is decreed Semanthe thou shalt sleep though but in ashes Leave me Bassanes and Lattinius leave me Lat. Sir I cannot leave you Ex. Bass. Mele. What saist thou boy Lat. Indeed I dare not leave you Your Clouded brow foretells some storm at hand And I much fear 't is on your self 't will fall Your Sisters Death is strongly working in you And makes me dread the fatal Consequence Mele. Thou art mistaken boy my Sisters death I meet with all serenity and calmness For if she 's guilty 't would be most unfit A thing so Leprous shou'd infect the Earth If innocent those Pow'rs that take her hence For all her wrongs her Thorny Coronets Her bleeding Veins and her more bleeding fame Have those bright Jemms in an immortal Crown What vast reserve of Glories to adorn her In the bright Realm of everlasting day As more then all her Losses shall repay Lat. What then disturbs you Mele. My dispairing love Lat. It may not long be so Mele. I fear for ever Then why should'st thou expect that I will live When by my violent Pains too sure I find Slaves at an Oar have greater ease then I Hard'ned to Labours they their Pains defie Dispair in Love 's the only misery We with fresh Agonies our Souls torment View the bright Tracks where th' adored Beauty went And with fresh Pains our endless Plagues deplore To think our setting Sun will rise no more Exeunt Omnes SCENE III. A Wood. Enter Orgillus Org. Where e're I go my Conscience still persues And the pale Figure of the dead Armena Is ever in my view 't was not well done So ill to gratifie the woman lov'd me Besides I only fear'd she might discover What I my self am now inclin'd to do The Queen this day must dye a publick death 'T is not too late I yet may save her from it Horns and Huntsmen at a distance What noise is that the ecchoing cries of Huntsmen Alas the hunted Stagg himself that flies From all those open Mouths of death behind him Is not alarm'd with my pursuing horrors He has but a Life but I a Soul in danger Enter Menaphon behind Men. Thus far Iâ—ve watch'd my Brother whose sad thoughts I fear bodes Ruin to our great design I find his foolish Conscience does perplex him And dare not trust my ' Life in the weak hold Of Consciencious hands although a Brothers He that would manage Glorious mischief safe Shou'd guide his rouling Chariot like the Sun And singly hold the mighty Reins alone Into his Seat no aiding Partner call Lest the misguideing Phaeton hazard all Org. Shou'd I discover it and save her Life And the King's Mercy too shou'd grant me mine Where then is Menaphon What must he dye What an ungrateful wretch shou'd I be counted To leave my Brother tangled in the snare When I my self have pow'r to keep him out But yet the violent love that the King bears To beautiful Semanthe is so great That shou'd I tell him all our Villany I might with ease make Covenants of safety And sign my own and pardon'd Brother's Life Menaphon comes forward Men. Brother with Joy I 've heard your troubled Conscience And am well pleas'd your thoughts keep pace with mine O Brother Brother with such dreams of horrour Since poor Armena's death my fancy 's plagu'd That had not your Remorse of Conscience found you I shou'd alone have told it to the King Org. How My dear generous Brother Men. Yes my Orgillus An Orient Beam of Penitence dawns within me The Shadows of my once benighted Soul All vanish'd and bright day breaks forth in Glory Org. And is kind Heav'n this dear Conversion true Is my kind Brother Men. Yes see here a Profilite Kneels To Heaven Religion Honor Piety Semanthe the Innocent Semanthe dye No I will snatch her from the yawning Precipice And fix her righted Fame and rescu'd Innocence On that Immortal Pyramide of Glory That the admiring World with up lift Eyes And low bent Knees shall pay their joyful tribute At her bless'd Restauration with my own Repenting Hand I 'll twine twine a rich Chaplet Of Flowers and Roses and Eternal Sweets T' adorn her Sacred Brow Org. O my Just Brother Now thou' rt all white again most lovely fair O there 's that Rapture in Divine Repentance No wonder it unlocks the Gates of Heav'n When Oh there blows a Gale a fragrant Gale Of Persumes from the very Air it flies in That sure 't is all a breath of Parradise And shall Semanthe live come to my Arms O nearer to Breast Men. Yes to thy Heart Stabs him Org. Villain perfidious Villain thou hast kill'd me Org. falls Men. Yes lie there Pitty my great Plot was found'ring And I have stop'd the leak Org. Kis'd and Betray'd Embrac'd and Murther'd Men. Yes Religious Fool. Thou wert too good for Earth and I in pitty Have kindly giv'n thee Heav'n so sleep Conscience And now wake wake Revenge agen Org. Oh Groans Horns and Huntsmen agen Men. Ha! Company Curse on this Interruption No matter I am sure I have dispatch'd him And his short breath 's too weak to hurt me now But let me prudently retire unseen My Face has danger in 't now dear dear Vengeance Ex. hastily drawing off Orgillus SCENE IV. The Scene Changes Enter Guards making way for the Queen Guar. Room there bear back room for the Queen Enter Semanthe in white attended with six Ladies in Mourning Bassanes Guards and Attendants Quee. Kind Gentlemen there needs not this formality I am past all State Ceremony now Alas there 's no distinction in the Grave The proudest Sovereign Head when laid in Dust Sleeps on as Course a Pillow as a Pesant's And Oh! there opes that narrow Gate to Heav'n That Majesty it self must stoop as humbly For ent'rance there as the poor crawling Cottager Well Gentlemen you come to see me die To see the scatter'd ashes of your Queen Blown round the spreading Globe but oh my friends Cou'd but my spotless Soul be seen as plainly Oh! to the utmost corners of the Earth The sounding Trump of my immortal innocence Wou'd fill Fame's swelling vollume with a story So full of woe and that unequal fate As tender drowning eyes wou'd melt to read And the hard cause of poor Semanthe dead Even distant worlds and pittying ages plead Exit Omn. SCENE V. The Scene drawn discovers a great many Spikes fix'd in the Ground and a high Battlement above it Enter King Menaphon Meleander Guards and Attendants King Brother I sent for you to see a justice Done on the Monster that has wrong'd us both Haste Amyclas and bring the viper forth Ex. Amyclas Re-enter Amyclas with Ithocles chain'd in 's Shirt and Drawers a night Gown over'em Guarded Itho. My death you have decreed and Heaven permitted But know mistaken King I wear a Soul So free from that black charge for which I dye That at my Launch into Eternity I shall soare lighter then a mounting Angel
thy words have rais'd a storm within me I must have stronger reasons that she 's false Men. Why then to shew you Sir how much I love you And with what Zeal I 've strove to serve my King I 'le shew these two seeming Saints but Devills Even in the Act of sin that needs must damn ' em King Ha! In the Act it is impossible Men. It is indeed to Nick the very time But I will shew you something Comes so near You may with ease imagine what 's been done But know my Liege when these dark deeds are done 'T is when they 're very certain of your absence Therefore might I be worthy to advise Early i' th' morning make some slight pretence That may detain you till the following day Then if I do not give you certain Proof Of the Queens falshood cut me into Atoms King Is 't possible O this Land-Crocodile Made of Egyptian slime Accursed woman Wou'd when I first beheld her tempting face My eyes had met with Light'ning and instead Of hearing her Inchanting tongue the shreeks Of Mandrakes had made musick to my Slumbers Men. My Lord be Patient see before you doubt King I will nay thou sha't see me wond'rous Patient For yet I cannot think Semanthe false Tho' words like thine urg'd with such Confidence To any man but me wou'd turn him mad Farewell my Lord and see you keep your promise For if thou dost not Vengance Hell and Horrour Shall certainly attend thy Canker'd Soul Ex. King Manet Men. Men. Rowl on the Chariot Wheels of my dark Plot And bear my ends to their desired Marks He 's gone with black suspition in his heart And made his Soul a slave to Jealousy Let him go on on to the Gulph of Ruine As sure he shall when I have work'd my Ends Now to my Brother O thou Credulous King The Tortur'd Ghosts that dwell i' th' dark Abyss Have pleasant Hours to what thou sha't enjoy For when the black designs that I have laid Are brought to pass then then comes all thy pain And thou sha't never tast of Peace again Exit SCENE IV. The Scene drawn discovers Marcelia sitting Melancholly A Song within I. Were I with my Orinda bless'd Of the dear Maid Possess'd It wou'd in Angells Envy breed To see our Ioys shou'd theirs exceed One minute wou'd more bliss bestow Then they in Thousand Ages know II. All over Rapture when shall I With you in Transport lye On thy soft bosom to be plac'd To be by those dear Arms Embras'd Is better far then Diadems With all the Eastern useless Iems Marcelia Rises Mar. No more of this it suites not with my sorrow For one so wretched and so lost as I The Groans of Tortur'd Ghosts were fitter Musick O Ithocles Part'ner of my Afflictions With much more Joy and vast contentedness Wou'd I embrace my death within thy Arms Then live possess'd o' th' World thus sever'd from thee O King King O my too Cruell Unckle With what a weight of sorrow do you load me Be kind and give me ease by present Death Enter a Lady Lady One from Prince Meleander Craves Admittance Mar. Altho' I hate the name of him he comes from Yet that I may have Opportunity To vent my passion by my scorn admit him Ex. Lady Re-enter with Lattinius and Exits Latt Divinest Excellence whose Conquering eyes Have made a Captive of the best of Men Do not with scorn repay his faithfull love Ah Madam hither I am sent to lay His bleeding heart before you and inform you He can no longer live without your pitty His tortur'd Soul will quickly leave its Mansion Unless your kind Consent will make him happy Mar. My my Consent Hear me you bless'd above If I do ever entertain one thought Of love to any but my Ithocles Let me continue wretched still a Pris'ner And never know the bless'd content of Freedom This tell your Lord and let him know beside There 's not one torturing Pang within his breast But what 's doubled in mine and he the cause Then guess what pitty he must e're expect From one that suffers all this pain through him Latt Alas his Crime is caus'd by too much love Oh had you heard as I too oft have done The deep-fetch'd sighs have sprung from his sad heart The many Groans beheld the tears h 'as shed His broken slumbers and his restless thoughts You 'd sure make a more kind return then scorn Mar. Never Oh never 't is not in my power My life my heart my love is Ithocles's And ' Im too firmly fix'd e're to be Chang'd Latt O on my knees let me return my thanks Keep still keep still this constant resolution Bless'd be the Powers that have inspir'd your breast With this unshaken faith to Ithocles For shou'd you er'e consent to Meleander That day that gives you him must give me Death Mar. What means the Youth Latt O Look on poor Statillia On her who loves above her life that man Whom you can entertain with so much scorn But by the freindship that was once between us And by the constant love you bear my Brother Lock up this Secret as you 'd guard your life Lest the too fatall breath of a discovery Shou'd Seal my everlasting Banishment Shut from that Bliss his dearest presence gives For 't is there only that Statillia lives Mar. O rise thy Brother's Part'ner in my heart And what there is in my poor power to serve you You may with Confidence Command but Sister For so I now must call you since your Brother Is made the full possessor of my love You may be kind and let me see you often For 't is a wondrous Comfort to th' afflicted To have a kind Companion in their Sorrows Latt O do not doubt it for your Company Next Meleanders is my all I covet And sometimes to divert our mournfull hours We 'le sit and talk and sigh and weep and wish T' obtain our loves but O I fear in vain Mar. We know not that Heav'n Pities the Afflicted And time brings many won'drous things to pass Mean while we twins of misery and sorrow Will comfort one another like true friends We 'le equally share happiness and grief And beg some pittying God to send relief Ex. Omn. SCENE V. A Garden Enter King and Semanthe Sem. My Lord If I did e're possess your love If you have any kindness for Semanthe Tell me the meaning of your clowded brow And why you seem thus troubled King I have cause O my Semanthe in my last nights sleep My troubled fancy has been so perplex'd With dreadfull dreams and hideous Apparitions That take away my quiet for methought O dreadfull sight methought the verge of Heav'n Was Ring'd with flames and all the upper vault Thick laid with flakes of fire i' th midst of which A Blazing Comet shot his threat'ning tail Just in my face I thought 't was terrible But Oh what after came was that distracts me I
Fate far worse then those Sicillians Whom his Victorious Arm has Lodg'd in Graves For we have not alone Conspired his fall But what will add more pleasure to revenge His Soul for that short time he lives on Earth Shall feel worse Torments then the damn'd endure O what a Scene have we in one night laid To ruine both a King a Queen and Fav'rite Org. Brother you yet forget the greatest Point The Plot we 've laid we can't perform alone But by the help of some that 's near the Queen We may with ease Accomplish our design Armena Confident to fair Semanthe I once did make some shew of kindness to And till the Fruit I tasted lov'd the Tree And tho' my passion does apace decline To further our design I 'le yet love on At least pretend I do she she shall aid us I know for the past pleasures we have had And for those many more she hopes t' enjoy She 'l be assisting to what e're I ask Men. But Orgillus will she be faithfull to us Org. That is indeed against her Sexes nature But if she 's secret till we 've workt our ends A bowl of Poison stops her tongue with ease Men. O thou art most Ingenions at contrivance By Heav'n I am all Extasy to think With what a brave Revenge I pay her scorn But Orgillus our Vengeance stops not there The Scene of blood will yet far higher grow For when the Hot the fiery Meleander The Brother to this scornfull piece of Beauty Shall from the King hear of his Sisters shame I know his boyling bloud will rise so high That his wild rage will be his own undoing Then then my Brother when the Royal Line Is by the King 's fierce Jealousy destroy'd Who then remains to take the Crown but me Ambition and Revenge have fired my Soul And I 'm Impatient till the work is done Org. Brother be Temperate for rashness often Spoils those designs that have with care been laid And roots up their Foundations See Armena Now smooth-fac'd flattery assist my Cause And dear dissimulation stand my Friend Retire my Menaphon it is not fit You should be seen till I have wrought her to us Men. I go and may success attend thy purpose Ex. Men. Enter Armena Org. Madam you 're grown a perfect stranger to me There was a time when it was otherwise Arm. There was indeed but now that time is past You did obtain my easy Love too soon And scorn the prize which was so quickly won Now other beauties do possess that heart Which once I thought my own but O fond fool Why did my vanity extend so far To think that I had Charms enough to keep One of that Sex which ne're were constant yet Org. Armena I confess I 've been unkind But oh it was not without wond'rous reason Arm. Did I e're give you cause No Orgillus The tender Mother of her sucking Infant Was never half fo fond as I of thee I must confess indeed I was below ye But sure my Love might make amends for that What cause then coud'st thou find so soon to slight me Org. O my best life think not 't was want of love No my Armenia I so truly love thee That to thee I 'le unclasp my burthen'd Soul Empty the store-house of my thoughts and heart Make my self poor of Secrets will not leave One thought untold that dwells within my breast Arm. What e're it be my Lord that does disturb you O Let me know 't that I may bear a part Org. Thou shalt my Love but oh take heed Armena Be very Cautious and keep close the secret For 't is so great my life relies upon 't Arm. Can Orgillus then doubt me Oh unkind That very word Confirms you do not love Org. Pardon me dearest I 'le distrust no more Know then the King the Queen and Ithocles Did all conspire my Ruine and disgrace I once was favour'd and belov'd at Court I was the darling of the King and People But when the King was wedded to Semanthe All that great love which he before had shewn me He took away at once from Orgillus And streight bestow'd it on Semanthe's Brother This I forgave and thought it was my duty To resign place to 'th Brother of my Queen But Oh a worse disgrace he threw upon me For Ithocles this upstart Favourite Crept into the opinion of the Queen And by her mediation to the King Got from me all the Offices I bore and gave 'em all to him This this Armenia hangs upon my Soul More heavy far then lies the Load on Atlas But didst thou Love didst thou but truly Love I yet might find a way to crown my peace Arm. O name it Orgillus and if I fail T' assist in ought that may produce thy quiet May I ne're taste the Joys that are on Earth Nor the Immortal pleasures dwell in Heav'n Org. Thou only Miracle of woman kind How cou'd I merit so much wond'rous Goodness Know then Armena to revenge my wrongs I have design'd the death o' th King and Queen But cannot do 't without thy kind assistance Arm. How Orgillus Org. What d' ye start Armena Nay then I have deliver'd up my life To one that has determin'd to betray me Arm. Indeed my Lord this is the only thing I shou'd i' th least have scrupled to have done But yet to shew how well how true I love I 'le strive in this to serve my Orgillus Org. O let me take thee Closer to my heart My dearest Saint my life my Soul my heav'n Arm. I must Confess I could not easily Embarque in a design of so much horrour But O my Lord you have receiv'd indignities Disgrace so infamous and wrongs so Lowd Enough to shake a Saint wrongs of that weight That I have wonder'd you cou'd bear and Love Nay but to think what crying Injuries What vile injustice the ingratitude Of a false Court has heap'd on my dear Lord Has sometimes Rowz'd that Gall that Just resentment Even in poor poor Armena that I 've wish'd A Masculine Nerve in this female Arm Able to weild a Sword in your hard cause And be my dearest injur'd Love's Avenger Org. My Beauteous Champion my Lovely Heroine In what a mighty Sum shall I be bound Arm. I must be gone the Queen will streight expect me But oh my Orgillus with thee I leave My Heart which shall be ever faithfull to thee And tho' the world my fault will disapprove I 'de venture more to serve the man I love Exit Arm. Manet Orgillus Org. Poor Loving fool with how much ease thou' rt caught That man that wou'd Successfull be in mischief Must by one means or other hook in woman Mischief's they 'r study mischief is their Trade And sure t' was for that only they were made For when a woman once in mischief Joyns She 's sure to gain whatever she designs Enter Menaphon Now Brother Tryumph things exceed our wishes I 've wrought
path may Fortune be your Guide Ex. Org. Enter King Guards and Attendants King How now my Lord possess'd with serious thoughts Men. I 'm thinking Sir what 't is to wrong a King And in what pain that honest man must live That sees him wrong'd and dares not tell him on 't King I think that man who knows his Prince abus'd And yet conceals it from him most disloyall For sure it is a Crime unpardonable To think a wrong 'gainst an Annoynted head Men. But Sir when those that do it are in Power And a poor shrub is all that can accuse 'em He 'd hardly gain belief of what h 'as seen And death must pay the honest fool his wages King Not if he can shew Proof of what he says Men. My Liege I beg a moments Privacy For I 've a wond'rous secret to impart King Retire a while Ex. Attendants Now Menaphon your bus'ness Men. O Sir I 've such a Story as will scorch Your boyling veins into so hot a Feaver Will make your heart-strings burst and set a float The burning Lake within ' em King Ha! be quick Men. If it were possible I 'de keep it in But â—t has long strugled in my breast for vent My Lord I know too sure that you are wrong'd King Ha! Men. Wrong'd in the highest Point wrong'd in your honour Upon my knees I kiss this Prost'rate Earth And humbly beg that which my tongue shall speak Since it proceeds from nought but Love and duty May either be forgiven or forgot King You have it rise discharge an open breast Men. O my dread Leige my words will raise a Storm Able to stagger all your Royal reason I wish my Loyall heart could cover sin But love and my Allegiance bid me speak King Speak then and do not wrack me with delay Men. Women why were you made for man's affliction The first that ever made us tast of grief And last of whom in Torments we complain Ye Devills shap'd like Angells through whose deeds Our forked shames are made most visible No Soul of sense wou'd wrong bright Majesty Nor stain their blood with such Impurity King Nay good my Lord leave off this Mistick speech And give me knowledge from a plainer phraise Men. Then Plainly thus my Lord your bed's abus'd O foolish Zeal that makes me desperate Your Queen has sin'd and done a double wrong To you her self and sacred Chastity O she has lost her honour she that looks All health without within is all Contagion King How Menaphon Beware think where thou' rt going Endeavour not to blast Semanthes virtue Had'st thou thy sence about thee 't were impossible Thy tongue cou'd utter such blasphemous Sounds Therefore I pardon thee for what thou 'st said And think it only the effects of madness But if like this you add one Syllable more Thou dost Pronounce upon thy self a sentence That Earthquake-like will swallow thee Men. Let it open Better that I and thousands more shou'd perish Then live to see our Royall Lords Dishonour King Ha! Offers to draw Men. Do I lay my bosom bare before you Kill me because I love you and speak truth Is this the merit of a Roman faith Have I for this then play'd the watchfull Argos To sound the very depth of her designs I had been mad indeed a doating fool ' T' have told you this without I 'd had some proof But know my Leige did not your Rage devour you And passion too much oversway your reason I cou'd relate a tale so full of horrour 'T would startle all mankind to here it told But since I find you 'd rather hug your shame Then bravely to Revenge the wrongs you suffer Send to the Grave this forward Zealous fool That durst attempt to tell his King the truth King Had I Just cause I wou'd pursue such injuries Through fire ayr water earth nay were they all Shuffled again to Chaos but there 's none And therefore thou that hast Blasphem'd her virtue Sha't have thy Just reward Draws Men. Yet hold my Lord Since I am Enter'd in this desperate cause And you think Death to be my due reward Let me before the fatall Blow is given Beg one short minute not to Plead for life But let you know I dye for Loyallty King Which if thou dost Men. Which if I do not May the Immortall Powers at the last day Shut all the Shining Gates of Heav'n against me And hurl me head-long to the burning Lake King I know thou' rt Valliant and with valliant minds Slander is worse then theft or Sacrilege A step beyond the utmost Plagues of Hell And therefore I will hear what thou canst say Puts up his sword If thou canst shew me any Certain Proof Which by the Gods it is a Sin to think That my Semanthe's false instead of threats Thou sha't in ev'ry thing find favour from me But if thou dost not by my Fathers Soul Imagine what makes man most miserable And that shall fall upon thee Men. Willingly I do Embrace this kind Proposall Sir Know then the man or rather Stile him Monster That does thus Impiously defile your Bed Is Ithocles King Well Menaphon go on I 'le patiently hear every word you utter But shall expect strong proofs e're I believe Men. Which if I do not give my life 's the forfeit King I 've done Men. My Lord you know early this morning You went your self to take a view o' th' Army No body left behind but I and Ithocles For having long before had some suspition I did indeed neglect my duty too To try if I cou'd gain a farther Proof Of what before I but suspected only And having watch'd the Queen in the Garden I plac'd my self unseen behind the Bower When streight I spy'd Lord Ithocles approach With all the hast belonging to a Lover He flew to the Embraces of the Queen And sigh'd and gaz'd and kiss'd and Curs'd his fate That he cou'd not Possess that Heav'n alone She threw her snowy Armes about his Neck Imbrac'd him Close O Ithocles says she Thou darling of my Soul be ever thus Thus wise thus secret in the scene of love And keep it safe from the deluded King King What shou'd I think he durst not sure say this Were he not very Certain of the truth Besides the man was ever Counted honest Aside He 's young and handsome Valliant and discreet And I my self have prov'd his Loyalty These are not Marks belonging to a Villain O thou hast wak'd me and thy piercing words to him Have split my sence in sunder and cou'd I Live to behold at once the general end And see the World wrap'd in its funeral Flame When the Bright Sun shall lend its Beams to burn What he before brought forth and water serve Not to Extinguish but to Nurse the Fire It wou'd not give me half the Torturing Pangs As does the thoughts thou 'st raised within my breast But yet I must expect an Occular Proof For tho'
And rely wholly on the King for mercy Arm. And are you reall Org. As the Powers we serve Arm. I thank you from my Soul my dearest Lord You have by this kind grant made me your vassall Org. Armena A long life to the fair Queen May she enjoy her former happiness And be as bless'd as thou wilt presently When I 've reveal'd our story to the King For sure 't will over-joy thee Orgillus drinks Arm. With more pleasure I wish her life then Heirs their Fathers Deaths Armena drinks out of the Poyson'd Bowle But O make hast lest his wild Jealousy Shou'd hurry him to do the fatall deed Which ne're can be recall'd Org. It shall not be recall'd nor sha't thou hinder it Arm. What means my Love Org. Dull thing I 'le tell thee I did as now I finde I had some cause Suspect thy mind too wav'ring for a Secret Of such great Consequence as ours was Therefore thou frail one with that bowl of poyson I 've Seal'd thy lips for ever Arm. Can it be Is this then the requitall of my love But Oh 't is now too late for to upbraid thee Yet Orgillus tho' you to me are Cruell Be mercifull to 'th Queen She 's Innocent O Save her save her e're it be too late Upon my knees with my last breath I beg you Do not persist in that will bring destruction Even to your long eternity and blot Your spotted Soul from the fair Book of Life Org. A fit of Conscience Pious fool but Conscience Is all our common frailty when we 're dying But to be kinder to you at our parting Then let you spend your last short breath in vain Imploy the little time thou hast to live Some other way and not on talk to me I have got by thee all the good I can If thou hadst had a farther Power to serve me Thou shoud'st have liv'd but I have gain'd my End And now 't is for my Int'rest thou shou'dst die Arm. You have your wish I find your words are true For Deaths Cold hand has seiz'd upon my heart Farewell thou Chief of thy false perjur'd Sex And O take heed for bloud will sure have bloud Tho' Cruell as you are I can forgive you And wish that Heav'n wou'd deal so mildly by you My death is only what I have deserv'd But O beware let not Semanthe Die For hers will surely be reveng'd at full The fatall Drug works strongly in my breast I feel I feel my life decay apace You powers forgive me for my Sinfull Crime Take me O take me to your bless'd abode Preserve the Queen let not this black designe Reach her dear life tho' it has lost â—e mine Die Org. She 's gone now Brother thou' rt secure from fear The Secret now 's alone between us two And if we are not Traytors to our selves We must be safe where shall I now dispose her Stay let me see under my window runs A River very proper for my purpose From thence Immediately I 'le cast her in And if she 's found ev'ry one will suppose She met her Death by accident or else My Brother shall Insinuate to the King She was Complotter with the Queen Semanthe And Guilt had caus'd her act a desperate deed It shall be so I 'le instantly dispatch And tell my Brother how I have Succeeded Farewell thou loving fool I pitty thee But 't was not for my safety thou shou'dst live For when we once are Conscientious grown We cannot keep a Secret tho' our own Exit Carrying off Armena The Scene Drawn discovers Semanthe in Prison In her Night-Gown Reading A Lamp burning by her Sem. All 's hush'd and quiet as the peacefull Grave The Labourer tyr'd with his dayly toil Now takes a sweet repose but I must wake For ever wake and never know content Plac'd in a dismall dark and Loathsome Jail And cannot guess what Crime I have Committed Nor why the Cruell King is Angry Were I but sensible of any fault I shou'd then think it Justice I were here But cou'd I search my life from the beginning I cannot think a Guilt deserving this Enter to her the King Whose there at this late hour my Lord the King King Yes yes Adulteress Look on me Monster look on him thou 'st wrong'd Behold a King that would have dy'd for'thee And for his faithfull violent Constant love Cou'dst thou not make him a more kind return Sem. O Sir as you wou'd gain Immortall honour On Earth and everlasting Joys in Heav'n As you wou'd have your Glorious actions fill The Book of fame and like ascending Incense Perfume the Skies and treat th' immortall Gods Be kind and let me know how I 've offended For by the Sacred lights that shine above These eyes yet never saw the rising Sun But that my Vows and Prayers were sent to Heav'n For the dear safety of my Royall Lord Therefore I cannot guess what wond'rous fauit I have Committed to deserve a Dungeon King O thou bewitching Syren dar'st thou plead An Ignorance to all thy horrid Guilt Nay then thou are a Monster damn'd indeed To Plunge in Sin and pretend Innocence I thought t' have found thee mourning for thy Crime For Sinfull as thou art it was my wish Thou might'st before thy Death make peace with Heav'n Sem. My death Good Heav'n what means my Royall Lord I hope that time is not yet near at hand King Most sure why cou'dst thou think I 'de be so tame After I 'de found thee false to let thee live Sem. How false my Lord in what King False to my bed I need not tell thee for thou know'st too well By Heav'n thou art as light as fleeting ayr Sem. Who 's my accuser King My own eyes beheld thee Clasp'd arm in arm with Ithocles Sem. Nay then I find I am Betray'd and you Abus'd King Betray'd Good Heav'n what does the strumpet mean Nay then 't is time to give the fatall blow For shou'd I listen longer to her words Aside She wou'd persuade me spight of all I saw To take her to my Arms and pardon her Come thou fair Devil in thy Prayers reckon to her The perfect sum of all thy horrid sins There amongst others pour forth streams of bloud For one above the rest Adul'try Adul'try Semanthe Such a guilt as were the Sluces of thy eyes let up Tears cou'd not wash it off Now turn thy eyes into thy hov'ring Soul And do not hope for life wou'd Angells sing A Requiem at my Herse but to dispense With my Revenge on thee 't wou'd be in vain Prepare to dye Sem. I will most willingly But wou'd fain make my Innocence appear Dear Sir upon my knees I do entreat you To hear me speak before my Execution If I were that strange Monster you wou'd make me It were but Justice you shou'd take my life But here I swear by the Eternal Powers By all my hopes in Heav'n I am not false Believe my tears King
falshood and her flowing Lust She is too rank to burn too light to drown Nay shou'd I bury the incarnate Monster Like the slain Gyants under Piles of Mountains Her dust like Aetna's flames wou'd burst through all Take thy own method let me see her dead I care not how Men. Well Sir I 'll do my best I must confess I wou'd not have her live For the respect I bear to my Royal Master Therefore I hope you will not change your mind King O never never shalt thou See me chang'd Thou 'lt rouz'd a sleeping Lyon whom no art Nor any thing can e're reclaim but blood Where was before my blinded folly driven Mercy what art thou get thee back to Heaven What has the race of man to do with thee Leave humane minds to nobler passions free Hence forward Death and Ruin Reign alone Make Hell your Vassal and the world your Throne Ex. King Manet Menaphon Men. 'T is done the fatal Train has taken fire I 'll follow him least he should change again By Heav'n I am all extasie to think Of the long prosp'rous chain of our success Once by thy doom proud Queen the very breath That durst repeat the sound of love was death But oh the pleasure of revenge to dart Thy own Retorted threats on thy own heart Yes thou hast scorn'd me Queen but know the wrongs Of slighted love shall knit their Scorpion thongs Whilst each disdainful step thou dost retire Thou tread'st on Graves and walk'st o're Piles of Fire Ex. Men. SCENE II. Enter Meleander and Lattinius Mele. Why do I live with such a load of sorrow Oppress'd with tortures of dispairing Love A Sisters shame my families dishonour Oh my Lattinius Can this weight be borne I went to see the false one and resolv'd To have dy'd my self in her polluted Blood But when the Prison door I wou'd have enter'd My trembling Joynts refus'd to bear me farther My Ominous Nostrils gush'd forthe Streams of Purple And to my thinking all the Heavns appear'd Like blazing Meateors hanging o're my head When straight a hollow voice had reach'd my ears Crying alloud thy Sister 's innocent 'T was surely more then the effects of fancy I left the place and to my Chamber went Stretch'd on the Floor and wash'd the Ground with tears My Sisters shame had left my memory And more distracting thoughts did enter in me Marcelia's scorn came fresh into my mind And to my wretched poor tormented Soul Set yawning kneen devouring Fate before me In her most dreadful black and hideous form Lat. I grieve to see your wond'rous discontent And needs must own an equal share with you For ev'ry sigh that comes from your sad Breast Whole streams of Blood flow from my tender Heart Mele. O my poor Boy Why why art thou thus kind Since fair Marcelia will not pitty me I wou'd have all the World abandon me Enter Marcelia crosing the Stage See where she comes what means my trembling Heart I 'll meet her though her frowns should strike me dead Mele. kneels before Mar. as she 's going off Oh cruel Beauty e're you move from hence Hear me one word and I shall dye in Peace Behold me at your Feet behold my sorrows She offers to go O do not leave me hear me first O hear me Think of the Pangs dispairing lovers feel Think of the torments I endure for you That do with such indiff'rency look on me Mar. Alass my Lord why should you talk to me To one that has already been deceiv'd O shall I e're believe a man again Since Ithocles he whom I thought the best Proved false Mele. Then why should you still love him Rather revenge his falshood pitty me And place your love on one that more deserves On him whose heart whose Soul is all your own And ne'er can be anothers Mar. So he swore And I fond fool believ'd it to be true But when he found my Heart was fixt to his My constant love so firm e're to be chang'd The Vows the Oaths he made to Heav'n and me He forfeited and gave his Soul away Then wou'd you have me trust a man again No you bless'd powers rather let me be plac'd In a wild Desert 'mongst a herd of Beasts The Wolf the Tygre and the spotted Leopard Are less devourers then faithless Men You may as soon call back the Sun stay time Prescribe a Law to death as ever find One true of all your perjur'd Sex A man The very name is monstrous Nay even the Breath that utters the vile sound Flies like infection over all the Air. Mele. Why shou'd you thus condemn the Sex for one Mar. For one for all Oh you are all the same All of one faithless lineage form creation Like twins in infidelity each feature And ev'ry vein fill'd up with the same falshood The Syrens Songs the Crocodiles false tears Are less deceitful then the oaths of men Mele. Hear me mistaken beauty by yon Heaven The words of Angels are not more sincere Then what I speak my love as fix'd and firm As Rocks of Adamant Mar. Hear me my Lord and hear me you bless'd powers To that false Image of your selves call'd man To you and all your Sex I bid farewel My fix'd resolves stand a decree of Fate Therefore no more endeavour to diswade me For when I do consent to love again May he I love with loath my hate receive me Eternal discord raise her bar between us May I his love as you do mine pursue And he fly me as thus I fly from you Ex. Mar. Mele. Then farewel Life and all my pains at once For by the Gods I 'll not outlive thy hate Lattinius if the love thou own'st be real When I am dead do me this Courtesie Bear to this cruel Woman my last words And let her know my love to her was true Lat. O Sir upon my knees I do intreat you Yet harbour patience who knows she may change 'T is certain Sir that Ithocles must dye And time may turn this resolution from her The Ephesian Matron for a while was constant And wash'd her Husband 's Grave with truest tears But at the last quite tir'd with useless sorrow She did receive a Lover to her Arms Marcelia may do this she is but a woman And subject to the frailties of her Sex Mele. I cou'd I hope she ever cou'd be moved With endless patience I cou'd wait the time Outlive th' old Patriarchs age in love grow hoary At her dear feet and wear like Aetna's top My Fire and Snow together Lat. Doubt not my Lord. Enter Bassanes Bas. I beg you 'd pardon my unwelcome news The Queen your Sister Sir Mele. Why what of her Bass. Must dye this day Mele. 'T is well Bass. My Lord Mele. 'T is well Wou'd in the Cradle sh 'ad resign'd her breath What death Bassanes Bass. Sir behind the Pallace The King decrees that she shall dye by fire Mele. By fire is that her doom Well 't