Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A53507
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Alcibiades a tragedy, acted at the Duke's Theatre / written by Tho. Otway.
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Otway, Thomas, 1652-1685.
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1675
(1675)
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Wing O539; ESTC R10707
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36,321
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75
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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'