 | Herod And Mariamne |  |
Second Scene
A Bed-Chamber.Mariamne lying on a Couch sleeping, Cleophe by.
Enter Herod.
Herod.
See where she lies; her eyes chain'd up with sleep:
The Graces in her Face a Guard do keep:
With what serenity she does appear:
How calme her Soul is, not disturb'd with fear.
While mine feels horrors! Oh my heart! I must
Withdraw, least to my self I prove unjust.
For those almighty Charms her Beauty wears,
Spread for my Anger, and my Justice snares.
[stands aside.
Mar.
O Cleophe! my Rest hast pleasant been,
[Awakes.
In sleep I have a blessed Vision seen!
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Are often with such fair Idea's blest.
I find Heav'n may in Prisons be; whilst Hell,
And all its Furies in the Pallace dwell!
Wipe off your Tears, and be not so unkind!
Your weakness Cleophe disturbs my mind.
Let Death and Fortune threaten if they will:
What though I fall? I am above 'em still.
[Enter 3 Judges
Herod.
Oh thou Heroick mind! not startl'd yet?
See how she does unmov'd, undaunted sit!
1 Judg.
Madam! by this Commission we are sent,
In which we obey our Royal Kings Commands—
You are accus'd by Him—
Mar.
Vain Rudeness! hold!
Me-thinks you are too insolent and bold!
A Princess of my Birth, your Lawful Queen,
Heir to the Crown, and stoop so low?
Can you be Subjects and my Judges too?
2 Judg.
We from the King, Madam, this power receive!
Mar.
The King himself has not so much to give.
For He can never make my Spirit bow
To such a base submission crav'd by you.
3 Judg.
'Twill be your Glory if you're Innocent.
Mar.
My Soul ne're knew what to be guilty meant!
Excepting Heav'n I other Judges scorn:
But chiefly you, who are my Subjects born.
Therefore forbear—
1 Judg.
Madam! we know
What to your Birth and quality we owe:
Which hitherto we with respect have paid.
The King on us has this Injunction laid:
To whom it is our Duty to obey;
And you as well as we should homage pay:
You'l guilty seem, if you do this refuse.
Queens ought to clear themselves when Kings accuse.
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But I from his Authority, and yours,
Appeal to Higher and more Righteous Powers.
2 Judg.
Our Conscience guides us, and the Law.
Mar.
But why—
All these Formalities to make me dye?
My Friends to Death without these shows were sent.
May not I tread the Path my Kindred went?
1 Judg.
Madam! of you the King has greater Care,
And by your Tryal, hopes to find you clear.
Mar.
Though his high Cruelties I must confess,
Have justly made the Wifes affection less:
Yet my firm Duty never can decrease.
Herod.
I can no longer hold—
[to Mariam.
I'le not believe but you are Guiltless too!
No memory of my Banisht rage shall stay,
All my suspitions Love has blown away.
Mar.
Hold Cruel Man! let Justice have its course:
My Judges I dislike, but thee much worse;
Beyond the bounds of Cruelty they fly,
Who torment those, who are about to dy.
Herod.
Oh you mistake me, for I come to save—
Mar.
Her Life who hates it, and desires a Grave.
But what's your right, to give or take my Life,
You know you are not King but by your Wife.
Herod.
Thou try'st by all extremities to move
My long-kept Patience, and provoke my Love.
To that alone—and that thou too well know'st
The Life thou yet enjoy'st! Proud Queen! thou ow'st.
Mar.
Nor thy Caresses, nor thy Threats shall move,
Thy Threats are yet less hateful than thy Love.
Herod.
Since you my Love with so much scorn deny,
Thou shalt have thy desire—yes, thou shalt dye,
To the Judges.
Perform that Charge I formerly did give,
And if you find her false, let her not live.
Let not the Name of Queen, keep you in awe:
Nor yet Divert the Justice of the Law.
[Exit.
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You see your Champion's gon; you may with-draw;
I am your Queen, above you, and your Law.
[Exit.
2 Judg.
She has a Soul no Power on Earth can tame.
1 Judg.
We may return as useless as we came.
Enter to them Herod and Salom.
Salom.
But why so weak! what shifting Passions move
His Soul? now mad with Rage, now fool'd with Love.
Herod.
But once again I am my self become,
And will an inrag'd Monarchs power assume.
Such high and lofty Pride swells her great heart,
That 'tis high time that and her head should part.
What now?
1 Judg.
She treats us Sir with such disdain and scorn,
As if she were more than a Princess born.
Herod.
She's guilty then, who dares not thus be try'd.
Salom.
I doubt there's somthing in it more than Pride.
Herod.
O Heav'n! pull down your Thunders on my head,
Pluck up those roots of Love, or strike me dead.
Salom.
Why make you thus your self unfortunate!
To rage for her that pays your Love with Hate.
Herod.
I know she hates me, and I know it well;
And yet I can't her Image hence expel.
But I will hear no more what Love can say:
Yes, yes, Mariamne, thou shalt Dye to day.
I'le start not from what I resolve to do,
Though whilst I take her Life, I lose mine too.
Salom.
Sir, you with Passions have so much been sway'd,
You never ask'd whether you were Obey'd
In your commands last Night: but you will find
Somthing in these will satisfie your mind.
delivers him the Papers.
Herod.
'Tis true I had forgot.
[Reads to himself.
Salom.
See! how it works?
Poison I hope in their Confession Lurks!
See how he swells!
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He likes not what he Reads, yet must read on.
Herod.
How! when I was to Cæsar gone, the Queen
[reads.
Was privately by Tyridates seen!
Oh Heavens!
Last Night for all the Danger he was in,
Return'd and privately met her agen.
Disguis'd—alone—by Night—ah this does prove
The strength of his and her unlawful Love.
Are these men Dead? hah!—
Salom.
They have receiv'd a just reward of Treachery—
Herod.
Yes! here's enough to satisfie my mind.
Now Justice to my self, and thee, I am kind.
For she shall Dye, and like a Traytress too.
Do you my Orders instantly pursue.
Do it before my fit of Love return.—
[Exeunt Judges.
If that get in, it will my Rage remove.
I must keep this Storm to keep out Love.
[Exit.
| Herod And Mariamne | |