University of Virginia Library

Scena prima.

Enter Hydaspes and Sysimethres, with attendance.
Hydasp.
Thus farre have we march'd by the bankes of Nile,
And conquer'd Philæ, and the Smaragd mines,
Thus farre hath fortune favourd our attempts,
And sterne Bellona set our conquering feet
Deepe in the bosome of th'Egyptian Land;
Are we not now reveng'd Sysimethres
For thy uncivill barbarous entertainement,
When we imploy'd thee our Embassadour
To Oroondates Deputy of Egypt?
How thinke you, doe they not repent the wrongs
And disrespect they gave thee, contrary
Unto the lawes of Nations? doe they not
Wish that they had surrender'd to our Crowne
Those lands we justly challeng'd for our owne?

Sysim.
I thinke they doe, and curse their arrogance
That hath brought home the warres unto their dores;
It cannot choose but vex their very soules
To see so fruitfull and so faire a soyle,
Their native Country, over-runne and spoyl'd
By the incursions of a hostile army.

Hydasp.
Tis fit they suffer for their usurpation;
But where lurkes Oroondates since his flight
In our last battaile, no newes yet of him?

Sysim.
Fame gives it out, he is within this towne
Of Syene with the remnant of his army.

Hydasp.
Will not the Towne yet come to composition?
Will it hold out yet longer notwithstanding
Our water-workes to drowne them?

Sysim.
Royall sir,
As soone as we had cut the banks of Nile
And let the river in upon the towne,
Th'inhabitants began to see and feele
Their misery, for suddenly the water
Encompassed faire Syene round about
That it became an Iland, and by sinking
Into the earth below the walls foundation,
The weight above began to shake as if
It would have fallen downe in every place;
Then suddenly arose a piteous cry
Amongst the people of the towne, imploring
The gods assistance, and the Deputy
It seemes by this extreamity constrained
First caused letters tyed to a stone
As messengers to be shot to our campe
Out of a sling, and archers from their bowes
Sent their swift winged arrows to speak for them,
But both fell short and perish'd in the water;
At last when we by signes perceiv'd their mindes,
As holding up their hands in token of
Submission, and sometimes behinde their backes,
In token they were ready to receive
Bandes so they might finde mercie, we sent out
Some bootes to talke with them, who brought us word
They would surrender to your royall hands
The towne of Syene, if you would be pleas'd
To grant some poore conditions.

Hydasp.
What are they?

Sysim.
First Oroondates makes request that he
And all his souldiers without interruption
May march forth as best suiteth their profession,
With all their martiall habiliments
And armes about them, next to be convoy'd to
Elyphantina with your royall guard;
Else he would rather die then live to be
Condemned as a traitor to his king,
For yielding up the City and betraying
The armie, and besides be put to death
With rackes and tortures.

Hydasp.
What a foole is he
To make his owne conditions, or to argue
Of such a matter? doth he not conceive
He is not in his owne power, but in ours,
To live or die, why what a madnes is it
For conquered men to argue of conditions?
But tis not noble to destroy a number
For one mans folly, goe Sysimethres,
Take heere our seale and signe their articles,
For pitty workes upon a noble spirit.

Exit Sysimethres.
Hydasp.
If I could entertaine ambitious sparkes
Within my royall breast, or never enter
Into examination with my selfe
Of right or wrong, (as many politicians
And proud usurpers doe not) what should let me
From adding this large kingdome to my owne,
Stretching my Empire to the mouth of Nile;
But iustice sets downe limits to my thoughts,
Boundes my ambition in, so that I dare not
Advance one foote beyond it, sacred goddesse,
Divine Astrea, though all kings rebell
And pay no reverence to thy deitie,
Hydaspes shall adore thee, and his might
shall never be more potent then his right.

Exit.