University of Virginia Library

Scena prima.

Scene, The Palace:
Enter Smerdis, Patasithes, and Captain of the Guards.
Capt.
The Guards are set, the Ambuscado laid.

Pat.
All preparations for the deed are made.

Smerd.
You know your charge in this design, go wait,
And give him entrance at the Western Gate.

[Exeunt Patasithes, and Capt.
Enter Theramnes, with a Letter.
Ther.
Great Sir, your Royal pleasure is obey'd:
Your Letter I with my own hand convey'd.
And this, I guess, her answer does declare:
For though it does no superscription bear,
From hence 'tis yours I do the more presume,
Your Titles being too large for so small room.

Smerd.
Yes, they are large—
When they beyond the name of King extend,
To that more glorious Title of your Friend.
[Embraces him.
You know your charge, Sir, in this Nights design.

Ther.
Rivals in Empire can't together shine.
This Night Cambyses dyes. Whilst Smerdis is
Crown'd for our King, he for our Sacrifice.

[Exit.
Smerd.
Now, if I find he does her Love enjoy,
[Opening the Letter.
Her kindness then her Lover shall destroy.
I know his courage, and I will take care
In this Nights cause he shall engage so far,
To meet his Death. 'Tis a small Crime, to prove
False to my Friendship, to promote my Love.
Reades the Letter.

Phedima, to Theramnes.

Proud Traitor, since your confidence has rais'd you to a pitch above fear or shame,
to dare to profane my eyes with such a scrowl of Blasphemies, in taxing Phedima

of a Contract to Theramnes; Since your guilty passion has made this your first address,
know, that you have rais'd your Love on the ruines of your Friendship; and that your
guilt may be your punishment, may you Love still, and to that height, that I may
triumph in my scorn, and make my cruelty able to give deeper wounds than my eyes:
Love, and dispair. But since your eternal Banishment can onely give a stop to all future
Crimes of this Nature, never dare to see me more.

This does dissolve my fears. These lines do shew
Smerdis is happy now, but cruel too;
To be thus jealous of so brave a Friend.
But since I did 'gainst Friendships Laws offend,
I'le Act such things as shall my fault redeem;
Kings can both Act and expiate a Crime.
And though Theramnes Friend did the offence,
Theramnes King that Crime will recompense.

[Exit.