Catastrophe of the Fall of Phaeton for that which now it has which was one of the reasons of my preserving the Names of Phaeton and the rest But for fear this shou'd not satisfie our sou'r Critics Custom will make me give them the generous Name Critics that my alt'ring the Names of Medea and of Iason is not so inexcuseable as they seem to make it I shall prâ—â—â—â—d to some perhaps of more force I saw a necessity on my first perusal of EURIPIDES of alt'ring the two â—hief Characters of the Play in consideration of the different Temper and Sentiments of our several Audience First I was Apprehensive that Medea as Euripides represents her wou'd shock us When we hear of her rearing her Brother to pieces and the murdering her own Children contrary to all the Dictates of Humanity and Mother-hood we shou'd have been too impatient for her Punishment to have expected the happy Event of her barbarous Revenge nay perhaps not have allow'd the Character within the Compass of Nature or at least decreed it more unfit for the Stage than the Cruelties of Nero. Monsters in Nature not affording those just Lessons a Poet ought to reach his Hearers But we shou'd with the extreamest Indignation have seen her as Mr. Dryden observes at last furnish'd with a Flying Chariot to escape her just Punishment Nor wou'd our Audience I fear ever have consider'd the reasons that might justifie Euripides in so uncommon a Character viz First that Medea is the Instrument of the Gods to bring a wonderful Punishment of Perjury about on those whom Power had secured from all other means Or Secondly that he by this Inhumanity of a Barbarian Woman strove to deter the Athenians from Marriages with those whom they generally estem'd Barbarous and by that means enforc'd by the most prevailing Motive Example a known Law of Athens against any Athenians Marrying a Stranger Or Thirdly that Medea being the Grand-daughter of the SUN had that Chariot as a Present from him The Descendants of the Gods at least of so near a degree being exempted by the Pagan Theology from the common Rules of Mankind as if walking more at large and being a superior and more unconfin'd sort of Beings These considerations wou'd sufficiently justifie Euripides but I cou'd not hope the whole or ev'n the greater part of my Hearers shou'd allow 'em as a Defence for me and my Opinion was so far jusâ—ifi'd by some that I read my Play to that they thought the very Revenge of Alâ—hea tho the Natural Reâ—ult of sleighted Love lost her a great share of that pity I wish'd she might find And this was the reason that I made use of those Advantages of the Heathen System of Divinity which the Foundation of my Play allow'd me as of Iuno Hymen and her Father's Ghost to fire her with that resentment her unhappy Love might else have smother'd by this means to render her Revenge as in-involuntary an Act as possibly I cou'd tho it was all along my own Opinion that the Natural Effect of those Passions every one finds in himself wou'd have mov'd our pity when her yielding to their most violent impuls had brought â—o deplorable râ—in on self and her Children Revenge in Woman for sleighted Love for being cast off for another while yet she was and thought her self Beautiful after Possession after Vows and Oaths of Consâ—ancy after the highest Benefits is so natural a Frailty that I 'm confident no Woman of any Spirit wou'd bear it without attempting some Revenge or other and that more or less violent according to the Temper of the Woman So that I cou'd not see how this cou'd reasonably rob Althea of pity since no unfortunate Character ought to be introduc'd on the Stage without its Humane Frailâ—ies to justifie its Misfortunes For unfortunate Perfection is the Crime of Providence and to offer at that is an Impiety a Poet ought never to be guilty of being directly opposite to his duty of Rewarding the Innocent and punishing the Guilty and by that means to establish a just notion of Providence in its most important Action the Government of Mankind This the great Sophocles has been notoriously guilty of in his Oedipus Tyrannus where he punishes Oedipus for an Accident as much as for the most Criminal Offences For 't is evident â—that his Mind was ever so far from being guilty of Parricide and Incest tha he always expresses the utmost horror of them And his voluntary Banishment from Corinth prov'd that he had done all that Man could do to avoid the threaten'd Evil. I know very well that some pretend that he was punish'd for his Curiousity and Rashness not Parricide and Incest but I can find no tollerable reason for this their Assertion For first it is not to be gather'd from the Play it self nor from the Moral of it and next the Curiosity he was guilty of in consulting the Oracle was so far from being a Fault in the Heathen Religion that it was one of its chief Duties and then for a Man to defend himself against â—everal insolent Assaulters was rather an Act that merited a Reward than Punishment and Laius not Oedipus was here the Offender The Grecians as is evident from the Laws of Athens c. were too great lovers of Bravery to encourage any passive Notions and too Zealous for their Religious Rites to suffer any Moral or Lesson of a Play to expose them as foolish But the miseries of a King or Tyrant however brought about were agreeable in a Democractic Government And I 'm apt to believe Sophocles in this run along with the Sin of the Times which entertain'd none of the most favourable Notions of Providence And the Sons of Orpheus might well be guilty of complementing the depravity of Humane-kind with the Doctrine of Necessity at the expence of Providence since he himself had by perverting Religion into Profane Mystery and Evidence into Fables scarce left the Deity one Attribute uncorrupted and his Successors made the God-Head guilty of all those Crimes which according to them were caus'd in his Family of Mankind by a fatal Necessity But to return from this Digression into which I insensibly am faln what I have faid proves that it is necessary that the unfortunaâ—e Characters shou'd be guilty of some Frailties at least to make Providence just in those Evils that fall upon them And those Frailties that produce those Misfortunes being what we may all be subject to must cause our pity for the suff'ring Object and this I think wou'd demand it for Althea if I had not in compliance with my Friends opinions added those Machines to take off from her Guilt But if these nice Judges cou'd not pardon her punishing the Guilty by her Revenge how wou'd they have born her destroying the Innocent and those her own Children For whom Nature imprints in every Woman an uncommon tenderness Althea runs mad for the Death of her Children Medea in-humanly Butchers hers
Lord Mr. Powel What d' you talk of those Hard Words to Courtiers Soldiers Cits and Beaux Fray let us speak We shall be understood We speak the Language of All Flesh and Blood Mr. Powel Oh! Mrs. Cross pray do as you think good Exit Mrs. Cross. On our Advice our Poet thinks not fit To trust his Fortune wholly to your Wit For that 's the Rock on which he fears to Split As much a surer way his Hopes t' Advance He wisely borrows Ornaments from France Here 's what you Use to to take so much Delight in Musick and Dance and every thing but Fighting And tho' he knew that always here wou'd please He left it out to Complement the Peace But yet for fear this shou'd not make you easie He sent all us here in hopes to please ye For when a wanting Friend has often fail'd With the rich Churl our Sex has soon prevail'd Molded th' ingenerous Cully to their Mind And made him prove most Prodigally kind If then this Charming Tribe shou'd fail to win ye I needs must say some strange dull Devil 's in ye Cannot our Eyes our Youth our Form appease ye And have we Nothing Nothing that can please ye Has Malice such Confounded Pow'r o're ye That you will damn tho' Youth and Charms implore ye Well if your darling Envy damn this Play At least before we 've had a full third day All your Efforts I hear I will defie The first And I. 2d And I. 3d. and I. 4th And I. 5th And I. Miss Chock Not one of us I 'm sure I 'll ne're comply Mrs. Cross. You hear what Doom is past therefore beware And for our Sakes the unknown Poets Spare All you that have Loves Fear before your Sight For Women may be honest out of Spight Dramatis Personae MEN. Mr. Mills Merops King of Egypt and the Indies Father to Lybia and Husband to Clymene Mr. Powel Phaeton Son of the SUN by Clymene in Love with Lybia and Marry'd to Althea Mr. Williams Epaphus the Son of Iupiter by IO now the Goddess Isis Friend to Phaeton WOMEN Mrs. Powel Clymene second Wife to Merops and Mother to Phaeton Mrs. Knight Althea Neice to Argus and Daughter to the King of Samos Wife to Phaeton Mrs. Temple Cassiope Maids to Althea Mrs. Kent Merope Maids to Althea Lybia Daughter to Merops by a former Wife and Heiress to Egypt and the Indies in Love with Phaeton a mute Person Priests Shepherds Messengers c. SCENE a Grove and adjoining Temple in the Court Egypt ACT I. SCENE I. The Curtain rises and discover a pleasant Grove c. the Prospect ending in a River running thro a Valley Phaeton Althea and her Maids in the front of the Stage and on each side Shepherds and Shepherdesses in Green Phaeton and Althea come forward before the rest Alth. ' I Was on this day that first I saw my Phaeton 'T was on this day that first I lov'd my Phaeton For when I first beheld you I first lov'd you Phaet I lov'd Althea too when first I saw her Lov d did I say no I ador'd her rather For as the Gods to Man so she to me Reveal'd herself in generous Benefits Of Life of Liberty Alth. O! my dear Lord Permit me here in safety to review The wondrous Rise of my unchanging Love Or I lose half the Triumphs of this day Phaet Oh! lose no joy that Phaeton can give Alth. It was the solemn Festival of Iuno The great Protectress of our Samian State When at the sacred Rites this wondrous Sight Surprizd us all but most affected me The Priest o' th sudden started from the Victim And threw aloft his trembling hands to Heav'n His hair erected stood upripht like bristles His glaring eves about confus dly roll'd And his stretch'd nostrils breath'd a cloud of smoak When from his widen'd mouth an awful voice A Voice much more than mortal shook the Temple As thunder dreadful and almost as loud And in a storm pronounc'd these fatal words Samos is lost and Hierax is no more Vnless we drive these Strangers from our shore He said and full of sacred Fury led The willing people to the neighb'ring Sea Phaet 'T was there he found us just escap'd the Wreck The shatter'd Reliques of th' inclement Tempest Our Swords and Virtue all the Waves had left us With joy we spy'd the Ensigns of the Gods Secure of help and hospitable rights Both from his age and office But alas Our hopes all vanish'd e're they well were form'd For on the verge of the descending Strand With hostile threatnings he forbad our passage Th' ignoble Vulgar with confirming shouts All seconded their Leader What cou d we do on e ry hand beset The Sea on this side and on that the People All sworn to our Ruin Resolv'd on Death My small but chosen Band unsheath'd their Swords Appealing to the Gods we rush'd upon 'em And drove th' inhumane herd into their street Alth. Ay there I first beheld my Godlike Lord Like Mars undaunted but like Cupid Fair A charming terror fill d his lovely face That did more execution than his Arm Tho that did Wonders scarce to be believ'd As from the Palace we survey'd the Fight For the first Tumult drove us from the Temple We all took Int'rest in your doubtful Fate And those that fear'd you pray'd you might o'recome At least that swift Agreement might secure you Phaet The people now amazd at what we did Had soon agreed had not Sesostris Sword Cleft down their Mitred Chief For tho he fell Himself to expiate his Crime their rage Encreas'd still with their numbers till unable To wield our glutted Swords we all were taken Alth. Then like the Sun obscur'd in noisome Fogs I lost my Phaeton in th' earthy Vulgar A pow'rful Pity for thy youth and beauty I thought it Pity but I found it Love Compell'd my steps down to thy frightful Dungeon To set thee free from Chains and hast'ning Death But oh the Joy the Transports of my Soul When you refus'd your liberty and life If those must rob you of your Benefactress Refus'd a flight that bore you from Althea O! the soft melody that thro my ears Dissolv'd my heart at your dear vows and oaths Of boundless love and of eternal truth Phae. O! my false heart thou hast too soon forgot ' em Aside Alth. By the bright God the Author of thy Being I cou'd not help the Fondness I betry'd The struggling Ecstacy too mighty grew For my weak breast to hold it bore down all The artful coyness of our modest Sex The Tyes of Blood the Fears of Womanhood Father Mother Country and toilsom Dangers I fled with joy from all that men hold dear Alone o re Seas to Asia in a Boat My Pilot thou and my protecting God Phae. Aside Oh! why was glory and this charming woman Such mortal foes as not to be united Why must I owe so much and be
Sex Phae Hold friend no more I charge thee say no more For sâ—ouâ—d I bear to hear he wrong'd by thee Thou well mighâ—st think I 'd wrong an absent Friend Epa. Name not that sacred word a Friend is what Thou dost not understand for Friend to Friend Is holy sacred preferr'd to all but Heavn While thou deseâ—â—e't thy friend for a vile Woman A Toy a Butterflye the worst of Women too Phae. No more it is a mâ—ghty proof of Friendship That I can bear all thâ—s tho evâ—n from thee I do prefer my friend to all but Honor And Hoâ—our binds me to this worthless Woman Epa. Honour what Honour canst thou challenge now That you foorsook when you affronted me Affronted me in much my dearest part My Mother Isis the Goddess of thy Country Aegypt's protectress the belov'd of Iove What honor binds you to a Vagabond When your friends honor and your Mothers tears The safety of your native soil and Gods Forbid her presence this hateful Niece this Limb of cursed Argus Pha. I owe my life To her Epa. I 'd sooner owe it to a Coward He has the face of Man but to this Woman Phae. I drew her from her Father and her Country Epa. That was your Crime now send her back then Pha. ' Twouâ—d be Unjust to leave her now Ep. 'T is impudence To keep her here Come come young man you must Forego this Samian Pha. Must Ep. You shall Pha. Shall Ep. Shall yes shall I come to force her from thee Pha. Force her from me ha ha I laugh at thee Thou know'st proud Man thou canst not force her from me Epa. Proud obstinate Boy I will Pha. Ha! By the Bright God m' illustrious Father Epa. Name him not He must dis own thee a Womans Property A fond convenient tool for useful ends Do Gods get such as thee no 't is a Boast An empty groundless Boast Some Trader got thee and some Strumpet bore thee And shuffl'd thee into the Royal Cradle Pha. If I bear this may Girls and Eunuchs hoot me Cowards buffet me Infamy drive me From all Resorts where manhoodâ—s to be shown Draws Draw draw thou noisie Talker try whose Arm Will best assert its Heav'nly Author Epaphus draws too Ep. Come on Clymene runs in betwixt them Cly. O! hold O! stay your furious Swords and Arms Or else thro me you cut your guilty passage Pha. Ha! my Mother Was this your cunning Sir To place your Safeguard e're you durst provoke me But I shall find a Time she shan't protect thee Thou Wordy Hero thou Tongue thou Woman Fighter Thy guilty Mother lurk'd within a Cow So long she fixt the dastard Spirit in thee Of that tame Brute Ep. Madam I pray withdraw Or I before you shall chastise that Boy By your approach made bold Cly. O! Epaphus Was this well done was this done like a Friend To heap more Sorrows on me by this Quarrel Wast thus that I shou'd leave it to your Conduct Was this your Word to Mâ—rops and to me Did we entrust to you our Common Darling To brave insult and quarrel with him Under the Friend have you conceal'd the Foe And made me lead you to destroy my Son It is unjust inhospitable base Unworthy the bright Goddess whence you sprung To her I must appeal against her Son Ep. I have been to blame I ask your Pardon But thoughts of Injuries from him in Absence And offer'd to my Mother from him I lov'd My only bâ—som Friend that shou'd have made My Cause his own so stung my Heart before So wrought my fiery Temper up to Rage That at his sight I scarce kâ—ew what I did Pha. A poor Evasion of th Affront you 've giv'n To avoid its Punishment I 'll surely pay The Time be sure I 'll find I will till then I will have naught to say to thee Ep. You know I do not fear you but Iâ—m calm Cly. O! my dear Phaeton I do conjure thee I would command but you 've forgot Obedience By all the Pains and Fears I 've felt for thee To give me up thy Vengeance and thy Anger Ep. I ask the same tho not for Fear but Friendship Cly. O think that both a Friend and Mother ask you Pha. He said I was a Womans Property A Tool And can a Tool have any Friend Ep. I said it in my Rage but couâ—d not think it The Injuries of such a one cou'd never move me Pha. The wrong I did you if I 've done you wrong I had not thought enough that it was so I was so lost in Love else Iâ—d not done it For if there be a Love above the Love Of Woman sure it is the Love of Friends And that I had for thee in its Perfection If then a Fault tho done without Design Because a Friends so touch'd the Friend in thee How must thy bitter and reviling Words Move such a Friend wound such a Friend as me Ep. You were too Good and I too rudely brutal You gave too much to Friâ—ndship I too little Phâ— If thou think so I gave not then enough I should have born more much more if possible Or else have left thee till thou dâ—'â— been more calm But that I thought your Friend shouâ—d not be bravâ—d Perhaps I h'd been more passive O' my Brother You usâ—d me Harshly but you are my Friend And have a Right to chide me O! Epaphus Thy name has â—ousâ—â— the Friend which bears down all And over-runs my Soul canâ—t thou forgive me Epa. Oh! canst thou ask it ask it too of me Who have offended most Shame and Confusion Sink me Oh! let me kneel and crawl into thy Arms. I dare not chear my guilty Eyes with thine Till they with Tears have wash'd away my Stain Kneels and moves forward to him on his Knees embracing his Pha. Taking him up Oh! rise my Friend or I shall dye with shame Cleave to my Bosom with an unfeignâ—d Ardor Thou shalt to o'recome this Samian shall be gone And bear this guilty Wretch away from Egypt Yes Iâ—ll attone my Mother Friend and Country The Angry Gods too with my just Exile â—pa Now Heavâ—n forbid No rather let ten thousand Samians stay Let rather the whole Race of Argus stay Than Egypt shou'd lose thee the pride of Youth The Soldiers Courage and the Virgins wish No by the Gods I will my self step in 'Twixt thee and Fare appease my Mothers Rage Or in her Temple sacrifice her Son Pha. But his Samian Epa. Now by my Soul do with her what thou wilt Give me but Friendship firm me but thy Friend Pha. embracing O! with more Joy than I wou'd grasp at Victory Epa. Ha! in that Word your Native Virtue spoke I wou'd not cou'd I help it have my Friend Unlike the Son of the All-seeing Sun Lye thus obscurâ—d in Shades in Groves and Grotto's Averse to Glory and inviting Greatness But mount himself to th' topmost spoak of Fortune And meet the waiting