Heaven thy hand would steer Since Sacrilegiously it wounded her Abn. Against my will Heaven did this Crime decree To punish her so long defending Thee I 'll kill him yet though th' Altar he embrac'd Queen And I 'll defend him while my Life does last Antip. runs from behind the Bed draws his Sword and advancing says Ant. To save her I her Orders disobey Abner renews his Assault the Queen and Herod put by his thrust Hold Abner Hold and turn thy Sword this way Since the Queens Sacred Blood by thee is spilt Not to Revenge it were as black a Guilt Abn. Ha! Antipater how am I amaz'd Hell has the dead to help the Tyrant rais'd Ant. No 't is by Heaven that I preserv'd have been That in thy Blood I might revenge the Queen Yet I must grieve I can but strike thee dead For all the Tears and Blood thou mad'st her shed Herod gazes at Antip. and looks like a man astonish'd Abn. Sure Antipater once his Head had lost Herod has conjur'd and has rais'd his Ghost Ant. That I 'm no Ghost thy Death shall soon make known Abn. Art thou no Ghost Why then I 'll make thee one That which the Tyrant to my House has done Calls me to kill theFather and the Son They fight Abner falls mortally wounded Ant. That Death which thou deserv'dst thou now hast got Abn. I merit it because I kill'd him not Th' Attempt was noble though it did not thrive 'T is well I do not the disgrace outlive He dies Antipater to the Queen Accept this little Service I have done And let me now proceed as I begun A thousand Storms the Tyrants brows display Which his Death only Madam can allay Queen Prince you were order'd where you were to stay Ant. Your danger Madam made me disobey Queen How many ills on your Discovery wait Ant. By acting his let us prevent our Fate 'T is Heaven has sent us this propitious time Queen I will not owe Our Safeties to a Crime His Kindness I command you to implore If this you Disobey ne'er see me more Ant. Madam I 'm All Obedience you shall see When to obey is but to ruin me Antipater Bows to Herod and lays his Sword at his Feet Her Is this a Dream which does my Eyes abuse If they see right would I had lost their use How is my Reason by my Passions tost Tell me Art thou my Son or else his Ghost Enter hastily Solome Pheroras Phaltiel Tamar Asdrubal and some of the Guards All the men with their Swords drawn who seeing Abner dead and Antipater alive stand on a sudden as People astonished Ant. I am that Son you thought was in his Grave Rescu'd by Heaven that I your Life might save Her Who from my Doom did save thy guilty Head And who conceal'd thee now behind her Bed All thy Dissembling's vain It was my Wife Ant. 'T was your good Genius to preserve your Life Her To find thee here and to be sav'd by thee Makes Life a worser Doom than Death could be Herod muses awhile The Queen speaks to Tamar privately Queen Run run seek Samias out and bid him fly Till we have learnt the Prince's Destiny Tam. Permit me first Madam to dress your Wound Queen 'T is but a scratch and 't is already bound Tamar goes out Herod Never was Man with such misfortune Crost Lifting up his hands I am preserv'd to see my Honour Lost. Fool that I was to think that Son that Wife For any other end would save my Life Ant. Whoe'er a doubt of the Queens Vertue shows Sins worse in that than he can think she does Is this all the Return to her you give Who made you by her Blood and Kindness live Can you suspect who did so much for you To her own Fame and yours can prove untrue Queen Ah Prince why do you thus mispend your Breath 'T is a much milder Fate to suffer Death Than live to see him our bright Vertues blot Since Merit cannot change him words will not In his ungrateful guilt still let him lye But let us in our Innocency dye Pher. How can you think Sir that your Son and Wife Had they your Honour wrong'd would save your Life And that their Innocence might more be shown They for your Safety did expose their own Solo. Brother 't were sit you these great Doubts would clear What brought him hither who conceal'd him here But 't is the Queen must Answer them not you Queen She does despise your Arts and Malice too Solo. Madam I wish your Actions may not show That you as much despise your Honour too Ant. Kill her for what she said or else kill me For tamely hearing such a Blasphemy Her What does my Wife but touch I find wounds you Ant. She had been mine had you not took my due Which I 'd Revenge but that the Queen does tye My Arm and therefore I but seek to dye Herod snatches up the Sword which Antipater had laid at his Feet Her O Heavens what is it that I live to hear Th' affront I merit if th' affront I bear Thy Death is from my hand too justly due Both for thy old Offences and thy new He runs at Antipater who opens his Arms to receive the thrust Pheroras seizes on Herod's hand and at the same time the Queen offers to interpose Pher. O hold though I condemn what he has done Yet let not Sir your Passion kill your Son The Justice of your Laws that Right will do Which all will blame if 't is impos'd by you Her Justice and Laws They 're too Pedantick things To act the vengeance of offended Kings Since thou my hand in paying mine has staid Guards let him be to Massada convey'd On your Lives instantly convey him hence Justice and Laws in time may bring him thence Pheroras delivers himself up to the Guards Pher. To Prison nay to Death I 'll rather go Than see those Crimes which here you mean to do Her Away with him Pher. and some of the Guards go out Ant. kneels opening his Arms. Ant. Now act what you design'd 'T is in that only I shall think you kind Her Dost thou first wrong me then outbrave me so Herod runs at Ant. The Queen puts her self between Herod and Antipater Queen If you will kill him you shall kill me too Her Ha will She of her Crimes convince me more Queen Honour does now what Duty did before Her That Fire of Lust which in their Bosoms burns Makes them each others Champion now by turns I am convinc'd of what I did but doubt My Infamy so grosly they make out That a swift Death my Justice does esteem Too great a Mercy to be shew'd to them Thou Asdrubal here with the Queen shalt stay If she escape thy Life for it shall pay Phaltiel that Traytor 's Son to David's Tower With Guards convey where you are Governour I 'll have him Chain'd and in the Dungeon too Phaltiel seizes on Ant.
begin And thus pursue it He stabs the Queen twice Queen Heaven forgive his Sin Oh let my Guiltless Blood thy Rage atone And turn thy heart from murthring of thy Son The Queen dies Her Unheard of Crime She begs with her last Breath That her Adulterer may not suffer Death But he shall dy and in those Tortures too Which to his Crimes and her last Prayers are due Herod a while gazeth stedfastly on the Queen Thus Night's dark Veils the Face of Heaven o'erspread When to th' other World the Sun is fled No Kings Revenge like mine the Glory had To make at once so many Beauties fade A door opens under the Theatre Antip. comes up out of it muffled up in a Cloak at first looking towards the Pit Ant. Sure all the Ominous Screech-Owls and the Toads Have in this horrid Vault fixt their abodes Under my Feet these croak'd at every pace And those were still a fluttring in my Face Through Deaths obscurest Regions I have past But I am come to Paradise at last He looks after down into the Vault Her Whose Voice is that A Man and muffl'd too And comes to her through ways I never knew I 'll undiscover'd learn what brings him here Herod conceals himself behind the Scene puts down the Taper by the Queens Bed Ant. to Tam. in the Vault Since I am within Call you should not fear Tam. Yet Sir to your Return a short space give For here methinks I 'm bury'd while I live Antip. advances softly towards the Queen and flings off his Cloak Ant. How quietly she sleeps she does not know How near she is to Herod's guilty blow Yes I must wake her for by time I 'm prest He lifts up his Hands and Eyes Sure I was born still to disturb her Rest. Madam to save you I from Heaven am sent How sound they sleep whose Lives are Innocent Madam 't is Antipater that does speak Herod looking out of the Scene My Son How did he from his Prison break Antip. starts up and going to the Bedside says Ant. Either my trembling sight abuses me Or else O Heavens why must I live to see What more than I millions of dyings dread In Streams of her own Blood the Queen lies dead Though fate to lose her Life this Trick has shown I come not yet too late to end my own He draws his Sword and offers to kill himself Yet hold for while her Murtherer does live I must to my own self grant a Reprieve Till I have kill'd him though he Herod be For this dire Crime none durst perform but He. Thou injur'd Ghost who ought to hover here Lifting up his Hands and Eyes Till I have Sacrific'd thy Murtherer Listen to this Irrevocable Vow My Tyrant Father I 'll to Death pursue Through all his Guards I will a passage make And by the loss of mine his Life I 'll take Herod comes in with his Sword drawn Her Traytor such horrid Guilt thou dost commit That none but I to punish it am fit Ant. To mention horrid Guilt dost thou not dread Being within the prospect of that Bed Pointing towards the Queen Heaven may to thee perhaps some mercy show For off'ring up thy Self her Victim now Her This Hand which on my Wife has Justice done Shall do the like now on a Rebel Son Yes thou shalt feel that 't is a fatal thing To dare offend thy Father and thy King Ant. Those Sacred names were Cancell'd both by thee That moment thou didst force the Queen from me But wer 't thou Mankind's Father and their King Yet killing thee is but too mean a thing To Expiate thy Sin in murthering Her Her 'T is greater Sin my Vengeance to defer Herod runs at Antip. and Antip. at him They run each other through Herod falls Her 'T is Chance alone which the whole World does guide Or now Success had waited on my side Nor could I else have thus been strucken dead And by a Traytor which defil'd my Bed Ant. Defil'd thy Bed By all that is divine A brighter Vertue never yet did shine Than that with which Heav'n thy great Queen did bless To raise thy horrour I this truth confess Ant. reels then falls at the feet of the Queen's Bed Her My Joy it raises for I make thee dy And make thee do it telling of a Lye My Destiny had been tyrannical Had I not e'er my Death beheld thy Fall But now I care not what becomes of me Since with my hand I have kill'd Her and thee Herod dies Tamar rises out of the Vault Tam. What noise was this Ha! the Prince murther'd lies And the Queen too Weep out your Selves my Eyes Though for that Loss the payment is too low Ant. I amar raise all the Court and let them know The Queen has by the Tyrant murther'd been And I too meanly did revenge the Sin By only making of the Monster fall Then carry these Commands to Asdrubal That he from Massada Pheroras bring And now it is his Right Proclaim him King Tamar runs out crying Murther Treason Treason Murther Ant. I feel a Coldness like the hand of Death Which by degrees does steal away my Breath Against the wish'd Assault I will not strive Since all is done for which I 'd wish to live These double Blessings in my Fate I meet To kill her Murtherer then dy at her Feet Ant. dies Asdrubal with several Gentlemen and the Guards come running in at one side of the Theatre Dina and some of the Queens Women come running in at the other who all stand amaz'd lifting up their Hands and Eyes Asdr. O Dismal Night the dismal'st e'er has been Dina. 'T is here my grief should first of all begin Running to the Queen and kneeling by her Ah who can doubt Vertue is Crown'd above Since Men to hers did still so Cruel prove They all sigh and weep Enter Solome and Tamar Solo. There 's none which has such Cause to mourn as I But 't is below true grief to sigh and Cry And too much Sorrow ought not to be given To what appears is the Decree of Heaven Bear the dead Bodies from the Gazers sights Till all is ready for the Funeral Rites Some of the Gentlemen take up Herod's Body others Antipater's and carry them off Tamar Dina Merab and some of the Women draw the Curtains before the Queens Bed While this is doing Solome says to her self Fortune above my Hopes has smil'd on me Where I but beg'd two Deaths she gave me three Solome takes Asdrubal aside If to your Promise you have faithful been 'T is I who am by right of Blood your Queen When I by you am Seated in the Throne Ask whatsoe'er you will and 't is your own Asdr. Sure Madam you must know your Brother's dead The news of it through all the Court is spread Solo. Why do you not your duty then begin And make all others own me for their Queen Asdr. This Throne which the late Queen was
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
lessen Herod's rage My Brother 's guiltless Madam but you know The King thinks no one who he hates is so Queen May Heaven direct you in the Happiest way While I what you desire of me obey They go out several ways The Scene Herod's Apartment Herod with Asdrubal and some of the Guards comes from within the Scene on the Theatre at the same time Sohemus by another of the Theatre Doors enters on it Sohe The Princess Sir bad me here wait on you Her Now Guards perform that which I bad you do The Guards immediately seize on Sohemus and disarm him Her Thy guilt without my telling lets thee know For what Crime 't is that I have us'd thee so Sohe Though I must judge your usage Sir severe Yet I with Joy would this Oppression bear Were I the only guiltless you pursue Her That name of all belongs the least to you To thee whose Lust has to my Queen confest That Secret I intrusted to thy Breast Which She of all the World should not have known Traytor in vain thou wilt thy Guilt disown My Sister who reveal'd will prove thy Sin Heaven's How I fear'd that it had been the Queen Sohe aside lifting up his Hands and Eyes Her His lifting up to Heaven his Hands and Eyes Does Evidence his Crime by his Surprize This Storm which thou hast rais'd dost thou not dread Look on me Look Have I not star'd thee dead Sohe Looks cannot make one of my Courage fall Her What my Looks cannot do my Dagger shall Herod stabs Sohemus thrice who falls Sohe By my Compliance I thy Throne have built My Death 's the Justice due to that base guilt Which by my Hand I had aton'd on thee Had not thy bloody hand prevented me Thunder the Sword of Heaven does sure design That Death for thee which it deny'd to mine Tyrant receive this Truth from my last Breath If Man has an Existence after Death My Ghost shall haunt thhee out in every place My gaping Wounds shall stare thee in the Face Till thou thy Life a burthen shalt esteem Great as thy Subjects found it was to them Sohemus dies Her Would every Foe of mine all hope had lost But that of frighting of me with his Ghost Guards to his Grave bear that perfidious Man There let him tell my Secrets if he can They all go out the Guards bearing off Sohemus's Body ACT IV. The Scene the Queens Bed-Chamber The Queen Seated Tamar and Dina stand on each hand of her Tam. 'T Was Mariana's sad and fatal Chance To meet the Body as they bore it thence As soon as she beheld her Brother dead From her fair Face the bright Vermilion fled And in an instant in her Charming Eyes We saw a Cloud blacker than Night arise Her Limbs seem'd by their trembling to declare Her Sorrow was too great a weight to bear Then on his bloody Corps her Self she threw Whilst from her Breast extorted Curses flew Din. She his pale Cheeks a thousand times did kiss Till her red Lips infected were with his And to the Wound which through his Breast had made A passage to his Heart her Heart she laid In hope which was the end she did pursue By the like Sympathy 't would kill her too Then with a look in which Death Printed was Through her cold Lips these moving words did pass Herod Thy Steel my Friendships Truth has Crown'd Since to kill both thou didst but give one Wound Then in a Groan she gave her Sorrows vent A Groan so vast her Breath at once it spent Which to her Soul to Heaven a passage gave The only brighter dwelling it could have Din. To such a Death our stock of Tears was due And Sorrow after so contagious grew As those who bore them to one Grave to rest Seem'd by their Looks of more than Life divest Queen She in that Fate which you deplore is blest Her storms of Life are past and she at Rest And to her Death this envy'd Praise is due She taught such Friendship as the World ne'er knew Yet for my Loss in her these Tears I owe And truer Tears no Friend did e'er bestow The Queen weeps Leave me for my Disorders such are grown As I am only fit to be alone Tamar and Dina go out The Queen having mus'd a while Antip. discovers himself the Queen starts steps back and stands amaz'd Queen Ha! Antipater Ant. Yes Madam it is he Queen At such a guilty hour to visit me Prince 't is your first offence but 't is too vast Ant. I come to beg that it may be my last Since without seeing you I cannot live And since that leave your Virtue will not give Thus prostrate Madam at your Feet I lye Kneeling And humbly beg you 'll give me leave to dye Queen What brought you hither and who hid you there Ant. The highest Love and most undone Despair Queen Ah Prince What is it that you now have done Ant. That which I had nor Power nor Will to shun But as I paid what to my Flame is due So Madam I will be as just to you Justice would lose her Name could she deny That who offends you merits not to dye And since my Love into this Crime has run This hand shall punish what my Love has done He rises draws his Sword turns the Hilt to the ground and when he is going to cast himself upon the Point she snatches up the Sword by the Hilt Queen Oh Heavens What was it that you meant to do Ant. To end my Torments and be just to you Queen Though I your guilty visit much deplore To kill your Self I should lament much more Ant. You cannot to my Death such Sorrows give As I shall feel if doom'd by you to live Queen How ill those words do with your Love agree Is Life a Curse while you can live with me Oh Antipater this is too severe I have my share in all those griefs you bear And nothing can alas my Sorrows heal Unless kind Heaven would Iudah's Laws repeal Which were a Sin to wish or to implore Ant. Then Madam let 's resolve to live no more If th' other Life be what is taught us here Such Loves as ours must needs be happy there Queen Those who the Blessings of that Life would win Must not leave this by any Act of Sin Did not the dread of that our Journey stay I would not hinder you but lead the way Tamar comes in hastily Tam. Madam forgive the rudeness of my fear Oh Heavens the Prince alas how came he here Herod with Abner through the Gallery comes And all his Guards have seiz'd the Passage-Rooms Sure he has learnt Antipater's here Ant. draws his Sword Ant. Now Madam Fate does on my side appear For Herod or else you and I must fall Our Safeties for my ready Arm do call And to that Sword no Sin ascrib'd can be Who takes his Life that first took you from me Hee 'll think you guilty
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
none Her Since all were present at the black Debate 'T is they the Guiltless must discriminate My Resolution is on Justice built Who in this Case conceals does share the guilt Pheroras take my Guards and carry all The Sanhedrim into the Judgment-Hall There torture them till you from some have got Who first propos'd and then approv'd the Plot. Phalt. The Jews will rise in Tumults through despair Her Tumults the Frenzies of the People are And who in Frenzies strive must be withstood Such fits are quickly cur'd by letting Blood Sam. 'T is hard with a whole Nation to dispute Her But harder when Kings are not Absolute He of a Throne should be unworthy held Who to his will makes not his Subjects yield Who to obtain that end his Life does give Does dy more glorious than he else can live Brother you seem as if you were afraid Go you and see these Orders now obey'd To Phalt. Sam. and Asdr. Pher. Sir I will never give you cause to say That what you Order I dare not obey Come all with me Pher. Phalt. Sam. and Guards go out Her Abner to thee alone My Counterfeited Passion I made known But now I fear 't is Mariana's due That false Love made to her must change to true Love by her Eyes that Fiction would upbraid And burns me in those Flames with which I play'd Abn. Sir since the Queen some coldness did express While she unrivall'd did your heart possess May it not Sir provoke her to despair Seeing another in that Glory share Her Perhaps it may Perhaps too It may not Few Women are by reason lost or got Since to the Love I paid her shee 'd not bend I try'd a different way to reach my end Yet Abner I must say to be possest As much of hers as she is of my Breast And to enjoy that Monarchy alone I would despise the Universal Throne Though I her Coyness and her Pride abhor Yet her triumphant Beauties I adore Oft I resolve her coldness to resent But I as often that Resolve repent How was it Mariana did receive Those Jewels which to her I bid you give Abn. As soon as the vast present she had seen She said I had mistook her for the Queen But when to her I solemnly did swear That they by you presented were to her She trembl'd instantly then blushing said They were too mighty Presents for a Maid And beg'd me I would make you her Excuse Since 't was her Vertue did those gifts refuse Then from the Chamber she in hast did go Her She had good Cause the Off'ring was too low 'T was fit so great a Beauty should decline A present made by any hand but mine O Love where didst thou get the Power or Art Thus to erect two Thrones within one heart That Empire must be stormy and decay In which at once two different Powers bear sway My Queens aspiring Soul does daily rise Her Mind is as Imperious as her Eyes While Mariana with as Conquering Charms By her humility my heart disarms Thus to subdue me Opposites agree Yet both produce the same effects in me Let the Queen know I 'm to the Garden gone And tell her I expect her there alone Herod and Abner go out several ways The Scene the private Gallery of Herod's Palace Sohemus meets Mariana Sohe O Sister I am now for ever lost My flatt'ring hopes by my ill Stars are crost The Queen to my Address does cruel prove My Services she takes but slights my Love While Solome her former flame renews And with such guilty Love my Love pursues That I perceive 't is the Decree of Fate I must be ruinâ—d by her Love or hate Mar. If you but for the Queen can Love admit Solome must be paid with Counterfeit Else all your hopes of Life will be but Dreams Her Soul no Passion knows but in extreams Sohe Sister you know my Heart could never brook Whatever did but like dissembling look Mar. Dissembling must to you uneasy be And to perswade you to it is to me But since on you depends all I hold dear My Virtue now indulges to my fear When in this Love you did at first engage The sad effects of it I did presage Now my Prophetick fears I find are true But may it not be yet supprest by you Sohe O 't is in vain me to that change to move Who once lov'd well can never cease to Love Mar. Then you at first lov'd Solome but ill Or by that Rule you ought to love her still And if for her a Passion you did feign For both Our Sakes dissemble it again Sohe Though once her Beauties gave my Heart the Law Yet her Change froze more than her Eyes can thaw And you as well may raise the dead again As Love which has been murther'd by disdain Solome order'd me to meet her here Sister retire yonder she does appear Mar. O ere I go let me this promise win That you 'l not think what saves us both a Sin This on my Knees I would of you implore Mar. says the last Verse as she is going out Sohe I 'll do what Honour bids me and no more Enter Solome Solo. Though the last usage I endur'd from you Made me resolve your Ruine to pursue And by the Power which I with Herod have I with one word can send you to your Grave Yet Love has purchast for you a Reprieve And makes me this last meeting to you give You know the trust which he on you did lay And Love I know made you that trust betray Herod as Lawful King you would not own Either of these by me to him made known Would raise his Anger and Revenge so high As nothing but your Death could satisfy Sohe Madam you need not to your Brother sue To take a Life that is abhorr'd by you From me your Will shall no resistance meet I freely lay it Madam at your Feet Solo. Your Life Sohemus would my Blessing prove If you would reassume your former Love She puts her hand before her face Sohe Why would you have that Passion live again Which when you could reward you did disdain In pity Madam do not press me more To suffer Shipwrack twice upon one Shore Solo. I told you Herod forc'd me to that Crime Sohe Force which once aw'd you may a second time Solo. But to repeat a Sin few dare consent Of which they once did really repent Sohe Herod I know will make you soon repent Of that Divorce you to your Husband sent Solo. Brother and King Husband of best degree Are empty Names to one that loves like me Do but declare that I possess your Heart Then all the rest trust to my care and Art Those who oppose me I 'll to Death pursue And in vast Crimes shew as vast Love for you Sohe So much your Servant I resolve to be That you shall never act a Crime for me Solo. Perfidious Man since you my Love disdain I 'll
tear you hence where you too long did raign All those Objections you to me did move Were now I see to triumph o're my Love And when all Obstacles I would subdue I find my greatest nay my Only You. Sohe Were I as proud or false as now you say I might with ease you by your Love betray But by my Faithfulness I make you shun Crimes which would make you hate your self when done Ah Madam 't is severe to use me thus We give not Laws to Love but Love to us Could we at will quench or revive â—is Flame You 'd kill that Love which now you blush to name If what I say cannot your wrath asswage Here in my Blood be pleas'd to drown your Rage Opening his Arms. If over Love I could the Victor prove To whom I give my Life I 'd give my Love Solo. Too deep a wound thy bold contempt affords Ere to be heal'd by Fawnings and by words Since thou with scorn my proffer'd Love dost brand 'T were too great Death to perish by my hand Striking her Breast Thus with one blow Love's Image I deface Revenge do thou ascend and take the place In thy black Empire few successless prove Whose Hearts are fill'd with Rage as once with Love Solome goes out Sohe I see her fury cannot be withstood She will allay this tempest in my Blood Yet to my Death 't is nobler to submit Than to Contract a guilt which merits it Sohemus goes out The Scene the first obscure Grotta Enter Antipater Pollio Ant. Disswade me not by all my hopes I swear Nothing shall hinder me to wait on her Poll. Your Life in doing it will hazard run Ant. 'T will run more hazard if it be not done For Life on no account to me is dear But only as it does belong to her Poll. Lose not that Life which for her sake you prize Ant. Ah 't is not Life while banish'd from her Eyes To them Phaltiel and Samias Phalt. Sir from the Judgment-Hall we now are come Where forty noble Jews receiv'd their doom Th' Arabians putting many to the Rack Which in the Plot did not at all partake The rest urg'd by a Vertue most sublime The guiltless clear'd and did confess their Crime But those which were absolv'd did boldly say They 'd rather perish than be sav'd that way Sam. Never did men so generously contend Each would have lost his Life to save his Friend Ant. My Father's Crown and Life in danger lies Attempted thus by them who Death despise Sam. He that in this great Action led the way Was Abner's Father aged Barzillai All hop'd the favour Herod shews the Son Would for the Father a Reprieve have won But as we came out of the Hippodrome The Orders that he first should dye were come Ant. What is this Abner for whose sake you thought My Father might from his revenge be brought Since my disgrace he did to favour climb Phalt. To draw him Sir at length requires much time He is to give his Character in short In War most fierce most humble in the Court Who merits favour yet obtains it not In him unask'd an Advocate has got Respect for him he in all hearts has bred Because it is not sought but merited Malice does fear such Vertue to pursue Which makes him favour'd without Envy too Enter Hazael hastily who takes Antip. aside Haz. Tamar your Trust did with such Joy receive And in such Raptures learnt you were alive That in disguise as you desir'd she 's gone To Nathan's Tomb to meet you there alone Your stay with her she begs may be so short As none may mind her absence from the Court Where over her there are suspicious Eyes Ant. My Joys from this blest meeting take their Rise My generous Friends excuse me for one hour I 'm drawn from hence by Love's Resistless Power Mean while disperse your selves in several ways For this rough Justice must a Tempest raise And drive into despair the furious Jews What ere you learn let me soon hear the News Ant. and Haz. go out hastily Phalt. I 'll try to stay him Sam. Do not 't is in vain Reason and Love never together reign Sam. Phalt. and Poll. go out The Scene is the Palace-Garden Enter Herod and the Queen Her 'T is to Agrippa Madam that I owe At once my Liberty and Kingdom too With such success he did my Cause debate As he did alter what was thought my Fate Queen Does it not meanly in a Monarch show Both those to a Proud Roman King to owe. But to his Subject thus in Debt to run Is what I should elect by Death to shun Her Freedom you seem and Empire to abhor Queen No I love both but I love Glory more For those who do not Glory more esteem Than Life and Empire cannot merit them Her You my Return so coldly entertain As if some other in your heart did reign Queen I for your absence had no cause to mourn Nor can I joyful be for your Return Neither in me had reason to prevail Since I but change my Jaylor not my Jayl Your part Sohemus acted you being gone And now you are return'd you act your own Her While Rules of Honour you on me obtrude You quite forget your Debts of gratitude 'T was I that rais'd you to my Bed and Crown When all your House were by their Fate cast down Queen You made them Victims to your Pride and Hate And then ascribe their Ruins to their Fate With them I rather would have lost my Life Than be Condemn'd to live their Murtherers Wife Her Madam there are affronts which press so near That 't is beyond the strength of Love to bear Queen And there be Loves which so offensive are That to be hated were more pleasant far Her Take heed your Death may end so bold a strife Queen You should not threaten me with Death but Life Her Oh Cursed Herod to give all thy heart To her who is unworthy of a part Queen 'T is hard to credit I have all your heart Sure Mariana does possess a part Love that divided is must quickly fall Her Then Mariana shall possess it all Unworthy 't is of Monarchs nay of Men To pay their Loves where they 're not lov'd again He merits scorn who tamely scorn endures Yes I 'll recal my heart as you do yours Queen The losing such a heart should I take ill Which you can give and take when ere you will Pray teach me too how I should grieve for it Yet such a Passion is for her most fit Whose Family you for her sake thought good To waft to Heaven through a Sea of blood Of this new Love let this new proof appear By the like passage pray Sir send me there The greatness of your Love will more be seen In making me your Martyr than your Queen Her Spight of affronts so sensible and high Yet for your Beauties sake you shall not dye Since while you scorn me
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
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