your beauteous Daughter For sure methought I felt new Life shoot thro' me King Fly bring that mourning Sweetness to his Arms Tell her her Royal Altomar's hard Fate And her repenting Father's killing Horrors Alt. There 's something in that Breath so kind so wondrous kind Had I more Lives to lose I could forgive 'em all Enter Artemira Art Oh my dear dying Lord Alt. Oh name not dying For thou' rt my Bride and this our Nuptial Day And now let Death and Ruine do their worst One minute in my Artemira's Arms Has all the Raptures of Eternity Art Yes my loved Lord in spite of Fate this day's At once our Nuptial and our Coronation And sure if Love can Crown us in the Stars We shall shine there the brightest Pair in Heav'n Alt. Oh Love what is thy Power Art Now cruel Father Kill'd by my dear Lord's Wounds I 'll save you all Th' Expence of Steel or Poyson for my Fall King No live you best of Lovers live for ever Oh that I could supply from my own Veins That Blood I 've rob'd from thine from my torn Limbs With my own Flesh new cloath thy naked Bones Ye Gods why are your Miracles all ceas'd No Art in Heav'n to save his precious Life Alt. Sir your untimely Kindness comes too late But to acknowledge these last Sparks of Pity You Sir that come t' invite me to a Throne To the Envoy Bear back my dying Sighs to my kind Subjects Tell 'em I have a Brother call'd Cialto A Souldier in the Persian Sophy's Camp Let him be call'd to fill my empty Throne But let him know e'er the Imperial Diadem Circles his radiant Brow that 't is the last Request of his expiring Brother that The Wrongs of Altomar be ne'er remember'd No Schriech-owl Fame dare croak my dying Wounds But let him cherish this dear Sacred Prince For he 's the Father to my Royal Bride And his kind Hand has given me Artemira King Bright Miracle prodigious Goodness Gods Must so much Worth and so much Honor die Alt. Oh stop your violent Griefs Alas great Sir I am your Son we 're both your Children now And cannot bear our drooping Father's Woe Art Oh cruel Sir why are you kind too late Why was not I my dear Lord's Bride till now Why did not your poor Artemira In these dear Arms these circling Glories shine Could nothing but an Empire make him mine Oh the ill judging World King Poor injur'd Girl Art Has he more Love more Charms more Hearts to give me Because he 's Heir t' a Crown Ah no he was To me my King my World my Heaven before And Crowns and Empires could not make him more Alt. Oh Artemira take me on thy Breast My Royal Saint what Heavn of Bliss Should we possess if I had Life to love thee But Oh a Cloud o'ercasts my Rising Sun Just when my Joys begin my Life is done Dies Art He 's gon he 's gon and do I stay behind King Farewell dear martyr'd Saint That parting Sigh that breaks thy Heart stabs mine Art Oh Murder Ruine Horror and Despair That ghastly Scene of Blood Blood did I say Fye these are Ruby Bracelets on his Arms Those Scarlet Love-Knots my kind Father tied To bind two dying bleeding Hearts together King Poor injur'd Innocence look up and live Art Live cruel Father love like me and live Not to be Empress of a thousand Worlds A Love like mine Oh Father Love's a God-head Yes a blind God his Lights all drown'd like mine And is he blind indeed how came he blind Say did he weep his Eyes out for my Altomar Oh my sick Soul King Speak to thy wretched Father Art Ha! is 't my Love that calls me See His mounting Chariot hastens me away I come my Altomar my Life I come Stabs her self Oh see the Gods our Nuptials do prepare See Altomar see Artemira there The Feasting Gods with Bridal Chaplets crownd Whilst to the Poles the jocund Orbs resound And all the Nectar of their Heav'n goes round In thy chaste Arms thy glittering Bride enfold Her Palace archt with Gemms and paved with Gold Dies King Was ever wretched Father damn'd as I am But I am safe his dying Breath forgave me No generous Prince thy Mercy soar'd too high Thou mayest forgive thy Murder but not I. Stabs himself Mor. Why this rash Deed King No 't is a Noble Deed. Should Guilt and Shame survive when Vertue bleeds I 'm but the meanest Wretch this Storm has wrack'd That pair of faithful Lovers died before me When Natures Wealth all her rich Fraught sinks down Surely the Lumber of the World may drown Morat as e'er thou lov'st thy dying King See my Bones lodg'd in that wrong'd Prince's Grave But let me humbly his blest Relicks meet Lay my Head low beneath his Royal Feet Dies Mor. See here the dire Effects of unkind Parents Our whole World bleeds for their unhappy Loves How calm a Stream is Love when unoppos'd But stop'd the impetuous Torrent does o'erturne Whole sinking Kingdoms and makes Empires mourn Exeunt Omnes The EPILOGUE Spoken by Mrs Coysh's Girl as a CUPID LAdies the Poet knew no better way Than to send me to prattle for his Play I am yâ—ur Cupid and you cannot sure Drive such a small young Beggar from your Door Do you be but as kind as you are fair And by my Quiver Bow and Darts I swear The little Tiny God whose help you want Shall hear your Prayers and all your wishes grant The Country Lady shall come up to Town And shine in her old Coach and her new Gown The City Wife shall leave her poor Tom Farthing And take a harmless Walk to Covent Garden Those very Eyes shall still look young and gay That Conquer'd on the Coronation-day But you the brighter Beauties of the Court You who the World undo but Stage support You shall subdue all Hearts while I sit still I 'll break my Bow and leave your Eyes to kill Nay the Court-Star your Beauties to advance Has left her Dazling Sphere to set in France FINIS
Interest true Can write against all Sense nay even their own The Vehicle call'd Pension makes it down No fear of Cudgells where there 's hope of Bread A well-fill'd Panch forgets a broken Head But our dull Fop on every side is damn'd He has his Play with Love and Honor cram'd Rot your Old fashion'd Heroe in Romance Who in a Lady's Quarrel breaks a Launce Give us the modish Feat of Honor done With Eighteen well-chew'd Ballets in one Gun Charg'd but with Eighteen Bullets did I say Damn it if that won't do we 'll bring one day Queen Besse's Packet Pistol into Play Give us Heroick Worthies of Renown With a revenging Rival's Mortal Frown Not by dividing Oceans kept a sunder Whilst angry Spark comes on like Jove with Thunder Gives out in Harlem Gazette Blood and Wounds In Foreign Fray to sculk on English Ground And scorning Duels a poor Prize at Sharps He only fights for Fame in Counterscarps Do not you follow his Revenge and Fury Be you those tender-hearted things his Jury Give us Old-Baily mercy for our Play Ah no! no Pray'rs nor Bribes your Hearts can sway Your cruel Talents lie the other way Criticks Are Polish Bullies fire and lightning all The Blunderbuss goes off and where you hit you maul ACT I. SCENE I. A Seraglio Artemira and Rosolin Art OH Rosolin thou art a subtle Charmer To treat thy Princess with the sacred Glories Of her Victorious Altomar His Praise Is so sublime a Theme that sure 't was such a Subject That once inspired the ancient Theban Lyre When even th' inanimate Woods and Rocks Felt the inchanting Sounds and borrowed Ears T' attend the powerful Song Amir Madam Alas To sing his Praise is but that humble Tribute Which the united World should pay and when His mighty Triumphs speak so loud as crack The very Voice of Fame can I do less Than make a part in th' Universal Quire Art Ah Rosolin thou paint'st but half his Conquests 'T is not enough that in his floating Walls He rides triumphant Lord o' th' Wat'ry Main But after all this gallant God-like Man Returns a Conqueror returns to these Kind Arms his dearest Artemira's Arms. Where am I going I shall talk my Sence away Love wraps me up so high my soaring Soul Grows giddy with the Airy Maze it treads Enter Mirvan Mirv. Madam Lord Meroin desires admittance Art What brings him here Go tell him I am private That hated Sight 's enough to damp my Joys What is his Business Mirv. Madam the Success Of your Illustrious Father's Conquering Arms Has brought him big with Wonder to repeat The pleasing Miracle Art Admit him Exit Mirvan I know the Villain hates my Altomar And me but my dear Altomar's Applause Has Musick in the Sound tho' set by Hell And sung by Envy Enter Meroin Mer. Madam when the Gods Design'd such Beauty for a Kingdoms Heir In Justice to your infinite Deserts They strow your way with Trophies to a Crown Your Royal Father to enlarge his Throne Fit for so bright a Form to fill has Heav'n His Friend and Fate his Vassal builds his Glory High as the Stars and makes the binding Cement Of this vast Pile his vanquisht Enemies Blood Art Indeed Sir our late wonderful Success Over our proud Venetian Enemies Shews us no little Favorites of Heaven Merv. Our wonderful Success where lies the Wonder Could your great Fathers Arms be less victorious When led by Altomar the Valiant Altomar Now Flattery and and all the artful Pow'rs Of slighted Love assist me If she loves him I have an Art to track her hidden Fires I 'll tune her Favorite's Praise so high till I Aside Have rais'd such Pleasures in her wanton Eyes As shall betray the burning Lake within ' em Art My Lord you have begun a noble Subject And in the Generous Altomar's just Praise You but express a Kingdom 's Obligation Merv. His Praises just just yes from all Mankind Such Courage and such Conduct is a Theme As would make Malice court and Envy flatter He managed Ruine with so proud a Port His very dying Foes in their last Groans Could do no less than praise their fatal Conqueror By all the Gods a nobler braver Chief Ne'r grac'd an Armies Head since that great day When th' angry Angels met and their bright Generals Led out th'embattell'd Seraphim to fight Whilst the vast Storm of War shook down the Stars Art Oh that a Villain should describe a Hero What Style has Love if Hate has so much Rhetorick Aside Mer. Imagine here the bold Venetians Their gaudy Fleet with all their glittering Flags Whilst th' humbler Gallies round their taller Galeasses Crouching like Porpusses beneath the Whale Cut the salt Foam to meet the enrag'd Altomar Suppose on th' other side the fierce The Fiery Altomar our Algier Glory The God-like Genius of your Fathers Arms With his proud Navy all his moving Castles Meets the vast Foe Art Oh that a hand so loath'd should draw so sweet a Picture Aside Mer. Imagine now the Warlike Fleets engaged Ruine and Death with all their Pomp and Noise Alarm the Globe and frighted Nature shakes Whilst Victory that Eagle Bird of Prey Hovers above the floating Massacre The trembling Shore around the reeking Sea Below and all the smoaking Air above Together joyn joyn with his ratling Fires All the contending Elements conspire To grace their Lord the Conquering Altomar Art My Lord I know not from what Mystick Source All this kind Language flows but if there 's Riddles In your Applause there shall be none in mine You draw this gallant Prince's shining Picture Below the bright Original The highest Description you can make is but your Duty And know his Vertue Courage Loyalty And all the Graces that can write man great Make his name worthy to be welcome here Mer. By all the Sulphur in her burning Veins My Fears are true she loves and has the Pride To own it is her own vain boasting Trumpet Aside Enter Mirvan Mirv. Madam Prince Altomar Mer. Return'd already Aside Art Hast and conduct him in Exit Mirvan Mer. Curst be the Name And doubly curst the hour I saw that Face Aside Art My Lord The Illustrious Prince's Praise is a large Theme And if you have more to say some other time You will oblige me with the pleasing Subject Mer. Death with what Scorn and Pride she drives me hence To make more room for my accursed Rival Aside Perdition be his Guide and Plagues his Ushers And burning Irons pave the way that leads him Exit Art He comes he comes now breaks my rising day In the new Sun shine the kind Cupids play Olive and Myrtle show his fragrant way Enter Altomar Alt. Health of my Soul and Mirror of my Eyes Light of my World and Goddess of my Prayers Do I once more embrace thy Sacred Knees My Joy's too dazling for my Soul to bear I would gaze on but thou' rt too killing fair Art Oh rise my
Lord and hear your Artemira For she has such Words such happy Sounds to speak As would give Balm to wounds as deep as Graves And Life even beyond Death Alt. Speak then sweet Oracle And whilst thy Love breaths raptures in my Ears I will look Blessings from thy Eyes Art What a long year have our contracted Souls Past o'er with smother'd sighs stolen looks and silent hopes Awed with a harsh severe imperious Father Whilst the big Name of Heiress to a Crown Has kept thy just Ambition from my Arms But now our sullen Fears are all blown o'er The Mountain's levell'd and the Prospect's clear Alt. Be quick dear Heav'n explain this dazling Vision Art Know then last night when astonisht Fame Had brought your Conquests to my Father's Ear Charm'd with the News he came to visit me Then with such Emphasis such feeling Pride Your Glories he describ'd and play'd so well Your kind just Herald that my ravisht Sense Could scarce contain my Joys But to compleat My Extasie at last these words broke out Daughter says he so much this gallant Souldier Deserves from Heaven and me that tho' I ne'r Intended less than a Crown'd Head for you Yet my Ambition now shall yield to Justice Daughter I am resolv'd I will reward My Kingdom 's Champion with my Kingdoms Heir At his Return prepare to make him yours Alt. What new-created Light surrounds my Soul With such Coelestial Harmony Spoke that commanding Voice that form'd the World Bid the dark Scene of Night and Chaos vanish To show the shining Universal Theatre Art We who so long have kept our Loves so secret And with that cautious Fear supprest our Sighs Jealous o' th' very Air in which we breath'd 'em Now at one Chance have all our Wishes Crown'd One happy Minute ends an Ages Pain Alt. One happy Minute Yes the happiest That time e'er number'd since the restless Orbs Began th' Eternal Round Henceforward Time Throw by thy common Sand and let thy Glass Run Gold pure sparkling Oar And ye high Powers When you 'd record some new-made Saint Star Angel Or some blest Martyrs Coronation Day Date your immortal Annals from that hour Art All happiness attends my dearest Lord Thou art Heav'ns nearest Care and their best Angels Charge Alt. Where is this more than King this God-like Father My swelling Veins like Mines of Incense burn And my transported Soul already kneels Low as my Grave t' adore his sacred Feet Art We shall obtain that Blessing instantly Each minute I expect him here and your Dear Presence I am sure will give him Wings And if there 's any thing that can detain him It is the Ceremony that he pays To an Imperial Stranger The Usurper Gayland That great Subverter of the Africk Empire Is now my Father's Guest In his return From the reducing some revolted Towns To their Obedience Taking this Kingdom in his March has made A visit here Ros Madam the King approaches Enter Albuzeiden and Lords Altomar kneels Alb. Rise noble Youth thou Darling of the Stars Whilst I have thy Heroick Arm to cut My way to Fame and my triumphant Fleet Has such an Admiral Neptune's my Slave An Arm like thine 's Enough to make the Tributary God And all his floating Globe my Vassals Alt. You raise my little Services too high My Wreaths are but the Branches of your Laurel Alb. Rise my best Friend and grow within my Arms Thy Modesty commends thee and prefers thee But my dear Altomar 't is not enough Thy Conquering Arm has made me great abroad But Triumphs wait me nearer home new Trophies Lie at my Feet whilst pressing Glories crowd Under my Battlements The mighty Gayland The long-fam'd Terror of our Africk World Is Artemira's Slave has seen and loves her Alt. What words are these Aside Art Oh my blasted Ears Alb. And in his name full of a Fathers Joy I come to offer as his Advocate The Tribute of a Crown and call her Empress Now my best Friend since thy Success in Battel And the Alliance of his Royal Blood Have blest my Peace and Wars making my Throne As bright as my Pavilion as I praise Thy Victories do thou congratulate mine Art What killing Sounds are these Alt. Oh cruel Sir What have you done Alb. How Altomar Alt. Ah Royal Sir take heed how you resolve What Heaven and Justice must forbid Dread Sir Forgive me when thus low I fall to tell you Fair Artemira's mine Alb. What do I hear Alt. Only th' unalterable work of Fate The tender Story of two meeting Hearts Whose Loves your Royal Smiles can only Crown Art Yes Sacred Sir your Artemira's Love Her chaste true Love her Joys her only Joys Her generous Fathers Smiles can only Crown And sure you will not cannot frown on me Alb. Fond easie Fool is thy unprincely Soul Fill'd with such flashy Fires are thy high Blood Birth Beauty Sex and Pride such empty Names Art Is this your Promise dear inhumane Father Did you for this with so much cruel Eloquence Repeat the Charming Story of his Conquests Drawing his Picture so Divine so Lovely And bid me when this gallant Prince return'd A Conqueror prepare to make him mine Alb. How 's this Thou easie cheap ignoble Fool. By all that 's good she courted Him because Once in a humor I had an humble Thought And wrapt up with the News of this Success Let slip an idle word She eager Fondling Swell'd with the wanton Joy ran in t ' his arms Told him her Father had prepared a Husband And came to offer him his humble Bride Shame of thy Blood Alt. Oh hold Sir She run into my Arms what Blasphemy is this Easie and cheap Now by my Life you wrong her I won her nobly by yon' bright Eternals I took her Heart by Storm Her guarded Breast Stood my long Siege with all her Sexes Pride By all the Stars and her own brighter Eyes To conquer that inestimable Prize I breath'd such Sighs as might have melted Rocks Offer'd such Prayers as might have woo'd a Deity From my drown'd Eyes made a long Deluge rowl And bath'd her Feet before I mov'd her Soul And if at last her generous vanquisht Pity Can entertain a tender wish for me It is not with the least ignoble Thought Below her self the Daughter of a King And the most Sovereign Beauty of the World Alb. Hold Be that blasted Tongue for ever dumb What do I live to hear By all that 's Sacred This is an old Intrigue The wanton Traytors Have given and seiz'd bargain'd and barter'd Hearts Chang'd their fond Eyes and mixt th' engendering Basilisks Without my Knowledge That rebellious Syren Has pawn'd her Honor sold my Kingdoms Heir Whilst th' insignificant deluded Father Was not thought worthy of the dark Cabal But I 'm too patient Art Is this my King and Father Why was I born with Eyes if this must be their Object Alb. No Disobedient thou wert born With those false Lights to find
as mine Mor. Suppress your Rage perhaps you are mistaken What tho' she gazed upon that painted Plume And her kind Tongue caress'd the vain proud Fool How do you know but this fond Apparition May be Design and Artifice not Love Alt. Design Ah no Her Heart her Soul 's a going I saw her heard her false beheld those Eyes Those once unerring Lights inchanted with That shining Comet Power Saw those bright Suns Leave their long Tracks of Truth Faith Honor Love Whilst a new Phaeton usurp'd the Throne To set that World of Excellence on Fire Mor. How has your Curiosity undone you Why did you wooe me from your milder Gaol And beg this short Enlargement on your Knees To meet this Sight and be your own Tormenter Alt. What tho' I 'd known I should have found her false Not see her Ah who could forbear to see her Those dear fair Eyes have Charms even when they kill So in a Plague when th' angry Gods send out Some bright Commission'd Angel to destroy Could we but see the Divine Arm that strikes We should behold unutterable Glory 'T is not the Vengeance that it pours can lessen The Majesty of a destroying Deity Mor. I have not gone thus far ventur'd my Head T' unloose your Chains brought you thus far to ruine And leave you thus No I 'll go on thro' Fate And Death but I will give your Torments Ease Alt. Dear generous kind Morat Mor. By Heav'ns I 'll carry This Faithless Woman all your Sighs your Wrongs Your just Resentments of her Infidelity If she has Honor Sence or Shame Alt. Alas Though thou could'st lay my dying Groans before her What would that move if she 's resolv'd to kill Mor. My Lord I pity you Alt. Indeed I want it Mor. Now upon second thoughts you your own self Shall tell her your Resentments Alt. How Mor. Prepare This Night to visit her Alt. My Tutelar Angel Morat Thus then By th'help of Night I will convey you safe to the Seraglio Alt. Go on Morat Kind Rosolin your faithful Confident I 'm certain will admit you And to secure you from all dangerous Eyes Remove the Princess's watchful Slaves And tho' The cruel Artemira would deny you It would be then too late Her very dread o' th' Outrage To which her harsh Denials may transport you Will make your way For since she 's sensible That to discover you would give you Death For your past Loves She will not be your Murderer Now try Your Fortune and unriddle all your Fears Alt. Now art thou kinder than my Prayers could ask Mor. Alas my Lord I cannot see your Soul thus Tempest-shaken But I must either calm the Storm or drown in 't Alt. Thou best of Friends Mor. But Sir I must conjure you Whatever Aspect or Disdain you meet Let not your Wrongs rise high nor yet talk loud Lest your wild Rage should be your own destroyer Alt. No dear Morat Suppose the worst Imagine She meets me with a Look all cold and bleak As Winter Stars Nay to compleat my misery Suppose her fallen to that Apostacy That she dares boldly tell me that she loves him Suppose all this and words ten times more cruel Which 't is even Blasphemy to think yet still I have loved so well I shall not with the least Outragious word upbraid her with my Fate But falling prostrate at her Feet and kneeling To th' adored Heav'n from whence that Thunder came My breaking Heart shall just keep Life enough To bear me back into my Gaol and die Mor. Look up and hope a better Fate Alt. Good Heaven If possible dissolve this dreadful Vision But if I 'm doom'd to see her broken Vows Not Comets with their bearded Majesty Those blazing Deputies of th' angry Gods Hang o're the World with half that mortal Influence As threats this miserable Head Comets Why do I name those Infant Rods of Fate If Artemira's Cruelty ordeins Her wretched Slave in black despair shall die Within the Sphere of that destroying Eye Hang all the bloody Banners of the Sky Exeuut ACT III. The King discovered in his Night Gown sitting Meroin by him A Song and Musick The Scene a Bed-Chamber King STop your insipid croaking Throats and practise Your little Arts on little Objects Lull Some peevish Girl or froward Boy asleep And do not hope to calm a restless King I 'm stung with a Tarantula too strong For such mean Ayrs to cure What has my vast Ambition form'd to make a Daughter great And Father blest But the resisting Fool Destroys the Sacred Work Heavens I was raising her A Pile of Majesty so high so losty On whose Imperial Towers she might shake hands With Gods But angry Love that envious Deity Confounds the Languages of Power and Glory And stops the rising Fabrick Mer. Stop it Death What should oppose your Will She knows your Pleasure And dares she disobey King True Meroin I can command her Eye her Hand her Tongue But they 'r all Hypocrites all base Dissemblers Her hidden Thoughts her Heart 's all Altomar's Kings are not Gods Our Pow'r extends o'r all but Souls They like unbridled unsubjected Devils Soar in that Air of which themselves are Princes Mer. Hold Royal Sir let not your Majesty So much mistake thus cheated with a Bubble What is that noisy thing we call a Soul What 's all its Faculties and Passions but Th' Impression of our Sence our Flesh and Blood Or the Effects of Chance or Education Pamper'd we 're wanton Great we 're proud Dist ress'd We 're Pious and in Love we 're mad and Sir Is Madness a Disease incurable No were she mine 't is not a hundred Altomars Should keep her from a Throne and Gayland's Arms And to perform the mighty Operation I 'd keep her waking with the Name of Gayland Prevent her Morning Prayers with Gayland Gayland She should scarce hear one word but Kings Crowns Empires Then would I make her Servants nay her very Priests My Instruments They should preach her into Love Tell her her way to Heav'ns through Gayland's Arms. Ah Sir Religion does the rarest Feats in Love makes a coy Girl so kind so pliant Then would I keep her caged watch'd like a Bird Till she 'd forgot her own wild barbarous Notes And learnt my nobler Ayres King Thou hast inspired me And I 'll pursue the Sacred Path thou 'st laid me I 'll instantly t' her Chamber and begin The mighty Work I 'll shew her Greatness Empire So bright as shall uncloud her wandring Sences High as a Beacon fix the blazing Light To guide her through the Labyrinths of Night Exit Mer. As I could wish Gon to the Princess Chamber Unarm'd unguarded Now for my Revenge Oh 't is the best the rarest luckiest hour That Night the Bawd to murder Could e'er have pickt me out And thou proud scornful Syren Now to my Vengeance thy false Heart stands fair There is no surer Blood-hound than Despair Exit Scene the Second
The Princess discover'd in her BedChamber Enter Altomar introduced by Rosolin Art Kind Heav'n he comes Rosol Know 't is with wondrous danger But greater Kindness that my Royal Mistress Admits you at this Hour Alt. My generous Guide May Heav'n and Love requite thee for this Favor Those Powr's which are my Enemies reward thee Exit Rosolin Art Approach my Altomar This awful Distance Befits a Courting not a Conquering Lover But say my Altomar what pitying Angel Has broke thy Chains to bless thy Artemira Alt. Still the same Sweetness If the Flower 's so fragrant Can the dear Root be poyson'd Aside Art Why are you silent Sir now by my Life Your crowding Joys to see your kind dear Princess Have lockt your Tongue pent up the narrow Vent For words and made your swelling Raptures dumb Nay then I will increase your Extasie Know I 've been storm'd by your proud haughty Rival The vainest thing that ever Fortune rais'd For Fools t' obey or Beauty to despise But by my kind Compliance with his Pride I have so pleas'd his Vanity so wrought The Royal Pageant up till he has sworn By Alla and his own Imperial Honor Hee 'll never marry me till he has conquer'd me Now when I meet the shining Meteor next I 'll own our Loves and tell him I 'm invincible Alt. Is this the Vertue Gods I have profaned And this that Truth my frantick Fears could doubt Aside Art Then if he has the least Spark of Majesty And still dares tire me with his nauseous Love I 'll Thunder in his Ears his Royal Promise His blasted Honor and his broken Vows Till I have shamed him from his hopeless Suit Made him take all his gaudy Streamers in And shrink like blushing Cowards from a Siege Alt. Oh was there ever Constancy like thine Or jealous impious Infidel like me Aside Art And does your Artemira's Kindness please you Alt. Please me Not a blest Soul at the last Trumpets Sound Can hear his Call to Everlasting Glory With greater Extasie Enter Rosalin running Ros Madam the King your Father Art Ha! what sayest thou Ros Is coming hither just now ent'ring And I 've out-run the Danger to alarm you Alt. Confusion Art Fly fly my Altomar But hold to move That way would be to meet him in the Face And to stay here is Death Alt. What shall I do Art Retire into my Closet Alt. Oh unhappy Chance Exit into the Closet Art Husht as your Grave your silent Station keep For if you stir my Altomar must die Enter King King You seem disturb'd is it the Father's Presence Or Daughters Guilt that makes this Ague Fit Art Dread Sir a Visit at this hour of Night Ev'n from a Father cannot but surprize me King Suppress your Fear draw nigh I come to talk with you Art Speak with the voice of Mercy Royal Sir And whilst the Breath of Majesty delivers The charming Oracles thus low I 'll fall Kneels T' embrace the Feet of the inspir'd God that utters ' em King Well I will speak with Mercy Art Yes Royal Sir if you but knew what Love meant Then you would speak with Mercy then you 'd pity My bleeding Heart not bid me poorly sell My solid Peace for th' empty name of Empress Alas I would obey you if I could But the Command's impossible I have loved once and ne'er can love agen True Love 's A Bird of Paradise when once on Wing It keeps the Airy Region where it flies And never lights before it falls and dies Enter Meroin locking the Door after him King Tortures and Furies how she frets my Soul Turns all my Blood to Gall. Mer. And mine to Poyson King How Meroin Mer. I come to tell thee King That I have chas'd a hunted Tyrant and This fair false Crocodile into the Toyl And on this Spot they die Draws King How Sawcy Traytor What means this unexampled Insolence Mer. Why Sir I 'll tell you call to your Remembrance The many Wounds I have received for you Have I not been your Conquering Admiral For almost twice seven Years my Loyalty Untainted and my Courage undisputed But thy Ingratitude Barbarian King Could lay me like a rusty Armor by Nor has she play'd the Tyrant less than thou Her cruelty and her proud haughty Scorn To all my slighted Sighs has light that Brand Which nothing but her Hearts last Blood can quench But I lose time King Hold Impious Slave yet hold if thou canst think Much less darest put in Action what thou threaten'st Canst thou e'er hope thy Royal Master's Murder Will go unpunisht Mer. Yes you would frighten me with Stakes or Gibbets Wracks or Wild Horses or some such foolish thing But know mistaken King I came not hither With such a faint Design I and my Injuries Are more resolv'd than so Now for thy Heart Re-enter Altomar interposing Alt. Hold Traytor Mer. Ha! Alt. Thou Monster more than damn'd Mer. Curses and Plagues what Fury brought him hither Alt. Triumphant Infidel durst thy black Soul But think to kill thy King What Lunacy inspired thy Frantick Rage With the least Hope t' effect the Savage Deed Dog didst thou see you Azure Roof all Blaze With unknown Fires The groaning World beset With Comets Earthquakes Plagues and Deluges These are the Prologues to a murder'd King But do I talk Thy Crimes and this just Arm Fall on thee Traytor They fight Meroin falls Take thy just Reward Sticking him to the Ground Go sink and howl in everlasting Flames Mer. Thou 'st kill'd me and Perdition seize the Murderer Dies Alt. Thus low great Sir I bend my prostrate Soul Kneels and lays his Sword at the King's Feet O'er-whelm'd with Glory and o'er-charg'd with Bliss For I have saved the Royal Albuzeiden And the fair Artemira lives by me King Rise Altomar for I have much to say And thou to hear True thou hast sav'd our Lives Alt. With greater Joy with greater Piety Than e'er the Trojan Youth his aged Sire Over the rowling Conflagration bore And stemm'd a Tide of Fire To save my King King Hold your Carieer and do not vainly sing Your ill tuned Triumph Yes you 've saved our Lives Your fatal Kindness like the circling Adder Kills when 't embraces Speak thou dreadful Gorgon That turn'st me into Stone how camest thou hither Art Stop but your Rage and let me tell you how Oh Sir look up and see yon shining Empire Where th' Universal Monarch sits whose Angels Stand Sentinels around the Lives of Kings Hither by that fore-seeing Providence Was th' happy Altomar sent by Commission To save my Royal Father's Life King Peace Scriech-Owl How artfully the fond Enchantress pleads What fatal Planet led me to this place To see the Ruines of my Royal Name So close alone at this dark hour of night Hid in her Closet like a lustful Satyr Alt. What words are these I hear King Truth Ravisher sounds that will sink thy Soul When thy hot burning Lust
Farewell and in thy dying Groans remember Thy Artemira hovers round thy Head Like thy best Genius waits thee to thy Heav'n My mounting Soul with thy last breath shall fly If I can hold so long before I die Exit forced out by Achmat. Alt. She 's gone The Lees and Out-cast of the whole Creation Are Princes to the wretched Altomar Gallies and Dungeons hold not such a Slave A Slave so lost as Altomar Now Gentlemen you whose Commission 't is T' attend a dying Martyr to a Stake There was a time my valiant Fellow-Souldiers We marcht together in a Cause more glorious Morat Yes injured Prince there was when our great General The Conquering Altomar led us to Victory Alt. Name it no more that day is quite forgotten My Honor 's laid in Dust as I must be But now with my last Breath I must conjure you Let not my ghastly Fortune fright you from Your dearest Loyalty Fight on my Souldiers Fight for your Royal Lord go on till you Have won him Trophies numberless as Stars And Glory dazling as the Sun And then expect The brave Reward of all your Noble Toyls For he 's a King so just a King so generous A King so merciful he can be cruel To nothing but to Altomar unkind To nought but Altomar Mirv. How bright a Mind Is lodg'd within this clouded Pile of Honor Alt. Lead on yet stay When you shall see me bleed Tho' thro' a hundred Gates my Life shall sally out Let not my Blood force an unmanly Tear For 't is a Souldier dies and Death 's our Game And where we have no Stake but Life to lose The Pain 's not worth a Sigh But when you think With what an ignominious Doom I fall All blasted with the leprous Name of Traytor That only Torture Shame dire killing Shame Then powre your pity through your bursting Eyes To think how my poor gasping Honor dies Morat Never was Fate so sad Alt But Oh my Princess What Plagues what Hells my black despair would find Were not the charming Antemira kind But now ye Gods in spite of Tyranny Ingratitude Death Tortures Infamy Tho' all th' Artillery of Fate And all your Thunder level at my Head Fate only can my Earthy Out-works win But she makes Safety Strength and Peace within Amidst the threatning Storms that round me rowl Love's kind white Flag hangs out to calm my Soul Exeunt ACT V. Enter Morat meeting Mirvan Mor. Mirvan thy Looks speak Horror if thou' rt come From the Imperial Army and dost bring Ought terrible give it a Tongue No Voice But that of Ruine sure should speak to day Mirv. Yes Sir I come from the Imperial Camp To tell you that Distraction and Confusion Lie like a brooding Plague around our Walls No Mutiny was ever half so loud The Souldiers in a hundred different Shapes Of Outrage crowd about their Generals Tent. And where the Fury of this Storm will fall Whether their Clamors be their pious Rage For their lost Emp'ror or a kindling Fire In Vengeance to his Blood Heav'n only knows Mor. Alas Those little Horrors are not half So dismal as our Tragick Scene within Oh Mirvan Mirvan that Illustrious Youth The gallant conquering Altomar at whose Adored dear Name our Nations Genius bows He who has propt our sinking Kingdoms Glory Is basely murder'd like a Traytor dies And by a Death so infamous so inhumane Enter Rosalin Ros Oh never never was a Sight so horrid Mor. Ah Madam if your Eyes have felt so much Fly from this Ground For I am repeating that Will wound your Ears and act new Murders there Ros No kind Morat if thou canst breath that Story Whose Repetition is enough to kill Live thou to tell it whilst I die to hear it Mor. What Hearts of Flesh with Eyes of Sence and Pity Could stand to see that God-like Martyr stretcht Upon a Wrack fixt on a publick Scaffold And then behold from all his tortur'd Limbs His manly Flesh torn off with burning Pincers Oh more than barbarous King the sooty Cyclops Who sweating at the Anvil points the lightning And moulds the Bolts of th' angry Thunderer Ne'er shaped a Mettal for a work so dismal Mirv. Oh matchless Cruelty Mor. Nor is this all to drown his dying Groans The Drums and Trumpets all those martial Organs Which once were tuned to nobler Ayres when Altomar Fill'd their shrill Throats with sounds of Victory Are now employed to ring his Funeral Peal Methinks I fancy how in times first Non-age The frighted World beheld the dark'ning Moon Then joyn'd with discord dinns of ratling Brass Cryes Yells and Shouts to aid the laboring Planet So sing the Dirges of the dying Altomar No Sounds too harsh for such eclipsing Glory Mirv. What could provoke the best of Kings to act A Deed below the worst of Savages Mor. That Canker of Great Souls those only Actors In all great Massacres Fear and Revenge He fears the Out-rage of the mutinous Souldiers And thinks his threat'ned Kingdom lies at Stake And for th' ignoble Cowards Maxim Safety In hopes to mitigate their Rage he prosecutes This more than common Vengeance for their King Merv. What could the wretched Altomar e'er do To harden the obdurate Gods against him Mor. Why nothing Only he loved the Daughter of his King And as that criminal doom'd for robbing Heav'n In Tortures like the poor Prometheus dies For stealing Fire from Artemira's Eyes Ros Oh Sir you leave the saddest part untold 'T is not enough this injur'd Hero dies But to make revenge astonishingly cruel The mourning Princess in more exquisite Torments For her forbidden Love to her dear Altomar By her own Slaves her new-made Jaylors haled Stands by to view the Bloody Execution And see her dying Lover's Heart-strings crack The mourning Niobe for her slaughter'd Sons Congealed with Horror to a weeping Marble Her griefs were calm to Artemira's Woes Art Inhumane bloody Savage Tyrant Father Oh let me die Dogs Slaves infernal Torturers Lend me a Javelin Sword Cords Daggers Poyson No Fiend below no pitying God above Nor one kind Bolt in Heaven to strike me dead Alt. Oh stop that Sacred Flood my Royal Heav'n Weep not for me for I 'm above all pity But some few Minutes more and I shall mount On Angels Wings to that immortal Throne Where dying Lovers Groans are heard no more Nor their warm purple stains the reeking Floor Art Let go your Hold Tormentors let me go Oh see proud Slaves your humble Princess kneels And can she be denyed Gets loose Oh my dear murder'd Lord Kneeling Alt. Ah rise fair royal Angel mourner rise Art Oh never never on my Knees I 'll grow Fix and root here till some relenting God Has laid me in thy Grave Alt. My better Self These Griefs are kind but let 'em flow more mildly I feel no pains but thro' my Princess Heart Enter King and Guards King If you want pains I 'll find 'em for you call to your