 | Zelmane : Or, the Corinthian Queen |  |
An Allarm within.
Enter Queen attended.
Queen.
What mean those loud Allarms so near the Town?
One of you hasten to the Western Gate:
You to the Tower that o'erlooks the City,
[Exit one.
Perhaps (for who can read the Hearts of Men)
[Exit one.
Amphialus has this Disturbance bred,
And sow'd sedition in my Soldiers Hearts.
Oh! what hard fate does Princes Lives attend,
Whose Subjects Cause they once did nobly serve
Do never think their Merit meets Reward.
Again a Shout!—Hast and enquire the Cause,
[Exit one.
Ha! the Noise comes forward, I'm still a Queen,
And will forget to fear.—Ha! Geronta.
Enter Geronta.
Say from whence those Martial sounds.
Geront.
Corinth is lost, and we are all Betray'd.
Queen.
By Amphialus, ha! speak.
Geront.
Oh no, Pirotto has betray'd the Fort;
The Man you Name we want to save us;
The Soldiers lowdly for their General call,
That dauntless Man who us'd to lead 'em forth,
And wanting him, their Courage half is lost.
Queen.
What's the Calamity? explain it all;
Why, is Pirotto grown a Traytor now?
Geront.
No he is not grown, 'twas in his Nature bred:
Arbaces too, by whom this Plot was laid,
Is living, and Heads the Arcadian Force.
Queen.
Thou ravest.
Geront.
'Tis truth. Summon the Greatness of your Soul,
And call your firmest Courage to your Aid,
You'll want it all to stand this shock.
Queen.
No; all the World is arm'd against my Life;
My barb'rous Brother too, for whose fain'd Death
I have undone my everlasting Peace.
What Noise is that?
[Stamping within.
Enter Arcanes Mad.
Arcan.
Am I arriv'd at the Immortal Plains?
Yes, yes, I know I am; for there the Goddess
Of Eliziam stands—Here let my Snow White
Palfreies rest—
I have spur'd 'em hard, and they are tired grown.
Geront.
Oh; dread effects of inconsiderate Love.
Queen.
Oh! unhappy Youth.
Ant.
Hark, hark—the Musick of the Spheres resounds.
Ha! unhand me Villains, 'tis for my Queen I Fight,
I'll Crown her Empress of those blessed Shades.
Ha! What Noise was that?
Queen.
Gently bear him hence, and let Physicians
Streight be sent for, to try if Art can calm his Mind.
Arc.
'Tis Arbaces Monster, Ravisher—that to thy Heart.
[Strikes as if he stab'd some body.
Ha! What's this my Queen that I have slain?
Ay, 'tis Zelmane!—Oh Zelmane, see, see Amphialus?
Arms in her Defence, and Vows to kill me for his
Beautious Wife.—Ha! he has struck me with a
Dart of Ice, colder than Rain congeal'd, or Mountain Snow,
Cold, shuddering cold are all my Comforts.
Geront.
Gentle Arcanes, try to rest a while.
Arc.
Rest!—ha, ha, ha, ha—What's that?—for there's no rest
But what Zelmane gives.—Antimora knows it well.
I'll tell thee Friend—there are false Lovers—yes, and
False Husbands too—but I am none of those—How—
Dark it looks—ha! see—Jove has snatch'd my Queen.
But I'll out-soar the Eagles flight, and dash him
Head long down ( throws something up
) I hit him there,
Ha! How he tumbles—
I've wounded Fate by that last mounting Dart,
But Love has shot Zelmane through my Heart.
[Runs off.
Queen.
Had I been just, these ills had never faln;
My Choice misguided my poor Fathers will,
And all these Mischiefs do attend my Folly:
My General Banish'd, and Arcanes Mad,
The only two that could have sav'd my Crown.
Some of you follow, and secure him straight.
Oh, Geronta!—
Geront.
I in my Youth have travell'd half the Globe,
In the Indian World I learnt a Secret;
I have a Receipt for distemper'd Brains,
Which by Experience I've effectual found.
Queen.
Oh! try it then, and may the Powers above
With healing Vertue bless thy ministring Hand.
[Shouts within.
Geront.
Shouts! and joyful ones they seem,
Sure relief is nigh.
Queen.
From whence, or who should bring it to us?
No, I will face this barb'rous Brothers Rage,
And lead my trusty Soldiers on to War,
And force the Traytor from my City Walls;
If the Stars ordain that I shall lose my Crown,
I will not quit the greatness of my Soul;
I'll Amizonian like, my Foes defie,
And Courage shall the want of Skill supply:
To the last Breath of Life defend my own,
And bravely die, or else preserve my Throne.
[Exit.
Enter Queen attended.
Queen.
What mean those loud Allarms so near the Town?
One of you hasten to the Western Gate:
You to the Tower that o'erlooks the City,
[Exit one.
Perhaps (for who can read the Hearts of Men)
[Exit one.
Amphialus has this Disturbance bred,
And sow'd sedition in my Soldiers Hearts.
Oh! what hard fate does Princes Lives attend,
Whose Subjects Cause they once did nobly serve
Do never think their Merit meets Reward.
Again a Shout!—Hast and enquire the Cause,
[Exit one.
Ha! the Noise comes forward, I'm still a Queen,
And will forget to fear.—Ha! Geronta.
Enter Geronta.
Say from whence those Martial sounds.
Geront.
Corinth is lost, and we are all Betray'd.
Queen.
By Amphialus, ha! speak.
Geront.
Oh no, Pirotto has betray'd the Fort;
The Man you Name we want to save us;
The Soldiers lowdly for their General call,
That dauntless Man who us'd to lead 'em forth,
And wanting him, their Courage half is lost.
61
What's the Calamity? explain it all;
Why, is Pirotto grown a Traytor now?
Geront.
No he is not grown, 'twas in his Nature bred:
Arbaces too, by whom this Plot was laid,
Is living, and Heads the Arcadian Force.
Queen.
Thou ravest.
Geront.
'Tis truth. Summon the Greatness of your Soul,
And call your firmest Courage to your Aid,
You'll want it all to stand this shock.
Queen.
No; all the World is arm'd against my Life;
My barb'rous Brother too, for whose fain'd Death
I have undone my everlasting Peace.
What Noise is that?
[Stamping within.
Enter Arcanes Mad.
Arcan.
Am I arriv'd at the Immortal Plains?
Yes, yes, I know I am; for there the Goddess
Of Eliziam stands—Here let my Snow White
Palfreies rest—
I have spur'd 'em hard, and they are tired grown.
Geront.
Oh; dread effects of inconsiderate Love.
Queen.
Oh! unhappy Youth.
Ant.
Hark, hark—the Musick of the Spheres resounds.
Ha! unhand me Villains, 'tis for my Queen I Fight,
I'll Crown her Empress of those blessed Shades.
Ha! What Noise was that?
Queen.
Gently bear him hence, and let Physicians
Streight be sent for, to try if Art can calm his Mind.
Arc.
'Tis Arbaces Monster, Ravisher—that to thy Heart.
[Strikes as if he stab'd some body.
Ha! What's this my Queen that I have slain?
62
Arms in her Defence, and Vows to kill me for his
Beautious Wife.—Ha! he has struck me with a
Dart of Ice, colder than Rain congeal'd, or Mountain Snow,
Cold, shuddering cold are all my Comforts.
Geront.
Gentle Arcanes, try to rest a while.
Arc.
Rest!—ha, ha, ha, ha—What's that?—for there's no rest
But what Zelmane gives.—Antimora knows it well.
I'll tell thee Friend—there are false Lovers—yes, and
False Husbands too—but I am none of those—How—
Dark it looks—ha! see—Jove has snatch'd my Queen.
But I'll out-soar the Eagles flight, and dash him
Head long down ( throws something up
) I hit him there,
Ha! How he tumbles—
I've wounded Fate by that last mounting Dart,
But Love has shot Zelmane through my Heart.
[Runs off.
Queen.
Had I been just, these ills had never faln;
My Choice misguided my poor Fathers will,
And all these Mischiefs do attend my Folly:
My General Banish'd, and Arcanes Mad,
The only two that could have sav'd my Crown.
Some of you follow, and secure him straight.
Oh, Geronta!—
Geront.
I in my Youth have travell'd half the Globe,
In the Indian World I learnt a Secret;
I have a Receipt for distemper'd Brains,
Which by Experience I've effectual found.
Queen.
Oh! try it then, and may the Powers above
With healing Vertue bless thy ministring Hand.
[Shouts within.
Geront.
Shouts! and joyful ones they seem,
Sure relief is nigh.
Queen.
From whence, or who should bring it to us?
No, I will face this barb'rous Brothers Rage,
63
And force the Traytor from my City Walls;
If the Stars ordain that I shall lose my Crown,
I will not quit the greatness of my Soul;
I'll Amizonian like, my Foes defie,
And Courage shall the want of Skill supply:
To the last Breath of Life defend my own,
And bravely die, or else preserve my Throne.
[Exit.
| Zelmane : Or, the Corinthian Queen | |