University of Virginia Library

Scœna. 8.

Mariam.
Am I the Mariam that presum'd so much,
And deem'd my face must needes preserue my breath?
I, I it was that thought my beautie such,
At it alone could countermaund my death.
Now death will teach me, he can pale aswell
A cheeks of roses, as a cheeke lesse bright:
And dim an eye whose shine doth most excell,
Assoone as one that casts a meaner light.
Had not my selfe against my selfe conspirde,
No plot: no aduersarie from without
Could Herods loue from Mariam haue retirde,
Or from his heart haue thrust my semblance out.
The wanton Queene that neuer lou'd for loue,
False Cleopatra, wholly set on gaine:
With all her slights did proue: yet vainly proue,
For her the loue of Herod to obtaine.
Yet her allurements, all her courtly guile,
Her smiles, her fauours, and her smooth deceite
Could not my face from Herods minde exile,
But were with him of lesse then little weight.
That face and person that in Asia late
For beauties Goddesse Paphos Queene was tane:
That face that did captiue great Iulius fate,
That very face that was Anthonius bane.
That face that to be Egipts pride was borne,
That face that all the world esteem'd so rare:
Did Herod hate, despise, neglect, and scorne,
When with the same, he Mariams did compare.
This made that I improuidently wrought,
And on the wager euen my life did pawne:
Because I thought, and yet but truly thought,
That Herods loue could not from me be drawne.
But now though out of time, I plainly see
It could be drawne, though neuer drawne from me:
Had I but with humilitie bene grac'te,
As well as faire I might haue prou'd me wise:
But I did thinke because I knew me chaste,
One vertue for a woman, might suffice.
That mind for glory of our sexe might stand,
Wherein humilitie and chastitie
Doth march with equall paces hand in hand,
But one if single seene, who setteth by?
And I had singly ore, but tis my ioy,
That I was euer innocent, though sower:
And therefore can they but my life destroy,
My Soule is free from aduersaries power.)
Enter Doris.
You Princes great in power, and high in birth,
Be great and high, I enuy not your hap:
Your birth must be from dust: your power on earth,
In heau'n shall Mariam sit in Saraes lap.

Doris.
I heau'n, your beautie cannot bring you thither,
Your soule is blacke and spotted, full of sinne:
You in adultry liu'd nine yeare together,
And heau'n will neuer let adultry in.

Mar:
What art thou that dost poore Mariam pursue?
Some spirit sent to driue me to dispaire:
Who sees for truth that Mariam is vntrue,
If faire she be, she is as chaste as faire.

Doris.
I am that Doris that was once belou'd,
Belou'd by Herod: Herods lawfull wise:
Twas you that Doris from his side remou'd,
And rob'd from me the glory of my life.

Mar:
Was that adultry: did not Moses say,
That he that being matcht did deadly hate:
Might by permission put his wife away,
And take a more belou'd to be his mate?

Doris.
What did he hate me for: for simple truth?
For bringing beautious babes for loue to him:
For riches: noble birth, or tender youth,
Or for no staine did Doris honour dim?
Oh tell me Mariam, tell me if you knowe,
Which fault of these made Herod Doris foe.
These thrice three yeares haue I with hands held vp,
And bowed knees fast nailed to the ground:
Be sought for thee the dreggs of that same cup,
That cup of wrath that is for sinners found
And now thou art to drinke it: Doris curse,
Vpon thy selfe did all this while attend,
But now it shall pursue thy children worse.

Mar:
Oh Doris now to thee my knees I bend,
That hart that neuer bow'd to thee doth bow:
Curse not mine infants, let it thee suffice,
That Heau'n doth punishment to me allow.
Thy curse is cause that guiltles Mariam dies.

Doris.
Had I ten thousand tongues, and eu'ry tongue
Inflam'd with poisons power and steepe in gall:
My curses would not answere for my wrong,
Though I in cursing thee imployd them all.
Heare thou that didst mount Geratim command,
To be a place whereon with cause to curse:
Stretch thy reuenging arme: thrust forth thy hand,
And plague the mother much: the children worse.
Throw flaming fire vpon the baseborne heads
That were begotten in vnlawfull beds.
But let them liue till they haue sence to know
What tis to be in miserable state:
Then be their neerest friends their ouerthrow,
Attended be they by suspitious hate.
And Mariam, I doe hope this boy of mine
Shall one day come to be the death of thine.

Exit.
Mariam.
Oh! Heauen forbid. I hope the world shall see,
This curse of thine shall be return'd on thee:
Now earth farewell, though I be yet but yong,
Yet I, me thinks, haue knowne thee too too long.

Exit.
Chorus.