University of Virginia Library

The SCENE, Babylon.
Enter Cassander and Perdicas meeting him with his Guard.
Perd.
What sadness is't, Cassander, moves you now?
It ill becomes, the Laurels on your brow:
This Day, I did believe, that I should see
You full of smiles, after our Victorie.

Cass.
If I am sad, after our great success,
Me thinks, your Looks, Sir, do no Calm express:
If dark, and shady Clouds, hang in my Eyes,
I see in yours, a storm begin to rise.

Perd.
Whilst I to wounds, and Death, my self expose,
Killing my Friends, because Roxana's foes,
She gets my' ador'd Statira, int' her power,
And keeps her pris'ner, in the Palace Tower:
But I am going, thence to set her free,
And with my sword, to give her Libertie.

Cass.
Whilst I, for her, to wounds, and dangers go,
And, 'gainst my Int'rest, save my greatest foe,
Whilst her commands, I carefully obey,
And yield this mighty Empire, to her sway,
She meets my Love, with a disdainful frown,
And him, who scorns her, with her Love, does Crown,

Perd.
Our Love, and Int'rest, should us two conjoyn
It is one Man, disturbs your peace, and mine:
'Tis fit Orontes then should dye, that he
May never more disquiet you, or me.

Cass.
Yes he shall dye, by all the Gods I vow,
This Arm shall, shortly, give the fatal blow.

Perd.
By all the Gods, if in my power it lies,
When I first see him, by this Arm he dies:
And when we have this obstacle remov'd,
We shall be kindlier us'd, and more belov'd

Cass.
Their furious Love, will cool, and we shall find
Our Queens, who now disdain us, grow more kind.

[Exeunt severally.