Visions fright me from my rest My interrupted slumbers they molest In vain all day her safety I enquire For none will satisfy my just desire Minutes seem days and every hour a year Whilst I am rack't thus betwixt hope and fear O Cruel King with Torments thou dost kill The fear is always greater then the ill I once agen to my rough guard will sue Gold may do more then Tears or Prayers could do Exit Enter Herod as distracted and Salome Salom. What ayles you Sir Herod Did not you hear the Musick see see what 's there Salom. Sir I see nothing that should cause this fear He is distracted sure Herod See see what sight my Eyes invades See Aristobulus from the Neather shades Salom. Sir I see nothing 't is your fancy sure Herod Antigonus See the Queens Brother comes to fright me too Salom. Look calmer Sir your fancy is disturb'd Herod See Old Hircanus risen from the Dead See Salome how he looks and shakes his head See Ioseph Sohemus Philon see where they go They are all risen from the shades below Salom. Sure it is Madness that disturbs you so Herod Oh the Queen the Queen the Queen Oh she is dead See Salome stay Mariamne stay she 's fled Salom. Pray Sir settle your disturb'd mind Herod Stay Mariamne dead dost fly from me too No Jealousy nor Rage can reach you now Exeunt Scene sixth Scene Ierusalem Enter Sosius with Romans Sosius The general murmur which assaults my Ear Speaks the sad Truth of my unhappy fear I dare not ask and yet I fain would know Suspence alas does but intangle woe Enter Pheroras Page Sir here 's Pheroras that can tell you more Sosius Tell me Pheroras may it be believ'd The Queen is dead I hope I am deceiv'd Pher. Yes Sir she 's dead and all that glory 's gon Which with such Lustre in Iudea shon Like a bright Star dropt from the Firmament She 's fallne and with her all the light she lent Sosius O Cruel King I wish but 't is too late Pher. I need not tell what brought her to this Fate Sosius That 's too well known but tell me how she dy'd Pher. O Sir the Queen such manly Courage wore As you or Caesar could have shown no more Unmov'd and without sign of discontent Unvail'd she to the Fatal Scaffold went There of us all she kindly took her leave Some Jewels then to Cleophe she gave And made the Guard to bear her Weeping thence Because her pious Tears gave her offence Whilst she discours'd our Tears run trickling down And no Eyes there were Tearless but her own Sosius The highest Vertue 's fled that ever shin'd O Cruel Tyrant to the World unkind Pher. O Sir the King does want your pitty now I left the Pallace Sir to seek for you Sosius What then it seems he does repent too late Pher. Yes Sir he now repents what he has done And calls on Mariamne now she 's gone The Furies sting his Soul with such remorse He now his Servants now himself does Curse He threatens Death and a Revenge on all But yet the storm seems on himself to fall Just now he 's gone and none did dare withstand Wrath in his Eyes a Dagger in his hand Distracted thus he towards the Prison made Where her dead body back they have convey'd 'T is you alone his Fury can asswage No other dares oppose his fatal Rage Sosius Come let us go lest we should come too late I must avert though he deserves that Fate Exeunt Scene the Last The Scene opened Mariamne appears laid on a Couch as Beheaded Enter Alexandra Alexan. So much Confusion I meet every where I have no doubt for my increasing fear See there 's the Cause Alas this dismal sight O'rewhelms my sence with horrours dark as Night Nature's too strong And keeps my Soul in Prison here too long But I will give no Rest to my sad mind Till I a way to Death or Vengeance find Tyrant at thee my just revenge shall fly And then contented with my Fate I 'le dye Exit Enter Tyridates and Arsanes Tyrid. See where she lyes Arsanes see she 's dead And my enfeebled Soul is with her fled Here I my grief will forfeit at the Eye And gazing thus upon this Object dye I feel the little blaze of Life decrease And yet my mind enjoys no kind of Peace I would have time With my own hands to tear his heart away Who could such Innocence to Death betray But ah my Soul is flutt'ring to be gone And leaves Revenge to the just Gods alone Arsa. Oh Sir your Courage should support you now Tyrid. My Life Arsanes to the Queen is due Was 't not enough Oh aggravating thought That the Queen dyed and dyed too by my fault I caus'd the Cruelties she did sustain After all this can I behind remain No I would strike a Dagger to my heart Had not my kinder grief perform'd that part My juster sorrow sudden death affords Without the help of Poyson Wound or Swords Arsanes help remains of Life are small At my ador'd Queens feet direct my fall Arsan Shall grief thus overcome Tyrid. O yes I find Deaths kind embraces all my sences bind The world turns round and by degrees I gain A kind of Resurrection from my pain Farewell my kind Arsanes Arsan Oh Sir stay Tyrid. Accept dead Queen this Homage which I pay At my approach be not offended now The strictest Vertue may this grace allow Thy Vow to Herod's Cancel'd here and I Now gain that Bliss you did in Life deny And we may now come nearer when we dye Enter Herod with a Dagger in his hand Herod Where is the Queen Oh she is dead she 's dead Thou lyest it can't be yet from me she 's fled See there she lyes Murder'd by my Command Here I alive her Bloody Husband stand Tyrid. Thanks my kind heart my blood new Vitals takes Rows'd by that form my drooping Spirit wakes draws Herod Ha! Tyridates draws Tyrid. Tyrant art thou here Herod Usurper how darest thou invade this place If Life thou lovest take hence thy hated face So great a Passion none but she e're gave I 'm Jealous of that Beauty in her Grave Tyrid. Monster when by my hand thy blood is spilt To meet Damnation equal to thy Guilt At that blest minute thy black Soul shall flye May Heaven but hate thee half so much as I. Herod Have at thy heart thy fury I defy Two fiercer Foes Fate on one Stage can't bring A desp'rate Lover and a Rival King They make a full Pass and both fall Tyridates at Mariamnes feet Tyrid. Revenge thou 'st done thy part now Love go on And finish what Mariamnes Eyes begun Though it grows dark my Ghost shall rove about And never stop till it has found thine out To do thee Homage when in Heaven we meet There as on Earth I 'le fall before thy feet dyes Herod Ha! into what Confusion am I hurl'd Hee 'l be my Rival in the other World If Souls can fight I thee to Battle dare And mine shall hence only to meet thine there As my blood cooles my frighted sence looks home On my past deeds and what I have to come Here stand my Crimes and there Eternity Men take the largest prospect when they dye Just Souls may mount but mine I fear descends Dyes There Love there Jealousy here Tyrant ends Arsa. A Roman Courage in my breast I find And a disdainful scorn to stay behind But I must live in kindness to thy name And keep my hated life to speak thy same Exit Enter Salome Salom. All dead and all my Trophyes work for Graves Ruine and Death ye are obedient Slaves Stars boast no more the rule of humane fate No threatening Planet like a Womans hate I fround and Ruine darted from my Eyes Doom'd by my hate this blasted greatness dyes If Kings are next to Gods what then are they Who at their feet such mighty Victimes lay Oh Jealousy Oh Glorious Woman-kind But thy chief Conquest Salome is behind I know I for their deaths accus'd shall be And the dull Gown must of my head decree I scorn to such mean Judges to discend No I began with this with this I 'le end draws her Dagger They the best Courage show who with a frown Give others death and smiling give their own Stabs her self Enter Sosius Pheroras Arsanes and Attendants Ha! must my death admit of Lookers on Tares open her Bosom and stabs agen Dull Life make hast tardy Soul be gone So now 't is done falls Death ends both scorn and pride And I may dye by Tyridates side Though love once made me fire Fate sets me free And in the Grave makes me as cold as thee dyes Sosius Come let us from this dismal place be gon Where Cruelty and Love so much have done Pheroras Love Jealousy and Spight conspir'd thy fall But thou great Queen hast over-come them all Faire Innocence how e're supprest will rise And Vertue though she suffers never dyes Exeunt Omnes EPILOGUE Spoken by Mariamne I Who by Herod's Iealous Wrath was Slain Can by your Kindness be Reviv'd again I who Undaunted dyed now Trembling come Fearing your Breath more than a Tyrants Doom If you but smile let him still rage and frown Your Friendship 's valued more than Herod's Crown But if I cannot so much favour win Come but to Morrow and I 'le dye agen FINIS ERRATA PAge the First line 9. read Iudaean p. 2. l. 22. r. Governour p. 7. l. 31. read Iudea p. 2â— l. 5. r. delay 's
find it is not Bus'ness can reclaime My lab'ring thoughts from an invading flame Nor can the great Employment of the War Intruding Loves more fierce assaults deter Whilst I for Herod with my Sword o'recome The Image of his Queen Kills me at Home Not all Phraates Cruelties did move So much my Breast as does this Tyrant Love Nor all the Knowledge which I gain'd at Rome From Stoicks this one Passion can or'ecome How little I a Gen'rals name respect Whilst I my Office and my Fame neglect Oh Gods who now an Heretick can be Against the power of gentle Love or Thee My panting heart I hold no longer dear Than whilst I find Mariamne's Image here It is my glory nothing could subdue That Heart not force of Gods or Men but You. Enter Polites and Arsanes Polit. Sir 't is our Love which makes us thus intrude With busie Care upon your Solitude Arsa. In Melancholly Characters we read Some gloomy mist has your great Heart o're-spread Your Aire and Meine and Looks more Cloudy grown Though you take care to Hide it make it Known Polit. We hitherto have shar'd your woes and bliss And shall we now both Strangers be to this Are we mistrusted now Tyr. Polites hold To you and only you I dare unfold That Secret which I here lockt up till now And did disclose to none no not to you Because 't is what your Councel can't remove 'T is O that I live to tell it Sir 't is Love Look not so strange you 'l be surpriz'd much more When you shall see her shadow I adore Shews a Picture Pol. Oh Gods What see I here It cannot be Tyr. Is Homage strange to such Divinity Arsa. Sir Then 't is Herods Queen whom you adore Tyrid. You tell me what I Knew too well before I through your Eyes Polites see your fear And 't is but just those Dubious thoughts I clear You fear that Noble Vertue is Betrayd Which rul'd my Actions whilst your Precepts swa'yd But though I Love 't is with so pure a flame As wâ—ll not Innocence nor Vertue shame To say I Love her more than Life is poor But I love Mine and Her bright Honour more Pol. In Love you to rewards of Love pretend Tyrid. No no My Love has neither Hopes nor End She is a Vertue that no Mortal dares Pretend to Love unless he Vertue wears Could I transform to any shape yet she Cannot be tempted by a Deity Lock up this Secret closely in your Breast Arsa. Without your Leave it ne're shall be exprest Pol. But Sir does Mariamne know your flame Tyrid. My Tongue as yet durst never giv 't a name Pol. Sir since I doubt it were in vain to try To reason you into a remedy That which I can't remove I will defend Yet many dangers may your Love attend Herod a Man is of that Temper known As Jealous of his Wife as of his Crown He spares no blood that He may this secure Think not in Love a Rival Hee 'l endure Tyrid You can't say more than Tyridates knows But for her sake I will my life expose Arsa. And we with you will the same Hazard share Tyrid. But in discourse I do my Joys defer 'T is the highest Tryumph that my Armes obtain Ending the War to see the Queen again Exeunt Third Scene A Chamber Enter Mariamne Alexandra Cleophe c. Mar. Mother the force wherewith you me Invade To a Rebellious Thought can ne're perswade Though I no Passion for that Tyrant know Nor Obligation to his Merits owe I by the Sacred Law of Heav'n am taught To habour against Herod no ill thought Alexand. He is a Monster and deserves that ill Mar. But yet that Monster is my Husband still Alexand. He then did forfeit both the Name and Place When He began to Murder all your Race 'T is He that Murder'd the Asmonean Seed And the last Relicks of that Race made bleed And now He has Imprison'd You and Me For what unless He does our Deaths decree Mar. Death is the last of ills that he can do Alexand. But I wou'd first that Monsters death pursue And have the Pride before my life depart To strike my Dagger to the Tyrants Heart Mar. May Heav'n defend my Innocence from guilt His blood alone shou'd by just Heav'n be spilt I 'le neither act nor wish so great a Crime Cleop. Who ever saw a Vertue more sublime Alexand. Now He is gone to Rhodes it is not hard For you to gain to our just side the Guard You in the Peoples Love so great are grown That for your sake they Herod wou'd Dethrone Besides We may by speedy Letters send For Valiant Tyridates who 's our Freind The Army wee 'l call home and all those Powers Will be as well as Tyridates Yours Mar. The very hearing this in me 's a Crime Alexan. Why then you dote on him and wish his good Can you love Tyrants stain'd with your own blood Mar. What now I do you did at first command When forc'd by You to him I gave my Hand Whilst that you urg'd no Crime I did obey With me to Him you gave your Power away These Tears I shed to Murder'd Friends I owe Weeps This to weak Nature I must needs allow Alexand. Those Tears th' Asmonians-Valiant-Race disown And Mariamne is a Coward grown Sit down so tamely with your Sexes fears No marks of Courage are those foolish Tears Mar. Though hateful Crimes I like a Coward fly I have a Heart that 's not afraid to dye Where I may Honour and my Duty save I have a Courage dares the Tyrant brave Enter Sohemus Cleoph See Madam one of your Gardians Sohemus come Alexan. Perhaps he 's come to let us know our Doom Sohem. Madam dry up those Tears and Weep no more Put this Imprisonment on safety's score The King a Passion has so great and just He dares to none but Us your safety trust His Jealousie the issue is of Love Mar. What act of mine did that base humour move Sohem. Lovers have oft without cause Jealous been Mar. He might have yet remembred me his Queen Sohem. Madam you nothing want but Liberty Mar. Denying that what does he not deny Alexan. From guilty Souls such Jealousies arise Herod can't live unless he Tyrannize Mar. Sohemus knows my Husbands foul intent When he his Voyage to Antonius went And now he is to great Augustus gone If he miscarries must he go alone Sohem. Your Pardon Madam if I tell you more Seems to Whisper And 't is a Warrant which he Sign'd before He must enjoy you in another World Thus into Crimes by Jealousie he 's hurld Mar. This Jealousie from Malice springs not Love Sohem. It is your Vertue makes me thus your Friend And that you may suppose my Friendship true The power of my Head I give to you For if this Secret from your Lips does come Herod will make me sharer in your Doom Mar. I weigh your kindness you shall find
bloody rage Or to delay the Death thou threaten'st here No Herod I can dye but cannot fear Herod No no false man thy artificial words The Temple nor 100000 Swords Shall sheild thy Life from my armed Anger now Thee and that Traytress both to death I Vow Tyrid. Involve not yet in my imputed Crime An Innocence which wholly is sublime If thou before these Reverend Flamines here Wilt Solemnly at the high Altar Swear I shall thy only mark of Fury be And thy blind Rage extend to none but me I 'le leave this place to which I now am fled And to thy Vengeance render up my head Herod O Heav'ns for him she wou'd have Life resign'd And he again for her has Life declin'd They Love Oh Rage stamp No Traytor thou shalt me no Council give Nor you nor She whom thou woud'st save shall live Draws Enter Sosius with Romane Souldiers Sosius Hold Herod hold I in Augustus name Do for the Parthian Prince a freedom clayme He not thy Subject hither fled for aid Must not by thy blind Fury be betray'd In this I Justice Honour Friendship show To Tyridates Vertues and to you Herod Friend hear me first Sosius I am by Honour swayd And in great Caesars name must be obey'd Herod You are a Friend to me and I to you Sosius I for no Friendship will injustice do I bear a Romans Vertue in my Breast Friendship not linck'd with Vertue I detest And Tyridates you must yeâ—ld to me Tyrid. Where I find so much Vertue I agree Sosius Herod your unjust Fury now asswage I here my Honour for you both engage Herod your Life by no Plots shall betray And you t' increase his Fury shall not stay You from Ierusalem this Night shall go And leave within 6 days Iudea too Who breaks his Word begets a Foe of me Makes Rome and Caesar too his Enemy Tyrid. I will comply though death I 'd ki`ndlier choose Herod Sosius alone could my just Vows oppose I see my Fear is greater then my Rage I in this quarrel dare not Rome ingage Nor dare to my yet tott'ring Fortune trust But I must rule by seeming to be just Exit omnes Act the Fourth Scene the First Mariamnes Chamber Enter Mariamne Cleophe Philon. Maria. THen Heav'n has heard my pray'rs and now I find Though I deserv'd it not He has been kind If Heaven permits me but to fall alone My Breast shall not emit one sigh or groan Now Tyridates is from Danger free I do not care what he decrees of Me Fly Prince from hence into a kinder clime Where to be good and Vertuous is no Crime Enter Sohem Sohem. Prince Tyridates by the Roman Legat freed And by him safe without the Citty led From his freind Sosius has made escape And is come hither in a borrow'd shape Mar. Just Heav'n forbid I cannot see him Go And tell him so His Folly would his Certain Ruine bring His Death would now be Justice in the King Sohem. Madam all my perswasions can't prevaile He onely beggs to take his last farewel Mar. This may some blemish to my Honour give Philon. Madam his Thoughts from such pure Fountains flow They on your Innocence no spots can throw Sohem. Without your leave he durst no nigher come But stayes without and there expects his Doome Mar. Well call him in and pardon me this time For he shall never more repeat the Crime Sohem. steps to the Dore and brings in Tyridates Philon and you Sohemus watch hard by And give us warning when that danger 's nigh Exeunt Phil. and Sohem. Ah Prince consider what you make me do Tyrid. kneels Hazard my Life and Reputation too Have I thus long my life with Caution led The very shadow of all Courtship fled Now at the last to make my Honour bow By Night and in disguise to talk with You Tyrid. Though my Intents with Innocence are clad The ills You suffer by them make em bad Mar. Your business Tyrid. Can I fly and leave you here Expos'd to Herods Rage and jealous fear I 'le break those Chaines my heedless Passions drew With such a black Ingratitude on You. Herod by Sword and Poyson sets me free From all the Tyes of Hospitality I this without Ingratitude can doe I owe not now my Life to Him but You. Reject not then the succour I propose Whence to You freedome to me Glory Flowes Mar. I will no longer these Discourses hear Urge me no more This Answer take for all Vertue shall ne're be blemished by my fall Tyrid. Then give me leave to Die I cannot see You still have Fetters on whilst I am free Mar. But whilst I thus my Innocence keep white Me-thinks I feel as yet my Chains too light Tyrid. But I can never go Mar. I for one boon must sue And sure I cannot be deny'd by you Tyrid. 'T were impious to disobey that breath Though the Commands were to meet Wracks or Death Mar. But this performance must be bound by Vow Tyrid. By all the powers to which men kneel and bow And what 's as Sacred by your self I swear Mar. She craves one boon who never begg'd before Sir I intreat you ne're to see me more Call your Obedience and your Courage up And the Carrere of your blind passion stop My Life and Honour both at Stake do lye And suffer if you either stay or dye Tyrid. Can you condemn me most Unfortunate To Banishment for ever and not hate Mar. Perhaps th' affection that I 'ave shown to you Has not been such as you pretended to I to your Merits always gave their due As far as my Condition would allow Had I been free and at my own dispose I before all had Tyridates chose Tyrid. Oh all ye Gods how dubious is my Fate At once how Glorious and how Desolate I have now 't is true no Reason to complain Yet in my former Wretchedness remain Those eyes must never more upon me shine Yet I can neither murmur nor repine Mar. Pitty begins too much to move my heart I find by these it is high time to part Mar. Weeps I Tyridates have some weakness shown And your Misfortunes move more than my own Let Mariamne your Example be Do you assume your Courage now like me Insensibly I do not part with you Yet dauntless act what I resolve to do If o're your Spirit any power I have Let it be shown be patient and be brave And let this act of your obedience prove The Candor and the Greatness of your Love Take now my last Farewell Tyrid. kneels One kindness yet When you remember me this fault forget Exit cum Cleop. gives him her hand to kiss Tyrid. Oh Gods is there no other way to prove The pureness and the greatness of my Love Must I to this hard Doom subjected be Yet 't is a Just and Vertuous Cruelty Yes to remember Thee I 'le take this way I 'le dye for Debts I cannot live to pay Exit Scene
me true Sohem. Herod does not mistrust the Queen nor You. Alexan. Why are we Prisoners then Sohem. It is his Care 'T will not be long e're Herod will return You 'l then no longer your lost Freedom mourn Enter Philon. Mariam Philon thy looks speak News what is 't Philon. They say The Valiant Prince of Parthia comes this Day Into Ierusalem The City and the Court their Joys express To see him come Crown'd with so great success With swifter wings arriv'd his greater Fame And told his glorious acts before he came Mar. What are they Philon Philon. He has such conduct and such valour shown Those Storms which threatn'd us are all o're-blown Th' Arabians are out of Indea fled But left behind them 13 thousand dead Twice by his Valour He the Battle won And twice unhors'd the King and once his Son He brake their Troops like lightening as he flew Where e're he went with him He Conquest drew Th' Arabian King from place to place he chas'd Till to his Country He return'd disgrac'd Mar. I have already heard of his great Name Philon. And yet I speak it lesser then his â—ame Mar. That Princes Vertues I did ever prize And his praise now with my own Interest lies If to the Kâ—ngdoms Interest I am true I must his Vertues Love and praise 'em too Exeunt Fourth Scene the City Ierusalem Enter Tyridates and Polites Tyrid. Oh Gods how can you thus unmov'd behold The best peice ever made of humane mold The work of your own hands giv'n up to be A subject for a Monsters Cruelty She to whose eyes my freedom I resign And she has right to all the Worlds as mine Can she a Captive be Pol. Call in your Passion Sir and give it Law Tyrid. Of Thee Mariamne 't is I stand in awe Great Queen it is thy Vertue makes me fear Pol. Sir stop your Passion till Arsanes come His news may calm't or give it farther room Tyrid. Now Herod is her Persecutor grown I him no longer my Protector own His Cruelties my Brothers have out-done I from one mischief to another run From Parthia bring my Life to lose it here And that which is a thousand times more dear Herod Herod in your distress has given you ayde Tyrid. My Conquests have that Obligation payd I in Mariamne's wrongs am injur'd more Then e're his Kindness had oblig'd before My thoughts no longer shall my mind divide Both against him and the whole World beside I 'le draw this Sword in the Queens just defence And succour Vertue and wrong'd Innocence Pol. These thoughts disclos'd wou'd Sir your self undo Bring certain Ruine to Mariamne too But see Arsanes is return'd again Enter Arsanes Tyrid. Quick dear Arsanes ease me of my pain What says Sohemes is he still our Friend Arsan I judge him so for so he does pretend He quickly granted part of your Request But a long time he did debate the rest He on Mariamnes anger did demur Not on the Dangers that she might incur At last the Friendship that he had for you Prevail'd and overcome that scruple too Now Night has spread her Sables he does wait Alone your coming at the Castle Gate Tyrid. This is a Kindness I can ne're requite Assist me Darkness Loves best Friend is Night Enter Sohemes with a Disguise Sohem. Put on this Souldiers Casque for your Disguise Thus Habited you need not fear surprize Tyrid. dresses in a Disguise Philon is now to his Apartment gone And I have newly set the Watch alone Wee 'l shun the Main-Guard lest your Face be spy'd At this back Gate you 'l enter undiscry'd You two without for our return must wait But at a little distance from the Gate aside Tyrid. What Tumult 's this within my Breast appears There is a strugling 'twixt my Joys and Fears That Heart which Death and Horror did not daunt At its approaching Bliss begins to faint Arsan Let 's find some shelter that 's not out of Call Exeunt Sixth Scene a Chamber Mariamne's discover'd lying on a Couch Enter Tyridates Tyrid. See where She is how her affections move She thinks on nothing but the Gods above What force of Men can such a Pow'r withstand Whose Piety does Gods themselves Command Tyr. running to her Kneels Mar. Defend me Heav'n what 's this I here behold One of my Guard so Impudent and Bold Tyridates ha what does your rashness mean Do not you know 't is Death to see the Queen Tyrid. Madam I do but dangers I defy And I could with them far moâ—e great and nigh I no occasion had till now to show How little I do value Life for you Mar. Rise Tyridates I and Herod know How great a Debt we to your Valour owe. But the Kings Cruel humour gives me fear Would your Compassion had not brought you here Tyrid. That temper your Misfortunes do Create I neither with his Love nor fear his Hate He gave me shelter in his Court 't is true But Murders now the Life he sav'd in You. Mar. I know Compassion moves you to be kind 'T is the Effect of every gen'rous mind Tyrid. Give me but leave this Sword shall set you Free Mar. My Thoughts you cannot to Revenge incline That is the bus'ness of the Gods Not mine Tyr. To do you Justice You may me permit Mar. I Act Revenge when I shall suffer it Tyr. In Your Misfortunes I a share do Claim Mar. I beg You won't that Dang'rous Claim pursue Lest gen'rous pitty Fatal prove to You. Tyr. Ah wou'd the Gods that Tyridates cou'd Buy off Your Sufferings Madam with his Blood Or end Your Troubles with his Punishment By all the Deaths that Herod could Invent. How fair would be my Fate to pay to You My Lâ—fe to whom all Hearts all Lives are due aside Mar. Sure this from Passion not from Pitty flowes I wou'd not know what now I but suppose Sir Do you well consider what You Say to Tyrid. Tyr. If my rash Tongue my Passion does betray And unawares the Secret has Confest Which has so long bin lock't within my Brest Madam do you adjudg what paines are Due I 'le gladly suffer what 's Impos'd by You. Yes Tyridates does as guilty Plead Since in your clouded Brows I Anger read Mar. You 'ld not have licens'd thus your self to tell Your Folly had you Known Mariamne well I Herods bloody Injuries forgive Yet scarce can pardon this Offence yet Live Exit Mar. Tyr. Stay Mariamne Gods What have I done Tortures To what Confusion am I Run She pardons me And yet pronounc'd my Death She bid me Live Yet Kil'd me with that Breath Herod who blushes with her Kindred's Gore With all his Injuries ne're mov'd Her more And is 't not hard that th' oversights of Love To Anger more then Cruelties should move My Rashness has my blasted Joyes o're thrown And my distemper'd Soul melts at her Frown Exit Tyr. Act the Second Scene the First Herods Pallace Enter Herod Sosius Pheroras
Care She did not know her Presence is more dear Enter Sohemus Must I my Life or Mariamne quit Soh Yes Sir 't is but too certain and your Flight Must speedy be or else you both will lose Consult no further Her Commands obey For know that her you Ruine if you stay Therefore no longer on your stay demur This rising storme does rather threaten Her But She in your Escape Preserv'd may be When you remove the Cause of Jealousy Enter Polites Pol. O Sir be speedy in your flight I hear Alexas and the Kings Life-guard are neer Soh Good Sir make haste Pol. There 's hardly time for Flight Arsa. But we may now be favour'd by the Night Tyrid. Well! must I goe Oh Queen when I obey I 'm only by your safety forc'd away Exeunt Enter on the other side with drawn Swords Alexas and Souldiers Alex. The Traytors gone but yet he can't be far You soon his passage in the Streets may bar Go light some Torches search out every where Who finds him first shall of my bounty share This Sword then Tyridates shall pursue Thy Life and take what Poyson could not do Exeunt Fourth Scene The City Ierusalem A Cry within here here they are Enter Tyridates Polites Arsanes Retreating and Fighting Alexas Guard Souldiers pursuing Alex. Yeild Tyridates or thy Life is lost Tyrid. That thou took'st it away thou shalt not boast Take that for thy Wives Treachery Kills Alexas Alex. Though I am wounded Soudiers follow still You dye if him you neither Take nor Kill Polites falls Tyrid. Farewell thy Friendship does my Love out-vye Thou hast the Honour in her Cause to dye to Polites Arsanes come Let us Revenge his Blood And take the Fate which cannot be with-stood Fight aagen some of the Souldiers are Slain Enter Pheroras with fresh supplies who beat off Tyridates and Arsanes Exeunt all Fighting Fifth Scene Herods Pallace Enter Herod and Salome with Attendants Herod I 'le think that Heav'n does joyn against me too If neither Poyson nor the Sword will do Salom. It was but chance or he had drunk his last Herod I hope by this time that his Life is past I bid Pheroras bring the welcome News But his long stay my Patience does abuse Salom. What Devil was it mov'd Arsanes so The Bowl the Wine and Poyson to o'rethrow Between that Draught and Death he should have known I rais'd that storm which hence his Life had blown 'T is not Revenge at least not half so sweet Unless he knows that I the Conquest get And if he Falls now by Alexas hand My fatal Anger he will understand Enter Pheroras But here 's Pheroras now Herod How dy'd he say Pher. His Valour Sir has rather won the day Herod Hah What not brought with thee the Traytors Head How durst thou say to me he is not dead What Legions had he to defend his Life Or fought my Subjects for him in the strife Pher. I saw Alexas Sir his Life pursue But what is 't Valour in Distress can't do Surrounded by the Guard he bravely fought And to the ground Alexas bleeding brought Salom. What said you of Alexas Herod Peace go on Pher. At him the Guard with all their fury run But like a Heroe so unmov'd he stood That all around the place he stayn'd with blood Polites Slayn with noble Anger stung He flung himself to dye amid'st the Throng There he such Prodigies of Valour shew'd The Guard not him but he the Guard pursu'd Prest with their number he at last had dy'd But that Arsanes an advantage spy'd The Sacred Temple being nigh To that Asylum both yet fighting fly And spite of all those Swords which did oppose There they escap'd the Fury of their Foes Herod O Heavens escap'd me thus Thy Blood yet Tyridates must asswage The vehement Tempest of my Jealous Rage I 'le to the Temple and my Wrath shall make The great Foundations of that Structure shake Exit Salom. What Stars Protect this Man His Valour moves me so I love him still But he Dispises me that thought is Hell Yes thou shalt dye My hand shall more then his thy Life pursue And shew what Woman in Dispair can do Exit Sixth Scene The Temple In which is discovered as within the Gate the Priests Tyridates and Arsanes 1. Priest We do not Sir enquire of your offence No Criminal is ever forced from hence 2 Priest You are both safe and welcome Tyrid. Thanks are due Both to the God you Worship and to you Enter Herod Pheroras and Attendants 1. Priest Sir Though a King keep back 't is just that you Bring that respect which to this Place is due Her Give me that Traytor then this Place nor you Cannot protection to such Crimes allow 1 Priest O Sir you know the Priviledge of this place We should our Honour and our Laws disgrace Herod Then I will force him hence Offers to draw Pher. stays him Pher. Your Passion sway Great Sir let Rage to Reason once obey All the whole race of Priests wou'd rather dye And you although their King to death defie E're they would suffer this besides the Jews Would run into Rebellion at the News Try if you can perswade but do not force Herod I must but yet I first will try that course Put forth that Traytor and you will do well You ought not to protect an Infidel His very presence does the place abuse It is a Refuge only to the Iews 1 Priest We dare not Sir they would us Paâ—tial call This Temple does a Refuge yield to all Herod But that Barbarian durst violate The Rights of Hospitality and Faith Ancient as Fanes themselves Return him fairly forth whilst I entreat Else I will execute more than I threat 2 Priest First for his safety we our Lives will pay Tyrid. Rather then you shall suffer I 'le not stay No let me fall a Victim to the King Rather then Ruine to your Altars bring Arsan O Sir what do you mean 1 Priest You will do worse You on our Altars will pluck down a Curse Let the King raze our Fane our Bloods be spilt 'T were better to fall Pure then stand with Guilt Tyrid. Let me speak to the King Arsa. I 'le not refuse So you no further go Tyrid. King of the Iews I am a Prince and meet you without odds For I know no Superior but the Gods I scorne to justifie my self to you Who thus ignobly do my life pursue A Life which from thy Sword and Poyson flyes Here at the Altar thou would'st Sacrifice Against all Râ—ght both Humane and Divine Herod Yes I will have thy Life though I lose mine Tyrid. Not the most faulty of my thoughts e're meant Mariamne or thy wrong thy Innocent And injur'd Queen I as the Gods esteem Can that wear any Title to a Crime Herod In idle words I 'le lose not breath nor time Tyrid. I speak not this thy Fury to asswage Or with design t' escape thy