University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

The QUEEN's Appartment.
Arsinoe alone, weeping.
Arsin.
Greatness, leave me,
Undeceive me,
State is but a Pomp of Woe;
Never given,
Under Heaven,
To make happy, but undo.
Greatness, leave me,
Undeceive me,
State is but a Pomp of Woe, &c.

Enter Feraspe with a Letter.
Fer.
Hail, gracious Queen.

Arsin.
Feraspe!

Fer.
Ormondo has betray'd your Life and Crown:
Behold the Letter, and the Treason own.

Arsin.
Directed to the King of Thrace!
[She reads the Superscription.
I know the Hand:
Ormondo has conspir'd.
Feraspe, e'er the Day be done,
Convinc'd of Treason, let the Rebel—
Gods! I can pronounce no more!

[Aside.
Fer.
Hate and Anger
Have oppress'd her.

[Aside.
Arsin.
Feraspe, hear me;
E'er the Day be done—
Shall that Sun ever set
Which I adore?

[Aside.
Fer.
Her Woman's Heart
Can ne'er resolve.

[Aside.
Arsin.
Bring me the News
That he is dead.

Fer.
Madam, I understand,
Ormondo you would say.

Arsin.
Audacious Slave,
The Secrets of a Queen
Dare you unfold?
Haste from my Sight,
My Rage avoid.

Fer.
Ye Gods, how Passion rends,
And Pity shakes her Soul?

[To himself going off.
Arsin.
I rave, I rave, I rave, I rave;
I am bewilder'd in a Maze of Grief.
Awake, Arsinoe, awake;
These are but the Pangs of Love.
Feraspe, hold!
[Feraspe returns.
Before the rising Sun
Ormondo dies;
Go, see it done.

Fer.
Great Queen, I hasten to obey.

Arsin.
No, no, Feraspe, stay.

Fer.
She changes like the Wind.

[Aside.
Arsin.
Rebellious Love, resist no more.
[Aside.
Let false Ormondo die.

[Feraspe hears the last Line.
Fer.
Your Will shall be obey'd.

Arsin.
Detested Fury,
What, return'd again?
Still in my Sight?
I can no more—
Be gone, and let Ormondo die.

[Feraspe goes off.