you stamp is Royal other Pretenders to Satyr but file and wash they live by the Clippings of your Wit and dip their Silver in your Bath to make it pass for Gold Self-preservation bids me say no more of your Lordships Poetry lest I dam my own who aim at nothing so much as the Honour of being thought by your Lordship My Lord Your most Humble Obedient and Devoted Servant NAT. LEE MITHRIDATES King of Pontus ACT I. SCENE I. The outer-part of the Temple of the Sun A noise of Musick and tuning Voices is heard Enter Pharnaces Pelopidas Phar. TO Night to Night this fatal Moment now Our dreadful Father's Nuptials are preparing And I must lose bright Monima for ever Ambition too is barr'd Scepters and Crowns And all the golden Quarries now are lost Zphares O Ziphares happy Brother Thou hast dislodg'd me by thy late Exploits And now usurp'st my Father's Brest alone Curs'd be the Pow'r that bless'd thee on thy way To overthrow Triarius curs'd the Stars That glitter'd round thy Head when by thy Arm So many Tribunes and Centurions fell As made Rome groan and broke Lucullus heart Pelop. Hear me my Lord. Phar. This Morning on a Mountain Above the Clouds his Triumph was perform'd And I assisted at the Sacrifice Why gave I not this Body to the Flames To be devour'd among the tortur'd Slaves Rather than liv'd to see his Conquest Crown'd I saw it O Pelopidas these Eyes Saw Mithridates with a Torch give Fire To the vast Pile which like a Pyramid Stood high upon the Hill as that on Earth Pelop. Will you but give me leave Phar. I saw the blaze Of his immortal Honour heard the shout Of all the Court which did torment the Air To that degree that Birds fell round us dead And that thin Region where we scarce cou'd live When first we did ascend became so fat With the rich Steam of Blood and boyling Gold And flowing Gums that we were forc'd remove Nay I believe the glutted Gods themselves Were almost choak'd with the prodigious Odors Pelop. Yet have you done Phar. To the green Neptune then Because at Sea old Archelaus had Been Conqueror with my Brother in their Names An Off'ring was decreed a Chariot all With Emeralds set and fill'd with Coral Tridents Was with a hundred Horses wild as Wind From off the top of that most dismal place Plung'd to the bottom of the slimy Deep Pelop. Let me intreat you call your Reason home And listen to your faithful Servant's Counsel You cannot hate your Brother more to Death Than I his Friend the General Archelaus ' Has got the start of me in the King's favour And tho without being vain I think my self The better Souldier he by Polities Has push'd me from the Dignities I bore The Lion's outed by the Fox Phar. But with full cry Let us unkennel him rather rebel Than bear it thus 't is mine 't is thy concern Nor let the Name of King or Father awe us A Mistress and a Throne most specious Titles The God of Battel rages in my Breast And as at Delphos when the glorious Fury Kindles the Blood of the Prophetick Maid The bounded Deity does shoot her out Draws every Nerve thin as a Spider's Thred And beats the skin out like expanded Gold So with the meditation of the Work Which my Soul bears I swell almost to bursting Pelop. In all the many changes of my Life I have not known one equal yet to yours At other times so moderate so true A Soveraign o're your self you seem'd to want Those Passions for your Slaves who Lord it now Phar. I 'me hush'd if thou hast ought of comfort speak Pelop. This Night your Father has decreed to Marry The Daughter of Palemon Phar. What can hinder Pelop. Nothing yet mark my Brother Tryphon is High-Priest o' th' Sun whom all the rest obey Him have I wrought that when the Nuptial Rites Begin some strange presages shall fall out Disorders unexpected to foreshow The Gods are much offended at the Marriage How this may work with one of mighty Faith In holy Fables one of various humor Whom every day new Beauties set on Fire Be you the Judge Phar. Methinks it has a Face But yet there 's wanting what I cou'd have wish'd Had it been Janus-like back'd with another When Mithridates frighted from his Queen Warn'd by false Oracles shou'd have retir'd Perplex'd yet strugling with the pangs of Love Then to have laid a Beauty to his longing Some fair unknown proud of her gaudy Bloom T' have quench'd his thirsty wishes that had been A Masterpiece But let him Marry her Sure Death shall wait upon his laughing Hymen And when the God has given her to his Arms Fate with unerring force shall part 'em ever Pelop. Yet raging 'T is as you have said and more More than excelling Mischief cou'd invent That is not best We have already rais'd him Andravar my Lieutenant General Scorn'd by your Brother whom he therefore hates First form'd the Plot Old Archelaus's Daughter The fair Semandra Mistress to Ziphares Is destin'd to be made your Father's Prey Phar. Excellent Engine now thou work'st indeed Thou hast hit the Vein the Life-blood of his Heart I cannot see ought in the extent of Art Or Nature that can mend it O Ziphares Still Conquer rise with Triumphs high as Heav'n So such a Bolt as this be sure to wait thee Enter Andravar But see the brave Lieutenant come to my Arms And tell me shall Semandra be the King's Andr. I think my Lord that I may safely swear it Phar. Thy bluntness merits praise and says thou' rt fit To serve my best revenge Love or Ambition Andr. Great Mithridates whom I well have study'd Tho he has weather'd forty Winter Fields Yet rises in his vigor ventures more Nor feels decay of strength none Learn'd as he In Nature's Garden whence to his Constitution Most excellent he adds such helps by Art That by his looks he might be thought Immortal The World too knows he is as Amorous now As when the first Sighs heav'd his youthful Brest And his first Tears bedew'd the Shrines of Love Phar. The Consequence Andr. He often has been pleas'd To make me honour'd with his private thoughts Whereon my General and I agreed Knowing your love to Monima And hatred to your Brother with one blow To drive the business that shou'd Crown your wishes Therefore I daily fill'd your Father's Ears With praises of Semandra rais'd his wonder Describ'd her dress and each particular grace Her Eyes her Hands her Lips with all their beauties And have so fir'd him that there only wants A view to perfect all and that will be To Night Phar. How know'st thou that Andr. I learnt it all From a She-slave that waits upon Semandra Who told me that Ziphares with consent Of Archelaus wou'd beg her of the King When he this Night shou'd Monima Espouse Soft Musick Nor doubt but when he once has seen
who am bound by Oaths and solemn Vows To love Ziphares By my Father's Order And by the tenderest Inclination too Mith. You strike me dead Sem. Oh do but think my Lord How wou'd Mankind when they shall read my Story Tear all the Rolls or throw 'em to the Flames How wou'd the weeping Maids curse my remembrance Shou'd I for pride of Power a Golden Promise A gaudy Nothing prove ingrateful perjur'd Leave all the goodness of the Earth to languish And break for ever with his matchless Virtue Mith. You have said and I confess it to be Heav'nly I know and till I saw your Eyes I lov'd The Virtue of my Son I lodg'd him near My Heart and set him down my Successor But now Oh hear and wonder at your Power Spight of his Noble Acts tho to his Arm I owe my Life tho Justice speaks so loud And the soft Tongue of Nature pleads so well I hate him more than I did ever love him Sem. Alas wou'd I had dy'd when first you saw me Mith. Had he conspir'd my Death usurp'd my Throne Perhaps I might have doom'd him to be slain Yet sure I shou'd have wept to see him die But now since he must Ravish that lov'd Gem I prize above the World tearing you from me Giving me twenty Deaths and cutting through My very Soul shou'd I my Empire give To buy his Fate I 'de think it vastly sold. Sem. Then blasted be the Form that charm'd your Eyes His Fate Oh Gods then you design his Death To reap the Bloody Harvest of his Life And Atreus-like to feed on your own Bowels But know Proud Monarch there are Powers who see And punish Crimes like yours Nor can I doubt But they will save from your most Impious Rage My poor lov'd Lord the Innocent Ziphares Weeping Mith. Those Waters more inrage my Jealous Flame And those heav'd Sighs but spread my Anger 's Wings Your Fatal Kindness hastens on his Death And that untimely Doom which I forbore To execute seems necessary now You give him all your Stock of richest Love Your Tears your longing Looks your Smiles your Groans And over-bless him with your lavish kindness But niggardly to me you will not spare A pitying Glance one Pearly drop to Ransom The Soul of this despairing Mithridates Andravar go and bear the Prince to Prison Sem. Stay Andravar the King has call'd you back See he repents Nay I must hold you then And if you stir you take Semandra with you O Mithridates O ungrateful Prince What was it you did order But behold His Eyes are fix'd upon the ground he blushes To think he cou'd so monstrously Decree To murder the sweet hopes of all his Kingdoms The Gods be prais'd for this Serene Repentance Yet with the fright I fear I shall not sleep Till Death does close my Eyes Mith. O rise Semandra Sem. Never I never will Oh all you pitying Powers will not my cryes And piercing Woes move you to melt his Soul Can you be deaf Oh Cruel Mithridates Did you but know the workings you have made The heavy plight the panting Passions here If you had but a Grain of all that World Of Love you swore you once had for Semandra You cou'd not see me thus Misery distracts My Reason shou'd you turn to a new rage Which I must fear unless you Vow to save him I cou'd not bear it you shou'd see me fall Cold pale and with my Deaths Convulsions grasping Your water'd feet but never more rise Mith. Give me your Beauteous Hand I swear upon it By all those Powers we worship by our Self When e're Ziphares dies Semandra kills him She shall alone have Power to give him Death Or to recal his most untimely Fate Enter Ziphares and Archelaus Thus dearly do I buy the Red Impression Which my Lips make but take it take it from me My Blood boils up again my Spirits kindle That lovely Brand has lent my wishes flame And I am lost again in vast desire Ziph. Semandra live I once to see thee more Tho in my Father's Arms 'T is Heav'n to gaze On thy assaulted Honour thus to see thee Thus tempted from me with the Charms of Empire Yet not consenting No I 'll not think the World Laid at thy Feet Cou'd win thy Faith Yet O dread Sir forgive me If that my boding Heart suspects you more Then all that Heav'n cou'd send down great and charming Or Hell cou'd raise up horrid to destroy me Mith. O Glory Arch. O consider Sir on that Think how the Romans will despise your Wars If Love now drive you Speak my Lord he yields Ziph. Oh Royal Sir or if the Name of Father Can move you more by that I will Conjure you By all the Charms of Stratonice's Eyes When first they drew you to adore their lustre By all the Pains you gave her when she bore me By all the Obedience I have paid you long And by the Blood I yet intend to lose In your behalf oh grant me my Semandra Sem. Ev'n by the Passion my unhappy Beauty First kindled in you but I hope is dying Give me Ziphares give him to my Longings Mith. 'T is done the Conquest is at last obtain'd And Manly Virtue Lords it o're my Passion It shall be so away thou feeble God I banish thee my Bosom hence I say Be gone or I will tear the Strings that hold thee And stab thee in my Heart The Wars come on By Heav'n I 'll drown thy laughing Deity In Blood and drive thee with my brandish'd Sword To Rome I will yes to the Capitol There to resume thy Godhead once again And vaunt thy Majesty without controul But never Reign in Mithridates Soul Arch. O wonderful effect of highest Virtue O Conquest which deserves more Triumphs than A hundred Victories in Battel gain'd Ziph. You must you shall be now the Lord of Rome Her Fate shall bow beneath your Awful Scepter O let me not enjoy the Life you promis'd The vast possession of the rich Semandra If I strike not Rome's Eagles to the Earth Take the Imperial Standard Chase their Legions And bring in Triumph all their Leaders bound Mith. Andravar haste Proclaim throughout the City My Son Ziphares General against the Romans Exit Andravar Come to my Breast once more my dearest Son In spight of Love thou art again my Child Thus with a Father's bowels I receive thee Thus melting o're thee with the tenderest Nature I pray the Gods to Crown thy Youth with glory Ziph. Oh Happiness Oh Joy Oh blessed Tears Reward this Goodness Heav'n for Poor Ziphares Is now so lost he knows not what to say Let me devour your hands with Filial dearness Were my whole Life to come one heap of Troubles The pleasure of this moment wou'd suffice And sweeten all my griefs with its remembrance Sem. Oh happy hour if I not set thee down The whitest that the Eye of Time e're saw Let me ne're smile when I remember thee
Semandra The Charms of his new Queen will vanish Hark The sacred Musick sounds The King and Queen are coming Enter Archilaus Ziphares Semandra See your Brother Semandra and her Father Phar. O my lab'ring Brest how hopes and fears Toss my wrack'd Heart like a poor Bark about But soon the Calm will come or I must perish in the Tempest Exeunt Phar. Pelop. and Andr. Ziph. By Heav'n my Love thou dost distract my Soul There 's not a Tear that falls from those dear Eyes But makes my Heart weep Blood O my Father All is not well I found her in the Morning Not like a Bride with all her Maids about her Half-smiling now half-serious with her thoughts Of what must come nor warm nor bright nor blushing But Oh the Gods I found her on the Floor In all the storm of grief yet beautiful Sighing such breath of sorrow that her Lips Which late appear'd like buds were now o'reblown Pouring forth tears at such a slavish rate That were the World on Fire they might have drown'd The wrath of Heav'n and quench'd the mighty ruine Arch. Nothing my Lord 't is all but Virgin 's fear Marriage to Maids is like a War to Men The Battel causes fear but the sweet hopes Of winning at the last still draws 'em on Sem. Alas my Lord Weeping Ziph. What but alas no more when by the Hand I led her to the Temple thus she sigh'd And hung upon me If thou truly lov'st me If I may credit my Semandra's tears Think 'em not drops of Chance like other Womens The Weather of their Souls The Christal bubbles Which they can make at will Oh satisfie The longings of my braest and tell thy sorrows Sem. That I do love you Oh all you Host of Heav'n Be Witness that you are dear to me Dearer than Day to one whom sight must leave Dearer than Life to one that fears to dye O thou bright Pow'r be Judge whom we adore Be Witness of my Truth be Witness of my Love But yet I fear Ziph. That fear give me that fear Semandra Produce it in the ugliest form it has If ought that is deform'd can come from thee Sem. I shall my Lord since you are pleas'd to hear me Uunfold my doubts the cause of all my Tears First then I must complain of my hard Stars That did not dart kind Lustre on my Birth For tho at present while your young Blood boyls Your Reason cannot get the Rein of Passion Yet it will come when long possession cloyes you Then you will think what Queens you might have had With Kingdoms for their Dower perhaps you may Prove so unkind to tell me of it too Or if you shou'd not yet your Eyes wou'd speak Weeping Enough to break the heart of poor Semandra Ziph. Why dost thou stab me with the tenderness Of thy false fears and melt me into mourning 'T is most unseasonable on our Wedding-day To be seen thus I know thou canst not doubt me No thou most lovely of the fairer kind Think not a Crown can ever change my Virtue Ah who wou'd leave the warmth of this lov'd Bosome For the cold cares which black Ambition brings Sem. Spight of ill-boding Dreams unlucky Omens You must you shall you ought to be believ'd And if I weep again it is for joy That I this Night shall be your happy Bride Ziph. Oh Mithridates mighty as thou art Before whose Throne Princes stand dumb as Death With folded Arms and their Eyes fix'd to Earth Dishonour brand me if I wou'd not chuse A private Life with her whom my Soul loves Rather than live like thee with all thy Titles The King of Kings without her Arch. Pray my Lord Defer till Mid-night these strong Extasies Fate yet may put a bar betwixt our hopes And then the loss wilt be more hardly born The Scene draws discovering the inner part of the Temple Mithridates holding Monima by the Hand his Queens Concubines Sons and Daughters attending Three Roman Captains L. Cassius Q. Oppius and Manius Aquilius bound in Gold Chains with many other Slaves standing at distance Mith. Not yet O Rome great Tyrant of the World Hast thou subdu'd the Asian Emperor In thy despight I hold my glory still Still tread upon the Necks of conquer'd Kings Still make thy Consuls tremble at my Name And in one mightiest Word to sum up all A Word which like a Charm might raise the Ghosts Of Pyrrhus and the experienc'd Hannibal To envy and be dazled at my deeds A Word a Name that comprehends all Honors All Titles Riches Power all Majesty In spight of Rome I 'm Mithridates still Aquil. The Nations must confess that Alexander Cou'd not more dreadful to the East appear Than you ev'n Rome wou'd buy her peace with joy Cou'd you at reasonable rates afford Your Royal Friendship tho by your command Most dreadful to Italian Memory In one dark Day damn'd in the Book of Fate A hundred thousand murder'd Romans fell Mith. Darest thou fomenter of these Wars to talk Thou purple Source of all these bloody streams Which have for more than thirty years o'reflow'd The Asian Banks and dy'd Euphrates red Darest thou Commissioner in chief to put The Earth in Arms and set the World on flame Once think of Peace Now by the Fire-rob'd God Thou shalt have punishment that fits thy Crimes Aquil. The bravest must submit when Fortune frowns Mith. Desire of Wealth the Lust of shining Dirt And Palace Plunder caus'd thee with Arm'd Legions T' invade a King whose Father was Rome's Friend But by the asserted Justice of my Cause The help of Heav'n and of my own Right-hand I conquer'd thee and thou art now my Slave Guards strait convey him to the Market-place Take off his wealthy Chains and melt 'em down Then for a terrible Example to All sordid Wretches Souls made up of Avarice Pour down his Throat the rich dissolved Mass And gorge his Entrails with the burning Gold Mon. Not my dear Lord upon your Nuptial Day Mith. On any Day my Queen to do a Justice Which all the Gods and all good Men must like For Lucius Cassius and for Quintus Oppius A milder Destiny 's in store Away with him And now proceed we to the sacred Rites Aquil. Yet e're you join hear me proud Emperour Hear what the Fates have put into my brest I see my Death by Roman Arms reveng'd And what Lucullus had so well begun Pompey shall end Pompey thy glory's ruine This hour that gives me Death shall be the last Of all thy quiet swift domestick jars Shall overtake thee thou shalt add more blood To that already shed from thy own Bowels And when at last subdu'd in all thy Wars Spoil'd of thy Queens thy Sons and Daughters slain Thou seek'st some corner of thy conquer'd Empire To hide thy abandon'd Head in then the load Of all thy woes shall come one whom thou least Shalt fear long nourish'd in thy impious breast Shall stab thee to the
heart and end thy days That this all this and more may light upon thee I pray the Gods and so the Furies seize thee Mith. Away to Death with the Prophetick Fool. Ex. Guards with Aquilius Tryphon begin and let the Altar smoak With such rich Victims to the well-pleas'd Gods That they may smile from Heav'n and give us joy Here follows the Entertainment after which the King and Queen return from the Altar to sit in state An Image of Victory descends with two Crowns in her hands but on a sudden the Engines break and cast the Image forward on the Stage with such violence that they dash in pieces Mithridates starting up Mith. Ha! whence how fell this out Now by my Arms Our Nuptials are not pleasing to the Gods 'T is for some fault of mine O Monima That Heav'n denies thy beauties to my bosome Thus when we did approach the hallow'd Vault A Prophesying Priest with start-up Hair With rolling Eyes and Nostrils wide as Mouths Stopt us i' th way and said we were no Match As well the noblest Salvage of the Field Might tamely couple with a fearful Ewe Tygers ingender with the timorous Deer Wild muddy Bores defile the cleanly Ermin Or Vultures sort with Doves as I with thee 'T is a cross thought and much disturbs me here Mon. Command me dye e're give your Majesty Cause of the least disturbance O my Lord Think you that I wou'd lye within your Arms To hear you sigh and give me Tears for Love Or think you 't is to Empire I aspire Rather dismiss me from your Breast the Haven Where I had hoarded all my happiness And cast me out to a wide Sea of weeping Mith. How e're the Pow'rs above shall deal with me Racking my heart with what they have set down Thou art our Queen Mon. O 't is an empty Name A senseless sound except I am your Love I find I find that I am lost for ever I have but slept charm'd with a golden Dream And now am wak'd to beggery again Why did you take me from my Father's Wing Who tho a petty Prince was yet a World Of warmth to me why did you tempt me forth With burning Love and the bright Comet Power Mith. Fright not thy tender heart with false suspicions I will be ever thine But give me leave A little to digest with serious thoughts The anger of the Heav'ns Andravar Andr. My Lord Phar. They whisper General To Pelop. Ziph. coming forward Stars by your leave Ill Omens may the guilty tremble at Make every accident a Prodigy And Monsters frame where Nature never err'd May the fear'd Conscience start at falling Meteors And call the schreme of every hooting Owl Or croaking Raven Fate 's most dreadful Voice For me I laugh at 'em shou'd now the Heav'n Flame with a thousand Fires ne're seen before And Thunder beat the Winds from every corner Not for the Calm of all the Universe Wou'd I put off my Joys a moment longer Stand back my Love and when I call come forth A minute makes us blest or wretched ever Comes to the middle of the Stage and kneels Mith. Is there in all the space of our wide Empire Ought of that most inestimable value To make Ziphares kneel Ziph. There is my Lord Thus to adore you Mith. O Celestial Powers Mark me your Subject out for all misfortunes The Curses of the Roman Manius fall Heavy upon me Fortune's giddy Wheel Which we have fix'd with our Majestick weight Turn round with me when I deny him ought That he can ask with Honour Rise my Son Ziph. rising Since on the great Request which I shall make The peace or trouble of my Life depends The torment or the pleasure of my Soul Eternal griefs or everlasting joys I wou'd recall to your remembrance Sir The toils and hardships which my early Valour Has undergone the many Fields I'have fought And Conquer'd too and as of old the Romans Who sought the Consulship made bare their breasts Lac'd with long Scars and studded o're with Thrusts The Noble Wardrobe of the Scarlet War I wou'd with bolder mention of my deeds Display my Wounds to move your Royal Favour And offer to the blood which I have shed All my heart holds for sealing of your promise Mith. O had'st thou fought so poorly as thou speak'st Thy Actions all the Laurels which lye green Upon thee strait wou'd wither and be dust To mention but thy last thy last of Wars Which ev'n the breath of Majesty makes vile So much below thy Valour is all Language Ziph. The glory of that Battel is your own Mith. To thee we owe the day our life and Empire When six Centurions bore me from my Saddle And laid me groveling for the violent Horse To tread my Soul out how did my brave Ziphares Break through their walls of Steel leap o're the Ramparts Of the dead bodies that had fenc'd me in On his own Courser mounting me to life Pious even in the mouth of Slaughter while On foot himself he with his Battel-axe Bore down the Legions drove whole Troops before him And brought their Eagles drooping from the Field Demand I say ask me most Royally I will be lavish to thy vast Ambition And Crown thy wishes like a giving God Ziph. In thankfulness I bend me to the Earth Once more fall prostrate to your Majesty And pray the Gods to give you length of days Come forth come forth my Fairest break my Day Appear and Charm dazle the whole Assembly Semandra comes forward Mith. A wonder Ha! Ziph. She is my Lord the Boast The lovely Chance-work Master-piece of Nature Who blush'd to see what her own hands had made As if mistaking Moulds she unawares Had cast Semandra in a Form Divine Sem. These praises breath'd from any Lips but yours Lord of my life and Idol of my love Wou'd make me sink with shame or scorn the Flatterer But as they come from you from that lov'd Mouth The tender Off rings of your fond Desires I take 'em all and die upon the sound To the driven Air my flying Soul is fasten'd Each word each sillable you spoke is mine Yes I am fair a Queen a Goddess any thing That my dear Lord is pleas'd to have me be Mith. She talks Ziph. And with so good à Grace That nothing but her Wit can Charm beyond it Late in the Camp I languish'd with a Fever And sure had dy'd but for this fair Physician Who in the midst of all my fiery pains When Art was at a loss and I lay gasping Wou'd quite beguile my sufferings with her Songs Her welcom Pity and her soft Endearments Now laying her chaste Cheek cold with her Tears To mine she wou'd abate the raging fire Now with warm sighs kindle my fading spirits And when I fainted with a Kiss recal me Mith. By Heav'n she weeps and I cou'd drink the Dew Phar. He takes the poyson fast as I cou'd wish Pelop. And Prince Ziphares
forces her upon him Arch. Hold you have gone too far speak to the purpose Ziph. Ambition therefore was not my Request In Colchis or in Bosphorus to Reign Leave to my Brothers all your Empire and To me this only Beauty for Reward Mith. Reward Wert thou on Mithridates Throne Possess'd of all his Kingdoms were thine eye Like his who guides the day and thou cou'dst call In all thy Journeys what thou saw'st thy own Her eyes wou'd match thy lustre all thy glories Wou'd be but shadows when this Face appear'd Ziph. They wou'd my Lord. Mith. They wou'd my Lord Yet more By all my Royalties a God might wed her And be a gainer by the beauteous Bride Ziph. Such as she is Mith. Not Heav'n it self can mend her Had I as many Tongues as I have Languages Skill'd in all Speeches of the babling World And cou'd at once speak to as many Nations With such a grace as might make Athens blush By Mercury and by the Father of The Muses I shou'd never speak Semandra Mon. O he is gone his vow'd fidelity Is gaz'd away Mith. Tell me her Birth Ziphares She must be more than Royal. Ziph. Fate thy worst Let me be dumb for ever from this moment Arch. In me your Majesty may please to read Her Father what I want in Dignity Be pleas'd to fill up with my Services Mith. Thy Daughter Arch. Yes my gracious Lord my Daughter Mith. O pity that so fair a Star shou'd be The Child of Night that such a stream of Crystal Shou'd have her Spring so muddy Thou dy'st thou saucy old ambitious Dotard Who dar'st to match thy Lees of blood with ours And daub the Throne of the Immortal Cyrus Ziph. Hold hold most awful give Ziphares death Impale me burn me bury me alive But do not wrong this innocent old man These hairs which were made Silver in your service O the good Gods whom fear cou'd never shake Your bitter words have caus'd to tremble see With the disgrace he weeps his Springs of life Which had been dry for fifty years this last Affront has water'd Oh my poor Father Mith. Ha! that Name again Thou art no more my Son For thee Semandra Thou shalt attend our Queen to Court my Fair Where I must learn you to forget Ziphares And match you equal to your birth Sem. My Lord Ziphares Father Mith. Look not back Conduct the Queen Pharnaces O Semandra 'T is to your Tears I sacrifice my Justice To them your Fathers life I 'll not deny Who for Ambition did deserve to die Exeunt all but Ziphares and Archelaus Arch. Dotard and saucy nay the Lees of blood Now by the Gods 't is sprightly as his own O 't is too much to bear Forgive me Prince It breaks the very neck of Loyalty Perhaps he Whores my Daughter too But first Rather than see him wear my glories Spoils Thou my good Sword that has so oft been drawn And dy'd thy self in Roman bowels to The very Guard for this ungrateful King Be faithful to me as thou still hast been And pierce the heart of thy dishonour'd Master Ziph. Oh Archelaus Oh my kinder Father If you are stir'd thus at an angry word What shou'd I be I who am lost indeed I who am stunn'd I who sustain'd the stroke Of all the anger of the Fates at once Semandra O my Love Arch. Restrain your grief As I my rage and let us think apace Tho for my Daughters Virtue I wou'd stake My Immortal part my Fame so dearly bought Yet force which he may use will have its way Consider that Ziph. Consider how shou'd I Consider who grow mad with crouding thoughts Where every one endeav'ring to be foremost Stops up the passage and will choak my Reason Arch. Once more speak humbly to him Perhaps 't is but a sudden short-liv'd fit A gust of Passion that may soon blow over But if you find it rooted in his heart Eat your way through him to your happiness Or perish like your Brother Mithridates Ziph. By Heav'n I think it greatest happiness Never to have been born and next to that To die for who that wears his flesh can bear The curse of Accidents a Change like mine I who some moments past wou'd not have chang'd Condition with the blessed Gods themselves Now in all probability am lost And stand upon the very brink of ruine Arch. Your Destiny 's uncertain Fate as yet Holds the Scale doubtful let us haste to Court Where we shall learn which way the Ballance falls Ziph. Not half an hour ago methought secure I hug'd my self and almost cou'd have wept In meer compassion to th' hard-fated World Thinking how much my state was happier Arch. Yet all the while you did not spy the danger Which crept invisible and undermin'd you Ziph. Alas I did not without fear I stood Like one who on the Beach discries from far A labouring Bark with which the Billows war Pities its state wishing the Tempest gon But views not the near Sea come rolling on So did with me my unseen Fortune play Till the Waves came and wash'd me quite away Exeunt ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Pharnaces and Pelopidas Phar. I 'LL hear no more get me a hundred Horse To be our Guard I 'll bear her hence to night And Ravish her by all the fire that acts This fearless frame I will Declare the diff'rence Is not the Blood of Queens and Princesses Like other Womens Souls alike infus'd Their Banquets richer and the Drinks they taste The very Spirits of the Purple Vine Yet we must think 'em cold as candid Ice Not a thought starting free from warm desires As the bleak Girl upon the Mountain's top Cover'd with Snow beat'n with constant Winds That feeds on Herbs and Roots and drinks the Dew Pelop. What wou'd you have her fall like mellow Fruit Whom yet no Sun has shone upon no warmth To ripen ' bate a little of this fire Phar. Pelopidas I oft have told you that She knew my love before she saw my Father For in the Plunder I first lighted on her Tho afterwards he took my beauteous spoil As now he does my Brother's I alledg'd As late I led her weeping to her Chamber My constant passion and his breach of faith All that a love most violent cou'd put Into a Lover's mouth like mine but she unmov'd Insensible reply'd the King 't was possible At last might kill her with his cruelty Yet to the utmost moment of her life She wou'd adore him with such spotless love Such most Romantick faith and such a deal Of whining grief that in a rage I flung Away and left her talking to her self Pelop. And do you think this haughtiness will carry 't He that will win a most exalted Beauty Must bend his Soul low as he bows his Body Watch every Glance obey her e're she speaks Cast up his eyes at each affected word And swear-Besides her Honour Sir her Honour Obliges her to stand a while
Awake what ho Ismenes haste a light Haste hither Father Archelaus haste My heart bodes ruine we are all undone Enter Archelaus and Ismenes with a Light Oh Father either I am Charm'd or here Semandra lies slain by this dreadful hand Arch. Our Guardian-spirits shield us 't is my Daughter Ziph. Curs'd Fate malicious Stars you now have drain'd Your selves of all your poys'nous influence Ev'n the last baleful drop is shed upon me Sem. Give me thy hand most matchless of thy kind O joyn us Father joyn us thus in death Now thou art mine and we 'll be wedded too In th' other World our Souls shall there be mixt Who knows but there our joys may be compleat A happy Father thou and I perhaps The smiling Mother of some little Gods Ziph. Oh Archelaus if thou lov'st her memory Fly to the King and let him understand The truth of all if he be pleas'd to hear her Intreat him haste the pangs of death are on her Arch. I will if tears will let me find the way And by your leave these Weapons shall be mine Ziph. That I expected Ha! she faints Ismenes Run to my Closet haste where thou wilt find A Golden Vial of rich Juice to bring the Spirits Back to their Seat go pour it in a Bole With speed to save her Exit Ismenes Hast thou not a word A syllable fair Soul Speak speak Semandra I feel a trembling warmth about thy heart It pants Sem. As Cowards do before a Battel Oh the Great March is sounded Ziph. Stay thee one moment Ismenes re-enters with a Bole. And I will lead thee on Away Ismenes Watch thou the King's approach and bring me word Exit Ism. Here seest thou this my Love look up Semandra Thou dying Spark glimmer a little while Behold this Cordial this sure warmth at heart This faithful Off'ring of Eternal Love Sem. VVhither oh where Death's Myst comes fast upon me What is 't you drink Ziph. A Draught which makes me thine The pow'rful Cordial which my Father gave me A Noble Compound of his fatal skill He charg'd me when I cou'd not live with Honour To taste it and be free Sem. Methinks your Voice is faint As distant Ecchoes and I am now far off Alas I know not where Dies Ziph. I 'll fold thee thus And Mithridates shall not part us now Fan thus the dying flame with my last breath She 's out the damp of Death has quench'd her quite These spicy-doors her lips are shut close lock'd Which never gale of life shall open more I come Oh Father Oh thou true Physitian Thou work'st me Nobly now and oh 't is welcom Thy Drugs are quick once more O Love I come Thou most of Life in Death Ambition Fame 'T is empty all and nothing but a Name Dies Archelaus Mithridates supported bleeding Pharnaces Pelopidas Andravar bound Arch. Behold behold my Lord how I 'm rewarded For faithful service for the numerous scars Which in your Cause have mark'd my aged body My Daughter 's slain Ha! let me never rise If that the brave Ziphares be not kill'd Was this the Cordial wicked Boy thou brought'st him Mith. Blame not the guiltless for by me he 's poyson'd By this inhumane Tyrant Monster Parricide By me the Drugs were mixt and dol'd about To my unhappy Children left surpriz'd They shou'd be born to Rome for Royal Slaves Arch. Dead art thou dead O lovely Royal Plant Blown down by gusty Heav'n in all thy bloom My hour is come and thus I follow thee Mith. Hold him What means the frantick General Disarm and bring him hither Kneel O kneel Before these Bodies Arch. What wou'd you sacred Sir Mith. Swear swear to live I have a Royal Race of Little Ones Live I Conjure thee to defend those Infants From Roman Rage intreat Victorious Pompey And he 'll be gentle to 'em Swear to live Arch. I swear but after that Mith. Rise and no more My blood leaks fast and the great heavy lading My Soul will quickly sink therefore revenge Yes you pale figures you most precious forms Who where you walk for sure you tread the Stars Shame brightest Gods and add new light to Heav'n First in most dreadful manner will I give Those Traytors lives who drew me to your ruine Hence burn the Slaves the curs'd Pelopidas And Villain Andravar away with ' em For thee but sure I shall disdain to name thee The Palace yet is ours Arch. But cannot long Be so Pompey the Great is entred And those who took your part are all revolted Mith. Away then bear him to the middle Turret Whose Brazen-head rises above the rest In sight of Pompey throw him from the top And give his most aspiring life an end Phar. I know thou canst not long out-live me Tyrant Accurs'd be Fortune which too forward bore me To be thy Prey and rot the hand that seiz'd me Yet when my Ghost is from this body dash'd If such a Goblin as a Ghost there be I 'll rise and wing the mid-way Air to wait thee Hurl'd shalt thou be as Saturn was by Jove And flag beneath me while I reign above Mith. O General behold and wonder with me How swiftly Fate can make or unmake Kings How empty is Death's Pomp compar'd with Life Where now are all the busie Officers The supple Courtiers and big Men of War That bustled here and made a little World Revolted all Support me for I go My Soul is on the Beach and strait must lanch Into th' Abyss of the black Sea of death Where Furies stand upon the smoaky Rocks Prepar'd to meet one greater than themselves Here lay me bleeding by these murder'd Lovers And oh when I am dead let Sorrow stalk In sacred silence to my gaping Tomb. Forget that ever Mithridates was No tongue relate the deeds this Hand has done Let thought be still or work beneath the ground But oh he 's come cold Tyrant I obey And hug thy Dart that bears my Life away Dies FINIS Epilogue by Mr. Dryden YO 've seen a Pair of faithful Lovers die And much you care for most of you will cry 'T was a just Judgment on their Constancy For Heav'n be thank'd we live in such an Age When no man dies for Love but on the Stage And ev'n those Martyrs are but rare in Plays A cursed sign how much true Faith decays Love is no more a violent desire 'T is a meer Metaphor a painted Fire In all our Sex the name examin'd well Is Pride to gain and Vanity to tell In Woman 't is of subtil int'rest made Curse on the Punk that made it first a Trade She first did Wits Prerogative remove And made a Fool presume to prate of Love Let Honour and Preferment go for Gold But glorious Beauty is not to be sold Or if it be 't is at a rate so high That nothing but adoring it shou'd buy Yet the rich Cullies may their boasting spare They purchase but sophisticated Ware 'T is Prodigality that buys deceit Where both the Giver and the Taker cheat Men but refine on the old Half-Crown way And Women fight like Swizzers for their Pay Prologue by Mr. Lee. NOt careful Leaders when the Trumpets call Their Martial Squadrons on to stand or fall Toss'd with more doubts than careful Poets are When vent'rous Wit for Sally does prepare When Humming Voices bid the Play begin And the last flourish calls the Prologue in Here you like dreadful Warriours judging sit And in full Councel try all Writers Wit To some for Sense Renown'd our Authors bow And what you Doom for a just Fate allow But sure far less such Judges Poets dread Than those Raw Blades who will not let 'em Plead But e're they can be heard cry shoot 'em dead These Pyrats they both Arms and Wits debase Who Fields and Poems with their Spleen disgrace Poets and Warriours both shou'd have in Chase These Libellers who noblest Fights despise Yet when a Pan but flashes shut their Eyes They who write Lampoons vilely get a Name By others Infamy and live in shame Fifes Whiflers and the silly'st Sense not fit To be the Powder-Monkeys of true Wit Mimies like Apes what 's ill for head they cover And live upon the Vermin of a Lover Nauseous to all like Pills by Fortune hurl'd And coated o're with Gold to Purge the World Neglecting these and rusting to your aid To Beauty our last Vows like yours are made Beauty which still adorns the op'ning List Which Caesar's Heart vouchsafes not to resist To that alone devoted is this day For by the Poet I was bid to say In the first draught 't was meant the Ladies Play Persons Represented By Mithridates King of Pontus Mr. Mohun Ziphares Pharnaces his Sons M. Hart. M. Goodman Archelaus General under Ziphares M. Griffin Pelopidas Andravar two Courtiers M. Wintershul M Powell Aquilius a Roman Captive M. Clark Another Roman Officer M. Wiltshire Ismenes Page to Ziphares  Monima Contracted to Mithridates Mrs. Corbett Semandra Daughter to Archelaus Mrs. Boutel Priests and Attendants Mutes  Scene Synope