cruel long Dar. Thus you repeat those Triumphs you have won Your mercy conquers as your eyes have done Phed. But see you pay such Honours to his Grave As may deserve that pardon which I gave Dar. Since pray'rs noâ— tears cannot his Fate recall But so much Virtue by my hand must fall This to his dust is but a lawful debt Who shin'd in glory shall in glory set I will erect new Trophies to his Fame What from his Life I took I 'le pay his Name Orind. My grief with yours as Rivals shall contend To Phed. I have a Lover lost you but a Friend Exeunt Scena quarta Enter Prexaspes and Mandana Prex. Can you refuse Cambyses's Love who wou'd To purchase yours wade to new Crowns in blood 'T is strange that he cannot your heart subdue To whom the Conquest of the World is due Mand. Thy soul and his in this were Rivals still You never overcome but when you kill Prex. But Madam what I reade in those fair eyes Has poyson in 't There 's something in that Form Aside Disturbs my soul and does my courage strom Madam your Beauty Oh turn it away Should â— on that bright Object longer stay Lead by my wand'ring fires I should my senses quit And lose my self by gazing after it Madam Continuing â—ith his eyes fixt upon her Mand. Is not your Message yet exprest Prex. Your eyes won't give me leave to tell the rest Mand. I must confess his Love I would not hear Death's frowns I can his smiles I cannot bear Prexaspes name no more Cambyses's flame Prex. Then Madam I may tell him in your name I am his Rival Aside Her subtle Darts have made my heart their Prize That sure my soul 's transparent as my eyes To let her Image in But tell me can your Breast so cruel prove To banish from your heart all thoughts of Love Mand. Now my Osiris I remember thee Aside Sighs Prex. Her alter'd Visage wears a Mystery A broken sigh joyn'd with a fainting look Just so my Love its sudden birth first took Her Actions copy mine sure my disease Aside Infectious is and does new Subjects seize For the fame signs argue the same desires Perhaps she feels my pains and meets my fires If so Thanks to my Stars Since nobly you My heart have won so nobly use it too What start You think it is Cambyses Mand. No. Both thee and thy inhumane deeds I know Could I but think that Love could be a guest To thy black soul and harbour in thy breast The very name of Love 't would odious make Prex. You must seem cruel for your honour's sake No more of this Advancing up to her Mand. Stand off Your aim you miss What stoop to him that Murder'd Amasis Prex. That was Cambyses's fault Mand. No Slave thy hand Thy hand did Act what he did but command Prex. But his command did to your Life extend Which I did from his cruelty defend And 't was my favour that you did not dye Mand. No Barb'rous Villain 't was thy cruelty Yee sacred Pow'rs above what was my guilt That with my Fathers blood mine was not spilt My Death Heav'ns Fatal kindness did prevent Reserving me for greater punishment Prex. What can it be a punishment to rest In the Protection of a Prexaspes's Breast It cannot be Mandana Come I see You 've learnt the Female slights of Modesty Advances up to her and proffers to kiss her hand at which she steps from him What a retreat As 't is in Natures Laws so 't is in Love Th' effect's the same if th' Earth or Sun do move And so our Love the same effect procures If your heart move tow'rds mine or mine tow'rds yours Come then Rudely stepping to her Mand. This Language Sir I cannot hear I can my Death not thy addresses bear To thee Mandana's Breast thus kind can prove To entertain thy Sword but not thy Love What art thou slow and dost thou sluggish stand When belov'd Murder does invite thy hand Prex. Captive take heed lest you provoke my hate 'T is but ill policy to tempt your Fate You trust my Love and therefore you presume But Madam know your scorn has chang'd your doom Nought but your Love your ruine shall recall For they who once from my high favour fall Never leave sinking till they reach their Graves Mand. 'Twixt Love and â—age like meeting â—ides he raves Aside That Death he threatens gladly I 'de obey That Life I owe to Amasis â—'de pay Yet Amasis Do but this fault if it be one forgive If for Osiris I could wish to live Enter Cambyses who meets Prexaspes going off Camb. Prexaspes is Mandana yet more kind Prex. I cannot meet her in so good a mind Camb. Since my late frowns and threaâ—ings could not move Your Breast I 'le treat you with a milder Love To Mand. Prex. She thinks I 'm some tame Lover of the common sort Whom they use cruelly to make 'em sport Aside No she shall find my Love does higher flye I 'le either â—each her how to Love or dye Exit Camb. I of my frowns a Nobler use should make To awe the trembling World make Empires quake And check Heav'ns Thunder 'T is not fit my brow â—he terrour of the World should threaten you No you shall find Cambyses for your sake As mild and calm as Loves soft charâ—s can make Mand. Cambâ—ses no rage and be cruel still Tyrants are only kind then when they kill My Death 's the only kindness you can do My life I hate since 't is preserv'd by you Camb. Hold You 're ungrateful Though you 've 〈◊〉 Thus thus Cambyses will your favour win You shall enjoy Osiris Do not start 'T is he alone that lodges in your heart To win your favour this brave deed I 'le do Be cruel to my self and kind to you Fame shall no longer to the World impart That I want pow'r to win a Ladies heart For since all other means succesless prove To gain your kindness I 'le resign my Love â— to my Rival will with Honour yield As the retreating Parthians win the field Osiris Madam is for you decreed He is I and the gods have so agreed Mand. Oh now I fear Camb. Now for his Arms prepare Draw back that Curtain The Scene opens and on a Table appears the Body of Osiris beheaded an Executionâ—â— with the suppos'd head in a vessel of blood Take your Lover there Since you all lesser offerings despise Take there take there your Beauty's sacrifice Mand. Osiris murder'd And can Heaven be An idle gazer on his destiny Gods can you suffer this and yet lay claim To this low'â— World Or is your Thunder tame To let the Tyrant live Are not y' afraid Who here below all Virtue has betray'd When there 's none left on Earth he may pursue The next blow he intends will be at you Oh no this stroke by your consent was given To rob the World to add new
take Phed. The Persian Monarch's Love Now I 'le proclaim My Constancy to my Darius's flame My courage in this cause shall act such things Aside I 'le prove my Faith by my disdain of Kings I 'le treat him so that Fame shall witness be None ever Lov'd or ever scorn'd like me Are you the Judge to prosecute the Laws Of Justice in those bold Offenders cause Why then kind Judge do you forsake your Throne E're you 've the Tryal heard or Justice done Smerd. Your bold Offender does repent his Fact And I but ill his Judge's part could Act. To beg his pardon I resign my seat From being his Judge to be his Advocate Phed. But lest his Crime should want a just Revenge As you change yours I will my Office change From his Accuser to his Judge whilst I To Act your Justice will your seat supply Steps into the Throne Enter Patasithes unseen For since he Loves I 'le use a Mistress's pow'r With all the rigour of a Conquerour Pat. Ha! what strange Interlude must here be shown A Woman seated on the Persian Throne Aside Phed. This diff'rence Kings with common Captives have Onely the Title of a Royal Slave And how can Beauty rule a Nobler way Then to command thus whilst their Slaves obey Pat. 'T is she I 'le stop But stay I 'le use no force I 'le check her pride by a more subtle course Aside Phed. Although you Monarchs are exempt from Laws As wanting higher Pow'rs to Judge your cause Yet that you Smerdis may have Justice done Since you want Laws I 'le Judge you by my own Smerdis what can you say in the defence Of your late rude and salvage violence When Ravisher your guilt so high was grown T' attempt my Virtue and to blast your own Smerd You know I was not Author of that Fact Hâ—nour nor Love durst ne're such stains contract For they Heav'ns favour would but ill implore Who first prophane the Deity they adore Phed. Honour and Love are but respective things Greater or less in Subjects or in Kings In which if Kings transgress the more sublime Their greatness is the greater is their Crime And though you 're now transform'd into a Prince That Title does but heighten your offence Smerd. Such Beauty does so well become the Throne Be pleas'd fair Judge t' accept it as your own Where you shall Reign in glory and give Law To him that wears the Crown of Persia. Phed. I scorn your Throne and him that proffers it My pow'rs too great an equal to admit Descends from the Throne No Smerdis Phedima is not so low As to descend unto a Throne and You. Two lights together cannot equal shine Mine will Eclipse your glory or yours mine And 't would a lesser Honour be to have A King my Equal than a King my Slave Exit and after her Smerdis Pat. Is Love an object for his mind which shou'd Be now imploy'd with thoughts of War and Blood Cambyses now may his revenge pursue And eas'ly conquer where Love can subdue Love does debase all Courage and he is Like tame Beasts onely fit for Sacrifice But I 'le invent a Cure Studies Well I 'le remove Her safe enough both from his pow'r and Love Love is a Passion for luxurious peace When idleness indulges the disease But not for Active souls I 've found the way To turn that current which I cannot stay Exit Scena tertia Scene the Palace Enter Smerdis with a Letter Smerd. He that so well a King can counterfeit Should scorn to stick at any smaller cheat From his own Copies too I have so near Pursu'd Theramnes Hand and Character That the most curious nay Theramnes's eye Did he but see 't could scarce the cheat descry Well it must take I shall so happy prove Both to find out and to confound their Love Enter Theramnes who seeing Smerdis offers to withdraw Theramnes stay Ther. I fear I am too rude Smerd. Theramnes no a Friend cannot intrude Ther. But I have prest into your privacies Smerd. Friendship above all private business is Unless it be the high concerns of Love And Honour But there we two equal prove Rivals in both Ther. What means my King Smerd. I mean Onely one Beauty o're us both does Reign Ther. No you whose Empire 's greatness is above All Rivals should admit none in your Love And think you that my confidence aspires To Court that Beauty which my King admires Smerd. Think you I can believe you never saw The eyes and charms of the fair Phedima Or can you utter so prophane a word To say she can be seen and not ador'd Ther. Love like Religion never chose one way That all should to one object homage pay The Sun does to the World his sight afford But by the Persians onely is ador'd Smerd. Because the rest o th' World are ignorant And do the knowledg of his God-head want But you who know how great Divinity In Phedima's most sacred breast does lye Can't but adore her Ther. Yes I can do more I am beyond her Beauties charms and pow'â— In this one glory I out-rival you Those eyes which did the Persian King subdue Their pow'rs too weak to Captivate my heart Smerd. His Love 's too strong to be compell'd by Art Or forc'd to a Confession Aside 'T was th' excess Of passion made my jealousie transgress But now I 'm satisfy'd That I may prove I don't suspect your Loyalty nor Love I will intrust this Letter to your care But you must first on your Allegiance swear Ther. I swear And in obedience to your will Whatever you command I will fulfill That to a Subjects care you dare intrust Since your commands can be no less than just Smerd. Present that Letter then to Phedima And if she chance to ask by whom 't was writ Beware you do not tell her but withdraw Lest that she should refuse the reading it Then carefully forbear to visit her Untill such time that she an answer sends For by that means I shall my suit prefer And you will thus oblige your best of Friends And then Sir whatsoe're her answer be For through your hands 't will come present it me Exit Theramnes with the Letter Though he so resolutely did maintain He did not Love their Love is but too plain How could she else such cruelty have shown To him who with his Love proffer'd his Throne Her passion has some more than common tye When proffer'd Crowns can't shake her constancy And that Theramnes is the Object too What was it else made him so rashly Vow When he but late Acted her Champions part To right her wrongs on her Offenders heart When the slight wrongs could onely cause afford For a Womans anger and a Lovers Sword But yet this Letter will my doubts remove I shall discover their intrigues of Love â—f so By treach'rous smiles I will his ruine Act As stranded Vessels in a calm are Wrackt Exit Scena quarta
Scene a Chamber Enter Phedima and Orinda with Aâ—ossa Auretta and other waiting Ladies Orind. Sister you are so fortunate to have The Persian Monarch for your Beauty's Slave Phed. No in my Love Ambition has no part Monarchs may rule an Empire not a heart Whilst my Darius lodges here my breast Too narrow is for any other guest May Smerdis still the Persian Scepter bear And may he still Reign ev'ry where but here Points to her Breast Orind. Does then your Breast no other thoughts produce Love like Wars Combats should admit some truce Your pardon Sister if so bold I prove To tell you what Oriâ—da thinks of Love Atossa sing the Song I taught you Aâ—ossa sings She that with Love is not possest Has not for that the harder heart I think the softer and more tender breast Would dull would dull would dull and damp the dart Away with melancholy fits Whose strange effect our eyes disarms Deposes Beauty and distracts our wits Whilst we grow pale grow pale and lose our charms Love does against it self conspire Such languishing desires imparts That quench the fuel yet preserve the fire Clouding those eyes those eyes whence Love takes darts Enter Theramnes with a Letter Ther. This Letter your perusal asks Phed. From whom Do you Theramnes in Embassage come Ther. My message Madam you will find writ there Both in the Subject and the Character Exit Phedima opens the Letter and reads to her self and seems disorder'd Orind. What strange disorders in her looks arise How she casts darts of fury from her eyes Phed. Shame and confusion has so fill'd my breast That I want patience to reade out the rest Sister do you proceed look and see there What you will blush to reade and I to hear Orinda reades the Letter Theramnes to the Constant Phedima SInce our mutual Vows of Love have rais'd me to a pitch above hope or fear to such an assurance of your affection that I find the greatest Monarch in the World cannot supplant me in your esteem nor raise his Love on the ruines of mine You then who have given my passion life have given it also confidence to request the speedy crowning of our desires to avoid the trouble of more numerous Rivals which your Beauty cannot but daily add to your former Conquests But since the immediate service of my King will not permit me as yet to wait upon you be pleas'd to send me an Answer but such an one as I doubt not but you will as shall proclaim me as I am your most faithful so your most happy adorer Theramnes Phed. Proud Traytor to my Honour and his own His confidence swells to a height unknown To dare Orind. Why Sister Lovers dare do more Phed. Lovers why did he ever speak before Or utter the least syllable or word T' express I was the object he ador'd Contracts and promises which I have giv'n Perâ—idious Lyar both to Me and Heav'n Orind. But perhaps he your kindness has mistook For Lovers track their Fates in ev'ry look Their Ladies do impart and ev'ry glance Does to an unknown height their hopes advance The Languages of Ladies smiles suffice For Lovers to reade contracts in their eyes Did you ne're smile or some kind favours show Phed. Yes what my Friendship did oblige me to But could his proud thoughts so ambitious prove To dare to think my Friendship was my Love No Traytor no. Theramnes you shall find Choosing a Mistress you have lost a Friend But that which my disdain and anger moves Is not so much because Theramnes Loves Th' effects of Beauty Beauty can forgive And we can pity those we can't relieve But that which merits my just scorn is this That he should think my Conquest easie is Whilst in this Letter which you now have read He does for Triumph not for Conquest plead As if a Ladies breast no courage held But our â—ame souls were onely taught to yield Orind. Your furious anger too much freedom finds Silence becomes the passions of great minds Phed. Sister I 've done Auretta go and burn This Letter Thus I 'le Triumph in my scorn Auretta Condemn'd to th' fire That Sentence which you give Aside Too cruel is I 'le grant it a reprieve Exit Auretta with the Letter Phed. But seeing he an answer does require I 'le be so kind I 'le grant him his desire But such an answer as shall make it known I understand his merits and my own Exâ—unt Scena quinta Scene a Pavilion Royal. Enter Cambyses and Prexaspes Camb. Enough I am convinc'd of Smerdis Fate 'T is well my blood does not disturb my State How sits the Cloud upon Mandana's brow Prex. She does no time but to her tears allow Camb. Marble sheds tears but cannot softer grow Her heart's still hard and ever will be so You said you for her griefs a cure design'd Prex. Sir to divert these troubles from her mind I have design'd after a Martial dance A masque of Captive Princes shall advance Adorn'd with Chains and Coroners of gold Seated upon whose necks you shall behold A Prince Triumphant deckt with Martial spoyls Amidst your Trophies and great Cyrus toyls Hid in the Trophies of this Pageant King An Eagle on the sudden shall take wing A Crown fixt to her Talons As she flyes And hov'ring mounts still nearer to the Skyes When at the utmost height she finds her Chain Does her intended Liberty restrain Her Fetters shall her tow'ring flight recall Forc'd down she at Mandana's feet shall fall And there depose her Crown Camb. Conduct her in And let this glorious Scene of Love begin Exit Prex. Thus I 'le describe my passion Love sounds best Like â—racles in Mysteries exprest Enter Prexaspes and Mandana The King and Mandana seated a Martial Dance is perform'd the Dance ended the Scene opens and the Masque is represented at which Mandana rises and offers to go out at which Cambyses follows her and the Scene shuts Camb. Stay cruel Princess stay Are your fair eyes Afraid to look on their own Victories Or are you startl'd at your own great pow'r To see your Slave in the Worlds Conquerour Who from your influence does his greatness take And Conquers onely for Mandana's sake Mand. O Fatal Beauty was 't Mandana's eyes That made you win her Crown and Sacrifice Her Fathers blood Camb. Your losses I 'le restore With Crowns more bright than Amasis e're wore Mand. No Tyrant know my soul 's not sunk so faâ— To stoop to my great Fathers Murderer Have I my self no better understood Then thus to found my greatness on his blood Your proffer'd Crowns cannot my thoughts controul You have subdu'd my Empire not my soul. Camb. Madam how dare you thus provoke his hate Who 's the disposer of your Crown and Fate Mand. Ay Sir you of my Life and Throne dispose And those are trifles I could wish to lose But know proud King my Virtue I 'le secure My Honour is above a Tyrant's pow'r
my fortune too The hand of War more cruel wounds ne're gave Osiris too is the proud Tyrant's Slave Could Providence this unjust deed design Osiris should wear any Chains but mine She Weeps Our Fate the malice of our Stars does prove If there be any Stars that envy Love Enter to her Osiris Osir. Do you remember those strict Vows you made And those soft Charms in whispers you convey'd When I and Egypt both did happy prove They in their King I in Mandana's Love Mand. I do Osiris And remember too I alwayes paid my promises to you Osir. Your Constancy confirms that happiness Which your high favour did at first confer But souls so much divine can do no less As gods are constant 'cause they cannot erre This day I hope our Mutual Loves shall crown Mand. Yes Sir it shall if Heaven will give us leave Osir. When you Mandana smile Heaven cannot frown Mand. No unkind fate does your fond hopes deceive You know Osiris that I made this Vow That with my Love I would my Crown bestow And from her Vow Mandana will not start I 'le give an Empire when I give a heart But since my Captive fate my Crown has lost Your hopes and mine thus equally are crost To give you less would seem too low a thing My heart alone 's too mean an Offering Osir. In this decree you do too cruel prove To think that Fortune can give Laws to Love And to your Beauty you 're injurious grown You cannot borrow lustre from a Crown No he who in Mandana's Breast does Reign Is taught all meaner Empires to disdain Mand. Osiris no your too fond zeal mistakes Love will admit no Slaves but what it makes Love by our miseries would sullied be Eclips'd and Clouded in Captivity Our Fate the Crowning of our Love controuls Osir. We have but Captives fortunes not their fouls Their fouls to th' highest pitch of greatness rise That can the empty frowns of Fate despise In our dark fortune Love will shine more bright As Diamonds borrow lustre from the night Mand. No no you must your hopeless Love forgo You must Osiris Love will have it so Osir. And can you give what I shall ne're enjoy Can Love a Lovers happiness destroy Mand. If e're my Stars my ravisht Crown restore She Sighs Till then expect that I can give no more Osir. You are too cruel Mand. No I am too kind This resolution in my breast is sign'd Proffers to go out at which Osiris offers to speak I do command you urge no more Osir. You may Command my Death you know I must obey Mand. No my Osiris live and live to be More happy then you can be made by me Yet from your Breast Let not Mandana be so far remov'd But still you may remember that we Lov'd Exit Osir. Oh my hard fate She does deny me Love yet bids me live Yet 't is her kindness does this sentence give How strangely is my Happiness destroy'd Her too much Love Love's ruine has decreed As Lamps that surfeit when they 're overcloy'd Do perish by that Oyl on which they feed Exit Scena tertia The Scene a Palace Enter Smerdis and Patasithes with Guards and Attendants Pat. 'T was by Heaven's pleasure and our wills decreed To place the Crown of Persia on your head Let dull successive Monarchs idly wait To be enthron'd by the flow hand of Fate And Phoenix-like expect their rise and power Onely from th' ashes of an Ancestour You by a Nobler force have Empire gain'd Wresting the Scepter from Cambyses hand Thus on his ruine you his Throne ascend And make the means as glorious as the end Smerd. The Fate of Crowns depends on common chance Fortune and pow'r may to a Throne advance But to confirm that Crown our pow'r affords Requires our souls more active than our Swords Pat. You must yet Act unseen and veile your pow'r Untill your Thunder 's in your hand secure Till then Sir you your Majesty must shrowd Like Lightning taking birth first from a Cloud Till you like that a full-blown glory wear And gain at once both reverence and fear Enter Theramnes Ther. Your Subjects joys grow loud as is your fame Persia speaks nothing now but Smerdis name And their excessive joys so high advance Their Piety's joyn'd with their Allegiance Rendring thâ—t Homage which to Heaven is due Adoring less the rising Sun than you Smerd. 'T is this must make my Sov'reignty compleat Those joys that speak them Loyal speak me great Ther. You Conq'rours have out-done your name affords The subject of more Trophies then their swords Great Cyrus glories must submit to you He Conquer'd Nations you their hearts subdue Smerd. This is but half a Conquest who defends A Crown conquers his Foes as well as Friends And now our cause for speedy action calls Cambyses is in sight of Susa's Walls Go then Theramnes muster all our Force Our Syrian Infantry and Persian Horse Pâ—epare such strength that it may be exprest That we can conquer if he dare resist Ther. I do not Conquest doubt whilst Monarchs are Themselves above plac'd in a higher sphear You like the Heav'ns your sacred pow'rs dispense You 'll give us Conquest by your Influence Exit Smerd. See how the fond deluded World mistakes And what false light my borrow'd glory makes Yet such as dazles Persia. This disguise Has rais'd so thick a mist before their eyes That my best Friends Theramnes and the croud Of wondring Subjects all are in one Cloud And their mistaken Faiths so far advance That they seem Rivals in Allegiance Like their Devotion who the gods implore Men first believe and then they do adore Pat. Thus Kings and Beauty in this Title share 'T is the adorers eye makes Beauty fair The Persians thus by their Allegiance show You 're the true Prince if they but think you so Smerd. I by such Arts do the Worlds Empire sway As the Worlds frame does Natures Laws obey Mov'd by a Cause admir'd but never known Secrets of State and Heav'n agree in One. Thus I and thus the gods themselves disguise Their high'st designs in darkest Mysteries Exeunt Scena quarta The Scene continues Enter Phedima and Orinda Orind. Love in my breast should with slow progress move Were there no other interest in Love Phed. Why what more can there be Orind. Yes I would have My Beauties Captive be my Honours slave Brave Conq'rours scorn the prize they win whilst they Aim onely at the fame of Victory But your too humble Love takes a low flight When you thus dote upon a Favourite Can your Darius Phed. Can Darius seem Unworthy then of Phedima's esteem 'T were Impious to wish my passion less His merits not my Love have their excess Orind. Love like a pleasant Dream disturb'd or crost The fancy wakes and then the pleasure 's lost My presence then will but injurious prove Scornfully Silence and privacy are fit for Love Exit Phed. And can she
be so cruel to reprove Her heart which to Darius does incline Whom all the World can do less than Love At least if I may judge all hearts by mine Enter Smerdis who having a while gaz'd upon her advances to her she seeing him draws her Veile over her Face Smerd. Madam too late you do my sight deprive What 's in a moment born an Age may live This makes you think that since your pow'r is such Where an assault has won a siege too much Having th' assurance of your Conquest found You hide the Weapon now you 've given the wound Enter Patasithes unseen Pat Ha! this strange language does mysterious sound It is a Riddle which I can't expound Smerd. Yet you must pity those chaste flames you raise The gods themselves smile on their Voâ—aries And yet the Heav'ns when they vouchsafe to smile Suffer no Clouds to interpose the while But your injurious Veile permits no glance Should my fond hopes with the least glimpse advance Phed. Stranger what means this language and how dares Your ill-bred confidence assault my ears This boldness merits more than my disdain And frowns can punish Smerd. Yet your self restrain The Pow'r of both whilst you thus Veil'd confuâ—e That punishment your frowns should execute The 〈◊〉 Lightning never wounds when thus A 〈◊〉 of Clouds is drawn 'twixt that and us Unveiles her Phed. A Persian Ladies honour is profan'd Who bears this usage from an unknown hand What frenzy has possest your soul Smerd. Your eyes Do ill to make my heart their sacrifice And then condemn him who does offer it Phed. My scorn 's too little where th' affronts so great Proffers to go Smerd. Hold cruel fair and your just anger stay With such repentance I 'le my fault repay That I will shew my Love is so sublime That it can expiate a Lovers Crime Pat. Ha! how does his distracted fancy rove Prefer'd to Empire to submit to Love Aside Smerd. I prest too far I must confess yet though Your coyness threaâ—ned it invited too Thus curious we in t ' angry Comets pry Which but at best threaten ill destiny When our inquiry does not reach so far To know the aspect of a milder Star Pat. Th' Infection spreads No longer I endure To see that which I must prevent or cure Love like the stars that rule 't should active move You are too idle Sir to be in Love To Smerd. Come Sir she 's yours Phed. Ye gods Smerd. Hold Sir you wrong Pat. I only tell you that you talk too long Lovers should not such tedious treaties hold Love is a thing that 's sooner done than told But you mistake Love takes a Nobler course Conquests are not by parley won but force Here take her then Thrusts her rudely to Smerd. Phed. Defend me Heavens Smerd. Rash Man Hold your rude hands you all that 's good profane Phed. Audacious To Pat. Oh I understand you now To Smerd. Have you Confed ' rates and Assistants too How dares your salvage fury grow so rude To force that Virtue which you can't delude Smerd. Dispell your fears your Virtue is secure Since your protection is in your own pow'r Thus doubly guarded by the pow'rs of Heav'n And by those pow'rs Heav'n to your charms has giv'n Phed. No Ravishers no more this language use The success failing you the guilt excuse Your sting-less fury wants the pow'r to hurt You know you are within the Persian Court Your Violence chose an improper stage This sanctuary guards me from your rage Exit Pat. See with what courage she her cause protects You but the King but she the Tyrant Acts. But she derives her pow'r from your tame fears She knows that Lovers dare not give offence Thus fear makes gods who deify'd the stars But onely those who fear'd their Influence If you then Lov'd why did you not enjoy Can a Kings Modesty his hopes destroy Smerd. Such base and unjust deeds would but proclaim Mean Impostor greater than I am Pat. 'T is Kings make Justice and not Justice Kings And in that name you may Act greater things And still be just The Persian King's design No Woman more than for a Concubine And in that onely name she should not have The Courtship of a Mistress but a Slave You then should force her whom you could not move Smerd. Force may support my â—mpire not my Love Beauty like Majesty is sacred too And must it then be thus profan'd by you Pat. Your thoughts and passions are too humble grown You do forget you 're seated on a Throne Exit Smerd. Can Patasithes so inhumane prove He gave me Empire but destroys my Love This is that Phedima I 've seen before What I then but admir'd I now adore My privacy my passion then confin'd A flame too noble for so low a mind Now nothing my Love's freedom can controul My Empire 's limits do enlarge my soul. Exit Scena quinta Scene continues Enter Theramnes and Phedima Phed. Their rudeness was so great Ther. And do they live Not you nor Heav'n can this offence forgive Against you there can be no venial Crimes Your anger ought to kill where it condemns And I 'le be th' Executioner But teach Me where I may those rude offenders reach And I will force their guilty blood to more Than blush for their bold Crime Phed. That cannot be For they are men I never saw before Strangers alike to Honour and to me Ther. Do but describe e'm then and you shall see To find e'm revenge shall in your name Quick-ey'd as Envy be and swift as Fame Phed. By all I can describe I understood Their Virtues are inferiour to their blood By th' Habit which they wore they seem'd to be Some of the â—â—rsian chief Nobility Ther. My â—â—â—'rest in the Persian Court shall shew How much my zeal in your just cause can do To find those Ravishers such search I 'le make That in their very eyes their guilt I 'le track I on my honour â—ow I 'le use such Arts Who e're they are to reach their guilty Hearts Exit Phed. Theramâ—es stay Alas he 's gon too far How fierce and swift the wings of Honour are I fear that he will some rash Act perform Hurried like waves that swell into a storm And yet his zeal I cannot but approve Friendship a second Rival is to Love Finis Act. primi Actus Secundus Scena prima Scene continues Enter Smerdis Smerd. LEt Heav'n whatever Fate for me design 'T is Smerdis must make Smerdis glory shine My stars can but their utmost pow'rs dispense But I 'le Act things above their influence Enter to him Theramnes pensively not seeing Smerdis Ther. It must be done I 'm bound by Honours Laws And more 't is in Orinda's Sisters cause I want not courage and I dangers scorn Aside Yet on mine Honour such an Oath I 've sworn That I want power to perform my Vow Smerd. What serious thought sits on Theramâ—â—s brow Come