Sir but she can Herod Why does she not Salom. She does but who 's the Man Herod Oh Salome you raise the Tempest hold Salom. You know not Woman Sir so well as I. Herod I know her Vertue and she first would dye Salom. You know she Loves not you Herod All that may be She 'l Love no other tho' she Loves not me And that proud Heart which does a King oppose Can never with a meaner Object close Salom. Love had it Eyes might soon Herod Oh I am rack't Spake Salome and make my doubts more clear Salom. What makes the Parthian Prince to linger here Whom great Augustus does invite to Rome And offers Armes his Brother to o'recome He slights not these great offers without Cause No here 's attraction Sir that stronger draws Herod Thy words have let ten thousand Furies in Salom. Sir 't is too plain now to be blind's a sin Herod Thy words have clear'd the mist before my eyes Before Truth 's Son the foggy umbrage flies Sal. See with what draughts he sucks the Poyson up aside The Quiet of your Court made me Conceal What now I only to your self reveal Herod That Mariamne Loves the Parthian Prince Her hate of me my Reason does convince Salom. 'T is not her Kindreds Blood moves thus her mind No her disdayn is of another kind To you a Rock she unrelenting stands Yet Tyridates's Love her heart commands Alas He Loves with better luck then you An Exile does more than a King can do But first their glances looks and actions weigh Perhaps I may have err'd in what I say Herod Oh my dear Salome it is too plain A Thousand things to my remembrance fly Which I before had pass'd too slightly by Salom. It bravely works good Sir have farther proof Herod What needs there more alas I have enough Salom. He is indeed ingrateful Herod To require The refuge that I gave him in his flight He flyes a Cruel Brothers rage I guess He will not find a Jealous Husband 's less My Anger shall like frightful Thunder move He pays his head for his presumptuous Love Salom. Stay Sir let reason in this great affair As well as Rage and Jealous Passion share I would not have you Tyridates save Your resolution is both just and brave Yet for his Life pray venture not your Crown Nor hazard for his wicked head your own Augustus Sir is Tyridates Friend It 's dangerous Augustus to offend And lose the favour which you gain'd so late Act not in Fury let your Rage abate Herod What shall he live then Salom. No he still shall dye But 't is not you shall strike the blow but I Leave it to me Herod But give your Justice wings Revenge that brooks delays too mean for Kings At my Queens head shall my next Thunder fly Who could not live and Love by Hate shall dye Her forfeit-head and her declining Crown Shall feel the rage of Monarchs when they frown Exit Salom. Boast not Proud King of what your frowns design A Womans Rage shall be as great as Thine Tyridates Fall shall be an Act of mine 〈◊〉 Vengeance is all a Kings Rage can do A jealous Woman is a Monarch too Exit Scene 2d a Bed-Chamber Enter Mariamne Alexandra Philon and Clophe Alex. You had been freed durst you my Councel use Mar. Such Councel Madam I agen refuse Alex. Your Dagger in his Heart had eas'd your fears Mar. Such Crimes are stains my Innocence ne're wears Alex. Woman thou art Exit Mar. What I will ever be From all the guilt of your Reproaches free Enter Herod Herod I that with horrid thoughts of Rigour came Am on a suddain how I know not Tame Sure 't is not I I am no Lyon now The Furies humbly to that Sweetness bow I am not Angry now I will renew Offers to Embrace her Mar. I will accept no Kindness Sir from you Herod I will not be deny'd Mar. But Sir you must For my Resentments they are great and just This Heart cannot Dissemble King like You Herod Will neither Anger nor my Kindness do So now I feel the Floods of Rage return And I a-new inflam'd with Anger burn Thou to thy Husbands Kindness false art grown And Love my due is on a Stranger thrown Has Tyridates Are you Surpriz'd has Guilt lock't up your Tongue Mar. No Herod 't is the greatness of the Wrong Herod Traytress 't is false But to my Wrath he shall a Victim fall And you shall quickly follow too you shall Mar. Herod believe all that you please the worst I've born already by thy Kindness Curst Herod Perfidious Woman His Ruine shall begin your Punishment Mar. If you on Blood and Murder thus are bent If Rage no otherwise appeas'd can be Seek out no other Sacrifice but Me. Resolve my Murder but his Ruine spare Who has in my Imputed Crimes no share Herod To such a height it seems your Love is flown His Life you value though you slight your own In Tyridates thou shalt tortur'd be Before thou know'st what I resolve on Thee Ex. Mar. Death thou art Welcome come when e're thou wilt Those Souls fear not thy Dart who feel no Guilt Yet Tyridates Thee I wish remov'd Because your greatest Crime is that you Lov'd Exit Fourth Scene A Dining-Room in which is discover'd sitting at Supper Tyridates Pheroras Alexas Attendants Alex. Fill my Bowl full I the Kings health begin Tyrid. What is 't that makes thee shake hast give me mine To the Attendant that fills the Wine Long live the King and whilst the Health goes round Command without that the lowd Trumpets sound Enter Arsanes who dashes the Bowl out of Tyridates hand Arsan Pardon my hast Sir and vouchsafe your ear Alex. 'T is prevented Pher. Discover'd too I fear Let us not stay Alex. The King will Orders give Though this Plot has not took he shall not live Ex. Alexas Pheroras Arsan That Rudeness Sir I acted with my will For it was Poyson that I made you spill Philon by chance behind the Arras got Heard Salome and Alexas lay this Plot. He told the Queen whose Kindness sent him strait With this to let you know your Threaten'd Fate gives a Letter Pheroras and Alexas Sir are gone And they by this themselves have Guilty shown Leave us Exit Attend. Tyrid. See here Arsanes what the Queen has Writ She bids me quickly save my self by flight Nay instantly I must be gone to Night Or else so closely they my Life pursue The Sword will act what Poyson cannot do I know not which more Joy or Grief does bring This Favour or the baseness of the King Arsan Sir do not trifle thus away your time To make her Warning useless were a Crime Tyrid. What wou'd you have me doe Arsa. O Sir be gon Tyrid. That thought 's too hard Arsa. Sir if you stay her Kindness you neglect And pay to her Commands but small respect Tyrid. 'T was her compassion of my Life took
Love Herod Since you my Love with so much scorn deny Thou shalt have thy desire yes thou shalt dye To the Judges Perform that Charge I formerly did give And if you find her false let her not live Let not the Name of Queen keep you in awe Nor yet Divert the Justice of the Law Exit Mar. Mar. You see your Champion's gon you may with-draw I am your Queen above you and your Law Exit 2 Judg. She has a Soul no Power on Earth can tame 1 Iudg. We may return as useless as we came Enter to them Herod and Salom. Salom. But why so weak what shifting Passions move His Soul now mad with Rage now fool'd with Love Herod But once again I am my self become And will an inrag'd Monarchs power assume Such high and lofty Pride swells her great heart That 't is high time that and her head should part What now 1 Iudg. She treats us Sir with such disdain and scorn As if she were more than a Princess born Herod She 's guilty then who dares not thus be try'd Salom. I doubt there 's somthing in it more than Pride Herod O Heav'n pull down your Thunders on my head Pluck up those roots of Love or strike me dead Salom. Why make you thus your self unfortunate To rage for her that pays your Love with Hate Herod I know she hates me and I know it well And yet I can't her Image hence expel But I will hear no more what Love can say Yes yes Mariamne thou shalt Dye to day I 'le start not from what I resolve to do Though whilst I take her Life I lose mine too Salom. Sir you with Passions have so much been sway'd You never ask'd whether you were Obey'd In your commands last Night but you will find delivers him the Papers Somthing in these will satisfie your mind Herod 'T is true I had forgot Reads to himself Salom. See! how it works Poison I hope in their Confession Lurks See how he swells It will burst out anon He likes not what he Reads yet must read on Herod How when I was to Caesar gone the Queen reads Was privately by Tyridates seen Oh Heavens Last Night for all the Danger he was in Return'd and privately met her agen Disguis'd alone by Night ah this does prove The strength of his and her unlawful Love Are these men Dead hah Salom. They have receiv'd a just reward of Treachery Herod Yes here 's enough to satisfie my mind Now Justice to my self and thee I am kind For she shall Dye and like a Traytress too Do you my Orders instantly pursue Do it before my fit of Love return Exeunt Judges If that get in it will my Rage remove I must keep this Storm to keep out Love Exit Scene the Third The Prison Mariamne Cleophe weeping Mar. Leave weeping Cleophe I pray forbear Is it the mark of sorrow or of fear Cleoph Madam I doubt your spotless Innocence Against the Tyrant will be small defence You know he spares no Life when Rage bears sway And now I fear least it take yours away Mar. I prithee neither fear nor weep for that 'T is Death alone can make me fortunate That will my Soul from Chains of flesh unbind And give unbounded freedom to my mind This Soul that 's fetter'd here when I shall dye To an Eternal Liberty will fly And what 's contracted in this Body now Shall like a mighty Circle endless grow How Cleophe can I your tears approve Who weep the fate I both desire and love If thou lov'st me shew an unclouded eye I am resolv'd and am prepar'd to Dy. 'T is guilt alone disturbs a Soul with fears And foolish weakness vents it self in Tears Enter Pheroras Guard Attendants Pher. Madam I am sorry that 't is I must bring So sad a Message from an Angry King Mar. Speak it Pheroras and I 'le bless that breath That greets my Ear with the kind sound of Death Pher. Nothing can your unhappy Fate put by His resolution 's fix'd that you shall dye And all things do without already wait Therefore prepare your self for this sad Fate Mar. Pheroras call 't not sad I n'er till now Receiv'd a Message half so kind from you Let Herod know his present I receive As the most pretious thing he had to give And with my thanks Pheroras let him know This to my memory and my blood I owe I n'ere did derogate in all my Life From th' Honour and the Vertue of a Wife Phero. Oh would the King your Loyalty believ'd Or were by some kind Angel undeceiv'd Mar. The blood of Philon and Sohemus shed Will pull down Vengeance on his guilty head And if my Death is stain'd by any guilt 'T is 'cause imprudently their blood I spilt For Tyridates I confess 't is true I render'd what was to his Vertue due Acknowledgments and Innocent esteem And that was all I ever gave to him I shall not rack your Patience by delay However I a little beg your stay Whilst I retire to banish from my mind All those Ideas I must leave behind That my wing'd Soul prepar'd for her high flight May shake off Life and Crowns to mount more light Ex. Mar. Cleop. Enter Judges and Executioner with an Axe in his hand dressed with Linnen Sleeves and Apron and in his other hand a black Cypress Scarf 1 Judg. All things are ready where 's the Pris'ner gone Pher. She did desire some time to be alone 2 Iudg. But does her haughty mind continue still 3 Iudg. Death will affright her sure or nothing will 2 Iudg But how did she her Sentence Sir receive Pher. She seem'd not to Rejoyce nor yet to Grieve She heard me speak unmov'd and without fears When I my self could scarce refrain from tears She whom Friends Deaths has into Passions thrown Calmely receives the Knowledge of her own And as her tongue did from reproach refrain She shew'd it was below her to complain She spake would Herod had himself been by And unconcern'd prepar'd her self to dye Enter Mar. Clophe But see she comes her Eyes no grief betray She is Tryumphant on her dying-day Mar. Come Friends let 's go conduct me to the place Whence I shall follow all my Noble Race What means that Cypress Scarse Phero. To blind your Eyes Death will be gentler when it does surprize Nature will start else in her own defence The stroke is suffer'd best whilst in suspence You must not see the Blow Mar. Lay that Scarfe by I am a Queen and like my self will dye It is not Death can overcome my heart Nor at its blackest horrors make me start No I 'le look thus thus Fate despis'd I 'le meet 'T is they smile best who death thus kindly greet Exeunt Scene Fourth A Chamber Enter Alexandra The Pulses of my trembling Soul beat high Mariamne's dead or is about to dye Disturbing fancies aggravate my fears And Ignorance does but increase my Cares Such horrid
Attendants and Guards Herod LEt it Pheroras be your chiefest Care That Noble Sosius be respected here With the same Homage that is due to Me. Sos. I have no Title to such Dignity Herod Sir of my Friendship I wou'd give you Proof Sos. The Glory of your Service is enough It is my Duty that I you Obey To whom Augustus such respect did pay Herod I will not be Kind Sir asham'd to own It was your Friendship did support my Crown I great Augustus's Anger did subdue Not so much by my Merit as by You. Sos. My Acts great Sir you praise too much Enter Tyridates and Alexas Herod But see another Guardian of my Throne Valiant defender of Iudea's Crown The Arabians dread great Tyridates name Embraces And Rome has heard already of thy Fame The Laurels always must adorn that Brow And you participate his Glories too To Alexas Tyrid. The Obligations you have on me laid Can never by such Services be paid Herod Your Worth by Modesty does higher grow Tyrid. Sir I my Life did to your Bounty owe. Alex. This Prince begins to make my Envy boyle For to his Lustre we seem all a Foile Aside Hâ—rod Let us no more thus Modestly contend You are my Crownes Protector and my Freind Tyrid. You must command Aside How Vertuous he seems And cunningly disguises his black Crimes Like him I 'm forc'd to Flatter with my Tongue Whilst my wrackt Heart resents Mariamnes Wrong Enter Philon. Herod How does Your Charge Phil. Great Sir She 's safe and well Herod Does not Restraint make all her Passions swell And doe not Curses sit upon her Tongue Against my Life Phil. You do her Vertues Wrong Herod By Heav'n I think you are Enamor'd too Phil. Because I 've Acted what you bid me doe Herod It is my Passion Philon I forget But with what Words did Alexandra Threat Phil. She took it Sir as Women use to doe An angry Tear and a sharp Word or two Herod Affaires of State have smother'd up my Love But now warm Sparks about my Heart-strings move Spight of my Fury and my short-liv'd Rage Mariamnes Eyes those Passions soon asswage To her that hates I 'm kind They Gen'rous prove Who without hopes of Loves reward can Love Ex. Scene 2d continues Salome Enters looking into a Pocket Glass Salome What is become of all that Beauty now Which once made my Alexas Heart to bow But sure these Eyes have lost their powerful fires And now my o're-blown Beauty none Admires Else had those Snares I there so often spread Caught that great Heart I wou'd my Pris'ner lead False Glass I am not what I was before flings the glass away Thou Ly'st and thou shalt flatter me no more Else could not Tyridates so despise The Charms this Face once had the Pow'r these Eyes So Ignorant Alas thou can'st not be As not to understand both Love and Me. What various Thoughts now wrestle in my Breast Loves Pleasure never equals its Unrest The busie Contest does like Billows rowle Beats this way now and that way then my Soul Like Duellists who struggle for their Fate Now strive with various Chance my Love and Hate The Prince must know 't if then my aymes I miss What my Eyes can't obtain I 'le gain by This. Draws her Dagger Thus I will go an Arbiter of Fate Life I dispence if Love Death if I hate Exit Third Scene a Bed-Chamber Enter Herod Philon Sohemus Mariamne Alexandra Cleophe Women and Guards Herod Madam thus Low I to your Empire bow I who have Conquer'd Caesar stoop to You Though I that gain the whole Worlds Love beside Am yours to which I have most Right deny'd Yet see my Passion Let this Action prove All Passions else stoop to the greater Love Mar. Sir I 'm your Pris'ner and must you Obey Herod O no Mariamne here you still bear sway Oh do not at this small restraint repine Thou art no Pris'ner but 't is I am thine I now have nothing else I can subdue Fortune bows down to me yet I to you And in the greatest glory of my Pride Can Love and see my self of Love denyed Alexan. We do believe you Herod 't is enough That you are kind this Prison is the proof Herod Your words too lavish were when I was by For me to trust you when I was not nigh I here secur'd you in my absence true But it was done in Courtesie to you Lest a Temptation to Assault my Crown Might make you on your Head pull Vengeance down Alexan. Then our Imprisonment 's a trick of State Herod Wisemen fore-see and often Master Fate Alexan. I 'm glad I know that Herod is so Wise. Herod But you the Jewel that I only prize to Mariam Above my Life or Crown lock't safely here Trusted to those you had no need to Fear Have yet less Cause to Murmur or Repine Knowing my Life depended upon Thine Maria. You may with me do what to you seems good But you might yet have spar'd Hircanus Blood Sure your affection 's built on a strange grâ—und Which on my Kindreds Graves it self does found Herod From that old Root such Branches wou'd have sprung Who from my hands my Scepter would have wrung And I should both my Life and Crown Betray Had I not par'd thâ—â— dang'rous Root away Necessity thus forces Kings somtimes Crimes to commit to hinder greater Crimes And Murther aâ—â— that they may Muâ—thers save Pitty does Ruâ—â— Kings and Lands Enslave Mar. I never knew Foundations lay'd in blood Whose Superstructure â—â—e continued good Herod Let us Mariamne leave those things to Fate And to our Councel all Affaires of State We will retire my heart brooks no delay I fain wou'd Homage at Loves Altar pay Where am'rous Flame the Heart of Herod burns Mar. And my sad Heart with hidden sorrow Mourns aside Herod leads the Queen out Exe. Omnes Fourth Scene A Gallery hung with Pictures Enter Tyridates Tyrid. What cloudy Blacks my Heart and Visage wear And Love it self 's scarce greater than my Fear To mighty Love all Passions else submit Grow calme and are to Tempests rais'd by it So it Usurps the Empire of the mind And Governs there as o're the Seas the Wind. Whilst it blows gently Seas as Gently lye But when it Storms they Storm and Rave as high Enter Salome at a distance Solom He 's there I will not lose the occasion now Stay I 'le advise first what I have to do Oh Heavens must then this great Heart stoop so low And must he from my Mouth my Passion know Vertue where art thou or where art thou Shame Tush Shame 's for Maids Vertu 's an empty name I Love and I am scorch'd so with the fire That all things now must yeild to my desire Vertue and Honour all things else lye by 'T is Love o'recomes and I must speak or dye Tyrid. My Passions did disturb enough before Aside Thy Company will yet disturb me more I cannot shun her
Care She did not know her Presence is more dear Enter Sohemus Must I my Life or Mariamne quit Soh Yes Sir 't is but too certain and your Flight Must speedy be or else you both will lose Consult no further Her Commands obey For know that her you Ruine if you stay Therefore no longer on your stay demur This rising storme does rather threaten Her But She in your Escape Preserv'd may be When you remove the Cause of Jealousy Enter Polites Pol. O Sir be speedy in your flight I hear Alexas and the Kings Life-guard are neer Soh Good Sir make haste Pol. There 's hardly time for Flight Arsa. But we may now be favour'd by the Night Tyrid. Well! must I goe Oh Queen when I obey I 'm only by your safety forc'd away Exeunt Enter on the other side with drawn Swords Alexas and Souldiers Alex. The Traytors gone but yet he can't be far You soon his passage in the Streets may bar Go light some Torches search out every where Who finds him first shall of my bounty share This Sword then Tyridates shall pursue Thy Life and take what Poyson could not do Exeunt Fourth Scene The City Ierusalem A Cry within here here they are Enter Tyridates Polites Arsanes Retreating and Fighting Alexas Guard Souldiers pursuing Alex. Yeild Tyridates or thy Life is lost Tyrid. That thou took'st it away thou shalt not boast Take that for thy Wives Treachery Kills Alexas Alex. Though I am wounded Soudiers follow still You dye if him you neither Take nor Kill Polites falls Tyrid. Farewell thy Friendship does my Love out-vye Thou hast the Honour in her Cause to dye to Polites Arsanes come Let us Revenge his Blood And take the Fate which cannot be with-stood Fight aagen some of the Souldiers are Slain Enter Pheroras with fresh supplies who beat off Tyridates and Arsanes Exeunt all Fighting Fifth Scene Herods Pallace Enter Herod and Salome with Attendants Herod I 'le think that Heav'n does joyn against me too If neither Poyson nor the Sword will do Salom. It was but chance or he had drunk his last Herod I hope by this time that his Life is past I bid Pheroras bring the welcome News But his long stay my Patience does abuse Salom. What Devil was it mov'd Arsanes so The Bowl the Wine and Poyson to o'rethrow Between that Draught and Death he should have known I rais'd that storm which hence his Life had blown 'T is not Revenge at least not half so sweet Unless he knows that I the Conquest get And if he Falls now by Alexas hand My fatal Anger he will understand Enter Pheroras But here 's Pheroras now Herod How dy'd he say Pher. His Valour Sir has rather won the day Herod Hah What not brought with thee the Traytors Head How durst thou say to me he is not dead What Legions had he to defend his Life Or fought my Subjects for him in the strife Pher. I saw Alexas Sir his Life pursue But what is 't Valour in Distress can't do Surrounded by the Guard he bravely fought And to the ground Alexas bleeding brought Salom. What said you of Alexas Herod Peace go on Pher. At him the Guard with all their fury run But like a Heroe so unmov'd he stood That all around the place he stayn'd with blood Polites Slayn with noble Anger stung He flung himself to dye amid'st the Throng There he such Prodigies of Valour shew'd The Guard not him but he the Guard pursu'd Prest with their number he at last had dy'd But that Arsanes an advantage spy'd The Sacred Temple being nigh To that Asylum both yet fighting fly And spite of all those Swords which did oppose There they escap'd the Fury of their Foes Herod O Heavens escap'd me thus Thy Blood yet Tyridates must asswage The vehement Tempest of my Jealous Rage I 'le to the Temple and my Wrath shall make The great Foundations of that Structure shake Exit Salom. What Stars Protect this Man His Valour moves me so I love him still But he Dispises me that thought is Hell Yes thou shalt dye My hand shall more then his thy Life pursue And shew what Woman in Dispair can do Exit Sixth Scene The Temple In which is discovered as within the Gate the Priests Tyridates and Arsanes 1. Priest We do not Sir enquire of your offence No Criminal is ever forced from hence 2 Priest You are both safe and welcome Tyrid. Thanks are due Both to the God you Worship and to you Enter Herod Pheroras and Attendants 1. Priest Sir Though a King keep back 't is just that you Bring that respect which to this Place is due Her Give me that Traytor then this Place nor you Cannot protection to such Crimes allow 1 Priest O Sir you know the Priviledge of this place We should our Honour and our Laws disgrace Herod Then I will force him hence Offers to draw Pher. stays him Pher. Your Passion sway Great Sir let Rage to Reason once obey All the whole race of Priests wou'd rather dye And you although their King to death defie E're they would suffer this besides the Jews Would run into Rebellion at the News Try if you can perswade but do not force Herod I must but yet I first will try that course Put forth that Traytor and you will do well You ought not to protect an Infidel His very presence does the place abuse It is a Refuge only to the Iews 1 Priest We dare not Sir they would us Paâ—tial call This Temple does a Refuge yield to all Herod But that Barbarian durst violate The Rights of Hospitality and Faith Ancient as Fanes themselves Return him fairly forth whilst I entreat Else I will execute more than I threat 2 Priest First for his safety we our Lives will pay Tyrid. Rather then you shall suffer I 'le not stay No let me fall a Victim to the King Rather then Ruine to your Altars bring Arsan O Sir what do you mean 1 Priest You will do worse You on our Altars will pluck down a Curse Let the King raze our Fane our Bloods be spilt 'T were better to fall Pure then stand with Guilt Tyrid. Let me speak to the King Arsa. I 'le not refuse So you no further go Tyrid. King of the Iews I am a Prince and meet you without odds For I know no Superior but the Gods I scorne to justifie my self to you Who thus ignobly do my life pursue A Life which from thy Sword and Poyson flyes Here at the Altar thou would'st Sacrifice Against all Râ—ght both Humane and Divine Herod Yes I will have thy Life though I lose mine Tyrid. Not the most faulty of my thoughts e're meant Mariamne or thy wrong thy Innocent And injur'd Queen I as the Gods esteem Can that wear any Title to a Crime Herod In idle words I 'le lose not breath nor time Tyrid. I speak not this thy Fury to asswage Or with design t' escape thy
bloody rage Or to delay the Death thou threaten'st here No Herod I can dye but cannot fear Herod No no false man thy artificial words The Temple nor 100000 Swords Shall sheild thy Life from my armed Anger now Thee and that Traytress both to death I Vow Tyrid. Involve not yet in my imputed Crime An Innocence which wholly is sublime If thou before these Reverend Flamines here Wilt Solemnly at the high Altar Swear I shall thy only mark of Fury be And thy blind Rage extend to none but me I 'le leave this place to which I now am fled And to thy Vengeance render up my head Herod O Heav'ns for him she wou'd have Life resign'd And he again for her has Life declin'd They Love Oh Rage stamp No Traytor thou shalt me no Council give Nor you nor She whom thou woud'st save shall live Draws Enter Sosius with Romane Souldiers Sosius Hold Herod hold I in Augustus name Do for the Parthian Prince a freedom clayme He not thy Subject hither fled for aid Must not by thy blind Fury be betray'd In this I Justice Honour Friendship show To Tyridates Vertues and to you Herod Friend hear me first Sosius I am by Honour swayd And in great Caesars name must be obey'd Herod You are a Friend to me and I to you Sosius I for no Friendship will injustice do I bear a Romans Vertue in my Breast Friendship not linck'd with Vertue I detest And Tyridates you must yeâ—ld to me Tyrid. Where I find so much Vertue I agree Sosius Herod your unjust Fury now asswage I here my Honour for you both engage Herod your Life by no Plots shall betray And you t' increase his Fury shall not stay You from Ierusalem this Night shall go And leave within 6 days Iudea too Who breaks his Word begets a Foe of me Makes Rome and Caesar too his Enemy Tyrid. I will comply though death I 'd ki`ndlier choose Herod Sosius alone could my just Vows oppose I see my Fear is greater then my Rage I in this quarrel dare not Rome ingage Nor dare to my yet tott'ring Fortune trust But I must rule by seeming to be just Exit omnes Act the Fourth Scene the First Mariamnes Chamber Enter Mariamne Cleophe Philon. Maria. THen Heav'n has heard my pray'rs and now I find Though I deserv'd it not He has been kind If Heaven permits me but to fall alone My Breast shall not emit one sigh or groan Now Tyridates is from Danger free I do not care what he decrees of Me Fly Prince from hence into a kinder clime Where to be good and Vertuous is no Crime Enter Sohem Sohem. Prince Tyridates by the Roman Legat freed And by him safe without the Citty led From his freind Sosius has made escape And is come hither in a borrow'd shape Mar. Just Heav'n forbid I cannot see him Go And tell him so His Folly would his Certain Ruine bring His Death would now be Justice in the King Sohem. Madam all my perswasions can't prevaile He onely beggs to take his last farewel Mar. This may some blemish to my Honour give Philon. Madam his Thoughts from such pure Fountains flow They on your Innocence no spots can throw Sohem. Without your leave he durst no nigher come But stayes without and there expects his Doome Mar. Well call him in and pardon me this time For he shall never more repeat the Crime Sohem. steps to the Dore and brings in Tyridates Philon and you Sohemus watch hard by And give us warning when that danger 's nigh Exeunt Phil. and Sohem. Ah Prince consider what you make me do Tyrid. kneels Hazard my Life and Reputation too Have I thus long my life with Caution led The very shadow of all Courtship fled Now at the last to make my Honour bow By Night and in disguise to talk with You Tyrid. Though my Intents with Innocence are clad The ills You suffer by them make em bad Mar. Your business Tyrid. Can I fly and leave you here Expos'd to Herods Rage and jealous fear I 'le break those Chaines my heedless Passions drew With such a black Ingratitude on You. Herod by Sword and Poyson sets me free From all the Tyes of Hospitality I this without Ingratitude can doe I owe not now my Life to Him but You. Reject not then the succour I propose Whence to You freedome to me Glory Flowes Mar. I will no longer these Discourses hear Urge me no more This Answer take for all Vertue shall ne're be blemished by my fall Tyrid. Then give me leave to Die I cannot see You still have Fetters on whilst I am free Mar. But whilst I thus my Innocence keep white Me-thinks I feel as yet my Chains too light Tyrid. But I can never go Mar. I for one boon must sue And sure I cannot be deny'd by you Tyrid. 'T were impious to disobey that breath Though the Commands were to meet Wracks or Death Mar. But this performance must be bound by Vow Tyrid. By all the powers to which men kneel and bow And what 's as Sacred by your self I swear Mar. She craves one boon who never begg'd before Sir I intreat you ne're to see me more Call your Obedience and your Courage up And the Carrere of your blind passion stop My Life and Honour both at Stake do lye And suffer if you either stay or dye Tyrid. Can you condemn me most Unfortunate To Banishment for ever and not hate Mar. Perhaps th' affection that I 'ave shown to you Has not been such as you pretended to I to your Merits always gave their due As far as my Condition would allow Had I been free and at my own dispose I before all had Tyridates chose Tyrid. Oh all ye Gods how dubious is my Fate At once how Glorious and how Desolate I have now 't is true no Reason to complain Yet in my former Wretchedness remain Those eyes must never more upon me shine Yet I can neither murmur nor repine Mar. Pitty begins too much to move my heart I find by these it is high time to part Mar. Weeps I Tyridates have some weakness shown And your Misfortunes move more than my own Let Mariamne your Example be Do you assume your Courage now like me Insensibly I do not part with you Yet dauntless act what I resolve to do If o're your Spirit any power I have Let it be shown be patient and be brave And let this act of your obedience prove The Candor and the Greatness of your Love Take now my last Farewell Tyrid. kneels One kindness yet When you remember me this fault forget Exit cum Cleop. gives him her hand to kiss Tyrid. Oh Gods is there no other way to prove The pureness and the greatness of my Love Must I to this hard Doom subjected be Yet 't is a Just and Vertuous Cruelty Yes to remember Thee I 'le take this way I 'le dye for Debts I cannot live to pay Exit Scene
Visions fright me from my rest My interrupted slumbers they molest In vain all day her safety I enquire For none will satisfy my just desire Minutes seem days and every hour a year Whilst I am rack't thus betwixt hope and fear O Cruel King with Torments thou dost kill The fear is always greater then the ill I once agen to my rough guard will sue Gold may do more then Tears or Prayers could do Exit Enter Herod as distracted and Salome Salom. What ayles you Sir Herod Did not you hear the Musick see see what 's there Salom. Sir I see nothing that should cause this fear He is distracted sure Herod See see what sight my Eyes invades See Aristobulus from the Neather shades Salom. Sir I see nothing 't is your fancy sure Herod Antigonus See the Queens Brother comes to fright me too Salom. Look calmer Sir your fancy is disturb'd Herod See Old Hircanus risen from the Dead See Salome how he looks and shakes his head See Ioseph Sohemus Philon see where they go They are all risen from the shades below Salom. Sure it is Madness that disturbs you so Herod Oh the Queen the Queen the Queen Oh she is dead See Salome stay Mariamne stay she 's fled Salom. Pray Sir settle your disturb'd mind Herod Stay Mariamne dead dost fly from me too No Jealousy nor Rage can reach you now Exeunt Scene sixth Scene Ierusalem Enter Sosius with Romans Sosius The general murmur which assaults my Ear Speaks the sad Truth of my unhappy fear I dare not ask and yet I fain would know Suspence alas does but intangle woe Enter Pheroras Page Sir here 's Pheroras that can tell you more Sosius Tell me Pheroras may it be believ'd The Queen is dead I hope I am deceiv'd Pher. Yes Sir she 's dead and all that glory 's gon Which with such Lustre in Iudea shon Like a bright Star dropt from the Firmament She 's fallne and with her all the light she lent Sosius O Cruel King I wish but 't is too late Pher. I need not tell what brought her to this Fate Sosius That 's too well known but tell me how she dy'd Pher. O Sir the Queen such manly Courage wore As you or Caesar could have shown no more Unmov'd and without sign of discontent Unvail'd she to the Fatal Scaffold went There of us all she kindly took her leave Some Jewels then to Cleophe she gave And made the Guard to bear her Weeping thence Because her pious Tears gave her offence Whilst she discours'd our Tears run trickling down And no Eyes there were Tearless but her own Sosius The highest Vertue 's fled that ever shin'd O Cruel Tyrant to the World unkind Pher. O Sir the King does want your pitty now I left the Pallace Sir to seek for you Sosius What then it seems he does repent too late Pher. Yes Sir he now repents what he has done And calls on Mariamne now she 's gone The Furies sting his Soul with such remorse He now his Servants now himself does Curse He threatens Death and a Revenge on all But yet the storm seems on himself to fall Just now he 's gone and none did dare withstand Wrath in his Eyes a Dagger in his hand Distracted thus he towards the Prison made Where her dead body back they have convey'd 'T is you alone his Fury can asswage No other dares oppose his fatal Rage Sosius Come let us go lest we should come too late I must avert though he deserves that Fate Exeunt Scene the Last The Scene opened Mariamne appears laid on a Couch as Beheaded Enter Alexandra Alexan. So much Confusion I meet every where I have no doubt for my increasing fear See there 's the Cause Alas this dismal sight O'rewhelms my sence with horrours dark as Night Nature's too strong And keeps my Soul in Prison here too long But I will give no Rest to my sad mind Till I a way to Death or Vengeance find Tyrant at thee my just revenge shall fly And then contented with my Fate I 'le dye Exit Enter Tyridates and Arsanes Tyrid. See where she lyes Arsanes see she 's dead And my enfeebled Soul is with her fled Here I my grief will forfeit at the Eye And gazing thus upon this Object dye I feel the little blaze of Life decrease And yet my mind enjoys no kind of Peace I would have time With my own hands to tear his heart away Who could such Innocence to Death betray But ah my Soul is flutt'ring to be gone And leaves Revenge to the just Gods alone Arsa. Oh Sir your Courage should support you now Tyrid. My Life Arsanes to the Queen is due Was 't not enough Oh aggravating thought That the Queen dyed and dyed too by my fault I caus'd the Cruelties she did sustain After all this can I behind remain No I would strike a Dagger to my heart Had not my kinder grief perform'd that part My juster sorrow sudden death affords Without the help of Poyson Wound or Swords Arsanes help remains of Life are small At my ador'd Queens feet direct my fall Arsan Shall grief thus overcome Tyrid. O yes I find Deaths kind embraces all my sences bind The world turns round and by degrees I gain A kind of Resurrection from my pain Farewell my kind Arsanes Arsan Oh Sir stay Tyrid. Accept dead Queen this Homage which I pay At my approach be not offended now The strictest Vertue may this grace allow Thy Vow to Herod's Cancel'd here and I Now gain that Bliss you did in Life deny And we may now come nearer when we dye Enter Herod with a Dagger in his hand Herod Where is the Queen Oh she is dead she 's dead Thou lyest it can't be yet from me she 's fled See there she lyes Murder'd by my Command Here I alive her Bloody Husband stand Tyrid. Thanks my kind heart my blood new Vitals takes Rows'd by that form my drooping Spirit wakes draws Herod Ha! Tyridates draws Tyrid. Tyrant art thou here Herod Usurper how darest thou invade this place If Life thou lovest take hence thy hated face So great a Passion none but she e're gave I 'm Jealous of that Beauty in her Grave Tyrid. Monster when by my hand thy blood is spilt To meet Damnation equal to thy Guilt At that blest minute thy black Soul shall flye May Heaven but hate thee half so much as I. Herod Have at thy heart thy fury I defy Two fiercer Foes Fate on one Stage can't bring A desp'rate Lover and a Rival King They make a full Pass and both fall Tyridates at Mariamnes feet Tyrid. Revenge thou 'st done thy part now Love go on And finish what Mariamnes Eyes begun Though it grows dark my Ghost shall rove about And never stop till it has found thine out To do thee Homage when in Heaven we meet There as on Earth I 'le fall before thy feet dyes Herod Ha! into what Confusion am I hurl'd Hee 'l be my Rival in the other World If Souls can fight I thee to Battle dare And mine shall hence only to meet thine there As my blood cooles my frighted sence looks home On my past deeds and what I have to come Here stand my Crimes and there Eternity Men take the largest prospect when they dye Just Souls may mount but mine I fear descends Dyes There Love there Jealousy here Tyrant ends Arsa. A Roman Courage in my breast I find And a disdainful scorn to stay behind But I must live in kindness to thy name And keep my hated life to speak thy same Exit Enter Salome Salom. All dead and all my Trophyes work for Graves Ruine and Death ye are obedient Slaves Stars boast no more the rule of humane fate No threatening Planet like a Womans hate I fround and Ruine darted from my Eyes Doom'd by my hate this blasted greatness dyes If Kings are next to Gods what then are they Who at their feet such mighty Victimes lay Oh Jealousy Oh Glorious Woman-kind But thy chief Conquest Salome is behind I know I for their deaths accus'd shall be And the dull Gown must of my head decree I scorn to such mean Judges to discend No I began with this with this I 'le end draws her Dagger They the best Courage show who with a frown Give others death and smiling give their own Stabs her self Enter Sosius Pheroras Arsanes and Attendants Ha! must my death admit of Lookers on Tares open her Bosom and stabs agen Dull Life make hast tardy Soul be gone So now 't is done falls Death ends both scorn and pride And I may dye by Tyridates side Though love once made me fire Fate sets me free And in the Grave makes me as cold as thee dyes Sosius Come let us from this dismal place be gon Where Cruelty and Love so much have done Pheroras Love Jealousy and Spight conspir'd thy fall But thou great Queen hast over-come them all Faire Innocence how e're supprest will rise And Vertue though she suffers never dyes Exeunt Omnes EPILOGUE Spoken by Mariamne I Who by Herod's Iealous Wrath was Slain Can by your Kindness be Reviv'd again I who Undaunted dyed now Trembling come Fearing your Breath more than a Tyrants Doom If you but smile let him still rage and frown Your Friendship 's valued more than Herod's Crown But if I cannot so much favour win Come but to Morrow and I 'le dye agen FINIS ERRATA PAge the First line 9. read Iudaean p. 2. l. 22. r. Governour p. 7. l. 31. read Iudea p. 2â— l. 5. r. delay 's