University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

[Scene]

SCENE A Garden.
Enter Memnon.
Me.
Oh! I am blasted in my Bloom of Youth.
I am more miserable for my Youth.
For the more Years and Life I have to come,
The larger Fields of Misery and Shame,
Have my unhappy Father sowed for me.
Well—I will trouble nothing but my self.
I'le wander from my Friends, my Fortunes, Hopes—
Then like a Plummet parted from the Line,
I will sink down in deep obscurity,
Where never more shall trace be found o'me.
Ha!—oh! my Heart! the Princess comes this way,
Enter Barzana and Oronte.
Comes like a sudden spring on my dead hopes,
And forces 'em, methinks, into new Life.
Something, methinks, from Heaven stops my way,
And tells me, she and I must never part.

Ba.
Where is the Chariot?

Or.
At the Garden gate.

Ba.
Come then away—Oh! Heavens! Memnon here!
Turn from him quickly.

Me.
Hold, dear Madam, hold.

Ba.
My Lord, what mean you? thirst you for my Blood?

Me.
Oh! Madam, do not entertain those fears.

Ba.
Do not you entertain false dangerous hopes.
Your Father has this minute left the Field.

Me.
But not his Love to me.

Ba.
You'l find him quit
His Love to you, and all Humanity,
If he shou'd catch you, seeking Leagues with me.
I fear he's at the Palace Window now,
Oh! if he be, this minute is our last.

Me.
These are vain terrours; oh! wou'd he were here.
This Minute were the last of all our Griefs.
But oh! the first of our Immortal Joys.
And something in me says, it will be so.
Methinks I have a sight of Paradise.

Ba.
Oh! you speak Oracles—methinks in you
A voice from Heaven has Prophesied our death.
The Pangs of Death, already seize my Heart,
I tremble, sweat, and I've scarce Breath to speak.
Know there is yet another stronger Cause,
Than any I have nam'd, why we must part.

Me.
Another Cause?

Ba.
Oh! do not enquire what,
If you take any joy in loving me.
For when I've told you, you must love no more,
If you have any tenderness for me;
When I have told you, I shall speak no more,
The secret will tear out my heart—Oh! fly—
If you would love, or live, or have me live.

Me.
Y'ave stunn'd me so—I have no strength to stir.

Ba.
Oh! he will loyter till his Father comes,
The Gods will bate my Passion no disgrace.
Know, I'm a Wife; nay more, your Father's Wife.
He faints—he faints—Now shou'd his Father come—
And find him in my Arms.

[Me. saints, Ba. runs to him and supports him.
Or.
Madam, he's come.

Ba.
Oh! horrour we are lost—my Lord, my Lord.

Enter Bessus—who seeing Me. in Barzana's Arms, draws. Me. recovers, Barzana runs to hold Bessus.
Be.
Oh! Villain.

Ba.
Oh! my Lord—

Be.
Oh! Impudent!
And foolish Whore! wilt thou proclaim thy shame?
And murder him, thou hast a mind to save?
Had he a thousand lives, now he shou'd dye.

Ba.
Oh! hear me first

Be.
Hear thee encrease thy sins,
By falsehood? is not Incest Crime enough?
I saw you from the Palace, meet, Caress.
And is not this your second meeting? ha!
I will provide for you a third meeting place,
In Death and Hell—thou frightful Monster—dye.

[wounds Me. who falls.
Ba.
Unnatural Parricide! dire Regicide!—

Be.
The fitter match for an incestuous Wife.

Me.
My Lord, you wrong us; we are innocent.
I lov'd—but knew her not—she banish'd me—
I was now going to obey her doom;
When Heaven contriv'd this Meeting for our Death,
We sought it not—for ever to prevent
All future Meetings, she reveal'd her self.
Then did I sink to Death, under surprize,
And horrour, for my faulty unfortunate Love;
Which is more trouble to me, than this Death.
Oh! I had rather have a thousand Deaths
Got by misfortune, than your ill-got Crown—

[Dyes.
Ba.
Oh! he has told thee truth—thou Murderer.
He was too excellent! for all the Gods
Thought him a God, and took him to themselves.
And I will follow him; yes I will do't.
And we will revel to Eternity;
And it shall be the chiefest of our Joyes,
To be the chief of thy Eternal Plagues.

Be.
A damp goes to my Heart, I am afraid
I've been too rash: I wish this were undone.
Come take her to my Chariot—

Ba.
Touch me not.
The Gods be prais'd I've found my Dagger now.
I'le go another way.

Be.
Sh'as stab'd her self.
Call help—I'le have her live if possible.

Ba.
I have help here.

Be.
Horrour! she tears her wound.
Hold—hold—her hands.

Ba.
Then I will hold my Breath.

Be.
Is this thy Vertue? thou, who canst commit
This most unnatural sin against thy self,
Wou'dst not refuse thy self a sweeter Crime.

Ba.
Indeed, I'm sorry for this sinful Death,
I wou'd shun Hell, if only to shun thee.
Hell purg'd by Fire, has less Offence than thou.

Be.
Oh! thou art most ungrateful to my Love,
I have more Love for thee, than words can speak.

Ba.
I am glad of it, then 'twill be thy Plague.
And to encrease it, know I'm innocent,
So was thy Noble Son; he sought my Love,
But knew me not, for I conceal'd my self.
Cause he had found my secret Love for him.
And then I cou'd not shew my blushing face.

Be.
You lov'd him then it seems?—

Ba.
That I confess,
I lov'd him, but it was e're I was thine.
Since that I did subdue my self for thee.
Reveal'd my self, and banish'd him for ever.
And he was taking his Eternal leave,
When thou, (oh! Murderer!) tookst his Innocent Life.

Be.
If this be true.—

Ba.
'Tis true; they're my last words.
All my past Life, is evidence enough,
And so is that of thy most excellent Son.
For had he any other fault but thee?
And I had less, my Birth was Glorious.
Yet has my Life, honour'd my Royal Birth.
And now I hope my Death will crown my Life.
It has some sin which you, good Gods, forgive.
Your Justice has had Honour by my fall.
Oh! honour now the Vertuous part o' me,—
My Soul—you know I never sin'd in will;
Only in Blood, and that foul Blood I spill.

[Dyes.
Be.
Oh! horrour! horrour!

Enter Nabarzanes.
Na.
How now? why this rage?

Be.
Look there.

Na.
Your belov'd Son and Wife in blood?
Amazing! how came this?

Be.
No matter how.
They're dead, and I am curs'd; nay, I am forc'd
To curse the Vertues of my Son and Wife.
The Worlds great Blessings were my Miseries.

Na.
I'm glad o'this; they did divide your Soul,
And cut the Stream into small Rivulets,
It cou'd not bear the Burdens o'the State.
Now 'twill be all united in the Crown.

Enter Dataphernes.
Dat.
My Lord, the Enemy, the Enemy.

Be.
What Enemy?

Dat.
The Macedonians,
And Alexander.

Be.
Alexander? ha!

Na.
How do you know?

Dat.
We had it from our Scouts.
But go upon the Mountains, you may see
The Spirit of that Monarch in his March.
He wings along the Air in Clouds of Dust,
And does not march, but fly.

Be.
Bring out the King.

Na.
Ha! what to do?

Be.
What else, but take his Life?
I will not dye in Complement to him;
Spare him a Guard, when we want men our selves.
I've bath'd my Sinews in my Son's hot Blood;
Now they are strong enough for any thing.

Na.
Hold—hold—you are too hot, let him alone.
If we shou'd barbarously Butcher him.
The Crime will have such a grim Gastly face,
The basest Persian Cowards, will be scar'd
Out of their Natures into something Brave.
Cowards oft by flying, into Valour fly.
Our Friends will leave us, and our Enemies
Fly in our Faces.

Be.
True, what shall we do?

Na.
Tempt him to yield.

Be.
I know he scorns to do't.

Na.
We will deceive him by feign'd Penitence.

Be.
I do not find him easily deceiv'd.

Na.
Let's make a Trial; if he'll not be gain'd,
We'll murder him unknown to any one,
Besides our selves, and then give out he yields,
And what we do is by his own Command.

Be.
'Tis well advis'd—draw up our Troops with speed;
[To Data.
And then give out the King and we are friends.

[Ex.

[Scene]

SCENE A Prison.
Enter King in Chains of Gold.
Da.
A King; a Persian King, chain'd by his Slaves?
The Slaves he once so favour'd and so lov'd;
Oh! the amazing Villanies of men,
And stupifying Patience o'the Gods!
The gracious Gods seem only infinite,
In suffering ill, and man doing it.
Man therefore is most fear'd, and most obey'd.
My Murderers come; my greifs are near their end.

Enter Bessus and Nabarzanes.
Na.
Now if these Chains weigh the Kings Spirit down
To our desires, we shall be legal Rogues.—

[Aside.
Be.
What is it spirits me away to fear?
He's in my Chains, yet I am in his Power.

Na.
I find it so with me: I've fought my way
Through bravest men, why am I scar'd by dreams?
Let's kneel, and speak to him.

Be.
Well, do you speak.
I am an ill Dissembler.

Na.
Royal Sir—
[Kneels.
We humbly beg you, lend a gracious Ear
To your poor Slaves, by your hard Fortune thrown,
On th'only things we fear; on infamy,
Your Anger, and a seeming horrid Crime;
Though what we did, was all in Loyalty.

Be.
'Tis true; we saw Fate quarrel with you, Sir.
And so we came between to part the fray.

Da.
Oh! you poor Wretches, how I pity you?
Cou'd you have fallen thus miserably in fight,
There you had been the Envy of the Brave.
Now y'are the scorn of all. As to my self,
Y'ave given me endless rest. The greatest weight
Hangs on these Chains, is your ingratitude.
Oh! how have I deserv'd all this from you?

Be.
You have deserv'd no ill, and shall have none.

Da.
Indeed I do not know the man I've wrong'd;
Bring him, I'le give him power to take my Life.
If I've offended, 'twas against my self.
In all my Kingdom, I was the sole Slave.
I toil'd the most, and most observ'd the Laws.
The great Prerogative, I most desir'd,
Was to be uncontroul'd in doing Good.
If I gave fear, it was to Potent Kings.
I was in danger most, in Pleasure least.
My Luxury lay all in my Fair Queen.
My sole Intemperance was my Love to her.
My Love and Grief for her, admit no bounds.
And oh! how have I Lov'd and Favour'd you?
I gave you Kingdoms, and with greater Joy
Than you receiv'd 'em—oh! methoughts I gain'd,
What I gave you, and these are my Rewards.
You murder me, who wou'd have dy'd for you.
Alas! It is your fault, I am not dead.

Na.
Indeed we mean you Good; and do no more
Than what Priests in Devotion do to Gods.
Who fasten 'em from falling, or flight.
We fear'd your flight to Mercenary Greeks,
Or falling into Macedonian Power.
And, Sir, to shew how much we honour you,
We have given shining Pomp to Misery,
Since 'tis become a Waiter on our King.

Be.
And if you'l pardon us, and favour us,
We'll make you greater than you ever were.

Da.
I favour Treason! I assume your Guilt!
I'le rather bravely dye, then basely Reign.
Indeed my Children are most dear to me,
But for that cause, I will not taint their Blood,
And make the Children of a King, become
The Children of a Traytour to a King.
I can, and will be great without your help.
Yes, in these Chains, I'le triumph over you;
I will Reign o're you when y'ave murder'd me;
In my Grave punish you. All Kings and Gods
Will be the Ministers of my Revenge,
And execute what e're my Blood commands.

Na.
We lose our time—come, strike.

Be.
I will, and home.—

[They wound Darius, who falls.
Na.
So, this is a great work; but common Spirits
Ha' not reception for things great and high.
Let us not trust, 'em with this spectacle.
Ho! Guard.

Enter a Guard.
Guard.
My Lord.

Na.
The King has Kill'd himself.
We fear false Tongues will lay his Blood to us.
Therefore conceal his Death, till the fight's past,
As you regard your Lives. In the mean while,
Cover the Body in a Waggon close,
That it may pass for Baggage; drive it then
Into some private place, out of all Roads,
And kill the Horses, lest they wander thence.

[Guard carry out Darius.
Be.
Now let us to the Field; for there's our Doom,
Our Innocence, or Treason is to come.
It is success makes innocence a sin;
And there is nothing, but a Sword between.
If th'end be glorious, glorious is the way;
They alwaies have the Cause, who have the day.

[Scene]

SCENE A Field.
A noise of a Battel. After shouts. Enter Artabazus, Patron and Greeks dragging Bessus and Nabarzanes.
Pa.
Oh! thank you, for this Justice, you good Gods.

Ar.
Go to King Alexander; let him know
The Gods have given the Traytors to our Swords.
Let us enjoy Revenge for our King's Blood,
And then he shall command our Swords and Lives.

Pa.
Oh! that the King enjoy'd it! where have you
Conceal'd his Body; you damn'd Regicides?

Enter Persians.
Per.
My Lord, my Lord, the King—

Ar.
What of the King?

Per.
He's found; a Macedonian Officer,
By help of Persian Guides, searching a Spring
To quench his Thirst, after the heat of fight;
He in the woods saw a poor Waggon stray,
Drawn by faint dying Horses stuck with Darts.
And looking in it, found a dying man
Gor'd in his Blood; which prov'd to be our King.

Ar.
Horrour! he lives!—let us away, away,
That he may see Revenge before he dyes.

Pa.
And we will weigh him out exact revenge.
Here chain, and cut 'em as they did their King.

[Ex.

[Scene]

The Scene is drawn, a Waggon appears. The Horses bloody, and full of Darts, some falling, others fallen. Polystratus and Persians support Darius, who is Bloody and Faint.
Pol.
Run, run for help, while we will bind his wounds.

Da.
Ha! who art thou?

Pol.
A Macedonian, Sir.

Da.
My Enemy so kind?

Pol.
A Gallant Man
Fights out of Love to Duty and Renown;
And loves and honours a brave Enemy.

Da.
What is thy name?

Pol.
'Tis Polystratus, Sir.

Da.
Brave Man; more kind to me, than my Friends are.
These were the Presents of my once dear Friends,
Bessus and Nabarzanes.

Pol.
Hellish Dogs.

Da.
'Tis no small comfort in my wretched State,
My grateful dying thoughts will not be lost.
Tell thy brave King, I dye deep in his Debt.
I never once oblig'd him in the least,
And he has nobly treated all my Friends.
My Mother, Brother, Children, my Fair Queen.
Granted their Lives, and Royal Splendour too,
They scarce cou'd tell they were unfortunate.
When my near Kindred, and once Bosome Friends,
On whom I Life, and Kingdoms have bestow'd,
Have plunder'd me of all. Oh! tell thy King,
I beg the Gods, for Universal Good,
To make him Monarch o' the Universe.
And for the common Cause of all Crown'd Heads,
I challenge the Revenge due to my Blood.

Pol.
Sir, it will be reveng'd, your Murderers
Are in the hands of your most Faithful.

Da.
I'm glad on't; for the sake of all Mankind.
Pity the Sea has bounds, if Sin has none.
Better men sunk in Sea, than Villany.
I'm faint, and thirsty; I but lately saw
Some drinking at a Spring, not far from hence.
A little Water wou'd refresh me much.

Pol.
Sir, it was I, you shall have some with speed.

[Pol. fetches the King water in his Helmet, the King drinks.
Da.
How vainly do we pity Poverty!
The Gods sit at the Table o'the Poor,
And turn their Water to delicious Wine.
Never had I, in pompous Luxury,
Such Pleasure, as this draught o'water yields.
But Fortune does pursue me to the last.
I'm forc'd to beg even Water for my Thirst,
And though a King, I cannot pay for it.
But Alexander will;—give me thy hand.
Prethee for me touch Alexander's hand.
The sole remaining Pledge I have to give,
For all my grateful Love, to that brave Prince.

[Dyes.
Pol.
He's gone! he's gone! and it is well he's so.
Oh! wretched Prince, whose Happiness is Death.
Let's bear the Sacred Body to our King;
For he will give it Royal Funerals.

[Ex. Poly. and Persians with the Body. Enter another way, Artabazus, Patron, Persians, Greeks; with Bessus, and Nabarzanes, chain'd and wounded.
Per.
Here is the Spring, the King's not far from hence.

Ar.
Oh! no—for see the ground all stain'd with Blood.
And no doubt Royal Blood, let us pursue
The dreadful track, 'twill bring us to the King.

Pa.
'Twill bring these Villains to Damnation.

Enter a Persian.
2 Per.
My Lord, I met the Macedonians
With the King's Body, and the King is dead.

Ar.
Oh! Prince, the best, and yet most wrong'd of men.
What Joy and Glory did he not deserve!
And yet what Misery did he not endure?
And now deny'd the comfort of Revenge.

Pa.
Perhaps he may enjoy it after Death.
Oh Royal Shade! if yet thou be'st not fled
To blest Abodes, bear this detested place,
But while we entertain thee with Revenge.
Drink sweet Revenge, till thy great sorrows Sleep.
Then thou, and all good things, fly hence for ever.
Here take these Monsters, torture 'em to Death.
Ha! pleasing Harmony! hear you it not?

[Soft Musick.
Ar.
Yes, with great Admiration; for methinks
This is no time or place for such delight.

Pa.
A Sence of the Kings Murder, seems imprest
On Beasts and Plants, and every thing but those
Who threw at once their King and Nature off.
Lyons come roaring from their Caves, then dy'd.
The Cedars groan'd, then fell. Th'Earth deeply tore
Her Bowels, and then wept a bloody Spring.
Streight all the Plants and Flowers droop'd, and dy'd.
They must be most unnatural Villains then,
That now find Pleasure, but none such are near.

Enter a Persian.
Per.
My Lord, the Traytours are in Torments Dead.

[Scene]

[The Scene is drawn, and the Carcasses of Bessus and Nabarzanes are seen, hung in Chains, and stuck with Darts, a Guard attending. At another part o' the Stage, is seen the Ghost of Darius brightly habited.
Pa.
Oh! now I see the Cause, of these Divine
Miraculous Sounds; I see the King, the King,
More Lively than he ever was in's Life,
More Pompous than in all his Royal Pomp.

Ar.
I see him—and my Spirit, rais'd with joy,
Ascends to meet him—happy Vision.
Vertue triumphing over Villany.

Pa.
The Royal Shadow smiles and points to 'em—

Ar.
This is the difference 'tween the good and bad.
Death shews it truly, Life is a false light,
But the true Diamond, appears by Night.