is certain Death with loss of Honour Exit Mith. Farewel Semandra thou most wrong'd of Women But I 'll this instant go to Monima And if I find what I suspect Pharnaces I 'll cut thee off as an infectious limb And for those Villains I shall quickly know The wrong she has had whose accus'd Innocence If your foul words have sully'd with black slander Think not to scape for shou'd you ride on Charms Take Winds to bear you or the Lightning's speed With panting horrour to the brink of Hell I 'de sweep you from the Verge to flames beneath And sink your Villanies with weighty death Exit Phar. First sink your self your Crown and Love together Pelopidas this comes of your cool counsel Had I been heard Monima had been gone By this enjoy'd and Crown'd my Royal Bride And we receiv'd as Conquerors by the Romans Hast thou not heard how when Tygranes came And cast his Diadem at Pompey's feet He call'd him King and rais'd him by that Name To sit as Equal to the Roman Consul By all the Gods I will not stay a moment But take immediately my flight except You swear to side with Rome call Pompey hither And haste with all the Forces we can make To joyn his Army and betray my Father Pelop. A sudden thought of lucky mischief comes Old Archelaus is arriv'd but left The labour'd Army some few furlongs hence You know the violent love the Souldiers bear The Prince your Brother and we know too well And so do all the murmuring Citizens How cruelly your Father lately us'd him But that great Mole the Multitude ne're sees Who works their Prince but still take all on trust Therefore I instantly will spread amongst em How Archelaus was Conspirator Against the Prince and finding more advantage To have the King his Son in-law by Letters Basely compell'd his Daughter to the Marriage Phar. Millions to one but this will set 'em on To tear curst Archelaus like mad Dogs Besides I find by frequent murmures how His Subjects are quite tir'd with length of War And but last night I know no less than twelve All Captains who conspir'd to take the part Of Pompey and intreated me to Head ' em Andr. Pursue the Treason and be sure it cool not While I with Tryphon hasten to the Army A Priest will colour well our enterprise There will we give out all that Treachery Can raise to fire 'em how the King has doom'd The Prince to death having first ravish'd from him The Fair Semandra for whose sake he dies Phar. While I immediately to Pompey send Who comes I hear on hasty march to fight Our Army and besiege us in our Walls Pelop. Thus shall the Prince and I rule all within And you with the High-Priest my Brother play Your Parts without Phar. I long to be in action And sure Rome must for the great overthrow Give me my Father's Crowns which gratitude Shall distribute to both your utmost wishes Pelop. We must not doubt your bounty But away Enter Ziphares with Ismenes at distance Your melancholy Brother may o're-hear us Ex. Phar. Pelop. Andr. Ziph. Oh my hard Fate why did I trust her ever What Story is not full of Womans falshood The Sex is all a Sea of wide destruction We are the vent'rous Barks that leave our home For those sure dangers which their smiles conceal At first they draw us in with flatt'ring looks Of Summer-Calms and a soft gale of Sighs Sometimes like Syrens Charm us with their Songs Dance on the Waves and show their Golden Locks But when the Tempest comes then then they leave us Or rather help the new Calamity And the whole Storm is one injurious Woman The Lightning follow'd with a Thunder-bolt Is Marble-hearted Woman all the Shelves The faithless Winds blind Rocks and sinking Sands Are Women all the wracks of wretched men Prithee Ismenes while I lay me here Charm me with some sad Song into a slumber SONG by Sir Car Scroop 1. ONe night when all the Village slept Myrtillo's sad despair The wand'ring Shepherd waking kept To tell the Woods his care Be gone said he fond thought be gone Eyes give your sorrows o're Why shou'd you waste your tears for one That thinks on you no more 2. Yet all the Birds the Flocks and Pow'rs That dwell within this Grove Can tell how many tender hours We here have pass'd in Love Yon' Stars above my cruel Foes Have heard how she has sworn A thousand times that like to those Her Flame shou'd ever burn 3. But since she 's lost Oh! let me have My wish and quickly dye In this cold Bank I 'll make a Grave And there for ever lye Sad Nightingales the Watch shall keep And kindly here complain Then down the Shepherd lay to sleep But never wak'd again Enter Archelaus Arch. How now Ismenes Prithee gentle Boy Instruct me where to find thy Royal Master VVhat dost thou weep I charge thee bring me to him Isme. See there my Lord. Arch. Bless me you Heav'nly Pow'rs Upon the Earth It cannot be thy Master Is that a posture for a Conqueror He who so bravely beat the Romans back A General and Triumpher Haste and show me Isme. By Heav'n it 's true my Lord there lies the Prince Arch. Something my heart presag'd when having left The Army I came posting to the Court And scarce receiv'd a welcom from my Friends They said the Prince had Triumph'd but I saw Not the least track of such a Glory left No glimmering twilight of so full an Honour There has been foul play and I 'll find it out Ziph. Away Semandra cruel VVoman leave me Arch. Ha! goes it there Ziphares Prince arise Ziph. Ha! who is there old Archelaus Arch. VVhy Do I not see you in a Chariot VVith all the Pride of Asia's brightest Gems VVhy mount you not the Throne which you deserve The Lords of Colchis waiting as your Slaves Give me some reason why I see you thus Ziph. Alas he had no hand in her revolt Nor knows not yet perhaps how she has us'd me VVhy do I seem thus strange then Oh Archelaus For I must never call thee Father more Pardon my faulty carriage Arch. Forbear these strict imbraces Your tears your hanging on my Bosom thus Your sighs reduce my Age to sobbing Childhood And make an Infant of your poor Old Man Ziph. Did I not say I never more must call Thee Father Arch. Yes you did Ziph. Fond foolish sorrow Thou art thou-shalt thou must be still my Father My Brother Sister Mistress all my Friend For all but thou have left me no kind eye Pities the suff'rings of abus'd Ziphares They fly all fly from my infectious Fortune Arch. Nay good dear Prince stand up you smother all Your words with groans dry up this womanish grief And speak dear Sir declare the cursed cause The baleful Spring the Source of all this mischief Ziph. VVou'd you believe it scarce can I my self Oh Heav'ns and oh
forces her upon him Arch. Hold you have gone too far speak to the purpose Ziph. Ambition therefore was not my Request In Colchis or in Bosphorus to Reign Leave to my Brothers all your Empire and To me this only Beauty for Reward Mith. Reward Wert thou on Mithridates Throne Possess'd of all his Kingdoms were thine eye Like his who guides the day and thou cou'dst call In all thy Journeys what thou saw'st thy own Her eyes wou'd match thy lustre all thy glories Wou'd be but shadows when this Face appear'd Ziph. They wou'd my Lord. Mith. They wou'd my Lord Yet more By all my Royalties a God might wed her And be a gainer by the beauteous Bride Ziph. Such as she is Mith. Not Heav'n it self can mend her Had I as many Tongues as I have Languages Skill'd in all Speeches of the babling World And cou'd at once speak to as many Nations With such a grace as might make Athens blush By Mercury and by the Father of The Muses I shou'd never speak Semandra Mon. O he is gone his vow'd fidelity Is gaz'd away Mith. Tell me her Birth Ziphares She must be more than Royal. Ziph. Fate thy worst Let me be dumb for ever from this moment Arch. In me your Majesty may please to read Her Father what I want in Dignity Be pleas'd to fill up with my Services Mith. Thy Daughter Arch. Yes my gracious Lord my Daughter Mith. O pity that so fair a Star shou'd be The Child of Night that such a stream of Crystal Shou'd have her Spring so muddy Thou dy'st thou saucy old ambitious Dotard Who dar'st to match thy Lees of blood with ours And daub the Throne of the Immortal Cyrus Ziph. Hold hold most awful give Ziphares death Impale me burn me bury me alive But do not wrong this innocent old man These hairs which were made Silver in your service O the good Gods whom fear cou'd never shake Your bitter words have caus'd to tremble see With the disgrace he weeps his Springs of life Which had been dry for fifty years this last Affront has water'd Oh my poor Father Mith. Ha! that Name again Thou art no more my Son For thee Semandra Thou shalt attend our Queen to Court my Fair Where I must learn you to forget Ziphares And match you equal to your birth Sem. My Lord Ziphares Father Mith. Look not back Conduct the Queen Pharnaces O Semandra 'T is to your Tears I sacrifice my Justice To them your Fathers life I 'll not deny Who for Ambition did deserve to die Exeunt all but Ziphares and Archelaus Arch. Dotard and saucy nay the Lees of blood Now by the Gods 't is sprightly as his own O 't is too much to bear Forgive me Prince It breaks the very neck of Loyalty Perhaps he Whores my Daughter too But first Rather than see him wear my glories Spoils Thou my good Sword that has so oft been drawn And dy'd thy self in Roman bowels to The very Guard for this ungrateful King Be faithful to me as thou still hast been And pierce the heart of thy dishonour'd Master Ziph. Oh Archelaus Oh my kinder Father If you are stir'd thus at an angry word What shou'd I be I who am lost indeed I who am stunn'd I who sustain'd the stroke Of all the anger of the Fates at once Semandra O my Love Arch. Restrain your grief As I my rage and let us think apace Tho for my Daughters Virtue I wou'd stake My Immortal part my Fame so dearly bought Yet force which he may use will have its way Consider that Ziph. Consider how shou'd I Consider who grow mad with crouding thoughts Where every one endeav'ring to be foremost Stops up the passage and will choak my Reason Arch. Once more speak humbly to him Perhaps 't is but a sudden short-liv'd fit A gust of Passion that may soon blow over But if you find it rooted in his heart Eat your way through him to your happiness Or perish like your Brother Mithridates Ziph. By Heav'n I think it greatest happiness Never to have been born and next to that To die for who that wears his flesh can bear The curse of Accidents a Change like mine I who some moments past wou'd not have chang'd Condition with the blessed Gods themselves Now in all probability am lost And stand upon the very brink of ruine Arch. Your Destiny 's uncertain Fate as yet Holds the Scale doubtful let us haste to Court Where we shall learn which way the Ballance falls Ziph. Not half an hour ago methought secure I hug'd my self and almost cou'd have wept In meer compassion to th' hard-fated World Thinking how much my state was happier Arch. Yet all the while you did not spy the danger Which crept invisible and undermin'd you Ziph. Alas I did not without fear I stood Like one who on the Beach discries from far A labouring Bark with which the Billows war Pities its state wishing the Tempest gon But views not the near Sea come rolling on So did with me my unseen Fortune play Till the Waves came and wash'd me quite away Exeunt ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Pharnaces and Pelopidas Phar. I 'LL hear no more get me a hundred Horse To be our Guard I 'll bear her hence to night And Ravish her by all the fire that acts This fearless frame I will Declare the diff'rence Is not the Blood of Queens and Princesses Like other Womens Souls alike infus'd Their Banquets richer and the Drinks they taste The very Spirits of the Purple Vine Yet we must think 'em cold as candid Ice Not a thought starting free from warm desires As the bleak Girl upon the Mountain's top Cover'd with Snow beat'n with constant Winds That feeds on Herbs and Roots and drinks the Dew Pelop. What wou'd you have her fall like mellow Fruit Whom yet no Sun has shone upon no warmth To ripen ' bate a little of this fire Phar. Pelopidas I oft have told you that She knew my love before she saw my Father For in the Plunder I first lighted on her Tho afterwards he took my beauteous spoil As now he does my Brother's I alledg'd As late I led her weeping to her Chamber My constant passion and his breach of faith All that a love most violent cou'd put Into a Lover's mouth like mine but she unmov'd Insensible reply'd the King 't was possible At last might kill her with his cruelty Yet to the utmost moment of her life She wou'd adore him with such spotless love Such most Romantick faith and such a deal Of whining grief that in a rage I flung Away and left her talking to her self Pelop. And do you think this haughtiness will carry 't He that will win a most exalted Beauty Must bend his Soul low as he bows his Body Watch every Glance obey her e're she speaks Cast up his eyes at each affected word And swear-Besides her Honour Sir her Honour Obliges her to stand a while
who am bound by Oaths and solemn Vows To love Ziphares By my Father's Order And by the tenderest Inclination too Mith. You strike me dead Sem. Oh do but think my Lord How wou'd Mankind when they shall read my Story Tear all the Rolls or throw 'em to the Flames How wou'd the weeping Maids curse my remembrance Shou'd I for pride of Power a Golden Promise A gaudy Nothing prove ingrateful perjur'd Leave all the goodness of the Earth to languish And break for ever with his matchless Virtue Mith. You have said and I confess it to be Heav'nly I know and till I saw your Eyes I lov'd The Virtue of my Son I lodg'd him near My Heart and set him down my Successor But now Oh hear and wonder at your Power Spight of his Noble Acts tho to his Arm I owe my Life tho Justice speaks so loud And the soft Tongue of Nature pleads so well I hate him more than I did ever love him Sem. Alas wou'd I had dy'd when first you saw me Mith. Had he conspir'd my Death usurp'd my Throne Perhaps I might have doom'd him to be slain Yet sure I shou'd have wept to see him die But now since he must Ravish that lov'd Gem I prize above the World tearing you from me Giving me twenty Deaths and cutting through My very Soul shou'd I my Empire give To buy his Fate I 'de think it vastly sold. Sem. Then blasted be the Form that charm'd your Eyes His Fate Oh Gods then you design his Death To reap the Bloody Harvest of his Life And Atreus-like to feed on your own Bowels But know Proud Monarch there are Powers who see And punish Crimes like yours Nor can I doubt But they will save from your most Impious Rage My poor lov'd Lord the Innocent Ziphares Weeping Mith. Those Waters more inrage my Jealous Flame And those heav'd Sighs but spread my Anger 's Wings Your Fatal Kindness hastens on his Death And that untimely Doom which I forbore To execute seems necessary now You give him all your Stock of richest Love Your Tears your longing Looks your Smiles your Groans And over-bless him with your lavish kindness But niggardly to me you will not spare A pitying Glance one Pearly drop to Ransom The Soul of this despairing Mithridates Andravar go and bear the Prince to Prison Sem. Stay Andravar the King has call'd you back See he repents Nay I must hold you then And if you stir you take Semandra with you O Mithridates O ungrateful Prince What was it you did order But behold His Eyes are fix'd upon the ground he blushes To think he cou'd so monstrously Decree To murder the sweet hopes of all his Kingdoms The Gods be prais'd for this Serene Repentance Yet with the fright I fear I shall not sleep Till Death does close my Eyes Mith. O rise Semandra Sem. Never I never will Oh all you pitying Powers will not my cryes And piercing Woes move you to melt his Soul Can you be deaf Oh Cruel Mithridates Did you but know the workings you have made The heavy plight the panting Passions here If you had but a Grain of all that World Of Love you swore you once had for Semandra You cou'd not see me thus Misery distracts My Reason shou'd you turn to a new rage Which I must fear unless you Vow to save him I cou'd not bear it you shou'd see me fall Cold pale and with my Deaths Convulsions grasping Your water'd feet but never more rise Mith. Give me your Beauteous Hand I swear upon it By all those Powers we worship by our Self When e're Ziphares dies Semandra kills him She shall alone have Power to give him Death Or to recal his most untimely Fate Enter Ziphares and Archelaus Thus dearly do I buy the Red Impression Which my Lips make but take it take it from me My Blood boils up again my Spirits kindle That lovely Brand has lent my wishes flame And I am lost again in vast desire Ziph. Semandra live I once to see thee more Tho in my Father's Arms 'T is Heav'n to gaze On thy assaulted Honour thus to see thee Thus tempted from me with the Charms of Empire Yet not consenting No I 'll not think the World Laid at thy Feet Cou'd win thy Faith Yet O dread Sir forgive me If that my boding Heart suspects you more Then all that Heav'n cou'd send down great and charming Or Hell cou'd raise up horrid to destroy me Mith. O Glory Arch. O consider Sir on that Think how the Romans will despise your Wars If Love now drive you Speak my Lord he yields Ziph. Oh Royal Sir or if the Name of Father Can move you more by that I will Conjure you By all the Charms of Stratonice's Eyes When first they drew you to adore their lustre By all the Pains you gave her when she bore me By all the Obedience I have paid you long And by the Blood I yet intend to lose In your behalf oh grant me my Semandra Sem. Ev'n by the Passion my unhappy Beauty First kindled in you but I hope is dying Give me Ziphares give him to my Longings Mith. 'T is done the Conquest is at last obtain'd And Manly Virtue Lords it o're my Passion It shall be so away thou feeble God I banish thee my Bosom hence I say Be gone or I will tear the Strings that hold thee And stab thee in my Heart The Wars come on By Heav'n I 'll drown thy laughing Deity In Blood and drive thee with my brandish'd Sword To Rome I will yes to the Capitol There to resume thy Godhead once again And vaunt thy Majesty without controul But never Reign in Mithridates Soul Arch. O wonderful effect of highest Virtue O Conquest which deserves more Triumphs than A hundred Victories in Battel gain'd Ziph. You must you shall be now the Lord of Rome Her Fate shall bow beneath your Awful Scepter O let me not enjoy the Life you promis'd The vast possession of the rich Semandra If I strike not Rome's Eagles to the Earth Take the Imperial Standard Chase their Legions And bring in Triumph all their Leaders bound Mith. Andravar haste Proclaim throughout the City My Son Ziphares General against the Romans Exit Andravar Come to my Breast once more my dearest Son In spight of Love thou art again my Child Thus with a Father's bowels I receive thee Thus melting o're thee with the tenderest Nature I pray the Gods to Crown thy Youth with glory Ziph. Oh Happiness Oh Joy Oh blessed Tears Reward this Goodness Heav'n for Poor Ziphares Is now so lost he knows not what to say Let me devour your hands with Filial dearness Were my whole Life to come one heap of Troubles The pleasure of this moment wou'd suffice And sweeten all my griefs with its remembrance Sem. Oh happy hour if I not set thee down The whitest that the Eye of Time e're saw Let me ne're smile when I remember thee
must shovel in and when you see The Head of Mithridates in this hand Then think who ever dar'd for Rome like me Or bought an Empire at a price so dreadful Then yield the Beauty I so much desire And all those Crowns to which my thoughts aspire Exeunt SCENE II. Enter Ziphares Archelaus Ziph. 'T Is late the gath'ring Clouds like meeting Armies Come on apace and Mortals now must die Till the bright Ruler of the rising Day Creates 'em new the wakeful Bird of Night Claps her dark wings to th' Windows of the dying General Good-night Arch. Sir I 'll not leave you yet I do not like the dusky boding Eve Well I remember Sir how you and I Have often on the Watch in Winter walk'd Clad in cold Armor round the sleeping Camp Till cover'd o're from head to foot with Snow The Centinels have started at our march And thought us Ghosts stalking in Winding-sheets And do you think I cannot watch you now Thus cover'd and beneath this bounteous Roof Sleep Sir I 'll guard you from suspected danger Ziph. Danger there 's none no shadow of a harm Dear General you 'l oblige me to retire We 'll meet to morrow with the earliest dawn I 'm troubled now and heavy in the morning Soon as you please you shall have entrance here And then I trust the bounteous Gods you 'll find A wondrous alteration Sleep may Charm My talking griefs and hush 'em fast for ever Arch. 'T is that I fear I tell you there are Deaths Brooding this night abroad A Recluse Priest Surpriz'd with mortal sickness was this Evening As he himself desir'd ta'n from his Bed And carry'd to the Closet of the King Where after some close conference he expir'd Immediately your Father Orders gave For doubling all his Guards and went in fury To Monima's Apartment where 't was said Pharnaces had been gone a while before Ziph. I ever thought that Brother most ambitious But what is this to me Arch. What follow'd does Concern both you and me and all the East For streight when the sick Priest had breath'd his last The sacred Oyl which for a hundred years Supply'd the Sun behind the Golden Vail Went out and all the mystick lights were quench'd Strange doleful Voices shrilly eccho'd through The darkned Fane the Monuments did open And all the Marble Tombs like Spunges squeez'd Spouted big Sweat the Curtain was consum'd With wondrous flame and every shining Altar Dissolv'd to yellow puddle which anon A flash of thirsty Lightning quite lick'd up While through the Streets your murder'd Brothers rode Arcathias Mithridates and Machares And madded all the schreaming multitude Is not this strange Ziph. The Gods reproach my slackness Aside 'T is strange most wondrous strange Once more I pray thee By all our Friendship leave me to my self Arch. Ah Prince you cannot hide Your purpose from your narrow-searching Friend I find it by the sinking of your Spirits Your hollow speech deep musings eager looks Whose fatal longings quite devour their objects You have decreed by all the Gods you have This night to end your Noble Life Ziph Away I never thought thee troublesome till now Arch. I care not spite of all that you can do I 'll stay and weep you into gentleness Your faithful Souldier this old doting Fool Shall be more troublesom than one that 's wiser By Heav'n you shall not hurt your precious life I 'll stay and wait you wake here till I die Follow you as a fond and fearful Father Wou'd watch a desperate Child Ziph. I 'll tell thee then Since thou wilt tear the Secret from my breast And dive into the bottom of my Soul This night must end me make not a reply 'T is fix'd as fast and sure as are my woes Did'st thou but know what 't is to love like me And to be so belov'd O Archelaus Yet to be past all hope of happiness Of ever tasting those desir'd Beauties Of any dawn least glimpse or spark of comfort Did'st thou not hate me much even thou wou'dst kill me Arch. If that my death for that indeed 's but little Cannot once move you from this dreadful deed Yet Prince your Country which must fall without you Your bleeding Country must obtain at least That you wou'd live to free her from her Foes Your Glory calls your sinking Father begs That you wou'd save your Country from the Romans Ziph. Much I indeed have got by Conquering Rome And to much purpose lost my dearest blood Much have my wounds deserv'd and Heav'n can tell How Nobly I have been rewarded for ' em I tell thee Archelaus I have sworn Were I to live I wou'd not fight again The World shou'd neither better be nor worse For me But I waste time and to convince thee Since thou wilt have the trouble to behold My death I bid thee now farewel for ever Arch. Hold Sir Ziph. I will and talk as calmly to thee As any dying Roman of 'em all I have consider'd well of what I do And I will perish with as little noise As Fate cou'd wish that wou'd not be accus'd Arch. I 'll follow you Ziph. I wou'd intreat thee not Thou hast no sorrows that are past the sufferance And sure my flying Soul will hang her wing When she shall feel thy weighty death upon her O Archelaus leave me to my Fate If thou must see me fall I charge thee live At least so long to tell Semandra of me Bear her some Token of my ill-star'd Love Which Empire cou'd not win to live without her Dip in the blood which trickles from my heart Thy Handkerchief and bid her keep it for me As a Remembrance now and then to mourn me Swear to do this Arch. This I will do and mark me cruel Prince If thus thou violate that Royal Frame Tearing the gallant Spirit from his Mansion I swear by what I tremble at thy death I 'll double all thy wounds upon Semandra Ziph. Ha! Arch. I 'll tear her piece-meal and so hack her limbs Thou shalt not know her in the other World Ziph. Oh torture dear good Archelaus hold I know thou canst not mean such cruelty Why dost thou rack me thus with thoughts in death That are much heavier ev'n than death it self Why dost thou make my eyes thus swim in tears I charge thee do not hurt her for the sake Of all the Gods be gentle to my Love I beg for mercy to the soft Semandra Alas if she deserv'd as she is faultless She cou'd not bear the wounds which we can bear Arch. Give me your promise then that you will live Live but this night or I have sworn her death Ziph. Thou hast found the means to Charm me into life And keep me on the Rack but no more threats Against Semandra 't was unkindly done And I grow angry at my Fates delay Arch. Why will you be thus froward Live to night Be careful of your self but till the Morn Methinks there may
Awake what ho Ismenes haste a light Haste hither Father Archelaus haste My heart bodes ruine we are all undone Enter Archelaus and Ismenes with a Light Oh Father either I am Charm'd or here Semandra lies slain by this dreadful hand Arch. Our Guardian-spirits shield us 't is my Daughter Ziph. Curs'd Fate malicious Stars you now have drain'd Your selves of all your poys'nous influence Ev'n the last baleful drop is shed upon me Sem. Give me thy hand most matchless of thy kind O joyn us Father joyn us thus in death Now thou art mine and we 'll be wedded too In th' other World our Souls shall there be mixt Who knows but there our joys may be compleat A happy Father thou and I perhaps The smiling Mother of some little Gods Ziph. Oh Archelaus if thou lov'st her memory Fly to the King and let him understand The truth of all if he be pleas'd to hear her Intreat him haste the pangs of death are on her Arch. I will if tears will let me find the way And by your leave these Weapons shall be mine Ziph. That I expected Ha! she faints Ismenes Run to my Closet haste where thou wilt find A Golden Vial of rich Juice to bring the Spirits Back to their Seat go pour it in a Bole With speed to save her Exit Ismenes Hast thou not a word A syllable fair Soul Speak speak Semandra I feel a trembling warmth about thy heart It pants Sem. As Cowards do before a Battel Oh the Great March is sounded Ziph. Stay thee one moment Ismenes re-enters with a Bole. And I will lead thee on Away Ismenes Watch thou the King's approach and bring me word Exit Ism. Here seest thou this my Love look up Semandra Thou dying Spark glimmer a little while Behold this Cordial this sure warmth at heart This faithful Off'ring of Eternal Love Sem. VVhither oh where Death's Myst comes fast upon me What is 't you drink Ziph. A Draught which makes me thine The pow'rful Cordial which my Father gave me A Noble Compound of his fatal skill He charg'd me when I cou'd not live with Honour To taste it and be free Sem. Methinks your Voice is faint As distant Ecchoes and I am now far off Alas I know not where Dies Ziph. I 'll fold thee thus And Mithridates shall not part us now Fan thus the dying flame with my last breath She 's out the damp of Death has quench'd her quite These spicy-doors her lips are shut close lock'd Which never gale of life shall open more I come Oh Father Oh thou true Physitian Thou work'st me Nobly now and oh 't is welcom Thy Drugs are quick once more O Love I come Thou most of Life in Death Ambition Fame 'T is empty all and nothing but a Name Dies Archelaus Mithridates supported bleeding Pharnaces Pelopidas Andravar bound Arch. Behold behold my Lord how I 'm rewarded For faithful service for the numerous scars Which in your Cause have mark'd my aged body My Daughter 's slain Ha! let me never rise If that the brave Ziphares be not kill'd Was this the Cordial wicked Boy thou brought'st him Mith. Blame not the guiltless for by me he 's poyson'd By this inhumane Tyrant Monster Parricide By me the Drugs were mixt and dol'd about To my unhappy Children left surpriz'd They shou'd be born to Rome for Royal Slaves Arch. Dead art thou dead O lovely Royal Plant Blown down by gusty Heav'n in all thy bloom My hour is come and thus I follow thee Mith. Hold him What means the frantick General Disarm and bring him hither Kneel O kneel Before these Bodies Arch. What wou'd you sacred Sir Mith. Swear swear to live I have a Royal Race of Little Ones Live I Conjure thee to defend those Infants From Roman Rage intreat Victorious Pompey And he 'll be gentle to 'em Swear to live Arch. I swear but after that Mith. Rise and no more My blood leaks fast and the great heavy lading My Soul will quickly sink therefore revenge Yes you pale figures you most precious forms Who where you walk for sure you tread the Stars Shame brightest Gods and add new light to Heav'n First in most dreadful manner will I give Those Traytors lives who drew me to your ruine Hence burn the Slaves the curs'd Pelopidas And Villain Andravar away with ' em For thee but sure I shall disdain to name thee The Palace yet is ours Arch. But cannot long Be so Pompey the Great is entred And those who took your part are all revolted Mith. Away then bear him to the middle Turret Whose Brazen-head rises above the rest In sight of Pompey throw him from the top And give his most aspiring life an end Phar. I know thou canst not long out-live me Tyrant Accurs'd be Fortune which too forward bore me To be thy Prey and rot the hand that seiz'd me Yet when my Ghost is from this body dash'd If such a Goblin as a Ghost there be I 'll rise and wing the mid-way Air to wait thee Hurl'd shalt thou be as Saturn was by Jove And flag beneath me while I reign above Mith. O General behold and wonder with me How swiftly Fate can make or unmake Kings How empty is Death's Pomp compar'd with Life Where now are all the busie Officers The supple Courtiers and big Men of War That bustled here and made a little World Revolted all Support me for I go My Soul is on the Beach and strait must lanch Into th' Abyss of the black Sea of death Where Furies stand upon the smoaky Rocks Prepar'd to meet one greater than themselves Here lay me bleeding by these murder'd Lovers And oh when I am dead let Sorrow stalk In sacred silence to my gaping Tomb. Forget that ever Mithridates was No tongue relate the deeds this Hand has done Let thought be still or work beneath the ground But oh he 's come cold Tyrant I obey And hug thy Dart that bears my Life away Dies FINIS Epilogue by Mr. Dryden YO 've seen a Pair of faithful Lovers die And much you care for most of you will cry 'T was a just Judgment on their Constancy For Heav'n be thank'd we live in such an Age When no man dies for Love but on the Stage And ev'n those Martyrs are but rare in Plays A cursed sign how much true Faith decays Love is no more a violent desire 'T is a meer Metaphor a painted Fire In all our Sex the name examin'd well Is Pride to gain and Vanity to tell In Woman 't is of subtil int'rest made Curse on the Punk that made it first a Trade She first did Wits Prerogative remove And made a Fool presume to prate of Love Let Honour and Preferment go for Gold But glorious Beauty is not to be sold Or if it be 't is at a rate so high That nothing but adoring it shou'd buy Yet the rich Cullies may their boasting spare They purchase but sophisticated Ware 'T is Prodigality that buys deceit Where both the Giver and the Taker cheat Men but refine on the old Half-Crown way And Women fight like Swizzers for their Pay Prologue by Mr. Lee. NOt careful Leaders when the Trumpets call Their Martial Squadrons on to stand or fall Toss'd with more doubts than careful Poets are When vent'rous Wit for Sally does prepare When Humming Voices bid the Play begin And the last flourish calls the Prologue in Here you like dreadful Warriours judging sit And in full Councel try all Writers Wit To some for Sense Renown'd our Authors bow And what you Doom for a just Fate allow But sure far less such Judges Poets dread Than those Raw Blades who will not let 'em Plead But e're they can be heard cry shoot 'em dead These Pyrats they both Arms and Wits debase Who Fields and Poems with their Spleen disgrace Poets and Warriours both shou'd have in Chase These Libellers who noblest Fights despise Yet when a Pan but flashes shut their Eyes They who write Lampoons vilely get a Name By others Infamy and live in shame Fifes Whiflers and the silly'st Sense not fit To be the Powder-Monkeys of true Wit Mimies like Apes what 's ill for head they cover And live upon the Vermin of a Lover Nauseous to all like Pills by Fortune hurl'd And coated o're with Gold to Purge the World Neglecting these and rusting to your aid To Beauty our last Vows like yours are made Beauty which still adorns the op'ning List Which Caesar's Heart vouchsafes not to resist To that alone devoted is this day For by the Poet I was bid to say In the first draught 't was meant the Ladies Play Persons Represented By Mithridates King of Pontus Mr. Mohun Ziphares Pharnaces his Sons M. Hart. M. Goodman Archelaus General under Ziphares M. Griffin Pelopidas Andravar two Courtiers M. Wintershul M Powell Aquilius a Roman Captive M. Clark Another Roman Officer M. Wiltshire Ismenes Page to Ziphares  Monima Contracted to Mithridates Mrs. Corbett Semandra Daughter to Archelaus Mrs. Boutel Priests and Attendants Mutes  Scene Synope
Boys like Cupids drest in Arms Clap their young harness'd thighs and strut to Battel Pompey Rome's Darling and Fame's Eldest Son Proclaims with Mithridates mortal War Mith. Were all well here what force what Roman Arms What General marching at the Head of Millions Cou'd daunt the bold the forward Mithridates But here Pharnaces in my guilty Bosom The fatal Foe does undermine my quiet Black Legions are my thoughts not Pompey but Ziphares comes with all his wrongs for Arms Like the Lieutenant of the Gods against me Semandra too like bleeding Victory Stands on his side and cries out Kill kill kill That cursed Parricide that Ravisher Oh Heav'n sustain me or I shall go mad My ugly guilt lies in my conscious face And I am vanquish'd slain with Bosom-war Phar. 'T is much beneath your Majesty to alarmâ— Your self with fears Mith. Pharnaces thou' rt ignorant I tell thee Boy remorse and upstart fear Oppresses me in spight of all my knowledge Tho none of those that boast Philosophy Has made a deeper search in Nature's Womb Than I the mid-night Moon has seen my watchings I tell thee none can name her infinite seeds Like me nor better knows her sparks of light Those Gems that shine in the blew-Ring of Heav'n None knows more Reasons for or against yon' first Bright Cause can talk of accidents Above me yet I tell thee once again There is a Thorn call'd Conscience makes its way Through all the Fence of Pleasure fortifi'd With reasons that this ill seem'd good to me And stings thy guilty Father to the Soul Pelop. After the fierceness of uncommon pleasure A sudden heaviness is natural Andr. Not but the fading Spirits will revive Mith. Never oh never nor did I enjoy Expected pleasure tho these hands did hold All night her panting Beauties to my breast But oh what joy what pleasure what content Cou'd my griev'd-heart receive in ravish'd kindness Her lips which if Ziphares had been there Wou'd sure have shot their gleamy warmth at distance Were cold to me as Odours are in Frost Her face like weeping Marble damp'd my flames And as I drew her trembling to my Arms She fainted still and woo'd me with such wailings Such languishings and broken sighs to leave her That had not more than monstrous appetite Transported me the Rose had been unblasted Phar. You think of her too much the Sex of Women The ravish'd Beauties of the Earth together Deserve not half the grief that clouds your Brow Pelop. Your Subjects want you to defend their lives Each Citizen in Armour clad defends His Houshold-Gods standing to guard his door And cries a Leader let us to the Wars Mith. The Thunderbolt of Mithridates battel That tore the Roman Banners now is lost My arm my arm ev'n my right arm is lost Nor will my Trumpets sound without Ziphares His Breath was as the Air to all the Army His Face was as the Sun in depth of Winter And made cold Cowards blush away their fears But he is set for ever set in sorrow Andr. Your Majesty is of your self sufficient To Head your eager Troops or brave Pharnaces Stands forth to fill Ziphares empty place Pelop. Ziphares still your Royal Favour had To improve himself in Arms against the Romans While in inglorious Fields Pharnaces strove Amongst Barbarians to get a Name And tho perhaps he greater pains imploy'd In rooting up such Rubbish of the Earth Than th' other did in felling the tall Trees Yet this was pay'd with Labour that with Praise Mith. Peace Villains peace conspiring Sycophants Now by the Gods my eyes are half unseal'd But if the thought that kindles in my breast Finds proper fuel to increase my fire It shall consume you Traytors if I find Which I begin to do that you have play'd The Villain Andravar or thou Pelopidas And laid Semandra's Beauty as a snare To catch Ziphares life Oh all the Gods And ruine me by placing of the Bait Mark me if ought of this if any shadow Appear that you conspir'd to betray me I 'll heap such horrours on your frighted Souls That you shall call your Brother-Devils up To snatch you hence rather than stand my fury Pelop. Why shou'd your Majesty suspect your Servants Mith. Because thou did'st foment my fatal passion And when I view thee well my Genius bids Beware of thee tho thy most subtil Devil Has wrought me still to listen to thy lies Thou art methinks maliciously contriv'd And hast if ever yet a Villain had The Face of a most subtil working Slave Andr. We have done nought but what your Royal Word Did Warrant if you lov'd shou'd we rebuke it Or durst we think to quench a fire which you Resolv'd shou'd burn Mith. Yes Traytors yes you ought When you had seen me going to have stopt me My strugling Virtue might with some assistance Have cast the Venom of my Passion up But with your poysonous breath you made it rage Till I was fit to ruine poor Semandra Enter Semandra But oh behold the Innocence I wrong'd Sem. What dost thou start Oh Heav'ns Semandra frights him Why what a Monster then must I appear Whose Form can shake the bloody Mithridates 'T is sure thou hast undone this helpless Creature Weeping And turn'd to mortal paleness all her Beauties Thou hast made her hate the Day which once adorn'd Her op'ning Sweets how wretched hast thou made me Yet Oh my Soul thou inward knowledge speak How much I hate this violated Shrine Mith. Wretched Semandra Sem. Dost thou pity me Is the long Line of my Eternal grief Of such a Charming force that it can fetch Tears from that Rock Ah most unheard-of sorrow Dost thou repent or are they but feign'd tears What-e're they are thou should'st have thought before The cruel consequence of this dark deed VVhen I was heav'd in Air and with my cries Pierc'd the deaf Heav'ns and call'd to thee for mercy Then had'st thou thus dissolv'd I shou'd have blest thee But now thy black Repentance comes too late What Ah! what satisfaction canst thou make Mith. Instruct me Sem. No there is in Nature none Since I can never be Ziphares Bride For if thou shou'dst consent to make us one And Heav'n shou'd Warrant it nay tho Ziphares Extravagantly shou'd consent to take me Ah cou'd I meet those dear those faithful arms Which yet in sleep ne're touch'd a breast but mine Thus wrong'd and thus defil'd thus nothing left Of his Semandra but her spotless mind This is too much to think Ah cruel King Now I cou'd curse now I cou'd tear my self Now I cou'd weep as if 't were possible To wash my stains out Tell me O you Pow'rs For I 'll be calm was I not worth your care And why you Gods was Virtue made to suffer Unless this World be but as fire to purge Her dross that she may mount and be a Star Were this but certain Ah there 's nothing sure But my irrevocable Fate undone Semandra This this