 | The Amorovs Warre |  |
SCÆNA II.
To them Archidamus, Roxane, Barsene, Orithya, Thalæstris, Polydamas, Lyncestes, Theagines, Meleager.Arch:
You see your Nuptials, Bright Roxane, and
What choyce y'have made. I thought to have brought you to
A Court and Palace, where your entertainement
Would have beene only Songs of Virgins; Posts
Crown'd and adorn'd with Gyrlands; Sacrifices
Striving to make our Streets but one perfume;
And taking from our sight our Temples, with
The numerous Clouds of Incense which they scatter.
And send forth from their breathing Altars; And
No other sounds heard but my peoples shouts,
And acclamations for your wisht arrivall.
But you perceive y'are landed in a Campe;
And your first step upon the shore proves to you
A most unnaturall Seige. If for a Brother
Thus to pursue a Sister be unnaturall.
Roxan:
Had you had his Consent, Sir, and no storme
Follow'd your transportation of me from
His Court to yours, but had you, undisturbed,
Untroubled, in the progresse of your Love,
Proceeded to the Temple, There joyn'd hands,
And matcht the common way of Princes where
All that's requir'd to make the wedding Day
Solemne, are Tapers, Banquets, Revels, Musicke,
'T had beene a Dreame, no Marriage; our soft Ioyes
Would have lost both their edge and appetite.
That which you call unnaturall in my Brother,
5
The Argument he lends mee to expresse
How much more Deare your Dangers make you to mee.
Beleeve mee, Great Archydamus, the fire
You kindled in my heart, when in those still,
Quiet, silent nights you first did wooe mee, was
But a weake Sparke, compar'd to the large Flame
Which this Warre kindles in mee. I behold
Now a new amiablenesse in You; And
Looke on you through this Tempest, which is rays'd
For my sake, as one made more Lovely to mee.
And with the same content doe take delight
To mingle Sufferings, as Nuptials with you.
Nor should I thinke my selfe your Queene, unlesse
With the same equall Minde, I could goe halfe
In perils, as in Kingdomes with you.
Arch:
Still
You doe speake like your selfe, Roxane, Still
Breath words, which sweeten Dangers, and provoke mee
To court them in their worst and dreadfull'st shape;
As things, without which, I should want fit Matter
To merit by, or some way make my selfe
Worthy of her for whom I undertake them.
Nor will I doubt of victory, where I
Have such a brave Inspirer. Had I beene
Borne cold, or sent into the World a Coward,
Such a faire second, such a beauteous Cause,
Would strike a valiant Heat into me; And
Were my Sea cover'd with as many Shippes,
As anchor'd before Troy; or should an Army,
As vast, and numerous as his, who dranke
Up Rivers in his passage, and join'd Europe
To Asia with his fleet invade mee, I
Assisted with your Vertues, should not doubt
Enter Eurim. Clit. Hipp.
But to return with Conquest. Who are these?
Lyncest.
Th'Embassadours sent from the Prince of Thrace,
To demand restitution of their Princesse.
Ar:
Admit 'em to our presence.
Pol:
The King expects you.
| The Amorovs Warre | |