Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A37017
|
The siege of Memphis, or, The ambitious queen a tragedy acted at the Theater-Royal / written by Tho. Durfey.
|
D'Urfey, Thomas, 1653-1723.
|
1676
(1676)
|
Wing D2777; ESTC R450
|
40,884
|
74
|
I utter it aside Moar. Silence bright Soul for Lovers is not fit Say what ill news Amas. Aid me ye Deities Then breifly thus our love with mutual ties Of firm affection oft has dar'd our fate And thereby made us both unfortunate This makes me conscious of what griefs arise From wilful love what plagues what Miseries As freind to your good fortune to request That you would change I cannot speak the rest aside Love charms my utterance and denies me power Zelm. behind Do it or do not hope to live an hour Moar. To change my Love how do not give my sense Cause to reprove such charming Excellence Your breath till now stand Roses in the bud The Western gales were not so sweet so good But this request has soild your lustre so What was divine does now but mortal shew Amas. Let not vain hopes too much beguile your Youth Our holy Prophet ne're spoke more truth For to make kind our future destiny You may suppress your love and so must I. Live happy therefore and past Joyes restore But from this moment never love me more 'T is out and now shroud me some gloomy cloud Exit Moar. Such words the Gods durst not have spoke so loud Rend Earth i' th' midst and split ye fatal Skies Whose Planets dare to appoint such prodigies To Caves immense let th' Ellements retire And mix together earth air sea and fire Till mingled in confusion all may be As first they were in natures infancy For since this age do's pristine ills surpass Oh happy Choas where no falshood was A barb'rous Princess who would beauty trust Who would believe in vertue or be just If vertue this allows in noble blood Vertue 's a crime and vice it self is good The Gods themselves if tamely this they see Are false and baser than mortallity Enter Zelmura Zelm. What Demon Sir hath alter'd thus your fate I met my Sister at the Castle gate Fire darting from her eyes her lovely face So chang'd with rage it banisht all her grace Calling you base perfidious false and then Musing a while she 'd fall to Curse agen Such rapid frenzies posted from her breast I could no less then think she was possest For she methinks whom passion did so blind Might have found words more gentle and more kind But ignorance of the truth me hither draws To know the reason and enquire the cause Moar. The Cause why Madam ' dsdeath I cannot tell 'T is the same Cause that damns the souls in Hell A Heaven lost for want of loving well Zelm. Come come dissemble not you slighted her That you to me your passion might prefer And though I 'me haughty vassals you Shall find a temper that to Love is due If without more delayes you prove your bliss And your long closely smoother'd Love confess Moar. What strange Chimera's Madam plague your mind Love you by Heaven I hate all woman kind Not you alone but all curst Crockadiles Ye couch damnation in seducing smiles I 've lost my faith to think 't is Heaven to Love My sense do's now i' th' contrary move For if a Hell there be as it is said 'T is felt when highth of passion is delay'd Zelm. Perhaps you 'r loth the Guard your words should hear Whisper Sir speak it softly in my ear Your merits soon will weigh the ballance down And make me cherish what deserves a frown Moar. Frown on your amorists that causeless dote For by the Azure Heavens I love you not To be your slave I never did consent Nor need I whisper what I never meant Zelm. Hah never meant it was it not for me You slighted thus my sisters amity Could for meaner Causes faith remove Then th' happiness that still attends my Love 'T is contrary to reason and you try My utmost patience if you this deny Moar. D'sdeath Madam do ye think I can be brought To cherish Passion by perswasions wrought Bereav'd of reason that should crimes reprove Forc't to affect and fool'd into a Love Your eyes my heart do rather freez than warm And your addresses rather vex than charm Fate makes me to despise what you propound If this be Love I have a Mortal wound Zelm. Gods can I hear this tamely die proud fool And with thy blood my boundless passion cool Goes to stab him he wrests the Dagger from her Zelm. Take it and boast thou hast more strength than I But fixt it here and see how I can die Moar. No live and o're such abject fate controul You merit it you have a noble soul. Zelm. Oh I could curse but it will do no good And tear this burning fever from my blood But Love the prouder Tyrant conquers me Enter Ptollomy hastily Hah whence proceed these suddain new Alarms Moar. Fate grant I guess aright Ptollo To arms to arms The Potent Syrians with a mighty host Are past resistance landed on our Coast The City trembles and the factions swarm And with their uncurb'd shouts augment th' alarm Use some swift means great Queen to stinct this strife Least the unruly tumult seek your Life Zelm. Curse on the faithless slaves but art thou sure The troops approaching are the Syrian power Ptollo Our Messengers affirm it and we may From Turrets easily discern 't is they Zelm. They 'r welcome and they 'r coming do's produce In me much Joy my rusting sword wants use All low thoughts vanish now to empty air I will no leasure for dull passion spare War may perhaps from my brave heart remove The agony of this tempestious Love Whilst my heroick fate once known before Shall guide my sword to conquer 'em once more Moar. This happy news do's with my wish comply And gives me present hopes of liberty Enter Achmades Phillopater Zichmi Achm. The foe 's already come so near that we From our high towers may their banners see The people trembling with a suddain fright Run through the streets and Curse the fatal light But th' factions I have with perswasions wrought And in good order to the Pallace brought Your presence Madam their mistrusts will clear And make them dare the foe they late did fear Zelm. That satisfaction they shall reap from me I knew they durst not long perfidious be My breath can lift 'em up or cast 'em down Save with a smile or Martyr with a frown Go and with speed draw up the Cavalry to Achm. And in Battalia place the infantry Exit Achm. Possess their minds with hopes of great reward And cull the choicest soldiers for my guard to Phillopater You to your charge and Ptollomy take care Exit Phillopater There be no tumult that may stint the war Zichmi thy faith so noble hath been shewn In the defence of my exalted Throne That to thy guard my sister I resign By careful and close pris'ner her confine Till you my Signet for her freedome see Zichmi I 'le not dispute but act your great decree Exit Zelm. And now one act of honour I
THE SIEGE OF MEMPHIS OR THE Ambitious Queen A TRAGEDY Acted at the THEATER-ROYAL Written by Tho. Durfey Gent. Non fit sine Periculo facinus magnum memorabile Terent. LONDON Printed for W. Cademan at the Popes Head at the entrance in of the New Exchange in the Strand 1676. TO THE TRULY GENEROUS HENRY CHEVERS Esq SIR THe favourable aspect you were pleas'd to cast upon this Poem the first fruits of an Infant Muse together with the knowledge I have of your excellent temper and unalter'd clemency have sufficiently warranted my presumption of throwing it at your feet and by making it an humble present to a Person so far above the common Sphere secure it from the peircing Tallons of Eagle Eyed Criticks I know it is a triffle that by the meaness of the stile the want of good design and the ill representation at the Theatre being Play'd to the worst advantage has got little credit with the World and consequently is far unworthy your patronage but if you consider the credit of a young Author lyes at stake one whose design was onely to please not offend you doubtless will be induc'd to a more favourable opinion of my presumption The censures of others will the less trouble me when you protect it knowing how common 't is now to discant on Authors truely famous and worthy all applause as well as others of a far meaner knowledge and reputation 'T is my desire I confess to be free from malicious censures and that my partial Reader would be so favourable as not to be my Interpreter but content himself with the Perusal according to Martial Absit a jocorum nostrorum simplicitate malignus interpres But since the humour of this Age tends another way I must study self satisfaction and relie on the Patronage of a Person whose worth I am so well acquainted with that the criticisms of pretenders will appear as ridiculous as they can endeavour to make this Poem if they durst write themselves SIR Your obliged humble Servant Tho. Durfey PROLOGUE JUdges of Wit you whose diserning Eyes Know the right path and nearest to be wise That never damn'd a Play as a despite To us but always thought your selves i' th' right Our Rhymer swears it never shall corode Upon his mind since 't is grown Al-a-mode Since great and pow'rful Sons of Poesie Have felt your pointed censures why not he The Age is alter'd now he that has Wit Ne're uses it abroad but in the Pit There spreads it all and e're one Scene does know Calls friend aside Cryes Dammy Iack le ts go Not a Wench here that 's worth the speaking to Others that want Wit hither come to glean Seem to find fault and cavil at a Scene Because they understand it not yet will Dislike because 't is Modish and Gentile Thus both ways we our Enemy's inclose The Wise and Fools are equally our foes 'T is true some tender hearted Females come That want divertisement and trade at home But little 's to be got by them alas They bring good faces but their moneys brass Madam we cry 't is naught she peeps through hood Cryes truth my Lord did give it me for good Still this makes ill for us such as doe pay Bring naughty money such as do not stay Your Criticism's greater then your sins are And yet you 'd laugh to hear Old Cole of Windsor A bawdy Ballad though with non sence cram'd Will please ye when a serious Play is damn'd But do your worst for we resolve to try A proof now of the Ladies Clemency If they but favour us you must obey Their frowns hurt you more then you 'l hurt our Play But should they hiss and our designs condemn It were an 〈…〉 them You are such Devils and so far exceed From you 't were worse then to be damn'd indeed But in their heav'nly breasts no rancour lyes Their censures must be glorious as their eyes And he that hears and follows not their rule Is impotent I 'me sure if not a Fool. Persons Represented Egyptians MElechadel King of Egypt Ptollomy his Son Phillopater Caliph and General two Peers Achmades Halem Zichmi Brother to Halem and a Commander under Phillopater Zelmura Queen of Egypt Amasis Sister to Zelmura Saphrena Amasis Confident Messenges Souldiers Guards and Attendants Men and Women Selabdin Sultan of Syria Moaron his Son Psamnis Friend to Moaron Aldabar Captain in Selabdins Army Souldiers Guards and Attendants The Scene Memphis besieged THE SIEGE OF MENPHIS OR THE Ambitious Queen ACT. I. SCENE I. The Curtain being drawn an Alarm of Drums and Trumpets are heard the Scene representing a Turret besieged by Moaron Psamnis and Syrians Zelmura Phillopater Ziehmi and Egyptians appearing on the Walls defending a skirmish of Darts which done the Scene changes to Melechadels Pallace Enter Melechadel Ptolomy and Achmades Mch. PErish the World e're I forsake my Throne Or leave that City which my Birth did own The Sun shall freeze and Nights pale Goddess burn The Solid Globe to its first Chaos turn E're Melechadel fears Draw up our Moors By Heaven I 'l dare the utmost of their pow'rs Kings are like Gods when dauntless they appear But worse than Peasants if their Fate they fear Achm. Great Apis Priests foretel our overthrow And Death comes wing'd like light'ning from the Foe I speak Great Sir not as I fear to die For death 's a bliss in wars extreamity My loyal care mean doubts do far exceed Ill fare true Subjects heads when Princes bleed Ptollo Famine i th' City now 'gins to prevail And from without Destruction storms like hail The tired Souldier with weak glowing eyes Looks down upon the Foe then falls and dies As if like Basilisks they gave us death Not with their dreadful weapons but their breath What can we hope for wheresuch horrour is Melech Think on my Conquests past then hope for this The Gods that made me Monarch did creat My Kingly Soul to have a Kingly fate Have I not conquer'd the insulting Moors Buffled the Indian and Tartarian Pow'rs When with my Troops I Legions have withstood Of Daring Souldiers whose warm Seas of Blood O'reflow'd the Plains with Waves of crimson dye And fogs obscur'd the surface of the sky Have I not often with the Morning dawn Mounted my Chariot by fam'd Princes drawn Through Memphis whilst amazements charm'd the throng To see my glorious Triumph pass along And shall we now our fortune fear to try He deserves Conquest best who best dares die Bring up our Infantry to the assault And see 'em straight conveyed through the dark vault Under our Palace Fly Achmades flie Fate points us out this way to Victory Embrace occasion e're it be too late We 'l snatch our Conquest from the Gripes of Fate How now What news Exit Achmates Enter Zichmi Zichm The Fence grows thin my Liege And the remainder hardly brook the siege Such numbers with their dreadful darts are kill'd The Trenches with their