see A Great Man tumble but they must be talking Cass. The Spirit of King Philip in those Arms We saw him wear pass'd groaning through the Court His dreadful Eye-balls rowl'd their horrour upwards He wav'd his Arms and shook his wondrous Head I 've heard that at the crowing of the Cock Lions will roar and Goblings steal away But this Majestick Air stalks stedfast on Spight of the Morn that calls him from the East Nor minds the op'ning of the Iv'ry Door Phil. 'T is certain there was never Day like this Cass. Late as I musing walk't behind the Palace I met a monstrous Child that with his Hands Held to his Face which seem'd all over Eyes A Silver Bowle and wept it full of Blood But having spy'd me like a Cockatrice He glar'd a while then with a shriek so shrill As all the Winds had whistled from his Mouth He dash'd me with the Gore he held and vanished Pol. That which befell me though 't was horrid yet When I consider it appears ridiculous For as I pass'd through a by vacant place I met two Women very old and ugly That wrung their Hands and howl'd and beat their Breasts And cry'd out Poyson when I askt the cause They took me by the Ears and with strange force Held me to Earth then laugh'd and disappear'd Cass. O how I love destruction with a Method Which none discern but those that weave the Plot Like Silk-worms we are hid in our own Weft But we shall burst at last through all the strings And when time calls come forth in a new Form Not Insects to be trod but Dragons wing'd Thess. The Face of all the Court is strangely alter'd There 's not a Persian I can meet but stares As if he were distracted Oxyartes Statira's Unckle openly declaim'd Against the Perjury of Alexander Phil. Others more fearful are remov'd to Susa Dreading Roxana's rage who comes i' th' Rear To Babylon Cass. It glads my rising Soul That we shall see him Rack'd before he dies I know he loves Statira more than Life And on a Crowd of Kings in Triumph born Comes big with expectation to enjoy her But when he hears the Oaths which she has ta'ne Her last adieu made publick to the World Her vow'd divorce how will remorse consume him Prey like the Bird of Hell upon his Liver Pol. To bawk his Longing and delude his Lust Is more than Death 't is Earnest for Damnation Cass. Then comes Roxana who must help our Party I know her jealous bloody and ambitious Sure 't was the likeness of her Heart to mine And Sympathy of Natures caus'd me love her 'T is fixt I must enjoy her and no way So proper as to make her guilty first Pol. To see two Rival Queens of different humours With a variety of Torments vex him Enter Lysima Hephest. Cass. Of that anon but see Lysimachus And the young Favourite sort sort your selves And like to other Mercenary Souls Adore this Mortal God that soon must bleed Lys. Here I will wait the King's approach and stand His utmost anger if he do me wrong Heph. That cannot be from Power so absolute And high as his Lys. Well you and I have done Pol. How the Court thickens Trumpets sound Cass. Nothing to what it will Does he not come To hear a thousand thousand Embassies Which from all Parts to Babylon are brought As if the Parliament of the whole World Had met and he came on a God to give The infinite Assembly glorious audience Enter Clytus Aristander in his Robes with a Wand Arist. Haste Reverend Clytus haste and stop the King Clyt. He is already entred then the Press Of Princes that attend so thick about him Keep all that wou'd approach at certain distance Arist. Though he were hem'd with Deities I 'de speak to him And turn him back from this Highway to Death Clyt. Here place your self within his Trumpets sound Lo the Caldean Priests appear behold The sacred Fire Nearchus and Eumenes With their white Wands and drest in Eastern Robes To sooth the King who loves the Persian mode But see the Master of the World appears Enter Alexander all kneel but Clytus Heph. O Son of Jupiter live for ever Alex. Rise all and thou my second self my Love O my Hephestion raise thee from the Earth Up to my Breast and hide thee in my Heart Art thou grown cold why hang thine Arms at distance Hugg me or else by Heaven thou lov'st me not Heph. Not Love my Lord break not the Heart you fram'd And moulded up to such an Excellence Then stamp'd on it your own Immortal Image Not love the King Such is not Womans love So fond a friendship such a sacred flame As I must doubt to find in Breasts above Alex. Thou dost thou lov'st me Crown of all my Wars Thou dearer to me than my Groves of Lawrel I know thou lov'st thy Alexander more Than Clytus does the King no Tears Hephestion I read thy Passion in thy Manly Eyes And glory in those Planets of my Life Above the Rival Lights that shine in Heaven Lys. I see that Death must wait me yet I 'le on Alex. I 'le tell thee Friend and mark it all ye Princes Though never mortal Man arriv'd to such A height as I yet I wou'd forfeit all Cast all my Purples and my conquer'd Crowns And dye to save this Darling of my Soul Give me thy Hand share all my Scepters while I live and when my hour of Fate is come I leave thee what thou meritest more than I the World Lys. Dread Sir I cast me at your Royal Feet Alex. What my Lysimachus whose Veins are rich With our illustrious Blood my Kinsman rise Is not that Clytus Clyt. Your old faithful Souldier Alex. Come to my hands thus double Arm the King And now methinks I stand like the dread God Who while his Priests and I quaff'd sacred Blood Acknowledg'd me his Son My Lightning thou And thou my mighty Thunder I have seen Thy glittering Sword out-fly Celestial Fire And when I cry'd Be gone and execute I 've seen him run swifter than starting Hinds Nor bent the tender Grass beneath his Feet Swifter than Shadows fleeting o're the Fields Nay even the Winds with all their stock of Wings Have puff'd behind as wanting Breath to reach him Lys. But if your Majesty Clyt. Who would not lose The last dear drop of Blood for such a King Alex. Witness my elder Brothers of the Skie How much I love a Souldier O my Clytus Was it not when we pass'd the Granicus Thou didst preserve me from unequal force It was when Spithridates and Rhesaces Fell both upon me with two dreadful stroaks And clove my temper'd Helmet quite in sunder Then I remember then thou didst me service I think my Thunder split him to the Navel Clyt. To your great self you owe that Victory And sure your Arms did never gain a nobler Alex. By Heaven they never did for well thou
is more pleasure More satisfaction that I thus dye yours Then to have liv'd anothers Grant me one thing Alex. All all but speak that I may execute Before I follow thee Stat. Leave not the Earth Before Heav'n calls you spare Roxana's life 'T was Love of you that caus'd her give me death And O sometimes amidst your Revels think Of your poor Queen and e're the chearful Bowl Salute your lips crown it with one rich tear And I am happy dyes Alex. Close not thy eyes Things of Import I have to speak before Thou tak'st thy Journey tell the Gods I 'm coming To give 'em an account of life and death And many other hundred thousand policies That much concern the Government of Heav'n O she is gone the talking Soul is mute She 's hush'd no voice no Musick now is heard The Bower of Beauty is more still then Death The Roses fade and the melodious Bird That wak'd their sweets has left 'em now for ever Rox. 'T is certain now you never shall enjoy her Therefore Roxana may have leave to hope You will at last be kind for all my sufferings My torments racks for this last dreadful murder Which furious Love of thee did bring upon me Alex. O thou vile creature bear thee from my sight And thank Statira that thou art alive Else thou hadst perish'd yes I wou'd ha' rent With my just hands that Rock that Marble heart I wou'd have div'd through Seas of bloud to find it To tear the cruel Quarry from its Center Rox. O take me to your arms and hide my blushes I Love you spight of all your cruelties There is so much Divinity about you I tremble to approach yet here 's my hold Nor will I leave the Sacred Robe for such Is ev'ry thing that touches that blest Body I 'le kiss it as the Relique of a God And Love shall grasp it with these dying hands Alex. O that thou wert a man that I might drive Thee round the world and scatter thy Contagion As Gods hurl mortal Plagues when they are angry Rox. Do drive me hew me into smallest pieces My dust shall be inspir'd with a new fondness Still the Love-motes shall play before your eyes Where e're you go however you despise Alex. Away there 's not a glance that flies from thee But like a Basilisk comes wing'd with death Rox. O speak not such harsh words my Royal Master kneels Look not so dreadful on your kneeling Servant But take dear Sir O take me into Grace By the dear Babe the burden of my womb That weighs me down when I wou'd follow faster My knees are weary and my force is spent O do not frown but clear that angry brow Your eyes will blast me and your words are bolts That strike me dead the little wretch I bear Leaps frighted at your wrath and dyes within me Alex. O thou hast touch'd my Soul so tenderly That I will raise thee though thy hands are ruine Rise cruel woman rise and have a care O do not hurt that unborn Innocence For whose dear sake I now forgive thee all But hast be gone fly fly from these sad eyâ—â— Fly with thy pardon lest I call it back Though I forgive thee I must hate thee ever Rox. I go I fly for ever from thy sight My mortal Injuries have turn'd my mind And I cou'd curse my self for being kind If there be any Majesty above That has Revenge in store for perjur'd Love Send Heav'n the swiftest ruine on his head Strike the Destroyer lay the Victor dead Kill the Triumpher and avenge my wrong In height of Pomp while he is warm and young Bolted with Thunder let him rush along And when in the last pangs of life he lyes Grant I may stand to dart him with my eyes Nay after death Persue his spotted Ghost and shoot him as he flies Exit Alex. O my fair Star I shall be shortly with thee For I already feel the sad effects Of those most fatal Imprecations What means this deadly dew upon my forehead My heart too heaves Cas. It will anon be still aside The poyson works Pol. I 'le see the wish'd effect aside E're I remove and gorge me with Revenge Enter Perdiccas and Lysimachus Perd. I beg your Majesty will pardon me A fatal Messenger Great Sysigambis hearing Statira's death Is now no more Her last words gave the Princess to the brave Lysimachus but that which most will strike you Your dear Hephestion having drank too largely At your last Feast is of a surfeit dead Alex. How dead Hephestion dead alas the dear Unhappy Youth But he sleeps happy I must wake for ever This object this This face of fatal Beauty Will stretch my lids with vast Eternal tears Who had the care of poor Hephestion's life Lys. Philarda the Arabian Artist Alex. Fly Meleager hang him on a Cross That for Hephestion But here lies my Fate Hephestion Clytus All my Victories for ever folded up In this dear body my Banners lost My Standards Triumphs gone O when shall I be mad Give order to The Army that they break their Shields Swords Spears Pound their bright Armour into dust away Is there not cause to put the World in mourning Tear all your Robes he dies that is not naked Down to the wast all like the Sons of sorrow Burn all the Spires that seem to kiss the Skie Beat down the Battlements of every City And for the Monument of this lov'd Creature Root up those Bowers and pave 'em all with Gold Draw dry the Ganges make the Indies poor To build her Tomb no Shrines nor Altars spare But strip the shining Gods to make it rare Exit Cas. Ha! whither now follow him Polipercon Ex. Pol. I find Cassander's Plot grows full of Death Murder is playing her great Master-piece And the sad Sisters sweat so fast I urge ' em O how I hug my self for this Revenge My fancy 's great in mischief for methinks The night grows darker and the lab'ring Ghosts For fear that I should find new Tortures out Run o're the old with most prodigious swiftness I see the fatal Fruit betwixt the Teeth The Sieve brim-full and the swift Stone stand still Enter Polipercon What does it work Pol. Speak softly Cas. Well Pol. It does I follow'd him and saw him swiftly walk Toward the Palace oft times looking back With watry eyes and calling out Statira He stumbl'd at the Gate and fell along Nor was he rais'd with ease by his Attendants But seem'd a greater load then ordinary As much more as the Dead out-weigh the Living Cas. Said he nothing Pol. When they took him up He sigh'd and enter'd with a strange wild look Embrac'd the Princes round and said he must Dispatch the business of the world in hast Enter Philip and Thessalus Phil. Back back all scatter with a dreadful shout I heard him cry I am but a dead man Thes. The poyson tears him with that height of horrour That I could
This Poniard's thy Fate Dar. My Daughter must bleed Chor. Awake then Statira awake for alas you must dye Ere an hour be past you must breath out your last Dar. And be such another as I Stat. As I Chor. And be such another as I Statira sola Stat. Bless me ye Pow'rs above and guard my Virtue I saw nor was 't a Dream I saw and heard My Royal Parents there I saw 'em stand My eyes beheld their precious Images I heard their Heav'nly voices where O where Fled you so fast Dear shades from my embraces You told me this This hour should be my last And I must bleed Away 't is all Delusion Do not I wait for Alexander's coming None but my loving Lord can enter here And will he kill me hence phantastick shadows And yet me thinks he should not stay thus long Why do I tremble thus if I but stir The motion of my Robes makes my heart leap When will the dear man come that all my doubts May vanish in his breast that I may hold him Fast as my fears can make me hug him close As my fond Soul can wish give all my breath In sighs and kisses swoun dye away with Rapture But hark I hear him noise within Fain I would hide my blushes I hear his tread but dare not go to meet him Enter Roxana with Slaves and a Dagger Rox. At length we have conquer'd this stupendious height These flying Groves whose wonderfull ascent Leads to the Clouds Stat. Then all he Vision 's true retires And I must dye lose my dear Lord for ever That that 's the murder Rox. Shut the Brazen Gate And make it fast with all the massie Bars I know the King will fly to her relief But we have time enough where is my Rival Appear Statira now no more a Queen Roxana calls where is your Majesty Stat. And what is she who with such Tow'ring pride Wou'd awe a Princess that is born above her Rox. I like the Port Imperial Beauty bears It shews thou hast a Spirit fit to fall A Sacrifice to fierce Roxana's wrongs Be sudden then put forth these Royal Breasts Where our false Master has so often languish'd That I may change their milkie Innocence To bloud and die me in a deep Revenge Stat. No barb'rous woman though I durst meet death As boldly as our Lord with a resolve At which thy Coward heart wou'd tremble Yet I disdain to stand the Fate you offer And therefore fearless of thy dreadful threats Walk thus regardless by thee Rox. Ha! so stately This sure will sink you Stat. No Roxana no The blow you give will strike me to the Stars But sink ny murdress in Eternal ruine Rox. Who told you this Stat. A thousand Spirits tell me There 's not a God but whispers in my ear This death will crown me with Immortal Glory To dye so fair so innocent so young Will make me company for Queens above Rox. Preach on Stat. While you the burden of the Earth Fall to the Deep so heavy with thy Guilt That Hell it self must groan at thy reception While foulest Fiends shun thy society And thou shalt walk alone forsaken Fury Rox. Heav'n witness for me I would spare thy life If any thing but Alexander's Love Were in debate come give me back his heart And thou shalt live live Empress of the world Stat. The world is less then Alexander's Love Yet cou'd I give it 't is not in my power This I dare promise if you spare my life Which I disdain to beg he shall speak kindly Rox. Speak is that all Stat. Perhaps at my request And for a gift so noble as my life Bestow a kiss Rox. A kiss no more Stat. O Gods What shall I say to work her to my end Fain I would see him yes a little more Embrace you and for ever be your Friend Rox. Oh the provoking word Your Friend Thou dy'st Your Friend what must I bring you then together Adorn your Bed and see you softly laid By all my pangs and labours of my Love This has thrown off all that was sweet and gentle Therefore Stat. Yet hold thy hand advanc'd in air I see my death is written in thy eyes Therefore wreak all thy lust of Vengeance on me Wash in my bloud and steep thee in my gore Feed like a Vulture tear my bleeding heart But O Roxana that there may appear A glimpse of Justice for thy Cruelty A grain of Goodness for a mass of Evil Give me my Death in Alexander's presence Rox. Not for the Rule of Heav'n are you so cunning What you wou'd have him mourn you as you fall Take your farewell and taste such healing kisses As might call back your Soul No thou shalt fall Now and when Death has seiz'd thy beauteous limbs I 'le have thy body thrown into a Well Buried beneath a heap of Stones for ever Enter a Slave Slav. Madam the King with all his Captains and his Guards Are forcing ope ' the doors he threatens thousand deaths To all that stop his entrance and I believe Your Eunuchs will obey him Rox. Then I must haste stabs her Stat. What is the King so near And shall I dye so tamely thus defenceless O ye good Gods will you not help my weakness Rox. They are far off stabbing her Stat. Alas they are indeed Enter Alexander Cassander Polipercon Guards and Attendants Alex. Oh Harpy thou shalt reign the Queen of Devils Rox. Do strike behold my bosom swells to meet thee 'T is full of thine of veins that run ambition And I can brave whatever Fate you bring Alex. Call our Physicians hast I 'le give an Empire To save her Oh my Soul alas Statira These wounds Oh Gods are these my promis'd joys Stat. My cruel Love my weeping Alexander Enter Physicians Wou'd I had dy'd before you enter'd here For now I ask my heart a hundred questions What must I lose my life my Lord for ever Alex. Ha! Villains are they mortal what retire Raise your dash'd Spirits from the Earth and say Say she shall live and I will make you Kings Give me this one this poor this only life And I will pardon you for all the wounds Which your Arts widen all Diseases Deaths Which your damn'd Drugs throw through the lingring world Rox. Rend not your temper see a general silence Confirms the bloudy pleasure which I sought She dyes Alex. And dar'st thou Monster think to scape Stat. My life is on the wing my Love my Lord Come to my arms and take the last adieu Here let me lie and languish out my Soul Alex. Answer me Father wilt thou take her from me What is the black sad hour at last arriv'd That I must never clasp her body more Never more bask in her Eyes-shine again Nor view the Loves that play'd in those dear beams And shot me with a thousand thousand smiles Stat. Farewell my dear my life my most lov'd Lord I swear by Orosmades 't
their care With richest Cordials for an hour or more Recover Life Cass. Knowing how much she lov'd I hop'd to turn her all into Medea For when the first gust of her grief was past I enter'd and with breath prepar'd did blow The dying Sparks into a Towring flame Describing the new love he bears Roxana Conceiving not unlikely that the Line Of dead Darius in her Caufe might rise Is any Panthers Lionesses rage So furious any Torrents fall so swift As a wrong'd Womans hate Thus far it helps To give him troubles which perhaps may end him And set the Court in universal uproar But see it rip'ns more than I expected The Scene works up kill him or kill thy self So there be mischief any way 't is well Now change the Vizor every one disperse And with a face of friendship meet the King Exeunt Enter Sysigambis Statira Parisatis Attendants Stat. Give me a Knife a draught of Poyson flames Swell heart break break thou stubborn thing Now by the sacred Fire I 'll not be held Why do you wish me Life yet stifle me For want of Air pray give me leave to walk Sys Is there no reverence to my Person due Darius wou'd have heard me trust not rumour Stat. No he hates He loaths the Beauties which he has enjoy'd O he is false that great that glorious Man Is Tyrant midst of his triumphant spoils Is bravely false to all the Gods forsworn Yet who would think it no it cannot be It cannot What that dear protesting Man He that has warm'd my Feet with thousand sighs Then cool'd 'em with his tears dy'd on my Knees Outwept the Morning with his dewy Eyes And groan'd and swore the wondring Stars away Sys No 't is impossible believe thy Mother That knows him well Stat. Away and let me dye O 't is my fondness and my easie Nature That wou'd excuse him but I know he 's false 'T is now the common talk the news o' th' World False to Statira false to her that lov'd him That lov'd him cruel Victor as he was And took him bath'd all o're in Persian Blood Kiss'd the dear cruel Wounds and wash'd 'em o're And o're in Tears then bound 'em with my Hair Laid him all Night upon my panting Bosome Lull'd like a Child and hush'd him with my Songs Par. If this be true ah who will ever trust A Man again Stat. A Man a Man my Parisatis Thus with thy hand held up thus let me swear thee By the eternal Body of the Sun Whose Body O forgive the Blasphemy I lov'd not half so well as the least part Of my dear precious faithless Alexander For I will tell thee and to warn thee of him Not the Springs Mouth nor Breath of Jesamin Nor Violets Infant sweets nor opening Buds Are half so sweet as Alexander's Breast From every Pore of him a perfume falls He kisses softer than a Southern Wind Curles like a Vine and touches like a God Sys When will thy Spirits rest these transports cease Stat. Will you not give me leave to warn my Sister As I was saying but I told his sweetness Then he will talk good Gods how he will talk Even when the joy he sigh'd for is possest He speaks the kindest words and looks such things Vows with such Passion swears with so much grace That 't is a kind of Heaven to be deluded by him Par. But what was it that you would have me swear Stat. Alas I had forgot let me walk by And weep a while and I shall soon remember Sys Have patience Child and give her liberty Passions like Seas will have their Ebbs and Flows Yet while I see her thus not all the losses We have receiv'd since Alexander's Conquest Can touch my hardn'd Soul her sorrow reigns Too fully there Par. But what if she should kill her self Stat. Roxana then enjoys my perjured Love Roxana clasps my Monarch in her Arms Doats on my Conquerour my dear Lord my King Devours my Lips eats him with hungry Kisses She grasps him all she the curst happy she By Heav'n I cannot bear it 't is too much Rises I 'le dye or rid me of the burning torture I will have remedy I will I will Or go distracted Madness may throw off The mighty Load and drown the flaming Passion Madam draw near with all that are in presence And list'n to the Vow which here I make Sys Take heed my dear Statira and consider What desperate Love enforces you to swear Stat. Pardon me for I have considered well And here I bid adieu to all Mankind Farewel ye Cozners of the easie Sex And thou the greatest falsest Alexander Farewel thou most belov'd thou faithless Dear If I but mention him the Tears will fall Sure there is not a Letter in his Name But is a Charm to melt a Womans Eyes Sys Clear up thy griefs thy King thy Alexander Comes on to Babylon Stat. Why let him come Joy of all Eyes but the forlorn Statira's Sys Wilt thou not see him Stat. By Heav'n I never will That is my Vow my sacred Resolution And when I break it Kneels Sys Ah do not ruine all Stat. May I again be flatter'd and deluded May sudden death and horrid come instead Of what I wish and take me unprepar'd Sys Still kneel and with the same Breath call agen The woful Imprecation thou hast made Stat. No I will publish it through all the Court Then in the Bowers of great Semiramis For ever lock my woes from human view Sys Yet be perswaded Stat. Never urge me more Lest driv'n to rage I should my Life abhor And in your presence put an end to all The fast Calamities that round me fall Par. O angry Heav'n what have the guiltless done And where shall wretched Parisatis run Sys Captives in War our Bodies we resign'd But now made free Love does our Spirits bind Stat. When to my purpos'd loneness I retire Your sight I through the Grates shall oft desire And after Alexander's health enquire And if this Passion cannot be remov'd Ask how my Resolution he approv'd How much he loves how much he is belov'd Then when I hear that all things please him well Thank the good Gods and hide me in my Cell Exeunt ACT II. SCENE I. Noise of Trumpets sounding far off The Scene draws and discovers a Battel of Crows or Ravens in the Air an Eagle and a Dragon meet and fight the Eagle drops down with all the rest of the Birds and the Dragon flies away Souldiers walk off shaking their Heads The Conspirators come forward Cass. HE comes the fatal glory of the World The headlong Alexander with a Guard Of thronging Crowns comes on to Babylon Though warn'd in spight of all the Pow'rs above Who by these Prodigies foretell his ruine Pol. Why all this noise because a King must dye Or do's Heav'n fear because he sway'd the Earth His Ghost will war with the high Thunderer Curse on the babling Fates that cannot
The King I know is bent to thy destruction Now by command they forc'd me from his knees But take this satisfaction in thy death No Power Command my Mothers Sisters tears Shall cause me to survive thy cruel loss Lys. Live Princess live howe're the King disdains me Perhaps unarm'd and fighting for your sake I may perform what shall amaze the World And force him yet to give you to my arms Away Perdicas dear Eumenes take The Princess to your charge Exeunt Perd. Lys. Guards Eum. O cruelty Par. Lead me Eumenes lead me from the light Where I may wait till I his ruine hear Then free my Soul to meet him in the Air. Exeunt Phil. See where the jealous proud Roxana comes A haughty vengeance gathers up her brow Thes. Peace they have rais'd her to their ends observe Enter Roxana Cassander Polipercon Rox. O you have ruin'd me I shall be mad Said you so passionate is 't possible So kind to her and so unkind to me Cas. More then your utmost fancy can invent He swouned thrice at hearing of her Vow And when our care as oft had brought back life He drew his Sword and offer'd at his breast Pol. Then rail'd on you with such unheard of curses Rox. Away be gone and give a whirlwind room Or I will blow you up like dust avaunt Madness but meanly represents my toyl Roxana and Statira they are names That must for ever jarr eternal discord Fury revenge disdain and indignation Tear my swoln breast make way for fire and tempest My brain is burst debate and reason quench'd The storm is up and my hot bleeding heart Splits with the rack while passions like the winds Rise up to Heav'n and put out all the Stars What saving hand O what Almighty arm Can raise me sinking Cas. Let your own arm save you 'T is in your power your beauty is Almighty Let all the Stars go out your Eyes can light 'em Wake then bright Planet that shou'd rule the world Wake like the Moon from your too long Eclipse And we with all the Instruments of War Trumpets and Drums will help your Glorious Labour Pol. Put us to act and with a violence That fits the Spirit of a most wrong'd woman Let not Medea's dreadfull vengeance stand A pattern more but draw your own so fierce It may for ever be Original Cas. Touch not but dash with stroaks so bravely bold Till you have form'd a face of so much horrour That gaping Furies may run frighted back That Envy may devour her self for madness And sad Medusa's head be turn'd to Stone Rox. Yes we will have revenge my Instruments For there is nothing you have said of me But comes far short wanting of what I am When in my nonage I at Zogdia liv'd Amongst my She-companions I wou'd reign Drew 'em from idleness and little arts Of coining looks and laying snares for Lovers Broke all their Glasses and their Tires tore Taught 'em like Amazons to ride and chace Wild Beasts in Desarts and to Master men Cas. Her looks her words her ev'ry motion fires me Rox. But when I heard of Alexander's Conquests How with a handfull he had Millions slain Spoil'd all the East their Queens his Captives made Yet with what Chastity and God like temper He saw their Beauties and with pity bow'd Methought I hung upon my Father's lips And wish'd him tell the wondrous tale again Left all my sports the Woman now return'd And sighs uncall'd wou'd from my bosom fly And all the night as my Adraste told me In slumbers groan'd and murmur'd Alexander Cas. Curse on the name but I will soon remove That bar of my Ambition and my Love Rox. At last to Zogdia this Triumpher came And cover'd o're with Laurels forc'd our City At night I by my Father's order stood With fifty Virgins waiting at a Banquet But oh how glad was I to hear his Court To feel the pressure of his glowing hand And tast the dear the false-protesting lips Cas. Wormwood and Hemlock henceforth grow about 'em Rox. Gods that a man should be so great and base What said he not when in the Bridal Bed He clasp'd my yielding body in his arms When with his fiery lips devouring mine And moulding with his hand my throbbing breast He swore the Globes of Heav'n and Earth were vile To those rich Worlds and talk'd and kiss'd and lov'd And made me shame the morning with my blushes Cas. Yet after this prove false Pol. Horrid perjury Cas. Not to be match'd Pol. O you must find revenge Cas. A person of your Spirit be thus slighted For whose desire all Earth should be too little Rox. And shall the Daughter of Darius hold him That puny Girl that Ape of my ambition That cry'd for milk when I was nurs'd in bloud Shall she made up of watry Element A Cloud shall she embrace my proper God While I am cast like Lightning from his hand No I must scorn to prey on common things Though hurl'd to Earth by this disdainfull Jove I will rebound to my own Orb of fire And with the wrack of all the Heav'ns expire Cas. Now you appear your self 'T is noble anger Rox. May the Illustrious bloud that fills my womb And ripens to be perfect Godhead born Come forth a Fury may Barsina's Bastard Tread it to Hell and rule as Soveraign Lord When I permit Statira to enjoy Roxana's right and strive not to destroy Enter Sysigambis Statira in mourning Cas. Behold her going to fulfill her Vow Old Sysigambis whom the King engag'd Resists and awes her with Authority Rox. 'T was rashly vow'd indeed and I shou'd pity her Sys O my Statira how has passion chang'd thee Think if you drive the King to such extremes What in his fury may he not denounce Against the poor remains of lost Darius Stat. I know I know he will be kind to you And to my mourning Sister for my sake And tell him how with my departing breath I rail'd not but spoke kindly of his person Nay wept to think of our divided Loves And sobbing sent a last forgiveness to him Rox. Grant Heav'n some ease to this distracted wretch Let her not linger out a life in torments Be these her last words and at once dispatch her Sys No by the Everlasting fire I swear By my Darius Soul I never more Will dare to look on Alexander's face If you refuse to see him Rox. Curse on that cunning tongue I fear her now Cas. No she 's resolv'd Stat. I cast me at your feet To bath 'em with my tears or if you please I 'le let out life and wash 'em with my bloud But still conjure you not to rack my Soul Nor hurry my wild thoughts to perfect madness Shou'd now Darius awfull Ghost appear And my pale Mother stand beseeching by I wou'd persist to death and keep my Vow Rox. She shews a certain bravery of Soul Which I shou'd praise in any but my Rival Sys Dye then
for if you do By all the Furies and the flames of Love By Love which is the hottest burning Hell I 'le set you both on fire to blaze for ever Exit Stat. O Alexander is it possible Good Gods That guilt can shew so lovely yet I pardon Forgive thee all by thy dear life I do Alex. Ha! Pardon saidst thou Pardon me Sys Now all thy Mothers blessings fall about thee My best my most belov'd my own Statira Alex. Is it then true that thou hast pardon'd me And is it giv'n me thus to touch thy hand And fold thy body in my longing arms To gaze upon thy Eyes my happier Stars To tast thy lip and thy dear balmy breath While ev'ry sigh comes forth so fraught with sweets 'T is incense to be offer'd to a God Stat. Yes dear Impostor 't is most true that I Have pardon'd thee and 't is as true that while I stand in view of thee thy eyes will wound Thy tongue will make me wanton as thy wishes And while I feel thy hand my body glows Therefore be quick and take your last adieu These your last sighs and these your parting tears Farewell farewell a long and last farewell Alex. O my Hephestion bear me or I sink Stat. Nay you may take Heav'n how my heart throbs You may you may if yet you think me worthy Take from these trembling lips a parting kiss Alex. No let me starve first why Statira why What is the meaning of all this O Gods I know the cause my working brain divines You 'l say you pardon'd but with this reserve Never to make me blest as I have been To slumber by the side of that false man Nor give a Heav'n of beauty to a Devil Think you not thus speak Madam Sys She is not worthy Son of so much sorrow Speak comfort to him speak my dear Statira I ask thee by those tears Ah canst thou e're Pretend to Love yet with dry eyes behold him Alex. Silence more dreadfull then severest sounds Wou'd she but speak though Death eternal Exile Hung at her lips yet while her tongue pronounces There must be Musick even in my undoing Stat. Still my lov'd Lord I cannot see you thus Nor can I ever yield to share your Bed O I shall find Roxana in your arms And tast her kisses left upon your lips Her curs'd embraces have defil'd your body Nor shall I find the wonted sweetness there But artificial smells and aking odours Alex. Yes obstinate I will Madam you shall You shall in spight of this resistless passion Be serv'd but you must give me leave to think You never lov'd O cou'd I see you thus Hell has not half the tortures that you raise Clyt. Never did passions combat thus before Alex. O I shall burst Unless you give me leave to rave a while Sys Yet e're destruction sweeps us both away Relent and break through all to pity him Alex. Yes I will shake this Cupid from my arms If all the rages of the Earth can fright him Drown him in the deep bowl of Hercules Make the World drunk and then like Aeolus When he gave passage to the struggling winds I 'le strike my Spear into the reeling Globe To let it bloud set Babylon in a blaze And drive this God of flames with more consuming fire Stat. My presence will but force him to extremes Besides 't is death to me to see his pains Yet stand resolv'd never to yield again Permit me to remove Alex. I charge ye stay her For if she pass by all the Hells I feel Your Souls your naked Ghosts shall wait upon her O turn thee Turn thou barb'rous brightness turn Hear my last words and see my utmost pang But first kneel with me all my Souldiers kneel All kneel Yet lower prostrate to the Earth Ah Mother what Will you kneel too Then let the Sun stand still To see himself out-worship'd not a face Be shewn that is not wash'd all o're in tears But weep as if you here beheld me slain Sys Hast thou a heart or art thou Savage turn'd But if this posture cannot move your mercy I never will speak more Alex. O my Statira I swear my Queen I 'le not out-live thy hate My Soul is still as death But one thing more Pardon my last extremities the transports Of a deep wounded breast and all is well Stat. Rise and may Heav'n forgive you all like me Alex. You are too gracious Clytus bear me hence When I am laid in Earth yield her the world There 's something here heaves and is cold as Ice That stops my breath Farewell O Gods for ever Stat. Hold off and let me run into his arms My dearest my all Love my Lord my King You shall not dye if that the soul and body Of thy Statira can restore thy life Give me thy wonted kindness bend me break me With thy embraces Alex. O the killing joy O extasie my heart will burst my breast To leap into thy bosom but by Heav'n This night I will revenge me of thy beauties For the dear rack I have this day endur'd For all the sighs and tears that I have spent I 'le have so many thousand burning Loves So swell thy lips so fill me with thy sweetness Thou shalt not sleep nor close thy wandring Eyes The smiling hours shall all be lov'd away We 'l surfeit all the night and languish all the day Stat. Nor shall Roxana Alex. Let her not be nam'd O Mother how shall I requite your goodness And you my fellow Warriours that cou'd weep For your lost King But I invite you all My equals in the Throne as in the Grave Without distinction to the Riot come To the Kings Banquet Clyt. I beg your Majesty Would leave me out Alex. None none shall be excus'd All Revel out the day 't is my command Gay as the Persian God our self will stand With a Crown'd Goblet in our lifted hand Young Ammon and Statira shall go round While antick Measures beat the burden'd ground And to the vaulted Skies our Clangors sound Exeunt ACT IV. Enter Clytus in his Macedonian habit Hephestion Eumenes Meleager c. in Persian Robes Clyt. AWay I will not wear these Persian Robes Nor ought the King be angry for the reverence I owe my Country sacred are her Customs Which honest Clytus shall preserve to death O let me rot in Macedonian rags Rather then shine in fashions of the East Then for the Adorations he requires Rost my old body in eternal flames Or let him Cage me like Calisthenes Eum. Dear Clytus be perswaded Heph. You know the King Is God-like full of all the richest Virtues That ever Royal heart possess'd yet you Perverse but to one humour will oppose him Clyt. Call you it humour 't is a pregnant one By Mars there 's venom in it burning pride And though my life shou'd follow rather then Bear such a hot ambition in my bowels I 'd rip 'em up to give the poyson
vent Mel. Was not that Jupiter whom we adore A man but for his more then human acts Advanc'd to Heav'n and worshipt for its Lord Heph. By all his Thunder and his Sov'raign Power I 'le not believe the Earth yet ever felt An arm like Alexanders not that God You nam'd though riding in a Car of fire And drawn by flying Horses wing'd with Lightning Cou'd in a space more short do greater deeds Drive all the Nations and lay wast the World Clyt. There 's not a man of War amongst you all That loves the King like me yet I 'le not flatter Nor sooth his vanity 't is blamable And when the wine works Clytus thoughts will out Heph. Then go not to the Banquet Clyt. I was call'd My Minion was I not as well as you I 'le go my Friends in this old Habit thus And laugh and drink the King's health heartily And while you blushing bow your heads to earth And hide'em in the dust I 'le stand upright Strait as a Spear the Pillar of my Country And be by so much nearer to the Gods But see the King and all the Court appear Enter Alexander Sysigambis Statira Parisatis c. Par. Spare him O spare Lysimachus his life I know you will Kings shou'd delight in mercy Alex. Shield me Statira shield me from her sorrow Par. O save him save him e're it be too late Speak the kind word before the gaping Lyon Swallow him up let not your Souldier perish But for one rashness which despair did cause I 'le follow thus for ever on my knees And make your way so slippery with tears You shall not pass Sister do you conjure him Alex. O Mother take her take her from me kneels Her watry eyes assault my very Soul They shake my best resolve Stat. Did not I break Through all for you nay now my Lord you must Sys Nor wou'd I make my Son so bold a prayer Had I not first consulted for his Honour Alex. Honour what Honour has not Statira said it Were I the King of the blue Firmament And the bold Titans shou'd again make War Though my resistless Arrows were made ready By all the Gods she shou'd arrest my hand Fly then ev'n thou his Rival so belov'd Fly with old Clytus snatch him from the jaws Of the devouring Beast bring him adorn'd To the Kings Banquet fit for loads of Honour Exeunt Heph. Eum. Par. Stat. O my lov'd Lord let me embrace your knees I am not worthy of this mighty passion You are too good for Goddesses themselves No woman not the Sex is worth a grain Of this illustrious life of my dear Master Why are you so Divine to cause such fondness That my heart leaps and beats and fain wou'd out To make a dance of Joy about your feet Alex. Excellent woman no 't is impossible To say how much I love thee Ha! again Such Extasies life cannot carry long The day comes on so fast and beamy joy Darts with such fierceness on me night will follo A pale Crown'd head flew lately glaring by me With two dead hands which threw a Chrystal Globe From high that shatter'd in a thousand pieces But I will lose these boding Dreams in wine Then warm and blushing for my Queens embraces Bear me with all my heat to thy lov'd bosom Stat. Go my best Love and chear your drooping Spirits Laugh with your Friends and talk your grief away While in the Bow'r of great Semiramis I dress your Bed with all the sweets of Nature And crown it as the Altar of my Love Where I will lay me down and softly mourn But never close my eyes till your return Ex. Stat. Sysig Alex. Is she not more then mortal man can wish Diana's Soul cast in the flesh of Venus By Jove 't is ominous our parting is Her face look'd pale too as she turn'd away And when I wrung her by the Rosie fingers Methought the strings of my great heart did crack What should it mean Forward Laomedon Roxana meets him with Cassand Polip Phil. and Thess. Why Madam gaze you thus Rox. For a last look she holds his hand And that the memory of Roxana's wrongs May be for ever printed in your mind Alex. O Madam you must let me pass Rox. I will But I have sworn that you shall hear me speak And mark me well for Fate is in my breath Love on the Mistress you adore to death Still hope but I fruition will destroy Languish for pleasures you shall ne're enjoy Still may Statira's Image draw your sight Like those deluding Fires that walk at night Lead you through fragrant Grots and flowrie Groves And charm you through deep Grass with sleeping Loves That when your fancy to its height does rise The light you lov'd may vanish from your eyes Darkness Despair and Death your wandring Soul surprize Alex. Away lead Meleager to the Banquet Ex. cum suis. Rox. So unconcern'd O I cou'd tear my flesh Or him or you nay all the world to pieces Cas. Still keep this Spirit up preserve it still Lose not a grain for such Majestick Atomes First made the world and must preserve its greatness Rox. I know I am whatever thou canst say My Soul is pent and has not elbow room 'T is swell'd with this last slight beyond all bounds O that it had a space might answer to Its infinite desire where I might stand And hurl the Sphears about like sportive Balls Cas. We are your Slaves admirers of your fury Command Cassander to obey your pleasure And I will on swift as my nimble Eye Scales Heav'n when I am angry with the Fates No Age nor Sex nor dignity of bloud No tyes of Law or Nature not the life Imperial though guarded with the Gods Shall bar Cassander's vengeance he shall dye Rox. Ha! shall he dye shall I consent to kill him To see him clasp'd in the cold arms of death Whom I with such an eagerness have lov'd Do I not bear his Image in my womb Which while I meditate and roul revenge Starts in my body like a fatal pulse And strikes compassion through my bleeding bowels Pol. These scruples which your Love wou'd raise might pass Were not the Empire of the world consider'd How will the glorious Infant in your womb When time shall teach his tongue be bound to curse you If now you strike not for his Coronation Cas. If Alexander lives you cannot reign Nor shall your Child old Sysigambis head Will not be idle sure destruction waits Both you and yours let not your anger cool But give the word say Alexander bleeds Draw dry the veins of all the Persian Race And hurl a ruine o're the East 't is done Pol. Behold the Instruments of this great work Phil. Behold your forward Slave Thes. I 'le execute Rox. And when this ruine is accomplish'd where Shall curst Roxana fly with this dear load Where shall she find a refuge from the arms Of all the Successors of this great man No