University of Virginia Library

The SCENE Changes to the City.
Enter Mardonius in Chains, Aranthes Bearing his Sword, Magistrates and People shouting.
Aran.
Fellows in Arms, and you my Friends of Peace,
Both equally oppress'd beneath a Tyrants Yoke,
Behold our Liberty in Chains;
This Loyal Arm and Head busied in Wounds,
And watching for our Countries Peace and Honour,
Half starv'd, and Fetter'd like a common Traitor;
Unask'd, and unadvis'd of you, have we presum'd
(Presuming first, you'd not condemn the Action)
To force the Prison, and set free this Man,
Free from a Tyrants Power, but still in Chains;
If you pronounce 'em worthily put on,
Him, and his Sword to your discretion we surrender,
To arm, to execute, or free himself and you.
Is it your Will he be remanded back,
To end his Life in shameful Bonds?
Or shall he take that Sword, inur'd to Action,
And lead you forth to brave Revenge, and Liberty?

People.
Arm him! Arm him! Liberty! Liberty! &c.

They give him the Sword and unbind him.
Mar.
If supple Words
My Noble Country-men must speak my Thanks:
I shall appear ungrateful for this Trust Repos'd:
If Blows have Eloquence, I'll be a Talker:
Let it suffice, that I am free and Arm'd.
Not my own Wrongs; but yours shall edge my Sword,
Your Liberties Infring'd, your Rights destroy'd,
Your antient Glory sunk in Sloth and Tyranny;
Your Ransack'd Houses, and exhausted Treasure,
Your Tender Virgins, and your Wives deflower'd,
The publick Wrongs, and poor Tamira's Rack,
Are Stings too venom'd, not to swell Resentment,
Ev'n to your Wishes Height! Once more, I'm Yours;
Let Heav'n but smile tho' Persia's Head lye low,
I've yet an Arm to ward the Tyrant's Blow.

Exeunt.
Omnes.
Liberty, &c.

Enter an Officer, and Four Soldiers of Artabanus's Party.
Offi.
Here Gentlemen.
Place your Selves at the Corner of this Street,
While I go privately to the House;
If we can bring his Lady safely to him,
He'll not be wanting to Reward our Care.
[A Shout.
Hark! the Tumult's near us!
Ha! What means yon Glaring Light!—It seems some Fire!
By Heav'n! the House of Artabanus all in Flames!
Nay, 'tis the same! I know it by the Portal! look!
Look! How the Rabble scramble for the Plunder?
What thankless Care they take to save
The Plate and Furniture! see! how some venture
Burning to be Rogues, and yet would Tremble
Should an Honest Cause Require 'em.
[Rabble within.]
Away with her, &c,

1st. Sold.
And see the Torrent Rowles this way.

Offi.
Ha! By Heav'n the Lady too! Tamira
And her Child rudely Drag'd along the Streets.
[Within.]
Away with her! to the Palace! to the King! away with her!

1st. Sold,
What's to be done? We are no number to oppose 'em.

Offi.
Let us run back to Artabanus, and if
Possible, bring him down to her Relief,
Before they carry her to the King! Run,
They are upon us.

[Exeunt.
Enter Tamira Plunder'd, her Hair and Cloaths disorder'd; the Rabble with her Child, she striving to recover it.
Tam.
O Barbarous Cruel Men!
If you are Men, be touch'd with Human Pitty;
If you seek Blood take mine, but spare
That harmless Babe! Tear not my Heartstrings from me!
You once were Young and Innocent your selves,
And now perhaps have Children of your own.
O! Could you bear to see 'em torn by Cruel Hands,
From off their tender Mothers Breasts?
Wou'd it not make you Bleed, and tear your Hair,
And pierce the Heav'ns with your shreiking Sorrows?

1. Rab.
Come! I say give her the Child, it has done us
No harm, and will do us no good!

2. Rab.
The Child's my lawful Plunder, and I will keep it.

Tam.
[Kneeling.]
Dear Sir, You look with Eyes of Mercy on me,
If you have Power Command, if Pity speak him fair,
So at your latest Hour, may you sweet Mercy find
Of Heav'n, as now you show it me.
But see! His Bloody Arm is Rais'd! O stop
[She Rises.
The Fatal Blow! O hold! For pity hold!
See, Sir, I've that will charm you to Compassion;
This Diamond—

[Takes it from her Bosom.
2 Rab.
Ay! That Diamond—

Tam.
The first dear Pledge of my Unhappy Love,
To save a more Endearing One;
Weeping I bestow you: 'Tis all i'th' World
Of Value I have left me:
And were I starving now for want of Food,
If this were only left to feed me, wou'd I starve,
So much beyond my Life I prize its worth!
But oh! so far beyond 'em both I love my Child.

2. Rab.
Ay! now I feel thee Woman! let's see the Ring.

Tam.
Here, Gentle Sir, and with it take
Ten Thousand Prayers—Sir—

2. Rab.
You must have no Child, till I have such another Diamond.

Tam.
By all my Woes I am a Beggar!
You cannot be so Cruel to refuse me now;
Believe me! search! take all! strip me
To pinching Cold, to every thing but shame.
Tear off this Idle Robe, it misbecomes me
While that tender Infant needs it.

3. Rab.
Pshah! away with her! must we stand to hear
A Woman Prate?

2. Rab.
Ay! Ay! away with her! &c.

Tam.
My Child! O Savage Creatures!

Om.
To the King, to the Palace! away with her.

Catching at the Fellow, she falls on the Ground.
Tam.
Ha! The King! Not all your force shall drag me;
Thus will I Dash the Ground, and tear a Passage
To escape him! Fierce Thunder strike me to the Grave!
Gape Earth, and take me living down to Horror!
Torments! any Hell! But Life and Shame! O!

Omn.
Drag her! away with her, &c.

[They drag her by the Hair.
Tam.
O Cruel! Cruel Men!

[As they are going off.
Enter Mardonius, Aranthes, and their Party.
Mar.
What meanes this strange Disorder Friends?
Why swarm you thus like angry Bees unhiv'd,
That sting in wild Revenge, or Friend, or Foe?
Is it because you want a Head to lead you?
Or do you blindly serve a Tyrant's Will?
Why is this Woman rudely drag'd along?

[They loose her, as half afraid.
Tam.
Relieve me Heav'n!

Mar.
Now by my Soul! the Fair Tamira. Help ho!

[They Raise her.
Tam.
Protect me, Brave Mardonius!

Mar.
Protect! Yes, and Revenge thee too; Villains!

Tam.
Hold! I conjure you hold—Good Sir, be mild,
And speak 'em fair, or that Revenge
May cost me dearer, than my Life—my Child!

Mar.
Ha! Forego the Infant, Slaves!
Or by the lifted Fury of this Arm—

Tam.
Oh! do not fright 'em Sir! see! they're merciful
And kind! they will not hurt the Babe!

Mar.
Whence comes this Insolence, you Hounds!
You hungry yelping Curs, that run at all
They set down the Child, which runs into her Arms.
Whence Mischeif cries Halloo!
Is Innocence your Game? Hence! to your Kennels Dogs!

Omn.
Fly! Fly! &c.

[Beats 'em off.
Aran.
Let 'em run on, they are not worth pursuit,
Their Fear will soon disperse 'em.

Tam.
But where's my Lord, my Artabanus, Sir!
Why is it he's not with you!

Mar.
Having expected him er'e this to join us,
We sent to know th'occasion of his delay,
And every Moment wait his Answer.

Aran.
And see, Sir, the Messenger is return'd!

Enter an Officer.
Mar.
Now! Have you seen the General?

Offi.
My Lord, I found him Posted on a little Hill
Without the City;
From whence, Enrag'd, he saw his House in Flames,
And led his Men with Fury down to join you:
As he was Marching on,
An Officer (whom just before h'had sent
To find, and bring his Lady to him)
With breathless haste Inform'd him that the Rabble,
Were that very moment dragging her to the Palace;
At this he Trembl'd, and his Lips grew Pale;
But on a sudden, starting from the Fit,
He March'd his Numbers in disorder'd haste,
Strait on to th'Palace, resolving there
To force the Guards, to Dye, or Rescue her;
And this delays him, Sir.

Mar.
Ill Tim'd and dangerous Error!
But hast! away again, and tell him
His Tamira's safe with me—If he shou'd force
The Guards, he runs into the Jaws of Death.

Tam.
O! Fly before the Danger meets him.

Ex. Officer.
Mar.
Some on before to stop the Fire!
Tamira be your Care Aranthes,
While I with these March on to his Assistance.

Ex. Tam. and Aran.
Enter a Second Officer Wounded.
Offi.
Arm! Arm!

Mar.
How now Soldier! What mean these Wounds?

Offi.
My Lord, they faintly speak our General's Danger.

Mar.
Where is he?

Offi.
This Moment Storming at the Palace Gate,
I left him there demanding his Tamira,
And threatning if refus'd, to bury it in Ashes.
At which the King in mad Revenge grown desperate,
Threw him an Handkerchief Distain'd with Blood,
And cry'd, take there! There's all that's left
Of thy Tamira now, the rest of her is Cold.
Swell'd with that Sight, he flew with Fury on the Guards,
And now Impatient of Revenge, like Wildfire throws
Destruction round him for a Time;
But must at last Expire, and let his curious Foes
With safe Amazement, view the wondrous shell that held it.
Alas! I fear you'll be too late: But yet
There's Hope in haste, my Lord, to stem this Flood of Ruin.

Mar.
O Fatal Error! on to the Palace! March!

Exeunt.