University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

The Temple.
Quisara, Armusia.
Arm.
Madam, you see there's nothing I can reach,
Either in my obedience, or my Service,
That can deserve your Love, but I pursue it;
Take pleasure in your will; even in your Anger,
I study new Humility to please you;
And take a kind of Joy in my Afflictions,
Because they come from you.

Quis.
I know you have deserv'd,
And know that in the Rigour of strict Justice,
I should endeavour to requite your Service,
I know you Love.

Arm.
If ever Love was mortal,
And dwelt in Man, so fix'd I find it here,
Respect of such a greatness as allows
What I have done already, weak performance,
And unproportion'd to the vast Reward.
It is but just, that who aspires to Heav'n,
Shou'd win it by his worth, and not Sleep to it.

Enter King and Governour above.
Gov.
Now, Sir, stand close, to hear, and as you find him,
Believe me right or let Religion suffer.

Quis.
I dare believe your worth, without additions:
You had my Summons to attend me here,
On some Commands of weight.

Arm.
I am prepar'd:
But point to me the Course, you'd have me Steer,
And if I shrink—

Quis.
I know you are no Coward;
Then take the outmost Tryal of your Duty;
You hold there's nothing dear that may oblige me,
Doubted or dangerous.

Arm.
Nothing, Madam.
Let me but know, that I may fly into't.

Quis.
I'll tell you then—Change your Religion,
And be of one Belief with me.

Arm.
How!

Quis.
Mark me,
Worship our Gods, renounce the Faith you were bred in.

Arm.
Ha! I'll die first.

Quis.
Offer as we do.

Arm.
To the Devil?

Gov.
O Blasphemy!

King.
Peace.

Arm.
Offer to him, I hate!
Offer to Dogs and Cats! To them you offer,
To ev'ry Bird that flies, to every Worm:
Is this the Tryal?

Quis.
I will reason with you;
Are not our Powers eternal, and their Comforts
As great and full of Hopes, as yours?

Arm.
They are Shadows.

Gov.
Now mark him, Sir, observe him nearly.

Arm.
Their comforts, like themselves, meer Fictions:
You make 'em Sick, as we are, Peevish, Mad.
Subject to Age, and how can they cure us,
That are not able to refine themselves?

Quis.
The Sun and Moon we Worship; they are Heavenly.

Arm.
But I the maker of that Sun and Moon,
That gave those Bodies light, and influence,
That pointed out their Paths, and taught their motions:
Excuse me, Princess, if my Zeal for Truth
Extort a generous Freedom of my Tongue;
What 'ere restraints my private Griefs have born,
Yet for Heav'ns cause I must proclaim aloud.
Take privilege even to oppose your Will,
And call for Justice to th'Eternal due:
I hop'd you wou'd have said, make me a Christian;
Work that great Cure, for 'tis a great one, Princess.
To mortify the Sense, subdue the Will,
Refining Earth to Immortality.
I hop'd your Royal Brother, in return
Of Providence, that by my Arm retriev'd him,
Wou'd have e're this, before the face of Heaven,
Destroy'd those Idol Gods you here adore,
Beat down their Altars, ruin'd these false Temples.

Gov.
Now Sir.—

King.
I'll hear no more—

[King and Governor descend.
Quis.
Thus far in Charity I was obliged
To rectifie the Errors of your thought,
Nor can the blame be mine to want success,
'Twas by these Pow'ers that I was sworn to wed
The Kings deliverer; these you blaspheme,
Them and their Pow'r you frankly have renounced,
And thereby free me from all Obligation.

Arm.
You are too just to make this slight Evasion,
And with Religious subtlety destroy.

Quis.
You shall both find me just, sincere and plain,
Therefore resolve to quit your Faith or me.

Arm.
My Life and Love for ever must be your's,
But my Religion Heav'ns.

Quis.
You heard you Task.

Arm.
Name any Task but that; extreamest danger,
And certain Death, to gratifie your will;
I dare do any thing but injure Heaven,
And stab th'Almighty's Image in my Soul.
Can I renounce the Power, the whole Creation,
Which every Plant and Element confess,
That gave this very Breath, with which I plead?
Shall I abjure the Author of that Form?
A Temple fit for Angels to inhabit,
When once the mist of Error is withdrawn.

Quis.
Acknowledge our Belief, and instantly;
For if you let this happy minute pass,
No Recantation shall prevail hereafter.

Arm.
Call you this Charity?

Quis.
Nay then.—

Arm.
You must not go.
What have I done to Merit this hard Sentence?
To have my very Soul rack't, forc't to quit
My Heaven above, or Paradise on Earth?
How well I Love, how much I do prefer
Your Charms to all that's good beneath the Stars,
Truth must declare; but to th'Eternal Being
Can never be Apostate—Heart or Soul
Must perish on this Sea—;Then sink my Heart,
To save th'Immortal Treasure, thus I quit
Your Love's rich claim, tho while I so resign
No Martyrdom sure ever equall'd mine.

Quis.
Noble Armusia, I am now confirmed,
In quiting you have gain'd me: I resolv'd
To make the outmost Tryal of your Faith,
And in your Faith of you: I know your Doctrine
Is heavenly all, and you have prov'd the practice.
While her you Love you cou'd for Heaven resign,
The Faith that rules your breast must be Divine,
That Faith and you for ever now are mine.

Arm.
Is't possible! O unexpected bliss!
Look down ye sacred Quires and share my Joy.

Enter King, Governour and Guards.
King.
Nay, start not, take my confirmation too,
You had my Promise, Sir, of Recompence,
For your high Service: 'Twas my free consent,
To let Quisara's hand in Nuptial tye,
Be joyn'd with yours: This Sir was my engagement;
Which in the presence of this holy Man
I ratifie.

[The Kings joyns their hands.
Gov.
The Devil!
[Aside.
What can this mean?

King.
But as the holy Powers that here reside,
Have seen me just to your deserts and you;
To their own Altars they must see me just,
And to those Laws, with which no claim of Friendship
Or Interest can dispense—Guards seize your Prisoner.

Gov.
That's well retriev'd; be sure ye bind him fast.

Quis.
Bind your Restorer, Prince?

Arm.
Are these the Nuptials!
You promised my free Service?

Quis.
'Tis an Office,
That only can become a Tyrant Fiend,
Such as Ternusa's Governour.

Gov.
That's right.

[Aside.
Quis.
Such vile returns as these, must stagger Nature;
And banish Virtue from the World.

King.
O Sister!
Heavens knows what sense of gratitude I bear,
And to his Friendship how sublime regard:
Had he offended me I had forgiven,
Though to th'attempting of my Life and Crown:
I own them both his gift, but to our Gods,
Our sacred Powers the injury is done,
Basphemed, Reviled.

Gov.
And think you they will bear it?
I see ripe Vengeance teeming from the Heavens,
If you dispense with this, on you and me,
And all Tedore, whose Marble ribs shall rend
And sink beneath the Main: Spare us kind Powers,
Forgive our impious Clemency, that yet
The proud Blaspemer lives.

King.
Most holy Father,
Urge not the Vengeance of the Gods too far:
Must he needs Dye?

Gov.
'Tis next to Blasphemy
To make a doubt on't.

King.
True! our most dear affections
Must yield to sacred Laws.

Arm.
Use all your Violence,
I ask no Mercy nor recant my Words.

Quis.
His Virtue serves a Power will give him strength
To scorn your Idol-Gods.

King.
How's this, Quisara!

Quis.
Know King that if your Laws require his Blood,
They challenge mine; our Love and Faith are One.

King.
Quisara too! O Sister wound not thus
My tortured Heart? Good Father, your assistance.
What means this frenzy?

Gov.
These are tokens, Sir,
The Gods displeasure is gone out; be quick,
And e'er it fall, do something to appease them.

King.
Quisara own his Faith! What must be done,

Gov.
They must die both, in Sacrifice, and instantly;
To those dread Powers they have blasphemed:
It makes me weep to urge their Punishment.

King.
Most Gracious and Compassionate Soul.

Gov.
Yet if you mitigate or defer their doom,
I then must Curse you from the Gods;
Call up their Vengeance from the flaming Lake,
And hurl it on your Land; I have charge for it.

King.
Bear them to Justice, for I dare not trust
My Nature with the Parly: Your hand Father.
Our Gods exact their Blood and they must Die;
Yet shall their Obsequies this comfort have,
Their Judge shall be their Mourner—O support me.

Gov.
My Heart akes too.

[Exit King and Governour.
Manent Armusia, Quisara, Guards.
Arm.
Such cruel Piety
Was never known. Princess, I have betrayed you,
But to eternal rest.

Quis.
Our Souls shall meet,
And celebrate in Paradise their Nuptials.

Arm.
Seraphick Maid? Thy Name shall stand recorded
With Virgin-Saints, the first in Vertue's Roll,
Through many years experience they arriv'd.
Consumate Piety, with matchless speed,
You take you Progress on the sacred way,
A Convert and a Martyr in a Day.

Exeunt Guarded.