 | Thyestes |  |
35
ACT IV.
SCENE IV.
Enter Thyestes, Philisthenes, Peneus.SCENE Mycenæ.
Thy.
Oh! wondrous pleasure to a banish'd man!
I feel my lov'd, long look'd for Native Soyl;
My former Incest (horrid to be nam'd)
Gave me not greater pleasure, than this new
Innocent Incest with my Mother Earth.
And oh! my weary Eyes, that all the day
Had from some Mountain travell'd toward this place,
Now rest themselves upon the Royal Towers
Of that great Palace where I had my birth.
Oh! sacred Towers! sacred in your height,
Mingling with Clouds, the Villa's of the Gods,
Whither for secret pleasures they retire.
Sacred, because you are the work of Gods;
Your lofty looks boast your Divine descent,
And the proud City which lies at your Feet,
And wou'd give place to nothing but to you,
Owns her Original is short of yours.
And now a thousand Objects more ride fast
On morning beams, and meet my Eyes in throngs.
[A shout.
And see all Argos meets me with loud shouts.
Phi.
Oh! joyful sound.
Thy.
But with them Atreus too.
Phi.
What ails my Father, that he stops and shakes,
And now retires?
Thy.
Return with me my Son,
And old Friend Peneus, to the honest beasts
And faithful desart, and well seated Caves;
The Beasts declare their Natures without fraud:
Trees shelter man, by whom they often dye,
And never seek revenge; no Villany
Lyes in the prospect of an humble Cave.
Pen.
Talk you of Villany, of Foes and Fraud?
36
I talk of Atreus.
Pen.
What are these to him?
Thy.
Nearer than I am, for they are himself.
Pen.
Gods drive these impious thoughts out of your mind.
Thy.
The Gods for all our safety put 'em there:
Return, return with me.
Pen.
Against our Oaths?
I cannot stem the Vengeance of the Gods.
Thy.
Here are no Gods, they've left this dire abode.
Phi.
Oh! Father! Father! if not for my sake,
For all our Family, all the Kingdoms sake,
Bring your dear fellow Exiles peace and joy
To Argos, who does Court 'em with a Crown.
Oh! look upon the Splendour of a Crown;
See from the rising King it dawns this way;
Oh! look upon it Father.
Thy.
Yes, I do,
As I have often look'd upon the Sun,
When I have seen him heave a thousand Waves
In brimming Spouts, up to his Lips to drink,
To spit 'em all in the Seas Face again,
Or on some Desart, where they only serv'd
To cool a while the thirst of burning Sands:
So are we all by Royal splendour suck'd
Up to the Clouds, to be let fall again
Upon some dreadful unexpected Fate.
Pen.
True Race of Tantalus! who Parent like
Are doom'd in midst of plenty to be starv'd.
His Hell and yours differ alone in this;
When he wou'd catch at joys they fly from him,
When Glories catch at you, you fly from them.
Thy.
A fit Comparison; our joys and his
Are lying Shadows, which to trust is Hell.
What? Shall I trust my Brother and a Crown,
Two the uncertain'st things, I was about
To say, the falsest things in the whole world?
Phi.
I must be wretched then.
Thy.
Well, for thy sake,
Though I trust not the King, I'le trust the Gods.
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Pen.
The King is near,—and now his Eye is laid
Firmly upon you, and has seiz'd you fast.
Atr.
The beast is snar'd!—and I'm as fierce for prey,
[Aside.
As the big Spartan Dog, when the fell Bore
Laggs within reach of his long stretching neck.
He breaks the Couples, from the Huntsman gets,
And knows no Master but his love to bloud.
My love to bloud will from my Fraud get loose:
But what a thing he is? Exile and Grief
Serve him so slovenly up to my Board,
It palls my Stomach; but I'le garnish him
With Princely Robes.—Oh! Brother! to my Arms—
My Arms, dear Brother; render me your long
Desir'd Embrace.
Thy.
Oh! I have forfeited
The Title of your Brother; do not, Sir,
Revile the honour'd Name, by giving it
To me your humble penitent poor Slave.
Atr.
Away to everlasting banishment
The odious memory of all moments past,
And all their Progeny.
Thy.
I had prepar'd
Excuses for my Crimes, and what were truth;
But this amazing Piety and Love
Render me past excuse, the worst of men.
Atr.
Must these dire thoughts, like Harpies, hover round
Our Friendship still? Hence with 'em to abodes
More hid from man, than those from whence you came.
And rise! oh, rise to my embrace! what means
This low unfitting posture?
Thy.
It means more
Than words can speak; I never kneel'd before:
Then guess the honour I wou'd pay to you.
Atr.
I in the kindest manner take the sense,
But do not like the Language of the Knee;
'Tis between Brothers an ungrateful Tongue.
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We will be equal.
Thy.
That shall never be:
I'le rise to your command; and so I still
Bow in obedience low.
Atr.
Once more your arms,
My dearest Brother.
Thy.
My most excellent King.
Atr.
Now dear Philisthenes! thy arms, sweet Youth.
Phi.
Sir, give me leave to fall and kiss your Feet.
Atr.
Indeed it shall not be.
Phi.
Pray suffer me.
Atr.
No, hang upon my Neck, thou art my Son:
Wilt thou not own the Title of my Son?
Phi.
Not own it, Sir?—
Atr.
Now last let me embrace
[Embraces Peneus.
The standing blessing of our Family.
Pen.
Had I been only born for this good hour,
And all my fourscore years a desart Road,
Without one joy to ease my Pilgrimage,
This Journeys end had made amends for all.
Atr.
Good man!
Phi.
Now Father, do you credit us?
[To Thy.
Atr.
Still there are Clouds that darken my delight,
My Brothers Garments—Brother spare my Eyes,
And with these Royal Ornaments conceal
These Reliques of deceas'd unhappiness.
The Attendants give Thyestes rich Robes.
Thy.
Sir, These foul Garments are the Livery
Of a good Master, sorrow for my sins.
Atr.
But you shall have no Master in my Court;
For with these Ornaments receive my Crown.
Takes his Diadem from his head, and gives it to Thyestes.
Thy.
A second Usurpation? Gods forbid!
If my more fitting Garb offend your Eyes,
Let me lye hid among th'attending Crowd.
Atr.
You shall be hid no more.
Thy.
I'm great enough,
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In lessening your own self, you lessen me.
Atr.
It is more great to give, than wear a Crown.
Thy.
And to refuse more glorious than to give;
That is the share of greatness I will chuse;
And you invited me to take my share.
Atr.
I did, then both of us will be thus great,
I in my Crown, you in excelling me.
But see my Ærope, my dearest Queen.
Enter the Queen attended, and richly habited.
Thy.
My shame, my horror, my Eternal Hell.
Æro.
Your spacious goodness, Sir, has farther reach'd
Than guilt cou'd fly; and has invited home,
To all the glories of your Court, a man,
I'le boldly tell it him before his face,
For whom Hell has not punishment enough.
There is a Creature, for whom Heaven has scarce
Rewards enow, opprest with heavy wrongs,
And is not suffer'd to breath open Air.
Atr.
What is this Creature?
Æro.
Injur'd Innocence:
Which before man and Gods I claim for mine.
And I intreat you, nay, conjure you, Sir,
Not as you are my Husband, but my King,
The Representative of the Just Gods,
To bring my innocence into the light,
And if the Sun himself has not more spots—
Atr.
You'd have my Brother speak your innocence?
What need? I have exactly weigh'd your cause?
Æro.
I'le have the Ballance hang'd upon Sun-beams,
That Heaven and Earth may see my innocence—
Atr.
My Throne exalts it into all mens view.
Æro.
Sir, it exalts your goodness, and not mine:
Unless you Crown my Fame as well as me,
I only bear the luggage of your praise.
Atr.
The world may be assur'd I've not a doubt.
Ær.
But nothing in the World shall have a doubt.
Atr.
By the Eternal Gods, the Whore commits
[Aside.
40
Before my Face: The very sight of him
Has got her Spirit big with Insolence.
Thy.
Sir, you, but lately offer'd me your Crown;
I for a moment will assume the gift,
And be a King; that is, be uncontroul'd,
Whilst I declare the Queens wrong'd innocence.
Atr.
What need all this? I know what you wou'd say.
Thy.
I ravish'd her, and Hell did ravish me.
Atr.
And I, who have been wrong'd by both of you,
Must, for my Recompence, be disobey'd.
Nature (I find) has to the Birth and Death
Of every thing annex'd tormenting pangs.
Pangs wait upon the Birth of our new joys,
And our past ills dye with Convulsion fits.
Ær.
My innocence is clear'd, and now dispose
Of me, Sir, at your pleasure.
Thy.
And of me.
Atr.
Then thus I will dispose of all of you.
My Brother to my Friendship and my Crown.
To my delighted bosome, my dear Queen.
To my Antigone, this noble Youth.
This good old man to my rewards, and thanks.—
Do you all weep for joy? Come dry your Eyes;—
My Love shall be too hot for such light dew.
Now let the Trumpets reparation make,
For frightning Argos with the sounds of War,
And set hearts dancing to the sounds of Peace.
Let the pale Mothers trembling for their Babes,
Now dandle 'em in their Arms with smiling Cheeks.
Return the Husbands back to their young Wives,
And let not Armour hinder their embrace.
Let Swords wear Rust, the Livery of Peace,
Let every Door be with a Garland Crown'd,
And all the Conduits surfeited with Wine,
Till they o're-flow with infinite excess.
And now prepare the Temple, Altars, Priests,
For the great Ceremony of the Day.
Call my Antigone to meet her Love.
Brother, lead on—indeed you must—you shall—
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Ant.
My Love!
Phi.
My Love!
Ant.
Oh! my excessive joy.
And is this possible? oh! Gods! good Gods!
When I lost thee at the unfaithful Cave,
Did I e're think to find thee with this joy?
Phi.
When I was seiz'd and dragg'd before the King,
Did I e're think that this shou'd be my Death,
To dye in thy embraces with delight?
Ant.
This was the art of the Celestial Powers,
To hold their Jewels up at a high price.
Phi.
The Gods give nothing cheap, but misery.
What have I suffer'd for this happiness?
I have a large account to bring thee in.
And thou shalt pay it all, I will extend
All the Estate of Beauty which thou hast.
Enter a Gentleman.
Gent.
The Temple is prepar'd, the Priests attend;
The Court expects you with impatience, Sir.
Phi.
Is't possible? And does Love stay for us?
Pardon us Love, thou ne're didst so before:
Since thou art so impatient for thy work;
By all the Gods I'le find thee work enough.
[Ex.
The Scene a Temple. Priests at the Altar. Enter Atreus, Ærope, Thyestes, Philisthenes, Antigone, Peneus, Attendants. The Nuptial Ceremony perform'd; they come out of the Temple. The Scene continues.
Atr.
Now, Madam, you shall entertain the Bride.
[To Æro.
The Bridegroom I have chosen for my Guest.
And Daughter, you shall spare him for an hour,
To Gods that fill our lusty bowls with Wine,
We usually pour some in gratitude.
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And you shall offer the first hour to me.
So long the Bridegroom is my Sacrifice.
Stay in the Temple, noble Youth, a while,
I will return to thee immediately,
I wou'd unfold to thee some mysteries.
Ærope and Ladies lead out Antigone at one Door: At another go Atreus, Thyestes, Peneus. Philisthenes follows as to wait upon the King—after a short pawse Priests bring in Phi. stript and bound.
Phi.
Ha! what means this?
Priest.
'Tis by the Kings command.
Phi.
What does the King intend?
Priest.
We cannot tell.
Phi.
You lye.
Priest.
Why shou'd we lye?
Phi.
'Cause ye are Priests.
It is your Trade to lye, you live by lies.
Your Temples are your shops where you sell lyes.
Priest.
What lyes sell we?
Phi.
Why, any lyes you please;
Fools take 'em off your hands at any rate.
You Cheats, you Murderers, you Quacks of Hell,
You keep mankind diseas'd to vend your Drugs.
The King was cur'd of his disease, Revenge,
And you have sold him some Religious lye,
Has poyson'd him with Cruelty again:
And I among you shall be murder'd here—
Barb'rously murder'd.
Priest.
Who shou'd murder you?
Phi.
Need I doubt that, when I am among Priests.
Priests.
Why do you wrong us thus?
Phi.
How, I wrong you?
Can any one wrong Priests? Kings wrong themselves
And all the world, they do not hang you all.
For Kings are never safe, nor Subjects good,
Where Priests prevail; you keep the Power of Kings
And only let 'em have what share you please.
You take the foolish peoples Consciences,
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You keep the Keys of Womens Chambers too,
And let men have what share in 'em you please:
When you deliver up a Marriage Lock,
You still reserve a Key for your own use:
But Men or Women may play any game,
And cheat their fill, if they will pay your Box.
Oh! my Antigone! Antigone!
Thou little think'st thy beautious Eyes have had
Their last, last view of poor Philisthenes,
A bloudy Carcass, or a moaning Ghost
Is all that ever thou wilt see of me;
For I am in Priests hands, and the world knows
How little they will leave of what they grasp.
Why do you use me thus, you Murderers?
Pr.
You wrong us, we abhor the bloody name.
Phi.
Will you not murder me?
Pr.
We'l rather dye.
Phi.
Nor aid the King to do't?
Pr.
Nor aid the King:
But we must sacrifice you.
Phi.
Oh! you Dogs;
What differs that from murder but in name?
Oh! how these Villains cheat the world with names?
Were Wolves, or Lyons e're the tamer Beasts,
For being call'd Lambs, give murders, Massacres,
Good names, they are transform'd to ex'lent works.
Phi.
The King has vowed you to th'infernal Gods.
And 'tis our duty to assist his Vows.
Pr.
And shou'd the people enter into Leagues,
And vow the King to the infernal Gods,
For money you wou'd aid their hellish Vows,
And curse all honest men that wou'd not aid.
Religion's made by you a Lottery Book,
Which cheats the world of every thing they have.
Oh! Gods! deliver poor mankind from Priests:
But oh! who can deliver wretched me?
For I am in their dark Dominion here;
One of Hells strongest frontier Garrisons.
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Atr.
Philisthenes?
Phi.
Yes, Sir—what is your will?
Why have you order'd me to be thus bound?
Atr.
To dye.
Phi.
For what?
Atr.
Thou art Thyestes Son.
Phi.
That's not my fault.
Atr.
But a damn'd fault of his,
To dare to multiply his cursed self,
And send a filthy and incestuous Stream
To poyson all the Ages of the World;
But here it stops, I'le turn its course to Hell.
Phi.
I thought y' had pardon'd all my Fathers faults.
Atr.
Thou art a Boy, thy Father is a Fool,
Peneus a Dotard, all run up to Beard;
I have ensnar'd you all, to feed my Fiends,
As men hunt savage Beasts to give their Dogs.
But Tyrants Furies are so highly fed,
That mine will scorn the Souls of such damn'd Fools.
Phi.
Y' embrac'd us all with Vows and Oaths and Smiles,
And promises of everlasting love;
Can such disguises well become a King?
Atr.
They are thy Fathers own cast Vizards all.
He embrac'd me with Vows and Oaths and Smiles,
Then made my Wife an everlasting Whore.
No more—the Caldron and the Fire.—
Phi.
For what?
Atr.
To serve thee, as thy Father has serv'd me;
He has enkindled such a Fire in me,
As boyls my Flesh in my own scalding bloud.
I'le boyl thy Heart in thy own purest bloud,
To treat thy Father at thy Bridal Feast.
Phi.
Oh! Hell! all Hell is in your words and looks!
Why start you not at your own dreadful voice;
For 'tis a Devils voice, and not a mans;
And Hell pours all its rage into your Breast.
Atr.
Then Hells an Ass to throw away its rage,
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Phi.
Oh! horrour!
Are these my Nuptial joys?
Atr.
Such as thy Fathers sins provided thee.
Phi.
Oh! my Antigone! Antigone!
Tyrant thank her for all the tears I shed.
Atr.
Canst thou be tortur'd with the loss of her?
Phi.
More than with all thou canst inflict besides.
Atr.
By all thy torment then, guess half of mine,
Thou losest but the half of what thou lov'st,
Only her sight a while, and with no shame.
My Ærope was once as dear to me;
Her Heart was stollen, and body whor'd for me,
That I have lost all of her, and with all shame.
Phi.
I must acknowledge, Sir, your wrongs are great.
Atr.
And my revenge shall equall all my wrongs.
Phi.
But why on me? unless you mean to spare
My Father; and if so, pour all on me.
Atr.
I cannot wound thy Father, but through thee
Phi.
Oh! spare me! spare me! for your own sake
See the Gods threaten you in Prodigies.
Your Palace nods to bid you have a care.
Atr.
My Palace shakes for fear of its own Fate;
It did assist thy Father in his Crimes.
Phi.
The Temple Columns bend, to beg my life.
Atr.
Did Gods come down to beg thy hated Life,
Into their Faces I wou'd spurt thy blood.
Phi.
Then you'l not mind their weeping Images;
Like frightned women in cold sweats they reel.
Atr.
Let frightned women mind 'em.
Phi.
Th'Angry Gods
Dart fiery Javelins fiercely at your Head,
But miss it, 'cause their hands with horrour shake.
Atr.
Then I am here the only thing unmov'd,
And I dare do, what nothing dare behold.
Phi.
Yes Tyrant, I dare see, and suffer too,
With greater courage, all thou canst inflict,
Than thou darst look on thy own frightful Soul.
Atr.
How now! what is this?
Phi.
This is Philisthenes,
Tyrant, thou never spok'st with me till now.
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Was but a Garment which thou kep'st in pawn,
Whilst my Soul went to see Antigone,
And take its leave; but now I am come home,
My Breast will meet thy Dagger when it dares.
Atr.
I thank you Gods I did not kill this Boy,
For of the sudden he is grown a man.
Come Priests.
Phi.
I, ever while you live call Priests,
If you wou'd have a solemn murder done.
Atr.
Bind with a purple band the Victims head:
Prepare the Incense, Fire, Knife, Wine and Meal.
Phi.
Oh! spare your pains, Priests are not to be taught
The way to murder Princes decently,
As to your sorrow you may quickly find
If any Rebels shall e're need your blood.
But I will give the remnant of my breath
In one full sigh to dear Antigone!
What have I suffer'd long for a short hope,
Which in a moment perishes with me?
A short sweet hope was all I had of thee;
And a long mournful memory will be all
Thou, dear Antigone, wilt have of me.
But I will render it so glorious.
Thou shalt not be quite void of Nuptial joys,
As I am not in hopes thou all thy life
Wilt love my name, as I dye sighing thine,
Antigone! oh! my Antigone!
Atr.
Then dye!—'tis done—'tis well—'tis excellent.
[Atr. stabs Phi. he falls.
So now Thyestes I shall bring thee in
A dreadful score for all thy pleasant sin;
Much dost thou owe me, and much shalt thou pay;
Gods ask of him the blood is shed to day.
I lodg'd the Traytor, and he rob'd my throne,
And whor'd my Wife, for which I seize his Son,
If you have title to the blood that's lost,
Pursue the Robber, not the plunder'd Host.
[Ex.
| Thyestes | |