 | The Siege of Babylon |  |
SCENE II.
A Palace within Babylon.Enter Queen Statira, Parisatis, and Cleone.
Sta.
Ye Gods of Persia, and thou chief, the Sun,
What crimes have we, or our Forefathers, done,
That ye thus load, with misery and disgrace,
The small remains, of great Darius Race?
O happy Swains! who innocently free,
The pains of greatness, at a distance see:
Ye gaze at us, and happy call our State,
And oft do envy, what we most do hate.
Par.
Sister, since nothing can dark Fate withstand,
For Fate, doth ev'n the Gods themselves command,
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Which shows their Godheads, have less power, than it.
If then our ruine be decreed, why shou'd
We mourn for that, which cannot be withstood?
But since, Man cannot in Fates black Book read,
And that we know not, what is fore-decreed,
Hope, like a glimmering Star, in night, does rise,
And gives some comfort, in our miseries.
Our Friends without, may yet successful prove,
Valour does wonders, when inspir'd by love.
Stat.
Ah! Parisatis, 'tis not death I fear,
Honour, than life, to me, is far more dear;
To you, I may confess, without offence,
I next to Honour, prize the Scythian Prince,
Whose noble Acts, my Heart, long since, did move,
E're I did yield, to Alexander's love.
For his sake, then, I am oblig'd to live,
Since he, from me, does all his joys receive.
But when, I think, what dangers him surround,
A thousand fears, my much griev'd soul, do wound,
Such is his love, such his respect, for me,
I know, he'l either die, or set me free.
Pari.
That fear is just, which does your soul subdue,
But have not I the same concern for two?
Two noble Friends, whose virtues I approve,
As once in War, so Rivals, now, in Love.
Your troubles, Sister, less than mine appear,
You but for one, but I, for two do fear.
Stat.
Weak are those streams, which in two channels run,
The deep, and violent, always flow in one.
You both their virtues, may perhaps approve,
May both respect, and yet but one may love.
Reason, in love, we take not for our guide,
Whilst things are, by magnetick Nature, try'd:
For whilst you equally, their virtues prize,
Your Soul with one alone, does sympathize.
Pari.
So great, is their united friendship grown,
They are no longer counted two, but one.
One Mind, one Will, to them Heav'n seems to give,
And but one Soul, does in both Bodies live:
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And burns in one, and the same, amorous fire:
So I, in loving both, do love but one.
Stat.
Sister, the love, you speak of, you will find,
But like a flash of Lightning, in your mind.
The end, of virtuous love, is to enjoy,
But yours, unnatural, must that end destroy:
Though you, love both alike, yet you'd be loth
We should believe, you would enjoy them both.
Pari.
But, Sister, if I can enjoy but one,
The Gods, not I, shall make that choice alone.
I hold, the equal Ballance in my hand,
Where, both their loves, and virtues, equal stand.
If then, I should my self, on one bestow,
I should be most unjust, and partial grow.
Stat.
Strange is your love, fantastick is their fate,
For you destroy, that happiness, you create:
If happy, in your love, they seem to be,
Your equal mind, destroys their vain felicity.
Enter Perdicas.
Perd.
The Trumpets, Madam, me to danger call,
Our valiant Foes, begin to scale the Wall,
Nothing it seems, their courage can affright,
Nor the Moats depth, nor the Walls dreadful height.
This desperate assault, does but declare,
It is the last Effort, of their despair.
But, e're I go, their fury to withstand,
Madam, I'm come, to know what you'l command.
Stat.
You, Perdicas, are too imperious grown,
And as you please, you now command the Throne,
For though, I was your Royal Master's Wife,
I must my Empire quit, to save my life.
You, and Roxana, now do all things sway,
You will not me, but I must you obey.
Perd.
Humbly, before your Feet, I prostrate fall,
I have no power—you my great Queen have all.
What I possess, to love I sacrifice,
And live by th' influence, of those beauteous eyes.
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Your mercy beg, as humbly, as your Slave?
Did I not thus, with rev'rence you adore,
I should command, what I so oft implore.
Stat.
If I am Queen, as sure I ought to be,
You should obey my will, and set me free.
I with one word, could all your Foes subdue,
Were I not by Roxana held, and you.
For me, and for my liberty, they fight,
Whilst you detain me, and oppose my Right.
You urge your Love, but make it show like Hate;
For what has Love to do with tricks of State?
You sue to me, yet let Roxana sway,
Pretend to love, and yet can disobey.
Perd.
Madam, should I obey, I were undone,
You quickly would leave me, and Babylon.
This gentle force, my Love's constrain'd to choose,
Lest I should you, fair Queen, for ever loose.
My life is measur'd, only by your stay,
And death approaches, as you go away.
If with the proud Roxana, I comply,
It is to shield you, from her cruelty.
Pari.
To Love, and Duty, badly he pretends,
Who does his Queen restrain, and fights her Friends.
Stat.
Indeed our Int'rests, do but badly close,
When those I call my Friends, he counts his Foes.
Perd.
Those you call Friends, indeed, I would subdue,
But fight them not, because they're Friends to you;
They'd pluck you from my Arms, and with you all
That I can good, or dear, or happy call.
I should of Love, but evil Symptoms show,
Should I submit, and tamely let you go:
He that would have you, must my Life pursue,
And by my death alone, must purchase you.
Enter Souldier.
Sold.
Your presence, Sir, Cassander does desire,
Your Souldiers beaten, from the Walls retire:
The Enemy hath such bold fury shown,
The like till now, I think was never known.
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Though Shot as thick as hail, upon them fall:
With Rams, and Slings, the Battlements they beat,
And force your men, with fire-balls, to retreat.
Up their tall Ladders, in thick swarms they fly,
And with their warlike shouts, they rend the sky.
Perd.
Let them mount up, and let them enter in,
We'ave men enough, to beat them forth ag'in.
Sold.
The Scythian Prince, his Shield over his head,
The way to Honour, and to danger led:
And spite of all resistance, that was made,
He gain'd the wall, and there alone he stay'd.
There fighting, like wild Boars, with wounds enrag'd,
I left Cassander, and that Prince engag'd.
Perd.
Madam, for your commands, I only stay.
Stat.
I'le not command—
But, if you will oblige me, as you say,
Spare those that fall, with in your power, to day.
Perd.
How much I love, my Actions shall declare,
When I the Life, of my lov'd Rival spare.
Exit with the Soldier.
Stat.
Ye Gods above, that generous Life defend,
Which Love alone, into such danger brings,
Let not his Fate, on our bad Fate depend,
Th'illustrious off-spring of so many Kings.
For, if you have decreed, that we shall dye,
Involve not him, in our sad Ruines too;
Grant him that peace, which you to us deny,
And us alone, with your fierce wrath pursue.
Pari.
The Gods are just, and justly all things sway,
Let's then to their just wills, our selves submit;
And without murmuring, their wills obey,
For they best know, what's for poor Mortals fit.
We our own Peace, and happiness destroy,
Whil'st we with fear, and grief, our selves annoy.
Stat.
Your wise, yet vain Philosophy, I hear,
Yet see, your smother'd troubles, in your eye;
That Heart is senceless, that is void, of Fear,
When, such a load of ills, does on it lye.
Let's to the Altars, of our Gods repair,
And force them, to be kind, with Incense, and with Prayer.
Exeunt.
| The Siege of Babylon | |