University of Virginia Library

Scœna 3.

Herod. Mariam.
Herod.
And heere she comes indeed: happily met
My best, and deerest halfe: what ailes my deare?
Thou doest the difference certainly forget
Twixt Duskey habits, and a time so cleare.

Mar.
My Lord, I suit my garment to my minde,
And there no cheerfull colours can I finde.

Herod.
Is this my welcome? haue I longd so much
To see my dearest Mariam discontent?
What ist that is the cause thy heart to touch?
Oh speake, that I thy sorrow may preuent.
Art thou not Iuries Queene, and Herods too?
Be my Commandres, by my Soueraigne guide:
To be by thee directed I will woo,
For in thy pleasure lies my highest pride.
Or if thou thinke Iudæas narrow bound,
Too strict a limit for thy great command:
Thou shalt be Empresse of Arabia crownd,
For thou shalt rule, and I will winne the Land.
Ile robbe the holy Dauids Sepulcher
To giue thee wealth, if thou for wealth do care:
Thou shalt haue all, they did with him inter,
And I for thee will make the Temple bare.

Mar.
I neither haue of power nor riches want,
I haue enough, nor doe I wish for more:
Your offers to my heart no ease can grant,
Except they could my brothers life restore.
No, had you wisht the wretched Mariam glad,
Or had your loue to her bene truly tide:
Nay, had you not desir'd to make her sad,
My brother nor my Grandsyre had not dide.

Her.
Wilt thou beleeue no oathes to cleere thy Lord?
How oft haue I with execration sworne:
Thou art by me belou'd, by me ador'd,
Yet are my protestations heard with scorne.
Hercarius plotted to depriue my head
Of this long setled honor that I weare:
And therefore I did iustly doome him dead,
To rid the Realme from perill, me from feare.
Yet I sor Mariams sake doe so repent
The death of one: whose blood she did inherit:
I wish I had a Kingdomes treasure spent,
So I had nere expeld Hercanus spirit.
As I affected that same noble youth,
In lasting infamie my name inrole:
If I not mournd his death with heartie truth.
Did I not shew to him my earnest loue,
When I to him the Priesthood did restore?
And did for him a liuing Priest remoue,
Which neuer had bene done but once before.

Mariam.
I know that mou'd by importunitie,
You made him Priest, and shortly after die.

Herod.
I will not speake, vnles to be beleeu'd,
This froward humor will not doe you good:
It hath too much already Herod grieu'd,
To thinke that you on termes of hate haue stood.
Yet smile my dearest Mariam, doe but smile,
And I will all vnkind conceits exile.

Mari.
I cannot frame disguise, nor neuer taught
My face a looke dissenting from my thought.

Herod.
By heau'n you vexe me, build not on my loue.

Mari.
I wil not build on so vnstable ground.

Herod.
Nought is so fixt, but peeuishnes may moue.

Mar.
Tis better sleightest cause then none were foūd.

Herod.
Be iudge your selfe, if euer Herod sought
Or would be mou'd a cause of change to finde:
Yet let your looke declare a milder thought,
My heart againe you shall to Mariam binde.
How oft did I for you my Mother chide,
Reuile my Sister, and my brother rate:
And tell them all my Mariam they belide,
Distrust me still, if these be signes of hate.