University of Virginia Library

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.