University of Virginia Library

[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.