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
how grows Gratitude to that degree To be afflicted thus and weep for me Drax. Alas that is the least that I could do To our worst Enemies our Tears we owe. Friendship to such a noble height should rise As their devotion does in Sacrifice Who think they shew a zeal remiss and small Except themselves as nobler Victims fall With as great courage could I for you dye And my Triumphant Soul to Heav'n should fly There I again my Friendship would renew And lay up chiefest joyes in store for you Tim. What vast and boundless flights does Friendship take Beyond what search can see or fancy track 'T is the improvement of the part divine When souls in their Seraphick transports joyn In souls united so we friendship see As many glorys make a Diety Enter Alcibiades from the back part of the Scenes Drax. Madam yonder he comes who must retrieve Your drooping hopes and your faint joyes revive Tim. My Alcibiades how I begin To think my misplac't jealousy did sin Go meet him seem all troubled and in tears And with the tale I taught thee wound his ears Mean while I will with-draw my self this way Nor would my swelling passion let me stay Goes to the Door Alcib What ayrie Visions o're my eyes there move Like the good genius of an absent Love Where e're I turn me I me-thinks espy Timandra's Image softly gliding by Such fond Ambition Love his Slaves does teach To make 'em fancy what they cannot reach For oh Divine One How sickly joyes honour and greatness grant When thee the glory of my soul I want Drax. My Lord Alcib Guard me ye pow'rs Draxilla here And weeping too Oh my Prophetick fear What is 't your coming here would seem to tell Relate oh quickly is my Princess well Drax. Oh Sir In that unhappy fatal Night When to the Spartan Camp you took your flight When by the cruel Senaâ—e you were drove Both to forsake your Country and your Love Timandra and my self and we were sate In her Apartment grieving for your fate No sooner with sad Jealousies opprest Her wearied soul in sleep sought after rest But grief new Scenes of misery brought in And plaid in Dreams its horrours o're agen Sometimes her tender Arms she 'd forward stretch Then fiercely at the empty ayr would catch Wearied with grief she then would milder be And in a hallow sigh send out Ah Me At last she rose and 'bout the Chamber walkt Sometimes she started then stood still and talkt Anon repeat some short and pithy pray'r Agen grow wild and tear her pretious hair Till having so wrought sorrow to that height That her soul grew too tender for the weight E're I my courage could collect to go And give a hindrance to the fatall blow She with her Dagger stab'd her self and said Thus dy'd Timandra that unhappy Maid Alcib Ye Gods Is 't thus your Justice you dispence To lay th'reward of Guilt on Innocence What though these Sacriledgious hands have thrown Your Images those Pageant Glorys down Must you revenge on her I lov'd transfer You might have plagu'd me so y 'ad pitty'd her But thus I 'le send my soul where it may tell She lov'd too rashly but not lov'd too well Oh Sister do not hinder me my death Sighs are the only use I 've left of breath Offers to fall on his Sword but is hindred by Draxilla One blow will put an end to grief and Me. Enter Timandra Tim. That Sir you must not do nor must I see Al. starâ—s Why fly you back nay if you shun me now I shall grow apt to think my fears too true Alcib Oh Heavens does then my dear Timandra live The Joy's too mighty for me to receive This was the greatest bliss Heav'n had to give How rashly did my impious rage prophane Your Goodness oh but wash away that stain Then I with Victims will your Altars load And have a Sacrifice for ev'ry God Till by those holy fires this black offence Be purg'd and purify'd to Innocence But dearest how could you so cruel be To let such bliss be drest in misery To tell me you were dead How could you think but th' horror of that breath Must damp my Soul and chill me into death Tim. Alas my fears could find out no relief But thus t' assault you in the garb of grief This tryal of your Faith my Joy secures As Thunders usher in refreshing show'rs Alcib Let us no longer then to doubts give way But hast to th'Consummation of our Joy So with our bright united flames dispell Those anxious mists that on our bosoms dwell Being of no other Jealousie possess But which shall kindest prove and love the best Tim. And when our faithful happy hearts shall be Firmier united by that sacred tye How in an endless Road of bliss weâ—l move Steering our motions by our perfect Love There we with pleasure will recount each woe Which we have pass't and others undergoe There we 'll reflect o' th' various hopes and fears The mournfulâ—sighs and the impatient tears Of distrest Lovers whilst we 'll kindly thence Through a strange mystical Intelligence Give 'em Redresses by our influence Till so by ours Their full-grown Joyes receive a happy birth As Planets in their kind Conjunctions bless the Earth Alcib Then my Timandra to our Bliss let 's fly There 's but one minute more to Extasy Exeunt Enter Queen and Ardella Queen Oh my Ardella whither shall I turn I 'm all o're â—lame in ev'ry part I burn Ar. Your Majesty Queen Fool Majesty what 's that Th' Ill-natur'd pageant mockery of fate When her ungrateful sportive pow'r she 'd show Raising us high To barr us of the benefits below But I 'le her servile Policy despise And make her stoop to Loves great Victories Th' Almighty Pow'r of Heav'n came down from thence To tast the sweets of Am'rous Excellence Why then should Princes that are Gods below Think that a sin which Heav'n is proud to do Ard. But Madam is it not a cruel thing T' abuse a Loving Husband and kind King Qu. Dull Girle thou knowst noâ— what a Husband is Alas they never reach the height of bliss But ignorantly with Loves Magick play Till they raise Spirits they want pow'r to lay In that brave Alcibiades there swarm So many graces he 's all over charm Such killing Ayres in each part of him move His Brow darts Majesty and his Eye Love Oh my Ardella I am lost in thought I fain wou'd have thee yet 't is false I 'd not Ard. Madam your Royal pleasure but relate I 'le be as faithful and as firm as Fate Qu. Art thou then skilful in Loves subtle arts Cunningly to lay Ambuscades for hearts Canst thou express a melting kind desire And give a feeling draught of Loves soft fire Ard. Madam so subt'ly I 'le his heart betray As one who by some great Magicians pow'r Is hurry'd through the Regions in an hour And for return again can
dares be so to Love 3. How soft the delights and how charming the joy Where love and injoyment each other support Let the Cynical fool call pleasure a toy Who ne're fame i' th' Camp had nor love in the Court O so kindly the Combates each other succeed Where 't is Triumph to dye and a Pleasure to bleed Alci The Air is charming Qu. Retire Exit Ardella No lively Symptoms of a growing â—ire I 'l urge him further My Lord your 〈…〉 Y' are ill Cold drops upon your brows appear I 'l wipe 'em off come Sir your fears remove You need not blush to tell me 〈◊〉 you love I 'l do it for you nay I 〈◊〉 will do Blush for my self 〈…〉 for you Sure this will take 〈…〉 wonder mean Is love so strange Alci Oh name that agen Could you such wrong to royal 〈◊〉 do Think what 's to heav'n and to your vertue due Qu. Must I be hated then and Sir by you angerly Pish why d' you talk of heav'n and 〈◊〉 now mildly Alci Not new-made mothers to their infants bear A firmer passion or a tend'rer care Show me yours or your honours enemy See with what vigour t' your revenge I 'le fly For you with life I willingly could part But whilst that lasts Timandra has my heart Qu. The heavy pleasures of the marriage Bed Dull repetition soon will 〈◊〉 dead Taste fresher joys and when they 〈…〉 Then the old pleasures may seem 〈…〉 Alci Could I expect to have such language heard Where beauty and such innocence appear'd Qu. Can you my 〈…〉 And is 't so difficult a 〈…〉 Alci Love Madam only 〈…〉 As you are fair 〈…〉 I 'le love you as the 〈…〉 Qu. A Sister 〈…〉 So little we can hardly name what ' t is Where is the transport 〈…〉 〈…〉 to a sharp appetite Alci I know y' are 〈…〉 Your beams the lustre of a King adorn That King whose piety me happy made And can I in return profane his bed Though Madam I 've liv'd free and never seâ— Limits to any thing we call delight Yet raise not new rebellions in blood Beauty hath darts too keen to be withstood Qu. Yet all its power has no force o're you Your cruel heart's immoveable but know 'T will to your honour be but ill apply'd That for your love a Queen neglected dy'd Alci What is 't you majesty would have me do Qu. Are you so ignorant that you don't know Alci Death not to have some sense were to unman My self but I 'le be conqu'rour if I can Should I be made a captive to her charms Er'e I am warm in my Timandra's arms One stratagem I 'le for my freedom try Madam no longer I 'le your pow'r deny to the Queen For if these eyes had ne're Timandra known You only might have call'd my heart your own But whilst with her I enjoy love and life And you remain the mighty Agis wife Know this is all I can in justice do I 'm ready on your least commands to shew I live for her but yet could dye for you Qu. Must I then only border upon bliss Rest on the confines of my happiness As Souls that are excluded heav'n for sin See all its glories but can't enter in Alci No Madam free from the dull clogâ— of sense We 'l reap delights of nobler excellence Our entwin'd Souls each other shall enjoy Tread vertues paths and never loose their way But if one in his motion chance to err Strait regulate it by the other's sphear Till at the last When the short Zodiack of this life w 'ave past With new imp't Zeal beyond the Stars wee 'l fly There meet and mingle to a Deity Qu. Then to all hopes of happiness adieu Since my chief bliss I 've lost in loosing you Oh the Tyrannick cruelty of fate That lets us know our happiness too late Yet why shou'd I to fears and sorrows bend If only on their fate my hopes my depend A Rival and a King I may remove There 's nothing difficult to them that love Exit Queen Alci She 's gone Greatness thou gaudy torment of our Souls The wise mans fetter and the range of fools Who is 't wou'd court thee if he knew thy ills He who the greatest heap of Honour piles Does nothing else but build a dang'rous shelf Or â—rect Mountains to o'rewhelm himself Exit Scene a Grove adjoyning to the Camp Enter Tissaphernes and Theramnes disguis'd Tiss Now Sir y' are free and prosperously move To reap the long wisht harvest of your love One minute and y' are in Timandra's arms New fetter'd in the power of her Charms Methinks the thought ev'n my old blood Alarms The. His rage sure works him to an extasie How the old Monster hugs his villany Good Sir dispatch I cannot brook delay I wast in expectation of my joy But hearâ— did you not hear a murm'ring talk Tiss Perhaps 't is she come in this Grove to walk Stay here they are by heav'n the same 't is she They go to the door Retreat a while blest opportunity Enter Timandra with a Book in her hand and Draxilla Tim. Methinks Draxilla when Atlanta ran And slaughter was the only prize she wan Her power a too cruel rigour bore To kill those she had wounded so before Theramnes throws off his disguise The. Then Madam be not guilty of her ill Me the poor wretch y 'ave wounded do not kill Ah in your heart if such a sence there be Of the injustice of her cruelty How much more pitty from your breast is due To him who ev'ry minute dyes for you Tim. My Lord Theramnes by what lucky hap Have you from guards and prison made escape The. Who wears your sacred image in your breast Is of such pure Divinity possest And from ignoble bondage so secure That feeble chains fall off and loose their pow'r Tim. Then Sir in your intended flight make haste Least by some fatal chance y' are once more lost The. No I enjoy a nobler safety here No danger dares approach when you are near These Groves to lovers bliss are dedicate Free from th' uncivil outrages of fate Coâ—e let 's to something like delight draw nigh And loose our selves a while in extasie seizes roughly on her Tim. Guard me ye powers Draxilla help my Lord Tiss Good gentle Madam if you please one word Draxilla runs out crying help and Tissaphernes after her The. I cannot see my Rival blest alone Must he reap all the sweets and I have none Tim. This outrage on my knees I beg forbear See Sir it is Timandra sheds a tear Tiss returns Her whom you vowd you lov'd with noble flame Oh do'nt by savage lust prophane that name If 't is the envy of your Rivals joy Remove remove th' offence some other way Save but my honour and my life destroy The. Such tenderness might cool anothers blood But I am too unhappy to be good Let vertue to dull Anchorites repair
Who ne're had Soul enough to know despair I 'le banish the encroacher from my breast And shake him off e're he take hold too fast Come let 's retire within this covert by I am impatient and my blood boyls high Tim. I will not go I 'le dye a Martyr here The. Then I must drag you Tim. Barb'rous Ravisher Oh! Oh! Enter Alcibiades Alci Did I not hear a tender cry Oh Heavens turn base hell-hound turn and dye drawâ— The. That Sir will thus be better understood draws Tiss Y 'ave undertook Sir more then you 'l make good draws They both make at him Enter Patroclus Patr. How 's this assaulted and by such base odds Courage my freind After a fierce fight between Alcibiades and Theramnes Patroclus and Tissaphernes Patroclus drives his Father off the Stage and Alcibiades runs Theramnes through Alci To the accurst abodes Of tortur'd Souls that in dark horrour dwell Thus fly and to thy fellow Devils tell It was my Sword that sent thy soul to hell The. Hold Sir enough I must your victim fall Though an atonement for my sin too small My hasty Soul can make no longer stay Death touls his leaden Bell and calls away And now like some sad trav'ler taking view Of the long Journey that I have to go Whilst I my thoughts to heav'ns sweet mansions bend Without your mercy no admittance find Oh but one word of pardon e're I dye Secure of that my Souls dares boldly fly Absolv'd by you it must have welcome there As incense that is offer'd up with pray'r Tim. My pardon and my prayers too receive More then your guilt could ask me I could give Be happy as your penitence is true And may kind heav'n forgive you as I do weeps The. Ah! can your piety vouchsafe a tear Of pitty on an impious Ravisher My Soul will leave me in an extasie And I shall want the sense to know I dye Thus pure Divinity at your feet I bow Here 't is my Soul would make her latest stay Nor can she Beginning hence her journey miss the way But I 'd forgot beware of Dyes Alci Who can fear That is secur'd by charms so pow'rful here Within these sphears my Guardian Angels move These are my seats of safety as of love Tim. They weakly others guard that can't defend Themselves I fear more mischief may depend On this disaster Enter Patroclus Alci So when a storm 's blown o're And a calm Breeze has smooth'd the rugged deep The joyful Mariners can fear no more But thus imbrace and full their cares asleep Embrâ—ces 〈◊〉 Welcome my lifes Protectour and only freind Hah what does that sad look and sigh intend Are you Sir wounded Patr. Yes too deep I fear Aloi. Forbid it Heav'n where is 't Patr. Oh here Sir here My Soul is pierc't I 'm tortur'd ev'ry where Your freind ah let that Title be no more Behold me as a wretch forlorn and poor Imagine ev'ry form of misery And when y 'ave sum'd up all then look on me Alci Now some blest Angel to my Soul reveal This doubt can he be wrong'd and I not feel Ah kind Patroclus this sad silence break Patr. Oh Sir you must not hear nor must I speak Paint out black horrour in its deepest dread And troops of Murders hov'ring o're your head And when that hideous Masque of Hell you see Think if you can that they came all from me Alci Confusion how my thoughts begin to start A new unwonted heat has seiz'd my heart Something unruly that would fain get place But I 'le subdu't be free kind friend alas Force me not wrong our freindship and your worth Patr. That charm's resistless and I feel 't will forth But oh it must not duty does forbid Yet what 's my duty if my honour bleed Know then now that this stubborn heart would break My cruel Father oh I dare not speak Alci Hah Patr. Led by some blind mistaking jealousie Heaps treasons upon you and shame on me It was by him Theramnes made escape And 't was he back't him in this impious rape But oh no more shame does my words suppress Yet think what he will do that durst do this I 'l go and try if I his rage can stay I may divert the stream another way Exit Patro. Alci Kind youth I cannot fear thy Fathers hate He sells his honour at too cheap a rate What have I done that could be call'd a wrong No I've a guard of innocence too strong Whilst I unspotted that and friendship bear No danger is so great that I need fear Tim. Yet be not Sir regardless of my fears Some pity have of these sad sighs and tears Whither oh whither would your rashness lead To urge a ruine level'd at your head Let us To some recess that 's safe and humble go Timandra can bear any thing with you Let int'rest the unfix'd and wav'ring sway With us Love shall supply what fortune takes away Alci Sure 't is not my Timandra's voice I hear She ne're had cause to think that I could fear Have I so many dangers over-past Poorly to shrink from villany at last No with my innocence â—'le brave his hate And meet it in a free undaunted state See all with smiles as fearless and as gay As Infants unconcern'd at dangers play Tim. Then I 'le perform what to my love is due Unsteady doubts be gone blind fears adeiu I were unworthy of the heart you gave Were I then you less faithful or less brave And of my courage too this proof I 'le give When you dare meet a death I 'le scorn to live Nor longer be a vassal to my fear Wee 'l in each others chance a portion bear So fate has thus at least some kindness shown Neither can wretches be nor blest alone Exeunt Scene the Camp Enter Tissaphernes and four Villains Tiss Is 't done 1 Vil. Sir to a point your will 's fulfil'd Theramne's guards as they lay drunk we kil'd Draxilla too by th' ambush you had lay'd For your retreat was on her flight betray'd Tiss Next as from me be there a message sem To bid my Son attend me in my Tent In 's passage thither you may seize him so Convey him to the Cave 1 Vil. My Lord we go Tiss Ye are the best of Rogues but disappear Ex. 3. Vill. You know your bus'ness So the King is here Enter King and Queen Attended K. Lead to the Grove Tiss Oh Sir there 's Treason in the Camp retreat But now the Guards I in confusion met Who led me where Theramnes I beheld The late Athenian Captive General kill'd That little breath he had left h'employ'd to shew His honour and his Gallantry to you Treasons so strange and horrid did relate As would seem almost Treason to repeat But Sir you have no longer safety here Secure yourself and leave all to my care K. No more you know not what you urge me to Secure my self
am I a King or no That Monarch who when danger 's near sits down Shews but a feeble Title to a Throne The best securities in courage are We but subscribe to Treasons which we fear Be free and let me the bold Traytor know To stem the torrent I my self will go In state I 'le meet the fond Capâ—icâ—ous wretch And dare him with that Crown which he would snatch Tiss Alas dread Sir force me not to declare The name would wound your sacred breast to hear I in reviling honour should offend He once was noble Sir and call'd me friend K. How Sir your friend and Traytor to my Crown Reveal him or his Treasons are your own Tiss Alass but must I 't is so foul a deed I 〈◊〉 speak K. Hell Sir d' ye play proceed Tiss Then to be short he you so lately strove T' engage in all the firmest tyes of love He whom you almost had from nothing rais'd And on the highest seats of honour plac'd Has thence this use of all your favours shown To make 'em steps to mount into your Throne K. Defend me what do I hear Sir you have rais'd a tumult in my breast Which will not be so suddenly appeas'd By Heav'ns see all that you inform be true Or may all torments which to th'damn'd are due Light on me if inflicted not on you The brave Athenian false it cannot be His Soul ne're dreamt of such impiety Tiss Sir y' are unkind if you suspect me false I never yet abus'd your ears with tales Had I such mystick Policy pursu'd Perhaps I 'd now been kindlier understood K. Alas dear friend misconstrue not my Zeal Weigh not my Passions in nice Reasons Scale Who wou'd believe a King should blindly place His love so firmly for returns so base Wrack me no more but the dark scruple clear My Souls in a Convulsion till I hear Tiss Yes Sir 't is he and thus his Plots were lay'd Th' account I from the dying Captive had Whom he with liberty had brib'd to joyn With him in this his Treacherous design This night wi'th ' enemy your Camp t'envade On promise it should be by him betray'd Which when the Gallant Captive did disdain He was to Combat dar'd and by him slain If you insist on farther evidence Theramne's murder'd Guards enough convince Hence you may farther confirmation have K. Be bold speak what thou knowst 4 Vil. When to relieve The Captives Guards I by command was sent I found e'm murder'd at th' door o'thâ— Tent. In one of e'm some life did yet remain Who told me they were by our General slain 'Cause they Theramnes freedom had deny'd More he had said but at these words he dy'd K. It was enough Treason how dark art thou In shapes more various then er'e Proteus knew By Heav'n I 'le make him base despis'd and poor More wretched then e're Monster was before Naked and stript of all his dignities I 'le lay his odious Crimes before his eyes Then when his mind is lab'ring with regret To make his infamy the more compleat Some common slave shall on him justice do And send his Soul among the damn'd below Guard wait on him to Tissaphernes Go ere ' my love return and I repent And seize upon the Traytor in his Tent. A speedy vengeance best befits this wrong 'T were too much mercy to delay it long Enter Alcibiades and Timandra Alci This way 's the King Tiss He 's here leapt into th' net Thus Sir the King salutes you Guards seize Alci Alci Slaves retreat Tim. Alas my Lord Tiss Sir 't is the command The least of 'em I never durst withstand Tim. But Sir what meaning can this usage bear Tiss The King Sir quickly all your doubts will clear K. Away with him thou Poyson to my eyes Alci The basest wretch not unconvicted dyes Sir let me know what 't is that I have done Unworthy of my honour or your Crown If in your cause who 'd spend his dearest blood As is to be your meanest Vassal proud No greater welfare then in yours does know If he be an offender I am so K. How cunningly he would seem innocent And guild with flattery his foul intent Thus Traytours in their fall are like the Sun Who still looks fairest at his going down 'Sdeath Sir do you believe me Child or fool Whom ev'ry fawning word or â—oy can rule By Heav'n I 'le let you see Sir your mistake Hence with the Traytour quickly to the wrack Alci Sir hear me speak K. What is 't that you can say Who would my Crown and your own trust betray When you from Prison set the Captiâ—e free Basely to win him to vour Treachery Whom when on him your plots could nothing do You kill'd 'cause he more honour had then you Alci By all above Sir I am innocent I ne're knew what the thought of Treason meant But know from whence this jealousie you drew From him that hates me and abuses you Theramnes had his liberty from hence to Tissapher And for designs so base Tiss Oh impudence To what prodigious height will treason climb Dare you Sir charge me with your heavy crime Old as I am my Sword should do me right But Alci Monster hence and them that fear thee fright Thinkst thou to play with the black deeds th' ast done Were I but free though naked and alone Thou too defended by a desp'rate crew And all indeed more near being damn'd then thou This single Arm should prove my cause is good And Chronicle my honour in their blood K. I' st thus Sir you would plead your innocence Think you t'outbrave us with your impudence Once more the Traytor to his tortures bear Qu. But Sir your justice now is too severe 'T were an ill Tryumph after victories To make the Conquerour the Sacrifice That Gallantry some priviledge may plead K. His treasons are too plain and open lay'd And all his merits weigh'd against them light Qu. Should we him guilty of worse crimes admit And that in 's death you 'd worthiest justice show Yet to forgive's the nobler of the two K. When Deidaâ—â—a pleads I can't deny His doom 's this time recal'd he shall not dye But rob'd of all his joys let him be sent To a perpetual imprisonment His treasures rifl'd and his Wife a slave Alci Here on my knees let me one favour crave Whatever fate you have design'd for me It is embrac't but Sir let her be free Let all the weight of the alleadg'd offence Light upon me wrong not her innocence Tim. How mean and abject is your courage now Think you that I dare suffer less then you No Sir in this he has no right to plead What e're you think either has merited Let equally justice on us both be shown And as we are so let our fates be one Alci Thou wonder of thy Sex K. I 'l hear no more How dare you tempt an angry Monarchs pow'r But since
his fate so grateful you esteem Let her be Pris'ner too but far from him He must not be so happy to have her For fetters would be blessings were she there Go see you execute our orders strait Tim. Thus we with smiles will entertain our fate My dearest Lord farewel let not a sigh Or tear proclaim we greive our parting 's nigh Were it to quit our happiness a pain Joy were not then a blessing but a chain No let us part as dying Martyrs do Who leave this life only to gain a new Greif equally ignoble were as vain Since we at least in Heav'n shall meet again Alci So from their Oracles the Deities Instruct the ignorant World in Misteries But part that word would make a Saint despair Obedience cannot be a vertue here If so ye Gods ye have such precepts giv'n That an example would confound your Heav'n You duties beyond your own omnipotence enjoyn Can you forsake your Heaven or I leave mine Till when thus King I 'm fix't beyond remove With all the Cements of an endless love Kill me thou yet shalt of thy ends despair My Soul shall wait upon her ev'ry where Nay I 'd not fly to Heav'n till she came there K. Shall I thus see my self out-â—rav'd away He is a Traytor that but seems to stay Alcibiades snatches a Sword from one of the Guards Alci Now I am arm'd death to that wretch that stirs K. Sir do you think to look us into fears Disarm him Guards or kill him They sight and disarm him Tiss Push home ye Dog Alci Sordid slaves Thus ev'ry Ass the helpless Lyon braves Adieu divinest of thy Sex adieu I never thought that I could part till now Now I deserve the worst fate has in store That in so brave a cause should do no more The Guards offer to lead him off Yet stay one look Thus does the needle steer To his lov'd North and fain would come more near When in the eager prospect of his joy He is by some rude artist snatch't away Farewel Tim. Farewel and if your memory E're trouble you with such a thing as I Let not a sigh come from you but beleive I 'd rather be forgot then you should grieve Alci Such worth shall in each Temple have a shrine What to regain her would I not resign But she 's too heav'nly to be longer mine Exeunt several ways Guarded and looking back â—t each other K. She 's gon but oh what mighty charms there lye Couch't in the narrow circle of an eye Had she but stay'd another minute here I had worn chains and been her Prisoner And still I fear my heart is not my own For if so bright when to a Dungeon gone How would she shine Triumphant on a Throne Exit Qu. So now or never must my love succeed Vainly weak King hast thou his doom decreed In this beginning of his fall th' ast shown But the imperfect figure of thy own Few hours remain 'twixt thee and destiny Till when grow dull in thy security Timandra's and thy death is one design Then if a Crown can tempt him he is mine Exit Act. V. Scene I. Tissaphernes Solus Tiss NOW like a Lyon on my prey I 'le feast Revenge thou solace to a troubled breast Could but Theramnes in Elizium know How would his Chost rejoyce at what I do Theramnes Ghost rises Gh. Oh no Tiss Death what is that I hear and see Begon dull Ghost if thou art damn'd what 's that to me Gh. From deepest horrour of eternal night Where Souls in everlasting torments groan Where howling fiends be chain'd and where 's no light But thickest darkness covers ev'ry one I come to warn thee mortal of thy sin Short time is here left for thee to remain 'T were fit that thy repentance soon begin For think what 't is to live in endless pain Farewel Descâ—nds Tiss 'T was an odd speech but be it so Pish Hell it self trembles at what I do And it 's â—ubmission better to express Sends this Embassadour to make it's peace Let idle fears the superstitions awe With me my resolution is a law Repentance now would be too late begun Ages can't expiate what I have done And if below for Souls such torments are Methinks there 's yet some brav'ry in despair The easie King looks little in his State His Crown is for his Head too great a weight But I will ease him and adorn this brow Thus to my aimes no limits I 'l allow Revenge Ambition all that 's ill shall be My bus'ness so I 'l baffle destiâ—ie Hell no I 'l act such things whilst here I have abode Till my own Trophyes raise me to a God Enter Queen Qu. Now such an Engine is it I would have I know he is a Traytor and is brave I 'l bait him with ambition that may move Then if complacent to my ends he prove In seeming to comply with his design I 'l make him but an instrument to mine For when success me to my wishes calls I 'l shake him off and then unpropt he falls My Lord Tiss Madam Qu. My Father lov'd you well I 've heard him oft of your achievements tell When in his Camp such gallant deeds you wroughe And always victory and triumph brought Tiss Madam your Father was all good and just Qu. Be could why may not I your honour trust Tiss You wrong it 〈◊〉 your Father lives in you As I was his I am your Champion too Though old against your Foes this Sword shall 〈◊〉 Your right name but your Traytor and he 's dead Qu. Nay Sir the Traytor 's not alone my Foe His injuries extended are to you To you to whom he owes all he enjoy Yet basely him that gave him growth destroys Whilst for his ills he would his kindness plead To heap your honours on your Rivals head Rally your Courage up if you are brave And at once mine and your own honour save Tiss Your Majesty would mean the King Dâ— ye try My resolution or my Loyalty Qu. Your Courage Sir is known your Loyalty If you have any you 'l find due to me Through me these honours you in Sparta bore And 't was my Father made you great before Now know it is the King whose perjurâ—d Soul Has done me injuries so base and foul That all that 's good will blush at his vowes past To me all in anothers love are lost Nay with my honour too my life must bleed He with the General 's has my fall decreed To take the fair Timandra to his bed Let 's go surprize him now he 's full of Wine Revenge me on his life his Crown is thine Tiss Madam indeed the injuries you feel Cry loud nor do I tamely see my ill But you must swear to me you will be true Qu. By all that 's holy I 'l be so to you Tiss I 'l do 't but Madam know I undertake To hazard life and honour for your sake
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