University of Virginia Library

SCENE the Fourth.

The Dacian Tents.
Enter Queen, Cleo. Hon. Arta. Ism. Women, Attendants.
Cleo.
'Twas strangely lost, and yet I dare affirm
The Victory had been ours but for Thersander,
Who like the impetuous Sea oppos'd by Land,
Made breaches and o'reflow'd all that lay near it.

Ism.
I had reveng'd you on the King of Scythia,
Had his arrival not prevented me.

Cleo.
He is brave, without dispute.

Ism.
And 'tis as certain that he did surprise me,
Without permitting time for my defence,
He had not else so soon dismounted me;
But, Madam, I design (if you approve it)
To fight Thersander in a single Combat.

Arta.
That Justice I may hope as well as you;
He kill'd my Nephew, young Philemon,
For which I'le be reveng'd.

Queen.
I cannot but commend that noble ardor
That carries you to these designs of glory;
What thinks my Brother of it?

Hon.
I like it, if the Victor will accept it.

Cleo.
And so do I;
And that we may do equal justice to you all,
We'll write Thersander's name,
And he who draws that name shall fight the Combat.

Hon.
But are you sure he will accept the offer?

Ism.
I dare engage he will.

Cleo.
I am of your opinion;
The truly Brave are never proud of Conquest.
I'le write his name my self.

Enter Page.
Hon.
What Shouts are these?

[A shout without.
Page.
Madam, Clemanthis is arriv'd.

Queen.
The news is welcome.

Enter Thers. kneels, kisses the Queens hand; the same to Cleomena.—salutes all.
Thers.
Madam, the great necessity which made me leave you—
When I believ'd my self unprofitable,
Could not detain me, when I was assur'd
My Sword could do you service.

Queen.
This visit recompences all our loss,
You've made it in a time you may redeem
The opinion your absence almost forfeited.

Hon.
Sir, I could chide you too, but that your sight
Changes my Anger into kinder Welcomes.

Thers.
I ought to suffer, Sir, in your opinion,
Till my excuses may redeem my credit.

Cleo.
How great at once, and innocent he seems,
And how his Eyes his past offence redeems!
Whilst all my cruelties they seem t' upbraid,
They pardon too the faults themselves have made.

Queen.
I'm satisfi'd, and you are fitly come
To share a danger we are now disputing.

Thers.
'Tis not the danger, Madam, can divert me
From enterprizing ought that is to serve you.

Arta.
Madam, consider who we are,
And ought not to be rank'd with one below us.

Thers.
Your honour, Artabazes, is too nice;
Would we could find in this dispute, whate'er it be,
That were the greatest difficulty:
—Madam, name your Commands.

Queen.
We are drawing of a Lot
To fight Thersander in a single Combat.

Thers.
Hah—Thersander, Madam, is a Conquerour.

Ism.
Since you're so nice, we will excuse you, Sir.

Thers.
What an unlucky accident was this!
One moments longer stay had made me happy,
[Aside.
And rendred up these Rivals to my power.

Hon.
Come, Sir, the Lots are ready.

[They draw Lots. It falls to Thers.
Thers.
My fears are all compleated,—
[Aside.
The Lot is mine.

Cleo.
Clemanthis, I'm so sensible of the danger
[Aside to him.
Whereto you must expose your self for me,
I cannot think with pleasure on the Victory
You possibly may gain.

Thers.
Encourag'd thus, I cannot fail of Conquest:
[Bows to her, and speaks low.
But, Madam, if Thersander be as nice
[Turns to the Queen.
As these two Princes are, it will be hard
To get him to accept a Challenge from me.

Cleo.
Clemanthis deeds has rais'd his fame too high
To be esteem'd unworthy of that Justice;
Nor can we find the Scythian Prince a Foe
More equal to his youth and valour too.

Thers.
If Fortune bless me with success to day,
I'll owe it to your Cause, and not my Sword.

Queen.
May'st thou be ever Victor.

[They lead him out.
Manent Arta. Ism.
Arta.
My Art shall fail me then.

Ism.
You are displeased, Sir.

Arta.
Is that a wonder?
Who can be tame and see an unknown Youth,
Who brings no forces but his single Arm,
Ravish the hope and spoil of Victory from us,
And rival us in Love as well as Glory,
Whilst all our Claims to Cleomena's heart,
Must be neglected since we want success?

Ism.
We could pretend to her no other way.

Arta.
Have you, or I, less virtue than Clemanthis?

Ism.
Yes, if we envy at his merits.

Arta.
Pursue your vertuous Road, and in the end
See whether you or I reaches first the Goal.
I'll take revenge.

[Arta. exit.
Ism.
I honour will pursue,
A Path which never led me to Repentance:
—Clemanthis, if thy life I basely sought,
Like him, I'de save the hazard of my own;
But as thou't brave, so thou shalt bravely fall
Before Thersander rob me of thy life,
Or thou the fortune hast to vanquish him—
—And if in this encounter I expire,
I do but fall a Victime to an hopeless Fire.

[Exit.
Scene changes to the Wood, discovers Thers. and Amin. among the Trees, changing Clothes; after which they come forth.
Thers.
So, now thou dost appear so like Clemanthis,
That not a Dacian but will be mistaken in thee.

Amin.
My Lord, I know not how I may appear,
But I am ignorant how I am to act.

Thers.
Remain within the Covert of this Wood,
Until the sign be given for the Combate,
And then appear upon the place appointed,
Where I will meet and fight with thee;
But so I'll order all the blows I give,
They shall not wound nor hurt thee,
For still remember I must be the Victor.

Amin.
I will endeavour to perform it so,
[Noise.
That none shall know the fallacy.

Thers.
Be gone, I hear a noise; farewel, dear Amintas,
Remember that you act Clemanthis well.
[Exit Thers.

Enter some Fellows in Cloaks.
1 Fell.

That's he that goes into the Wood, I know him by his Plume; are ye
all ready?

2 Fell.

Yes, for a greater Murder than the killing of a single man; and here's a
place as fit as we could wish: shall we set upon him all together?

1 Fell.

Ay, ay, neatness in this affair is not required; kill him, and Artabazes
desires no more.

The Fellows go behind the Trees, they fight, Amintas falls:
Enter Ismenis.
Ism.
Into this Wood he went, as if he knew my business;
Here we unseen may end the difference—
[Noise within.
—Hark—What noise of fighting's that?
Perhaps my aid's required.

Ism. goes in, Scene draws open, discovers Amintas lying as dead all bloudy, Pimante peeping, Ismenes re-enters.
Ism.
It is Clemanthis, and this barbarous deed
Is done by Artabazes.

Enter Pimante.
Pim.

Had ever Cavalier such damn'd luck? I have heard it disputed, that this
same danger was to be courted by the Brave and Bold; but I, who took the best
care I could whilst the fight lasted to secure my self by this retreat, find my self
even here surrounded with it; and poor Clemanthis, who, I'll warrant, came too
with my design, has met here what he endeavoured to shun: yonder's Ismenis too—
well, we are all but men.

Ism.
Here's yet some breath remaining, oh Pimante lend thy assistance.
—Clemanthis, if thou yet hast so much sense,
Inform us how thou cam'st thus wounded?

Amin.
Know Sir, Thersander—Prince of Scythia—
—Thersander—Prince of—Scythia—

[Faints.
Pim.
Alas he's dead, Sir, trouble him no further.

Ism.
The Prince of Scythia do this!

Pim.

Ay, ay, this mighty Prince, fearing to encounter a single man, has set a
dozen to kill him; mercy upon us, 'twas a bloudy fight: but, Sir, what shall we
do with the Body?

Ism.
If I could command thee any thing, it should be Silence,
Till I have met Thersander in his room.

[Ism. exit.
Pim.
You shall command me, though I was never good at secrets.

Enter Cleomena, Semiris.
Cleo.
Let the Coach wait at the entrance of the Wood:
I find I am a perfect Woman now,
And have my fears, and fits of Cowardise.

Sem.
Madam, will you not see the Combat then?

Cleo.
I dare not, something here assures me
Clemanthis will be conquered.

Pim.

Ha! the Princess here? on my Conscience there was never mischief but
a Woman was at one hand on't.

Sem.
How now, Pimante, why do you look so scurvily?

Pim.
Ah, Madam, such a sight so dismal and bloudy!

Cleo.
What says he?

Pim.
Clemanthis, Madam—

Cleo.
Clemanthis! oh what of him?
Why my prophetick heart dost thou betray me?

Sem.
For Heavens sake, Madam, reassume your courage.

Cleo.
Yes—I will hear—the fatal story—out.

Pim.

Truth is, Madam, to retire from the fury and noise of the Battle, I came into
this Wood and when I thought all danger past, I heard even here the noise of Swords
and fighting; which endeavouring to avoid, I fell almost into the danger of them.

Sem.
Leave out the History of your own Fears, and come to the business.

Pim.
But ah, Madam, unseen I saw: who did I see—
Ah, who should I see but Clemanthis, Madam;
Fixt with his back against yon Cypress-tree,
Defending of himself against a dozen Murderers.
I was, alas, too weak to take the weaker side,
And therefore came not forth to his assistance.
Prince Ismenis would have taken his part, but came too late too;
But e'er he died we begg'd to know his Murderers,
And he could answer nothing but—Thersander.

Cleo.
Remove me to the Body of my Love—
[They lead her to Amin. who lies wounded: she gazes on him a while, his Face being all bloudy.
—I will not now deplore as Women use,
But call up all my Vengeance to my aid,
Expect not so much imbecility—
From her whose Love nor Courage was made known
Sufficiently to thee, oh my Clemanthis!
I would not now survive thee,
Were it not weak and cowardly to die,
And leave thee unrevenged:
—Be calm, my Eyes, and let my Soul supplie ye;
A silent broken Heart must be his Sacrifice:
Ev'ry indifferent sorrow claims our Tears,
Mine do require Bloud, and 'tis with that
These must be washt away—
[Rises, wipes her Eyes.
Whatever I design to execute,
Pimante, and Semiris, I conjure ye,
Go not about to hinder, but be silent,
Or I will send this Dagger to my Heart,
Remove the Body further into th' Wood,
And strip it of these glittering Ornaments;
And let me personate this dear dead Prince:
Obey, and dress me streight, without reply.
There is not far from hence a Druids Cell,
A man for Piety and knowledge famous,
Thither convey the breathless Sacred Corpse,
Laid gently in my Chariot,
There to be kept conceal'd till further Orders.

Sem.
Ah, Madam, what is't you intend to do?

Cleo.
What should I do but die—ah do not weep,
But haste to do as I commanded ye:
Haste, haste, the time and my revenge requires it.

Sem.
For Heavens sake, Madam, for your Royal self,
Do not pursue this cruel fatal Enterprize;
Pity the Queen, your Servants, and all Mankind.

Cleo.
Away thou feeble thing that never knewst the real joys of Love,
Or ever heard of any grief like mine;
If thou would'st give me proofs of thy esteem,
Forget all Words, all Language, but Revenge!
Let me not see so much of Woman in thee
To shed one Tear, but dress thy Eyes with fierceness,
And send me forth to meet my Love, as gay,
As if intended for my nuptial day.
That Soul that sighs in pity of my Fate,
Shall meet returns of my extreamest hate:
Pity with my Revenge must find no room;
I'll bury all but Rage within thy Toomb.

[Exeunt.