University of Virginia Library

SCENE the Fourth.

A Chamber.
Enter Queen, Cleomena, Honorius.
Queen.
Is't possible, my Brother, you can have
So great a passion for the publick good?
As willing to sacrifice your Child to its repose,
And make her Arms the soft and easie Chains
To link this gallant stranger to our interest?

Hon.
His virtue I prefer above a Crown.

Cleo.
You should love Virtue as you ought to love it;
Not give it over-measure,—But are you sure he will accept it?

Hon.
I am not certain, being not come so far;
But I propos'd it, and no doubt he lik't it.

Cleo.
This cannot be his malice; for he was ever noble,
[Hon. talks to the Queen.
But false or fain'd, I can endure no more on't;
—By Heaven this Stranger's false! false as his name!
—Semiris found him gazing on her Picture:
—'Tis so—he loves Olympia!
And when I askt the Name of her he lov'd,
I urg'd it with such softness in my eyes,
That he in pity of me swore 'twas I:
—Now can I find how much my Soul's possest
With love, since 'tis with jealousie opprest.

[Goes out.
Queen.
How do you like the Trial of Orsames
Which I intend to make?

Hon.
You'll both oblige your people, and do a Mothers dutie.

Queen.
You know 'twas not the Tyrant in my nature
That from his infancie has kept him ignorant
Of what he was—but the Decrees of Heaven.

Hon.
Madam, 'tis true; and if the Gods be just,
He must be King too, though his Reign be short:
You cannot alter those Decrees of Heaven.

Queen.
The Gods are witness how these eighteen years
I have with much regret conceal'd his birth.

Hon.
You know the last defeat the Scythians gave us,
Th' impatient people broke the Castle-gates,
And against all your powers were ready to have crown'd him;
And should we now be conquer'd, nothing less
Will still the mutinous Army: try him, Madam,
He may be fit for great Impressions,
Had he but good examples to dispose him.

Queen.
I'le have it done to night:
Heaven, if it be thy will, inspire my son
With Virtue fit to wear his Fathers Crown.

[Exeunt.
Scene draws off, discovers Thersander seemingly courting Olympia. Enter Cleomena; sees them, starts, gazes on them, then goes out unseen; and the Scene closes, and changes to her Apartment:—She enters in a rage—
Cleo.
Perfidious man! am I abandon'd then?
[Rage.
Abandon'd for Olympia! my Slave—
—And yet I lov'd him more than I did Heaven—
[Soft.
And shall he quit me thus?
Without being punisht for this Infidelity?
—No, let me be a shame to all my Sex then—
—Oh, Clemanthis! to whom I fondly gave my liberty
When first I saw thee sleeping in the Wood:
—But I grow soft, a passion too unfit
For so much anger as my Soul's possess'd with:
—'Twas but even now, he lov'd me with such Ardor;
And he, who promis'd me the Crown of Scythia,
Dar'st thou become unjust, ungrateful Stranger!
Who having rais'd thy Eyes to Cleomena,
Would sacrifice her to another Mistress:
—This Heart which ought not to've been given away
But by the Services and Bloud of Kings,
How hast thou lost it on a false Unknown,
Without being paid for it one single sigh—
Enter Thersander: She draws a Dagger: offers to kill him; but cannot.
Traitor—hast thou the impudence to appear before me?
Or, dost thou come to meet thy just reward?
[Offers to stab him.
—There's something in his looks that does preserve him,
Or, I'm not truly brave, and dare not kill him:
—Go treacherous Unknown, whom I've preferr'd
Before so many Princes, who in vain
Sue for this credulous Heart which thou'st betray'd.

Thers.
Ah! Madam, can you be thus cruel to me,
And not inform me how I have offended?

Cleo.
Be gon, I say, if thou wou'dst save a life
Which those that dare do evil fear to lose.

Thers.
Those Eyes thus ordered are far worse than death:
End what you have so well begun,
And Kill me:
Yet from anothers hand
The blow would be less cruel.

Cleo.
Oh Impudence!
Still he wou'd cheat my Rage, as he has abus'd my Love;
But, Monster, though thou art below my hand,
I'm yet a Princess, and I can command:
By Heaven I'le try how much rage can invent.
Semiris, call Olympia to me straight;
She shall in triumph with me stand and smile,
To see thee by some common Vassal bleed.

Thers.
There needs no other witness of my death,
But her I have offended:
To you alone I offer up my life: for dying,
I've something to relate may justifie your rage,
Though not deserve your pity.

Cleo.
Hell!
Now I'm confirm'd, he fears that she should see
Him die, lest it should cost her but a Tear:
—Why should I want the strength!—
[Offers to present the Dagger.
—But oh, I cannot:
But canst thou live, false man, and see me frown?

Thers.
No, Madam, I can die—thus—

[Offers to fall on his Sword.
Cleo.
Stay—
Thou shalt not so much glory gain:
No, live, and prove wretched enough to know
[Exit raving.
How very poorly thou hast lost my Heart.

[Thers. gazes after her.
Thers.
Must I then live?—I will obey—Farewel
The fairest and unkindest of thy Sex;
If e're it be thy chance to meet with one
That loves more than Thersander, if thou canst
Treat him worse than thou hast done me—
For oh! how miserable is the wretch, (whose prayer
Repuls'd) like me, lives onely to despair.

[Exit.