 | Darius : King of Persia |  |
1
ACT I.
[Scene]
Scene, The Field; Trumpets Sound.Enter Artabasus, Bessus, Nabarzanes, Memnon, Patron, Dataphernes. Persians, Bactrians, Greeks.
Ar.
So now, my Lords, the dreadful day is near,
That will for ever ruin, or confirm,
The greatest Throne, that ever the Sun saw.
To Morrow, oh! to Morrow—thou art big
With vast events; time never produc'd the like.
At Granicus we had not half our strength.
But in this Army is all Persia.
Be.
I think, my Lord, we are effective Men
Seven hundred thousand.
Ar.
Ay, and more, my Lord.
Na.
Yet, of all these, my Lord, you and I lead
Scarce Fifteen thousand.
(Aside to Be.
Be.
Silence.
Ar.
We have left
Our Cities, Towns, and Fields, all desolate;
That one wou'd think the Conqueror had been there,
The Valleys bend beneath us, the Hills groan;
2
And give us room; and we have room to Fight.
We are not here at the Cilician Streights,
Where we were pris'ners e're the Fight begun;
Penn'd in with Mountains that clipp'd both our wings,
And squeez'd our Bodies close, till it became
As weak, and slender as the Enemy.
The King has done his Duty, furnish'd all
This multitude with Arms, and Ground to fight,
And his own Glorious example too.
Let us do ours, but dare be Conquerors,
We shall be so, we must be so, or Ghosts,
Or worse, poor wretched Slaves, our Liberties
Our Fortunes, Wives and Children, are all here.
Lord Bessus, is not your fair Princess here,
The King's late beauteous Gift?
Be.
She is, my Lord.
Ar.
Wou'd you not rather see that Beauty dead,
Than given up to Macedonian Lust?
Be.
She shall be rather by my Sword enioy'd.
Ar.
And here I see your Son, a Noble Youth.
Me.
Oh! my good Lord.
Ar.
Lord Memnon, give me leave.
I think, Lord Bessus, I have heard you say,
An Amazonian Queens warlike Embrace
Presented you this Gift.
Be.
'Tis true, my Lord.
Ar.
Believe it, 'Twas a bounty to the World.
Me.
Nay, now my Lord.
Ar.
Nay, pray, let me be just
Who wou'd not grieve to see this worth in chains?
And yet, now I reflect, more worth than his,
Ay, or than half our Kingdom is in chains.
Even half our King is there; and almost all
The Royal Blood, but what is in his veins.
His Mother, Brother, Daughters, little Son,
Nay more, his beauteous Queen are slaves to those,
To whom they once scorn'd to be Sovereigns.
Two Royal Virgins in their early Spring
3
At her fair Bosom hangs her Infant Son
A withering branch, torn from his once great hopes;
He, who was lately Heir of half the World,
Is now, not Lord of his poor little Self,
His greatest happiness is Ignorance;
He does not know the Glory he has lost,
But hugs the Enemy that ruins him.
The Conqueror cannot see this, without Tears,
And cursing his unfortunate success.
And then, oh! Can it be endur'd by us?
But I may spare all this, to Men so brave,
So tryed, as you have to your Glory been,
Lord Bessus, Nabarzanes, and your Troops.
Na.
We may one day be tryed upon your selves.
(aside.
Be.
Silence, Lord Nabarzanes—have a care—
(aside.
Ar.
Fortune, Lord Bessus, seems afraid of you.
She's Alexander's Mistress, but your Slave;
She gives him Favours, but your ravish 'em.
At our great blow, at the Cilician Streights
All came off safe, as priviledg'd from Fate,
That kept within the precincts of your Sword.
Be.
Indeed, my Lord, my Bactrians did well.
Ar.
And you, Lord Patron, and your valiant Greeks,
Must give me leave to give you your due praise:
These gallant Men are to our Fortune tyed
By indispensable Allegiance.
But you are strangers, loose from any bonds.
Pa.
My Lord, we are for ever bound to you
By Gratitude, and Honour; Greece indeed
Gave us our birth, but you our happiest hours,
That our best Blood is yours.
Ar.
Most Noble Lord;
Well, If we fail to morrow 'twill be strange,
We have the strength of this vast Monarchy,
The justice of our Cause, Necessity,
Ay, and th'inconstancy of Fortune too.
That mutability which ruin'd us,
In the last Field, may be our Friend the next.
4
That so prepar'd, you may not be surpriz'd.
The King suspects, these Macedonian Thieves
Will act like Thieves, and steal on us by night,
They will not dare to look on us by day;
And therefore he has wisely given Command,
Great part o'th' Army be in Arms all night;
And all be ready at the Trumpets sound.
Be.
'Tis wisely order'd.
Ar.
Now, my Lords, Good Night.
Be.
My Lord, we wish your Excellence Good night.
Heaven give us all to Morrow a Good Day.
(Ex. Ar.
Pa.
I'le to my Charge; my Lords, Good night to you.
(Ex. Pa.
Be.
Good Night, Lord Patron; this is a brave Greek.
Na.
And our old General a brave Persian.
Be.
He's like the Sun, a Largesse to the World;
And not to be consum'd by age or toil.
Na.
The King, and he, are th'only gallant Men
In this whole Nation.
Be.
Memnon, to your Tent.
Mem.
Good Night, my Lord.—
(Ex. Mem.
Be.
He's honest, but he's young.
Our talk has too much weight for his green youth.
Na.
And our Affairs, I think, have so much weight,
We shall not sleep beneath 'em much to night.
Be.
'Tis true, my Lord, come let us to my Tent,
Come with us, Dataphernes.
Da.
Ay, my Lord.—
Ex.
All go out, and re-enter immediately.
[Scene]
Scene, Bessus's Tent.Be.
Our Fortune places us in a strange Post;
For we are bound to fight against our selves.
Let who will conquer, we shall be subdued.
For, say the Persian Army gets the day;
We know they cannot do it without us;
The noble fruits of our own Gallantry
Will all be set in this luxurious Soil.
5
These Cowards must rule the Brave, by whom they rule.
Dat.
They Govern us! they ha' not power to rule
Men, Wine, or Women; or their own Silk-worms.
The Men are all devour'd by Luxury,
And Alexander only has the Orts.
Na.
Therefore they'r nauseous both to Heaven and Earth.
And it is insolence, in mortal Man,
To force upon the Gods what they disgust.
Cram Nations down the throat of Providence,
Which it throws up again in every field.
Dat.
I do declare, I'd no more fight, to guard
The King's Dominions over heartless Cowards,
Than I wou'd fight for Eagles, to defend
Their Principality over the Birds.
Be.
Nay, I have ever thought, a Persian King
Was at the most but Master of a Mint.
Persia has Gold and Jewels, but no Men;
It has been long depopulated, all
By Slavery, and Vice; by Women too.
Women shou'd fill, and they unman, their Towns,
War lays 'em not so wast, War mars and makes.
This War has made more Men, than it has kill'd;
The slaughter'd heaps were only loads of Clay,
Where there was the Image of a Man.
Na.
My Lord, they are all Images of Whores.
They march into the field, rather equipp'd
Like Ladies for a Ball, than Troops for War.
Like Women too, with weapons weaponless,
They dye unwounded by the sight of Wounds;
And serve the Ravens up in massy Plate.
The Persian Crows are fed in greater pomp
Than Kings of Macedon.
Dat.
Oh! never cowards
Were at more cost, nobly to hide themselves.
The Men cannot be seen for Plumes, and Gold.
Nor can the Gold for Diamonds be seen.
The Royal Metle is opprest by Jewels.
Their modest Swords, which abhor nakedness,
6
Sleep in their Scabbards, as in Velvet Beds,
Under rich Coverlids of cluster'd Pearl.
Na.
And to what end is this, they only prove
Fine Sumpter Horses to the Enemy,
To carry Baggage for 'em to the field.
Be.
Yet they must Lord it o're brave Nations,
Who can subdue both Men and Elements.
How does our naked flesh vanquish the cold?
How oft is Snow our only Winter Shirt?
Na.
Yet does our Gallantry far exceed theirs.
We have no Ladies Favours on our Swords,
But Victories, the Favours of the Gods,
Are always there.
Be.
No thanks to Persians,
Who do not only quit us in the field,
And so most cowardly expose our lives,
But stint our Troops, that they may starve our Fame.
I have five thousand Horse, and only fight
To be a slave to Cowards.
Na.
Nay, to Brutes.
Europeans are Men, for they enjoy
Their Reason, wisely gather'd into Laws.
Here they are Brutes, for only strength commands.
Our only Law is, that there is no Law.
All things are lawful here, to Power, but Laws.
The only rule of Justice, here, is Might,
The strong devour the weak, and no wrong done.
The Wolf is not unjust that eats the Lamb.
The Lamb is in the wrong to be a Lamb.
Be.
In short, the Nature of the King is mild,
But cruel is the Nature of his Crown.
Then to whose lot soever it befals,
If I survive, they shall not keep it long.
Not, that I mean to fix it on my Head,
But to Crown Nature, Freedom, and Sense,
In which, all Men have equal shares with me.
Na.
My Lord, you'l have a Crown in those great Thoughts;
Not what's without, but what's within the Prow,
7
Be.
How goes the night away?
Na.
The Morning Star
Long since gave Darkness warning to be gone.
Dat.
See, see, 'tis gone; the day possesses Heaven.
Be.
Nay, then 'tis time, we wait upon the King.
Na.
'Tis more than time, no doubt he's come abroad,
I see his Golden Chariot guild that Hill.
Be.
Then he is there viewing the Enemy.
Dat.
Now all the shining Crowd descend this way.
Let us go pay our adorations.
Na.
Our Adorations to a mortal Man? ha! ha!
Be.
Now Gods aid us, whoever you destroy.
These Kings but for one Man their Swords employ.
Each for himself has all his Force design'd,
We fight for you, and for all your Mankind.
They wou'd be Sovereign Lords, but I contend
Only to be your Creatures Sovereign Friend.—
Ex.
All sorts of Martial Musique. Enter Priests bearing Fire on Silver Altars; Then a train of Officers in Golden Robes and Cellars; Then Darius, followed by Artabasus, Bessus, Nabatzanes, Memnon, Patron: The King surveys 'em; and all prostrate themselves, and kiss the ground; Patron excepted, who only bows.
Da.
I gave command, the ground where I expect
The Enemies Horse to Charge, shou'd be stuck full
Of sharp and bearded Irons, but with marks
For us to know, and shun 'em.—Is it done?
Ar.
'Tis, Mighty Sir.
Dat.
'Tis well, I am inform'd,
Our rash, fierce Enemies are become wise.
The sight of this vast dreadful multitude
Has cool'd their boiling Blood.
Be.
Sir, so we hear.
Mem.
Sir, 'Tis no more than Truth, and what I saw,
I was commanded, with a thousand Horse,
To make discovery how the Enemy lay.
8
They believ'd all your Army was come down;
And cryed, Darius—Arm—! Darius here!
Your Royal Name alone half routed 'em.
Nay, I was told even Alexander fear'd
The dreadful Shouts of your vast multitudes
Shook Forests, Mountains, and the Conqueror's Heart;
And gave us time to make a good retreat.
Pa.
Nay, if that Prince has Fear, it comes from Heaven,
For Terror is not natural to him.
Da.
'Tis true; the Omen appears promising.
Enter Dataphernes.
Da.
The Eunuch Tyriotes, Royal Sir,
That lately did attend upon the Queen,
Has made escape out of the Enemies Camp,
And brings some mournful news.
Da.
Ha! from my Queen?
Dat.
His Eyes are drown'd in Tears, and Garments torn.
Da.
Nay, then it is my turn to tremble now;
If ill but threatens her, it destroys me.
Bring hither Tyriotes,—bring my death.
Be.
Were it not better, Sir, defer the news,
And not begin the day?—
Da.
Dispute my Will?—
Enter Tyriotes.
Come hither, speak, while I have sense to hear.
Silence is vain, thy Garments and thy Eyes
Plunge me into a thousand tort'ring fears.
Speak—Do not spare me, 'cause thou see'st me Grieve,
For I have learnt to be unfortunate,
And to the wretched 'tis a little ease,
To know how far their Misery will extend,
—Oh! I distrust one thing, I hate to think
Much more to speak.—Thou com'st to let me know
She whom I prize above my Crown and Life,
Has in her miserable vassalage,
9
Say—ease my Torments—stabb me with the Truth.
Ty.
Oh! let not, Sir, vain fears, afflict your Heart,
Your real cause of sorrow, is too much.
But oh! the generous Conqueror paid your Queen
All Honours, that a Slave cou'd give his Prince;
He rather did appear a slave to her.
But now She is no more—your Queen is dead.
Ar.
How? the Queen dead?
Da.
—Martyr'd for Chastity—
Tis so—tis so—She did oppose his Lust
And he has murther'd her.—Barbarian.—
What injuries have I done to thee, and thine,
That thou shou'dst take this infamous revenge?
There's no just reason for thy War on me,
But say, 'tis Glorious to subdue a King,
Can it be so to violate a Queen?
Cou'dst thou not spare her Beauty, and her Sex?
Ty.
Oh! Sir, he did.—again y'afflict yourself
With Visions, Shadows.—She receiv'd from him
All kind, and honourable usage, Sir.
Da.
Ha! kind?
Ty.
Yes, Sir—for when She dyed, he wept;
You cannot more lament.
Da.
Ha! This is worse—
There was a friendship grown between them then.
And he had Favours from her—it was so—
Men lament not the death of Enemies.
I cannot bear the Thought.
Ty.
Oh! hear me, Sir.
Da.
I wou'd have privacy—away—be gone—
Ex. all but Da. and Ty.
This is not fit for any Ears but mine,
No, nor for mine—for it will make me mad.
Ty.
Oh! Sir, indeed
Da.
Preparing to deceive?
Ty.
No—Sir—
Da.
It will be folly—have a care
For now my Grief is height'ned into Rage—
My Tears are turn'd to Fire, then do not lye
10
For if I find thou dost conceal the Truth,
The Rack shall force it from thee.
Ty.
I'l speak Truth.
Da.
Do—thrust me not upon extremities.
For Cruelty and I never agreed.
In sparing thy own self, thou wilt spare me.
I do conjure thee, by the love thou bear'st
Thy self, or me, deliver me the Truth.
Tell me—oh! Whither am I going now?
But must go on, though the way lead to Hell.
Tell me if Alexander—fortunate—
Victorious—young and brave—did not attain—
What I'm asham'd to ask, and dread to know.—
Ty.
No, Sir, indeed
Da.
Lye not.
Ty.
I will not, Sir—
What should I gain by telling you untruth?
Da.
Hopes of my Favour by soft flattery.
Ty.
Sir, here I freely offer up these Limbs
To any torment that can be endur'd.
There's strength enough in Truth, to bear e'm all,
And then I hope you will believe me, Sir.
Da.
This is all cunning to avoid the Rack,
But that thou shalt not do—ho! bring the Rack,
Ty.
With all my heart.
Da.
So bold? I like it well.
He cannot love my Ease, more than his Flesh;
Bring torments on himself, to soften mine.
Thou hast half won me to thee—speak—I'm calm.
Ty.
Then I appeal to all the Powers Divine.—
Oh! now attest my Truth, attest your selves—
If I deliver Fictions to the King,
You are all Fictions, if you spare my Head.
The virtuous Conqueror did treat the Queen
With all the Honour, Virtue, and the pure
Religion due, to one so much Divine.
He never saw her beauteous Face but once.
And then, to give her comfort for her loss.
11
To greater Virtue; and he did not serve
His Pleasure, but his Glory, by her charms.
He serv'd her Honourably in her life;
And when She dyed, he mourn'd the publick loss,
And gave her Royal pompous Funerals.
Da.
Oh! Alexander, thou hast vanquish'd me.
Till now, thy Fortune only conquer'd mine.
But now thy Virtues have subdued my Soul;
Have thrown me down, into a weeping Slave.
I blush to shew my Face.—But all these Tears
Must not be thine; my Queen must share with thee,
Whose Honour I have wrong'd. Oh! thou bright Shade
Of my chaste Queen, forgive my jealousie—
It was th'excess, and frenzy of my Love.
Now, you great Gods, Protectors of my Throne.
I first implore your Favour to my Right.
Restore the Throne to me, the lawful Lord.
But if your powerful mysterious Wills
For ever have excluded me and mine.
Oh! give this Great and Glorious Monarchy,
To this so Brave, so Just, and Glorious Prince.
I humbly beg it, for my Peoples sake.
How happy will they be, under a Prince,
Whose Virtues make Captivity a Joy?
Now call the General to me, and the rest.
Enter Ar. Be. Na. Me. Pa. Dat.
I like not the beginning o'this day,
'Tis a dark Morning, for my Light's eclips'd,
—Gone down—and I shall never see her more,
I wou'd redeem my Children, save their right,
And give Renown and Victory to my Friends,
To all my People Peace and Happiness,
I care not then how soon I'm with my Queen.
Ar.
The King is sad and pensive.
Pa.
Yes, I see't,
With no small trouble, for it bodes no good.
12
Come to our work, the Enemy draws on,
And 'tis a shame so few shou'd challenge us.
Be.
Nay, he is rash, and puts great confidence
In light, uncertain Fortune, who is soon
Tir'd with her Favourites; soonest of all
With Prodigals like him, She has no fund
Of bottomless successes, to maintain
A mad eternity of rash attempts.
Da.
Forbeare, and do not rudely touch his Name
Who with such gentleness treats all my Friends.
Revile him not, subdue him if you can;
Let's fight him well, for that he'l give us thanks.
Now by our Persian Tutelary Gods;
By the Eternal Fire before us born,
By the Sun's splendor rising in My Realms;
And even a Sacred, Glorious Native here,
By Cyrus's immortal memory,
By your own Honours, I conjure you all.
Transmit the Persian Glory, you receiv'd
From your brave Ancestors, to your own Race.
Do—as you see me do, I'l ask no more.
If I be mounted, on a Chariot
Above you all, 'tis to be seen of all;
By my example to instruct you all.
Seek not one danger you see me decline;
Nor let one Bosome have more wounds than mine.
(Exit.
All go off. A noise of a Battle.
Enter Bessus and Dataphernes.
Be.
Pursue, pursue, improve our good success,
The day's our own, the great Parmonio
Greatest of Macedonians, gives ground.
Pursue, and we are Masters of their Camp
And then their Baggage, and their Souls are ours;
For in their Baggage lies the greedy Souls
Of these poor Thieves, they only fight for Gold.
But we for Glory and Dominion.
13
My Lord, when we are Masters of their Camp
We'l free our pris'ners—we have thousands there,
Who Free, and Arm'd, will fall on th'Enemy,
With fury whetted on their iron Chains,
Sharp for Revenge.—
Be.
'Tis well advis'd—fall on—
(Exit.
A noise of Fighting—Pris'ners run over the Stage shaking of their Chains, and shouting.
Enter Bessus and Nabarzanes at several doors.
Be.
The news, the news, my Lord?
Na.
Undone, undone.
Be.
What say you? Undone?
Na.
By the King's Gallantry.
Be.
His Gallanty's no news.—we know him brave.
Where did you leave him?
Na.
Fighting hand to hand
With Alexander.
Be.
Ha! a Glory indeed.
And to be coveted above a Crown.
Oh! Gods, shou'd Alexander fall by him—
Na.
I fear'd it, and drew off upon pretence,
To Wheel, and Charge the Enemy ith' rear,
Indeed, to leave him to his Persian Cowards.
A howl—
(A great Howl and Cry is heard.
Enter Artabasus.
Ar.
All's lost my Lords—the King is kill'd.
Na.
Ha! the King kill'd, my Lord?
Be.
Nay, then all's won—
(aside.
The Kingdom's ours—Ha! I forget my self,
The Gods forbid, How do you know, my Lord?
Ar.
I was inform'd by those that saw him fall;
Did you not hear an universal howl?
Na.
We did, and thought it came from dying Men.
Ar.
Nay, I believe by this time, they are dead;
14
And our despairing Men no longer fought
For Victory, but death; and had their wish,
For thousands dye, and by a thousand ways.
Na.
Then by survivorship, the World's our own.—
(aside.
Ar.
Away, and carry off, if possible,
The Royal Body, for our Honours sake,
For our dear fallen King, and Countries sake,
'Tis all the service we can do 'em now.
Na.
Here's brave Lord Patron
Enter Patron.
Ar.
We will beg his aid.
My Lord, my Lord, our gallant King is kill'd.
Pa.
'Tis false.
Be.
How, false?
Na.
I'm sorry to hear that.—
(aside.
Pa.
'Twas nothing but his Charioteer that fell.
Ar.
Oh! then that fatal error ruin'd us,
Pa.
No, your Mens cowardize has ruin'd you.
Ar.
Methinks, I have some hopes, if the King lives.
Pa.
Of what? For though the gallant King's alive;
He's almost the sole Persian that has life,
Or has had any since the day begun.
Before a stroke was struck, the Cowards died;
Stabb'd by the glittering of th'Enemies Steel
The Macedonians had no more to do,
But to inter the Dead; throw dirt to dirt,
I mean, heap Carcasses on Carcasses,
A very pious work. And for my part,
I think 'tis Sacriledge to hinder 'em.
So, I am going—for I find, we come
Not to a Battle, but a Funeral.
Ar.
You'l not desert the King whilst he's ith' Field?
Pa.
He's fled, I forc'd him to't. I was inform'd
He rush'd with too much bravery, into th'Heart
Of the Enemies, to tear away the life—
I mean, the valiant Macedonian King;
I fearing much his danger (not alone,
15
March'd to his aid.—And found him, as I fear'd,
Left by his Men; and fighting not alone
With Alexander, but all Macedon.
All the King's Fire warm'd not his heartless Men,
But scar'd 'em, for they fled like Ghosts from Day.
The Enemies Trumpets blew 'em all away.
No doubt they wou'd have fled, had the Cocks crowed;
As, they say, guilty timorous Spirits do.
I interpos'd between the two brave Kings,
And made the Macedonian retreat;
Then shew'd the King his frightful Solitude;
How all his Persian Guards lay in himself,
And his sole safety in a quick retreat;
Else he wou'd fall into the Enemies hands.
Then in despair, and rage, he bent his Sword,
Against his own brave life. I held his hand,
And with kind violence forc'd him to fly.
And I am told, he's towards Arbela gone.
I'll follow him—I will not kill brave Men,
To defend Cowards, who deserve not life.
(Exit.
Ar.
Persia, thy Glory's lost,
(Exit.
Na.
But ours begins.
Be.
It does, and Patron lyed, the King's not fled
Darius is indeed; but the King's dead.
Here fallen lye, his Empire, and our Chains,
Now a fresh stronger hand shall take the Reins.
(Exit.
| Darius : King of Persia | |