Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n
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A35279
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Darius King of Persia a tragedy as it is acted by Their Majesties servants / written by Mr. Crowne.
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Crown, Mr. (John), 1640?-1712.
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1688
(1688)
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Wing C7384; ESTC R13013
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45,199
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83
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DARIUS KING oF PERSIA A TRAGEDY As it is Acted by Their Majesties Servants First Edition Written by Mr. CROWNE LONDON Printed for R. Bentley at the Post-house in Russel-street in Covent-Garden 1688. TO Sir GEO. HEWYTT Baronet One of the Lieutenants of His Majesties Horse Guard. SIR POOR Darius is decreed ro be unfortunate every where His Stars pursue him two thousand years after his death tear his Image and employ his Friends against him for I am one of ' em I find him in Curtius a Prince of Valour Clemency Justice and great moral Virtues suffering under the heaviest calamities that ever befel Man. And I have much pity for him and more abhorrence for the Villains that Murder'd him than those that cut off Aexander Darius has no success the greater still the pity If Alexander moves my pity 't is when he has success because 't is the ruine of his great Virtues Darius never parted with his nor good nor ill Fortune vanquish'd his Virtue that Darius of the two seems the greater Conqueror and in a common Waggon gor'd in his Blood appears a more Glorious Prince than Alexander in his Chariot triumphing over the Indians For Darius in all misery triumphs over Fortune Fortune most insolently triumphs over Alexander The description Curtius gives of him and his Army when they came from the Conquest of the Indies is a perfect picture of one of our lewd debauchees of quality coming in the head of drunken Ruffians from beating a Watch. Curtius sayâ— a thousand sober Men might have taken 'em all prisoners And no doubt cou'd a lusty whiggish London Watch have met with 'em Alexander the Great had been carried to the Counter notwithstanding his Royal Dignity or perhaps the sooner for it Therefore if Darius moves no pity I am afraid it is not his fault but mine and he is once more fallen into ill hands I am apt to think I committed a fault in not taking the whole Story but leaving out Queen Statira and her two Daughters High-born Princesses well known to the World whose misfortunes wou'd have probably mov'd more compassion than those of a strange Lady obscurely descended from my Fancy which I have introduc'd in their stead But when I first contriv'd and writ this Play my Judgment was overborn by some I much regard who told me those Princesses had been already seen very often their Beauties wou'd now seem stale and a new Face be more agreeable My judgment at that time might be easily born down for it was weak as I my Self was by a redious sickness else I had not medled with Tragedy for there is nothing more plain than that the humor of the present Age runs quite to another extreme too far Nor do the present Company of Actors abound with Tragedians enow to master that Humor And they have no reason to contend with it since they can please at a much cheaper rate by Farce and Comedy and truly so can I they cost me less pains than Tragedy does But when I first medled with this Play and long after I was not in Humor for Comedy A Poet like a Fiddle will never sound merrily in wet weather The Trebles which are the strings for Jigs will nor endure stretching So I was forc'd on grumbling Tragedy and having done somthing in it was loth to lose my labour Thus much I am willing to say against myself because it is Truth But as I will not be arrogant so not over-fawning because there is Foppery and Affectation in both A misfortune fell upon this Play that might very well dizzy the Judgments of my Audience Just before the Play began Mrs. Barry was struck with a very violent Fever that took all Spirit from her by consequence from the Play the Scenes She acted fell dead from her and in the 4th Act her distemper grew so much upon her She cou'd go on no farther but all her part in that Act was wholly cut out and neither Spoke nor Read that the People went away without knowing the contexture of the Play yet thought they knew all Now we know how hard it is to recover the Reputation of one that 's executed it is almost as hard as it is to recover his Life The circulation of Blood is stopt in the Strangled and the circulation of Reason in the Living by violent prepossessions And when the multitude are possest of any thing it is not easy to get it from ' em They have great Strength and Authority too And not alone in these trifles but in things of the highest consequence even in matters of Religion As in these toyes People dare not be pleas'd but as they find others are so in Religion they dare not be sav'd but in the way they find others go Now though in matters of Religion where Truth is of great concernment and to suffer for it Honourable and Advantageous a Man may boldly contend with the whole World but in so foolish a Cause as whether the fall of Darius be a good Story of a Play and whether I have manag'd it well or no to hector the World if it dares differ from me wou'd be notorious Arrogance and Folly nay Injustice too for let Men have what Opinions they will of this Play they have paid me for 'em and paid me handsomly why shou'd I seek to take it from ' em I will then say no more concerning the Play if that be faulty I must take care to have the fewer faults in my self But certainly I shall not be endur'd by any good Man nay even by my self if I shou'd not here take occasion to render with all possible Humility and Dutifulness my Thanks to His Majesty for the Honor of his Presence on the Day which was to be for my advantage which He was pleased to Grant me out of a most Gracious and Royal regard to what had formerly appear'd well in me both as a Poet and a Subject I know not how the Minds of others are wrought upon but such a piece of Royal Justice and Favour is to me more strong than a Law to bind me for ever to my good Behaviour I cannot also forbear to mention the many special Favours I have receiv'd from the present Lord Chamberlain Obligations are Chains but when they come from Princes and Men of worth they are badges of Honour and a Man is tempted to shew 'em when he goes abroad I confess not only my Gratitude but my Vanity makes me name him Past dispute his excellent Understanding and many other great Qualities are an Ornament to his High Office then well may His Favours be a Grace to me Now SIR I shall come to you I have receiv'd several kindnesses from you have found in you at all times an inclination and readiness to do me any friendly Office all which have extremely won upon me and I am very uneasy under Obligations till I have made some return But I can make no other than of this kind which
's within the Brow Shou'd be the mark of Sovereign Dignity Be. How goes the night away Na. The Morning Star Long since gave Darkness warning to be gone Dat. See fee 't is gone the day possesses Heaven Be. Nay then 't is time we wait upon the King. Na. 'T is more than time no doubt he 's come abroad I see his Golden Chariot guild that Hill. Be. Then he is there viewing the Enemy Dat. Now all the shining Crowd descend this way Let us go pay our adorations Na. Our Adorations to a mortal Man ha ha Be. Now Gods aid us whoever you destroy These Kings but for one Man their Swords employ Each for himself has all his Force design'd We fight for you and for all your Mankind They wou'd be Sovereign Lords but I contend Only to be your Creatures Sovereign Friend Ex. All sorts of Martial Musique Enter Priests bearing Fire on Silver Altars Then a train of Officers in Golden Robes and Collâ—rs Then Darius followâ—d by Artabasus Bessus Nabaâ—zanes Memnon Patron The King surveys 'em and all prostrate themselves and kiss the ground Patron excepted who only bows Da. I gave command the ground where I expect The Enemies Horse to Charge shou'd be stuck full Of sharp and bearded Irons but with marks For us to know and shun ' em Is it done Ar. 'T is Mighty Sir. Dat. 'T is well I am inform'd Our rash fierce Enemies are become wise The sight of this vast dreadful multitude Has cool'd their boiling Blood. Be. Sir so we hear Mem. Sir 'T is no more than Truth and what I saw I was commanded with a thousand Horse To make discovery how the Enemy lay Fear was to them a multiplying Glass They believ'd all your Army was come down And cryed Darius Arm Darius here Your Royal Name alone half routed ' em Nay I was told even Alexander fear'd The dreadful Shouts of your vast multitudes Shook Forests Mountains and the Conqueror's Heart And gave us time to make a good retreat Pa. Nay if that Prince has Fear it comes from Heaven For Terror is not natural to him Da. 'T is true the Omen appears promising Enter Dataphernes Da. The Eunuch Tyriotes Royal Sir That lately did attend upon the Queen Has made escape out of the Enemies Camp And brings some mournful news Da. Ha! from my Queen Dat. His Eyes are drown'd in Tears and Garments torn Da. Nay then it is my turn to tremble now If ill but threatens her it destroys me Bring hither Tyriotes bring my death Be. Were it not better Sir defer the news And not begin the day Da. Dispute my Will Enter Tyriotes Come hither speak while I have sense to hear Silence is vain thy Garments and thy Eyes Plunge me into a thousand tort'ring fears Speak Do not spare me ' cause thou see'st me Grieve For I have learnt to be unfortunate And to the wretched 't is a little ease To know how far their Misery will extend Oh! I distrust one thing I hate to think Much more to speak Thou com'st to let me know She whom I prize above my Crown and Life Has in her miserable vassalage Receiv'd Indignities I cannot name Say ease my Torments stabb me with the Truth Ty. Oh! let not Sir vain fears afflict your Heart Your real cause of sorrow is too much But oh the generous Conqueror paid your Queen All Honours that a Slave cou'd give his Prince He rather did appear a slave to her But now She is no more your Queen is dead Ar. How the Queen dead Da. Martyr'd for Chastity T is so t is so She did oppose his Lust And he has murther'd her Barbarian What injuries have I done to thee and thine That thou shou'dst take this infamous revenge There 's no just reason for thy War on me But say 't is Glorious to subdue a King Can it be so to violate a Queen Cou'dst thou not spare her Beauty and her Sex Ty. Oh! Sir he did again y'afflict your self With Visions Shadows She receiv'd from him All kind and honourable usage Sir. Da. Ha! kind Ty. Yes Sir for when She dyed he wept You cannot more lament Da. Ha! This is worse There was a friendship grown between them then And he had Favours from her it was so Men lament not the death of Enemies I cannot bear the Thought Ty. Oh! hear me Sir. Da. I wou'd have privacy away be gone Ex. all but Da. and Ty. This is not sit for any Ears but mine No nor for mine for it will make me mad Ty. Oh! Sir indeed Da. Preparing to deceive Ty. No Sir Da. It will be folly have a care For now my Grief is height'ned into Rage My Tears are turn'd to Fire then do not lye By Lying thou wilt fool thy self not me For if I find thou dost conceal the Truth The Rack shall force it from thee Ty. I 'l speak Truth Da. Do thrust me not upon extremities For Cruelty and I never agreed In sparing thy own self thou wilt spare me I do conjure thee by the love thou bear'st Thy self or me deliver me the Truth Tell me oh Whither am I going now But must go on though the way lead to Hell. Tell me if Alexander fortunate Victorious young and brave did not attain What I 'm asham'd to ask and dread to know Ty. No Sir indeed Da. Lye not Ty. I will not Sir What should I gain by telling you untruth Da. Hopes of my Favour by soft flattery Ty. Sir here I freely offer up these Limbs To any torment that can be endur'd There 's strength enough in truth to bear e'm all And then I hope you will believe me Sir. Da. This is all cunning to avoid the Rack But that thou shalt not do ho bring the Rack Ty. With all my heart Da. So bold I like it well He cannot love my Ease more than his Flesh Bring torments on himself to soften mine Thou hast half won me to thee speak I 'm calm Ty. Then I appeal to all the Powers Divine Oh! now attest my Truth attest your selves If I deliver Fictions to the King You are all Fictions if you spare my Head. The virtuous Conqueror did treat the Queen With all the Honour Virtue and the pure Religion due to one so much Divine He never saw her beauteous Face but once And then to give her comfort for her loss Her Divine Beauties only tempted him To greater Virtue and he did not serve His Pleasure but his Glory by her charms He serv'd her Honourably in her life And when She dyed he mourn'd the publick loss And gave her Royal pompous Funerals Da. Oh! Alexander thou hast vanquish'd me Till now thy Fortune only conquer'd mine But now thy Virtues have subdued my Soul Have thrown me down into a weeping Slave I blush to shew my Face But all these Tears Must not be thine my Queen must share with thee Whose Honour I have wrong'd Oh! thou bright Shade Of my chaste Queen forgive