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
Wife Ant. My Father's Wife Witness ye Powers above She was first mine by Sacred Vows and Love But as the Priest our willing hands did ty Herod from me forc'd her by Tyranny For which my Sword I did against him draw He broke Our Match and then I broke his Law Phal No one can say but he in that did ill Yet Sir Forget not he 's your Father still Sam. And to that Sacred Name a Debt is due Ant. And to offended Love there is so too All that I ow'd he to himself did pay That Life he gave he more than took away These guilty Tears which from my Eyes would flow Too little Love and too good nature show Wiping his Eyes Phalt. Blame not that Piety which makes you mourn Consider Sir your Father may return Ant. That thought in your belief should find no room A Prince's Prison's Prologue to his Tomb. The Folly equal to the guilt would be First to Restrain then set a Monarch free He never can again his freedom win Sam. Grant it yet Incest is a Crying Sin Methinks that word alone should make you start Ant. Incest most think is but a term of Art A name with which thePriests keep Fools in aw For no such thing is found in Nature's Law He must himself and not his Fortune blame Who from his Joyes is frighted by a Name Phal What we have said we wish we could unsay Since it augments the Storm it should allay Sam. But in a calmer hour we hope 't will move Ant. You speak your Friendship and I speak my Love Yet I conjure you leave me for some time Else you will both participate my Crime For I am now into a Chaos hurl'd Darker than that which first involv'd the World Phalt. to Sam. His Passion thus oppos'd does higher grow Sam. May Heaven that Quiet which you want bestow Phalt. and Sam. go out Ant. Before she knows I live 't is fit I see If she preserves her Constancy to me But if my feign'd Death made her prove untrue What Herod thinks is done my hand shall do Ant. goes out The Scene is a Magnificent Apartment Enter Solome who is met by Merab Mer. Madam the Prince Sohemus now is come Solo. Call him and when he enters leave the room Merab goes out Solo. How should I without blushes on him look Whom while we lov'd so meanly I forsook Merab introduces Sohemus and then goes out again Sohemus does it not your Soul surprise That Solome is without weeping Eyes When Herod now is Dead a Loss so great That all our Glories in his fall are set Sohe Madam th' Assaults of Fate though nere so rude Have still been Conquer'd by your Fortitude Solo. This Conquest you ascribe to a wrong Cause 'T is Love alone which to my grief gives Laws Nothing can now my Inclinations cross This Joy does more than recompence that loss For I can now do your brave Passion right Our hearts which Power divorc'd Love shall unite Sohe I am amaz'd to hear such words as these Madam have you forgot Cossabanes To whom by Sacred Marriage you are ty'd And how you did my grief for him deride A grief which I one day could not have born And which my Death had cur'd had not your scorn Solo. Though I was forc'd by Herod's stern Command To give the abhorr'd Cossabanes my hand Yet 't was above his Tyranny and Art To make me from Sohemus give my heart Your doubts of me on a false ground are built You should not call my punishment my guilt Sohe Ah to that Punishment you seem'd inclin'd Solo. I seem'd more faulty but to be more kind For had you by my words or Actions seen How firm for you my Passion still has been Your Love or your Revenge had made you run To those extreams I found it wise to shun With Joy I did submit to be his Wife Since I had no way else to save your Life Sohe Could you think fit to me your Love to give Yet hope I could the loss of it outlive Solo. In that fierce Storm we then did both endure A seeming scorn could only be your Cure Sohe The Power of Love for me you never knew Since while you lov'd you seem'd to scorn me too Darkness and light may both together reign As well as perfect Love and such disdain Though a Just Person may a Sin commit Yet his Soul trembles while he 's acting it But when your Vows to me you did decline Nothing but Joy in your fair Eyes did shine Solo. Though for your sake I did that guilty deed Yet while my Face did smile my Heart did bleed I did to break that match all I could do Both with Cossabanes and Herod too But when all fail'd to which I had recourse I from my heart that Brother did divorce And on his Ruin ever since was bent In hope of this blest time Heaven now has sent Sohe These are strange Secrets which you now declare Solo. Listen and I will tell you stranger far 'T was I made Herod to Octavius go And made Pheroras wait upon him too That Caesar having both might more incline To cut off the Male Race of all Our Line 'T was I made Herod to all else unjust And leave his haughty Wife to your sole trust With Orders if he Caesar did not win You instantly should put to Death his Queen Sohe He told me none but I those Orders knew Solo. You see he told you then what was not true Sohe But to what end did you those Crimes pursue Solo. For my great End That of obtaining you Sohe Madam against the Power of Heaven you strive Solo. How 's that Sohe Is not Cossabanes alive Solo. 'T is Man not God makes Marriages by force Therefore this day I sent him a Divorce Sohe That right is only by our Sex enjoy'd Solo. That Usurpation I for you destroy'd 'T is just where two under one Contract are That they alike the priviledge should share Affection only ties true Wedlock Bands Where hearts divide in vain Priests join the hands He now in his Arabia does reside Where I have sent him leave to choose a Bride Now if you act your Prince's last Command Nothing between us and our Joyes doth stand For when the Queen you have of Life bereft I only of both Royal Lines am left Then will a Crown which my free Love bestows Sohemus starts and trembles Make some Atonement for my breach of Vows Why do you start and such disturbance show Sohe 'T is at the Mischiefs you would make me do Solo. To a true Subject then can any thing Look like a Crime when 't is t' obey his King Sohe Those who by Power alone have Scepters sway'd Ought not when Dead to have their wills obey'd Only to Lawful Kings that Duty 's shown Solo. Then do it for my sake or for your own I would have done it ere I spoke of it But that to me it did appear unfit That
unwelcome is that 's brought by you Or com'st thou to accuse me that did wed The bloody Tyrant who cut off thy Head Ah Generous Prince it was to save your Life That I did yield to be the Monsters Wife My kindness only made me seem untrue And for your sake I became false to you Ant. Madam I am not Dead Queen Not Dead O why Do you alas the fatal truth deny But know for I now see what you would do I dread not Death when I may go with you This unkind Doubt of me does make me fear Lovers in the other World love less than here Ant. By your fair Eyes the Oath I value most I am Antipater and not his Ghost And if of what I swear you doubtful stand Allow me to confirm it on your hand Queen Take it but wonder not I tremble so That 's sit whether you are a Ghost or no. Antipater kneels kisses her hand in such transports that she endeavours to withdraw it but he still holds it Ant. Why to this Joy would you a period give Queen I would not know by guilty proofs you live She withdraws her hand I am convinc'd that you no Spirit are But how you scap'd I beg you will declare He rises Ant. To tell that story I too dearly pay Yet since it is your will I must obey When Herod's Guards did my Revenge prevent To Massada I was close Pris'ner sent The Generous Samias to whose Friendly Care The Orders for my Death intrusted were Beheaded a young Slave of his by night And to his Body paid my Funeral right Which made all Palestine and Herod too Think he had done the Sin he bid him do Thus Heaven preserv'd whom Herod meant to kill By which I now have priviledge to kneel He kneels And beg thus at your Feet that you will give That Joy which if deny'd I dare not live Queen Rise Generous Prince Ah what is 't you implore Ant. That Blessing now you could not grant before Queen Into the blackest Incest I shall run If I should wed the Father then the Son Ant. True Love mistaken Scruples should despise The hand of Death cancels all humane tyes Dare you not end what Love made you begin Queen Prince I for you dare dy but dare not Sin Ant. By such false Maxims be not kept in awe Queen But Incest is forbid by Heavens great Law Ant. If Incest Madam be the Sin you fear I of that Incest the whole Guilt will bear My Love were neither generous nor true Would I not act one Crime to purchase you Queen Ah do not ask what Heaven bids me deny Ant. Then give me leave here at your Feet to dye Ant. offers to draw his Sword Queen Hold Generous Prince I might as soon agree To Sin for you as let you dy for me But if you think your Cure in Death to find Be not so Cruel to leave me behind Do not refuse what now I press you to Or live with me or let me dy with you Ant. Alas when of your dying I but hear All my despair I yield up to my fear A great knocking at the door Tamar within O Madam Madam Queen That 's Tamar's Voice Retire awhile I know Something Important brings her hither now Ant. retires within the Scene The Queen lets in Tamar Tamar Madam I hope this Rudeness you 'll excuse Since 't is to bring you most surprising News Herod whom we believ'd till now was dead From his Restraint is by Octavius freed And Caesar on him has confirm'd the Crown And what 's as strange Herod is now in Town He fear'd some Insurrection from the Jews And therefore brought of his Success the News The Sanhedrim to his great Fortune bend And through the Streets they all on him attend Queen Never a greater Change was wrought by Fate To them Dina hastily Din. Madam the King is at the Palace Gate Queen Will my Misfortunes never have an End In my Apartment all of you attend Dina and Tamar go out Antipater comes out Queen You hear the News of this prodigious turn Ant. Yes Madam but what News should make me mourn For I have nothing now to hope or dread Herod's alike to me alive or dead Yet my Complaints my Duty shall subdue Since I can now complain of none but you Queen Do not complain of her whose only fault Is that she loves you much more than she ought After these guilty words I dare not stay Shame now like Herod hurries me away Mariamne goes out Ant. Prodigious Fate what is 't thou dost mean How in an instant hast thou chang'd the Scene But thou hast Joyful hours as well as sad The good I 'll court and I 'll outbrave the bad Antip. goes out at the door he entred ACT II. The Scene opens The Temple appears and Herod seated on a Throne within it On his right hand Annanelus the High-Priest stands drest in all his Pontifical Habits On his left hand Pheroras Abner Phaltiel Samias Asdrubal with all the Courtiers and the Guards The Singing Priests are all in their white Robes with wreaths of Laurel on their Heads after some time of silence the chief Singer lifts up his right hand and then the whole Quire of Priests sing the following Song SONG THose Clouds which dare the Sun obscure But a short time endure And when he breaks what did his Light confine His Beams with brighter Lustre shine So Herod's Danger which we did deplore Serves but to raise his Glories more He now appears to his glad Subjects sights Like cheerful Mornings after stormy nights In sign that we this blessing prize We offer up whole Herds in Sacrifice And flaming Incense on our Altars burn To Celebrate Our King's return Since to this Temple he new Life does give His Fame shall in his Piety still live Flames are seen behind the Theatre in the Temple This Song is to be sung twice by the whole Quire of Priests at the first ending of the Song Herod descends from the Throne walks out over the Theatre attended by all having a Canopy of State carryed over him by four By that time the Priests have ended the Song the second time the last of the Procession are to be gotten off the Theatre and then the Scene of the Temple is to be closed by the Scene of Herod's Apartment Enter Herod Pheroras Abner Phaltiel Samias Asdrubal and the Arabian Guards Pher. The Sanhedrim are at your Palace Gate And beg admittance Her No. There let them wait By Fear not Love they now are hither drawn Base Spirits when insulting fails they fawn When they but dreamt Fortune had cast me down They did consult how to bestow my Crown Since they 'll not tell on whom that guilt does fall Rather than punish none I 'll punish all Justice must not be mockt Pher. But Justice then Should not designedly punish guiltless Men. Because to you the faulty are not known You 'll punish All rather than punish
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
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
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.
no more in such a dangerous path Her He is too mean an Object for my wrath And does on whining Vertue set such price As makes it much more troublesome than Vice Let all my Guards in Arms e'er Midnight be 'T is the last hour the Queen shall ever see Those Stains which on my Honour she does lay Shall then in her own blood be wash'd away They go out severally The Scene the Tower of David Enter Antip. Phalt. Sam. Pollio and Hazael Sam. Discovering of your Self has ruin'd all Ant. Talk not of that which now is past recal Phalt. What you resolve must be immediately Since Herod doubts not whether you should dy But studies for that Death may be to you Most full of pain and Ignominy too Ant. The Queen her self to such strict Virtue ties That 't is from thence my greatest troubles rise Phaltiel's Page comes in hastily Page to Phal A Lady that is Veil'd and in a Mask With pressingness to speak with you does ask Her business Sir admits not of delay Ant. to Phalt. See who she is and hear what she will say Phalt. and the Page go out Haz. Such Labyrinths involve you that I doubt 'T is only Miracles can bring you out Ant. So bright and great her Vertues still appear That we may hope for Miracles for her Howe'er our Duties let us not decline And trust the Issue to the Powers Divine Phaltiel comes in hastily lending Tamar who takes off her Mask and turns up her Veil Tam. Oh if to save the Queen be in your Power You ought not to delay it Sir one hour From Herod's Palace I in hast am come His Guards begin to seize on every Room And one of them did tell me in a fright That Herod means to kill the Queen this Night They all hang down their Heads and sigh and weep And e'er she 's dead her Funeral Rites they keep While she had she the means does scorn to fly And full of Joy as Innocence would dye Ant. O Friends hearing what Tamar tells us now Can you refuse to join in this just Vow That whosoever the Queen's Murtherer is I 'll lose my Life or give an end to his We must to Arms my Friends the furious Jews Will join with us hearing the fatal news Then let us Storm the Court immediately Thus we shall save the Queen or bravely dy Poll. Consider Sir the Queen 's in Herod's Power This will but hasten on her fatal hour For if Success should on our side appear You cannot doubt but he will murther her Ant. He dare not if our Arms Victorious grow Phal What wickedness is that he dare not do I thought you better understood the Man He 'll with his ruin ruin All he can Poll. This way with too much Reason Sir I fear You 'll lose your Self instead of saving her Ant. Oh Friend to lose my Self if she be lost Is of all Blessings what I covet most If we prevent it not the Queen must dy This way may save her and this way I 'll try Ant. offers to go out Tam. Stay Sir I call to my Remembrance now What in this strait may be of use to you The Queen now-lies where Alexandra lay Who from that Chamber made a Vaulted way Through which she might pass to the Garden-House She did this when she fear'd Antigonus Herod himself does not this Passage know Safely that way you to the Queen may go Whence you as safely may convey her too If you can win her to escape with you For at the Garden-House no Guards I saw Phalt. There without noise I may some Souldiers draw That if the Queen you from the Palace get We safely by their help may here retreat Sam. This Sir is the most hopeful way I see Ant. Samias it does appear the same to me For by it either I shall rescue her Or else dy fighting with her Murtherer Sam. Mean while I 'll try the chiefest Jews to win Tam. Oh how I fear the Scruples of the Queen Phalt. Since Herod has resolv'd the Queen to kill You ought to save her Sir against her will Once you to do it disobedient grew Ant. Heaven knows nought else could make me do it now Come let 's away the time too fast does slide Tam. Follow me Sir for I must be your Guide They all go out The Scene Herod's Apartment Enter Asdrubal and an Officer of the Guards as passing over the Stage Offic. As through the Streets I past the news was spread That Prince Pheroras struck with Grief was dead The People did his Death with horrour bear Asdr. I doubt of greater Deaths we soon shall hear Carry that News to Solome from me Let all while I am absent watchful be They go out several ways The Scene is the Queen's Chamber with a small Throne in it The Queen appears asleep on her Bed Herod comes in with a Taper in one hand and a drawn Dagger in the other as soon as he enters he stops on a sudden Her What Horror 's this which does my heart o'ercome As soon as I but enter in this Room I who in Breaches Storm'd have often stood And flaming Cities quench'd with humane Blood Nay swom t' Usurp a Throne through Royal Gore Yet never felt what trembling was before He advances towards the Queen's Bed and when he sees her sleeping says Can guilt so calmly sleep when Death is near While I who but Revenge it shake for fear What art thou Whispers While she sleeps 't is best To send her Soul to its Eternal Rest Lest her bright Eyes which have such Power to Charm Were they awake might my fierce hand disarm Whate'er thou art darst whisper to me so Be gone Else If I can I 'll kill the too For thou would'st rob me by such guilty fears Of what in my Revenge most great appears Yes I will wake her e'er I give the blow That She and I and the whole World may know While all her Beauties in full Lustre shone To my wrong'd Honour I have Justice done But though this brave Revenge I will enjoy Yet I must sigh for what I will destroy Herod sighs the Queen wakes Queen Who 's that who wak'd me with a sigh Her 'T is I But 't is to make thee sleep Eternally The Queen sits up Queen Ha in his hand an unsheath'd Dagger too Her Thy guilt does make thee such amazement show Queen If an amazement on my Face does seize 'T is that my Tyrant comes to give me ease Nought from thy bloody hand could welcome be Unless as now when it brings Death to me Her Wer 't thou not ripe for what I now will do Thou couldst not merit Death and wish it too But thy dire guilt all others has outdone For thou hast wrong d my Bed and by my Son Queen I wrong thy Bed I scorn to undeceive Him who of me dare such vile Crimes believe The Queen lies down again Her Thus of that scorn I my revenge
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