University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

The Scene Solome's Apartment.
Enter Solome and Asdrubal.
Solo.
Though you Cossabanes's Subject are,
Yet I of you have took the greatest Care,
And to my Favour only, 'tis you owe
Those high Employments, you are rais'd to now.

Asdr.
Nothing with greater Joy I can admit,
Than owning of the Debt, but paying it.

Solo.
I'll try you then—Know Herod does repent,
That he to Massada Pheroras sent:
That Brother still has my designs withstood.
His Puling Vitrue does disgrace our Blood.
If he return, his Interest such will grow,
That all my Plots, now ripe, he will o'erthrow.
To hinder this is only in your Power,
For you of Massada are Governour.

Asdr.
But Madam, if the King sends a Command
To free him, who those Orders dare withstand?

Solo.
Those Orders while I can, I will delay,
But—In obeying you may disobey.

Asdr.
I understand you not.

Solo.
Do you not think
That a few subtle drops, mixt in his drink,
May in a Moment send Pheroras where
He aims to be—and—where I wish he were.
Such Death as this, would make all Israel say,
'Twas his grief only took his Life away.
Methinks at this you should not scrupulous be,
'Twixt Statesmen, 'tis a common Courtesy.

Asdr.
Sins by their Commonness the worse are made.

Solo.
You, who I need to my Revenge perswade,
Are too unfit my deep designs to wed,
But on your Life keep Secret all I said.
Be gone—

[Asdr. offers to go out.
Asdr.
If I refuse to do the Crime,
She'll by some others Poison me and him.
[He returns.
But on his Death doth your designs depend?

Solo.
Without it all my hopes are at an end.

Asdr.
Then, Madam, there's no duty you shall know
Greater than that which to your will I owe.

Solo.
When this deed is perform'd, every degree
That I ascend, you shall ascend with me.
Consider too were but Pheroras gone,
There is between the Crown, and me, but One
Who while he lives my Councils still will sway,
And when hee's dead—But I too much do say.
—It must be done with Secrecy and speed.

Asdr.
You may already reckon he is dead.

[Herod comes in.
Solo.
Retire; for Herod comes to visit me,
[Asdr. goes out.
What strange Disorders in his looks I see.

Her.
Ah would my Stars had then my Death design'd,
When I so easily believ'd her kind.
By her appearing in my Lifes defence,
I had gone happy, though deluded hence.
For such a Death, though scarce a worse could be,
Were better than that Life reserv'd for me.
Alas, Herod's Ambition was not Great,
That would have dy'd content, though by a Cheat.
O Solome—

Solo.
What, Sir, distracts you now.

Her.
Those Loads I bear, would make ev'n Atlas bow.
What I, and all my Court, nay Guards have seen,
Makes me resolve to kill my Son and Queen:
But then when I reflect on what was done,
To save my Life, both by my Queen and Son:
Which if of my disgrace they guilty were,
Was what they ought to end, and not to spare:
When too they might my Death to Abner owe,
It so distracts me, that I do not know
Which of the Sins I greater should esteem,
Or that of killing, or not killing them.
Some Power, which Justice knows, instruct me now,
What I am not, or what I am to do.

Solo.
You wonder why they of your Life took Care,
But I admire, why the Queen hid him there:
Her Love to him you once did so much dread,
As you Decreed, that he should lose his Head.
Think you by chance he to her Bed did stray,
Or came he there, but to talk time away?
Did he at all in your Defence appear,
Till Abner's Sword, by Chance, had wounded her:
But then with Rage he on the Traytor flew,
Which proves it was to rescue her, not you.
That he your danger saw, you cannot doubt,
But till her danger call'd he stir'd not out.

Her.
I like these Observations well—Proceed,
My Justice has that Traytor's Death decreed:
Ah for the Queen would you the like could find,
'Tis she alone which now distracts my Mind.
It was her Kindness sure made her appear
In my defence.

Solo.
No, 'twas her Interest, Sir.
She fear'd that thousands would revenge her Sin,
If in her Chamber you had murther'd been:
For no one could, though Abner did the Crime,
He being kill'd, attribute it to him:
But had the truth it self been brought to light,
Her hiding there, that guilty hour of night,
Him, who for Loving her, to Death you sent,
Would make all judge she was not Innocent;
Which shews her Safety only made her do
What you but dream'd her Kindness led her too.

Her.
Speak on—Speak on—'tis Musick to my Ears,
My mist of Doubts thy Conquering Reason clears.

Solo.
[Herod starts.

Her.
I will no longer then thus trifling stand,
This Night the Queen shall dy—and by my hand:
Since she has been the Partner of my Bed,
'Tis only I that ought to strike her dead.
O Heavens forgive my Criminal Debate,
[Lifting up his Hands and Eyes.
Her Doom is Seal'd, past the Reverse of Fate.
That Traytor Samias from the Court is fled,
But I'll at leisure take his guilty head.

Solo.
Since you are forc'd your Son and Wife to kill,
You ought no more of your own Blood to spill.
Your Pardon for Pheroras, Sir, I crave,
Grief else, I fear, will send him to his Grave;
And when he has been Pris'ner one day more,
Be pleas'd his freedom to him to restore.
He'll tread no more in such a dangerous path.

Her.

[They go out severally.
The Scene the Tower of David.
Enter Antip. Phalt. Sam. Pollio, and Hazael.
Sam.
Discovering of your Self has ruin'd all.

Ant.
Talk not of that which now is past recal.

Phalt.
What you resolve must be immediately,
Since Herod doubts not whether you should dy;
But studies for that Death may be to you
Most full of pain, and Ignominy too.

Ant.
The Queen her self to such strict Virtue ties,
That 'tis from thence my greatest troubles rise.

[Phaltiel's Page comes in hastily.
Page
to Phal.
A Lady that is Veil'd and in a Mask,
With pressingness to speak with you does ask:
Her business, Sir, admits not of delay.

Ant.
to Phalt.
See who she is, and hear what she will say.

[Phalt. and the Page go out.
Haz.
Such Labyrinths involve you, that I doubt
'Tis only Miracles can bring you out.

Ant.
So bright and great her Vertues still appear,
That we may hope for Miracles for her.
Howe'er our Duties let us not decline,
And trust the Issue to the Powers Divine.

[Phaltiel comes in hastily, leading Tamar, who takes off her Mask, and turns up her Veil.
Tam.
Oh if to save the Queen be in your Power,
You ought not to delay it, Sir, one hour.
From Herod's Palace I in hast am come,
His Guards begin to seize on every Room:
And one of them did tell me in a fright,
That Herod means to kill the Queen this Night;
They all hang down their Heads, and sigh and weep,
And e'er she's dead her Funeral Rites they keep:
While she (had she the means) does scorn to fly,
And full of Joy, as Innocence, would dye.

Ant.

Poll.
Consider, Sir, the Queen's in Herod's Power,
This will but hasten on her fatal hour;
For if Success should on our side appear,
You cannot doubt but he will murther her.

Ant.
He dare not if our Arms Victorious grow.

Phal.
What wickedness is that he dare not do.
I thought you better understood the Man,
He'll with his ruin ruin All he can.

Poll.
This way with too much Reason, Sir, I fear,
You'll lose your Self instead of saving her.

Ant.
Oh Friend, to lose my Self if she be lost,
Is of all Blessings what I covet most.
If we prevent it not, the Queen must dy,
This way may save her, and this way I'll try.

[Ant. offers to go out.
Tam.
Stay, Sir; I call to my Remembrance now,
What in this strait may be of use to you.
The Queen now lies where Alexandra lay,
Who from that Chamber made a Vaulted way,
Through which she might pass to the Garden-House:
She did this when she fear'd Antigonus.
Herod himself does not this Passage know,
Safely that way you to the Queen may go.
Whence you as safely may convey her too,
If you can win her to escape with you:
For at the Garden-House no Guards I saw.

Phalt.
There, without noise, I may some Souldiers draw:
That if the Queen you from the Palace get,
We safely by their help may here retreat.

Sam.
This, Sir, is the most hopeful way I see.

Ant.
Samias, it does appear the same to me.
For by it either I shall rescue her,
Or else dy fighting with her Murtherer.

Sam.
Mean while I'll try the chiefest Jews to win.

Tam.
Oh how I fear the Scruples of the Queen.

Phalt.
Since Herod has resolv'd the Queen to kill,
You ought to save her, Sir, against her will.
Once you to do it disobedient grew.

Ant.
Heaven knows nought else could make me do it now.
Come, let's away the time too fast does slide.

Tam.
Follow me, Sir, for I must be your Guide.

[They all go out.
The Scene Herod's Apartment.
Enter Asdrubal and an Officer of the Guards, as passing over the Stage.
Offic.
As through the Streets I past the news was spread,
That Prince Pheroras struck with Grief was dead.
The People did his Death with horrour bear.

Asdr.
I doubt of greater Deaths we soon shall hear.
Carry that News to Solome from me,
Let all while I am absent watchful be.

[They go out seueral ways.
The Scene is the Queen's, Chamber, with a small Throne in it.
The Queen appears asleep on her Bed, Herod comes in with a Taper in one hand, and a drawn Dagger in the other, as soon as he enters, he stops on a sudden.
Her.
[He advances towards the Queen's Bed, and when he sees her sleeping says:

[Herod sighs, the Queen wakes.
Queen.
Who's that who wak'd me with a sigh?

Her.
'Tis I—
But 'tis to make thee sleep Eternally.

[The Queen sits up.
Queen.
Ha, in his hand an unsheath'd Dagger too!

Her.
Thy guilt does make thee such amazement show.

Queen.
If an amazement on my Face does seize,
'Tis that my Tyrant comes to give me ease:
Nought from thy bloody hand could welcome be,
Unless as now, when it brings Death to me.

Her.
Wer't thou not ripe for what I now will do,
Thou couldst not merit Death, and wish it too:
But thy dire guilt all others has outdone,
For thou hast wrong'd my Bed, and by my Son.

Queen.
I wrong thy Bed! I scorn to undeceive
Him, who of me dare such vile Crimes believe.

[The Queen lies down again.
Her.
Thus of that scorn I my revenge begin,
And thus pursue it.

[He stabs the Queen twice.
Queen.
Heaven forgive his Sin.
Oh let my Guiltless Blood thy Rage atone,
And turn thy heart—from murthring—of—thy—Son.

[The Queen dies.
Her.
Unheard of Crime! She begs with her last Breath,
That her Adulterer may not suffer Death.
But he shall dy; and in those Tortures too,
Which to his Crimes, and her last Prayers are due.
[Herod a while gazeth stedfastly on the Queen.
Thus Night's dark Veils the Face of Heaven o'erspread,
When to th'other World the Sun is fled;
No Kings Revenge like mine the Glory had,
To make at once so many Beauties fade.

[A door opens under the Theatre, Antip. comes up out of it, muffled up in a Cloak, at first looking towards the Pit.
Ant.
Sure all the Ominous Screech-Owls, and the Toads,
Have in this horrid Vault sixt their abodes:
Under my Feet these croak'd at every pace,
And those were still a fluttring in my Face.
Through Deaths obscurest Regions I have past,
But—I am come to Paradise at last.

[He looks after down into the Vault.
Her.
Whose Voice is that?—A Man—and muffl'd too,
And comes to her through ways I never knew.
I'll undiscover'd learn what brings him here.

[Herod conceals himself behind the Scene, puts down the Taper by the Queens Bed.
Ant.
to Tam. in the Vault.
Since I am within Call you should not fear.

Tam.
Yet, Sir, to your Return a short space give,
For here, methinks, I'm bury'd, while I live.

[Antip. advances softly towards the Queen, and flings off his Cloak.
Ant.
[He lifts up his Hands and Eyes.
[Herod looking out of the Scene.

[Antip. starts up, and going to the Bedside says:
Ant.
[He draws his Sword, and offers to kill himself.
[Lifting up his Hands and Eyes.

[Herod comes in with his Sword drawn.
Her.
Traytor, such horrid Guilt thou dost commit,
That none but I to punish it am fit.

Ant.
To mention horrid Guilt dost thou not dread,
Being within the prospect of that Bed?
[Pointing towards the Queen.
Heaven may to thee perhaps some mercy show,
For off'ring up thy Self, her Victim now.

Her.
This Hand which on my Wife has Justice done,
Shall do the like now, on a Rebel Son.
Yes; thou shalt feel, that 'tis a fatal thing,
To dare offend thy Father and thy King.

Ant.
Those Sacred names were Cancell'd both by thee,
That moment thou didst force the Queen from me.
But wer't thou Mankind's Father, and their King,
Yet killing thee is but too mean a thing
To Expiate thy Sin in murthering Her.

Her.
'Tis greater Sin, my Vengeance to defer.

[Herod runs at Antip. and Antip. at him. They run each other through, Herod falls.
Her.
'Tis Chance alone which the whole World does guide,
Or now Success had waited on my side:
Nor could I else have thus been strucken dead,
And by a Traytor which defil'd my Bed.

Ant.
Defil'd thy Bed?—By all that is divine,
A brighter Vertue never yet did shine,
Than that with which Heav'n thy great Queen did bless.
To raise thy horrour, I this truth confess.

[Ant. reels, then falls at the feet of the Queen's Bed.
Her.
My Joy it raises, for I make thee dy,
And make thee do it, telling of a Lye.
My Destiny had been tyrannical,
Had I not e'er my Death, beheld thy Fall.
But now I care not what becomes of me,
Since with my hand—I have kill'd—Her—and thee.

[Herod dies.
[Tamar rises out of the Vault.
Tam.
What noise was this, Ha!—the Prince murther'd lies,
—And the Queen too—Weep out your Selves, my Eyes;
Though for that Loss the payment is too low.

Ant.
Tamar, raise all the Court, and let them know,
The Queen has by the Tyrant murther'd been,
And I too meanly did revenge the Sin,
By only making of the Monster fall:
Then carry these Commands to Asdrubal,
That he from Massada Pheroras bring,
And now it is his Right, Proclaim him King.

[Tamar runs out crying Murther, Treason, Treason, Murther.
Ant.
I feel a Coldness like the hand of Death,
Which by degrees does steal away my Breath:
Against the wish'd Assault I will not strive,
Since all is done for which I'd wish to live:
These double Blessings in my Fate I meet,
To kill her Murtherer—then—dy—at—her—Feet.

[Ant. dies.
[Asdrubal with several Gentlemen, and the Guards, come running in at one side of the Theatre; Dina, and some of the Queens Women, come running in at the other, who all stand amaz'd, lifting up their Hands and Eyes.
Asdr.
O Dismal Night, the dismal'st e'er has been.

Dina.
'Tis here my grief should first of all begin.
[Running to the Queen, and kneeling by her.
Ah who can doubt Vertue is Crown'd above,
Since Men to hers did still so Cruel prove.

[They all sigh and weep.
Enter Solome and Tamar.
Solo.
There's none which has such Cause to mourn as I,
But 'tis below true grief to sigh and Cry;
And too much Sorrow ought not to be given,
To what appears is the Decree of Heaven:
Bear the dead Bodies from the Gazers sights,
Till all is ready for the Funeral Rites.
[Some of the Gentlemen take up Herod's Body, others Antipater's, and carry them off.
[Tamar, Dina, Merab, and some of the Women, draw the Curtains before the Queens Bed. While this is doing, Solome says to her self.
Fortune above my Hopes has smil'd on me,
Where I but beg'd two Deaths, she gave me three.
[Solome takes Asdrubal aside.
If to your Promise you have faithful been,
'Tis I who am, by right of Blood, your Queen:
When I, by you, am Seated in the Throne,
Ask whatsoe'er you will, and 'tis your own.

Asdr.
Sure, Madam, you must know your Brother's dead,
The news of it through all the Court is spread.

Solo.
Why do you not your duty then begin,
And make all others own me for their Queen?

Asdr.
This Throne which the late Queen was us'd to fill,
Madam, ascend, You'll not become it ill.
Fair Mariamne in it still did sit,
When Foreign Embassies she did admit.
Take it as earnest of a greater far,
And while your Right to these you do declare,
All the Arabian Guards in Arms I'll draw,
The stronger to the weaker gives the Law.
You must expect a Storm from David's Tower,
While it remains in the fierce Phaltiel's Power.

[He leads Solome to the Throne. While she is going to it, she says:
Solo.
Fate never did to one a Throne assign,
Who did ascend it in such griefs as mine.

[Asdr. as soon as She is seated bows humbly to her, so do all the rest, Asdr. goes out.
Solo.
Since the Male Race of all the Royal Line
Is now extinct, the Crown by Right is mine:
That I should Raign, Heaven does concern'd appear,
Taking so many Lives, to place me here:
Owing this Blessing to Celestial aid,
With Fear and Reverence I must be Obey'd.
I will with Glory fill great Herod's Room.

[Asdrubal introduces Pheroras hastily, attended by all the Guards.
Pher.
Descend, vile Woman, and receive thy Doom.
Though in such Sins thou hast consum'd thy time,
As there's no Judgment equal to thy Crime.

Solome
starting up.
Are these the Guards which he went out to call?
My Crimes I'll expiate by a glorious fall.

Pher.
To thy wrong'd Lord, to send thee, I design;
And if his Justice does agree with mine,
In wild Arabian Desarts thou shalt be
Confin'd, until Death's hand doth set thee free:
May'st thou a Life of Sorrow there begin,
And be as great in Penitence as Sin.
Seize on her, Guards, and let her be by you
Lead to indure what's less than is her due.
By Poison too, thou didst design my fall,
But I am sav'd by Heaven and Asdrubal.

Solo.
I laugh at all you dare design, or do,
For though by Men betray'd and Fortune too:
And though to live in Thrones my Stars deny,
Yet spight of all I in a Throne will die.

[She stabs and kills her self.
Pher.
[To Asdrubal.
[Asdrubal bows.

The Curtain falls.