forces her upon him Arch. Hold you have gone too far speak to the purpose Ziph. Ambition therefore was not my Request In Colchis or in Bosphorus to Reign Leave to my Brothers all your Empire and To me this only Beauty for Reward Mith. Reward Wert thou on Mithridates Throne Possess'd of all his Kingdoms were thine eye Like his who guides the day and thou cou'dst call In all thy Journeys what thou saw'st thy own Her eyes wou'd match thy lustre all thy glories Wou'd be but shadows when this Face appear'd Ziph. They wou'd my Lord. Mith. They wou'd my Lord Yet more By all my Royalties a God might wed her And be a gainer by the beauteous Bride Ziph. Such as she is Mith. Not Heav'n it self can mend her Had I as many Tongues as I have Languages Skill'd in all Speeches of the babling World And cou'd at once speak to as many Nations With such a grace as might make Athens blush By Mercury and by the Father of The Muses I shou'd never speak Semandra Mon. O he is gone his vow'd fidelity Is gaz'd away Mith. Tell me her Birth Ziphares She must be more than Royal. Ziph. Fate thy worst Let me be dumb for ever from this moment Arch. In me your Majesty may please to read Her Father what I want in Dignity Be pleas'd to fill up with my Services Mith. Thy Daughter Arch. Yes my gracious Lord my Daughter Mith. O pity that so fair a Star shou'd be The Child of Night that such a stream of Crystal Shou'd have her Spring so muddy Thou dy'st thou saucy old ambitious Dotard Who dar'st to match thy Lees of blood with ours And daub the Throne of the Immortal Cyrus Ziph. Hold hold most awful give Ziphares death Impale me burn me bury me alive But do not wrong this innocent old man These hairs which were made Silver in your service O the good Gods whom fear cou'd never shake Your bitter words have caus'd to tremble see With the disgrace he weeps his Springs of life Which had been dry for fifty years this last Affront has water'd Oh my poor Father Mith. Ha! that Name again Thou art no more my Son For thee Semandra Thou shalt attend our Queen to Court my Fair Where I must learn you to forget Ziphares And match you equal to your birth Sem. My Lord Ziphares Father Mith. Look not back Conduct the Queen Pharnaces O Semandra 'T is to your Tears I sacrifice my Justice To them your Fathers life I 'll not deny Who for Ambition did deserve to die Exeunt all but Ziphares and Archelaus Arch. Dotard and saucy nay the Lees of blood Now by the Gods 't is sprightly as his own O 't is too much to bear Forgive me Prince It breaks the very neck of Loyalty Perhaps he Whores my Daughter too But first Rather than see him wear my glories Spoils Thou my good Sword that has so oft been drawn And dy'd thy self in Roman bowels to The very Guard for this ungrateful King Be faithful to me as thou still hast been And pierce the heart of thy dishonour'd Master Ziph. Oh Archelaus Oh my kinder Father If you are stir'd thus at an angry word What shou'd I be I who am lost indeed I who am stunn'd I who sustain'd the stroke Of all the anger of the Fates at once Semandra O my Love Arch. Restrain your grief As I my rage and let us think apace Tho for my Daughters Virtue I wou'd stake My Immortal part my Fame so dearly bought Yet force which he may use will have its way Consider that Ziph. Consider how shou'd I Consider who grow mad with crouding thoughts Where every one endeav'ring to be foremost Stops up the passage and will choak my Reason Arch. Once more speak humbly to him Perhaps 't is but a sudden short-liv'd fit A gust of Passion that may soon blow over But if you find it rooted in his heart Eat your way through him to your happiness Or perish like your Brother Mithridates Ziph. By Heav'n I think it greatest happiness Never to have been born and next to that To die for who that wears his flesh can bear The curse of Accidents a Change like mine I who some moments past wou'd not have chang'd Condition with the blessed Gods themselves Now in all probability am lost And stand upon the very brink of ruine Arch. Your Destiny 's uncertain Fate as yet Holds the Scale doubtful let us haste to Court Where we shall learn which way the Ballance falls Ziph. Not half an hour ago methought secure I hug'd my self and almost cou'd have wept In meer compassion to th' hard-fated World Thinking how much my state was happier Arch. Yet all the while you did not spy the danger Which crept invisible and undermin'd you Ziph. Alas I did not without fear I stood Like one who on the Beach discries from far A labouring Bark with which the Billows war Pities its state wishing the Tempest gon But views not the near Sea come rolling on So did with me my unseen Fortune play Till the Waves came and wash'd me quite away Exeunt ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Pharnaces and Pelopidas Phar. I 'LL hear no more get me a hundred Horse To be our Guard I 'll bear her hence to night And Ravish her by all the fire that acts This fearless frame I will Declare the diff'rence Is not the Blood of Queens and Princesses Like other Womens Souls alike infus'd Their Banquets richer and the Drinks they taste The very Spirits of the Purple Vine Yet we must think 'em cold as candid Ice Not a thought starting free from warm desires As the bleak Girl upon the Mountain's top Cover'd with Snow beat'n with constant Winds That feeds on Herbs and Roots and drinks the Dew Pelop. What wou'd you have her fall like mellow Fruit Whom yet no Sun has shone upon no warmth To ripen ' bate a little of this fire Phar. Pelopidas I oft have told you that She knew my love before she saw my Father For in the Plunder I first lighted on her Tho afterwards he took my beauteous spoil As now he does my Brother's I alledg'd As late I led her weeping to her Chamber My constant passion and his breach of faith All that a love most violent cou'd put Into a Lover's mouth like mine but she unmov'd Insensible reply'd the King 't was possible At last might kill her with his cruelty Yet to the utmost moment of her life She wou'd adore him with such spotless love Such most Romantick faith and such a deal Of whining grief that in a rage I flung Away and left her talking to her self Pelop. And do you think this haughtiness will carry 't He that will win a most exalted Beauty Must bend his Soul low as he bows his Body Watch every Glance obey her e're she speaks Cast up his eyes at each affected word And swear-Besides her Honour Sir her Honour Obliges her to stand a while
who am bound by Oaths and solemn Vows To love Ziphares By my Father's Order And by the tenderest Inclination too Mith. You strike me dead Sem. Oh do but think my Lord How wou'd Mankind when they shall read my Story Tear all the Rolls or throw 'em to the Flames How wou'd the weeping Maids curse my remembrance Shou'd I for pride of Power a Golden Promise A gaudy Nothing prove ingrateful perjur'd Leave all the goodness of the Earth to languish And break for ever with his matchless Virtue Mith. You have said and I confess it to be Heav'nly I know and till I saw your Eyes I lov'd The Virtue of my Son I lodg'd him near My Heart and set him down my Successor But now Oh hear and wonder at your Power Spight of his Noble Acts tho to his Arm I owe my Life tho Justice speaks so loud And the soft Tongue of Nature pleads so well I hate him more than I did ever love him Sem. Alas wou'd I had dy'd when first you saw me Mith. Had he conspir'd my Death usurp'd my Throne Perhaps I might have doom'd him to be slain Yet sure I shou'd have wept to see him die But now since he must Ravish that lov'd Gem I prize above the World tearing you from me Giving me twenty Deaths and cutting through My very Soul shou'd I my Empire give To buy his Fate I 'de think it vastly sold. Sem. Then blasted be the Form that charm'd your Eyes His Fate Oh Gods then you design his Death To reap the Bloody Harvest of his Life And Atreus-like to feed on your own Bowels But know Proud Monarch there are Powers who see And punish Crimes like yours Nor can I doubt But they will save from your most Impious Rage My poor lov'd Lord the Innocent Ziphares Weeping Mith. Those Waters more inrage my Jealous Flame And those heav'd Sighs but spread my Anger 's Wings Your Fatal Kindness hastens on his Death And that untimely Doom which I forbore To execute seems necessary now You give him all your Stock of richest Love Your Tears your longing Looks your Smiles your Groans And over-bless him with your lavish kindness But niggardly to me you will not spare A pitying Glance one Pearly drop to Ransom The Soul of this despairing Mithridates Andravar go and bear the Prince to Prison Sem. Stay Andravar the King has call'd you back See he repents Nay I must hold you then And if you stir you take Semandra with you O Mithridates O ungrateful Prince What was it you did order But behold His Eyes are fix'd upon the ground he blushes To think he cou'd so monstrously Decree To murder the sweet hopes of all his Kingdoms The Gods be prais'd for this Serene Repentance Yet with the fright I fear I shall not sleep Till Death does close my Eyes Mith. O rise Semandra Sem. Never I never will Oh all you pitying Powers will not my cryes And piercing Woes move you to melt his Soul Can you be deaf Oh Cruel Mithridates Did you but know the workings you have made The heavy plight the panting Passions here If you had but a Grain of all that World Of Love you swore you once had for Semandra You cou'd not see me thus Misery distracts My Reason shou'd you turn to a new rage Which I must fear unless you Vow to save him I cou'd not bear it you shou'd see me fall Cold pale and with my Deaths Convulsions grasping Your water'd feet but never more rise Mith. Give me your Beauteous Hand I swear upon it By all those Powers we worship by our Self When e're Ziphares dies Semandra kills him She shall alone have Power to give him Death Or to recal his most untimely Fate Enter Ziphares and Archelaus Thus dearly do I buy the Red Impression Which my Lips make but take it take it from me My Blood boils up again my Spirits kindle That lovely Brand has lent my wishes flame And I am lost again in vast desire Ziph. Semandra live I once to see thee more Tho in my Father's Arms 'T is Heav'n to gaze On thy assaulted Honour thus to see thee Thus tempted from me with the Charms of Empire Yet not consenting No I 'll not think the World Laid at thy Feet Cou'd win thy Faith Yet O dread Sir forgive me If that my boding Heart suspects you more Then all that Heav'n cou'd send down great and charming Or Hell cou'd raise up horrid to destroy me Mith. O Glory Arch. O consider Sir on that Think how the Romans will despise your Wars If Love now drive you Speak my Lord he yields Ziph. Oh Royal Sir or if the Name of Father Can move you more by that I will Conjure you By all the Charms of Stratonice's Eyes When first they drew you to adore their lustre By all the Pains you gave her when she bore me By all the Obedience I have paid you long And by the Blood I yet intend to lose In your behalf oh grant me my Semandra Sem. Ev'n by the Passion my unhappy Beauty First kindled in you but I hope is dying Give me Ziphares give him to my Longings Mith. 'T is done the Conquest is at last obtain'd And Manly Virtue Lords it o're my Passion It shall be so away thou feeble God I banish thee my Bosom hence I say Be gone or I will tear the Strings that hold thee And stab thee in my Heart The Wars come on By Heav'n I 'll drown thy laughing Deity In Blood and drive thee with my brandish'd Sword To Rome I will yes to the Capitol There to resume thy Godhead once again And vaunt thy Majesty without controul But never Reign in Mithridates Soul Arch. O wonderful effect of highest Virtue O Conquest which deserves more Triumphs than A hundred Victories in Battel gain'd Ziph. You must you shall be now the Lord of Rome Her Fate shall bow beneath your Awful Scepter O let me not enjoy the Life you promis'd The vast possession of the rich Semandra If I strike not Rome's Eagles to the Earth Take the Imperial Standard Chase their Legions And bring in Triumph all their Leaders bound Mith. Andravar haste Proclaim throughout the City My Son Ziphares General against the Romans Exit Andravar Come to my Breast once more my dearest Son In spight of Love thou art again my Child Thus with a Father's bowels I receive thee Thus melting o're thee with the tenderest Nature I pray the Gods to Crown thy Youth with glory Ziph. Oh Happiness Oh Joy Oh blessed Tears Reward this Goodness Heav'n for Poor Ziphares Is now so lost he knows not what to say Let me devour your hands with Filial dearness Were my whole Life to come one heap of Troubles The pleasure of this moment wou'd suffice And sweeten all my griefs with its remembrance Sem. Oh happy hour if I not set thee down The whitest that the Eye of Time e're saw Let me ne're smile when I remember thee
must shovel in and when you see The Head of Mithridates in this hand Then think who ever dar'd for Rome like me Or bought an Empire at a price so dreadful Then yield the Beauty I so much desire And all those Crowns to which my thoughts aspire Exeunt SCENE II. Enter Ziphares Archelaus Ziph. 'T Is late the gath'ring Clouds like meeting Armies Come on apace and Mortals now must die Till the bright Ruler of the rising Day Creates 'em new the wakeful Bird of Night Claps her dark wings to th' Windows of the dying General Good-night Arch. Sir I 'll not leave you yet I do not like the dusky boding Eve Well I remember Sir how you and I Have often on the Watch in Winter walk'd Clad in cold Armor round the sleeping Camp Till cover'd o're from head to foot with Snow The Centinels have started at our march And thought us Ghosts stalking in Winding-sheets And do you think I cannot watch you now Thus cover'd and beneath this bounteous Roof Sleep Sir I 'll guard you from suspected danger Ziph. Danger there 's none no shadow of a harm Dear General you 'l oblige me to retire We 'll meet to morrow with the earliest dawn I 'm troubled now and heavy in the morning Soon as you please you shall have entrance here And then I trust the bounteous Gods you 'll find A wondrous alteration Sleep may Charm My talking griefs and hush 'em fast for ever Arch. 'T is that I fear I tell you there are Deaths Brooding this night abroad A Recluse Priest Surpriz'd with mortal sickness was this Evening As he himself desir'd ta'n from his Bed And carry'd to the Closet of the King Where after some close conference he expir'd Immediately your Father Orders gave For doubling all his Guards and went in fury To Monima's Apartment where 't was said Pharnaces had been gone a while before Ziph. I ever thought that Brother most ambitious But what is this to me Arch. What follow'd does Concern both you and me and all the East For streight when the sick Priest had breath'd his last The sacred Oyl which for a hundred years Supply'd the Sun behind the Golden Vail Went out and all the mystick lights were quench'd Strange doleful Voices shrilly eccho'd through The darkned Fane the Monuments did open And all the Marble Tombs like Spunges squeez'd Spouted big Sweat the Curtain was consum'd With wondrous flame and every shining Altar Dissolv'd to yellow puddle which anon A flash of thirsty Lightning quite lick'd up While through the Streets your murder'd Brothers rode Arcathias Mithridates and Machares And madded all the schreaming multitude Is not this strange Ziph. The Gods reproach my slackness Aside 'T is strange most wondrous strange Once more I pray thee By all our Friendship leave me to my self Arch. Ah Prince you cannot hide Your purpose from your narrow-searching Friend I find it by the sinking of your Spirits Your hollow speech deep musings eager looks Whose fatal longings quite devour their objects You have decreed by all the Gods you have This night to end your Noble Life Ziph Away I never thought thee troublesome till now Arch. I care not spite of all that you can do I 'll stay and weep you into gentleness Your faithful Souldier this old doting Fool Shall be more troublesom than one that 's wiser By Heav'n you shall not hurt your precious life I 'll stay and wait you wake here till I die Follow you as a fond and fearful Father Wou'd watch a desperate Child Ziph. I 'll tell thee then Since thou wilt tear the Secret from my breast And dive into the bottom of my Soul This night must end me make not a reply 'T is fix'd as fast and sure as are my woes Did'st thou but know what 't is to love like me And to be so belov'd O Archelaus Yet to be past all hope of happiness Of ever tasting those desir'd Beauties Of any dawn least glimpse or spark of comfort Did'st thou not hate me much even thou wou'dst kill me Arch. If that my death for that indeed 's but little Cannot once move you from this dreadful deed Yet Prince your Country which must fall without you Your bleeding Country must obtain at least That you wou'd live to free her from her Foes Your Glory calls your sinking Father begs That you wou'd save your Country from the Romans Ziph. Much I indeed have got by Conquering Rome And to much purpose lost my dearest blood Much have my wounds deserv'd and Heav'n can tell How Nobly I have been rewarded for ' em I tell thee Archelaus I have sworn Were I to live I wou'd not fight again The World shou'd neither better be nor worse For me But I waste time and to convince thee Since thou wilt have the trouble to behold My death I bid thee now farewel for ever Arch. Hold Sir Ziph. I will and talk as calmly to thee As any dying Roman of 'em all I have consider'd well of what I do And I will perish with as little noise As Fate cou'd wish that wou'd not be accus'd Arch. I 'll follow you Ziph. I wou'd intreat thee not Thou hast no sorrows that are past the sufferance And sure my flying Soul will hang her wing When she shall feel thy weighty death upon her O Archelaus leave me to my Fate If thou must see me fall I charge thee live At least so long to tell Semandra of me Bear her some Token of my ill-star'd Love Which Empire cou'd not win to live without her Dip in the blood which trickles from my heart Thy Handkerchief and bid her keep it for me As a Remembrance now and then to mourn me Swear to do this Arch. This I will do and mark me cruel Prince If thus thou violate that Royal Frame Tearing the gallant Spirit from his Mansion I swear by what I tremble at thy death I 'll double all thy wounds upon Semandra Ziph. Ha! Arch. I 'll tear her piece-meal and so hack her limbs Thou shalt not know her in the other World Ziph. Oh torture dear good Archelaus hold I know thou canst not mean such cruelty Why dost thou rack me thus with thoughts in death That are much heavier ev'n than death it self Why dost thou make my eyes thus swim in tears I charge thee do not hurt her for the sake Of all the Gods be gentle to my Love I beg for mercy to the soft Semandra Alas if she deserv'd as she is faultless She cou'd not bear the wounds which we can bear Arch. Give me your promise then that you will live Live but this night or I have sworn her death Ziph. Thou hast found the means to Charm me into life And keep me on the Rack but no more threats Against Semandra 't was unkindly done And I grow angry at my Fates delay Arch. Why will you be thus froward Live to night Be careful of your self but till the Morn Methinks there may
Semandra The Charms of his new Queen will vanish Hark The sacred Musick sounds The King and Queen are coming Enter Archilaus Ziphares Semandra See your Brother Semandra and her Father Phar. O my lab'ring Brest how hopes and fears Toss my wrack'd Heart like a poor Bark about But soon the Calm will come or I must perish in the Tempest Exeunt Phar. Pelop. and Andr. Ziph. By Heav'n my Love thou dost distract my Soul There 's not a Tear that falls from those dear Eyes But makes my Heart weep Blood O my Father All is not well I found her in the Morning Not like a Bride with all her Maids about her Half-smiling now half-serious with her thoughts Of what must come nor warm nor bright nor blushing But Oh the Gods I found her on the Floor In all the storm of grief yet beautiful Sighing such breath of sorrow that her Lips Which late appear'd like buds were now o'reblown Pouring forth tears at such a slavish rate That were the World on Fire they might have drown'd The wrath of Heav'n and quench'd the mighty ruine Arch. Nothing my Lord 't is all but Virgin 's fear Marriage to Maids is like a War to Men The Battel causes fear but the sweet hopes Of winning at the last still draws 'em on Sem. Alas my Lord Weeping Ziph. What but alas no more when by the Hand I led her to the Temple thus she sigh'd And hung upon me If thou truly lov'st me If I may credit my Semandra's tears Think 'em not drops of Chance like other Womens The Weather of their Souls The Christal bubbles Which they can make at will Oh satisfie The longings of my braest and tell thy sorrows Sem. That I do love you Oh all you Host of Heav'n Be Witness that you are dear to me Dearer than Day to one whom sight must leave Dearer than Life to one that fears to dye O thou bright Pow'r be Judge whom we adore Be Witness of my Truth be Witness of my Love But yet I fear Ziph. That fear give me that fear Semandra Produce it in the ugliest form it has If ought that is deform'd can come from thee Sem. I shall my Lord since you are pleas'd to hear me Uunfold my doubts the cause of all my Tears First then I must complain of my hard Stars That did not dart kind Lustre on my Birth For tho at present while your young Blood boyls Your Reason cannot get the Rein of Passion Yet it will come when long possession cloyes you Then you will think what Queens you might have had With Kingdoms for their Dower perhaps you may Prove so unkind to tell me of it too Or if you shou'd not yet your Eyes wou'd speak Weeping Enough to break the heart of poor Semandra Ziph. Why dost thou stab me with the tenderness Of thy false fears and melt me into mourning 'T is most unseasonable on our Wedding-day To be seen thus I know thou canst not doubt me No thou most lovely of the fairer kind Think not a Crown can ever change my Virtue Ah who wou'd leave the warmth of this lov'd Bosome For the cold cares which black Ambition brings Sem. Spight of ill-boding Dreams unlucky Omens You must you shall you ought to be believ'd And if I weep again it is for joy That I this Night shall be your happy Bride Ziph. Oh Mithridates mighty as thou art Before whose Throne Princes stand dumb as Death With folded Arms and their Eyes fix'd to Earth Dishonour brand me if I wou'd not chuse A private Life with her whom my Soul loves Rather than live like thee with all thy Titles The King of Kings without her Arch. Pray my Lord Defer till Mid-night these strong Extasies Fate yet may put a bar betwixt our hopes And then the loss wilt be more hardly born The Scene draws discovering the inner part of the Temple Mithridates holding Monima by the Hand his Queens Concubines Sons and Daughters attending Three Roman Captains L. Cassius Q. Oppius and Manius Aquilius bound in Gold Chains with many other Slaves standing at distance Mith. Not yet O Rome great Tyrant of the World Hast thou subdu'd the Asian Emperor In thy despight I hold my glory still Still tread upon the Necks of conquer'd Kings Still make thy Consuls tremble at my Name And in one mightiest Word to sum up all A Word which like a Charm might raise the Ghosts Of Pyrrhus and the experienc'd Hannibal To envy and be dazled at my deeds A Word a Name that comprehends all Honors All Titles Riches Power all Majesty In spight of Rome I 'm Mithridates still Aquil. The Nations must confess that Alexander Cou'd not more dreadful to the East appear Than you ev'n Rome wou'd buy her peace with joy Cou'd you at reasonable rates afford Your Royal Friendship tho by your command Most dreadful to Italian Memory In one dark Day damn'd in the Book of Fate A hundred thousand murder'd Romans fell Mith. Darest thou fomenter of these Wars to talk Thou purple Source of all these bloody streams Which have for more than thirty years o'reflow'd The Asian Banks and dy'd Euphrates red Darest thou Commissioner in chief to put The Earth in Arms and set the World on flame Once think of Peace Now by the Fire-rob'd God Thou shalt have punishment that fits thy Crimes Aquil. The bravest must submit when Fortune frowns Mith. Desire of Wealth the Lust of shining Dirt And Palace Plunder caus'd thee with Arm'd Legions T' invade a King whose Father was Rome's Friend But by the asserted Justice of my Cause The help of Heav'n and of my own Right-hand I conquer'd thee and thou art now my Slave Guards strait convey him to the Market-place Take off his wealthy Chains and melt 'em down Then for a terrible Example to All sordid Wretches Souls made up of Avarice Pour down his Throat the rich dissolved Mass And gorge his Entrails with the burning Gold Mon. Not my dear Lord upon your Nuptial Day Mith. On any Day my Queen to do a Justice Which all the Gods and all good Men must like For Lucius Cassius and for Quintus Oppius A milder Destiny 's in store Away with him And now proceed we to the sacred Rites Aquil. Yet e're you join hear me proud Emperour Hear what the Fates have put into my brest I see my Death by Roman Arms reveng'd And what Lucullus had so well begun Pompey shall end Pompey thy glory's ruine This hour that gives me Death shall be the last Of all thy quiet swift domestick jars Shall overtake thee thou shalt add more blood To that already shed from thy own Bowels And when at last subdu'd in all thy Wars Spoil'd of thy Queens thy Sons and Daughters slain Thou seek'st some corner of thy conquer'd Empire To hide thy abandon'd Head in then the load Of all thy woes shall come one whom thou least Shalt fear long nourish'd in thy impious breast Shall stab thee to the
Nor ev'n in wishes offer at a Joy Shouting within Mith. Hark! with loud Cryes the Souldiers send their joys Go then with the best Blessings I can give thee Conduct my chearful Subjects to the Field Take all the sighing Virgins wishes with thee Subdue the Consul and receive Semandra Ziph. O do not doubt me my most Royal Lord If now I Conquer not thus helpt thus promis'd Thus prais'd incourag'd and thus over-blest I am the Mark for all The Synod of the Gods to shoot their Fires at Mith. Semandra veil your Beauties from my eyes I wou'd not trust their Influence tho I thank The Pow'rs above so strongly Reigns my Virtue I think I might and fear not a relapse In an Apartment proper for your grief You shall be plac'd till yours and my Ziphares Return in Triumph where no eyes shall see Your private walks nor mark your secret sorrow I thus divide you that your meeting may Be yet more grateful Haste my Son to Battel Be short in parting for there is no end Of Lovers Farewels The Powers above preserve you Exit Mith. with Pelop. and Andra. Ziph. Farewel Semandra O if my Father shou'd Fall back from Virtue 't is an impious thought Yet I must ask you cou'd you in my absence Solicited by Power and Charming Empire And threatned too by death forget your Vows Cou'd you I say abandon poor Ziphares Who mid'st of Wounds and Death wou'd think on you And whatsoe're Calamity shou'd come Wou'd keep his love sacred to his Semandra Like Balm to heal the heaviest misfortune Sem. Your cruel question tears my very Soul Ah can you doubt me Prince A Faith like mine The softest Passion that e're Woman wept But as resolv'd as ever man cou'd boast Alas why will you then suspect my Truth Yet since it shows the fearfulness of Love 'T is just I shou'd endeavour to convince you Make bare your Sword my Noble Father draw Arch. What wou'dst thou now Sem. I swear upon it Oh Be witness Heav'n and all avenging Powers Of the true love I give the Prince Ziphares When I in thought forsake my plighted Faith Much less in act for Empire change my love May this keen Sword by my own Fathers hand Be guided to my Heart rip Veins and Arteries And cut my faithless limbs from this hack'd body To feed the ravenous Birds and Beasts of prey Arch. Now by my Sword 't was a good hearty wish And if thou play'st him false this faithful hand As heartily shall make thy wishes good Ziph. O hear mine too If e're I fail in ought That Love requires in strictest nicest kind May I not only be proclaim'd a Coward But be in deed that most detested thing May I in this most glorious War I make Be beaten basely ev'n by Glabrio's Slaves And for a punishment lose both these eyes Yet live and never more behold Semandra Trumpets Arch. Come no more wishing Hark the Trumpets call Sem. Preserve him Gods preserve his Innocence The Noblest Image of your perfect selves Farewel I 'm lost in Tears Where are you Sir Arch. He 's gone Away my Lord you 'l never part Ziph. I go but must turn back for one last look Remember O remember dear Semandra That on thy Virtue all my Fortune hangs Semandra is the bus'ness of the War Semandra makes the Fight draws every Sword Semandra sounds the Trumpets gives the Word So the Moon Charms her watry World below Wakes the still Seas and makes 'em Ebb and Flow. Exeunt ACT III. SCENE I. The Field Enter Ziphares bloody with Souldiers Ziph. ARe these are these the Masters of the World O my brave Friends how have you fought to day You fought as if you all had Mistresses Who from some Battlement beheld your Valour And from your Arms expected all their Fortune Oh had you heard 'em clap their tender hands Beat their white Breasts and rend the wond'ring Heav'ns With their shrill cryes you cou'd not have done more Your looks were Basilisks to Roman Blood Your very Breath was as the furious North And drove the Legions like the Chaff before you Nor was I idle witness the wounds I feel Tho Glabrio at distance shun'd the force Of my far-darted Javelin yet it struck A Tribune down and did not useless fall What more remains but that we haste to meet Victorious Archelaus plunder their Tents And loaded with the Laurel we have won March to Synope shouting all the way Long live the King of Kings great Mithridates Enter Archelaus attended Arch. O Prince thou Life thou Soul of all the Army To whose dear hand thrice I did owe my life When thrice this day my Horse was kill'd beneath me O Renown'd day this one day of thy Valour Has drown'd in dark Oblivion all my Wars Like Time it self thy Glory shall run on While mine my fifty Iron-years of battel Lies smeer'd in dust and moulder into Ashe s. Ziph. Yes Father now I cou'd grow proud of Conquest Since it must give your Daughter to my Arms. Methought to day when I had given the word Semandra Victory declar'd her self E're yet a Death by any hand was given Ev'n now my blood more heats my youthful veins My Cheeks grow redder with the expectation Of Love's dear promis'd joys than when I strove In flame of fight with all my toil upon me To cut my way and win the famous Field Arch. Grant me you Gods before the hand of Death Comes like Eternal Night with her dark Wing To bar the comfortable light for ever From these my aged eyes O let me see A Grandchild of my Princes Sacred Blood To call him mine to feel him in my Arms To hear his innocent talk and see him smile While I tell Stories of his Fathers Valour Which he in time must learn to imitate Grant me but this you Gods and make an end Soon as you please of this old happy man Ziph. I feel a gladness lightning in my breast The kindled joy disperses quickly through me And says E're yet the setting-Sun has quench'd His Love in his cold Mistress Bed Semandra shall be mine ev'n all Semandra The thought is Extasie these Arms shall hold her Fast to my throbbing Breast these ravish'd eyes Gaze till they 're blind with looking on her Blushes These stifling Lips shall smother all her Smiles And follow her with such pursuit of Kisses That ev'n our Souls shall lose themselves in pleasure Arch. First send a Flying Messenger with news Of our great Victory Ziph. Ziphares self Must be the Harbinger of his own joy I 'll go with the best-mounted Cavalry While you behind conduct on easie March The weari'd Army Once more let me lock My Father thus Arch. My heart bodes happiness Ziph. 'T were sin to doubt since Fortune had no hand In what our Swords by dint of Valour won She to the Brave was ever a curst Foe But I at last have bound her to my Chariot By Conquering Virtue to be drag'd along And
we disturb the King We 're near the Palace and my boding heart Says he interprets rudely this our Triumph Which you against my will have forc'd upon me Therefore Ziphares begs you to retire By the small Victories my Arms have gain'd If you have any Love as much you show Let me intreat you all by that affection Ev'n now upon this instant to disband All. Long live our King and Noble Prince Ziphares Exeunt shouting Phar. Welcom Ziphares welcom to Synope Still when Fate calls thee forth may'st thou return Thus swell'd thus Lord Triumphant o're the Romans Ziph. Had I subdu'd the World I shou'd detest The Title of Triumpher and scarce think That man my friend who praises at your rate Pelop. Had not the Monster multitude receiv'd you Sir With such a monstrous State methinks Like Hercules you shou'd have slain the Hydra Andr. Heard you but Sir how with hundred mouths It worship'd as you were already Crown'd Long live our King the Noble Prince Ziphares Ziph. What Villains Ha! Gods have I flesh and bear it Pharnaces off by my just wrath they die Exeunt Pel. and Andr. Phar. The King remember how this Rage will sound Ziph. O the curst Traytors Brother beware of 'em How e're they crouch at present to your Fortune For I perceive your favour warm'd the Snakes To stir they have no sense of gratitude I found 'em base and therefore did discard 'em For which the Slaves have sworn me mortal hate But if I live I 'll crush ' em Phar. You 'l to the King Ziph. I will Methinks this meeting was unlucky My heart misgives me more and higher beats With this last heat than all the toil of War Perhaps they move the King but sure not much Or if they do tho our great Father frowns One smile one tear of joy from my Semandra Will wash the anger of the Gods away Exit Phar. Go and the welcom that I wish attend thee Of all my Elder Brothers he remains To cross my hopes and bar me from the Crown Whom yet I doubt not by my Engins help To burst in sunder and then gild my Brows Methinks I shou'd become the Golden-Hoop That circles in one quarter of the Globe I have it just my Scepter waving thus The starting Princes run to clear my way Enter Mithridates Semandra Pelopidas Andravar Guards But hold my Father comes with sad Semandra Weep on while I go laugh my cares away With Monima who must or yield or die Exit Mith. Has not the Traytor won my Subjects hearts Has not his Mother basely too betray'd me Has he not dar'd to Triumph without leave Which when my faithful'st worthi'st Councellors Rebuk'd him for with mild and gentle Language He redned with proud anger drew his Sword Then like a monstrous Parricide came on Here to my Palace Heading the wild Croud So through the Bodies of my Friends to pass Till with his barbarous hand he reach'd my Bosom Sem. 'T is false 't is all most horrid Perjury And the curs'd spotted Souls of these vile Traytors Shall burn for this beneath I know they hate The Gallant Prince and now conspire against him With words made up with all the blasts of Hell They strike your sacred Ears bewitch your Senses And with those Spells that foulest Treason hatcht Stagger your Royal Reason O yet hear me Mith. From what I have decreed no Charm no Pow'r No Eloquence not Mercy 's self adorn'd In all Semandra's Beauties in her tears Prostrate upon the Earth and hanging on My knees nay dying with her grief shall move me Sem. I now believe you are not to be mov'd Therefore with my undaunted Innocence I stand to hear the Doom you have decreed Mith. If when Ziphares at your first appearance Runs to your Arms fir'd with expected joys You thrust him not away and slight him strangely With all the marks of the most proud disdain That a most faithless and ambitious Woman Cou'd show to gain the Empire of the World He shall be stab'd be murder'd by my Guards Before your eyes Sem. O 't is not possible That you can mean the dreadful things you speak You speak it but to try the poor Semandra Mith. Mark me most heedfully for 't is most true And sooner shall a dooming God recal His Stygian Oath than I renounce my Vow He dies I say if you receive him not With all the coldness of a fair Apostate Whose Chastity the poyson of sweet Power Had brought to ruine whose protested Faith The Charms of Empire had quite turn'd to Air. Sem. Gods do you hear the Tyrant Mith. Do you hear me If to your words which must make plain your falshood Your looks shou'd give the Lye by amorous glances And languishings for Lovers eyes will talk Or as you speak your hate mixt sighs arise Or faultring speech or any other mark To show that you are forc'd to what you say Then from the place where I shall stand conceal'd I 'll give the Signal to my waiting Guards Who in a moment shall destroy your Lover When all your tears and sighs shall not recal him Sem. I 'll die I 'll die ten thousands deaths I 'll die Rather than meet him thus what after all The dreadful Imprecations that I made him And swore upon my Fathers Sword a Faith A spotless Love for ever to endure Shall I abjure my Oaths and to his face Protest a falshood and belye my heart Miih Take your own course I have sworn Sem. O Tyranny What shall I meet him after all his hardships After the heats and colds and smarting wounds VVhich for my sake he patiently endur'd Still chearing up himself that after all The blood he lost he shou'd enjoy Semandra His gentle Mistress one day shou'd reward him For the long mischiefs of a cruel VVar Mith. I have not leisure now to hear complaints Either resolve t' obey and speedily Or you and I must never see him more Sem. Stay Royal Sir come back ne're see him more And if I die rather than see him thus VVill you not save his life Mith. Your death Semandra The very mention hastens on his fate Sem. Alas alas I fear if I but look As if I knew him not or had forgot him So nice and tender is his love So soft his disposition 't will be fatal Mith. Then you resolve his death Sem. It cannot be No I will see him tho I must be cruel But bate a little of your Imposition An unkind word will kill the poor Ziphares As sure as all the hate which you injoyn me Enter Ismenes Isme. The Prince Ziphares begs admittance of Your Majesty Mith. You must retire Semandra Sem. O Torment O the Racks of Love distrest Like mine of Passion at a loss like mine Help me you Gods or I shall faint with bearing Exit Mith. Call in the Prince What Nature yet again I charge thee trouble my repose no more Enter Ziphares Ziph. 'T is well you Powers that pry
the VVinds And think that VVomen talk'd observe the Rain And think that VVomen wept or in the Clouds Behold Semandra's Form still fleeting from me But speak I lose my Senses with my Woes Arch. He has sav'd thy life come make a handsom lye In recompence Sem. I will be short as true When you were gone to Wars the King relaps'd How prompted Heav'n best knows and when with Conquest You came from Battel he with dreadful threats Compell'd me to receive you in that manner Ziph. Ah cruel Creature what what Menaces What fear of death cou'd so have made Ziphares Receive Semandra Sem. Not Racks nor all the Tortures Which Hell combin'd cou'd put into the hearts Of bloodiest Tyrant shou'd have forc'd me to 't But oh your life which he with deepest Oaths Had sworn to take unless I seem'd to scorn you That dash'd my Spirits bafled all the daring Of my defenceless heart there I confess The Woman work'd I trembled and agreed To see you so rather than lose you ever Arch. Now by my Arms she has come off with wonder Sem. And think my Lord reflect upon your self I dare believe so dearly once you lov'd me That were you certain I shou'd lose my life Unless you us'd me in that very manner I know you wou'd constrain your flame awhile And seem as cold and as reserv'd as I. Ziph. Oh heart oh bleeding Love but speak Semandra For there is wondrous Reason mighty Sense In what you say and I cou'd hear you ever Sem. When you were gone the cruel King came in And without stop propos'd the fatal Marriage Which being deny'd he forc'd me to the Temple Yet at the Altar I deni'd my hand Invok'd the Gods with the most violent sorrow Tears sighs and swoonings curst the frighted Priests Struck down the Censors and like one distracted I mangled my own flesh but all in vain I was suppos'd his Queen and so enjoy'd Ziph. Then still thy heart thy heart was mine Semandra Sem. It was it is for ever shall be yours Ziph. Oh at thy feet let me for ever lye Thus hang upon thy knees with dying grasps Thou most wrong'd Innocence abus'd Semandra Sem. Oh my dear Lord you shall not kneel without me Ziph. Thou art not false then Sem. Cou'd you think me so False to my Life my Soul my All I have Ziph. I did I thought thee false and I deserve To die for wronging thy most matchless Faith For thou art true constant as pining Turtles Constant as Courage to the Brave in Battel Constant as Martyrs burning for the Gods Arch. What Changes drive bus'ness of the World Come no more weeping rise Think on the King if he shou'd take you thus Ziph. Oh rise Semandra what what are we doing Why Archelaus why did'st thou cut me off The moments pleasure which my thoughts were forming Thy cruel breath quite broke the brittle Glass Of my short life and stopt the running Sand. What shall we do Semandra Sem. Part and die Ziph. Die 't is resolv'd but how that that must be My future care and with that thought I leave thee Go then thou Setting-star take from these eyes These eyes that if they see thee will be wishing O take those languishing pale fires away And leave me to the wide dark Den of Death Sem. Something within me sobs to my boding heart Semandra ne're shall see Ziphares more Ziph. Away then part for ever part Semandra Let me alone sustain those rav'nous Fates Which like two famish'd Tygers are gone out And have us in the Wind. Death come upon me Night and the bloodi'st deed of darkness end me But oh for thee for thee if thou must die I beg of Heav'n this last this only favour To give thy life a painless dissolution Oh may those ravish'd Beauties fall to Earth Gently as wither'd Roses leave their Stalks May Death be mild to thee as Love was cruel Calm as the Spirits in a Trance decay And soft as those who sleep their Souls away Exeunt ACT V. SCENE I. Pelopidas Andravar Priest incompass'd with Romans Pelop. ROmans who send your Laws far as the Sun His Beams and whom the Universe beholds With joy yet dreads your anger as the Gods Why move you to the ruine of this Tyrant To the sure death of bloody Mithridates As if you fear'd or car'd not he shou'd die Can you suspect an Ambush or that we Shou'd dare betray you yielding thus our persons Our Lives our Prince himself into your hands Andr. This man to whom the servile Priests bow down Who wears a Crown in honour of his place And sacred worth abandons all his glories T' attest the truth of what we have declar'd Enter Pharnaces But see the fierce the brave the Great Pharnaces Comes on to meet you waves his Royalties Therefore O mighty Romans give him Audience Phar. That I am rough and of an untaught Spirit All the East knows I ever scorn'd those Slaves VVith whom I have been bred and when my Father Order'd Barbarian Princes for my Masters In Arts and Arms I spurn'd 'em from my presence And rather chose since Rome might not instruct me Nature in all my Actions for my Guide Hence cou'd I brook more hardly the fierce mind Of our Inhumane Parent Mithridates My Eldest Brother's Fate did kindle first My fiery Soul to a most swift revenge For when the State of Bosphorus demanded That Prince for King he bound the gallant Youth In Golden Chains and doom'd him to be slain Two more were by his boundless fury strangled And ev'n the last but me the brave Ziphares Last night was murder'd in the Tyrants Palace In whose sad cause the Squadrons which he led Of late so valiantly against you Romans Attend some furlongs hence to joyn your Banners If this be true not to recount the Slaughters Of all his Queens and poyson'd Concubines I think the World Rome I shou'd first have nam'd Will little censure this so just revolt If you suspect me false behold Pharnaces Ne're yet detain'd but free as roving Lyons That swept at will like Winds in Deserts wild Behold him with these Noble Hostages Your Pris'ner to be bound the Slave of Rome Rom. Capt. Lead us on to Victory Omnes To Victory Phar. On them you Race of Heav'n you Seed of Gods And to Immortalize Pharnaces Name Plant me like Thunder breaking from this Cloud Foremost while all the ratling Engines follow Monima whom this Tyrant ravish'd from me I hear is fled to Pompey her I ask For my reward with half his spreading Empire But I waste words let 's act and then make claim And O remember when we storm the Town Remember that most horrid Massacre Of Asia whet on that your blunted Spirits Till with the motion Lightning edge your Souls To mow off hoary Heads hurl Infants puling From the lug'd breast kill in the very Womb To Beauties cries be deaf make all Synope But one vast Grave to hold the infinite bodies Which we