Phalt. What you have order'd I 'll exactly do Ant. 'T is time to dy when you 'll my Jaylor be Phalt. whispers to Antip. I play this part to save both you and me Antip. whispers to Phalt. No more admire not I suspected thee For the Queens Sufferings have distracted me Phalt. leads out Ant. with some of the Guards when he comes to the door he turns about and bowing to the Queen says Ant. Madam until we meet in Heaven Farewel The Queen bows to him and weeps Her You ne'er shall meet again unless in Hell Ye Sacred Powers above whom I adore Lifting up his Eyes and Hands This only Blessing I from you implore Teach me on them so well my Self to right That to express Revenge in all its height Men shall in future times need but to say That it has been perform'd in Herod's way They all go out Asdrubal leading the Queen within the Scenes ACT V. The Scene Solome's Apartment Enter Solome and Asdrubal Solo. THough you Cossabanes's Subject are Yet I of you have took the greatest Care And to my Favour only 't is you owe Thoâ—e high Employments you are rais'd to now Asdr. Nothing with greater Joy I can admit Than owning of the Debt but paying it Solo. I 'll try you then Know Herod does repent That he to Massada Pheroras sent That Brother still has my designs withstood His Puling Vitrue does disgrace our Blood If he return his Interest such will grow That all my Plots now ripe he will o'erthrow To hinder this is only in your Power For you of Massada are Governour Asdr. But Madam if the King sends a Command To free him who those Orders dare withstand Solo. Those Orders while I can I will delay But In obeying you may disobey Asdr. I understand you not Solo. Do you not think That a few subtle drops mixt in his drink May in a Moment send Pheroras where He aims to be and where I wish he were Such Death as this would make all Israel say 'T was his grief only took his Life away Methinks at this you should not scrupulous be 'Twixt Statesmen 't is a common Courtesy Asdr. Sins by their Commonness the worse are made Solo. You who I need to my Revenge perswade Are too unfit my deep designs to wed But on your Life keep Secret all I said Be gone Asdr. offers to go out Asdr. If I refuse to do the Crime Shee 'll by some others Poison me and him He returns But on his Death doth your designs depend Solo. Without it all my hopes are at an end Asdr. Then Madam there 's no duty you shall know Greater than that which to your will I owe. Solo. When this deed is perform'd every degree That I ascend you shall ascend with me Consider too were but Pheroras gone There is between the Crown and me but One Who while he lives my Councils still will sway And when hee 's dead But I too much do say It must be done with Secrecy and speed Asdr. You may already reckon he is dead Herod comes in Solo. Retire for Herod comes to visit me Asdr. goes out What strange Disorders in his looks I see Her Ah would my Stars had then my Death design'd When I so easily believ'd her kind By her appearing in my Lifes defence I had gone happy though deluded hence For such a Death though scarce a worse could be Were better than that Life reserv'd for me Alas Herod's Ambition was not Great That would have dy'd content though by a Cheat. O Solome Solo. What Sir distracts you now Her Those Loads I bear would make ev'n Atlas bow What I and all my Court nay Guards have seen Makes me resolve to kill my Son and Queen But then when I reflect on what was done To save my Life both by my Queen and Son Which if of my disgrace they guilty were Was what they ought to end and not to spare When too they might my Death to Abner owe It so distracts me that I do not know Which of the Sins I greater should esteem Or that of killing or not killing them Some Power which Justice knows instruct me now What I am not or what I am to do Solo. You wonder why they of your Life took Care But I admire why the Queen hid him there Her Love to him you once did so much dread As you Decreed that he should lose his Head Think you by chance he to her Bed did stray Or came he there but to talk time away Did he at all in your Defence appear Till Abner's Sword by Chance had wounded her But then with Rage he on the Traytor flew Which proves it was to rescue her not you That he your danger saw you cannot doubt But till her danger call'd he stir'd not out Her I like these Observations well Proceed My Justice has that Traytor 's Death decreed Ah for the Queen would you the like could find 'T is she alone which now distracts my Mind It was her Kindness sure made her appear In my defence Solo. No 't was her Interest Sir She fear'd that thousands would revenge her Sin If in her Chamber you had murther'd been For no one could though Abner did the Crime He being kill'd attribute it to him But had the truth it self been brought to light Her hiding there that guilty hour of night Him who for Loving her to Death you sent Would make all judge she was not Innocent Which shews her Safety only made her do What you but dream'd her Kindness led her too Her Speak on Speak on 't is Musick to my Ears My mist of Doubts thy Conquering Reason clears Solo. Nor could they scape the Vengeance of their Sin Though by your Death your Son our King had been Since had that Sacred Title aw'd them all Yet I on both would have reveng'd your Fall Brother there 's no such despicable thing In all the World as a tame Cuckold King Herod starts Yet your ill Fate in that has all outdone For you alas are made one by your Son If you can live under that Infamy Then Pardon both if not then both must dye 'T is but their Crime if they your Honour blot But it is yours if you Revenge it not Her I will no longer then thus trifling stand This Night the Queen shall dy and by my hand Since she has been the Partner of my Bed 'T is only I that ought to strike her dead O Heavens forgive my Criminal Debate Lifting up his Hands and Eyes Her Doom is Seal'd past the Reverse of Fate That Traytor Samias from the Court is fled But I 'll at leisure take his guilty head Solo. Since you are forc'd your Son and Wife to kill You ought no more of your own Blood to spill Your Pardon for Pheroras Sir I crave Grief else I fear will send him to his Grave And when he has been Pris'ner one day more Be pleas'd his freedom to him to restore He 'll tread
I for you should every guilt contract And leave you for my sake not One to Act. Too much it did like to Engrossing look But finding now how highly I mistook Admit me to this Queen and you shall see I dare do more for you than you for me Sohe Who lets you act the Sin he can withstand Does himself act it by another's hand Solo. Will you not then let me a Crime commit Of which you are to have the benefit Sohe O Madam were you now what once you were Solo. What Herod forc'd me to I will repair Sohe But Oh Solo. But what Speak without more delay I 'm arm'd against whatever you dare say Sohe But wrongs which Honour and which Love endure From those who did them can admit no Cure Solo. Ungrateful Man Have I in vain for you Ruin'd my King my Fame and Brothers too Through all your Vails I see what you would hide I could not else thus rudely be deny'd Sohe Madam but hear me out Solo. I 'll hear no more 'T is Mariamne's Beauties you adore What you would not confess your blushes do I fear'd the Change and now I find it true No other Passion could so powerful be As thus to make you scorn a Crown and Me. Begone and to your Cost you soon shall prove A Woman's hatred does transcend her Love They go out several ways The Scene changes to a spacious Room all black Antipater muffl'd up with a Cloak and a Page with a Flambeau Page 'T is in this Room the Queen will watch to night Ant. Where I may see and yet be out of sight Page There you may all things see and not be seen But should this be discover'd to the Queen I shall past hope of Pardon be undone Ant. Fear not there 's your Reward and now begone He flings him a Purse which the Page takes and goes out Love only could this strange Design inspire A noise within What noise is that The Queen He looks I must retire He conceals himself The Queen and Mariana they bolt the door after them Mar. Why to these Horrors Madam will you run Queen 'T is brave to seek what 't is in vain to shun One of the Noblest Joyes that is above Is there to meet those whom we here did love Since Fate to grant that Blessing does delay I would possess what here of it I may Mar. Should the best Friend of mine that 's dead appear I should be soon as dead as he with fear Queen Poor Mariana this too much doth show Thy Soul the Charms of Love did never know Hadst thou been ever warm'd with that blest Fire What makes thy fear would then be thy desire Mar. Sure you at Herod's Ghost would startled be Queen His Ghost 't is all of him I long to see But since Hircanus and my Brother have The Priviledge to wander from the Grave And pay their Visits where they 're justliest due Why may not Antipater do it too For if Departed Souls about them bear Those Vertuous Loves which did inflame them here No place to him a place of Joy can be Where he is banish'd from attending me Mar. But durst you look on Antipater's Ghost Queen Durst I You know that I disdain to boast But though he were in that dark place of pain Which Priests do preach of and which Poets feign Yet there were I but sure with him to stay I would I would do more than I will say Mar. But an Infernal shape like his may seem Queen Nothing Infernal can resemble him A great flash of fire Mar. Bless me what means this sudden flash of light My trembling Knees do one another smite My Hair does stare I scarce can draw my Breath And a Cold seises me like that of Death A second flash of fire Queen Guard me ye blessed Angels for I find My timorous flesh strives to infect my Mind In Fears Men Sin I scorn to be involv'd What is it can resist a Soul resolv'd While terror does the mortal part invade To the Immortal it should Courage add Why Mariana dost thou tremble so Canst thou be Innocent and fearful too Mar. I dare not stay more Prodigies to see Impute this Rudeness to my fear not me Mariana goes out trembling and shuts the door after her A third and greater flash of fire Hircanus's Ghost rises drest in the High-Priest's Habit. Queen Ha 't is Hircanus Spirit does appear But why should I my Mother's Father fear See how he shakes his Head and seems to groan Oh since 't was Herod that Usurp't your Throne Why do you not him or his Ghost pursue Rather than me who still does weep for you Another flash of fire Aristobulus's Ghost rises in the like Habit. More Horrors yet 't is Aristobulus What makes you my dear Brother haunt me thus Is it because that I was Herod's Queen And that by him you both have murthered been 'T was by Hircanus and by your Command That to the Tyrant I did give my hand But when to that dire deed I did consent Of both your Murthers he was Innocent The two Ghosts shake their heads Then I perceive you judge that I did ill Not to kill him who both of you did kill But Heaven does know I fear'd to do amiss And by a Sin of mine to punish his Arist. Ghost You little know the blest place where we are Who think Revenge can find admittance there Nothing so Hellish up to Heaven can fly Passions in Bodies live and with them dye Hir. Ghost No Mariamne we both now appear To tell you that your hour of Death is near And then from Death you must to Judgment come To hear from Justice self your endless doom Before that Bar Actions are truly weigh'd The Kings and Slaves are in one Ballance laid Mitres and Crowns which here the World adore If ill employ'd are weights to sink us more Life 's but a Race the longest quickly ends Yet on it our Eternity depends Arist. Ghost ETERNITY That word so much does weigh As if it were pronounc'd but once a day With the Belief and Reverence that is fit For Worldly trifles who durst hazard it Since but one Moment of those Joyes w' are in Does far transcend the longest Charms of Sin Hir. Ghost Farewel Remember your last hour is near The Ghosts descend Queen Only the unprepar'd should dying fear Blest and Kind Ghosts who Heaven awhile could miss To teach me here the Glorious Way to Bliss Antip. within the Scene sayes Ant. The Queen 's great Soul is a Reproach to me She speaks with those I trembl'd but to see Now that the Ghosts are vanish't I 'll appear He makes a noise Queen More Ghosts or am I cheated by my Ear Antipater appears Ha 't is Antipater's dear Ghost I see In Death as Life he is still kind to me Stay stay you blessed Spirit for I know Assuming of that shape you must be so Come you to tell me of my dying too No news
VAnisht Well have they manag'd their Escapes They owe their Safeties to their airy shapes Their flesh did with such fear their Souls subdue That after Death their Ghosts turn'd Cowards too Poor senseless Devils that could themselves perswade To frighten him by whom they Ghosts were made I blush that I the honour did afford Of scaring them by drawing of my Sword Herod puts up his Sword Who waits without A Gentleman comes in Gent. Your Brother Sir has been Above an hour attending Her Call him in The Gentleman goes out That Brother is my Brother but in name He does by Honesty aspire at Fame By Virtues Charms to Glory he pretends And scruples by bold Crimes to reach great ends Pheroras comes in Pher. Sir by those Spies which are employ'd by me To watch the Jews I find they all agree And to your Palace Gates great numbers crowd And without fear their Anger tell aloud Her Those who by talk do give their anger vent To great and bold Revenges are not bent I 'd more suspect them if they did not so Pher. Yet winds will murmure ere the storm does blow In Policy when you strict Justice do Seem to lament at what they force you to This may the Jews from their despair withhold Her A King who fears does make his Subjects bold Monarchs by solid Rules should Vassals steer Dissembling is too near ally'd to fear Who to please Subjects some degrees shall fall Does give them hopes he may descend from all Do not a talking Conquer'd People fear They cannot raise such Storms as I feel here Putting his hand on his Breast Pher. I cannot guess from whence this Storm should rise Since you have vanquish'd all your Enemies Winning Agrippa you Octavius win Her The worst of Storms are those which are within O Heavens If to wear Crowns to which I was not born Is Sin Why do you thus my Head adorn But if in that I did your will pursue Why do you punish what you made mé do Pher. How should I see till you unseal my Eyes Whence this Internal Tempest Sir does rise Her My Sister in her Rage such things exprest As ever since have stole away my rest The fatal words through my Ears pierc'd my Heart And are above the Cure of Time or Art Pher. 'T is strange her talk takes such deep root in you Her I dare not think her words are false or true Pher. Can you but in suspence such Torments find Her Suspence 't is the worst torture of the Mind Our Reason and our Valour it controuls 'T is in one word the Chaos of our Souls From one Resolve I to another run I know not what to meet or what to shun Pher. Then Sir to my suspence pray give an end Trust with your Griefs your Brother and your Friend Her Solome in her truth or by her Art Would make me think Another has her Heart Pher. What Her d' you mean Her What Her else can it be But my Proud Queen which could so torture me If to my Love another she prefers I 'll tear out both her Lovers Heart and Hers. Then I 'll in Flames reduce them both to Dust Flames which shall be as burning as their Lust And when those Thrones of Love to Ashes turn I 'll mix their guilty Ashes in one Urn There we shall see what Charming Fires are bred In Hearts united when those Hearts are dead This Brother 's an Experiment may be Worthy an Injur'd King's Philosophy Pher. Give not your Anger Sir such guilty vent A Sin you Fancy then a Punishment Is this the weight which made your Soul to bow Her You talk as if a heavier I could know Pher. If Vertue did not the Queens Actions guide Her Honour would be guarded by her Pride Her Honour o'r Love rarely the Field does win When Pride does keep the Gate Love will get in Pher. But Love an Entrance always is deny'd Where Womans Vertue heighten'd is to Pride Her To such extreams it is unsafe to trust Where Vertue turns to Pride Love may to Lust. Sin will from Sin but too ill guarded be Nor durst my Sister trifle thus with me Pher. Believe me Sir Our Sister has mistook She has not prov'd it on the Queen but look Falshood and Lust which so deform'd appear Durst not approach much less reside in Her In her where Virtue to such height does rise It shines both in her Actions and her Eyes Solome comes into them Her Sister I to Pheroras did declare That you of the Queens Virtue Jealous are If ought but Truth leads you to what you do The Death I meant for her shall fall on you Methinks at this your Colour comes and goes Does it your Anger or your Guilt disclose Solo. 'T is a just Anger does my Face infect Oh Heavens Can Herod Solome suspect And can he of that Friendship have a doubt Which all the actions of her Life make out Dismiss Pheroras and you soon shall see With what Injustice you suspected me Her Brother leave Solome with me alone Pher. Since you Command me Sir I must be gone Pher. goes out Solo. Before the fatal Secret I declare Which will with Horror bristle ev'ry Hair And make you summon all your Fortitude To help you to support a shock so rude Tell me without Reserve Have you not seen Since your Return a Coldness in the Queen Greater by much than you observ'd before Her May be I have Proceed but ask no more Solo. What did you think in her this Change had wrought Her Tell what you know and ask not what I thought Solo. Then know yet stay for I begin to fear Truths against Her would but offend your Ear. Her Play not thus with my Anger 't is not good The Storm you rais'd must be supprest by Blood It wounds my Soul as long as it endures 'T is the Queens Death shall end it or else Yours Solo. Alas I would not live one moment more If Sir my Death your Honour could restore Her My Honour Speak I 'm rackt by this delay Solome 'T will rack you worse to hear what I can say Her Rack me then higher yet if it can be That I may others Rack as you do me Tell me oh tell me of that Man the Name Who durst presume to rob me of my Fame He might all other Crimes have safer done Than only to have wish'd for but this One Solo. Sohemus is the Person who I dread Has more than offer'd to have wrong'd your Bed For when alas we of your Death did hear The thought of which makes me yet shake with fear And that I prest him those Commands t' Obey Which you on him for the Queens Death did lay He said forbid it Heaven that I the Sin should do Which words he spoke blushing and trembling too By which it was too evidently seen He had a guilty Passion for the Queen For whom so warmly he did then appear That he told me you an Usurper
us'd to fill Madam ascend You 'll not become it Ill. Fair Mariamne in it still did sit When Foreign Embassies she did admit Take it as earnest of a greater far And while your Right to these you do declare All the Arabian Guards in Arms I 'll draw The stronger to the weaker gives the Law You must expect a Storm from David's Tower While it remains in the fierce Phaltiel's Power He leads Solome to the Throne While she is going to it she says Solo. Fate never did to one a Throne assign Who did ascend it in such griefs as mine Asdr. as soon as She is seated bows humbly to her so do all the rest Asdr. goes out Solo. Since the Male Race of all the Royal Line Is now extinct the Crown by Right is mine That I should Raign Heaven does concern'd appear Taking so many Lives to place me here Owing this Blessing to Celestial aid With Fear and Reverence I must be Obey'd I will with Glory fill great Herod's Room Asdrubal introduces Pheroras hastily attended by all the Guards Pher. Descend vile Woman and receive thy Doom Though in such Sins thou hast consum'd thy time As there 's no Judgment equal to thy Crime Solome starting up Are these the Guards which he went out to call My Crimes I 'll expiate by a glorious fall Pher. To thy wrong'd Lord to send thee I design And if his Justice does agree with mine In wild Arabian Desarts thou shalt be Confin'd until Death's hand doth set thee free May'st thou a Life of Sorrow there begin And be as great in Penitence as Sin Seize on her Guards and let her be by you Lead to indure what 's less than is her due By Poison too thou didst design my fall But I am sav'd by Heaven and Asdrubal Solo. I laugh at all you dare design or do For though by Men betray'd and Fortune too And though to live in Thrones my Stars deny Yet spight of all I in a Throne will die She stabs and kills her self Pher. Her thirst of human Blood so great was grown Rather than shed no more she shed her own She ne'er shew'd Mercy or did Mercy crave For her Birth 's sake yet bear her to her Grave Phaltiel and Samias when they see I 'm King I know their Fort they 'll to Obedience bring 'T is Sir but part of what I owe I pay To Asdrubal Making you Ruler of Samaria Asdrubal bows Though many Pretious Lives at once are lost Yet Mariamne's Death afflicts me most Her Beauties and her Virtues were so great As for her loss grief cannot pay the Debt A Loss so vast that Mourning is due Not only from the Jews but Nature too The Curtain falls THE EPILOGUE OUR Poet wishes as I heard him say That all your Criticks would condemn his Play Since if for him that kindness you will do He 'll leave off Writing and turn Critick too He 'll find it then a thing of more delight To damn a hundred Plays than one to write Into your mode he 'll quickly too have got Of finding fault where there is cause or not Nay be more pleas'd at all your Plays to hiss Than but to Night to have your Claps at this He knows as well as you 't is easier far To be the Iudge than Pris'ner at the Bar. He 's yet good-natur'd for he ne'er was known To hiss at Plays though worse than are his own Troth urge him not for sweetest Wines you know Ill us'd to sharpest Vinegar will grow And there 's no Tyrant's Rage so fiercely burns As a hiss'd Poet 's when he Critick turns Then to this Play let your Applause be shown If not for Iustice sake yet for your own FINIS
unwelcome is that 's brought by you Or com'st thou to accuse me that did wed The bloody Tyrant who cut off thy Head Ah Generous Prince it was to save your Life That I did yield to be the Monsters Wife My kindness only made me seem untrue And for your sake I became false to you Ant. Madam I am not Dead Queen Not Dead O why Do you alas the fatal truth deny But know for I now see what you would do I dread not Death when I may go with you This unkind Doubt of me does make me fear Lovers in the other World love less than here Ant. By your fair Eyes the Oath I value most I am Antipater and not his Ghost And if of what I swear you doubtful stand Allow me to confirm it on your hand Queen Take it but wonder not I tremble so That 's sit whether you are a Ghost or no. Antipater kneels kisses her hand in such transports that she endeavours to withdraw it but he still holds it Ant. Why to this Joy would you a period give Queen I would not know by guilty proofs you live She withdraws her hand I am convinc'd that you no Spirit are But how you scap'd I beg you will declare He rises Ant. To tell that story I too dearly pay Yet since it is your will I must obey When Herod's Guards did my Revenge prevent To Massada I was close Pris'ner sent The Generous Samias to whose Friendly Care The Orders for my Death intrusted were Beheaded a young Slave of his by night And to his Body paid my Funeral right Which made all Palestine and Herod too Think he had done the Sin he bid him do Thus Heaven preserv'd whom Herod meant to kill By which I now have priviledge to kneel He kneels And beg thus at your Feet that you will give That Joy which if deny'd I dare not live Queen Rise Generous Prince Ah what is 't you implore Ant. That Blessing now you could not grant before Queen Into the blackest Incest I shall run If I should wed the Father then the Son Ant. True Love mistaken Scruples should despise The hand of Death cancels all humane tyes Dare you not end what Love made you begin Queen Prince I for you dare dy but dare not Sin Ant. By such false Maxims be not kept in awe Queen But Incest is forbid by Heavens great Law Ant. If Incest Madam be the Sin you fear I of that Incest the whole Guilt will bear My Love were neither generous nor true Would I not act one Crime to purchase you Queen Ah do not ask what Heaven bids me deny Ant. Then give me leave here at your Feet to dye Ant. offers to draw his Sword Queen Hold Generous Prince I might as soon agree To Sin for you as let you dy for me But if you think your Cure in Death to find Be not so Cruel to leave me behind Do not refuse what now I press you to Or live with me or let me dy with you Ant. Alas when of your dying I but hear All my despair I yield up to my fear A great knocking at the door Tamar within O Madam Madam Queen That 's Tamar's Voice Retire awhile I know Something Important brings her hither now Ant. retires within the Scene The Queen lets in Tamar Tamar Madam I hope this Rudeness you 'll excuse Since 't is to bring you most surprising News Herod whom we believ'd till now was dead From his Restraint is by Octavius freed And Caesar on him has confirm'd the Crown And what 's as strange Herod is now in Town He fear'd some Insurrection from the Jews And therefore brought of his Success the News The Sanhedrim to his great Fortune bend And through the Streets they all on him attend Queen Never a greater Change was wrought by Fate To them Dina hastily Din. Madam the King is at the Palace Gate Queen Will my Misfortunes never have an End In my Apartment all of you attend Dina and Tamar go out Antipater comes out Queen You hear the News of this prodigious turn Ant. Yes Madam but what News should make me mourn For I have nothing now to hope or dread Herod's alike to me alive or dead Yet my Complaints my Duty shall subdue Since I can now complain of none but you Queen Do not complain of her whose only fault Is that she loves you much more than she ought After these guilty words I dare not stay Shame now like Herod hurries me away Mariamne goes out Ant. Prodigious Fate what is 't thou dost mean How in an instant hast thou chang'd the Scene But thou hast Joyful hours as well as sad The good I 'll court and I 'll outbrave the bad Antip. goes out at the door he entred ACT II. The Scene opens The Temple appears and Herod seated on a Throne within it On his right hand Annanelus the High-Priest stands drest in all his Pontifical Habits On his left hand Pheroras Abner Phaltiel Samias Asdrubal with all the Courtiers and the Guards The Singing Priests are all in their white Robes with wreaths of Laurel on their Heads after some time of silence the chief Singer lifts up his right hand and then the whole Quire of Priests sing the following Song SONG THose Clouds which dare the Sun obscure But a short time endure And when he breaks what did his Light confine His Beams with brighter Lustre shine So Herod's Danger which we did deplore Serves but to raise his Glories more He now appears to his glad Subjects sights Like cheerful Mornings after stormy nights In sign that we this blessing prize We offer up whole Herds in Sacrifice And flaming Incense on our Altars burn To Celebrate Our King's return Since to this Temple he new Life does give His Fame shall in his Piety still live Flames are seen behind the Theatre in the Temple This Song is to be sung twice by the whole Quire of Priests at the first ending of the Song Herod descends from the Throne walks out over the Theatre attended by all having a Canopy of State carryed over him by four By that time the Priests have ended the Song the second time the last of the Procession are to be gotten off the Theatre and then the Scene of the Temple is to be closed by the Scene of Herod's Apartment Enter Herod Pheroras Abner Phaltiel Samias Asdrubal and the Arabian Guards Pher. The Sanhedrim are at your Palace Gate And beg admittance Her No. There let them wait By Fear not Love they now are hither drawn Base Spirits when insulting fails they fawn When they but dreamt Fortune had cast me down They did consult how to bestow my Crown Since they 'll not tell on whom that guilt does fall Rather than punish none I 'll punish all Justice must not be mockt Pher. But Justice then Should not designedly punish guiltless Men. Because to you the faulty are not known You 'll punish All rather than punish
I my wrath subdue Judge how I 'd love you would you love me too Queen Love you Methinks at those two words alone I hear the Ghosts of all th' Asmoneans groan Should I once more that guilty motion hear Out of their bloody Urns they 'd all appear And could I grant that Love which now you crave They 'd fright me with their looks into my Grave Her As well your weakness as your hate I see Can you fear Ghosts and not fear angring me The dead nere to the living durst appear Ghosts are but shadows painted by our fear But were your House reviv'd did they all reign My looks would fright them into Ghosts again Looks which if you your Crimes do not redeem Shall act on you what I but talk'd of them Queen Your trembling Limbs could not your weight sustain If once you saw me head that Ghastly Train The sight would make the Crown upon your brow Totter as much as Usurpation now If you doubt this let me to them be sent Heavens how I long to try th' Experiment Her Imperious Woman by thy Pride and hate Thou hast at length hurl'd on thy self thy Fate Were I as timorous as thy weak Sex Me thy Contempt more than thy Ghost would vex Ho who waits there Enter Gentleman Go instantly and call Some of the Arabian Guards and Asdrubal Exit Gentleman Since thou so longst in hope to frighten me To be a Ghost that Ghost thou now shalt be In my Apartment thou thy Life shalt lose And I that place before all others chose That if thy Ghost to me it self dare show The trembling shape shall not have far to go Queen Though all the Asmoneans dy'd by your Command Yet let your Wife pray dy by your own hand You should in Justice some distinction place In murth'ring her and others of her Race I do not beg you would delay my Fate But that your self would shed the blood you hate Since I the Title of your Queen possest Do not deny my first and last request Here let your Sword your own Revenge pursue Opening her Arms. And pierce that Heart your feign'd Love could not do Her Feign'd Love Witness ye Sacred Powers above What she calls feign'd till now was Real Love A Love which here did with such Empire Reign As nothing could have quench'd but her disdain Ah what to prove it could I more have done Enter Asdr. and the Arabian Guards hastily Than for thy sake to kill my only Son Seize on the Queen and let her then be led To my Apartment there to lose her Head Asdr. The Queen Sir Her Yes the Queen Didst thou not hear Or is that Question ask'd me by thy fear Asdr. How should I touch the Partner of your Bed Her Her Death delay'd shall forfeit thy own Head Asdr. Madam Thus at your Feet my self I lay To beg your Pardon that I dare obey Queen You have it Sir why should you troubled be At once obeying him You pleasure me Asdrubal takes the Queen by the Hand to lead her out Her Now let her to her Death be sed away Queen 'T is your first Order I with Joy obey Asdrubal leading her out but still looks back toward Herod Her Heavens with what Tortures is my Bosom torn I neither can Revenge nor bear her scorn My Soul was rack'd till I her Death decreed And now the Doom is given my Heart doth bleed When Asdrubal has almost led the Queen off the Theatre Herod goes hastily and taking her from him says How dar'st thou on my Queen thus lay thy hands Asdr. The Sin I do is Sir by your Commands Her To wait on Kings thy Judgment is too weak Thou knowst not when Justice or Rage does speak If Passion hurls us out of Reasons way 'T is the best Duty then to Disobey Queen If you Reprieve me from the wish'd for Blow You 'll grieve at it e're long as I shall now Her Your Hate and your Disdain I will outbrave Love has reverst the Doom which Anger gave You with the Guards have leave now to retire Asdrubal and the Guards go out Queen Death is deny'd because I Death desire Her Madam retire and do not by your stay Augment that Storm which Love strives to allay Queen Heaven knows I go from hence with greater grief Condemn'd to Live than now to lose my Life The Queen goes out Her How great a Soul does this Asmonean show Her generous Heart will rather break than bow While I who have Battles and Kingdoms won Yield to her Pride and blush for it when done Herod walks in deep melancholy about the Stage Enter Solome who having consider'd a while Herod's disorders says Solo. What fitter time to tell it him than now When Grief and Rage sit mingl'd on his Brow All Passions must in him at once combine To make him act those mischiefs I design I met the Queen as she from hence did go To Herod She scarce would look on me Her It may be so Solo. Your Sister with respect should treated be Her Respect for you Why she hath none for me Solo. How can one Woman's Pride keep you in awe Whose word alone gives to two Kingdoms Law Her Ah 't is by much an easier task to guide Two mighty Kingdoms than one Womans Pride Solo. Your Fame is lost if aw'd thus by your Wife You ought to take away her Pride or Life Her To one who begs I death to her would give 'T is the worst Punishment to let her live Solo. If Death she does desire why should she strive For that from you she to her self can give Her Perhaps she would have me her-Murth'rer prove Solo. Life Sir is sweet to one that is in Love Her In Love Solo. Yes Sir in Love I say Her With who Hold I would think your malice speaks not You. Solo. No 't is my Love and Duty makes me tell A Truth which 't were a Sin should I conceal Nor could they both more generously appear Than now in telling what you dare not hear Her No more Why should I let into my Breast What would for ever rob me of my Rest Aside A thousand horrors in that narrow Room Have found their Cradle and may find their Tomb. This fatal Subject do not then pursue To Solo. But pity both your King and Brother too Who to the other Torments of his Life Knows he should hate but cannot hate his Wife They both go out ACT III. The Scene opens Herod appears asleep under a Magnificent Pavilion Hircanus and Aristobulus's Ghosts enter attended by several other Ghosts in white having great stains of blood over all their Garments They dance Antick Dances with black Iavelins in their hands The Dances ended they fall all in into one Rank and march up to Herod brandishing the Points of their Weapons towards him Herod wakes of a sudden starts up and draws his Sword at which all the Ghosts vanish He stares about him a while and then sayes Her
were Her At this I feel such Rage as Man ne'er knew Which seems to tell me what you speak is true Solo. Your Orders which to him intrusted were For the Queens Death he did to her declare Her I thought my Uncle's Death enough had been To fright all else from acting of his Sin Have you a proof of this the Charge is high Solo. Ask him your Self if he the truth deny It shall be prov'd by those you cannot doubt Her 'T is only Love could rack that secret out Solo. Admire not if those Charms which Conquer'd you Had the like Power to Conquer others too Her My fury in untrodden Paths shall walk But why do I mispend my time in talk If he confess or faintly but deny By my own hand the Queen and He shall dy Solo. Ah for the Queen Sir give me leave to sue Her Of all the World 't is most unfit in you Solo. Perhaps she did not of his Love admit Her She is too guilty in Concealing it To me immediately Sohemus send And at my Chamber let some Guards attend Solo. From this design I would your wrath disswade Her My anger cannot be by talk allay'd Herod goes out Solo. My fierce Revenge has now begun her flight To hurl my Rival into endless night And her proud Servant to his Cost shall prove There 's no Revenge like that of slighted Love Solome goes out The Scene is the Obscure Grotta Enter Antipater and Hazael Ant. Yes I met Tamar there Haz. And did you find Her Friendship firm in all you have design'd Ant. Yes yes this night I to the Queen shall go And there whate'er my Fate is I shall know Haz. I hope you have her leave to wait on her Ant. She must not know of it till I am there Since to such Rules of Honour she is ty'd That to ask leave were but to be deny'd To them Phaltiel and Samias Sam. Oh Sir from whence we came such grief we saw As far transcends the skill of Art to draw Observing as we past along the street At Abner's Palace Gate much People meet We through it at length did make our way Where on a Herse his Headless Father Iay. About it stood his Friends and Kindred all Whose griefs did more than fill the spacious Hall And seem'd to put a Voice into the Stones By making them to Echo back their Groans Phal But all their Sorrows scarce deserv'd that name Compar'd to Abner's when he thither came At his dead Father's Feet himself he threw Where for a while he lay as Speechless too Nothing in all his griefs did mean appear He neither breath'd one sigh nor shed one Tear But did convince all who were in the Room That Grief is still when it is highest dumb His Eyes did on the pale Corps so fix'd stay As if through them he 'd look his Life away Sam. At last to Heaven he such a look did throw As threatned more than all his words could do Phal A look which Herod if he had been there Could not have seen but must have shook with fear Sam. Your Father who for Abner then did send To this great Scene of Sorrow gave an end He at the Message cheerfully did rise And such Contentment sparkl'd in his Eyes As if by it he to the World would say I go to meet the Fate of Barzillai Ant. I almost envy Abner I confess Who did his grief so generously express Phalt. Not knowing why Herod for Abner sent And thinking you would long for the event Pollio who we in a disguise met there We sent to learn it and then meet us here Ant. I for the News impatient am and wait Pollio comes in But he is come already Pray relate What 't is my Father hath with Abner done Poll. When he came in the King sate on his Throne Inviron'd by his Court and Guards and all That Curiosity did thither call To whom the noble Youth did boldly say Sir though you sent for me from Barzillai Yet I with Joy to wait on you am come That I from you too may receive my doom For sure I 'm Summon'd for no other Cause Yes to excuse the Justice of the Laws Herod at length did with a sigh reply 'T is they that took your Father's Life not I. Any less Crime than what my Crown would take I would have Pardon'd for my Abner's sake But he who into that great Sin could run Cannot deserve the Tears of such a Son Too many for him are already spilt But Worth to cherish while I punish guilt Thy Father's and the forfeitures of those Who for their Crimes with him their heads did lose With Iewry's Government to thee I give Abner with sighs did the great gifts receive And Herod then made him the Throne ascend Where he embrac'd him and did call him Friend Ant. This Action his past Fame for ever wounds He in it for his Father's Blood compounds All the great things which by him have been done Cannot wash off the meanness of this One Poll. But Sir as through the Palace Court I past I saw the Guards run to their Arms in hast And though I ask'd the Cause I could not know Something Important Herod means to do For Courtiers run about from place to place And much of Fear is seen in every Face Ant. What do you think the Cause of this may be Phalt. We are as Ignorant of that as he Sam. But such Alarms from nothing cannot grow 'T is therefore fit we to the Court should go And learn from whence this trouble does begin Ant. Till your Return I 'll stay for you within They go out several ways The Scene the Queens Lodgings Enter the Queen and Mariana Mar. 'T is from Pheroras I attend you now Who has commanded me to let you know That you over your self should watchful be For Solome who is your Enemy Does your Dishonour with much art pursue And fills the King with Jealousies of you Queen I am indebted to Pheroras Care Did he name nothing in particular Mar. No for when he but spoke in your Defence Herod in Anger did command him thence What is it Madam that provokes her thus Queen Her nature makes her still malicious Besides her Brother's Will she aims to sway And thinks that I sometimes obstruct her way Another Cause may have her hate begot Yet since 't is but my thought I name it not Tamar comes in hastily Tam. to Mar. My hast has made me almost out of breath Herod I fear designs your Brother's Death And all the Guards are running to their Arms As they are us'd to do in fierce Alarms While Herod in Impatience till he comes Walks stern and silent in his private Rooms Mar. Pardon those fears which in my Face you see That Brother is more than the World to me Pardon me too if I go seek him now And Madam if I humbly beg of you That you Pheroras warmly will engage To use his Power to