live Onely by Air Air then shall be my food A diet fit for our o'reflowing blood Refresht with smiles my heart shall baffle death And surfet on warm gusts of Rosie breath Amas. Oh no for though great Love our hearts controuls 'T is a repast fit only for our Souls A natural food our bodies it must supply And we refuting that shall surely dye And then the Gods too mindful of our fates Against our souls approach will shut heavens gates Moar. The Gods perhaps their wrath will shew on me But when they shall thy brighter spirit see They 'r ill weigh'd rage they will conceive a sin And from their Thrones hast to conduct thee in Then leading thee through the Coelestial Signs Whilst at thy sight each envious Goddess pines They 'l seat thee there in State whilst I shall be Seeing thee cherisht by each Deity In Heaven opprest with Earthly Jealousie Amas. In vain your fears do such disasters bode Were I a Goddesse you should be a God I would create new Laws in heaven for thee And never blush at the Impiety So great my love so strong my constancy Moar. Blest in each others arms we would despise The troops of the Inferiour Deities But let us now with soaring thoughts dispence And prove on earth loves precious influence Bear witness heaven that now our Actions veiw How Little life I prize compard with you You whose perfections can such blessings give That for your sake I onely with to live Amas. And I your vertues though I blush to tell Confess my Soul I love not halfe so well Moar. When to our blisse a pleasant Race we run How swift the minuits are how quickly gone The time seems envious of our happinesse And strives to put a period to our bliss By an unlookt for hast but let 'em fly Each project of curst Fortune I defie And glorying in your heavenly presence prove Noblessing e're can match the charms of Love Exeunt SCENE II. Zelmura Sola Zelm. IT shall be done it must nor can there be A pow'r but heaven to alter my decree And that I may have int'rest in heavens Love For a short time I will religious prove Kneel to the Gods adore their pow'r and state Be just and pious meerly to be great I'm Egypts Queen my pow'r like a huge stream O'reflows small shrubs yet I am not supream My will is limited my orders stand But as the Copies of the King command Who in security now tramples on Those wreaths which I in war with danger won Coheirs in Empire shines but dimly bright Whilst eithers lustre darkens t'others light But I like Titan fixt alone would shine And dare all other Beams to equal mine Nature begone thou faint soft hearted thing What though he be my husband and my King Ambition is my Soul and die he must And 't is sufficient that I think it just Had Providence ordain'd I should have been A theam of Pity a kind vertuous Queen I had submitted to that harmless name And followed Piety But as I am The Child of War all Courage and all Fire My deeds above the sense of good aspire Die then dull King for since no way is known But by thy death for me to mount thy throne I am Resolv'd all thoughts of good to quell And raign first here though I raign next in hell The cause of your unmanner'd hast declare Enter Ptolomy hastily Ptol. My news exacts your courage and your care The King has had some close intelligence How Psamnis sent to Syria by the Prince To raise new Powers and get his Ransome paid Intends again our Nation to invade Knowledge of which hath so provok't his wrath He swore a no less Rash then mighty Oath Before the mornings dawn t' exault a flood And drown all Danger in the Princes blood Zelm. That breath has damn'd him hell has not endued The Fiends with half so much ingratitude He shall not no his doom I will recall By all the Gods if they permit his fall I will destroy the World kill and disrobe Nature of her perfections shake the Globe To its first Chaos and by actions prove Nothing can match a Womans hate or love Enter Amasis Amas. Ah! Sister can you thus your steps retard The noble Prince drag'd rudely by the guard Stands in the Presence bound Zelm. bound hell and death Here me you pow'rs above and shades beneath You that on Thrones of Day abhor the Night And you whom horrours of cold death delight Hear and assist my haughty enterprize For since controwling fate wears a disguise Since Nature takes a Pride Mortality To mould in Plots and Jugling villany I am resolv'd my influence to shew And fright the World with Natures overthrow Like some great conflagration I 'le appear And first with smoky flateries charm his ear Till I my hearts desire have obtain'd His his whole power by his promise gain'd That done from cloudy thickness I 'le aspire And Scorch opposers like consuming fire Exeunt SCENE III. Melechadel Zichmi Achmades Moaron held by Guards Melech AM I to be out brav'd Gods has my fate Made me as oft victorious as great Seated my Throne upon the conquer'd heads Of those that seek the paths ambition treads And shall I now stand tame when threatned by A weak low Object of my Clemency Wars vassal no my rage shall tempests grow And the fierce pow'r of inrag'd Monarchs show Lead to the Scaffold by my Crown I 'le try If thus inspir'd you can submit to dye If in the Book of fate my doom appear To be the next I 'le meet death void of fear And smile to think thou art my harbinger Moar. Tyrant not all thy tortures nor the Hell Fixt in thy Conscience shall my Courage quell My Spirit shall contemne thy basest deed And spite of torments dare thee to proceed The Bright all-seeing Sun when I shall dye From Reeking Mists will draw my soul up high Where on a Star I shall with Glory shine And in infernal Caverns see thee Pine Melech Dream on dream on of visionary joyes Your fancy quickens with these pleasing toyes Lead him away alas he weary growes These dull delayes but hinder his repose His power would conquer Crowns beyoad the Sun Did he not want a head to set 'em on Zichm Pardon dread Sir I If presume so far To tell your Majesty the chance of war Is incident to all men Kings have been The subjects of disasters not foreseen Blur not the trophies then of victory With the black stain of so much infamy Kings are like Gods when vertue they obey But that once lost they are but common Clay Melech Your Moral Phrase I cannot understand Vertue do's it not ly in my command What I decree is just although exprest A Miracle to an inferiour breast Vent your dull sentences where publick wrongs Lye brooding to be judg'd by publick tongues My will the power of factious souls shall awe A Monarchs mandate is his Subject
this moment for to breath An hour without her were a double death Send on your Bravo's bloud hounds that have known How to snare lives and frankly pay their own For by the Gods I will not fall alone My Sword above their slender fate shall sway Confounding heaps that so my spirit may When freed have Souls to buffet by the way Zelm. In your defence observe what I design'd to the guard Attack you first wee 'l seize on him behind Fight Moaron is inclos'd by the guards and disarm'd Moar. You basely poorly have the conquest won So shoals of flyes obscure the radiant Sun But yet you cannot glory in my overthrow Nor boast your fate against a single foe Oh spiteful Gods and Nature too unkind To join frail strength to an immortal mind Adeiw fair Saint if here we meet no more to Amasis My spirit shall to some new Region soar There search some flowry grot where we alone May meet in blest Eliziums of our own Zelm. Away with him hast fly or stay your Death Exeunt with Moaron Death My heart 's not proof against such charming breath His words raise blushes that too much proclaim My blinded passion and my growing shame You from my clemency perhaps may find to Amasis A fate too gentle and reproof too kind But let not your too easie faith believe Though now I do I always can forgive Despise the Prince and your past vows forget Goodness should die in them that would be great I am this hour to perform a deed Hell lmps may wonder at but not exceed The Murder of the King 't is that alone That Cements Romes strong Walls must build my Throne Exit Enter Saphrena Amas. How came she hither why were you so slow That e're she came you could not let me know Saph. Could I have done it and have sav'd my life I had been happy to prevent such strife But the sad story will such truth declare Will shew I wanted pow'r not will or care For in yone passage sitting in th' Alcove Reading the story of Leanders Love I heard a rushing and then listning more The Queen came guarded to the Chamber door Who seeing me in that amazement start Straight sets her dreadful weapon to my heart Swearing by Apis if a word I spoke Not all the Gods my ruine should revoke Fear charm'd my tongue alas what should I do Betray my life or els ' be false to you I could not speak so great was my surprize Till she was plac't in ambush by the spies Who since I 've heard forc't by her Jealous fear Watching the Prince observ'd him enter here Amas. Heaven has to Cruel been thus to prevent A harmless Love so true so innocent Our equal passions onely publisht this He still ador'd my vertues and I his But th' Envious Gods have mixt our bliss with cares 'Cause our Elizium was more blest then theirs Exeunt SENE II. Zelmura in state seated on a Throne Phillopater Zichmi Achmades and other Lords standing beneath guards waiting Zelm. THough to the Gods above our prayers we owe The Monarchs of the earth are Gods below Great Souls are Ideas of their heavenly might Sparks of their own ambition rage and spite And when we climb to Empires lofty ranks Engrossing Majesty we pay them thanks But on this Theam we have too long digrest You now have leave to offer your request Phillo Most mighty Empress thou resplendant Star Of Eagle Ey'd perfection Soul of War Thou glorious emblem of Divinity Bright as Apollo's beams Zelm. This pleases me This has some sound and well befits my State Phil. Remember those that groane beneath their Fate Curst in your wrath let your Diviner breath Release 'em from the Mansion of pale death Gloomy dispair their tired sense beguiles Depriv'd of th' Radiant glories of your Smiles Achm. They have no doubt with sorrow purg'd th' offence And curst their sinning 'gainst such excellence The Gods whose power you scorn to imitate By this excel in mercy as in State Zichm This were too great presumption were not we Licens't by your confirming Clemency But Heavenly minds all Mortal thoughts exceeds The Sun 's still glorious though he shine on weeds In your bright Aspect bliss and horror lyes And Heaven and Fate triumph in both your eyes Zelm. Still this I like the more they flatter me The more they publish my Authority Precedent Monarchs State too midly sought I am the first men to subjection brought They dread like thunder my controuling breath And he that slights my frown incurs his death Neglected duty fatal ruine bodes Whilst grand respect still equals us with Gods Whose boundless pow'r do's with my fate comply They can do what they will and so can I Do all your wills in this joynt suite remain Omn. 'T is all great Queen we covet to obtain Zelm. Heavens with what fear the Motion they relate I am transported with my glorious state Mild Majesty abreviates its bliss But what that wants of Power I possess I have consider'd on your Joynt request Your suits conjoyn to have the King releas'd Perhaps you think the conquests you obtain Are all disgrac't in a weak womans raign And weary of my Yoke think it well done To wish a King to put more fetters on Like Aesops frogs you grudge your gentle thrall Yet sue for Storks that would consume you all But know I rise not thus so soon to fall My power is yet unblemish'd Lords and know Since I am Queen I still will keep me so Therefore I have decreed it constantly That e're the Sun decline the King shall dye Omn. Yet gracious Madam Zelm. Hold I 've sworn his Death T is dang'rous to controul my fatal breath His treason and the horrour of the deed Justice would say he do's deserve to bleed But if her Zeal this act as good denyes My will shall weigh the deed and Justice lyes Zichmi in this be your allegiance shown Take this and see the execution done gives a Ticket Yet that to your great comfort you may see You have a Queen oreflows with clemency By vertue of this Ring set my Son free give a ring Haste and ere twilight see the Pris'ner dead Or for a brave neglect forfeit your head Zelm. Your will great Queen is not to be withstood For done by you the worst of Crimes is good Achma Since fate and ignorance permits us still By errours to disturbe your Godlike will Let us your grancious pardon share since we Incur'd the fault through too much Loyalty Your wise regreet perhaps some ill do's save So Gods deny mankind the things they crave Enter Ptollomy and kneels shout Zelm. Rise Sir and let your future Acts declare You my high fate as well as courage share Your past offences we will now forget But henceforth studdy things more brave and great Ptollo Madam it lyes not in the power of fate To make me Coward or degenerate To heaven for health and knowledge thanks is
durst she disobey my fierce command So strong a jealousie my heart did greive I could not die in peace and let her live But now I know no Rivals in my Love My daring Soul shall vaunt i' th' Clouds above Blow blow ye winds and mount my spirit high Above the azure Mountains of the skie And Since no longer I am mortal here Let Heav'n translate me to a Goddess there Crown'd in bright Cassiopeas Starry Chair Farewell the pleasing cares of Majesty Now lost for ever late possest by me The glittering pleasures that with state do dwel And crouds of crouching Vassals all farewel I faint methinks cold mists my eyes subvert And envious death sits crown'd upon my heart But Tyrant know thy pow'r I still defie Thus dare thy greatest rigour and thus die Selab Farewel thou type of never dying fame Whose lamp of honour shall for ever flame Moar. Injurious Gods and too tyrannick fate That givest to noble lives so short a date That rob'st divine perfection of her store Which thus at wast consum'd makes Nations poor Was 't not enough Oh Envious to subdue A Queen whose Second Affrick never knew But you must stop this Princess amber breath And proudly triumph in a Virgins death Heaven now methinks ungrateful do's appear These deeds had ne're be done had I sat there Selab Reclaim your passion 't is a Peasants curse That never quells our grief but makes it worse You to my yet unquestion'd pow'r must own to Phil. and Achm. Obedience and pay tribute to my Crown Omn. Ye must obey our fate Selab That done wee 'l cease From hostile actions and conclude a Peace Ptollo My Mother slain my Country lost and fame Take Gods that life you lend with so much shame Goes to stab himself but is hindred Selab Convey him hence and him your Monarch own And next successor to the Egyptian throne Great Spirits in distress must Courted be Disdain or pity augments misery Omn. May heaven still your sword with conquest bless Exeunt Achm. with Ptollo Selab My age no greater glory can possess Then using Mercy when I may controul Great deeds express the greatness of the soul. Moar. From henceforth drossy passions I 'le remove And guard my self from the Curst baits of Love Honour shall be my Mistriss now I 'le trye Remoter Regions where the dusky sky For want of Phoebus Luster hinders me Of light to grace a glorious victory Soft Passion feels afflictions smarting Rod Whilst glorious honour makes a man a God Gives him a Will to dare and pow'r to do Strength to engage and courage to persue Lead to the Temple and to Earth translate These mighty Trophies of must pow'rful fate That done in Glittering I 'le to the field First wear a Cypress wreath and next a sheild Exeunt Omnes FINIS EPILOGUE EVen as a too fond Lover waits the day While his Proud Mistris frowns will waste away That fears yet hopes and all her scorn do's bear With a known patience great as she severe At last to rage by her behaviour mov'd Flyes off and hates what he so dearly lov'd So we that have so often strove to raise Your good opinions courted your with playes New and as we thought witty but too late We found your Censures our rigid fate Are now resolv'd that this ensuing night We will your long continued envy slight If no true sence of Courtesy can make ye Be favourable why the Devil take ye If you 'l be kind as you must all confess You have kind to those deserv'd it less Wee 'l thank you and remit past grieviances If not then I instead of praise will curse And wish with a full heart but empty Purse That you may meet fresh rancour in your doxes And what I think can hardly be more Poxes FINIS
THE SIEGE OF MEMPHIS OR THE Ambitious Queen A TRAGEDY Acted at the THEATER-ROYAL Written by Tho. Durfey Gent. Non fit sine Periculo facinus magnum memorabile Terent. LONDON Printed for W. Cademan at the Popes Head at the entrance in of the New Exchange in the Strand 1676. TO THE TRULY GENEROUS HENRY CHEVERS Esq SIR THe favourable aspect you were pleas'd to cast upon this Poem the first fruits of an Infant Muse together with the knowledge I have of your excellent temper and unalter'd clemency have sufficiently warranted my presumption of throwing it at your feet and by making it an humble present to a Person so far above the common Sphere secure it from the peircing Tallons of Eagle Eyed Criticks I know it is a triffle that by the meaness of the stile the want of good design and the ill representation at the Theatre being Play'd to the worst advantage has got little credit with the World and consequently is far unworthy your patronage but if you consider the credit of a young Author lyes at stake one whose design was onely to please not offend you doubtless will be induc'd to a more favourable opinion of my presumption The censures of others will the less trouble me when you protect it knowing how common 't is now to discant on Authors truely famous and worthy all applause as well as others of a far meaner knowledge and reputation 'T is my desire I confess to be free from malicious censures and that my partial Reader would be so favourable as not to be my Interpreter but content himself with the Perusal according to Martial Absit a jocorum nostrorum simplicitate malignus interpres But since the humour of this Age tends another way I must study self satisfaction and relie on the Patronage of a Person whose worth I am so well acquainted with that the criticisms of pretenders will appear as ridiculous as they can endeavour to make this Poem if they durst write themselves SIR Your obliged humble Servant Tho. Durfey PROLOGUE JUdges of Wit you whose diserning Eyes Know the right path and nearest to be wise That never damn'd a Play as a despite To us but always thought your selves i' th' right Our Rhymer swears it never shall corode Upon his mind since 't is grown Al-a-mode Since great and pow'rful Sons of Poesie Have felt your pointed censures why not he The Age is alter'd now he that has Wit Ne're uses it abroad but in the Pit There spreads it all and e're one Scene does know Calls friend aside Cryes Dammy Iack le ts go Not a Wench here that 's worth the speaking to Others that want Wit hither come to glean Seem to find fault and cavil at a Scene Because they understand it not yet will Dislike because 't is Modish and Gentile Thus both ways we our Enemy's inclose The Wise and Fools are equally our foes 'T is true some tender hearted Females come That want divertisement and trade at home But little 's to be got by them alas They bring good faces but their moneys brass Madam we cry 't is naught she peeps through hood Cryes truth my Lord did give it me for good Still this makes ill for us such as doe pay Bring naughty money such as do not stay Your Criticism's greater then your sins are And yet you 'd laugh to hear Old Cole of Windsor A bawdy Ballad though with non sence cram'd Will please ye when a serious Play is damn'd But do your worst for we resolve to try A proof now of the Ladies Clemency If they but favour us you must obey Their frowns hurt you more then you 'l hurt our Play But should they hiss and our designs condemn It were an 〈…〉 them You are such Devils and so far exceed From you 't were worse then to be damn'd indeed But in their heav'nly breasts no rancour lyes Their censures must be glorious as their eyes And he that hears and follows not their rule Is impotent I 'me sure if not a Fool. Persons Represented Egyptians MElechadel King of Egypt Ptollomy his Son Phillopater Caliph and General two Peers Achmades Halem Zichmi Brother to Halem and a Commander under Phillopater Zelmura Queen of Egypt Amasis Sister to Zelmura Saphrena Amasis Confident Messenges Souldiers Guards and Attendants Men and Women Selabdin Sultan of Syria Moaron his Son Psamnis Friend to Moaron Aldabar Captain in Selabdins Army Souldiers Guards and Attendants The Scene Memphis besieged THE SIEGE OF MENPHIS OR THE Ambitious Queen ACT. I. SCENE I. The Curtain being drawn an Alarm of Drums and Trumpets are heard the Scene representing a Turret besieged by Moaron Psamnis and Syrians Zelmura Phillopater Ziehmi and Egyptians appearing on the Walls defending a skirmish of Darts which done the Scene changes to Melechadels Pallace Enter Melechadel Ptolomy and Achmades Mch. PErish the World e're I forsake my Throne Or leave that City which my Birth did own The Sun shall freeze and Nights pale Goddess burn The Solid Globe to its first Chaos turn E're Melechadel fears Draw up our Moors By Heaven I 'l dare the utmost of their pow'rs Kings are like Gods when dauntless they appear But worse than Peasants if their Fate they fear Achm. Great Apis Priests foretel our overthrow And Death comes wing'd like light'ning from the Foe I speak Great Sir not as I fear to die For death 's a bliss in wars extreamity My loyal care mean doubts do far exceed Ill fare true Subjects heads when Princes bleed Ptollo Famine i th' City now 'gins to prevail And from without Destruction storms like hail The tired Souldier with weak glowing eyes Looks down upon the Foe then falls and dies As if like Basilisks they gave us death Not with their dreadful weapons but their breath What can we hope for wheresuch horrour is Melech Think on my Conquests past then hope for this The Gods that made me Monarch did creat My Kingly Soul to have a Kingly fate Have I not conquer'd the insulting Moors Buffled the Indian and Tartarian Pow'rs When with my Troops I Legions have withstood Of Daring Souldiers whose warm Seas of Blood O'reflow'd the Plains with Waves of crimson dye And fogs obscur'd the surface of the sky Have I not often with the Morning dawn Mounted my Chariot by fam'd Princes drawn Through Memphis whilst amazements charm'd the throng To see my glorious Triumph pass along And shall we now our fortune fear to try He deserves Conquest best who best dares die Bring up our Infantry to the assault And see 'em straight conveyed through the dark vault Under our Palace Fly Achmades flie Fate points us out this way to Victory Embrace occasion e're it be too late We 'l snatch our Conquest from the Gripes of Fate How now What news Exit Achmates Enter Zichmi Zichm The Fence grows thin my Liege And the remainder hardly brook the siege Such numbers with their dreadful darts are kill'd The Trenches with their
Amas. A barb'rous Pow'r that can so cruel prove To fright a Virgin from a vertuous Love A Love with mutual vows so firmly bought That Death lyes coutcht in a dispairing thought Zelm. Dispair no that sad guest I will remove I give you leave to hope but not to Love A look methinks might satiate one so young Your growing Passion cannot yet be strong And though affection he on me bestowes And Loves not you yet you may hope he does Amas. He cannot be unjust his purity Ne're lent attention to inconstancy Our Passions like our vertues equal were Though not too fierce as much as we could bear Zelm My nature do's a swifter pleasure prove She hates dull vertue that does firmly Love Besides your pulse so temperate and slow Inspires me to believe your Love is so Amas. A temperate Love with modest passion grac't Excell a feircer and will longer last A chast heart to itself 's a Paradice But Love if wanting modesty is vice Zelm. Are these Stale Morals theams for you and me These Musty relicks of dull Piety Know fool that Vertue and Religion now Is not embrac't for practice but for shew To sooth the vulgar errours of these times And set a shining Gloss upon our crimes If I were poor I might have zealous been But Moral vertue is below a Queen And modesty with passions that aspire Agrees like water when comixt with fire Amas. Oh impious Age that licenses such crimes Zelm. Thou art a fool I know 'em prudent times Few waste their breath in Pray'r but th' ignorant Piety suits not us but such as want For to be Potent rich and zealous too I think is more then flesh and blood can do Ams. Of that I had but learning to dispute And the gross errours of your words confute But from the theam you wildly have digrest Come to the Point and tell me your request Zelm. 'T is this that you 'd suppress your extasie And prudently resign the Prince to me Perform it well and you my heart have won T is somewhat strange but yet it must be done Amas. Resign ' my Love a horrid Cruelty Yet though I cannot doe it I can die Zelm. Die then offers to stab her and by thy Speedy death remove The onely fatal Rival of my Love Amas. Oh hold for though with death I am not scar'd Forbear a little I 'm not yet prepar'd Zelm. My rage brooks no delay do it or bleed Amas. Hold oh for pity speak declare the deed What must I doe Zelm Visit the Prince with me And there renounce your former constancy Though Love he still endeavour to explain Meet all his favours with a Coy disdain Shrouding your eyes in frowns speak void of fear For I 'le be plac't where I can see and hear Be haughty that no plot he may descry But if you fail that moment you shall die Amas. Such tiranny was never yet exprest Zelm. Of too great Evils you may choose the least Amas. Let me consider yes it shall be done pawse The pow'r of fate may alter what 's begun His hate to her may Jealousie remove aside And prove a means still to preserve our Love I will perform your suit but in the deed to the Queen I give my self a wound will ever bleed As dying Pellicans their blood resign So to procure your blisse I ruin mine Zelm. Le ts thither streight if thou perform'st it well Thou bringst me heaven Amas. but my self a Hell Exeunt SCENE III. Enter Ptolomy Phillopater Achmades Ptol WHo at the Tilt last night most honour won Phillo The noble Caliph Micerenus Son Obtain'd the Ruby he five Warriours forc't To leave the field and twice five more unhorst Himself unhurt still prancing round the place Manag'd his foamy Steed with ample grace When brave Cephrenes hoping victory Charg'd him whose fight I could not stay to see Enter Zichmi Your haste does some unlook'd for news declare Zich To arms to arms we are surpriz'd I fear For standing on the Eastern Tow'r whose height Makes the Skies frown and Earth shake with its weight I saw the Beacons near the shore on fire Which to the Skies did in small sparks aspire And the next object which my eyes did grace Were armed Troops that mov'd towards this place The City trembles at these new alarms And in the Streets the stubborn faction swarms For by a Post new come report is spread They 'r Syrian Troops and by the Sultan led Ptol. Unlook'd for mischief oh my boding fears Achm. Has the Qeen heard the news Zichm There 's no one dares Possess her with it Ptol. Ha not dares yes I Were death the sequal would th' adventure try Let base and sordid spirits nourish fears My courage shall supply my want of years Streight raise what pow'rs you can to Zichmi be it your care to Phillo To calm the Commons and prepare for War Great Gods permit not Egypt thus to fall Revenge not private Crimes in general The blot in future Ages will remain And on your Godhead fix a lasting stain But e'er our necks endure captivity Like Romans our own swords shall set us free Exeunt SCENE IV. A Prison Moaron reading Moar. COntent is Pilot to a happy State And 't is a bliss to be unfortunate A rigid Text yet Seneca was wise He taught men how disasters to despise To purge their lives from ill and learn to die By occult Reasons in Philosophy But had he lov'd like me he had confest No Hell like to a confin'd Lovers breast The branded wretch that tugs the slavish Oar Spent with dispairs and wants controuling pow'r Yet still contented lives in hopes to see Once more the long wisht hour of Liberty But I contemning my unhappy Stars Still waste my life in Labyrinths of Cares Enter Zelmura and Amasis at the door Zelm. Yonder he sits now boldly enter here And from this place your words can reach my ear Exit behind Amas. Hold now my heart Moar. Hath heavens what 's this I see Can prison walls shrowd such divinity Amas. D' you know me Sir Moar. Not yet for Joyes extream Perswades my fancy that I do but dream Amas. Awake then and beleive Moar. Such was her hand kising her hand And such the sweetnesse that did first command And fetter my rough heart my doubts are gone But tell me Sweet how came you thus alone How could you scape the guards and not beseen By cruel Spyes from the more cruel Queen Or did the Gods Compassionating Love To yield me comfort drop you from above Amas. My coming was not at so strange a rate But from the entrance of the Castle gate Through all the guards I had a passage free Who void of doubts gave me this liberty Moar. Unlookt for happinesse Amas. hold Sir you shew Too much of Joy till you my businesse know Moar. What businesse can you have but to remove Doubts that molest us and renew our Love Amas. Grief ties my tongue how shall
'le do more And therefore Sir your liberty restore Lead on your troops brave Prince nay all thanks spare Meet me i' th' Army's head and thank me there You cannot braver gratitude afford Then nobly there to thank me with your Sword Charm me Belona with thy chiefest good And to meet fame I 'le swim o're Seas of blood Contemn black danger with a threatning breath And Grasp at honour in the jaws of Death Exeunt Queen and Ptollomy Moar. Gods what a soul do's that weak fabrick hold Such courage ill befits so frail a mould Her Spirit a whole Legion would inspire And turn cold cowardize to Glowing fire I envy her methinks a heart so brave A mind so haughty none but I should have If man be the more brave and noble name Why should weak woman rob us of our fame I 'le to our troops and try if I can prove A kinder fate then I receav'd from Love If not the doom of Heaven I will reverse And my own bosome with my own hand peirce Exit Zichmi returns Zichm Her sister to my guard resign'd blest fate That to revenge givest so secure a state My too long smoother'd hate I now will shew And to my aid invoke the Fiends below Dull Queen couldst thou believe I faith e're knew For her whose barb'rous hands my Brother slew No Murdress to his soul I did bequeath Thy tainted blood and then decreed thy death But now thy sisters rape shall first begin The tragick scene and broach a greater sin Then in thy blood my bliss I will obtain Revenge is sweetest then when most obscean Exit SCENE V. Enter Selabdin Aldabar Psamnis and Syrian Soldiers Selab THus far our enterprize proves fortunate Favour'd by heaven and propitious fate Our happy forces with a noble hast High rocks and barren Mountains have o'repast Of this parcht climate desolate and waste Proud Queen success thou didst but ill divine When thou my Son ignobly didst confine Or that his fate e're long might turn to thine But by my deeds thy pride shall quickly see A Father's Courage Love and Piety Psamn The King late murder'd by her Tyranny Methinks should pluck down vengeance from the skie And to requite the worst of torture 's due Death will oblige her if receiv'd from you Adab Heroes alone by Monarchs hands should die Trophies most fit for sacred Majesty Which in this war your power might persue Were the brave Prince but here to second you But till his sword we in our troops have seen 'T is vain to think to captivate the Queen But we are tardy let us hence to night And charge their drowzy guards e're mornings light Selab Brave soul yet stay such hast our power may wrong Our men are tir'd and the Journey 's long Let therefore all our troops to night be drawn In order to be ready with the Dawn A mornings march will bring our army down To fix our tents in prospect of the town Amidst your bounty Gods grant but this one Give but my age pow'r to revenge my Son My incense smoke shall dim your azure skies And feast you with continual sacrifice shout What means this shout Enter a Messenger Messen. May heaven great Sir your Enemy's destroy As it do's now procure the general Joy The Prince Selab Hah what of him Mess. Thus low by me In humblest duty greets your Majesty Selab Thou darest not mock me Mess. Not and hope to live But him you cannot hope for there receive Enter Moaron and kneels Selab This Scene of Joy do's my past griefs asswage Welcome thou prop of my declining age Honour forget my weakness this blest day If nature makes my eyes some tribute pay By say what more then God did set thee free Or was it some transcendant Deity Whose pow'r we know not and must therefore pay A reverence fitting so supream a sway Moar. No Sir the Gods I have not found so just 'T was on a Cause much more miraculous No troops of daring Soldiers did I see Forcing their way through death to set me free Heaven for my succour no such aid decreed 'T was the brave Queen her self perform'd this deed Selab The Queen unheard of Nobleness Moar. 'T was she That scorning fate pronounc't my liberty Selab Wonder invades my breast but say what cause From her proud soul this generous action draws Honour or did her fear take safer course To render what my pow'r e're long might force Moar. Her haughty courage only fame persues Contemning fortunes ills for when the news Of your arrival came no signs of fear Or dull mistrust did in her face appear But with a look that did her heart express She heard the story of your good success Then rising from her seat and seeing where Her Nobles looks betray'd their doubtful fear With an undaunted voice She strove t' inspire Their freezing Courages with her own fire Her brave Oration past she turn'd to me And with a dauntless generosity Voting my liberty spoke thus Lead on your troops and there your thanks afford Where the rough Language of the reeking Sword Disputes in honours cause and only deeds Not words for grateful actions intercedes This said she from my Presence did retire And left me there to envy and admire Selab For this brave act all grateful thanks is due She do's at once slight and oblige me too Good Heaven direct my actions how to pay Her generous heart the best and noblest way And since the Gods decree no war in vain May the sublimest cause the Lawrel gain Moar. He that i' th' Battle dares to second me Reaps from my heart a Brothers amity A Cowards soul destructive fears surround Whilst the brave Soldier smiles upon his wound With brandisht Sword he cuts his way before Not fearing numbers or mistrusting pow'r Steel me thou daring God of Martial souls Whose blest unbounded influence controuls O're death despising Hero's make my arm Strong like my will to do and suffer harm That doing what a Nat'ral pow'r exceeds Proud death may gaze and wonder at the deeds His rigour could not equal but at last If through continued wounds my spirits haste To leave their Mansions Grant me this kind fate Within this arm fresh vigour to create Till from my heap of victims gushing blood Make on the barren Earth a swelling flood That like a Conquerour I may when dead Swim to Elizium through the blood I shed Selab Such vertue Heaven must guard or cease to be What Mortals think the seat of Piety If in this enterprize the Gods ordain A fate that puts a Period to my reign My happy Age shall yet this honour have To lie with victims pil'd upon my grave Exeunt ACT. V. SCENE I. Zelmura Phillopater Achmades Ptollomy and Egyptian Souldiers Zelm COmmand our Moors the onset first to give And bring the Caliphs troops to their relief If you would purchase to your heirs a name Ever adherent to the Parents fame Unsheath your willing Swords and