University of Virginia Library

Scena quinta.

Enter Arsace sola.
Arsa.
Ye sterne Eumenides, and direfull powers
Of the infernall kingdomes, muster all
Your troops together by a generall summon,
For I doe cite you to the court of hell,
My grievances beget this invocation;
Have I so long serv'd you, and bent my thoughts
To your low centre? have my actions beene
As lewd as you would wish them, and as blacke
As you your selves, and could you suffer me
To faile in this atchievement of my lust?
So much your instigation? is this justice?
Justice that is a word not knowne in hell;
Is this injustice? no, then are you rebels
To your owne lawes, I doe insist on this:
What other doctrine preach your ministers
But foule injustice, rapes, impieties,
Adulteries, murthers, slaunders, ignominies,
False accusations and the like, all which
My life hath practis'd? yet ye punish me
With justice ne're till now heard in your courts:
You thought it just Cariclea should escape
The poison'd cup, and afterward the fire,
You thought it just Theagines and she
Should scape my hands, and Oroondates know
All my proceedings; cursed fates of mine!
Wretched Arsace, wilt thou live and feele
Thy punishment augmented by thy shame?
Shall the lawes triumph o're Arsaces will?
Or Oroondates say he was reveng'd
Upon the high and royall blood of Persia
For wrong I did him? no, since I have fail'd
In my desire, these fates I will withstand,
And die by none but by this Persian hand.

She fals upon a sword, and kils her selfe.