University of Virginia Library

Act. IV.

Scene I.

Zelmura, Sola.
Zelm.
He's dead, and thus far my designs are blest,
Since of the Throne, I solely am possest,
The name of Goddess, bright divinely fair,
Has charm'd me so, methinks, I am all air,
The Gods, why have not I more pow'r then they,
Men dare not me, but most them disobey,
This head that never wanted a design,
To satisfie ambition, shall divine
Into the peoples hearts when factious grown,
And wrest out their intentions with a frown,
But whilst my mind in these affairs, I move,
I play the tyrant with my Smoother'd Love.
My heart with Passion for the Prince it warm'd,
And he is with my Sisters beauty charm'd;
But thrive my Plots that bud with tender growth,
And what he now admires he then shall loath.
Mileta,

Milet.
—Maddam.

Zelm.
—Set Amasis free.
[Exit Melet.
And bid her wait me in the Gallery,
Shall theams of Vertue make Zelmura pine,
All ills of womens frailty I resign
I bear a Spirit brave and masculine,
My pleasures are my Gods, and passions birth,
Uncurb'd, and lawless is my Heaven on Earth.

[Exit.

SCENE II.

Enter Ptollomy, Phillopater, Achmades.
Ptol.
The injur'd peoples murmurs now grow loud,
And many into Private factions croud,
So look't the sick and fester'd state of Rome,
By mighty Julius Tyranny o'recome.

Phillo.
Their fate though bad was better far then ours,
Cæsar and Pompey, though their fame and powers,
Were mighty and divided, yet both stood,
As potent Champions for the Publick good,
But in Zelmura's actions 'tis made known,
She vallues no disasters but her own.

Achm.
Unvallued Sumes of Gold she hourly heaps,
And by oppressing taxes treasure reaps,
Whilst helpless Age in holes unpittied lye,
Forc't by the dearth of food to starve and dye.
Enter Zelmura and Amasis.
See where she comes.

Zelm.
—Fate has decreed it so.
And I in vain should a resistance shew.

Phillo,
I read a storm in her reverted Eyes.

[aside.
Zelm.
How dare you interrupt my pryvacies,
[to them.
Have we no passage free, this insolence
Merits the worst of my displeasure, Hence:—

Phillo.
What throngs of Demons her ambition sway.

[aside.
Zelm.
What's that your murmur.

Phillo.
—Nothing, but obey.

[Exeunt.
Zelm.
That I do Love him is as certain true,
As that he Loves, and is belov'd by you,
And as the pow'r is boundless, that is due
To my high state, so is my passion too
Your glimmering Love do's in small embers shine,
But a consuming Ætna, flames in mine,
Forget him then since mildly, at you hand,
I beg, what I have power to command.

Amas.
A barb'rous Pow'r, that can so cruel prove,
To fright a Virgin from a vertuous Love.
A Love with mutual vows so firmly bought,
That Death lyes coutcht in a dispairing thought.

Zelm.
Dispair no, that sad guest I will remove.
I give you leave to hope but not to Love,
A look methinks might satiate one so young,
Your growing Passion cannot yet be strong,
And though affection he on me bestowes,
And Loves not you, yet you may hope, he does.

Amas.
He cannot be unjust, his purity
Ne're lent attention to inconstancy,
Our Passions, like our vertues, equal were,
Though not too fierce, as much as we could bear.

Zelm,
My nature do's a swifter pleasure prove,
She hates dull vertue that does firmly Love,
Besides your pulse, so temperate and slow,
Inspires me to believe, your Love is so.

Amas.
A temperate Love with modest passion grac't,
Excell a feircer and will longer last,
A chast heart to it selfe's a Paradice,
But Love if wanting modesty is vice.

Zelm.
Are these Stale Morals, theams for you and me,
These Musty relicks of dull Piety,
Know fool, that Vertue and Religion now
Is not embrac't for practice but for shew,
To sooth the vulgar errours of these times,
And set a shining Gloss upon our crimes,
If I were poor, I might have zealous been,
But Moral vertue is below a Queen,
And modesty with passions that aspire,
Agrees like water when comixt with fire.

Amas.
Oh impious Age that licenses such crimes.

Zelm.
Thou art a fool, I know 'em prudent times,
Few waste their breath in Pray'r, but th'ignorant.
Piety suits not us, but such as want,
For to be Potent, rich, and zealous, too,
I think is more, then flesh and blood can do.

Ams.
Oh that I had but learning to dispute,
And the gross errours of your words consute,
But from the theam you wildly have digrest.
Come to the Point, and tell me your request.

Zelm.
'Tis this, that you'd suppress your extasie,
And prudently resign the Prince to me,
Perform it well, and you my heart have won,
Tis somewhat strange but yet it must be done.

Amas.
Resign' my Love! a horrid Cruelty,
Yet though I cannot doe it, I can die.

Zelm.
Die then
[offers to stab her.
and by thy Speedy death remove
The onely fatal Rival of my Love.

Amas.
Oh hold, for though with death I am not scar'd,
Forbear a little, I'm not yet prepar'd.

Zelm.
My rage brooks no delay, do it or bleed.

Amas.
Hold, oh for pity, speak, declare the deed;
What must I doe?

Zelm.
—Visit the Prince with me,
And there renounce your former constancy.
Though Love he still endeavour to explain
Meet all his favours with a Coy disdain:
Shrouding your eyes in frowns, speak void of fear,
For I'le be plac't where I can see and hear;
Be haughty, that no plot he may descry,
But if you fail that moment you shall die.

Amas.
Such tiranny was never yet exprest.

Zelm.
Of too great Evils you may choose the least.

Amas.
Let me consider; yes, it shall be done.
[pawse.
The pow'r of fate may alter what's begun,
His hate to her, may Jealousie remove,
[aside
And prove a means still to preserve our Love.
I will perform your suit, but in the deed
[to the Queen
I give my self a wound will ever bleed,
As dying Pellicans their blood resign,
So to procure your blisse, I ruin mine.

Zelm.
Lets thither streight, if thou perform'st it well
Thou bringst me heaven.

Amas.
—but my self a Hell.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Enter Ptolomy, Phillopater, Achmades.
Ptol.
Who, at the Tilt last night most honour won?

Phillo.
The noble Caliph, Micerenus Son,
Obtain'd the Ruby, he five Warriours forc't
To leave the field, and twice five more unhorst,
Himself unhurt still prancing round the place,
Manag'd his foamy Steed with ample grace,
When brave Cephrenes, hoping victory,
Charg'd him, whose fight I could not stay to see.
Enter Zichmi.
Your haste does some unlook'd for news declare.

Zich.
To arms, to arms, we are surpriz'd, I fear:
For standing on the Eastern Tow'r, whose height
Makes the Skies frown, and Earth shake with its weight,
I saw the Beacons near the shore on fire,
Which to the Skies did in small sparks aspire,
And the next object, which my eyes did grace,
Were armed Troops, that mov'd towards this place.
The City trembles at these new alarms,
And in the Streets the stubborn faction swarms;
For by a Post new come report is spread,
They'r Syrian Troops, and by the Sultan led.

Ptol.
Unlook'd for mischief, oh, my boding fears.

Achm.
Has the Qeen heard the news?

Zichm.
—There's no one dares.
Possess her with it.

Ptol.
Ha, not dares, yes I,
Were death the sequal, would th'adventure try:
Let base and sordid spirits nourish fears,
My courage shall supply my want of years.
Streight raise what pow'rs you can,
[to Zichmi
be it your care
[to Phillo.
To calm the Commons, and prepare for War.
Great Gods permit not Egypt thus to fall,
Revenge not private Crimes in general,
The blot in future Ages will remain,
And on your Godhead fix a lasting stain,
But e're our necks endure captivity,
Like Romans, our own swords shall set us free.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

A Prison.
Moaron, reading.
Moar.
Content is Pilot to a happy State,
And 'tis a bliss to be unfortunate.
A rigid Text, yet Seneca was wise,
He taught men how disasters to despise,
To purge their lives from ill, and learn to die
By occult Reasons in Philosophy,
But had he lov'd like me, he had confest
No Hell like to a confin'd Lovers breast.
The branded wretch, that tugs the slavish Oar,
Spent with dispairs and wants controuling pow'r,
Yet still contented, lives in hopes to see
Once more the long wisht hour of Liberty:
But I, contemning my unhappy Stars,
Still waste my life in Labyrinths of Cares.

Enter Zelmura and Amasis at the door.
Zelm.
Yonder he sits, now boldly enter here
And from this place your words can reach my ear.

[Exit behind
Amas:
Hold now my heart,

Moar.
—Hah heavens, whats this I see,
Can prison walls shrowd such divinity!

Amas.
D'you, know me Sir?

Moar.
—Not yet, for Joyes extream
Perswades my fancy that I do but dream.

Amas.
Awake then and believe.

Moar.
Such was her hand,
[kising her hand
And such the sweetnesse that did first command,
And fetter my rough heart, my doubts are gone,
But tell me, Sweet, how came you thus alone?
How could you scape the guards and not beseen,
By cruel Spyes from the more cruel Queen?
Or did the Gods, Compassionating Love,
To yield me comfort, drop you from above.

Amas.
My coming was not at so strange a rate,
But from the entrance of the Castle gate.
Through all the guards I had a passage free,
Who void of doubts gave me this liberty.

Moar.
Unlookt for happinesse.

Amas.
—hold Sir, you shew
Too much of Joy, till you my businesse know.

Moar.
What businesse can you have, but to remove
Doubts that molest us and renew our Love.

Amas.
Grief ties my tongue, how shall I utter it.

[aside
Moar.
Silence, bright Soul, for Lovers is not fit.
Say, what ill news?

Amas.
—Aid me ye Deities:
Then breifly thus, our love with mutual ties
Of firm affection oft has dar'd our fate,
And thereby made us both unfortunate,
This makes me (conscious of what griefs arise
From wilful love, what plagues, what Miseries.)
As freind to your good fortune to request,
That you would change. I cannot speak the rest,
[aside
Love charms my utterancce and denies me power.

Zelm.
behind.
Do it, or do not hope to live an hour.

Moar.
To change my Love, how, do not give my sense
Cause to reprove such charming Excellence.
Your breath till now stand Roses in the bud,
The Western gales were not so sweet, so good,
But this request has soild your lustre so,
What was divine does now but mortal shew.

Amas.
Let not vain hopes too much beguile your Youth,
Our holy Prophet ne're spoke more truth,
For to make kind our future destiny,
You may suppress your love, and so must I.
Live happy therefore and past Joyes restore,
But from this moment never love me more.
'Tis out, and now shroud me some gloomy cloud.

[Exit.
Moar.
Such words the Gods durst not have spoke so loud.
Rend Earth i'th' midst, and split ye fatal Skies,
Whose Planets dare to appoint such prodigies.
To Caves immense let th'Ellements retire,
And mix together earth, air, sea, and fire,
Till mingled in confusion, all may be,
As first they were, in natures infancy:
For since this age, do's pristine ills surpass,
Oh happy Choas, where no falshood was,
A barb'rous Princess, who would beauty trust,
Who would believe in vertue or be just,
If vertue this allows in noble blood,
Vertue's a crime and vice it self is good,
The Gods themselves, if tamely this they see,
Are false and baser than mortallity.

Enter Zelmura.
Zelm.
What Demon Sir hath alter'd thus your fate,
I met my Sister at the Castle gate,
Fire darting from her eyes, her lovely face,
So chang'd with rage, it banisht all her grace;
Calling you base, perfidious, false, and then
Musing a while, she'd fall to Curse agen,
Such rapid frenzies posted from her breast,
I could no less then think she was possest,
For she methinks whom passion did so blind,
Might have found words more gentle and more kind,
But ignorance of the truth me hither draws,
To know the reason, and enquire the cause.

Moar.
The Cause, why Madam, 'dsdeath I cannot tell.
'Tis the same Cause that damns the souls in Hell,
A Heaven lost for want of loving well.

Zelm.
Come come, dissemble not, you slighted her,
That you to me your passion might prefer,
And though I'me haughty vassals, you
Shall find a temper that to Love is due,
If without more delayes you prove your bliss,
And your long closely smoother'd Love confess.

Moar.
What strange Chimera's, Madam, plague your mind,
Love you, by Heaven I hate all woman kind,
Not you alone, but all curst Crockadiles,
Ye couch damnation in seducing smiles,
I've lost my faith to think 'tis Heaven to Love,
My sense do's now i'th' contrary move,
For if a Hell there be, as it is said,
'Tis felt when highth of passion is delay'd.

Zelm.
Perhaps, you'r loth the Guard your words should hear,
Whisper, Sir, speak it softly in my ear,
Your merits soon will weigh the ballance down,
And make me cherish, what deserves a frown.

Moar.
Frown on your amorists, that causeless dote,
For by the Azure Heavens, I love you not,
To be your slave, I never did consent,
Nor need I whisper what I never meant.

Zelm.
Hah, never meant it, was it not for me
You slighted thus my sisters amity,
Could for meaner Causes faith remove,
Then th'happiness that still attends my Love,
'Tis contrary to reason, and you try
My utmost patience, if you this deny.

Moar.
D's death, Madam, do ye think I can be brought.
To cherish Passion, by perswasions wrought.
Bereav'd of reason that should crimes reprove,
Forc't to affect, and fool'd into a Love.
Your eyes my heart do rather freez than warm,
And your addresses rather vex than charm,
Fate makes me to despise, what you propound,
If this be Love, I have a Mortal wound.

Zelm.
Gods can I hear this tamely, die proud fool,
And with thy blood my boundless passion cool,

Goes to stab him, he wrests the Dagger from her.
Zelm.
Take it, and boast thou hast more strength than I,
But fixt it here, and see how I can die.

Moar.
No live, and o're such abject fate controul,
You merit it, you have a noble soul.

Zelm.
Oh, I could curse, but it will do no good,
And tear this burning fever from my blood,
But Love the prouder Tyrant conquers me.
Enter Ptollomy hastily.
Hah whence proceed these suddain new Alarms.

Moar.
Fate grant I guess aright.

Ptollo.
—To arms, to arms.
The Potent Syrians with a mighty host,
Are past resistance landed on our Coast,
The City trembles, and the factions swarm,
And with their uncurb'd shouts, augment th'alarm.
Use some swift means, great Queen, to stinct this strife,
Least the unruly tumult seek your Life.

Zelm.
Curse on the faithless slaves; but art thou sure
The troops approaching are the Syrian power.

Ptollo.
Our Messengers affirm it, and we may
From Turrets easily discern 'tis they.

Zelm.
They'r welcome, and they'r coming do's produce,
In me much Joy, my rusting sword wants use,
All low thoughts vanish now to empty air,
I will no leasure for dull passion spare,
War may perhaps from my brave heart remove,
The agony of this tempestious Love,
Whilst my heroick fate once known before,
Shall guide my sword to conquer 'em once more.

Moar.
This happy news do's with my wish comply,
And gives me present hopes of liberty.

Enter Achmades, Phillopater, Zichmi.
Achm.
The foe's already come so near, that we
From our high towers may their banners see,
The people trembling with a suddain fright,
Run through the streets and Curse the fatal light,
But th'factions I have with perswasions wrought,
And in good order to the Pallace brought,
Your presence, Madam, their mistrusts will clear,
And make them dare the foe they late did fear.

Zelm.
That satisfaction they shall reap from me.
I knew they durst not long perfidious be,
My breath can lift 'em up or cast 'em down,
Save with a smile, or Martyr with a frown,
Go, and with speed draw up the Cavalry,
[to Achm.
And in Battalia place the infantry,
[Exit Achm.
Possess their minds with hopes of great reward,
And cull the choicest soldiers for my guard,
[to Phillopater.
You to your charge, and Ptollomy take care
[Exit Phillopater.
There be no tumult, that may stint the war,
Zichmi thy faith so noble hath been shewn,
In the defence of my exalted Throne.
That to thy guard my sister I resign,
Be careful, and close pris'ner her confine,
Till you my Signet for her freedome see.

Zichmi.
I'le not dispute, but act your great decree.

[Exit.
Zelm.
And now one act of honour I'le do more,
And therefore Sir your liberty restore,
Lead on your troops, brave Prince, nay all thanks spare,
Meet me i'th' Army's head, and thank me there,
You cannot braver gratitude afford,
Then nobly there to thank me with your Sword,
Charm me Belona with thy chiefest good,
And to meet fame I'le swim o're Seas of blood,
Contemn black danger with a threatning breath,
And Grasp at honour in the jaws of Death.

[Exeunt Queen and Ptollomy.
Moar.
Gods, what a soul do's that weak fabrick hold,
Such courage ill befits so frail a mould,
Her Spirit a whole Legion would inspire,
And turn cold cowardize to Glowing fire,
I envy her, methinks a heart so brave,
A mind so haughty none but I should have.
If man be the more brave and noble name.
Why should weak woman rob us of our fame,
I'le to our troops and try if I can prove,
A kinder fate then I receav'd from Love.
If not the doom of Heaven I will reverse
And my own bosome with my own hand peirce.

[Exit.
Zichmi returns.
Zichm.
Her sister to my guard resign'd, blest fate,
That to revenge givest so secure a state,
My too long smoother'd hate I now will shew,
And to my aid invoke the Fiends below,
Dull Queen couldst thou believe I faith e're knew,
For her whose barb'rous hands my Brother slew,
No, Murdress to his soul, I did bequeath
Thy tainted blood, and then decreed thy death,
But now thy sisters rape shall first begin,
The tragick scene, and broach a greater sin,
Then in thy blood my bliss I will obtain,
Revenge is sweetest then when most obscean.

[Exit.

SCENE. V.

Enter Selabdin, Aldabar, Psamnis, and Syrian Soldiers.
Selab.
Thus far our enterprize proves fortunate,
Favour'd by heaven and propitious fate.
Our happy forces with a noble hast,
High rocks and barren Mountains have o'repast,
Of this parcht climate desolate and waste,
Proud Queen, success thou didst but ill divine,
When thou my Son ignobly didst confine,
Or that his fate e're long might turn to thine.
But by my deeds thy pride shall quickly see,
A Father's Courage, Love, and Piety.

Psamn.
The King late murder'd by her Tyranny,
Methinks should pluck down vengeance from the skie.
And to requite, the worst of torture's due:
Death will oblige her if receiv'd from you.

Aldab.
Heroes alone, by Monarchs hands should die,
Trophies most fit for sacred Majesty,
Which in this war your power might persue,
Were the brave Prince but here to second you,
But till his sword we in our troops have seen,
'Tis vain to think to captivate the Queen,
But we are tardy let us hence to night,
And charge their drowzy guards e're mornings light.

Selab.
Brave soul yet stay such hast our power may wrong,
Our men are tir'd, and the Journey's long,
Let therefore all our troops to night be drawn,
In order to be ready with the Dawn,
A mornings march will bring our army down,
To fix our tents in prospect of the town,
Amidst your bounty, Gods grant but this one,
Give but my age pow'r to revenge my Son,
My incense smoke shall dim your azure skies,
And feast you with continual sacrifice.
[shout.
What means this shout.

Enter a Messenger.
Messen.
May heaven, great Sir, your Enemy's destroy,
As it do's now procure the general Joy,
The Prince.

Selab.
—Hah, what of him.

Mess.
—Thus low by me
In humblest duty greets your Majesty.

Selab.
Thou darest not mock me.

Mess.
—Not, and hope to live,
But him you cannot hope for, there receive.

Enter Moaron and kneels.—
Selab.
This Scene of Joy do's my past griefs asswage,
Welcome thou prop of my declining age,
Honour forget my weakness this blest day,
If nature makes my eyes some tribute pay,
By say, what more then God did set thee free,
Or was it some transcendant Deity,
Whose pow'r we know not, and must therefore pay
A reverence fitting so supream a sway.

Moar.
No Sir, the Gods, I have not found so just,
'Twas on a Cause much more miraculous,
No troops of daring Soldiers did I see,
Forcing their way through death to set me free,
Heaven for my succour no such aid decreed,
'Twas the brave Queen her self perform'd this deed.

Selab.
The Queen, unheard of Nobleness.

Moar.
—'Twas she,
That scorning fate pronounc't my liberty,

Selab.
Wonder invades my breast, but say what cause
From her proud soul this generous action draws,
Honour, or did her fear take safer course,
To render what my pow'r e're long might force.

Moar.
Her haughty courage only fame persues,
Contemning fortunes ills; for when the news
Of your arrival came no signs of fear,
Or dull mistrust did in her face appear,
But with a look that did her heart express,
She heard the story of your good success,
Then rising from her seat, and seeing where
Her Nobles looks betray'd their doubtful fear,
With an undaunted voice She strove t'inspire
Their freezing Courages with her own fire,
Her brave Oration past, she turn'd to me,
And with a dauntless generosity,
Voting my liberty spoke thus.—
Lead on your troops, and there your thanks afford,
Where the rough Language of the reeking Sword,
Disputes in honours cause, and only deeds,
Not words, for grateful actions intercedes:
This said she from my Presence did retire,
And left me there to envy and admire.

Selab.
For this brave act all grateful thanks is due,
She do's at once slight and oblige me too.
Good Heaven direct my actions how to pay
Her generous heart the best and noblest way,
And since the Gods decree no war in vain,
May the sublimest cause the Lawrel gain.

Moar.
He that i'th' Battle dares to second me,
Reaps from my heart a Brothers amity,
A Cowards soul destructive fears surround,
Whilst the brave Soldier smiles upon his wound,
With brandisht Sword he cuts his way before,
Not fearing numbers or mistrusting pow'r,
Steel me thou daring God of Martial souls,
Whose blest unbounded influence controuls
O're death despising Hero's, make my arm
Strong like my will to do and suffer harm,
That doing what a Nat'ral pow'r exceeds,
Proud death may gaze, and wonder at the deeds,
His rigour could not equal, but at last,
If through continued wounds my spirits haste,
To leave their Mansions. Grant me this kind fate,
Within this arm fresh vigour to create,
Till from my heap of victims gushing blood,
Make on the barren Earth a swelling flood,
That like a Conquerour, I may, when dead,
Swim to Elizium through the blood I shed.

Selab.
Such vertue, Heaven must guard or cease to be,
What Mortals think, the seat of Piety,
If in this enterprize the Gods ordain,
A fate that puts a Period to my reign,
My happy Age shall yet this honour have.
To lie with victims pil'd upon my grave.

[Exeunt.