bring Dare 'sdeath old Sir I dare do any thing Tiss That word then all my former doubts secures Be only res'lute and Timandra's yours My stratagems so subtly I will lay That to your arms your Mistress I 'l betray Thus then as the first step to our design Your guards I 'l with adulterated wine Secure so they Charm'd in a Lethargy I 'l from your bonds and prison set you free Then when some happy moment shall present Timandra left ungarded in her tent Both of us thither in disguise will move To end your rival and compleat your love For when your â—ill of bliss you have enjoy'd And your full pleasures with themselves are cloy'd I thither will alar'm our enemy Where by both Swords he shall be sure to dye And the next night the watch-word given by me You may scape through the Guards to liberty The. Revenge my love enjoy'd and freedom too Then in the name of Pluto be it so What stupid ignorance the World possest That only fury plac't i' th' youthful breast No 't is in age alone great Spirits are young The Soul 's but infant when the Body's strong These hoary heads like grisly Comets are Which always threaten ruin death and war Tiss Alas such â—ame Souls know but half a growth I 'l make my age a step to a new youth Such murders and such cruelties maintain I 'l from the blood I shed grow young again The. Let 's in the name of horrour then go on Methinks I long to have the bus'ness done Something like Conscience else may all defeat You know Sir I 'm but a raw villain yet Tiss Conscience a trick of State found out by those That wanted power to support their Laws A bug-bear name to startle fools but we That know the weakness of the fallacie Know better how to use what nature gave That Soul 's no Soul which to it self 's a slave Who any thing for Conscience sake deny Do nothing else but give themselves the lye Exeunt SCENE the Camp Enter Patroclus and Draxilla Patr. Why Madam do you fly a lovers pray'r Is cruelty the priviledge o' th fair Drax. You cannot Sir i' th' Camp be beauties slave Where honour 's th' only Mistress of the brave Patr. But 't is a rugged honour got in Arms When not made soft by beauties sweeter charms That melts our rage into a kind desire Whâ—lst love reâ—ines it in his purer fire Drax. Lovers whose flights so sublime pitches choose Oft soar too high and so their quarry loose But you Sir know to moderate your height Missing your game can eas'ly slack the flight Patr. Such faint essays may fit a common flame But my desires have a far nobler Aime Religious honour and a zeal that 's true Rais'd by that Deity to which I sue Drax. Those who to deities their offerings pay Make their addresses in an humbler way Not in a confidence of what they give But modest hopes of what they shall receive Patr. I in my offerings no assurance have Though an ambition to become your slave Drax. Yes but when once admitted to that place You 'l still be looking for some acts of grace Patr. Some little favours pitty can't deny You are too noble to use cruelty Drax. See Sir the Queen I beg you Sir forbear Exeunt Patr. Madam this way Enter Queen and Ardella Qu. Did he then suffer no surprize 〈◊〉 shew Of alteration let 's the progress know Ard. In order Madam t' your command I went And met him coming from the Royal Tent Where after th' usual Ceremonies past E're I would feast I gave him first a taste Told him how much his courage you approv'd That he in no mean path of glory mov'd Who in his Arms had so successful been T' engage a Monarch and oblige a Queen Then nearer came and whisper'd something more Began to intimate loves mighty pow'r He briskly took the hint and readily Began to urge some pretty things to me By which encourag'd I to th' bus'ness drew Told him in fine it only was his due To be admir'd by all and lov'd by you Qu. And did not then his alter'd looks betray Some extasie some marks of lively joy Ard. No Madam he knew better policy Talk't of your honour and his loyalty Fine smoothing terms to cloak a passion in But if your Majesty Qu. What Ard. Had but seen How much his carriage did his words deceive When with a gentle sigh he took his leave As if he languish'd till the minute came Qu. Dost thou then think he entertains my flame Le ts to my Tent and wait his coming there Such swarms of love within my Breast there are The heat 's too furious for my Soul to bear What would I give but for a taste of bliss Oh the choice sweets of a stol'n happiness Act IV. Scene I. Alcibiades Solus Alci UNder what fatal Planet was I born Sure at my birth the Heavens themselves did mourn Disjoynted nature did her course forbear And held within her Womb a civil War I who but now did fame and Conquest bring And added to the glories of â— King Must see my Trophyes all thrown down agen By the base passions of a lustful Queen Why was I not born to a common fate Free from the glorious troubles of the great So in some humble Cell my years have spent Blest with a private peaceable content The vulgar mortal feels not fortunes harms The highest structures still are shook with storms See too she 's here what shall I do or speak Fate has beset me and I 've no way to take Enter Queen Qu. My Lord you something discompos'd appear Surely there 's nothing that can fright you here Alci Majesty Madam is a thing divine Qu. If that disturb you Sir I 'le lay by mine Methinks I apprehend a greater pride To view the man whose glories spread so wide Alci Madam you on 'em set too high a price Qu. Perhaps I see not Sir with common eyes They best of honour judge that honour have I find a secret in me says y' are brave You need not Sir unfold it you can guess Alci How craftily she would her lust express And set her ills off with a winning dress What 's to be done which way shall I conclude I must abuse my King or must be rude I cannot speak Qu. My Lord let 's sit a while Won't you vouchsafe your visitant a smile Alci Smiles Madam were too insolent a joy Qu. Fye put these formal complements away Ardella sing that Song I heard to day SONG The brightest Goddess of the Sky How did she panting sighing lye And languishing desire to dye For the Triumphant God of war Amidst his Trophies did appear As charming rough as she was fair 2. Their loves were blest they had a Son The little Cupid who has shown More conquest then his Sire e're won He grew the mightiest God above By which we him a Rebel prove To heav'n that
ALCIBIADES A Tragedy Acted at the DUKE'S Theatre Written by Tho. Otway Laudetur ab his Culpetur ab illis Horat Serm Lib. 1st Sat. 2. LONDON Printed for William Cademan at the sign of the Popes Head in the Lower walk of the New-Exchange in the Strand 1675. To the Right Honourable CHARLES Earl of MIDDLESEX My Lord I Am sufficiently sensible of my own Arrogance in that being almost a Stranger to every thing of You but your Fame I durst obtrude so abject a Triffle as this under the Patronage of so eminent a Person but that generous Candour wherewith you oblige all the World gave me Courage to hope you might at least pardon this first offence in me And though perhaps the best presents of this nature may not be more than ordinary grateful yet I have here my wishes if the sincerity of my Zeal may atone for the meaness of the Offering That is the farthest prospect I look to which whilst I have in view I dare not though perhaps as justly as some others have done I might complain of the censures of the World for since I 've heard that your Lordship prov'd indulgent I were unworthy of the favours you bestow'd should be concern'd at the malice or petulancy of those who alas will needs think it modish to be Critical but in the mean while forget 't is as gentile to be civil No my Lord 't is under your Vmbrage only I would court protection to whom Heav'n has given a soul whose endowments are as much above flattery as it self abbors it and which are as impossible to be describ'd as I am unable to comprehend them But as poorest Pilgrims when they visit shrines will make some presents where they kneel so I have here brought mine by your own goodness only made worthy to be preserv'd in whose defence I can say nothing more than that with all my best endeavours are and ever shall be ready to testifie how much I am my Lord The most earnest of Your Servants and Admirers THO. OTWAY ALCIBIADES A Tragedy ACT First SCENE First a Palace Timandra and Draxilla shouts without Theramnes Theramnes Theramnes Enter Servant Tim. WHat mean these shouts Serv. Oh all your hopes are crost The Gallant Alcibiades is lost Tim. Hah Serv. When last Night the Youth of Athens late Rose up the Orgia to Celebrate The Bacchanals all hot and Drunk with Wine He led to the Almighty Thund'rers shrine And there his Image seated on a Throne They violently took and tumbled down This opportunity Theramnes got To supplant him and his own ends promote For by the Senate he was doom'd to bleed And that his Rival shou'd in all succeed But he the threat'ning danger to evade Is to the Spartan Camp for Refuge fled And now by order from the Senate all With shouts proclaim Theramnes General Tim. But is he fled has he so meanly done To leave me to be wretched here alone Is this thy plighted Faith is this thy Truth Oh too unkind false and unconstant Youth Exit Serv. Drax. Madam believe not but my Brothers just You wrong his honour by this mean distrust Think you that distance can his Love rebate Tim. Thy young Experience never felt the weight Of Lovers fears if Just he 'l easily Excuse that Love that breeds this Jealousie Drax. But Madam for these doubts no grounds you have Tim. Alas goe ask of Mad-men why they Rave What more could Fate do to Augment my Woe I Love am Mad and know not what I do I who before had nothing in my Eyes But Glory and Love growing to delight Like Chymists waiting for their labours prize My hopes are dash't and ruin'd in their height Drax. Alas we but with weak intelligence Read Heaven's decrees Th' are writ in Mystick sâ—nce For were they open lay'd to Mortal Eyes Men would be Gods or they no Dieties Perhaps the wiser pow'rs thought fit this way To give your growing happiness allay Lest should it in its high perfection come Your soul for the Reception might want roome Tim. Thy Reasons kind Draxilla weakly move What Woman e're complain'd of too much Love No had I naked to the World been left Of Honour and its gawdy Plumes berest Yet all these I with gladness could resign So Alcibiades had still been mine But he remov'd what can they give alone What is the casket when the Jewel 's gone Drax. Madam if he be gone 't is to obtain A nobler lustre and return again Think you his great soul could with patience see His rifl'd Honours heap'd on 's Enemy And not his Rage have grown to that excess As must have ruin'd all your happiness But he withdrew and like a Zealous Hermit did forgoe Those little Toys to gain a Heav'n in you Tim. That Zeal must needs be very weak and faint That lets the Votary forsake his Saint No he is happy in some other flame And from his breast has blotted out my name So that there nothing more remains for me But a kind Death or a long Misery But Death alone 's th' unhappy Lovers ease That Seals up to us an Eternal Peace By that our souls to endless pleasures move And we enjoy an Everlasting Love Yet e're I dye as dye I feel I must To Alcibiades I would be just Fain would I let him know how I resign All in him that his past Vows had made mine Then to its seat in peace my soul should flye And calmly at my Lovers feet I 'd dye Draxilla for thy Friend what couldst thou do Drax. Madam I could do any thing for you I know not what you 'd ask me I 'd deny Except that cruel thing to see you dye Tim. Some safe disguises for us then provide From watchful eyes our sudden flight to hide Hence to the Spartan Camp I 'le forthwith move Born on the wings of Jealousy and Love For I 'm resolv'd to know the worst of Fate I wou'd be blest can be unfortunate Since 't is the only thing of Heav'n I crave To meet a faithful Lover or a Grave Theramnes at the Door Th. Stay kind Polyndus here Whilst I go pay my just devotion there Steping to Tim. See fairest Queen of Love and Beauty here Your faithfullest humblest Worshiper Distance adds to their Loves a Violence And their souls hold from far Intelligence Thus my mistaking Policy out-run My Fate and I 'm by my own Plots undone Pol. Why do you let your soul be so opprest 'T is Patience best befits a gallant Breast Th. Patience What 's that The Mistress of tame Fools That can in nothing else employ their souls No since Timandra thou canst disapprove My just flame for an absent Rivals Love I 'l find that Rival out and snatch his breath Though ev'ry step I tread encounter Death Pol. Now Sir y' are brave Already y 'ave disarm'd Timandra's charms Me-thinks I see you Rev'ling in her Arms Let 's then o' th' Wings of Love and honour fly To th'
Field and meet th' insulting Enemy Where through the paths of death and blood we 'l go To meet your Rival and his Countrys Foe There the remembrance of Timandra's charms Shall add fresh courage to your Conq'ring Arms. But if Fate the success so order shall That by your Rivals Sword you chance to fall I then as honour justly will command Inspir'd by Friendship and Timandra's Name Will bravely stem him and with this bold hand Revenge or fall a Victim to your flame Th. Oh noble generous Youth whose tender years Such gallant courage and such honour wear How can my aymes but in my wishes end That have so worthy and so brave a Friend Embraces him Come my Polyndus Pol. On my Friend I 'le wait Through all the Labarinths of Love and Fate Exeunt SCENE â— The Tent of a Pavilion Royal the King and Queen of Sparta Alcibiades Tissaphernes Patroclus Guards Ladys c. K. Now must proud Athens lay her Tryumphs down And pay her Glorys Tribute to my Crown No more shall stupid Greece her Fetters wear Nor make disadvantagious peace for fear But she her self must in subjection come And humbly at my feet expect her doom Tiss Yes Sir all Glorys must when Yours break forth Go out and lose their Beauty and their Worth And like false Angels Vanish and be gone Dreading those shapes they durst before put on Pat. Athens the Worlds great Mistress will not be Courted with low and vulgar Gallantry Her Glory aymes at higher Characters Then heavy Gown-men clad in formal Furrs Who wins her deeds 'bove common Fate must do And so she 's only Mistress fit for you K. Yes and I only will enjoy her too But noble generous Youth thou has alone Things Worthy the Athenian honour done To Alcibiades Thou like a tow'ring Eagle soard'st above That lower Orb in which they faintly move A flight too high for their dull souls to use Which prompted 'em that honour to abuse Thinking their baseness they might palliate With the dark Cloud of Policy and State But let them that black mistery pursue By worth and honour Empires greatest grow Which when abus'd their glory does suppress As revers'd prospects make the object less Alcib Yours Sir like Heav'ns great soul is General Dispensing its kind influence on all This makes success and Victory repair To move with you as in their proper Sphear As fragrant dews leave the corrupter earth Exhail'd by th' Sun from whom they had their Birth K. The truth of that we by your Lawrels know Conquest your Arms Triumph still waits your brow By your success th' Athenian greatness rose Your courage scatter'd their insulting Foes And from that height to which by you th' are grown 'T is your success alone must throw 'em down Thus have we made you Gen'ral of ouâ— Force And all those honours you were rob'd off there We 'll make our study to redouble here Tiss And I if that my Malice tell me true As diligently shall his Plagues pursue Aside Alcib Of all my Courage or my Sword shall do I the success must to your Vertue owe The honour and the justice of your cause So glorious are Fate must from them take Laws So You o're Athens this advantage have You Fortune rule to whom she 's but a Slave K. Enjoy my Tissaphernes now thy ease And plant â—resh Lawrels in the shades of Peace The glorys thou hast won so num'rous are They seem as many as thy age can bear But if thy spacious soul thou canst confine Within this narrow Mansion of mine Be this the utmost of thy wishes bound Possess his grateful heart whose head th' ast Crown'd Tiss Heav'n knows my Age does feel no sharper sting Then to want pow'r to serve so good a King But since time tells me that my glass is run Setting me backward where I first begun Since no way else they can their duty show I 'le only employ my hands to Heav'n for you And what my Sword can't may devotion do K. How truly he a glorious Monarch is That 's Crown'd with blessings so sublime as these How can I but in all things happy be Propt by such Courage and such Piety To me with Gods similitude is giv'n 'T is pow'r and vertue that supports their Heav'n Our Royal Standard to the City bear T'Alarm it to Obedience or to War To Morrow must decide th' Athenian Fate This day to joy and ease we 'l Consecrate Exeunt Om. praet Tiss Tiss Ungrateful King thy shallow aymes pursue But my brisk Up-start Fav'rite have at you Was it for this my active Youth I spent In War and knew no dwelling but a Tent Have I for this through Invious Mountains pass't Demolish't Cities and lay'd Kingdoms wast Still in his Cause unwearied courage shown And almost hid his head in Crowns I won Upon my Breast receiv'd so many Scarrs They seem a War describ'd in Characters And must the harvest of my toyle and blood Upon a fawning Rebel be bestow'd Who having false to his own Country been Comes here to play his Treasons o're agen Must he at last tumble my Trophies down And Revel in the Glorys I have won Whilst from my Honours they me disengage With a dull Complement to feeble Age. What ayles this hardy hand that yet it shou'd Tremble at death or start at reeking blood Me thinks this Dagger I as firmly hold Draws a Dagger And with a strength as resolute and bold As he who kindly would its point impart A present to an envy'd Fav'rites heart And I fond Youth will try to work thy fall Though with my own I Crown thy Funeral Envy and Malice from your Mansions flie Resign your horrour and your Snakes to me For I 'le act mischiefs yet to you unknown Nay you shall all be Saints when I come down Finis Actus Primi ACT Second Scene First A Grove adjoyning to the Spartan Camp Timandra and Draxilla Tim. WHat uncouth Roads Afflicted Lovers pass How strange prepost'rous steps their Sorrows trace Oh Alcibiades if thou art just Forgive th' excess of Love that bred distrust Driven by that disguis'd I hither came Yet here and ev'ry where my grief 's the same But kind Draxilla's Friendship can dispel The thickest Clouds that on sad Bosoms dwell That does alleviate my griefs and give My wearied soul a soft and kâ—nd Reprieve Which ever to forget would be as hard And as impossible as to Reward Drax. The serving you my happiness secures I 'm only somthing by my being yours Since equally with yours my hopes were crost When in your Lover I a Brother lost Then like an Orphan destitute and bare Of all but Misery and sad despair Your Kindness gave my yeelding spirits rest And rais'd me to a dwelling in your breast Then ought I not in all my soul resign To ease her griefs that kindly pitty'd mine Tim. In that I did what honour urg'd me to Drax. And honour tells me Gratitude is due Tim. But