bring Dare 'sdeath old Sir I dare do any thing Tiss That word then all my former doubts secures Be only res'lute and Timandra's yours My stratagems so subtly I will lay That to your arms your Mistress I 'l betray Thus then as the first step to our design Your guards I 'l with adulterated wine Secure so they Charm'd in a Lethargy I 'l from your bonds and prison set you free Then when some happy moment shall present Timandra left ungarded in her tent Both of us thither in disguise will move To end your rival and compleat your love For when your â—ill of bliss you have enjoy'd And your full pleasures with themselves are cloy'd I thither will alar'm our enemy Where by both Swords he shall be sure to dye And the next night the watch-word given by me You may scape through the Guards to liberty The. Revenge my love enjoy'd and freedom too Then in the name of Pluto be it so What stupid ignorance the World possest That only fury plac't i' th' youthful breast No 't is in age alone great Spirits are young The Soul 's but infant when the Body's strong These hoary heads like grisly Comets are Which always threaten ruin death and war Tiss Alas such â—ame Souls know but half a growth I 'l make my age a step to a new youth Such murders and such cruelties maintain I 'l from the blood I shed grow young again The. Let 's in the name of horrour then go on Methinks I long to have the bus'ness done Something like Conscience else may all defeat You know Sir I 'm but a raw villain yet Tiss Conscience a trick of State found out by those That wanted power to support their Laws A bug-bear name to startle fools but we That know the weakness of the fallacie Know better how to use what nature gave That Soul 's no Soul which to it self 's a slave Who any thing for Conscience sake deny Do nothing else but give themselves the lye Exeunt SCENE the Camp Enter Patroclus and Draxilla Patr. Why Madam do you fly a lovers pray'r Is cruelty the priviledge o' th fair Drax. You cannot Sir i' th' Camp be beauties slave Where honour 's th' only Mistress of the brave Patr. But 't is a rugged honour got in Arms When not made soft by beauties sweeter charms That melts our rage into a kind desire Whâ—lst love reâ—ines it in his purer fire Drax. Lovers whose flights so sublime pitches choose Oft soar too high and so their quarry loose But you Sir know to moderate your height Missing your game can eas'ly slack the flight Patr. Such faint essays may fit a common flame But my desires have a far nobler Aime Religious honour and a zeal that 's true Rais'd by that Deity to which I sue Drax. Those who to deities their offerings pay Make their addresses in an humbler way Not in a confidence of what they give But modest hopes of what they shall receive Patr. I in my offerings no assurance have Though an ambition to become your slave Drax. Yes but when once admitted to that place You 'l still be looking for some acts of grace Patr. Some little favours pitty can't deny You are too noble to use cruelty Drax. See Sir the Queen I beg you Sir forbear Exeunt Patr. Madam this way Enter Queen and Ardella Qu. Did he then suffer no surprize 〈◊〉 shew Of alteration let 's the progress know Ard. In order Madam t' your command I went And met him coming from the Royal Tent Where after th' usual Ceremonies past E're I would feast I gave him first a taste Told him how much his courage you approv'd That he in no mean path of glory mov'd Who in his Arms had so successful been T' engage a Monarch and oblige a Queen Then nearer came and whisper'd something more Began to intimate loves mighty pow'r He briskly took the hint and readily Began to urge some pretty things to me By which encourag'd I to th' bus'ness drew Told him in fine it only was his due To be admir'd by all and lov'd by you Qu. And did not then his alter'd looks betray Some extasie some marks of lively joy Ard. No Madam he knew better policy Talk't of your honour and his loyalty Fine smoothing terms to cloak a passion in But if your Majesty Qu. What Ard. Had but seen How much his carriage did his words deceive When with a gentle sigh he took his leave As if he languish'd till the minute came Qu. Dost thou then think he entertains my flame Le ts to my Tent and wait his coming there Such swarms of love within my Breast there are The heat 's too furious for my Soul to bear What would I give but for a taste of bliss Oh the choice sweets of a stol'n happiness Act IV. Scene I. Alcibiades Solus Alci UNder what fatal Planet was I born Sure at my birth the Heavens themselves did mourn Disjoynted nature did her course forbear And held within her Womb a civil War I who but now did fame and Conquest bring And added to the glories of â— King Must see my Trophyes all thrown down agen By the base passions of a lustful Queen Why was I not born to a common fate Free from the glorious troubles of the great So in some humble Cell my years have spent Blest with a private peaceable content The vulgar mortal feels not fortunes harms The highest structures still are shook with storms See too she 's here what shall I do or speak Fate has beset me and I 've no way to take Enter Queen Qu. My Lord you something discompos'd appear Surely there 's nothing that can fright you here Alci Majesty Madam is a thing divine Qu. If that disturb you Sir I 'le lay by mine Methinks I apprehend a greater pride To view the man whose glories spread so wide Alci Madam you on 'em set too high a price Qu. Perhaps I see not Sir with common eyes They best of honour judge that honour have I find a secret in me says y' are brave You need not Sir unfold it you can guess Alci How craftily she would her lust express And set her ills off with a winning dress What 's to be done which way shall I conclude I must abuse my King or must be rude I cannot speak Qu. My Lord let 's sit a while Won't you vouchsafe your visitant a smile Alci Smiles Madam were too insolent a joy Qu. Fye put these formal complements away Ardella sing that Song I heard to day SONG The brightest Goddess of the Sky How did she panting sighing lye And languishing desire to dye For the Triumphant God of war Amidst his Trophies did appear As charming rough as she was fair 2. Their loves were blest they had a Son The little Cupid who has shown More conquest then his Sire e're won He grew the mightiest God above By which we him a Rebel prove To heav'n that
and Recompence Alcib But Sister if I might one Question move Drax. Your pleasure Sir Alcib Could you not Madam Love The Friend in whom I 'm happy since I came In honour's as renown'd as in his name He when I to him often would Relate The sad adventures of my love and fate So much your gallant Friendship did admire That with your Character he grew on fire And bears a flame so noble and sublime As not to love agen would be a crime Drax. Sir that 's a thing I cannot now discourse Love rarely Conquers with a sudden force Nor must I that acknowledge as my due Which was perhaps a Complement to you If any thing in me he can approve I may believe it gallantry not Love Alcib I shall no more your modesty offend Pardon a forward Zeal to serve my Friend But if ought add a blessing 't will to see You made as happy as you have made me Exeunt Enter Tissaphernes and Patroclus Tiss D' you understand Patroclus what y 'ave done Have you consider'd that you are my Son Patr. Sir 't is a title I am proud of Tiss How can you then descend to things so base That blot my Glory and my Name deface Whilst thus your blinded folly so adores The only Traytor that my soul abhorrs Patr. How Sir I doat upon the man you hate No I had never thoughts so impious yet By all my hopes if any wretch there be Sâ—unhappy to be held your enemy Rather then in my Breast his image bear I 'd raze it from my heart or stab it there Tiss Stay least you should pronounce too rash a doom Believe it is a blow will wound you home But I will try What gen'rous resolution you express Know then you must hate Alcibiades Patr. Protect me heav'n can you command thatâ— Should break that knot you did so lately tye Was 't not your love that did our friendship joyn Did not your kind imbraces second mine Tiss Embraces Love and kindness what are these The outward varnish that our hearts disguise Hast thou so long with Courts conversant been The various turns of power and greatness seen And hast thou not this mistery yet found Always to smile in 's face we mean to wound Come you must hate him nay and kill him too Patr. Oh let me rather beg my death from you Can you command me Sir to wound a heart Whereof I do profess so great a part In that I should prove a self-murderer Peircing his Breast I stab m' own image there Tiss Come lay these idle boyish scruples down Do as becomes your Vertue and my Son Can you behold him rev'ling in my place And turning all my honours to disgrace And can you of so little value prize The honour of your blood not to shed his Patr. Oh Sir no farther urge this horrid Theam 'T will blast your gloryes and your wreathes defame Do but look on that liâ—e you would destroy See if it ben't as spotless and â—erene As that which in their heav'n blest Saints enjoy Pure and untouch't but with a thought of sin By all th' endearments of a filial love kneels And if that charm cannot your pitty move By my dear Mothers ghost whose dying prayâ—r Bequeath'd me her chief treasure to your care This unjust cruel enmity lay down And do not in his friend destroy your Son On the past brav'ry of your youth look back There the bright paths of all your Triumphs track Think what 't will be those gloryes to exchange For a base brutal infamous revenge Oh Sir recal recal the dire decree T is such a deed as fate will shrink to see Tiss Then 't is the â—itter to be done by me Give this unmanly Childish pitty o're Or ne're presume to call me Father more Patr. Then see how I resigne that int'rest here rises Thus all the bonds of duty cancel'd are Whilst such black horrourâ— in your soul I see Y' are not my Father but my enemy Now against me let all your vengeance come Thus thus my breast for your revenge has room Brave Alcibiades No since such barbarous mischiefs you dare do I 'l dye for him but scorn to live for you Why don't you strike Sir is your rage grown faint Tiss I fear I 've too much trifl'd with this boy Curse on his honour 't will my hopes destroy But I 'l smooth all in time Oh my dear Son Now art thou worthy to be cal'd my own None but a heart that 's truly noble cou'd Ever deserve a Title to my blood No may ye both in your brave friendship be As truly happy as I am in thee That 's curst aside Patr. Is then my father kind can he approve Our friendship does he once more crown our love Oh Sir let thus m' acknowledgment be giv'n As we for blessings offer thanks to heav'n kneels Tiss Rise rise thou comfort of my Age I now Have understood all I could wish to know Alas in this disguise I did but try The strength and vertue of thy constancy 'T is a refreshment to this heavy head To prove that vertue which my self have bred Thus blest in peace I 'l to my Grave descend As the declining Sun goes down at night Pleas'd with the rising of an off-spring light Patr. Such mystick wayes fate does our loves confirm As rooted Trees stand faster by a storm After this shock our friendship 's more secure As Gold try'd in the fire comes forth more pure Exit Tiss There 's some foundation yet for my design The Captiv's brave I 'l try to make him mine Unwearied I will let my fury range And leave no heart unsearcht to find revenge Exit SCENE a dark Tent. Theramnes in Chains The. How sweet a quietude's in fetters found That it seems almost freedom to be bound Though thus confin'd my agile thoughts may fly Through all the Region of variety Here in a trice I can the World run o're And finish whole years labours in an hour But oh my Mistress my Timandra lost That is the only bitterness I taste This outward fetter but my Body chains But that the freedom of my Soul detains Why by my Rivals Sword did I not fall So bravely have embrac'd one death for all Yet why should I court such an abject â—ate Courage is the supporter of the great Methinks I 've something yet to do might prove Becoming both my courage and my love I 'l hah this does my busie thoughts prevent Enter Tiss Is that old friend for a Tormenter sent Good Sir upon what message are your come Am I then destin'd to some harder doom Tiss No I am come to give your sorrows ease I know you hate Sir Alcibiades Nay and I know you love Timandra too The. Well Sir all this I know as well as you Tiss Come if you dare be brave be 't on this theam Dare you Sir ravish her and murder him The. For what dark ends do you this question
find no way Qu. My better Angel fly then swift as time Or thought thou 'gainst a Queen in gaining him But use such secresy as stoln Loves should have Be dark as the hush't silence of the Grave Ard. Madam distrust not but that I shall do Both what is to your Love and Honour due Qu. Honour a very word an empty name How dully wretched is the Slave to Fame Give me the Soul that 's large and unconfin'd Free as the Ayr and boundless as the Wind Nature was then in her first excellence When undisturb'd with puny Conscience Mans Sacrifice was pleasure his God sence Enter Tessaphernes Tiss Madam by th' Kings command I 'm to you sent Wh'attends your Royal presence in his Tent. Qu. I go Exeunt Qu. and Ardella Tiss Now all is Ripe me-thinks I see Treason walk hand in hand with Destiny And both in a kind Aspect smile on me Now the whole Court proceeds to solemnize The Nuptials of proud Alcibiades Where ev'ry thing does as I 'd wish combine To give a happy end to my designe It is the custom at a Marriage Feast The Bridegroom With a full Bowl presents his cheifest guest The Cup 's by my great secresy and care With strongest potion all infected are Which when our Alcibiades shall bring And offer as his duty to the King The Poyson and his sudden death will seem Fully a Trayterous design in him Then must the Crown descend on me and so I feast my Rage and my Ambition too Let Cowards spirits start at Crueltie Remorse has still a stranger been to me I can look on their pains with the same eyes As Priests behold the falling Sacrifice Whilst they yell out the horrour of their moans My heart shall dance to th'Musick of their groanes Exit Enter Captain of the Guards Cap. Look that your care and diligence be great See the Guards doubled and each Cent'nal set Exit The Scene drawn discovers the Tent of a Pavilion in it an Altar behind which are seated the King and Queen attended by Tissaphernes Patroclus and the rest of the Camp about the Altar stand several Priests of Hymen K. Each day brings some surprize of pleasure here Love vyes his Tryumphs with the God of War Six Priests of Hymen Dance The Dance ended Enter chief Priest and Priestess of Hymen Priest leading Timandra and the Priestess Alcibiades Priest Sings Distracting Jealousies and fears Heart-breaking sobs and restless tears Fly to the breasts that are Wrack't with despair In this Preisâ— Or this Cho. No tears but those of Joy no paintings but of bliss Priesâ—ess Yes yes by Love alone we seâ— On Earth the glorys of a Diety For 't is the greatest work above To be innocent and Love Those then that flame so nobly here What Ravishing delights must they have there Cho. Who on Earth to their honour are just and their Love Must reap the chief blessings above Priest Let 's then proceed and Hymens aid implore To joyn those hands whose hearts were link't before Priesâ—ess Agreed Prest Agreed Priesâ— Agreed Prest Agreed Cho. Hymen Oh Hymen come away Crown the wishes of thâ—s day See see these pure refin'd desires Wait at thy Torch wait at thy Torch to improve their fires Whilst this Chorus is singing Hymen enters with his Torch and joyns their hands with a Wreath of Roses which the Priestess strikes with her Spear and breaks then they offer both parts upon the Altar This Ceremony ended a Dance is perform'd by four Priests and Priestesses of Hymen all carrying in their hands short Spears muffl'd with flowers and boughs of fruit after which a Bowl is brought in and presented to Alcibiades who immediately upon the receipt bows to the King who descends with the Queen and receives the Bowl of him then spâ—aks K. To shew how strict a Reverence I have For ev'ry thing that Loyal is and brave Drawing near to Tissaphernes This signal honour only due to me Thus Tissaphernes I confer on thee Presents him the Bowl Thus Tissaphernes I confer on thee Presents him the Bowl Tiss Confusion what means this K. Nay do not start It is the offering of a grateful heart Come drink to such a depth as may express Thy wishes for their Joy and Sparta's happiness Tiss I must obey your Majesty Proffering to drink le ts fall the Bowl and seems to Swoun back Pat. Alas my Father K. How fares our worthy Friend Hence quickly for our chief Physitians fend So much this Aged Hero I esteem I rather could part with my Crown than him Tiss My health Sir needs no other help than this faintly That you will pardon its Infirmities The Wine was of so strong an Excellence Its Spirits prov'd too mighty for my sence Alarum without Enter Officer Off. Dread Sir your Camp th' Athenian Force Alarm's Without the City Gates th'appear in Arms. And with a numerous and Warlike train Begin their March upon the Neighb'ring Plain Their bloody Ensignes all display'd appear And hold an am'rous Combat with the Ayre Loosly they flye and with a Wanton play Seem to salâ—â—e the Sun-beams in their way Whilst their shrill Trumpets rattle in the skye As if with Musick they 'd charm Victory And this Triumphant Pride does higher grow That they may make a Conquest fit for You. K. 'T is well ev'ry Battalia Re-inforce With my late fresh supplyes of Persian Horse Their Fate no longer will delay endure Prepare to fight 'em in this very hour I 'd have this day hereafter famous be For the Renown of Love and Victory Shouâ—s from afar Enter another Officer 2d Off. The Enemy Sir does on the Plain appear And with Re-ecchoing shoutings pierce the Ayr. K. So Beasts decreed for slaughter e're they fall With their own Bell'wings ring their Funeral Finis Actus Secundi ACT Third Scene First The Camp Tissaphernes Tiss CUrse on my niggard Staâ—rs they were so poor That my Revenge prov'd greater than their pow'r My fury had begot so vast a Birth Fate wanted strength enough to bring it forth Trumpets afar off sound a Charge That sprightly sound darts fiercely through my soul Oh that I might one minute fate Controule Could but command one happy fatal Dart To send it self into 〈◊〉 Gen'rals heart Enter King and Queen attended K. Thus must proud States submit when Monarchs claim They govern in a rude disorder'd frame As Stars in a dim Senate rule the Night But Vanquish at the Suns more Potent light Athens now feels the fury of my heat A pow'r like theirs divided can't be great It may tumultious and num'rous show But ne're contract to give a steady blow Qu. In States those monstrous many-headed pow'rs Of private int'rest publick good devours 'T is true when in their hands a rule they gain They know to use that power not maintain Like Pyrats in a Fleet a while they may Seem dreadful but when by some juster force Oppos'd Each his own safety seeks and shrinks away
Was it for this my stratagems I lay'd To ruin her to be by her betray'd Curse on my narrow fate but yet to shew That I love murder too as well as you Thus perjur'd Queen offers to stab the Queen but is hinder'd by the Lords Qu. See how he 'd still pursue His Treason hence to justice with him go Hourly let on the Rack his pains encrease Till he the horrour of his guilt confess Tiss That shall not need I 'l own the deed as mine But glory in 't it was a brave design The King kill'd and I ruin'd to compleat Thy lust all by 〈◊〉 stratagem was great So great that for its sake I can with satisfaction yâ—ild my breath Else I should take no pleaâ—â—re in my death But e're I go be pleas'd to eâ—â—ertain The last kind precepts of a dying man Be bloody false revengful lustâ—â— That can be found recorded on Hells 〈◊〉 Embrace where-e're you rising vertue see Down with it and set up impietie Make that your theam leave nothing ill undone So copy Tissaphernes when he 's gon Who leaves this counsel as a Legacy 'T is my Religion and I 'l in it dye Exit Tiss guarded Qu. Hence with the wretch Mean while to my dead Lord I 'l sorrows pay And after his sigh my own life away So now they are gon hah who comes there Enter Ardella Ard. 'T is I. Q. Ardella on that thing cast back an eye 'T was once a King but thank these hands now none Nay start not Tissaphernes too is gon Ardella starts His treasures all are thine as a reward Ard. You are too kind Qu. See strait a draught prepar'd And Murderers Timandra next must fall You know our will let it be done Ard. It shall Exeunt severally SCENE a darkn'd Tent. Timandra asleep upon a Couch a Spirit comes and Sings Merli Come my Salla come away Thy Merli calls Salla within Whither Merli Hither w 'ave no bus'ness to day And where innocence sleeps we securely may play Salla I come Enters Merli So welcome my dear But first let 's disperse the black Clouds that are here Both. Round about this place we range And it 's gloomy darkness change To a bright delightful Grove A proper Scene for happy love The SCENE changes to Elizium Merli Next to divert this fair one all Our wing'd Companions we 'l call And the Ayr for musick charm Whilst they their measures here perform Both. Come all you bright forms that inhabit the Ayr And ease with your pleasures the cares of the fair Here frolick 〈◊〉 oh no longer delay But let each clap his wings and away Several Spirits of the ayr descend and Dance Salla Now let us discover the mansions of rest Where lovers with eternal joyes are blest A glorious Temple appears in the Ayr where the Spirits of the happy are seated See fair one see not long e're you To those glorious seats shall go Another Spi. The lustful Queen thirsts for your blood And you are for the World too good Merli Nor shall you come alone your lovers too Must meet a Fate the same with you Salla But here your troubles all shall cease 'T is the Seat of endless bliss Cho. Here in endless pleasures they Keep eternal Holyday Here they Revel Sport and are Crown'd with joys still new and rare Their pleasures too can never dye But like themselves have Immortality Merli See the kind Spirits smile and now They 'l bless her with a nearer view The whole body of the Temple moves downward Cho. Descend oh ye gloryes descend Who with blessings eternal are crown'd To this Nymph your kind influence lend Whilst all the Sphears with harmony resound Merli She wakes let the apparition go By th' damp upon my wings I know Something ill is drawing near Come Salla come away Oh come away my dear They all vanish and the SCENE changes again to the Tent. Tim. I 've had a dream might make a lover blest Oh th' sweet delights of everlasting rest Queen appears at the entrance How this the Queen what can her coming mean Qu. Ardella with the Ruffians here remain I 'l in and with soft words her temper try If without him she 'l live she shall not dye Madam to Timandra Tim. Your pleasure Qu. Oft' I 've heard y' are brave But the best proof of gallantry you gave When of your noble Lord you were bereft And such a bliss with so rare patience left Tim. Madam our flames a nobler passion rules Then fondness th' idle guilt of wav'ring fools Our loves knew a far higher excellence Then the half pleasures of a minutes sense Qu. Then you may love since you can with him part He has made a conquest o're my tender heart Love governs here and since my Husband 's dead Fate and my choicest wishes have decreed He should both in his love and throne succeed Tim. Do you believe Empires or Crowns can make Him his Timandra and his faith forsake Or think you I an Attome will resign Of that heart which by holy vows is mine No I will keep him maugre cruelty Qu. But Madam do you know what 't is to dye Tim. Yes 't is to lay these clogs our bodys by And be remov'd to blest eternity By death relief from all our griefs we gain And by one put an end to years of pain By that we in one minute find out more Then all the busie gown men study for Who after in dull search th 'ave ages spent Learn nothing but to know th' are ignorant Death is a blessing and a thing so far Above that worst of all our frailties fear It claims our joy since by it we put on The top of happiness perfection Quit him no never whilst I here have breath He 's mine in spight of cruelty or death Qu. Then enter ye grim Ministers of fate Enter Murderers with Poison Does not your stubborn courage now abate Tim. No my resolves more fixt and firm are grown Bring dreadfull'st racks and tortures yet unknown Provide one for each sense and then do thou Tempt me my love and int'rest to forgo Midst of my pains I 'l smile and tell thee no. Qu. But minion soon your insolence shall cease Come since such resolution you express Take this demur not do 't Gives her a bowl of poison Tim. And is this all I thought t' ave had a more Heroick fall Expected to have noblest tortures met Not by dull poison to have found my fate But any way I can thy pow'r defie 'T is for my Alcibiades I dye offers to drink Qu. Yet yeild and live Tim. Live what have I to do With life when giv'n by one so base as you Thus I despise it Drinks Qu. What dismal tortures strait will on her seize after Timandra has drank the Poison So 't was a health to Alcibiades Tim. Now blush at what thy impious rage has done My Alcibiades is still my own And if thou him embrace when I am