Heaven thy hand would steer Since Sacrilegiously it wounded her Abn. Against my will Heaven did this Crime decree To punish her so long defending Thee I 'll kill him yet though th' Altar he embrac'd Queen And I 'll defend him while my Life does last Antip. runs from behind the Bed draws his Sword and advancing says Ant. To save her I her Orders disobey Abner renews his Assault the Queen and Herod put by his thrust Hold Abner Hold and turn thy Sword this way Since the Queens Sacred Blood by thee is spilt Not to Revenge it were as black a Guilt Abn. Ha! Antipater how am I amaz'd Hell has the dead to help the Tyrant rais'd Ant. No 't is by Heaven that I preserv'd have been That in thy Blood I might revenge the Queen Yet I must grieve I can but strike thee dead For all the Tears and Blood thou mad'st her shed Herod gazes at Antip. and looks like a man astonish'd Abn. Sure Antipater once his Head had lost Herod has conjur'd and has rais'd his Ghost Ant. That I 'm no Ghost thy Death shall soon make known Abn. Art thou no Ghost Why then I 'll make thee one That which the Tyrant to my House has done Calls me to kill theFather and the Son They fight Abner falls mortally wounded Ant. That Death which thou deserv'dst thou now hast got Abn. I merit it because I kill'd him not Th' Attempt was noble though it did not thrive 'T is well I do not the disgrace outlive He dies Antipater to the Queen Accept this little Service I have done And let me now proceed as I begun A thousand Storms the Tyrants brows display Which his Death only Madam can allay Queen Prince you were order'd where you were to stay Ant. Your danger Madam made me disobey Queen How many ills on your Discovery wait Ant. By acting his let us prevent our Fate 'T is Heaven has sent us this propitious time Queen I will not owe Our Safeties to a Crime His Kindness I command you to implore If this you Disobey ne'er see me more Ant. Madam I 'm All Obedience you shall see When to obey is but to ruin me Antipater Bows to Herod and lays his Sword at his Feet Her Is this a Dream which does my Eyes abuse If they see right would I had lost their use How is my Reason by my Passions tost Tell me Art thou my Son or else his Ghost Enter hastily Solome Pheroras Phaltiel Tamar Asdrubal and some of the Guards All the men with their Swords drawn who seeing Abner dead and Antipater alive stand on a sudden as People astonished Ant. I am that Son you thought was in his Grave Rescu'd by Heaven that I your Life might save Her Who from my Doom did save thy guilty Head And who conceal'd thee now behind her Bed All thy Dissembling's vain It was my Wife Ant. 'T was your good Genius to preserve your Life Her To find thee here and to be sav'd by thee Makes Life a worser Doom than Death could be Herod muses awhile The Queen speaks to Tamar privately Queen Run run seek Samias out and bid him fly Till we have learnt the Prince's Destiny Tam. Permit me first Madam to dress your Wound Queen 'T is but a scratch and 't is already bound Tamar goes out Herod Never was Man with such misfortune Crost Lifting up his hands I am preserv'd to see my Honour Lost. Fool that I was to think that Son that Wife For any other end would save my Life Ant. Whoe'er a doubt of the Queens Vertue shows Sins worse in that than he can think she does Is this all the Return to her you give Who made you by her Blood and Kindness live Can you suspect who did so much for you To her own Fame and yours can prove untrue Queen Ah Prince why do you thus mispend your Breath 'T is a much milder Fate to suffer Death Than live to see him our bright Vertues blot Since Merit cannot change him words will not In his ungrateful guilt still let him lye But let us in our Innocency dye Pher. How can you think Sir that your Son and Wife Had they your Honour wrong'd would save your Life And that their Innocence might more be shown They for your Safety did expose their own Solo. Brother 't were sit you these great Doubts would clear What brought him hither who conceal'd him here But 't is the Queen must Answer them not you Queen She does despise your Arts and Malice too Solo. Madam I wish your Actions may not show That you as much despise your Honour too Ant. Kill her for what she said or else kill me For tamely hearing such a Blasphemy Her What does my Wife but touch I find wounds you Ant. She had been mine had you not took my due Which I 'd Revenge but that the Queen does tye My Arm and therefore I but seek to dye Herod snatches up the Sword which Antipater had laid at his Feet Her O Heavens what is it that I live to hear Th' affront I merit if th' affront I bear Thy Death is from my hand too justly due Both for thy old Offences and thy new He runs at Antipater who opens his Arms to receive the thrust Pheroras seizes on Herod's hand and at the same time the Queen offers to interpose Pher. O hold though I condemn what he has done Yet let not Sir your Passion kill your Son The Justice of your Laws that Right will do Which all will blame if 't is impos'd by you Her Justice and Laws They 're too Pedantick things To act the vengeance of offended Kings Since thou my hand in paying mine has staid Guards let him be to Massada convey'd On your Lives instantly convey him hence Justice and Laws in time may bring him thence Pheroras delivers himself up to the Guards Pher. To Prison nay to Death I 'll rather go Than see those Crimes which here you mean to do Her Away with him Pher. and some of the Guards go out Ant. kneels opening his Arms. Ant. Now act what you design'd 'T is in that only I shall think you kind Her Dost thou first wrong me then outbrave me so Herod runs at Ant. The Queen puts her self between Herod and Antipater Queen If you will kill him you shall kill me too Her Ha will She of her Crimes convince me more Queen Honour does now what Duty did before Her That Fire of Lust which in their Bosoms burns Makes them each others Champion now by turns I am convinc'd of what I did but doubt My Infamy so grosly they make out That a swift Death my Justice does esteem Too great a Mercy to be shew'd to them Thou Asdrubal here with the Queen shalt stay If she escape thy Life for it shall pay Phaltiel that Traytor 's Son to David's Tower With Guards convey where you are Governour I 'll have him Chain'd and in the Dungeon too Phaltiel seizes on Ant.
no more in such a dangerous path Her He is too mean an Object for my wrath And does on whining Vertue set such price As makes it much more troublesome than Vice Let all my Guards in Arms e'er Midnight be 'T is the last hour the Queen shall ever see Those Stains which on my Honour she does lay Shall then in her own blood be wash'd away They go out severally The Scene the Tower of David Enter Antip. Phalt. Sam. Pollio and Hazael Sam. Discovering of your Self has ruin'd all Ant. Talk not of that which now is past recal Phalt. What you resolve must be immediately Since Herod doubts not whether you should dy But studies for that Death may be to you Most full of pain and Ignominy too Ant. The Queen her self to such strict Virtue ties That 't is from thence my greatest troubles rise Phaltiel's Page comes in hastily Page to Phal A Lady that is Veil'd and in a Mask With pressingness to speak with you does ask Her business Sir admits not of delay Ant. to Phalt. See who she is and hear what she will say Phalt. and the Page go out Haz. Such Labyrinths involve you that I doubt 'T is only Miracles can bring you out Ant. So bright and great her Vertues still appear That we may hope for Miracles for her Howe'er our Duties let us not decline And trust the Issue to the Powers Divine Phaltiel comes in hastily lending Tamar who takes off her Mask and turns up her Veil Tam. Oh if to save the Queen be in your Power You ought not to delay it Sir one hour From Herod's Palace I in hast am come His Guards begin to seize on every Room And one of them did tell me in a fright That Herod means to kill the Queen this Night They all hang down their Heads and sigh and weep And e'er she 's dead her Funeral Rites they keep While she had she the means does scorn to fly And full of Joy as Innocence would dye Ant. O Friends hearing what Tamar tells us now Can you refuse to join in this just Vow That whosoever the Queen's Murtherer is I 'll lose my Life or give an end to his We must to Arms my Friends the furious Jews Will join with us hearing the fatal news Then let us Storm the Court immediately Thus we shall save the Queen or bravely dy Poll. Consider Sir the Queen 's in Herod's Power This will but hasten on her fatal hour For if Success should on our side appear You cannot doubt but he will murther her Ant. He dare not if our Arms Victorious grow Phal What wickedness is that he dare not do I thought you better understood the Man He 'll with his ruin ruin All he can Poll. This way with too much Reason Sir I fear You 'll lose your Self instead of saving her Ant. Oh Friend to lose my Self if she be lost Is of all Blessings what I covet most If we prevent it not the Queen must dy This way may save her and this way I 'll try Ant. offers to go out Tam. Stay Sir I call to my Remembrance now What in this strait may be of use to you The Queen now-lies where Alexandra lay Who from that Chamber made a Vaulted way Through which she might pass to the Garden-House She did this when she fear'd Antigonus Herod himself does not this Passage know Safely that way you to the Queen may go Whence you as safely may convey her too If you can win her to escape with you For at the Garden-House no Guards I saw Phalt. There without noise I may some Souldiers draw That if the Queen you from the Palace get We safely by their help may here retreat Sam. This Sir is the most hopeful way I see Ant. Samias it does appear the same to me For by it either I shall rescue her Or else dy fighting with her Murtherer Sam. Mean while I 'll try the chiefest Jews to win Tam. Oh how I fear the Scruples of the Queen Phalt. Since Herod has resolv'd the Queen to kill You ought to save her Sir against her will Once you to do it disobedient grew Ant. Heaven knows nought else could make me do it now Come let 's away the time too fast does slide Tam. Follow me Sir for I must be your Guide They all go out The Scene Herod's Apartment Enter Asdrubal and an Officer of the Guards as passing over the Stage Offic. As through the Streets I past the news was spread That Prince Pheroras struck with Grief was dead The People did his Death with horrour bear Asdr. I doubt of greater Deaths we soon shall hear Carry that News to Solome from me Let all while I am absent watchful be They go out several ways The Scene is the Queen's Chamber with a small Throne in it The Queen appears asleep on her Bed Herod comes in with a Taper in one hand and a drawn Dagger in the other as soon as he enters he stops on a sudden Her What Horror 's this which does my heart o'ercome As soon as I but enter in this Room I who in Breaches Storm'd have often stood And flaming Cities quench'd with humane Blood Nay swom t' Usurp a Throne through Royal Gore Yet never felt what trembling was before He advances towards the Queen's Bed and when he sees her sleeping says Can guilt so calmly sleep when Death is near While I who but Revenge it shake for fear What art thou Whispers While she sleeps 't is best To send her Soul to its Eternal Rest Lest her bright Eyes which have such Power to Charm Were they awake might my fierce hand disarm Whate'er thou art darst whisper to me so Be gone Else If I can I 'll kill the too For thou would'st rob me by such guilty fears Of what in my Revenge most great appears Yes I will wake her e'er I give the blow That She and I and the whole World may know While all her Beauties in full Lustre shone To my wrong'd Honour I have Justice done But though this brave Revenge I will enjoy Yet I must sigh for what I will destroy Herod sighs the Queen wakes Queen Who 's that who wak'd me with a sigh Her 'T is I But 't is to make thee sleep Eternally The Queen sits up Queen Ha in his hand an unsheath'd Dagger too Her Thy guilt does make thee such amazement show Queen If an amazement on my Face does seize 'T is that my Tyrant comes to give me ease Nought from thy bloody hand could welcome be Unless as now when it brings Death to me Her Wer 't thou not ripe for what I now will do Thou couldst not merit Death and wish it too But thy dire guilt all others has outdone For thou hast wrong d my Bed and by my Son Queen I wrong thy Bed I scorn to undeceive Him who of me dare such vile Crimes believe The Queen lies down again Her Thus of that scorn I my revenge
I for you should every guilt contract And leave you for my sake not One to Act. Too much it did like to Engrossing look But finding now how highly I mistook Admit me to this Queen and you shall see I dare do more for you than you for me Sohe Who lets you act the Sin he can withstand Does himself act it by another's hand Solo. Will you not then let me a Crime commit Of which you are to have the benefit Sohe O Madam were you now what once you were Solo. What Herod forc'd me to I will repair Sohe But Oh Solo. But what Speak without more delay I 'm arm'd against whatever you dare say Sohe But wrongs which Honour and which Love endure From those who did them can admit no Cure Solo. Ungrateful Man Have I in vain for you Ruin'd my King my Fame and Brothers too Through all your Vails I see what you would hide I could not else thus rudely be deny'd Sohe Madam but hear me out Solo. I 'll hear no more 'T is Mariamne's Beauties you adore What you would not confess your blushes do I fear'd the Change and now I find it true No other Passion could so powerful be As thus to make you scorn a Crown and Me. Begone and to your Cost you soon shall prove A Woman's hatred does transcend her Love They go out several ways The Scene changes to a spacious Room all black Antipater muffl'd up with a Cloak and a Page with a Flambeau Page 'T is in this Room the Queen will watch to night Ant. Where I may see and yet be out of sight Page There you may all things see and not be seen But should this be discover'd to the Queen I shall past hope of Pardon be undone Ant. Fear not there 's your Reward and now begone He flings him a Purse which the Page takes and goes out Love only could this strange Design inspire A noise within What noise is that The Queen He looks I must retire He conceals himself The Queen and Mariana they bolt the door after them Mar. Why to these Horrors Madam will you run Queen 'T is brave to seek what 't is in vain to shun One of the Noblest Joyes that is above Is there to meet those whom we here did love Since Fate to grant that Blessing does delay I would possess what here of it I may Mar. Should the best Friend of mine that 's dead appear I should be soon as dead as he with fear Queen Poor Mariana this too much doth show Thy Soul the Charms of Love did never know Hadst thou been ever warm'd with that blest Fire What makes thy fear would then be thy desire Mar. Sure you at Herod's Ghost would startled be Queen His Ghost 't is all of him I long to see But since Hircanus and my Brother have The Priviledge to wander from the Grave And pay their Visits where they 're justliest due Why may not Antipater do it too For if Departed Souls about them bear Those Vertuous Loves which did inflame them here No place to him a place of Joy can be Where he is banish'd from attending me Mar. But durst you look on Antipater's Ghost Queen Durst I You know that I disdain to boast But though he were in that dark place of pain Which Priests do preach of and which Poets feign Yet there were I but sure with him to stay I would I would do more than I will say Mar. But an Infernal shape like his may seem Queen Nothing Infernal can resemble him A great flash of fire Mar. Bless me what means this sudden flash of light My trembling Knees do one another smite My Hair does stare I scarce can draw my Breath And a Cold seises me like that of Death A second flash of fire Queen Guard me ye blessed Angels for I find My timorous flesh strives to infect my Mind In Fears Men Sin I scorn to be involv'd What is it can resist a Soul resolv'd While terror does the mortal part invade To the Immortal it should Courage add Why Mariana dost thou tremble so Canst thou be Innocent and fearful too Mar. I dare not stay more Prodigies to see Impute this Rudeness to my fear not me Mariana goes out trembling and shuts the door after her A third and greater flash of fire Hircanus's Ghost rises drest in the High-Priest's Habit. Queen Ha 't is Hircanus Spirit does appear But why should I my Mother's Father fear See how he shakes his Head and seems to groan Oh since 't was Herod that Usurp't your Throne Why do you not him or his Ghost pursue Rather than me who still does weep for you Another flash of fire Aristobulus's Ghost rises in the like Habit. More Horrors yet 't is Aristobulus What makes you my dear Brother haunt me thus Is it because that I was Herod's Queen And that by him you both have murthered been 'T was by Hircanus and by your Command That to the Tyrant I did give my hand But when to that dire deed I did consent Of both your Murthers he was Innocent The two Ghosts shake their heads Then I perceive you judge that I did ill Not to kill him who both of you did kill But Heaven does know I fear'd to do amiss And by a Sin of mine to punish his Arist. Ghost You little know the blest place where we are Who think Revenge can find admittance there Nothing so Hellish up to Heaven can fly Passions in Bodies live and with them dye Hir. Ghost No Mariamne we both now appear To tell you that your hour of Death is near And then from Death you must to Judgment come To hear from Justice self your endless doom Before that Bar Actions are truly weigh'd The Kings and Slaves are in one Ballance laid Mitres and Crowns which here the World adore If ill employ'd are weights to sink us more Life 's but a Race the longest quickly ends Yet on it our Eternity depends Arist. Ghost ETERNITY That word so much does weigh As if it were pronounc'd but once a day With the Belief and Reverence that is fit For Worldly trifles who durst hazard it Since but one Moment of those Joyes w' are in Does far transcend the longest Charms of Sin Hir. Ghost Farewel Remember your last hour is near The Ghosts descend Queen Only the unprepar'd should dying fear Blest and Kind Ghosts who Heaven awhile could miss To teach me here the Glorious Way to Bliss Antip. within the Scene sayes Ant. The Queen 's great Soul is a Reproach to me She speaks with those I trembl'd but to see Now that the Ghosts are vanish't I 'll appear He makes a noise Queen More Ghosts or am I cheated by my Ear Antipater appears Ha 't is Antipater's dear Ghost I see In Death as Life he is still kind to me Stay stay you blessed Spirit for I know Assuming of that shape you must be so Come you to tell me of my dying too No news
unwelcome is that 's brought by you Or com'st thou to accuse me that did wed The bloody Tyrant who cut off thy Head Ah Generous Prince it was to save your Life That I did yield to be the Monsters Wife My kindness only made me seem untrue And for your sake I became false to you Ant. Madam I am not Dead Queen Not Dead O why Do you alas the fatal truth deny But know for I now see what you would do I dread not Death when I may go with you This unkind Doubt of me does make me fear Lovers in the other World love less than here Ant. By your fair Eyes the Oath I value most I am Antipater and not his Ghost And if of what I swear you doubtful stand Allow me to confirm it on your hand Queen Take it but wonder not I tremble so That 's sit whether you are a Ghost or no. Antipater kneels kisses her hand in such transports that she endeavours to withdraw it but he still holds it Ant. Why to this Joy would you a period give Queen I would not know by guilty proofs you live She withdraws her hand I am convinc'd that you no Spirit are But how you scap'd I beg you will declare He rises Ant. To tell that story I too dearly pay Yet since it is your will I must obey When Herod's Guards did my Revenge prevent To Massada I was close Pris'ner sent The Generous Samias to whose Friendly Care The Orders for my Death intrusted were Beheaded a young Slave of his by night And to his Body paid my Funeral right Which made all Palestine and Herod too Think he had done the Sin he bid him do Thus Heaven preserv'd whom Herod meant to kill By which I now have priviledge to kneel He kneels And beg thus at your Feet that you will give That Joy which if deny'd I dare not live Queen Rise Generous Prince Ah what is 't you implore Ant. That Blessing now you could not grant before Queen Into the blackest Incest I shall run If I should wed the Father then the Son Ant. True Love mistaken Scruples should despise The hand of Death cancels all humane tyes Dare you not end what Love made you begin Queen Prince I for you dare dy but dare not Sin Ant. By such false Maxims be not kept in awe Queen But Incest is forbid by Heavens great Law Ant. If Incest Madam be the Sin you fear I of that Incest the whole Guilt will bear My Love were neither generous nor true Would I not act one Crime to purchase you Queen Ah do not ask what Heaven bids me deny Ant. Then give me leave here at your Feet to dye Ant. offers to draw his Sword Queen Hold Generous Prince I might as soon agree To Sin for you as let you dy for me But if you think your Cure in Death to find Be not so Cruel to leave me behind Do not refuse what now I press you to Or live with me or let me dy with you Ant. Alas when of your dying I but hear All my despair I yield up to my fear A great knocking at the door Tamar within O Madam Madam Queen That 's Tamar's Voice Retire awhile I know Something Important brings her hither now Ant. retires within the Scene The Queen lets in Tamar Tamar Madam I hope this Rudeness you 'll excuse Since 't is to bring you most surprising News Herod whom we believ'd till now was dead From his Restraint is by Octavius freed And Caesar on him has confirm'd the Crown And what 's as strange Herod is now in Town He fear'd some Insurrection from the Jews And therefore brought of his Success the News The Sanhedrim to his great Fortune bend And through the Streets they all on him attend Queen Never a greater Change was wrought by Fate To them Dina hastily Din. Madam the King is at the Palace Gate Queen Will my Misfortunes never have an End In my Apartment all of you attend Dina and Tamar go out Antipater comes out Queen You hear the News of this prodigious turn Ant. Yes Madam but what News should make me mourn For I have nothing now to hope or dread Herod's alike to me alive or dead Yet my Complaints my Duty shall subdue Since I can now complain of none but you Queen Do not complain of her whose only fault Is that she loves you much more than she ought After these guilty words I dare not stay Shame now like Herod hurries me away Mariamne goes out Ant. Prodigious Fate what is 't thou dost mean How in an instant hast thou chang'd the Scene But thou hast Joyful hours as well as sad The good I 'll court and I 'll outbrave the bad Antip. goes out at the door he entred ACT II. The Scene opens The Temple appears and Herod seated on a Throne within it On his right hand Annanelus the High-Priest stands drest in all his Pontifical Habits On his left hand Pheroras Abner Phaltiel Samias Asdrubal with all the Courtiers and the Guards The Singing Priests are all in their white Robes with wreaths of Laurel on their Heads after some time of silence the chief Singer lifts up his right hand and then the whole Quire of Priests sing the following Song SONG THose Clouds which dare the Sun obscure But a short time endure And when he breaks what did his Light confine His Beams with brighter Lustre shine So Herod's Danger which we did deplore Serves but to raise his Glories more He now appears to his glad Subjects sights Like cheerful Mornings after stormy nights In sign that we this blessing prize We offer up whole Herds in Sacrifice And flaming Incense on our Altars burn To Celebrate Our King's return Since to this Temple he new Life does give His Fame shall in his Piety still live Flames are seen behind the Theatre in the Temple This Song is to be sung twice by the whole Quire of Priests at the first ending of the Song Herod descends from the Throne walks out over the Theatre attended by all having a Canopy of State carryed over him by four By that time the Priests have ended the Song the second time the last of the Procession are to be gotten off the Theatre and then the Scene of the Temple is to be closed by the Scene of Herod's Apartment Enter Herod Pheroras Abner Phaltiel Samias Asdrubal and the Arabian Guards Pher. The Sanhedrim are at your Palace Gate And beg admittance Her No. There let them wait By Fear not Love they now are hither drawn Base Spirits when insulting fails they fawn When they but dreamt Fortune had cast me down They did consult how to bestow my Crown Since they 'll not tell on whom that guilt does fall Rather than punish none I 'll punish all Justice must not be mockt Pher. But Justice then Should not designedly punish guiltless Men. Because to you the faulty are not known You 'll punish All rather than punish
tear you hence where you too long did raign All those Objections you to me did move Were now I see to triumph o're my Love And when all Obstacles I would subdue I find my greatest nay my Only You. Sohe Were I as proud or false as now you say I might with ease you by your Love betray But by my Faithfulness I make you shun Crimes which would make you hate your self when done Ah Madam 't is severe to use me thus We give not Laws to Love but Love to us Could we at will quench or revive â—is Flame You 'd kill that Love which now you blush to name If what I say cannot your wrath asswage Here in my Blood be pleas'd to drown your Rage Opening his Arms. If over Love I could the Victor prove To whom I give my Life I 'd give my Love Solo. Too deep a wound thy bold contempt affords Ere to be heal'd by Fawnings and by words Since thou with scorn my proffer'd Love dost brand 'T were too great Death to perish by my hand Striking her Breast Thus with one blow Love's Image I deface Revenge do thou ascend and take the place In thy black Empire few successless prove Whose Hearts are fill'd with Rage as once with Love Solome goes out Sohe I see her fury cannot be withstood She will allay this tempest in my Blood Yet to my Death 't is nobler to submit Than to Contract a guilt which merits it Sohemus goes out The Scene the first obscure Grotta Enter Antipater Pollio Ant. Disswade me not by all my hopes I swear Nothing shall hinder me to wait on her Poll. Your Life in doing it will hazard run Ant. 'T will run more hazard if it be not done For Life on no account to me is dear But only as it does belong to her Poll. Lose not that Life which for her sake you prize Ant. Ah 't is not Life while banish'd from her Eyes To them Phaltiel and Samias Phalt. Sir from the Judgment-Hall we now are come Where forty noble Jews receiv'd their doom Th' Arabians putting many to the Rack Which in the Plot did not at all partake The rest urg'd by a Vertue most sublime The guiltless clear'd and did confess their Crime But those which were absolv'd did boldly say They 'd rather perish than be sav'd that way Sam. Never did men so generously contend Each would have lost his Life to save his Friend Ant. My Father's Crown and Life in danger lies Attempted thus by them who Death despise Sam. He that in this great Action led the way Was Abner's Father aged Barzillai All hop'd the favour Herod shews the Son Would for the Father a Reprieve have won But as we came out of the Hippodrome The Orders that he first should dye were come Ant. What is this Abner for whose sake you thought My Father might from his revenge be brought Since my disgrace he did to favour climb Phalt. To draw him Sir at length requires much time He is to give his Character in short In War most fierce most humble in the Court Who merits favour yet obtains it not In him unask'd an Advocate has got Respect for him he in all hearts has bred Because it is not sought but merited Malice does fear such Vertue to pursue Which makes him favour'd without Envy too Enter Hazael hastily who takes Antip. aside Haz. Tamar your Trust did with such Joy receive And in such Raptures learnt you were alive That in disguise as you desir'd she 's gone To Nathan's Tomb to meet you there alone Your stay with her she begs may be so short As none may mind her absence from the Court Where over her there are suspicious Eyes Ant. My Joys from this blest meeting take their Rise My generous Friends excuse me for one hour I 'm drawn from hence by Love's Resistless Power Mean while disperse your selves in several ways For this rough Justice must a Tempest raise And drive into despair the furious Jews What ere you learn let me soon hear the News Ant. and Haz. go out hastily Phalt. I 'll try to stay him Sam. Do not 't is in vain Reason and Love never together reign Sam. Phalt. and Poll. go out The Scene is the Palace-Garden Enter Herod and the Queen Her 'T is to Agrippa Madam that I owe At once my Liberty and Kingdom too With such success he did my Cause debate As he did alter what was thought my Fate Queen Does it not meanly in a Monarch show Both those to a Proud Roman King to owe. But to his Subject thus in Debt to run Is what I should elect by Death to shun Her Freedom you seem and Empire to abhor Queen No I love both but I love Glory more For those who do not Glory more esteem Than Life and Empire cannot merit them Her You my Return so coldly entertain As if some other in your heart did reign Queen I for your absence had no cause to mourn Nor can I joyful be for your Return Neither in me had reason to prevail Since I but change my Jaylor not my Jayl Your part Sohemus acted you being gone And now you are return'd you act your own Her While Rules of Honour you on me obtrude You quite forget your Debts of gratitude 'T was I that rais'd you to my Bed and Crown When all your House were by their Fate cast down Queen You made them Victims to your Pride and Hate And then ascribe their Ruins to their Fate With them I rather would have lost my Life Than be Condemn'd to live their Murtherers Wife Her Madam there are affronts which press so near That 't is beyond the strength of Love to bear Queen And there be Loves which so offensive are That to be hated were more pleasant far Her Take heed your Death may end so bold a strife Queen You should not threaten me with Death but Life Her Oh Cursed Herod to give all thy heart To her who is unworthy of a part Queen 'T is hard to credit I have all your heart Sure Mariana does possess a part Love that divided is must quickly fall Her Then Mariana shall possess it all Unworthy 't is of Monarchs nay of Men To pay their Loves where they 're not lov'd again He merits scorn who tamely scorn endures Yes I 'll recal my heart as you do yours Queen The losing such a heart should I take ill Which you can give and take when ere you will Pray teach me too how I should grieve for it Yet such a Passion is for her most fit Whose Family you for her sake thought good To waft to Heaven through a Sea of blood Of this new Love let this new proof appear By the like passage pray Sir send me there The greatness of your Love will more be seen In making me your Martyr than your Queen Her Spight of affronts so sensible and high Yet for your Beauties sake you shall not dye Since while you scorn me
Phalt. What you have order'd I 'll exactly do Ant. 'T is time to dy when you 'll my Jaylor be Phalt. whispers to Antip. I play this part to save both you and me Antip. whispers to Phalt. No more admire not I suspected thee For the Queens Sufferings have distracted me Phalt. leads out Ant. with some of the Guards when he comes to the door he turns about and bowing to the Queen says Ant. Madam until we meet in Heaven Farewel The Queen bows to him and weeps Her You ne'er shall meet again unless in Hell Ye Sacred Powers above whom I adore Lifting up his Eyes and Hands This only Blessing I from you implore Teach me on them so well my Self to right That to express Revenge in all its height Men shall in future times need but to say That it has been perform'd in Herod's way They all go out Asdrubal leading the Queen within the Scenes ACT V. The Scene Solome's Apartment Enter Solome and Asdrubal Solo. THough you Cossabanes's Subject are Yet I of you have took the greatest Care And to my Favour only 't is you owe Thoâ—e high Employments you are rais'd to now Asdr. Nothing with greater Joy I can admit Than owning of the Debt but paying it Solo. I 'll try you then Know Herod does repent That he to Massada Pheroras sent That Brother still has my designs withstood His Puling Vitrue does disgrace our Blood If he return his Interest such will grow That all my Plots now ripe he will o'erthrow To hinder this is only in your Power For you of Massada are Governour Asdr. But Madam if the King sends a Command To free him who those Orders dare withstand Solo. Those Orders while I can I will delay But In obeying you may disobey Asdr. I understand you not Solo. Do you not think That a few subtle drops mixt in his drink May in a Moment send Pheroras where He aims to be and where I wish he were Such Death as this would make all Israel say 'T was his grief only took his Life away Methinks at this you should not scrupulous be 'Twixt Statesmen 't is a common Courtesy Asdr. Sins by their Commonness the worse are made Solo. You who I need to my Revenge perswade Are too unfit my deep designs to wed But on your Life keep Secret all I said Be gone Asdr. offers to go out Asdr. If I refuse to do the Crime Shee 'll by some others Poison me and him He returns But on his Death doth your designs depend Solo. Without it all my hopes are at an end Asdr. Then Madam there 's no duty you shall know Greater than that which to your will I owe. Solo. When this deed is perform'd every degree That I ascend you shall ascend with me Consider too were but Pheroras gone There is between the Crown and me but One Who while he lives my Councils still will sway And when hee 's dead But I too much do say It must be done with Secrecy and speed Asdr. You may already reckon he is dead Herod comes in Solo. Retire for Herod comes to visit me Asdr. goes out What strange Disorders in his looks I see Her Ah would my Stars had then my Death design'd When I so easily believ'd her kind By her appearing in my Lifes defence I had gone happy though deluded hence For such a Death though scarce a worse could be Were better than that Life reserv'd for me Alas Herod's Ambition was not Great That would have dy'd content though by a Cheat. O Solome Solo. What Sir distracts you now Her Those Loads I bear would make ev'n Atlas bow What I and all my Court nay Guards have seen Makes me resolve to kill my Son and Queen But then when I reflect on what was done To save my Life both by my Queen and Son Which if of my disgrace they guilty were Was what they ought to end and not to spare When too they might my Death to Abner owe It so distracts me that I do not know Which of the Sins I greater should esteem Or that of killing or not killing them Some Power which Justice knows instruct me now What I am not or what I am to do Solo. You wonder why they of your Life took Care But I admire why the Queen hid him there Her Love to him you once did so much dread As you Decreed that he should lose his Head Think you by chance he to her Bed did stray Or came he there but to talk time away Did he at all in your Defence appear Till Abner's Sword by Chance had wounded her But then with Rage he on the Traytor flew Which proves it was to rescue her not you That he your danger saw you cannot doubt But till her danger call'd he stir'd not out Her I like these Observations well Proceed My Justice has that Traytor 's Death decreed Ah for the Queen would you the like could find 'T is she alone which now distracts my Mind It was her Kindness sure made her appear In my defence Solo. No 't was her Interest Sir She fear'd that thousands would revenge her Sin If in her Chamber you had murther'd been For no one could though Abner did the Crime He being kill'd attribute it to him But had the truth it self been brought to light Her hiding there that guilty hour of night Him who for Loving her to Death you sent Would make all judge she was not Innocent Which shews her Safety only made her do What you but dream'd her Kindness led her too Her Speak on Speak on 't is Musick to my Ears My mist of Doubts thy Conquering Reason clears Solo. Nor could they scape the Vengeance of their Sin Though by your Death your Son our King had been Since had that Sacred Title aw'd them all Yet I on both would have reveng'd your Fall Brother there 's no such despicable thing In all the World as a tame Cuckold King Herod starts Yet your ill Fate in that has all outdone For you alas are made one by your Son If you can live under that Infamy Then Pardon both if not then both must dye 'T is but their Crime if they your Honour blot But it is yours if you Revenge it not Her I will no longer then thus trifling stand This Night the Queen shall dy and by my hand Since she has been the Partner of my Bed 'T is only I that ought to strike her dead O Heavens forgive my Criminal Debate Lifting up his Hands and Eyes Her Doom is Seal'd past the Reverse of Fate That Traytor Samias from the Court is fled But I 'll at leisure take his guilty head Solo. Since you are forc'd your Son and Wife to kill You ought no more of your own Blood to spill Your Pardon for Pheroras Sir I crave Grief else I fear will send him to his Grave And when he has been Pris'ner one day more Be pleas'd his freedom to him to restore He 'll tread
begin And thus pursue it He stabs the Queen twice Queen Heaven forgive his Sin Oh let my Guiltless Blood thy Rage atone And turn thy heart from murthring of thy Son The Queen dies Her Unheard of Crime She begs with her last Breath That her Adulterer may not suffer Death But he shall dy and in those Tortures too Which to his Crimes and her last Prayers are due Herod a while gazeth stedfastly on the Queen Thus Night's dark Veils the Face of Heaven o'erspread When to th' other World the Sun is fled No Kings Revenge like mine the Glory had To make at once so many Beauties fade A door opens under the Theatre Antip. comes up out of it muffled up in a Cloak at first looking towards the Pit Ant. Sure all the Ominous Screech-Owls and the Toads Have in this horrid Vault fixt their abodes Under my Feet these croak'd at every pace And those were still a fluttring in my Face Through Deaths obscurest Regions I have past But I am come to Paradise at last He looks after down into the Vault Her Whose Voice is that A Man and muffl'd too And comes to her through ways I never knew I 'll undiscover'd learn what brings him here Herod conceals himself behind the Scene puts down the Taper by the Queens Bed Ant. to Tam. in the Vault Since I am within Call you should not fear Tam. Yet Sir to your Return a short space give For here methinks I 'm bury'd while I live Antip. advances softly towards the Queen and flings off his Cloak Ant. How quietly she sleeps she does not know How near she is to Herod's guilty blow Yes I must wake her for by time I 'm prest He lifts up his Hands and Eyes Sure I was born still to disturb her Rest. Madam to save you I from Heaven am sent How sound they sleep whose Lives are Innocent Madam 't is Antipater that does speak Herod looking out of the Scene My Son How did he from his Prison break Antip. starts up and going to the Bedside says Ant. Either my trembling sight abuses me Or else O Heavens why must I live to see What more than I millions of dyings dread In Streams of her own Blood the Queen lies dead Though fate to lose her Life this Trick has shown I come not yet too late to end my own He draws his Sword and offers to kill himself Yet hold for while her Murtherer does live I must to my own self grant a Reprieve Till I have kill'd him though he Herod be For this dire Crime none durst perform but He. Thou injur'd Ghost who ought to hover here Lifting up his Hands and Eyes Till I have Sacrific'd thy Murtherer Listen to this Irrevocable Vow My Tyrant Father I 'll to Death pursue Through all his Guards I will a passage make And by the loss of mine his Life I 'll take Herod comes in with his Sword drawn Her Traytor such horrid Guilt thou dost commit That none but I to punish it am fit Ant. To mention horrid Guilt dost thou not dread Being within the prospect of that Bed Pointing towards the Queen Heaven may to thee perhaps some mercy show For off'ring up thy Self her Victim now Her This Hand which on my Wife has Justice done Shall do the like now on a Rebel Son Yes thou shalt feel that 't is a fatal thing To dare offend thy Father and thy King Ant. Those Sacred names were Cancell'd both by thee That moment thou didst force the Queen from me But wer 't thou Mankind's Father and their King Yet killing thee is but too mean a thing To Expiate thy Sin in murthering Her Her 'T is greater Sin my Vengeance to defer Herod runs at Antip. and Antip. at him They run each other through Herod falls Her 'T is Chance alone which the whole World does guide Or now Success had waited on my side Nor could I else have thus been strucken dead And by a Traytor which defil'd my Bed Ant. Defil'd thy Bed By all that is divine A brighter Vertue never yet did shine Than that with which Heav'n thy great Queen did bless To raise thy horrour I this truth confess Ant. reels then falls at the feet of the Queen's Bed Her My Joy it raises for I make thee dy And make thee do it telling of a Lye My Destiny had been tyrannical Had I not e'er my Death beheld thy Fall But now I care not what becomes of me Since with my hand I have kill'd Her and thee Herod dies Tamar rises out of the Vault Tam. What noise was this Ha! the Prince murther'd lies And the Queen too Weep out your Selves my Eyes Though for that Loss the payment is too low Ant. I amar raise all the Court and let them know The Queen has by the Tyrant murther'd been And I too meanly did revenge the Sin By only making of the Monster fall Then carry these Commands to Asdrubal That he from Massada Pheroras bring And now it is his Right Proclaim him King Tamar runs out crying Murther Treason Treason Murther Ant. I feel a Coldness like the hand of Death Which by degrees does steal away my Breath Against the wish'd Assault I will not strive Since all is done for which I 'd wish to live These double Blessings in my Fate I meet To kill her Murtherer then dy at her Feet Ant. dies Asdrubal with several Gentlemen and the Guards come running in at one side of the Theatre Dina and some of the Queens Women come running in at the other who all stand amaz'd lifting up their Hands and Eyes Asdr. O Dismal Night the dismal'st e'er has been Dina. 'T is here my grief should first of all begin Running to the Queen and kneeling by her Ah who can doubt Vertue is Crown'd above Since Men to hers did still so Cruel prove They all sigh and weep Enter Solome and Tamar Solo. There 's none which has such Cause to mourn as I But 't is below true grief to sigh and Cry And too much Sorrow ought not to be given To what appears is the Decree of Heaven Bear the dead Bodies from the Gazers sights Till all is ready for the Funeral Rites Some of the Gentlemen take up Herod's Body others Antipater's and carry them off Tamar Dina Merab and some of the Women draw the Curtains before the Queens Bed While this is doing Solome says to her self Fortune above my Hopes has smil'd on me Where I but beg'd two Deaths she gave me three Solome takes Asdrubal aside If to your Promise you have faithful been 'T is I who am by right of Blood your Queen When I by you am Seated in the Throne Ask whatsoe'er you will and 't is your own Asdr. Sure Madam you must know your Brother's dead The news of it through all the Court is spread Solo. Why do you not your duty then begin And make all others own me for their Queen Asdr. This Throne which the late Queen was