your â—ude fury did but ill reward From these bold Ravishers whose blood he spilt Points to the two Villains Rescu'd my Life and recompenc'd their guilt Ther. My ling'ring spiritâ— do still faintly hault Death sure has laid a siege not an assault Aside Dar. Since you mistake his Love you shall not err â—'le shew you't in a plainer Character Have you forgot so soon since you first saw Theramnes to the constant Phedima Dare you reade this Gives her the Letter Phed. What is 't I dare not do Looks upon the Letter Has false Auretta then betray'd me too Aside This pamphlet I have seen and read and more But did Theramnes ever see'â— before Know you this hand Gives the Letter to Theramnes And do you know this Breast To Dar. Suspitious man dares your weak faith digest Such base low thoughts of me to dare to think My Virtue can grow less or Courage shrink Your Crime had been more venial and less strange T' have thought my Beauty then my soul could change Whatever I durst Act I dare defend Ther. Is this the kindness of my King and Friend Aside It bears my Name but not my Character Throws away the Letter My passion is not written there but here Points to his Breast In Phedima's fair eyes such glories shine As may command all hearts to yield But mine But from her Charms I did my Breast defend And I am not your Rival but your Friend Dar. And can you your own Name deny and see That Letter witness of your perjnrâ—e Ther. That Letter Sir is forg'd and counterâ—eit Dar. By whom Ther. You must not know by whom 't is writ Dar. Then will â— force Ther. You shall not Sir nor must I break my promise nor betray my trust Since Honour does my secâ—ecy enjoyn Rather than break my Vow I 'le own it mine Dar. Then will I force that breath to be your last â— Ther. That Fatal sentence is already past Dispute no more of that forg'd Character But what your Valour Sir has writ reade here Points to his wounds Yet though your Sword has made my blood ebbe low My courage still to the same height doe flow And still my breast is large enough t' afford Room for your Friendship as it did your Sword No more your groundless jealousies pursue My Conquest to Orinda's eyes is due But I want breath not words for my defence To prove Theramnes's injur'd innocence Yet if I win your Friendship I can't call This my defeat who conquer when I fall Falls And may Theramnes now so happy prove Who in his life could not deserve your Love To win Orinda's pity when he dyes To Orind. In Life your Slave in Death your Sacrifice Faints away as dead Phed. Now see what your mistaken rage has done And Triumph at the Conquest you have won Look there and tremble if you have a sense Of horror equal to his innocence Dar. He 's gone too late thy innocence appears The current of my rage now turns to tears Osiris run call all the help that 's near Whilst I my helpless griefs eccho to th' Air. Exit Oâ—iris Yet the kind gods have not plac'd Heav'n so high But that our sighs and pray'rs may mount the Sky Was this the onely way to reach his heart Where he too generously gave me part Could I thy Innocence no sooner find Is cruel Jealousie like Love too blind Enter Osiris with Attendants who take up the Body of Theramnes Thy blood by my unhappy hand was spilt Love like Religion in th' excess grows guilt Thus Love turns Jealousie when too sublime As Superstition is Devotion 's Crime Use all the Arts that may restore his breath To Osiris and the Attendants who carry off Theramnes Or beg at least one hour's reprieve of Death That â— t' his parting soul in tears may tell My griefs and take my long and last farewell Exeunt Osiris and Attendants But hold one debt more to his Virtue 's due Osiris stay with my dead Friend I 'le go To th' other World thus thus Goes to fall upon his Sword Phed. You are too bold Hold your rude hands Stays him Dar. And does she bid me hold Phed. Yes Sir she does she dares not see you dye Dar. Your kindness then recalls my destiny Passionately Phed. Darius live For by your hasty fall Changing her voice Your Death would be too mild and pain too small Your blood would be too Prodigally spilt Live only to be punisht for your guilt Oâ— if th' experiment of Death you 'd trye 'T is fit you know yor sentence e're you dye Death is but half the rigour of your Fate Living you merit dying force my hate And fall unpity'd Now strike if you dare Try if your courage equals your despair Then she whose kindness did your hand recall Will be more kind she 'l smile to see you fall Dar. Oh now I dare not dye A strange reprieve When cruelty has pow'r to make me live Before her kindness did recall the stroke And now her frowns my sentence do revoke Beauties have this prerogative alone Their pow'r is equal when they smile or frown My guilt deserves the greatest punishment Tortures can yield or Justice can invent And I could willingly endure the weight Of all that I deserve except your hate Orinda whilst they have been speâ—king having casually taken up the Letter and viewed it hastily brings it to her Sister Orind. What Seal is this Phed. The Arms of Persia Know you that Seal Gives the Letter to Darius Dar. Till now I never saw It was the Signet of the King Phed. This Seal Does then Theramnes's Innocence reveal For in your absence Sir the Persian King To me has made his heart an Offering And had I broke my Vows to you I 'de been No longer Sir your Mistress but his Queen When I that Royal Present would not take He thought 't was for some happy Rival's sake Knowing th' esteem â— to Theramnes bore He judg'd my cruelty was on his score From thence like you his jealousie he took Whilst he our Friendship for our Love mistook Then forg'd that Letter in Theramnes's Name To trace our passionâ— and disturb our flame Then judge Sir whether I inconstant prove Who for your sake reject a Monarch's Love Since you now see I am below a Throne And have refus'd the proffers of a Crown Dar. You have too much my burden'd soul or'eâ—charg'd My guilt's too bad a theme to be enlarg'd But now I find my Crimes will have no end At once I 've wrong'd my Mistress and my Friend But you 've so much of Heav'n you can forgive Kneels Phed. Yes Sir I could could but Theramnes live Dar. I with my tears will wash away my Crime With my loud sorrows I 'le reach Heav'â— and Him I 'le pay such Incense for my black offence 〈◊〉 â— take whiteness from his Innocence Phed. Darius rise His Pray'rs and Love 's too strong And I am too kind to be
our Loves repair Till our kind flames shall kindle to a Star Now Executioner Osir. Hold you mistake Osiris lives and had Heav'n for his sake And yours been kind he 'd liv'd t' have dyed for you Mand. Osiris lives Oh then might I live too Osir. Know then that when you saw me last when I Was by Cambyses's rage condemn'd to dye It was the Tyrant's Fortune to prefer Lord Artaban to be my Murderer But he Pitying my Youth and something which he read Did in my looks for his compassion plead In a compliance to the Tyrant's breath Disguis'd me in a borrow'd Mask of Death And thence till now my Person did secure To free me from the Tyrant's eye and pow'r Mand. Which does the greater wonder seem to see Osiris live or come to dye for me Osir. You need not wonder since you know the cause Love has a pow'r above all Nature's Laws Dying for you I should so happy prove T' have done a deed worthy my self and Love To shew your Friendship let my Princess live To Darius Dar. Oh now you ask what I want pow'r to give 1. Priest The Persian Laws like to their god the Sun In one unalterable course must run And she must dye noâ— must you favour show Because our gods and Laws will have it so Osir. If Heav'n delights in humane Sacrifice May not my Death those cruel gods suffice To save her Life on me that Grace confer To fall a Sacrifice to Heav'n and Her Mand. Hold Sir your zeal your rashness does declare Lovers in all things but in Death may share Know then kind Rival that'tis only I Mandana in Mandana's cause must dye Ther. Mandana Runs to her To see you Madam I must bless my eyes But I must curse'em when I see she dyes Aside Mand. Prince Intaphernes what strange Stars have sent You here to see that Fate you can't prevent Ther. I do conjure you spare this Princess's blood Kneels to Dar. By all that 's Friendship all that 's great and good Dar. Theramnes rise New wonders you create Ther. 'T is Nature's tyes make me her Advocate 2. Priest You need no Arguments to plead her cause For she must dye to satisfie our Laws Ther. If then your Laws such cruelty exact To save her Life I 'le justifie the Fact To the Priests Oh Sir you must her Life reprieve you know To Dar. That to her Hand you do your Scepter owe. Dar. I from Cambyses's Death my Crown derive Not from her guilt that did his Death contrive Come then Theramnes plead her cause no more I want not Friendship but I want the pow'r To save her Life though for Theramnes's sake Yet 't is our Laws not I that life will take Our Laws which do this cruelty enjoyn I cannot save her Life for him who gave me mine Now Executioner But hold I see No Kings of Persia from her pow'r are free She Murder'd him and now she conquers me My pity tells me that she must not dye Mand. Sir your delays are but your cruelty And since my Death is by your Laws design'd A speedy Justice Sir is onely kind Osir. Hold Sir I 'le interpose ' twixt her and Death And in my Breast the Fatal weapon sheath Mand. 'T is I must dye You do your Princess wrong Live though I dye But do not live too long For dying I to Heav'n a Stranger go Wand'ring alone whilst you stay here below And wanting your kind presence I shall be A Pilgrim in that vast Eternity But that my Soul may not mistake her way I 'le track your steps and in your shadow play When I 'm resolv'd to Air a subtle guest I 'le hov'ring flye and steal into your Breast And in my Aiery Pilgrimage I 'le make Mandana's Soul part of that breath you take I 'le keep my Image in your brest entire Inspiring you with chast and jambent fire Sometimes I will with gentle whispers flow Sometimes I will a stormy murmur blow And in this Language my addresses make Breathing that Love which I want words to speak Osir. O cruel Princess now you are unkind To think when you are dead I 'le stay behind For when Osiris sees Mandana dye Sorrow will Act that which their hands deny Mand. My thoughts were fixt on Heav'n But for your sake Something I know not what does pluck'em back And I could wish to live 1. Priest Our Laws you wrong In the deferring of her Death thus long Dar. Since Lives and Laws depend upon my breath He meets his own that does but name her Death 1. Priest Great Sir you do forget that Crown you wear Dar. 'T is true I do And Scepters sacred are Act you my part whilst I avert my eyes My pity shall pay homage when she dyes And since she suffers for my Empire 's sake A Monarch's tears Part of that Royal Sacrifice shall make 1. Priest Now Executioner Enter Prexaspes lead in by Guards Prex. Hold Sir till I Will give you leave to strike and her to dye 1. Guard He from the Prison an escape has wrought But we surpriz'd him in his flight and brought Him here before you Prex. Think you a Prison could my pow'r controul When Empire was too narrow for my soul I from your Chains Sir have my self set free To tell you You ascend your Throne by Me. But be not proud nor think Prexaspes has On you alone confer'd his Acts of grace To shew the World that I am complaisant Her Life I as my gracious favour grant Point to Mand. For it shall ne're be said a Woman's Name Usurpt Prexaspes's Treasons or his Fame A Woman shall not my great Rival be The Fate of Kings onely belongs to Me. Cambyses Amasis and Smerdis all Those Pageant Princes by my hand did fall And had not Fortune my Ambition crost You had your Lives too with your Empire lost 'T is true your Laws require my blood but know I 'le rob you of the Honour of that blow High spirits have this Refuge Sir and I My greatness and my pow'r expir'd can dye But he who did the Fate of Kings command Does scorn to fall by any common Hand Since my Life was unactive Fame shall tell Not how Prexaspes liv'd but how he fell Draws his Dagger Thus he your greatness and your pow'r defies And thus Prexaspes by Prexaspes dyes Stabs himself and falls Dar. Thus may all Traytors fall Prex. Ye gods I come For since the World could not afford me room Since all the barren Fates could not supply My hand with blood I 'le mount into the Sky And hang a blazing Comet in the Air That thus the World Me when I 'm dead may â—eat Whilst o're the Earth new horrours I contract Still threatning what I cannot live to act Dyes Dar. This mighty work of Fate we must admire Thus the gods guard those Virtues they inspire His blood thus spilt has this kind Justice done It saves your Life and punishes his own To
cruel long Dar. Thus you repeat those Triumphs you have won Your mercy conquers as your eyes have done Phed. But see you pay such Honours to his Grave As may deserve that pardon which I gave Dar. Since pray'rs noâ— tears cannot his Fate recall But so much Virtue by my hand must fall This to his dust is but a lawful debt Who shin'd in glory shall in glory set I will erect new Trophies to his Fame What from his Life I took I 'le pay his Name Orind. My grief with yours as Rivals shall contend To Phed. I have a Lover lost you but a Friend Exeunt Scena quarta Enter Prexaspes and Mandana Prex. Can you refuse Cambyses's Love who wou'd To purchase yours wade to new Crowns in blood 'T is strange that he cannot your heart subdue To whom the Conquest of the World is due Mand. Thy soul and his in this were Rivals still You never overcome but when you kill Prex. But Madam what I reade in those fair eyes Has poyson in 't There 's something in that Form Aside Disturbs my soul and does my courage strom Madam your Beauty Oh turn it away Should â— on that bright Object longer stay Lead by my wand'ring fires I should my senses quit And lose my self by gazing after it Madam Continuing â—ith his eyes fixt upon her Mand. Is not your Message yet exprest Prex. Your eyes won't give me leave to tell the rest Mand. I must confess his Love I would not hear Death's frowns I can his smiles I cannot bear Prexaspes name no more Cambyses's flame Prex. Then Madam I may tell him in your name I am his Rival Aside Her subtle Darts have made my heart their Prize That sure my soul 's transparent as my eyes To let her Image in But tell me can your Breast so cruel prove To banish from your heart all thoughts of Love Mand. Now my Osiris I remember thee Aside Sighs Prex. Her alter'd Visage wears a Mystery A broken sigh joyn'd with a fainting look Just so my Love its sudden birth first took Her Actions copy mine sure my disease Aside Infectious is and does new Subjects seize For the fame signs argue the same desires Perhaps she feels my pains and meets my fires If so Thanks to my Stars Since nobly you My heart have won so nobly use it too What start You think it is Cambyses Mand. No. Both thee and thy inhumane deeds I know Could I but think that Love could be a guest To thy black soul and harbour in thy breast The very name of Love 't would odious make Prex. You must seem cruel for your honour's sake No more of this Advancing up to her Mand. Stand off Your aim you miss What stoop to him that Murder'd Amasis Prex. That was Cambyses's fault Mand. No Slave thy hand Thy hand did Act what he did but command Prex. But his command did to your Life extend Which I did from his cruelty defend And 't was my favour that you did not dye Mand. No Barb'rous Villain 't was thy cruelty Yee sacred Pow'rs above what was my guilt That with my Fathers blood mine was not spilt My Death Heav'ns Fatal kindness did prevent Reserving me for greater punishment Prex. What can it be a punishment to rest In the Protection of a Prexaspes's Breast It cannot be Mandana Come I see You 've learnt the Female slights of Modesty Advances up to her and proffers to kiss her hand at which she steps from him What a retreat As 't is in Natures Laws so 't is in Love Th' effect's the same if th' Earth or Sun do move And so our Love the same effect procures If your heart move tow'rds mine or mine tow'rds yours Come then Rudely stepping to her Mand. This Language Sir I cannot hear I can my Death not thy addresses bear To thee Mandana's Breast thus kind can prove To entertain thy Sword but not thy Love What art thou slow and dost thou sluggish stand When belov'd Murder does invite thy hand Prex. Captive take heed lest you provoke my hate 'T is but ill policy to tempt your Fate You trust my Love and therefore you presume But Madam know your scorn has chang'd your doom Nought but your Love your ruine shall recall For they who once from my high favour fall Never leave sinking till they reach their Graves Mand. 'Twixt Love and â—age like meeting â—ides he raves Aside That Death he threatens gladly I 'de obey That Life I owe to Amasis â—'de pay Yet Amasis Do but this fault if it be one forgive If for Osiris I could wish to live Enter Cambyses who meets Prexaspes going off Camb. Prexaspes is Mandana yet more kind Prex. I cannot meet her in so good a mind Camb. Since my late frowns and threaâ—ings could not move Your Breast I 'le treat you with a milder Love To Mand. Prex. She thinks I 'm some tame Lover of the common sort Whom they use cruelly to make 'em sport Aside No she shall find my Love does higher flye I 'le either â—each her how to Love or dye Exit Camb. I of my frowns a Nobler use should make To awe the trembling World make Empires quake And check Heav'ns Thunder 'T is not fit my brow â—he terrour of the World should threaten you No you shall find Cambyses for your sake As mild and calm as Loves soft charâ—s can make Mand. Cambâ—ses no rage and be cruel still Tyrants are only kind then when they kill My Death 's the only kindness you can do My life I hate since 't is preserv'd by you Camb. Hold You 're ungrateful Though you 've 〈◊〉 Thus thus Cambyses will your favour win You shall enjoy Osiris Do not start 'T is he alone that lodges in your heart To win your favour this brave deed I 'le do Be cruel to my self and kind to you Fame shall no longer to the World impart That I want pow'r to win a Ladies heart For since all other means succesless prove To gain your kindness I 'le resign my Love â— to my Rival will with Honour yield As the retreating Parthians win the field Osiris Madam is for you decreed He is I and the gods have so agreed Mand. Oh now I fear Camb. Now for his Arms prepare Draw back that Curtain The Scene opens and on a Table appears the Body of Osiris beheaded an Executionâ—â— with the suppos'd head in a vessel of blood Take your Lover there Since you all lesser offerings despise Take there take there your Beauty's sacrifice Mand. Osiris murder'd And can Heaven be An idle gazer on his destiny Gods can you suffer this and yet lay claim To this low'â— World Or is your Thunder tame To let the Tyrant live Are not y' afraid Who here below all Virtue has betray'd When there 's none left on Earth he may pursue The next blow he intends will be at you Oh no this stroke by your consent was given To rob the World to add new
decrees I can move where I will act what I please Cambyses rules Cambyses's destiny Nor am I taught how to obey or dye Prexaspes see Mandana hither brought I 'le by my Love divert this sullen thought Prex. And must a Dream his Sanctuary be Protected by this Ridling Prophecy No though his stay has my designs o'rethrown I 'le take his Life though I expose my own Aside Exit Camb. Though they have thus foretold my destiny Perhaps my Stars have dreamt as well as I. Prexaspes enters with Mandana and Exit Mandana you 've my resolution heard The choice is easie speak are you prepar'd To be my Mistress or my Sacrifice Mand. When 't is your Royal pleasure Sir she dyes Camb. No no I will a milder sentence give It is my Royal pleasure you should live And live in my embraces too Mand. In his In his embrace that murder'd Amasis And more that bloody Tyrant that decreed Osiris's cruel Fate that barb'rous deed A deed enough t' infect the breath of Fame At which thy lesser treasons lose their name Camâ— And am I dallied with your doom is seal'd cambyses's sentence cannot be repeal'd Prepare to Love or dye choose and be free My speedy kindness or my cruelty Mand. Your cruelty my courage cannot bear Mandana then will in your kindness share I blush to say I offer up my heart But yet obedience is a Captives part Passionately Camb. Welcom kind Princess All the pow'rs above Shall envy at your kindness and my Love If there by any pow'rs above my own For they that call ' emselves the gods have none For if they had They had not to mankind this favour giv'n T' enjoy a blessing greater than their Heav'n We Princes to our selves our greatness owe They are but Kings above we gods below Now you are kind Mand. And why are not you so Camb. Can you my kindness doubt no you shall find 'T is you alone have taught me to be kind With the next Sun you shall your Reign begin To morrow you shall be proclaim'd my Queen Mand. No Sir that is not all Camb. Oh 't is not all Our Love does for a stricter kindness call The night the night Love's chief Triumphant hour When blushes o're our pleasures have no pow'r When Lovers Revel in each others arms Confining to one Circle all their charms To an embrace This to your Beauty's due First I will crown our Loves and then crown you Mand. Oh no Sir this is but a barren grant I still the crowning of my wishes want The favour I would have is this to dye Raising her voice at the two last words Tyrant your Love 's the greatest Cruelty Cambyses no you do mistake my part 'T is thus alone I 'le offer up my heart Not to your lust but Fury's Sacrifice Command my Death then though your Sword denies On Earth that Empire which my birth had giv'n Mandana will commence her Reign in Heav'n With my Osiris in that glorious seat Where Cruelty and Tyrants never meet Camb. How Captive am I scorn'd and scorn'd by you To shew what injur'd Majesty can do Your death to this dispute an end shall bring I 'le act no more your Lover but your King Your Beauty shall no more my Arm controul I 'le find a nobler passage to your soul. Proffers to draw his Sword to kill her Mand. Cambyses hold come I will milder be My kindness shall prevent your Cruelty Kindly Camb. Then use me thus no more and you shall know What Heav'n and Monarchs when they 're pleas'd can do Mand. Your Sword for nobler Actions is design'd To you then and my self I 'le now be kind I 'le rob you of my Death Draws her Dagger Camybses no Raises her voice Your Sword Sir shall not condescend so low To be a Womans Executioner My hand alone that guilty stain shall bear Rather then let a King that guilt contract Mandana her own murd'rers part will Act. In dying thus her kindness will be shown She 'le save your honour and defend her own Now Tyrant dare to violate her fame To stain her Virtue or to force her shame This this shall guard her from your injuries Pointing the Dagger tâ— her own Breast For when her Honour you attempt she dyes Enter Prexaspes Prâ—x Welcome this happy opportunity Aside Mandana hold you rob the World and Me. Runs to her and snatches the Dagger from her hand And to my Gracious Sovereign I bring This Present as a Subject's offering Advancing to Cambyses as if he design'd to present him the dagger Your Death proud Tyrant Dye Cambyses Dye Stabs him Camb. And by Prexaspes's hand â—roffering to resist but siâ—ks into his chair Prex. Yes Sir 't is I. Mand. Oh Murderer Help Guards Prex. That will not do Madam the Guards are safe and so are you Camb. Ungrateful Traytor must my glory be Unravell'd by so base a Slave as thee Did I for this my favours thus dispense And give thee being by my influence Prex. Ay Sir and 't was from you I understood This dextrous way of letting Monarch's Blood Camb. Oh that I could but so much pow'r recall As but to rise and crush thee in my fall Proffering to rise but cannot Or borrow so much kindness from my blood To swell so high to drown thee in a flood Oh lad I so â—uch poison in my breath At once both to pronounce and give thee death I would râ—venge my wrongs but 't is too late And Heav'n it self is a Consederate I do forget 't was by your wills decreed I by that Dagger and that hand should bleed Buâ— since ye gods ye did my Fate proclaim And ravisht from me both my Life and Fame To let me tamely fall may you pursue That just revenge which is to murder due But if you fail to right my wrongs and me May you want Temples Altars Flames and be From Homage and from Sacrifice debar'd And that which makes you gods be never fear'd My passion with my blood now milder flows Your dying Prince for your last pardon sues To Mand. sinking his voice Now all your scorn and Cruelty must cease Death that disarms my Love concludes its peace He dyes Mand. His unjust Fate has o're my wrongs prevail'd Farewel dead Prince death has thy pardon seal'd Though thou wert wicked yet thou wert a King But Traitor whence did thy black fury spring To Pâ—ex Who in your Prince's blood your hands embrue Prex. Madam His Death must copyed be by you Now is the time proud Girle in which I 'le prove The just Revenger of my injur'd Love Holding the Dagger towards her breâ—st Since you a greater Tyrant are than He 'T is just that you should share his destiny Enter Otanes Darius and Artaban Otan 'T is some strange cause our King thus long has staid Prex. Return'd so suddenly ha I 'm betraid Yet my Revenge I 'le end Goes stab Mandana Dar. Prexaspes hold Stays him What unshap'd fury makes your Arm thus
thin and â—eigned shapes but know It was my Treason that transform'd you so And for this Masque the gods may thank me for 't 'T was I gave 'em the Subject for their sport Here the Alarm renews and some flashes of fire flye cross the Stage and the bloody Cloud interposes again and stays the two Tapers on the Altar flash and expire and Treason is heard from within and a noise of Swords What do I hear Enter Patasithes amaz'd Pat. Treason We are betray'd Smerd. And Heav'n it self too has the Traitor plaid Shall my Love thus like to these Tapers uhine Their light 's gone out and so I fear will mine Curse on their Riddles Treason cryed again Pat. Ha! the noise comes near My fears increase Smerd. No 't is too late to fear But oh that Smerdis could his Fate recall And Reign but one day longer er'e he fall To be reveng'd of Heav'n before he dyes I d'e turn their Temples to one Sacrifice Thus by our gods betray'd Can there be Treason harbour'd in that Name They 're all Impostors greater than I am Enter Theramnes Otanes Darius and Artaban with their Swords drawn Theramnes making a pass at Smerdis they each missing their pass close whilst they struggle Patasithes engages with Otanes and whilst Darius and Artaban offer to thrust through Smerdis in Theramnes's Arms Theramnes Speaks Ther. Thrust through us both rather than miss his heart Darius stabs Smerdis and Otanes kills Patasithes Dar. Fortune to guide my Sword took Friendships part Smerd. Was this th' Embrace in which the gods intend My Love and Life should with my Empire end T' has reacht my heart This Fate Heav'n had in store That thus my Wounded Heart should bleed no more Dyes Otan Now Daughter you have for your Countries good Done what becomes your Duty and your blood To Phed. Phed. What I have done was in a Crown 's defence And ' t was an Act of my Obedience Dar. But I this deed an Act of Love must call When you 're an Actor in my Rival's fall To Phed. There 's wanting yet to th' Triumphs of this day To Otan That you accept the Crown of Persia. Otan My Age and Youth with different passions move I am above the charms of Pow'r or Love My thoughts flye higher than t' inherit Thrones Not to wear Diadems but dispose of Crowns But since my Birth makes me an Empires Heir Thus I accept the Crown to place it here To Darius Dar. Should I accept your birth's and merits due I should both injure Persia and You. No my Ambition Sir shall never climb Where the acceptance of a Throne 's a Crime Otan Since you so nobly do refuse a Crown I will this Title of a Monarch own I as your King this second proffer make On your Allegiance wear it for my sake Dar. No Sir my Honour pleads in my defence I should be guilty in Obedience Otan Since you at this command refuse a Throne Thus I command you Take it as my Son Gives him Phed. Enter Orinda and Ladies Dar. In this my Lord you do new charms infuse Love makes me take what Honour did excuse In this you give more than a Crown I dare Accept an Empire to divide it here Bows to Phed. Omnes Long live Darius King of Persia. Here the two Tapers on the Altar light again by two flashes of fire which descend and kindle them 2. Priest This omen Heav'n does to your Empire shew That light expir'd with him revives with you Thus gloriously the sacred Tapers shone That day when Cyrus did ascend the Throne 1. Priest But e're we Crown you King 't is just you knew Our Laws are sacred next our gods and you Laws which by Monarchs too must be obey'd And in their right I now am bound to plead 'T is written Sir in Persia's strict Decrees If any Persian King by Treason dyes That day his Heir does his high seat supply His Predecessors Murderer must dye You therefore in Cambyses's cause are bound To Act his Justice first and then be Crown'd Dar. Ye gods that do to Kings this charge entrust You make us cruel when you make us just Bring in the Captive Princess Phed. What new Scene Is this that must your Justice entertain Dar. An object that had but her soul conform'd To that perfection which her eyes adorn'd Her Virtues glorious as her Beauty shown Madam she like your self deserv'd a Throne But since Cambyses's blood by her was spilt She by her own must expiate her guilt Justice and War in this alike partake The bloodiest spoyls the greatest Triumphs make Enter the Suppos'd Mandana in a Mourning Habit with a black Veil over her Face attended by Guards and Executioner Had we not ow'd that blood unto your hand Which does my Sentence and your Death demand You should not thus but a more noble way Have made a part i' th' Triumphs of this Day I then a milder Justice would have shown Not took your Life but have restor'd your Crown I 'm sorry then I 'm so ill taught by you By your Example to be cruel too Yet pardon me that Sentence I must give Which I want pow'r not pity to reprieve 1. Priest Her Sentence Sir is but too long deferr'd Dar. Then Executioner Phed. Hold till I 'm heard Darius I my duty should betray Not to shew pity where so much you pay Know then I am your Rival and dare own A share in this as well as in your Throne Princess your Birth and Fortune merits moâ—e To Mand. Than ev'ry common pity can deplore Heav'n to the great this cruel Fortune gives The gods have made you prodigal of your Lives To rob Mankind Enter Mandana lead in by Guards and Attendants Mand. At your command I come T' attend your Sentence and embrace my doom 1. Guards I was by that Impostor brib'd but loath Points to the other To violate my trust I brought'em both Dar. Your Fate is in such Mysteries involv'd That Riddle e're you dye must be resolv'd Points to the other Mand. What Friend or Ravisher robs me of my doom Borrowing my likeness to Usurp my Tomb To save my Life and Sacrifice their own Though Love may Rivals have sure Death has none Death has no charms or onely charms to me 'Cause dying I shall visit Heav'n and Thee My dear Osiris Osir. No he waits you here Undisguising himself and flinging off the Veil Osiris Madam has not left your sphear Mand. Osiris's soul and come to wait on mine Heav'n to our Loves this kindness does design Oh my dear Saint stay but till I am dead And from these Earthly Chains of Nature freed And then my soul shall go along with thine Whilst we in Aiery soft embraces twine We 'le like a mounting whirlwind upward move We 'le flye in Circles in the Arms of Love There the kind gods shall to our breasts inspire Such sparks of Heav'n such new and glorious fire That to that height we will