Gallant in your Armes Roxa. Guards have him hence Exeunt Guards with Cassander Can my Orontes still inhumane be Have you no Love nor pity left for me Did'st thou the Milk of some fierce Tygress Suck Or was thy Heart cut from a Scythian Rock That thou can'st see a Queen whom Kings adore Fall at thy Feet and Love with Tears implore Kneels Can you so tender to Statira be And a cold Marble Statue still to me Oron. Roxana rise takes her up A noble Soul to Love was ne'r compell'd Bright virtue only makes brave Souls to yield But your blind passion bears such evil sway That leads you far from virtues paths astray You ask'd a Heart that was bestow'd before On Queen Statira Roxa. In vain you do on her your Love bestow Unless you 'l Court her in the shades below Oron. How Is Statira dead Ah! cruel Tygress have you slain the Queen Of all that 's fair and good have you the Murthress been Roxa. I try'd that way your Rocky Heart to move And see how soon it can be touch'd by Love Statira Lives Oron. Lives Where into her Armes I 'll fly Or tell me is she dead that I may dye Without her to the Gods I would not go Nor tread the blest Elysian Fields below Without Statira I no bliss can know But if she 's dead I 'll fly away From life and here not one short minute stay Speak is she dead you rack me with delay Roxa. This tender passion for my Rival shown My Loving Heart too on the Rack has thrown But I will be reveng'd and you shall dwell In anxious doubt and tortur'd in that Hell Oron. Stay do not thus in cruelty delight Let me not linger here Kill me out-right Tell me sh 's dead and kill me with that word Or say she lives and a reprieve afford Free me from pain or send my Soul from hence Roxa. Thy Soul shall feel the torture of suspence I will torment thee yet thou shalt not know Whether Statira is alive or no. Exit with Hesione Oron. What shall I do 't is pain and Death to Live Each Minute does ten Thousand tortures give And yet in Death I dare not seek my bliss Lest in that unknown Region I should miss The happiness I seek And lose my Queen in that World and in this O Gods What pains do you for Souls prepaire Who dare not hope yet know not to dispa're Goes in the SCENE Closes The Fifth ACT. The SCENE Babylon Enter Eumenes Lysimachus Ptolomy Thalestris Amazons and Soldiers Eume. THe City 's won and none left to oppose Within the Palace Walls are all our Foes Lysi. In vain in vain have we a Conquest made The cruel Gods have all our hopes betray'd And with them all our Earthly Joys are fled The Queen and her fair Sister too are dead This is the news which like a deadly Dart Now pierc'd my Ears and struck me through the Heart Thal. Why did the Gods such Heavenly forms Create And joyn with so much Beauty so ill Fate They give us cause their Godheads to blasphem Eume. The ways of Providence do Riddles seem And are like various Fancys in a Dream 'T is past our skill to find the Sence of them Their Murtherers let 's with Revenge pursue The Gods will aid us when their works we do Ptol. Yes brave Eumenes we will first Revenge Their Death and then the Scene of Life I 'll change Lysi. Since Love could not our Friendships know unty We will both perfect Friends and Lovers dye Embrace Ptol. Death shan't have pow'er our Souls to disunite For both shall hence together take their flight And since our Body's here the difference make Our Souls below shall but one shaddow take Lysi. Come my dear Friend let us about it strait Draw up the Army to the Palace Gate To the Soldiers Let it with all our Troops be compast round And then with Ramms oâ—rethrow it to the Ground Exeunt Omnes The SCENE The Palace Royal in Babylon Enter Roxana with Hesione Roxa. My Soul is with too great a load opprest My Eyes can find no sleep my Mind no rest For my designes will all Successless prove If I can't make the Scythian Prince to Love I 'ave sav'd his Life with hazard of my own And disoblig'd those who should guard my Thronâ— Hesi Time only can his Rebel Heart subdue Extinguish his old Flame and kindle new All your perfections he will then admire And in his Breast feel a new Amorous fire Roxa. Statira still in his great Heart does live I doubt he never will her Death forgive Hesi Time does on all a blest oblivion shed Which takes away the memory of the dead On grieving Souls it by degrees does creep And does surprize insensibly as sleep Nature at last must tyr'd and weary grow The highest Tydes of grief still ebb most low Roxa. I can't with so long expectation wait Let Love and Time like slaves attend my State I must and will have satisfaction strait When the whole East submits to my Command Shall he alone my Will and pow'er withstand shouts within Hark hark what shouts are those so loud Hesi They 're shouts of Joy and of a Multitude Shout again Rox. What can this mean It does my Soul affright The Babylonians are grown mad to night Enter an Officer of Roxana's Guards Offi. Madam the City 's taken and your Foes Have routed all who durst their force oppose Roxa. The City taken you 'ave neglectful been Offi. 'T was not Neglect but Treason let them in They enter'd at Semiramises Gate Where none oppos'd them till it was too late Thence like a Torrent they the City fill'd And all who did oppose them easily kill'd With eager shouts a Squadron this way made Your Guards and Royal Palace to invade Your routed Soldiers wheresoe're they fly For Perdicas and for Cassander cry Roxa. Hast away to your Captain run with speed And let Cassander from restraint be freed Offi. I fear 't is now too late The Foes by this are at the Palace Gate Rox. Be gone tell me not of your fears but fly Effect what I command you strait or dye Exit Officer I know not which way my hard Fate to shun Ah! cruel Fate how can this loss be born And how shall I endure Orontes scorn Hesi I hope the Gods will yet some pity show With patience wait their Wills you soon will know Roxa. Their Wills they in my ruine have made known But I 'll not stoop to theirs but to my own For since they will I shall be quite undone I 'll will it too and on my Fate will run My Death shall be th' effect of my own will For first Orontes then my self I 'le kill I then in dying shall some pleasure find To leave Orontes dead will please my mind Perhaps his Ghost below may prove more kind If not I 'le there his fierce tormenter prove Eternally I 'le kill him with my Love
run to scale these Walls Let 's thus for Honour and for Love contend Till Death or Conquest shall our Quarrel end Thus our great Cause may by the Sword be try'd And Fortune now our Rivalship decide Lysi. No Ptolomy to that I le ne'r agree Fortune shall never judge 'twixt you and me Blindly she does her Favours oft bestow Our Happiness shall from our Merits flow So Parisatis judgement best shall give Which of us two shall die and which shall live Pto. Lysimachus that way does worse appear All we can do can never merit her She like the Gods is mounted far above The reach of all our merits or our Love Then let not her that cruel judgement give One to condemn to make the other live She of that doom must certainly repent Make Fortune judge and keep her innocent Lysi. You cannot place her in your Thoughts too high And I fall down to her Divinity She like the Gods above can never err All must be just and good that comes from her Ptol. Think not I poorly prize my life above Or your high Friendship or my own just love Yet since but one of us can her obtain Let fortune judge which of us shall be slain Condemn'd by Fortune I shall die with joy But her Refusal doubly would destroy Lysi. Refus'd by her death will a pleasure grow But flatt'ring Hope makes Death more cruel show 'T were just for him whom she refus'd to die Pto. That Justice then adds to his misery Lysi. Whil'st Love does either with some hope inspire Deaths cold embrace unjustly we desire Pto. If now I die by yours or my own hand I die before I did my Love offend But once refus'd by her I guilty grow For her refusal only makes me so My Death will then to every one appear Not the effect of Love but of despair If she accept me I can know no Joy Since my good Fortune must my Love destroy Lysi. As great as yours I dare pronounce my Flame Tho yours so unruly seems and mine so tame The Gods with greater Love can none inspire Nor can your Breast feel a more scorching Fire Yet Love shall never make my Sword divide That knot of Friendship which we two have ty'd Ptol. Why should I in suspence one moment be When my own hand holds my own destiny This Sword can quickly finish all our strife By cutting off my own or your much dearer life Empire our Friendships bounds could not remove We parted stakes but cann't do so in Love Two Kings may friendly sit upon one Throne But in Loves Empire one must reign alone Since she whom we adore we cann't divide We with our swords our quarrel must decide Let this the greatness of my passion speak When for my love I must our friendship break Ly. No Ptolomy this Sword shall ne'r offend The man whom I so long have call'd my friend And so much honour in thy soul does dwell Thy unresisting friend thou dar'st not kill Ptol. Lay by that Name for in it lies a charm Which does my Soul of all its rage disarm My blood grows stiff and cold that sacred Name Strives to extinguish my unruly flame But that Charm by a greater I le remove My Friendship must and shall give way to Love My life I for my friend would sacrifice But for my Love that Friend I must despise Defend thy self Lysi. Since Friendship 's sacred name so weak does prove Here wound her Image whom we both do love That beauteous Image to us both so dear Will deeply graven in my heart appear Strike home and to our quarrel put an end Dispatch at once your Rival and your Friend Whilst Ptolomy stands in a fighting posture with his Swords point towards the breast of Lysimachus who spreads open his arms Enter Orontes and Araxis Oron. Is this a time for friends to disagree With joy our Souldiers for th' Assault prepare But wonder much where their brave Leaders are Me-thinks that Love which your two Souls inspires Should quicken and add wings to your desires 'T is just we first our Princesses redeem Before we offer to dispute for them Remember Sirs these Walls our Loves inclose Remember they are Pris'ners to our Foes Embrace embrace and let us hast away Our Souldiers in their arms do for us stay Each minute now seems a long age to me Till we have set the fair Statyra free Ptol. 'T is true Orontes to my self I seem Like those who sleeping walk and talking dream My â—unquiet passions now are grown so strong Against my will they hurry me along 〈◊〉 what sense nor reason can't approve And unprovok'd would kill the Friend I love 'Gainst my own heart I all my forces bend And e're I gain my Mistress lose my Friend Pity me then when forc'd by cruel Fate I do those things which tho I do I hate Ly. Come Ptolomy let 's set our Princess free Let us like Friends in that just Act agree And then the Combat for which you now sue I 'le force my friendship to require of you Ptol. I 'le yield to that 't is but a just delay Orontes now to danger lead the way Oron. What various shapes does mighty love put on How different to us seems his power to be Here dark as night there brighter than the Sun Here a Calm deep there a rough raging sea In every breast he hath a different sway Whilst the whole world does his great power obey Exeunt SCENE II. A Palace within Babylon Enter Queen Statira Parisatis and Cleone Sta. Ye Gods of Persia and thou chief the Sun What crimes have we or our Forefathers done That ye thus load with misery and disgrace The small remains of great Darius Race O happy Swains who innocently free The pains of greatness at a distance see Ye gaze at us and happy call our State And oft do envy what we most do hate Par. Sister since nothing can dark Fate withstand For Fate doth ev'n the Gods themselves command To its decree they do themselves submit Which shows their Godheads have less power than it If then our ruine be decreed why shou'd We mourn for that which cannot be withstood But since Man cannot in Fates black Book read And that we know not what is fore-decreed Hope like a glimmering Star in night does rise And gives some comfort in our miseries Our Friends without may yet successful prove Valour does wonders when inspir'd by love Stat. Ah Parisatis 't is not death I fear Honour than life to me is far more dear To you I may confess without offence I next to Honour prize the Scythian Prince Whose noble Acts my Heart long since did move E're I did yield to Alexander's love For his sake then I am oblig'd to live Since he from me does all his joys receive But when I think what dangers him surround A thousand fears my much griev'd soul do wound Such is his love such his respect for me I know he
ever happy be Or Ioys for ever loose In thy own Hand thy own Fate lyes If Bad blame not the Deities Such Favours may the Gods again refuse If I through Folly should their Gifts abuse I 'le willingly submit to any Fate When I have satisfy'd my Love and Hate Hesi Madam this Day you shall have your desire You shall Orontes and Statira see Below your Feet waiting their Destinie But whil'st you hold their Fates in your own Hand You on a nice and ticklish poynt do stand You have the power but how to use it there Lyes all the Danger and deserves your Care Roxa. The Gods assist the Bold whilst Cowards be The Framers of their own ill Destinie Hesi Your wisdom Madam mighty things has done That won you Alexander's Heart and Throne Roxa. But yet that wisdom never could remove Cruel Orontes from his fixed Love Hesi The Gods at last your pains will Recompence And put into your Hands that Cruel Prince Roxa. We must not leave all for the Gods to do To Princes they have giv'n some power too They shew the oportunity and way But we our selves must act as well as they Whilst Perdicas that watchful Dragon's gone And left my Rival and his Care alone Pave sent my Guards to seize her and when she Is in my Power then I shall happy be Enter Statira Parisatis and Cleone Guard Stat. It seems Roxana you will reigne alone In my great Fathers and my Husbands Throne Roxa. At your bad Fate and at the Gods repine That Throne indeed was theirs but now is mine Stat. Long since in secret you have me betray'd But now my Right you openly invade Roxa. My Power will make my Right be understood By that our Husband made his Title good Stat. But if your Right must by success be try'd The Gods as yet declare not on your side For our brave Friends who nobly take our part May yet our Right with their success assert Roxa. Let what will happen you may understand You 're Pris'ners and your Fate I now command Stat. I scorn Roxana for my Life to sue I 'de not accept it as a Guift from you Since I 'm your Rival in your Throne and Love There is some Reason you should me remove But let not my dear Sisters blood be spilt Her Innocence involve not with my Guilt Pari. Till now my Sister you were ne'r unkind Thinke not to fly and leave me here behind We both will dye if Death be her intent Roxa. Statira yet may both your deaths prevent If she 'll Orontes and his Love disown She shall not only live but share the Throne Stat. Orontes is all virtue And all you offer if compar'd to Him Below that generous Prince's worth does seem Than Life or Crown he is a greater prize And for his friendship I do both despise Roxa. With your own mouth you have pronounc'd your fate Go pray your lives have but a little date Secure them Guard you in my pow'r are now I have resolv'd your death and sworn it too Stat. You cann't Roxana fright them with that doom Who have before the fear of death o'recome Exeunt Statira Parisatis and Guard Enter Cassander wounded Souldiers with Orontes bound Cass. Madam your strict commands I have obey'd Love more than other int'rest can perswade By these my numerous wounds and loss of blood My faithful duty may be understood Can I more proof of my obedience give Than to permit my greatest Foe to live Roxa. I do Cassander this great kindness own Which makes the greatness of your passion known Retire and let your glorious wounds be drest This service shall be written in my breast Cass. My Pris'ner to your care I here resign Exit Cass Roxa. I am his Pris'ner more than he is mine aside Soldiers retire in the next Chamber stay Exeunt Soldiers You look on me Orontes as your Foe Yet 't is my kindness which does life bestow Oron. The life you gave me you may take away That debt to you I 'm ready still to pay Roxa. I did not give you life with that intent And scorn so soon my kindness to repent Oron. In giving life you have no kindness shown But you and all your kindness I disown Roxa. What greater proofs of kindness can I show Than still to keep my heart intire for you I love Let me not name that word again Gods that a Queen should blush at your disdain Oron. 'T is that unruly passion in your breast Has robb'd my soul of all its joy and rest Roxa. Can my kind love disquiet your repose Oron. You call that love which more like hatred shows Roxa. By that alone You may the greatness of my passion see Oron. By that I know you love your self not me For you would never seek your own delight If your fierce soul knew how to love aright Roxa. It is that passion which for you I have That makes of me a pow'rful Queen a Slave Repentance is beneath me I 'le go on And end the work I have so well begun And if at last you do my hopes destroy She whom you love you never shall enjoy Oron. Such vicious love I ever shall refuse Roxa. Your life and death within my pow'r does lye I 'le make you love me Prince or you shall die Oron. In vain you think t' affright me with my Fate Death is more welcome than the thing I hate Roxa. So much disdain can be no longer born It has rous'd up my anger and my scorn Orontes now the diff'rence shall be seen Betwixt the love and anger of a Queen Enter Guards Guards Secure this Pris'oner with your greatest care And on your lives let none to him repair Load him with chains Exeunt Guards and Orontes I soft and gentle means no more will try Orontes and Statira both shall dye The Gods have put them in my pow'r this day To let them 'scape would my own cause betray I 'le love no more His scorn has rais'd my hate Nor with my passâ—â—n will I more debate Lest foolish love should my Resolves oppose I 'le kill 'um while the Storm of anger blows Freedom to me his death can give alone And hers will fix me steadfast in my Throne From diff'rent causes both shall find one fate Love kills Orontes and Statira hate Exeunt ACT. I. The SCENE The Camp under the Walls of Babylon Enter Eumenes and Lysimachus leading Ptolomy wounded Lysi. GReat as your passion you have courage shown But Fortune has your mighty deeds o'rthrown And she into whose hands you would have lay'd The treasure of your love has you betray'd Yet I by virtue will my love advance And no advantage take of Arms or Chance Ptol. Bright Honour all your glorious actions sways And Crowns your Brows with Mirtle and with Bays Against your life this day I had design Yet you with hazard of your own sav'd mine Stopping the progress of your great success You ran to save a Rival in
thâ—re can no issue be Our glorious Empire shall have end in me Eume. Rather fair Queen the Laws of love obey They teach a gentler and more noble way To Compass your Desires and men subdue At once to make us Slaves and Victors too O'recome us Madam with your natural Charms Let us fall by your eyes not by your Arms. For Woman Man for Man was Woman made Each was Created for the others aid Then whilst you live without us Men so long You the Divinity of love and Nature wrong Lay now aside at length of men your Hate And let each Woman choose a loving Mate Your Empire that way shall continued be And you your beauteous self increas'd shall see Thal. Eumenes this is Treason 'gainst our State Which will not love inspire but move my hate Eume. In what I can Madam I will obey So I may love do you prescribe the Way Thal. If I should now to let you love consent It shall be only for your punishment Love then but look for nothing but disdain Love without hope to be belov'd again Exit cum suis. Eume. Her Soul is marble and she cann't be mov'd She cannot love nor will she be belov'd Her Heart is steel loves form it will not take Love there tho sharp can no impression make But I must love tho I still love in vain Tho without hope and answerd with disdain With Constancy I will her love pursue Who knows but Constancy may her subdue That in her Breast at last may love imprint And make more soft that Heart which now is flint Exit The SCENE A Prison Enter Roxana Roxa. I am affraid the Lightning of his eyes Will pierce my Breast and my soft Heart surprise How hard a thing it is to break love's Chain And not to think that pleasure which is pain But love no longer shall my Soul infest I with revengeful Rage have arm'd my Breast Since with disdain he did my love deny I will the pleasure have to make him die This is the Way The Scene opens and discovers Orontes bound in Chains Speak now Orontes e're it be too late Will you have life with love or Death with Hate Your Fate does now depend on your own Breath In your own Choice is either life or Death Oron. He were unworthy of Statiras love Who would for fear of Death unconstant prove As for her sake I 'de be content to live Draws a dagger out of her sleev So for her willingly I death receive Roxa. Then Death I bring Disdainful man stand fair This from thy Breast Statira's Form shall tare Incens'd I will a merciless Tyrant prove And Stab that Heart will not admit my love I 'le laugh with joy to see thy life expire And with thy Blood I 'le quench thy amorous fire Oron. Strike boldly then play well the Tyrants part You 'l find an easie way to my unguarded Heart Except my Queen nothing that 's here beneath Appears so welcome to me now as Death For since my Fate does her I love deny advances with her Dagger With joy I fall and with Content I die Roxa. Then thus Orontes I will end our strife This blow shall cut my love off and thy life What trembling's this has seiz'd my Heart and Arm There 's magick in his Looks in 's Eyes a Charm aside I find I cannot my Intents pursue I feel some kind of foolish pitty too I 'ave thought on 't now It shall be soe Oron. What now Roxana Delay tortures me The Death you bring to me does pleasant seem 'T will wake me from a sad unquiet Dream It will give ease to my afflicted mind And make me think in this last Act you 'r Kind Roxa. Nay Sir since you unwilling are to live I will to punish you grant a Reprieve You shan't find pleasure in that Death I bring Death is not Death unless it has a sting Some other way I 'le satisfie my hate Your Eyes shall first behold my Rivals Fate For since her Life you to your own prefer Before thou dy'st I 'le kill thee first in her going out Oron. Stay Tyrant stay be not so inhumane Will you not kill unless you kill with pain If by my scorn I merit your Revenge Act not your hatred in a way so strange Kill the offender do not spare his blood But murther not the Innocent and good Roxa. If she be good she fitter is to die Oron. And does no pitty in your Bosome lie Roxa. Let pitty and good Nature dwell elsewhere I have more strong and violent Passions there Oron. Can then no Prayers your great wrath asswage Roxa. No more than they can still the Oceans Rage The great Concern you for my Rival show Does but the more provoke to speed the blow Oron. To save her life what is 't I would not do Yet cann't perform what is requir'd by you I cann't put out loves great and sacred fire The Gods can only quench what they inspire Some other way propose Roxa. In Vain Orontes now to me you sue For I have learn't how to deny by you You say I things impossible require And yet the same you now of me desire If to save her you cann't your love subdue Hate 's not less strong in me than love in you That says you must to this Decree submit To see Statira slain or her for ever quit Oron. The choice is hard Roxana Let her live And all thy Injuries I will forgive My Hate of thee I 'le from my Breast remove And that is more than half the way to love Roxa. To hear him thus intreat I dare not stay My passion will at last it self betray aside I will no longer trifle thus with you You know my will and what you have to do Think on 't I but a little Time will give To make your choice if she shall die or live Exit Oron. As men in storms a sinking Barque to free Are forc'd to fling their wealth into the Sea To save Statira's life I now must quit My constant love and the rich joys of it But Earth as soon may from it's Centre move As I can force my self to leave my love Nor can I let her die no no in vain Roxana thinks to keep me with this Chain No cruel Queen from all thy Tyrannie And from these Chains Death soon shall set me free The scene Closes ACT. III. The SCENE Babylon Enter Cassander and Peredicas meeting him with his Guard Perd. WHat sadness is 't Cassander moves you now It ill becomes the Lauress on your brow This Day I did believe that I should see You full of smiles after our Victorie Cass. If I am sad after our great success Me thinks your Looks Sir do no Calm express If dark and shady Clouds hang in my Eyes I see in yours a storm begin to rise Perd. Whilst I to wounds and Death my self expose Killing my Friends because Roxana's foes She gets my ' ador'd Statira in t '
me Whilst my Orontes was in safety I With less Concern and more Content could dye But now my soul opprest with busie eare Is ruffl'd and for Him disturb'd with fear Pari. But Sister why are you disturb'd so much You know Roxana's Love for him is such You may assure your self and well believe He no ill treatment will from her receive What is it then should so uncalm your mind Unless you 're jealous she should be too kind But his great love and constancy you know Not all her Charms and Arts can overthrow This great attempt and valiant Act does prove That he still wears a true and constant Love Stat. That constancy you think should me secure From Fear does cause the Fear I now endure For what will not that wicked Woman dare To do when Love is turn'd into Dispair Whilst she has hopes her Love will make her kind When they are lost she 'l shew her cruel mind Rob'd of her Whelps a Tygress will not be So Cruel and so full of Rage as she Her Love 's no pure unmixt and gentle Fire But is an impure Flame an hot untam'd Desire Pari. Are you content he should inconstant prove To shun the Fate which threatens his true Love Stat. Should I consent should I request it too That is a thing I know he could not do Pari. In things that no ways remedy'd can be We must submit to hard Necessitie By Death our Troubles will to peace be chang'd And though we dye we shan't dye unreveng'd We have two Friends who with their armed powers Will soon revenge Orontes Death and Ours Enter Cleone Cleo. The Captain of Roxana's Guard does wait Without and asks to be admitted strait His business Madam I can no ways learn But 's looks betray some great and sad concern Stat. Go Cleone and bring him in Exit Cleone The unexpected news of Death might fright But expectation now does make it light They who for it beforehand do prepare When it approaches don't like others fear Enter Captain with the Guard and Cleone Capt. By me the Queen does let you understand Madam I must obey her strict command It is her pleasure that you strait must dye Stat 'T is what I expected from her Cruelty She told me her self what now I hear from you I then believ'd her Threats she would pursue Therefore to dye I have my self prepar'd But has the Tyrant Sir my sister spar'd Capt. I know not Madam what sh' intends to do My Orders now concern not her but you Pari. In vain she spares my Life if she must die Nature and Friendship us together tie And they have knit a knot cann't be unti'd Nor shall her Tyranny us two divide For the kind Gods to us a pow'r do give That at our pleasure we may cease to live Stat. Sister you ought to Death no more to run Than you for fear should its approaches shun On the Gods wills with patience you must wait And neither run to seek nor shun your Fate When I am dead I 'le hover in the Air And there I will unseen of you take Care Adeu dear sister Embrace I 'm assur'd my Friend Will both Revenge me and your Life defend Pari Cruel Roxana thus to make us part Is from my Breast to tare my living Heart Adue dear sister Embrace Tho w' are parted thus Death shall again restore our Joys to us You but few moments shall before me go E're I 'le o'retake you in the shades below Stat. To what place is it I must go to dye Capt. 'T is to Orontes Prison Stat. What! Will Roxana be so good to me Will she once more let me Orontes see For this great kindness I 'le her wrongs forgive Tho after that I but one moment live Capt. If kindness she designs I do not know But Madam thither 't is that you must go Stat. Let 's go then Death it self seems pleasant there This unexpected Joy has banished fear Exeunt Capt. Stat. and Cleone with Guards Pari. How fast the Dream of Greatness slides away How soon is worldly Pomp and Glory lost Fortune with Princes still delights to play And in their Ruines does her great pow'r boast The great stand high on slippery Rocks of Ice They cannot move but they must move in Fear Like seeming stars that shoot down from the Skies They tumble headlong from their lofty Sphear Happy are they who in poor Cabbins dwell And there content rest on their humble Beds Great Joys nor Griefs enter their homely Cell Nor Cares Distrusts nor Fears disturb their Heads Their pleasures small but natural and true Happy if their own happiness they knew Exit The SCENE The Prison of Orontes He is discovered lying bound as before Oron. The Gods are deaf to them I cry in vain Unmov'd they see and pitty not our pain But since for all our ills one Cure they gave Why should we ask what we already have 〈◊〉 to all Troubles gives a gentle end 〈…〉 the Worlds and Natures faults amend The way to Life 's but one not easily found To Death the ways are plain and do abound The Gods put nothing in our power more sure To shew it was for humane ills the Cure To thee blest Cure I now resolve to fly The last but most assured Remedy Enter Statira and Cleone Stat. Ah Prince what barbarous Heart has bound those hands And fetter'd them with such unworthy Bands Those hands which have such glorious Actions done Which have so many Laurels nobly won Those hands which were by Heav'n design'd to beaâ— A Scepter and not slavish Chains to wear Can Love do this Can Love in fetters bind Can Love thus cruel be and thus unkind Oron. Since for your sake I do these fetters ware Than Crowns or Laurels they more glorious are They 're full of glory and of pleasure too Câ—owns I prize less than suffering for you 〈◊〉 noble Bond which binds my Heart I prize And tho your Slave Roxana's Chains dispise Stâ—t Thoâ—e Chains Orontes are more justly mine Râ—xana meant them for my hands not thine She could no other way with all her Art 〈…〉 me subdue your Heart She knew that I could my own sufferings bear And understood that yours touch'd me more near This visit then not from her kindness springs Her Cruelty now us together brings That by your suff'rings I might Torment find And by my Torment she might move your mind Oron. These suff'rings Madam I should count but light Did they not keep me from your beauteous sight Whilst I enjoy that happiness I find No Grief can touch the quiet of my Mind Your sight my Sorrows and my Griefs destroys And hides all other Passions in my Joys So the admir'd Elixir does enfold Such Virtue which base Mettals turns to Gold Enter Perdicas Roxana Hesione with 〈…〉 four Blacks with Crooked Scymiters by their 〈◊〉 and strangling Cords in their hands Roxa. Too long too long Statira you have liv'd And me of
all my peaceful Joys depriv'd My foolish pitty has my Torment been But now no more against my self I 'le sin My Actions past I 'le not excuse to you Nor Reasons give for what I now shall do It is by Pow'r that Gods and Kings do Reign And by my pow'r I 'le now my will obtain To these extreams that Man has made me fly Pâ—inting to Orontes 'T is he has urg'd me thus to make you dy For I have vow'd you shall no longer live Pâ—inting 〈…〉 From those black hands you shall your Death receive Unless you will Orontes now resign And what is more perswade him to be mine Perd. And I Orontes must to you declare That I have sworn your Life 〈◊〉 not spare If you will not Statira quit to me I now am Master of your Destinie Stat. I do not doubt Roxana but you will What you 'ave design'd with 〈◊〉 fulfil For your black Crimes to all the World proclame You have no sence of Honour or of shame But end what you 'ave begun for know that I Your Pitty scorn and Cruelty defie In vain you think to make me quit for fear What is than Life a thousand times more dear To threaten me with Death in vain you try 'T is more to quit Orontes than to dye Oron. This base Tyrannick way you may pursue To Perdicas Who ne'r yet Honour or true Valour knew By them alone you should advance your sute For her with blood and services dispute But like a Robber you have seiz'd your prey Thou more safe yet more ignoble way In thee what mark of Valour can be found Who thus dost treat a Prince who like a Slave is bound Perd. Thy Life Orontes now at stake does lye 'T is in her choyce if you shall live or dye Pointing to Statira By thy advice or of her own accord Let her resolve If she Orontes does thy Life esteem She soon may thee from Death and Bonds redeem Roxa. And if Orontes does Statira love That Death which threatens her He may remove Determine strait if Life to her you 'l give Few are the moments else she has to live Oron. Fair Queen what is it you resolve to do To Statira Stat. What 's just I have resolv'd to dye for you Oron. Your Life fair Queen is sacred and divine More worth than are a thousand such as mine It is unjust that you should dye for me My Death perhaps may end your miserie Stat. You are unjust if you my Death lament Or seek to hinder this my last content For this Orontes is the only way I 'ave left my mighty debt to you to pay Your Life for me you often did expose From me your trouble and your Danger grows You 'ave made your Love and Valour nobly known Which I till now ne'r had the pow'r to own But now Orontes I some proofs will give Since for your sake I will no longer live That my Affection to that hight is grown It cann't by fear of Death be overthrown My Death dear Prince shall seale my Love to you And witness for me that my Love was true Oron. What happiness is this you give to me Nothing can add to my Felicity Now you for me have so great kindness shown And what I ne'r deserv'd your Love made known But Madam I request and humbly sue That you will live and let me die for you Stat. Alas in Life in Liberty or a Throne What pleasure can there be when you are gone All our Felicities below we find Are currant made and measur'd by the mind From me all joys all pleasures soon will fly And torments seize me when my Prince shall dye I 'de have you live Orontes but live mine You to Roxana I can ne'r resign My Life I can resign and Empire too Those I can give her but not give her you Oron. No Madam no I here my promise give I will not for the proud Roxana live A thousand Deaths I for your sake prefer To Life and th' Empire of the World with her Live then fair Queen tho from you I depart My Image still shall live within your Heart And Perdicas since you to Love pretend To Perd Her from Roxana's Cruelties defend Keep her Life safe I make it my last prayer My fair Queens safety now is all my Care Assure me that she shall in safety be And I 'le forgive what e're thou dost to me Stat. In Perdicas's pow'r that does not lie For if you live not I resolve to die And if I am not by Roxana slain By my own hand that Freedom I 'le obtain Perd. Ah! Madam do you thus resolve at last Will you repay thus all my kindness past I for your sake have spar'd my greatest foe Shall my Indulgence be rewarded so Stat. Yes Sir this firm Resolve which now I make Not all your Threatnings shall have power to shake There is no other way to separate Us two but by my Death for which I wait Perd. No 't is by his And by the Heavens I vow Not all the world shall save him from it now Dye dye Barbarian with thy Blood repay Draws his sword to run Oront thorow That Peace which thou from me hast â—ane away Râ—xa Hold Perdicas if you Orontes hurt I 'le strike this Javelin th'row Statira's Heart Roxana snatches a Iavelin from one of her Guard and presents it to Statira 's Breast Oron. Ah Perdicas run save the Queen From fierce Roxana's power set her free And then you safely may give Death to me Sâ—at Here here Roxana plunge thy cruel Spear shews her Breast The child of great Dartus cannot fear Strike th'row this Heart strike boldly do not spare And pierce his Image who disdains thee there Perdicas casts himself before Roxana 's Iavelen and Roxana places her self between him and Orontes Râ—xa Ingrateful as thou art thou shalt not dye To Oront Thy Life is safe enough whilst I am by For wiâ—h my own will thy Life defend And though thou hatest me shew my self thy Friend Oron. Since to Statira you 'ave such malice shown You are to me most black and odious grown Ev'n Perdicas I love much more than thee And pardon all his cruelties to me Because his care and tenderness I 'ave seen In snatching from thy Murth'rous hand my Queen When you with so much wrath and Rudeness prest That dreadful Javelin 'gainst her tender Breast Perd. For you fair Queen I all my Blood will spend To Stat. Your pretious Life I 'le with my own defend Put I entreat you to return with me T' aâ—oid Roxana's further crueltie Stat. I pardon all what she to me did do To me she was less cruel far than you But one Death she had given and Eas'd my pain You many Deaths had you Orontes slain Perd. Madam your self did first Orontes slay When you took from me all my Hopes away A Rival in Despair you should not blame Stat. Despair should quench and not increase Loves
loose Cass. Ah! Madam that which makes you thus severe Is rather the effect of Hate than fear You hate Statira and would her remove Because she is a Rival in your love She dead your dying hopes would then revive But that destroys my hopes which makes yours thrive Should I do all you ask I soon shall see Orontes have what should be giv'n to me Roxa. 'T is true Orontes once my heart possest But hatred now has driv'n him from my Breast Of late Cassander I your Image find Making too deep impressions on my mind Your constant Love and Services I weigh And will at last my obligations pay This last effect then of your Duty show And for Reward I 'le give my self to you When you for me have this great Service done Take then your Mistress and with her a Throne Cass. There 's nothing in this World like you I prize Love ranks you equal with the Deities The great Roxana's pow'er who can withstand Mortals dispute not what the Gods command I do submit and will your Will obey And soon will snatch your Rival's Life away When your bright God sleeps in the Western Wave And will not look on those he cannot save When horrid Night arises from the deep And o're the World deep Silence shedds and sleep Then I about this dreadful work will hast And those you doom to dye shall sleep their last Roxa. Go my Cassander it is you alone Must fix Roxana on the Persian Throne No bold attempt from danger can be free 'T is still well done if it Successful be What you intend you by surprize must doe But I shall leave the Management to you Let not in vain the pretious Minutes hast Dispatch that you a Lover's Bliss may taste Think on our Joys and our Felicitie The Prize a Crown and what is greater Me. Exit with Hesione Cass. It must be done such is Roxana's Hate Her Rival's Death can only it abate And such is my great Passion I must be The Instrument of all her Crueltie I see the Danger which I cannot shun And to the Precipice run headlong on Great is the Prize Roxana and a Throne Enter a Black Mute To day this Mute was giv'en me by a Friend Oxas come near I will to you impart The most important secrets of my heart I do repose in you no Common trust You can be secret but can you be just Black bows Can you obey all that I shall Command Bows again And do what e're I bid you understand Black bows Without Remorse can you obey my Will Bows again Can you unmov'd the Blood of Women spill Thou instantly two Princesses must Kill Black starts Hah does the name of Princess make you start Hast thou a tender place about thy heart The Black bows and puts his hand to his Sword making signes it shall be done T is well anon I will Instruct you more Exeunt The SCENE The Palace of Perdicas within Babylon Enter Perdicas Statira Cleone Perd. Madam you 're safe and now many banish fear Whilst I give Orders to secure you here Roxana is unbounded in her Hate Cruel and to be mov'd no more than Fate Her bloody and her barbarous intent I must with strong and double Guards prevent Madam you will not long be here alone My Guard 's already for the Princess gone Stat. That is an Obligation I must own Perd. I might at last hope a more gentle Fate If Services could overcome your Hate Stat. My Friendship if you please you may obtain Perd. 'T is Love the Soul of Friendship I would gain Stat. Love is a Thing I have no Pow'er to give Perd. Nor is it in my Power without that Love to Live But Madam this your Hatred may remove Knowing all my Offences spring from Love Love is not Love if's Empire once decays Or if Love's Power Reason's dull Law obeys Exit Stat. On Love tho he both pure and sacred be Men without shame fling their own Infamie And when they long in wicked ways have trod All their vile Faults and Crimes lay on the God But Love thy Nature is divine and pure Thou canst no spots nor blemishes indure Tho all things do thy Mighty Pow'er obey Honour and Reason still with thee bear sway Enter Parisatis Pari. Have the Kind Gods a longer Life assign'd Embraecing Stat. If granting life be Kindness they are kind Our Tragic-Scene you see is not yet past Death will conclude our Play of Life at last In the mean time each here must act his part Mov'd by those Powers above which rule the Heart Pari. The Gods when we 're prest down yield some relief And sprinkle short-liv'd Joys among our Grief The life of every one is checquer'd still Tho mixt unequally with good and ill Which set each other off like Black and White This makes that seem more dark that this more bright So late despairing any more to meet Has made the Joys of this Embrace thus sweet Stat. Our Joys soon vanish like a Winters day Sorrows like long and tedious Nights do stay The Gods dispose our Lots as they think fit We mortals cannot Choose but must Submit Bid Charmion sing In her sweet Voice I oft have pleasure found Musick like Balm eases grief's smarting wound They sit A SONG What are all the Ioys of Life In which the mind Does never find A true content unmixt with strife They are like Clouds which in the Night Impregnate with reflected Light Appear then vanish out of Sight Our Ioys like gather'd flow'ers decay Which soon Consume Their own perfume And breath their Life in sweets away No pleasure here is permanent Nor the delights that Men invent Can to our Souls give true Content But when the Race of life is run And that to Death We yield our Breath We gain the Mansions of the Sun Then true Content the mind shall see Then all our Ioys shall perfect be And some like our bright Deitie Pari. The Night grows old 't is time to go to rest Sleep calms the passions of a troubled breast Stat. Sleep which to others a soft pleasure seems To me of late new troubles brings in Dreams My labouring Fancy there Affliction finds Not that repose sleep gives to other minds Pari. Those Images which in our Dreams abound Do but with gentle strokes our Fancy wound But Balmy sleep gives for a while relief Allays the smart and Cures the sting of grief Stat. With wakeful thoughts my Soul 's so much opprest My Eyes no sleep can find my Mind no rest I know that Death or some great danger 's nigh I 'm much afflicted yet I know not why The knowing Soul approaching ills discerns And then the Body by some signes forewarnes When to the Stars she is about to go She suddenly grows light and strangely things does know Pari. The Gods divert those evills which you fear Or give us strength the ills they send to bear Enter a Souldier of Perdicas's Guard Sold. Madam
above Will easily Pardon because Crimes of Love To kill a Rival I account no sin And I would do 't were it to do ag'in It does with such delight my Mind possess The Pleasures of a Crown would please me less She would have giv'n more tortures to my Mind Liv'd she than I shall now in Dying find In Death alas no bitterness would be But that I find I still am scorn'd by thee Perd. The Gods did long their Vengeance keep in store And now on your Curs'd Head their Thunderbolts they pour Roxa. I scorn my Mouth should my great Heart belye I both Man-kind and th' unkind Gods defye And tho with Pâ—agues they still should me pursue They never shall my ' unconquer'd Heart subdue Thus not the Gods but my own Sacrifice Lifting up the Dagger I 'le fall I must take Courage from those Eyes Pausing and looking on Orontes I 'le take one farewel-Look before I dye One more and I 'le for ever from you sly Perd. Your Wound still bleeds Oron. 'T is slight I must a greater wound prepare The World shall see the Pow'r of Death too weak The Joys of my Immortal Love to break I to my Love have made a solemn Vow By all the Gods I will perform it now Draws forth a Dagger Lysi. Brave Prince we Rivals too have Vow'd the same Ptol. Our Souls possess the like immortal flame Roxa. Ah! will Orontes dye New Joys I feel I 'le stay and watch my Princes fatal blow Then in my Breast I 'le plunge my Dagger too And at one instant both our Souls shall start Together both from our dull Bodies part And if a Spirit can a Spirit hold I will his Soul within my Soul infold Perd. The dreadful face of Death I 'ave oft beheld In all her shapes I 'ave seen her in the field There 's none will think that now I shrink for fear Or that I 'de sly tho many Deaths appear A vain fantastick place Elysium seems But you believe The Tales of Priests and idle Poets dreams The Queen's Death I 'le revenge then Altars rear To her great Name make her a Goddess here Whilst you vain Blisses seek you know not where Oron. Statira gone I nothing here can find Which can give ease to my disturbed mind You gentle Ghosts look down from Heav'n above And see th' Effects of true and faithful Love Lysi. With you Dear Souls our Bliss and Joys are fled It is no Life to Live now you are dead Ptol. Our Souls and theirs through Love were so much one Ours cannot stay behind when theirs are gone Oron. After our Loves to that blest place wee 'l go Where Love's immortal and no change does know Where Rivals cannot our long bliss destroy And where we undisturb'd each other shall enjoy Enter the Mute Arax Ah! Sir does this black Mask disguise me so You can't your own faithful Araxis know Oron. Araxis I can't Araxis find in this disguise Let me embrace you e're I dye Embraces him Ah! this has been a sad and fatal Night Arax The Day appears with clear and chearful Light Oron. About my Heart a Night of sorrow lyes Arax You will find Day in your Statira's Eyes Enter Capt. with Statira Parisatis Cleone Oron. I with the weight of my own Joys am prest They cannot be contain'd within my Breast Do I but Dream or am I truly blest Roxa. O Gods I am betray'd my Rival's here Worse than a thousand Deaths she does appear Death which before I look'd on with content Will now my torture be and punishment What can my Torment and my pain express Orontes and my Crown she will possess Stat. I live my Prince by your Araxis care Arax And by th' Assistance of this Captain here presenting the Captain to Orontes they Embrace He me disguis'd feign'd me a Mute and Slave And me a present to Cassander gave Roxa. Gods was I thus betray'd Arax The Gods were kind And wrought by me more than I had design'd They first made known Roxana's vile intent And made me then an happy Instrument The Queens most horrid Murther to prevent Stat. We went to dye but 't was no small surprize To find Araxis in this black disguise By his contrivance we our Foes deceiv'd For what they much desir'd they soon believ'd We strangl'd dead and vail'd appear'd in view Till from the place our cruel Foes withdrew Thus the kind Gods their wickedness withstood And sav'd the Reliques of Darius Blood In the mean time Lysimachus and Ptolomy Court Parisatis in dumb shew Oron. Divine Statira you 're so great a prize For you the whole World's Empire I 'de despise The Persian Crown 's to me of small esteem Compar'd to this unvaluable Gemm kissing her Hand Upon your brow the Scythian Crown shall shine And at your feet I prostrate all that 's mine Roxa. 'T is time to dye their bliss I cannot see Hell tortures and confusion follow me Harpies my Soul with cruel Tallons tear She can no longer the sad torment bear Thus I will set her free she cannot know Stabbs her self A greater Torment nor more pains below To a worse Hell than this she cannot go Stat. Rescue her life Let her repenting Live It is my Glory that I can forgive As she goes to repeat the blow the Soldiers seize her Roxa. Ye cruel Gods who thus my will oppose Who thus Enslave me to my mortal Foes And make my imperious Heart to stoop to them Whilst Life remains I 'le curse you and Blasphem But ah I hope my Soul 's from Prison free'd I feel Life gently sliding hence I bleed What thick dark fog is this before my Eyes So now my Soul to unknown Regions flyes Where is my Love see yonder where he rests Come use the softer Pillow of my Breasts Here thou mayst sleep secure from Rivals harmes Whilst I enclose thee gently in mine Armes Now undisturb'd wee 'l tast immortal blisses I 'le hush thee fast with sighes then wake thee with my kisses Stat. She raves she raves and from her sense is gon Roxa. Oh! my sick Heart I shall be well anon Where is Orontes set me on my Throne From Babylon I know I 'm wander'd far Yet I 'm a Queen my Kingdom is a Star Go fetch that Rebel bring him to my feet I 'le make at last his stubborn heart submit Let half my starry Kingdom down be hurl'd And overwhelm his little Earthly World Stat. Remove her hence Thus Gods their Judgment show That poor ambitious Mortals here may know They sit above and see and govern all below Roxana is carried off the Stage Raveing Perd. See here another Wretch that 's forc'd to sue For Justice to the Gods and greater you Madam I Love and grow distracted too Thus lowly Madam I fall down before Kneels The beauteous Image which I still adore Condemn me strait to dye and mercy shew Life will be worse than Death if I loose you Stat. No Perdicas you must not
her power And keeps her pris'ner in the Palace Tower But I am going thence to set her free And with my sword to give her Libertie Cass. Whilst I for her to wounds and dangers go And 'gainst my Int'rest save my greatest foe Whilst her commands I carefully obey And yield this mighty Empire to her sway She meets my Love with a disdainful frown And him who scorns her with her Love does Crown Perd. Our Love and Int'rest should us two conjoyn It is one Man disturbs your peace and mine 'T is fit Orontes then should dye that he May never more disquiet you or me Cass. Yes he shall dye by all the Gods I vow This Arm shall shortly give the fatal blow Perd. By all the Gods if in my power it lies When I first see him by this Arm he dies And when we have this obstacle remov'd We shall be kindlier us'd and more belov'd Cass. Their furious Love will cool and we shall find Our Queens who now disdain us grow more kind Exeunt severally The SCENE The Palace Royal in Babylon Enter Roxana and Hesione Rox. Who are in love at all times cann't be wise Passion o'recomes our weaker pollicies Who in safe peace and undisturb'd would reign Should have no passions yet oft passions feign Our Reason and our Judgment they infest And open lay the secrets of our Breast Hesi Madam of all the Passions Love's most bold And still is found most hard to be control'd Rox. Just now disturb'd I from Orentes came Full of Revenge of Anger Love and Shame Being o'repowr'd by their impetuous tide I could not my resistless Passions hide But at Cassander did the Venom throw Of my Disdain and Hare too plain did show Hesi I 'ave wonder'd Madam with what skill and Art You have kept under his aspiring heart He cannot boast that he in Love does thrive And yet you keep his little hopes alive Rox. I know not which has in my Heart most share Love or Ambition both are mighty there I cannot be content with one alone I 'de have my Love and not forgoe the Throne For Love'â— sake Perdicas my Friend I stile Ambition makes me on Cassander smile Tho I intend at last both to beguile What noise is that Clashing of swords within Enter Guard Sold. Perdicas Madam on your Guard does fall I fear he 'l force Statira from us all Rox. Go stop him wretch make hast stop him I say First dye and with your Bodies block his way Exeunt Guard This amorous fool will spoil my great designe Exeunt Enter Perdicas fighting with the Guard Perd. I 'le force my way tho you an Armie were Enter Roxana and Hesione Roxana snatches a sword from on of the Guard and stops Perdicas Rox. How Perdicas Come further if you dare Over this Breast you first must make your way Is this the great Respect you to me pay Perd. Madam you may account this Action rude 'T is better yet than your Ingratitude Whilst Blood and Life I venture for your sake From me what is more dear than Life you take Rox. You are too Rash It was your good I sought And I will soon make you confess your fault Command your Guard off Perd. Go wait without Rox. Retire you to your charge To her Guard flings away the sword Now Perdicas I will my mind disclose You from my Rival long have sought in vain For Love's deep wound some Rem'edy to obtain To a deaf Statue you do still complain You to a senceless Rock your Love make known And court a Mistress with a heart of stone I for your Rival the like pains indure Which He you know has still deny'd to cure He scorns my Love and does my sickness mock And wears an Heart far harder than a Rock All gentle ways we too too long have try'd Have humbly sought but still have been deny'd No longer now let us our pains endure A desperate Ill must have a desperate Cure Perd. 'T is true all gentle means I long have us'd My hopes and patience I have found abus'd My tortur'd heart for pain can hardly live And to my wounded soul none ease can give But yet if pray'rs won't make my Goddess kind I know not which way you can force the mind Rox. The stubborn mind like grown Oaks will not bend You cannot bow them but with force they rend So our stiff Rivals won't with us comply E're they will bow and yield they 'l break and dye Death they dispise I know our loves to shun If Death be offer'd both to Death will run Perd. If the stiff mind can no way forced be What is it you 'd propose for Remedie Rox. Art must be us'd and I have found a way To make them both submit and us obey They both above themselves each other Love And thorow one we must the other move Though either Death would choose ere they 'd comply They 'l yield before they 'l see each other dye They 'l tender grow their Passions will be mov'd To see Death offer'd to the thing belov'd Then at your feet you will Statira see And I Orontes supplicating me Perd. So great 's the pain of Love which I endure I any means would try to ' obtain a Cure We cut our Flesh and put our selves to pain A Freedom from some sharp Disease to gain So I must stab and wound my bleeding Heart Whilst I procure Statira's pain and smart Rox. That our Design may to our with succeed Threaten with Death but what you do take heed For if your Life must with Statira's end Upon Orontes Life mine does depend Perd. Madam I to your wisdom and your Care Shall leave the management of this Affair I shall observe all that you shall command And take my blessing from your bounteous hand I with this subtle Queen seem to comply Aside But I have vow'd my Rival soon shall dye With skilful cunning she now plays her part But I will countermine her Art with Art Exit Rox. Thus Raging Beasts we do with Ginns insnare And subtle slights for mighty force prepare The Elephant and Horse obey our will And the fierce Lion's tam'd by Art and skill If what I now design does take 't is well If not who can the event of things foretell I for my safety will so well provide That what seems jest in earnest shall be try'd The Rival of my Love and Crown shall dye My ' Ambition and Revenge to satisfie But cunning Perdicas deceiv'd must be With words which do not with my Thoughts agree The Rash Cassander I must too beguile And six him with the favour of a smile Hesione send for Cassander strait And whilst with you he does my leisure wait Charm him with hopes and my late frowns excuse 'T is no great sin fond Lovers to abuse Exeunt The SCENE A Tower of the Palace Enter Statira and Parisatis Stat. Death which each moment we expect to see Is far less dreadful than this news to
we by Cassander are surpriz'd And all your Guards are by his Soldiers siez'd Some fled but most did in your service dye Fly Madam if it be not yet too late Whilst in your defence go meet my Fate Exit Clashing of Swords within Stat. 'T is vain to fly it will but argue fear Since we must dye let 's stay and meet Death here Enter Cassander with Mute with drawn Swords Cassander turns about speaking to the Soldiers who were about to Enter Cass. Soldiers retire Defend the passage let none enter here Turning to the Princesses the Women running about them shreeking In vain you 'l strive your destiny to shun From the long reach of Fate you cannot run And since you know there 's no avoyding it Be wise and to necessity submit Stat. I can submit to what the Gods decree But that Cassander's yet unknown to thee Cass. Fate 's Book is open and we now may read What the great Gods before time was decreed 'T is there I read your Fatal destiny The Gods have will'd your Death and you must dye Stat. Our death is by Roxana will'd and you And we must yield if the Gods will it too We can resign to them the life they lent Pari. But must you be the hateful Instrument Stat. When 's cruel Hand our Innocent Blood has spilt He 'll find a just reward for all his guilt Cass. I come not here with Women to dispute Oxas you know my pleasure The Mute kneels shewing them a Strangling string and making signes to them to submit Pari. Sister I beg it with my latest breath Let me first try th'untrodden pathes of Death I will descend before and â—â—rew the way With Flowers that leads to the Eternal day Stat. First from the close dark Prisons of the Womb I to the trouble of short life did come And first I in the pathes of Death will tread Which to the joys of our bright God do lead Raise not my tender passions with your Tears Pari. weeps Like a soft smiling Hebe Death appears I have no thoughts which do disturb me now But what proceed from my great care of you When through the straight of Death my way I 've made And my just debt to Mother Nature paid When my freed Soul shall find a larger Room And I all Light and Spirit shall become On Flowry Banks where happy shaddows stray For thy dear Soul I will expecting stay Remember Sir the blood from whence we spring To Cass. That I was Wife to the Worlds greatest King Your Master too Now condescend to crave That I may dye untouch'd by any slave Let my own Women your commands obey That 's all Cassander I have now to say Cass. Be speedy then Oxas go in stand a Spectator by Touch not their Persons only see them dye Stat. Give me that String Takes the strangling string from the Mute This Sister is the Friend That soon will give to all our troubles End Come banish fear 't is but a little breath We loose 'T is guilt that Terror gives to Death Exeunt with Women weeping and Mute following Cass. She 's gone and strait will be for ever gone Alas what Beauty Love has overthrown Tyrannic Love which forces me to do A thing 'gainst Virtue and my conscience too I feel a soft and tender passion rise And from my Breast to flow into my Eyes Assist me Love I fear I shall relent Pity would make me cowardly Repent If her bright Image I so much adore Did not by force attract my Passions more Exit Enter Roxana Hesione Roxa. Their words and actions must Mysterious be Who think to gain a Crown by Pollicy Who can't dissemble well can never rule And a plain dealer is esteem'd a Fool. Let not Cassander blame me He deceives And cheats himself when he my words believes Love has put out his mindes discerning Eyes Yet the same passion makes me quick and wise He vainly Hopes to gain a Crown and me With an Eternal blot of Infamie But he will only that and danger gain Whilst I the profit and the fruit obtain I shall stand safe and shelter'd from all harm Whilst he endures the fury of the storm Close at his Heels the Tempest will pursue And soon o'retake I hope o'rewhelm him too Thus Princes do of ills themselves acquit And favourites dye for Crimes their Kings commit Enter Cassander Cassander here I must dissemble now And a new face will to my Lover show Cass. Roxana here she does my steps pursue aside She doubts I can't be cruel or not true A Rival dead sh'accounts an happy sight And comes to glut her bloody Appetite To th' other World your Rival now is gone And you great Queen Command this World alone The furious Perdicas I 've Pris'ner made By Gold and his corrupted Guards betray'd Sometimes in Fury the whole World he threats Anon more mild as humbly he intreats Now deep Revenge by all the Gods he swears Then courts his Guards then curses and dispa'res And calling on the Queen bursts into Tears Roxa. What! have you then the great Statira slain Cass. Yes she is dead that you alone might Reign Roxa. O Gods It cannot be Cass. Not be when you Did pray desire intreat command it too I am amaz'd Roxa. Ah! I did soon Repent Those harsh commands from my strong passion sent You saw the flames of the then raging fire And should have quencht my Exorbitant desire You those Commands might very well distrust Which bid you to be cruel and unjust Cass. Madam your vain Repentance comes too late No Humane pow'r can now recall their Fate Enter Mute What! is Statira and her Sister dead Mute makes signes they are Dead By this the greatness of my Love you see And what Commanding pow'r you 'ave over me Great Queen you shall the whole Worlds Scepter sway Whilst at your feet its Kings their Crowns shall lay And your Cassander kneel more great than they Roxa. O cruel Man whom some fell Tygress bore Could not that move you which the Gods adore Beauty so Sacred and Divine a good Which safe ' midst bloody Arms unguarded stood Could that no fear nor reverence move in thee Had'st thou no awe of its Divinity Tyrants who durst Priests Altars Gods invade Have still to Beauty awful Reverence paid Could not her Sex her Blood her Dignity Give some stop to thy Monstrous cruelty Cass. 'T is well dissembled but your heart I see You may deceive the World but cannot me Roxa. Dissemble Oh my Heart swells in my Breast And with such loads of sorrow is deprest I never shall again with joys be blest weeps Shew me this dismal sight Cass. False Woman you shall see that welcome sight Won't move your sorrow but your Eyes delight They go towards the further part of the Stage the Scene opens and discovers Statira and Parisatis lying as dead on two Couches their faces Veil'd Cleone and other Women sitting by them on the Ground weeping
Enter Officer and Soldiers Offi. Cassander is set free but will not fight He seems to hear our dangers with delight And said the Gods reveng'd his wrongs this Night After some pause a few choice men he took And suddenly enrag'd the place forsook But muttering as he went I heard him cry I will my Rival kill before I dye Roxa. O Gods I must this wretches pow'er controul With this I 'll first let out his trecherous Soul Snatches a Iavelin from the Officer Under a tottering Tower I seem to stand And would uphold it with my feeble hand I see it shake and know at last 't will fall And with its Ruines overwhelm us all But like my self a brave great Queen I 'le dye Whilst with my Fate opprest dead Princes round me lye Exeunt Enter Perdicas with Sword in his Hand Perd. Horrid Confusion reignes in every place And all things now look with a dreadful face In this confusion I my freedom gain But Oh! my Soul is tortur'd still with pain The curst Roxana has Statira slain I now am come to set my Rival free In her Revenge we shall like friends agree Scene opens and discovers Orontes Oron. Again disturb'd what Perdicas are you Come to dispatch your hated Rival too Make hast but first this satisfaction give Tell me ah tell me does Statira live Perd. She 's gon she 's gon she 's vanisht from our sight The curst Cassander put out all her light And those fair eyes which shone than Day more bright By Death Ecclips'd are hid in shades of Night Oron. Here Pierce my Breast and with a welcom blow At last some Kindness to your Rival show Opening his Arms. Perd. Statira's death puts to our strife an end You not my Rival now may be my Friend Take this Gives him a Sword From my restraint I but just now got free First hither ran to give you Libertie That we the Scenes of War Blood Death might change And on her Foes Statira's Death revenge Oron. Tho I from hated Life would fly away A brave and just Revenge invites my stay The Gods and you have arm'd my hand once more I swear by her blest Shade I still adore I will revenge her Death Enter Cassander and Soldiers The Monster see Cass. What! Perdicas releast And is Orontes too of Arms possest Oron. Thou most accurs'd of humane Kind Cassander and Soldiers fight with Orontes and Perdicas Cassander falls wounded by Orontes Enter Roxana hastily followed by Hesione Officers and Soldiers Roxana wounds Orontes with a Spear the Soldiers are beat off the Stage by Perdicas and Roxana 's Soldiers Roxa. Oh Gods What have I done Thus humbly prostrate to my Prince I bow Kneels and about to Embrace the Knees of Oront he steps back My Soul has given all Empire up to you And my proud Heart great Love has conquer'd now Oron. Touch me not Tygress with those guilty Hands Honour forbids what passion now Commands Else by Cassander bleeding you should lye And your Curst Souls to Hell together fly Cass. Fate here has thrown me as a useless thing Wounded and bleeding here in pain I lye I have not strength to fight nor wound enough to dye Death has no pain like that which now I feel Seeing the great and proud Roxana Kneel Poor spirited Woman can'st thou be so mean To stoop below the grandure of a Queen Thy noble Pride did first my Love beget Oh! let it like the Sun in Glory set As he with setting Beams makes red the air In spite of Clouds which angry Gods prepare Let your proud Heart be throughly understood Look gay in Death and falling set in Blood Dye whilst a Queen Play an Heroick part First with a Sword pierce his rebellious Heart Pointing to Oront Then rush on Death's inevitable shelf Kindly kill me and bravely stab thy self Roxa. Tho Love has forc'd my mighty Heart to sue I yet have pride and scorn enough for you To Cass. Bear him from hence Cass. False Queen when I 'ave Death 's frozen passage crost I will return to haunt thee with my Ghost Exit carried forth by Soldiers Perd. Keep in a while his Lifes expiring flame Till Death approach him with a greater shame Oron. Come let us to our fighting Friends repair And seek a Death which will be welcom there I with my Breast will catch some flying Dart And give 't an easie passage to my Heart Exeunt Oront and Perd. Roxa. He 's gone and left me like a wretch with scorn Fallen from my greatness wretched and forlorn In Babylon I never will be seen Below the glorious title of a Queen I then must dye Dye e're I have all signs of Empire lost Dye e're I all my Misery understand Dye whilst I may have Death at my Command Draws out a Dagger Enter Messenger Mess. The Enemie's into the Palace got Roxa. Slave let me dye a Queen in all my Pride As once the great Assyrian Monarch dy'd Go Burn the Palace set it strait on fire Encompast round with Flames I 'le here expire All my rich Treasure and my Jewels burn And this great pyle with me to Ashes turn I 'le dye enthron'd the Palace be my Urn. Slave art thou here Why is not all this done Am I not yet a Queen haste and be gone Goes to strike him with the Dagger Exit Officer But oh my Heart I feel a shivering fear I cannot dye and leave Orontes here What satisfaction should I now receive Could I once more behold him while I live For one last look an Empire I would give Enter Orontes Perdicas Lysimachus Ptolomy Eumenes Thalestris Amazons and Soldiers Lysi. The Babylonians when they understood Roxana's cruel Act their Arms flung by And now for Justice on the Murth'rers Cry Ptol. Those who oppos'd and were our foes before With one consent their dear Queen's death deplore They now in heaps before the Palace croud And for Revenge and Justice cry aloud Perd. And Justice they shall have seize that false Queen Roxa. Slaves keep your distance see Death stands between Holds forth her Dagger to the Soldiers I scorn my Fate within your Pow'r should lye I both the Power of Men and Gods defy I 'le use my own when I am pleas'd to dye Oron. Let her own guilty Hands her Life pursue The Gâ—â—â— by them will on her Justice do Perd. Oh! barbarous Queen you did your self deceive Yâ—u â—â—â—â—ght there were no Gods or did believe Thâ—y were not just but they at last have sent Me from your Bonds to give you punishment Roxa. If Death be the great punishment you mean You threaten what with Prayers I would obtain You could to me no greater Toâ—ment give Than to permit me without Hope to live Death is the Blessing which I wish for most Now I 'ave Orontes and my Empire lost Oron. The just Gods think a Crown for such unfit Who seek by horrid Crimes to purchase it Roxa. The Crimes I did commit the Gods