Should you betray me Qu. Nay now you are unkinder then before To my first Oath I 'l add a million more Tiss And you will still be mindful of the Crown Qu. Had he ten Thousand they were all your own Tiss This then 's his fate pitty a Crime were here He shan't have time enough to make a prayer draws a Dagger Qu. Be bold and prosper in thy brave design And when his death 's perform'd the next is thine aside Tiss This trap was dang'rously and subtly lay'd Exit But I am not so easily betrayd Her love to Alcibiades I know Her Woman for me did that kindness do And since she is so good at the design I 'l to oblige her give her one of mine My zealous urging of her Oath was done Not to prevent her plots but hide my own I 'l cherish her in all that she pretends So make her ayms but covers to my ends For when I 'm seated on the Spartan Throne Both her and all her Treasons I 'l disown Prove both her judge and her accuser too And on her my first act of justice do So all my doubts and fears will be o're-past And by her fall I fix my self more fast Exit Enter a Chair of State with a Table by it and upon that the Crown and Scepter Enter King and Lords K. My Lords no more w 'ave drank too deep I 'd now A while be private Lords Royal Sir we go K. Boy take thy Lute and with a pleasing ayr Appease my sorrows and delude my care Sits down SONG Princes that Rule and Empires Sway How tranâ—itory is their State Sorrowes thee gloryes do allay And richest Crowns have greatest weight 2 The mightiest Monarch treason fears Ambitious thoughts within him rave His life all discontent and cares And he at best is but a Slave 3. Vainly we think withâ— fond delight To ease the burden of our cares Lach grief a Second does invite And sorrows are each others heirs 4. For me my honour I 'l maintain Be gallant generous and brave And when I Quietude would gain At least I find it in the grave the King falls asleep Enter Queen and Tissaphernes with a Dagger Qu. He sleeps now let the fatal deed be done Hah what are these the Scepter and the Crown So did the drousie Dragon sleep when he Lost the rich fruits of the Hesperian Tree First we 'l secure his Crown and then he dyes Takes up the Crown Thus I 'm discharg'd of all my promises puts it on his head Take this and if I claim your promise too Y' are King and justice is your duty now Come by his fall This your first step to glory solemnize I make you King make him my Sacrifice Tiss I 'l do 't but stay advances towards the King Qu. Nay quickly to him go Sir he expects no Ceremony now Tiss Thus then I hah how alter'd am I grown I stand amaz'd and dare not venture on There is in Majesty a secret charm That puts a fetter on a Traytors arm I cannot do 't Qu. Then look on her that dares How despicable is the man that fears Give me the fatal Instrument of death My self will in his heart that dagger sheath takes his dagger from him Then blush to think if e're the World should know That a frail Woman durst do more then you Courage he smiles advances towards the King Some pleasing dreams his fancy entertain Oh it were pitty he should wake again Thus King thy life and Empire I command Accept this from thy Deidamia's hand Stabs him K. Hah murder'd Deidamia and by you What is 't that faithless Woman will not do Henceforth all Loyalty and love farewell When after ages shall this story tell 'T will be a truth too sad to be receiv'd Nor shall the World be by it self believ'd Did I for this ev'n Crown and Empire quit To lay all my Ambition at your feet When at the Altars strictest vows I paid Nor were they with less zeal perform'd then made I lov'd you far above that life y 'ave spilt Till ev'n my passion was become my guilt I for your sake depriv'd heav'n of its due Took adoration thence to pay it you And must this be th' reward for all I 've done Yet I shall have this comfort when I 'm gone That I no longer shall with thee remain But dye in hopes we ne're shall meet again dyes Qu. He 's gon and now my Lord Tiss Oh what is 't you have done A while lay your unruly passions down View but the sweet Composure of that face Where grandeur sat attended by each grace Now there grim death his gashly Revels keeps And pallid horrour o're each feature creeps Weep Madam weep to think your rage has giv'n That blow which robs the World to enrich heav'n Oh my dear Lord that er'e I liv'd to know This day Madam I can't conceal it Qu. Say you so But Sir I Scorn to be betray'd by you At the noise of People entring throws away the Dagger then falls upon her knees and layes hold of Tissaphernes then speaks Treason Treason Treason c. Is 't not enough y 'ave shed my Husbands blood Tiss The Devil Qu. And rob'd the World of all that 's great and good But you must seek my life On pitty take If not for mine at least for vertues sake Tiss Hell and Plagues Qu. But why do I name that for all that e're The World had left of it lyes murder'd there Tiss Very fine Qu. Yet though you 've rob'd him of his life save mine I 'l live to ask heav'n pardon for your sin Tiss So now I 'l stop your mouth Breaks from her and takes up the Dagger Qu. Help murder Treason help Enter Lords 1 Lord. How Tissaphernes arm'd against the Queen What means this posture Sir Qu. Oh noble Lord If e're your pitty could a tear afford Weep down an Ocean there behold the spring Of Sparta's hopes lyes murder'd in her King And had not I the traytors rage withstood He with my Husbands too had mixt my blood See where he guilty stands Lord. Great Agis slain By Tissaphernes too Qu. Yes he to gain The Spartan Crown this bloody deed haâ— done See he already has usurpt the Crown His hot Ambition could not bear delâ—ys But on the Royal spoyles thus 〈◊〉 preys Insults in 's treason Tiss I am now run 〈◊〉 So far that all hopes 〈…〉 But Madam can you dare to lay this guilt On me was 't not by you his blood was spilt Qu. By me base wretch would thy impiety Lay this inhumane regicide on me I wound this breast ah dearest Saint too well I knew thy worth weeps Tiss Death she 'l be Queen of Hell Pluto will grow in love with her for this 1 Lord. My Lord treason 's above all pardon Tiss ' t is Lord. Then Sir to justice Tiss No thus I deny presents his Dagger I liv'd not by it nor will by it dye
gon Each night thy bed I 'l haunt and challenge there Those joys of which thou hast bereft me here Anxious shall be each day disturb'd each night A restless shade I 'l still be in thy sight And thee i' th' height of all thy pleasures fright Heav'n what do I feel Qu. Oh does the draught succeed Ard. Madam great Alcibiades is freed And just is entring Qu. Strait with straitest care Convey her in and wait my pleasure there The Murderers lead in Timandra Sweet Murder oh no Physick is so good For th' hopeless lover as a bath of blood But here he comes Enter Alcibiades Now to my greifs again veils Alci It makes we wonder how I freedom gain All things confus'd and in disorder are How 's this in mourning weeds unveil my fair Hah not Timandra Queen unveils Qu. No Sir though 't is one That loves as nobly as Timandra can Or could did she yet live but she is dead Alci How dead Qu. Yes Tissaphernes that black deed did do Prompted by his ignoble hate to you But you will wonder more when I shall tell That by his hand the mighty Agis fell The King is slain both I and Sparta now Have no hopes left but what remain in you Alci In me alas I am a wretch too poor Timandra dead â—urst ever be the hour Wherein so fair an innocence was lost Heav'n justly now may of its glories boast For the most bright and precious Saint that e're The World enjoy'd is fled and seated there Qu. Why do you let your greifs distract your Soul Call up your reason and let passion cool See here a Queen that courâ—s you with the charms Of Love a Crown and Empire to her Arms No longer for Timandra sorrow wear I will supply all you have lost in her I 'l love you as she did Alci Oh Madam no To love like her 's a tas'k too hard for you Love me as she did why each thought she had Of me was such might make an Angel glad For Crowns though Emp'rour of the World I were I 'd turn a begger to recover her Oh Madam tempt no further all 's but vain I ne're can have a thought of love again Qu. Never Alci No never Qu Can you then so soon Forget your promise or will you disown That ere if you Timandra should survive You vow'd you only for my sake would live You see how Heaven has decreed Alci Alas I then the blessing knew but not the loss Besides I now must dye Qu How Sir is 't thus my profer'd love you prize Alci I do not hate you may not that suffice Qu. Ungrateful no but I 'l reward thy pride Draw back The Scene drawn 〈◊〉 Timandra on a Couch in the midst of her pains Go dotard in enjoy thy bride And know by me thy lov'd Timandra dy'd Yes cruel man by me Tim. No Queen she lives And still to all thy rage desâ—ance give 's spyes Alcibiades Do I behold my dearest Lord so nigh Shall I agen see him before I dye Alci Best hopes and comfort of my life I 'm here How fares my love Tim. Oh come not come not near My blood 's all fire infection's in each vein And tyrant death in ev'ry part does reign But I for you could suffer much more pain Alci Kind heav'n let all her pangs upon me fall And add ten thousand more I 'l bear 'em all Do but restore her back Oh cursed Queen What Devil arm'd thee to so damn'd a sin Cou'dst thou be guilty of so foul a deed Qu. Yes I did do 't by me the King too bled Unworthy wretch and all for love of you But had I pow'r I now would kill thee too Alci Oh do 't I 'l blot out all th' ast done before And never call thee base nor cruel more Here is my breast soon the kind work begin Advance thy Poniard send it boldly in Qu. No thou shalt live for harder destiny But first shalt see thy dear Timandra dye Alci Oh misery beyond the damn'd beneath Must I not happy be in life nor death Tim. Alas cease your unnecessary moan I find my torments quickly will be gon Though I could wish they might to years renew So I might still be blest with feeâ—ng you Now the black storms of fate are all blown o're And we shall meet and ne're be parted more But oh farewell dyes Alci My dear Timandra stay Ah pretious Soul fly not so soon away But one look more will death have no remorse See 't is thy Alcibiades implores But oh she 's gon seize there that Murd'ress Qu. No Seize me 't is more then all your Camp can do Who e're comes here 's my guard Alas mean fool Presents her Dagger My fate 's a thing too great for thee to rule There lyes your constancy pointing to Timandra Alcibiades flyes to the Queen and snatches the Dagger from her Alci Infernal hag Whos 's ev'ry breath infects each look's a plague Could not thy fury on my bosome rest But thou must wreak thy vengeance on this breast To murder her curse on me that I stand Thus Idle now thy heart presents the Dagger to her breast But oh 't would brand My Trophyes with eternal infamy If by my hand so base a thing should dye Her ills so many and so odious are They would disgrace an executioner Yet I 'd do something oh I hav 't I 'l tear ravingly Her peicemeal but Timandra's gone too far mildly Yonder she Mounts tryumphant Spirit stay See where the Angels bear her Soul away Now all the Gods will grow in love with her And I shall meet fresh troops of Rivals there But thus I' l haste and follow Stabs himself Devil there throws the Dagger to the Queen Dye if thou hast courage enough to dare But oh A heavy faintness does each sense surprize Yet e're I close up these unhappy eyes Here their last dutious sorrows they shall pay And at this object melt in tears away Blest center of my hopes in whom I plac't Too choice too pure a happiness to last I any lossless then thy death had greiv'd How well could I have dy'd so thou hadst liv'd Damn'd fiend â—o the Queen But oh why do I rave at her That have so little time to tarry here One parting kiss and then in peace I 'l dye kisses Tim. Now farewel world welcome eternity Enter Patroclus Lords and Guards Patr. Horrour of horrours this was a dismal chance Alas my freind Alci Thy useless greif refrain Farewell we shall hereafter meet again dyes Patr. Guards seize the Queen Qu. Seize me rude Slaves forbear Patr. You shall in short your accusation hear To kill the King my Father first you made Your property then basely him betray'd Your Woman all confes't and by the Guard Is now secur'd to a more just reward And though too late this black design I knew Yet all your stratagems are useless now Hence with the Murd'ress to Justice
Qu. Hah Think you that I will dye by formal law No when I 'm dead be thus my â—ame supplâ—'d She liv'd a murd'ress and a murd'ress dy'd stabs her self Justice would but my happiness retard Thus I descend below to a reward I shall be Queen of fate the furies there For me a glorious Crown of Snakes prepare I long to be in state my Lords farewell Now noble Charon hoyse up Sayl for Hell dyes Lord. Her Soul is fled Patr. With her for ever dye Her treasons and her odious memory But whither is the fair Draxilla gone Lord. Distracted at the miâ—chiefs that are done She 's fled but whither is to all unknown Patr. Quickly let after her be made pursuit I 'l ransack all the World to find her out Propitious Heav'n will sure to her be kind Enter Lord. 2 Lord. My Lord we in our votes have all combin'd To make you King the Camp with shouts and cryes Of joy send their loud wishes to the Skyes Shouts within Long live Patroclus King of Sparta Patr. Go bid 'em their unwelcome noise forbear Turn all their shouts to sighs of sorrow here Turns to the Bodyes Th' are gone and with e'm all I wish'd to keep Now could I almost turn a boy and weep My Friends my Mistress and my Father lost Never were growing hopeâ— more sadly crost Now fortune has her utmost malice shown She 'd court me with the flatt'ry of a Crown A thing so far beneath those joys I miss 'T is but the shadow of a happiness For how uneasily on Thrones they sit That must like me be wretched to be great FINIS EPILOGUE Spoken by Mrs. Mary Lee. NOW who sayes Poets don't in blood delight 'T is true the varlets care not much to fight But faith they claw it off when e're they write Are bully Rocks not of the common size Kill ye men faster then Domitian flyeâ— Ours made such Havock that the silly Rogue Was forc't to make me rise for th' Epilogue The fop damn'd me but e're to hell I go I 'd very fain be satisfy'd if you Think it not just that he were serv'd so too As he hath yours do you his hopes beguile You'â—e been in Purgatory all this while Then damn him down to Hell and never spare Perhaps he 'l find more favour there then here Nay of the two may chuse the much less evil If you 're but good when pleas'd e'n so 's the Devil ERRATA IN the Epistle P. 1. l. 14. for look to r. take P. â— l. 3. for should be concern'd r. should I be concern'd P. ibid. l. 17. for with all my best endeavours r. with it all my best endeavours P. 7. l. 4. for disadvantagious r. disadvantageous P. ib. l. 35. for exhaild r. exhal'd P. 8. l. 13 for vertue r. influence P. 12. l. 13. for hallow r. hallow P. ib. l. 29. for plagu'd r. damn'd P. 13. l. 4. for oh Heavens r. ye Gods P. ib. l. 29. for firmier r. 〈◊〉 P. 14. l. ult for Brows dart Majesty r. Brow darts Majesty P. 16. l. 2. for the custome r. our custome P. 19. l. 16. for vanâ—uish r. vanish P. ib. l. 19. for Tumultions r. Tumultuâ—â—s P. 21. l. 4. for to their â—ate r. so their fate P. ib. l. 9. for thus fair r. then fair P. 23. l. 32. for are approv'd r. were approv'd P. 27. l. 12. for heavy head r. hoary head P. 28. l. 10. for courage r. glory P. ib. l. 12. for friend r. feind P. 42. l. 32. for reviling r. revealing P. 49. l. 10. for be Chain'd r. lye Chain'd P. 53. l. 17. for that Dagger r. this Dagger