University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

Scene I.

A Prison Gate.
Damocles Solus.
Damo.
Conscience, thou Terror of irresolute Minds,
Phantastick Phantom that depriv'st the Soul
With sordid Fear, of the due Veneration
It ought to pay to that great God Ambition,
Disturb my Peace no more; there is no room
For any thing but Greatness in this Breast,
All Thoughts beside are Base.—How dar'st thou then
Press, with thy nothing here, when I indulge
In the Excesses of my tow'ring Fortune,
Lull'd in soft Ease and Riot, the bent Bodies
And humble Looks of Suppliants imploring;
With the large Train of gaudy Flatterers,
Who wait, as if I were the Delphian God,
To worship my uprising? Thou intrudest,
And meagre as the Skeliton of Death,
Pretend'st to moralize; giving Reflections
That Favourites, like Beacons set on high,
May warn the rest of Danger by their Blaze;
But first consume themselves, that State and Opulence
Beget the People's Hate,—and that their Ruin.
This thou would'st fright me with; poor dull Chimæra's,
Bugbears o'th' Vulgar, spiritless and base,
But shall be my Diversion. I ne'er enter
My Garden but methinks the Statue there
Of Pallas, Vesta, Daphne and Diana,
All taking on themselves Clorona's Figure,
With Daggers stab at me; at which, perhaps,
I start, and for a Minute may be ruffled;
But straight all's drown'd within the Greekish Bowl,
Then something new, and wicked, Charms my Soul.
Enter Cilon with a Letter.
Who's there, oh Cilon! Well, my Friend, what News?

Cilon.
So, please your Lordship, I have here in Charge
A Letter of Importance.—Where's the King,
'Tis from the Princess?

Damo.
What, Gilmunda, hah, his darling Daughter?

Cilon.
Yes, my Lord, I had th'Honour from her own fair Hands.

Damo.
He promis'd to be this Instant here, on a Design
T'harangue th'Imprison'd Ladies with some Orders,
Some new Commands; he'd have 'em send their Husbands
Without their Walls. Has there been ought of Note
Since the last Sally, I've been busied elsewhere.

Cilon.
Nothing, my Lord, of Worth, since I commanded
The Party that beat 'em off from the last Bastion.
I hope your Lordship heard how th'Counterscarp
Was taken; and where I order'd 'em to spring the Mine,
When the Enemy design'd upon our Trenches,
Near the South Ravelin; there, if your Lordship's ignorant,
I must be bold to say, I pepper'd 'em:
They have got Ground since, I hear, and are come up
Close to our Pallisades.—But if the King, my Lord,
Would take my Counsel—

Damo.
Oh! no doubt he will,
[Trumpet sounds within.
I hear he's not far off, let's go and meet him.

[Exeunt.
Enter from the Prison's inner part Belizaria, Helmige and Ladies, Clindor, and other Children.
Helm.
The Tyrant's coming, Madam.

Beliz.
So is, sweet Friend, our latter Day fatal,
And ruinous, like him; let us with brave Contempt then
Receive 'em both alike; are all our Friends here
Join'd in Opinion, and resolv'd unanimously
On what was last consulted?

Helm.
All most firmly,
And chiefly declare, a Death with Honour
Prefer'd before the least ignoble Action,
To taint their Memories.

Beliz.
Let me hear 'em own it,
Methinks the very Sound is so seraphical,
The Joy will fill my Heart. What say ye, Ladies,
Can ye? For without doubt when Aristander
Comes to discourse Affairs, he'll make Proposals
Fit for his Interest, tho' to your Dishonour.
Can ye resist? Shall not his Flattery tempt ye,
Nor Threatnings fright ye to debase your Honour,
And so betray your Country?

1 Lady.
No, we are confirm'd.

2 Lady.
And all resolv'd to bend our Resolutions
To what you shall think proper in your Answer.

3 Lady.
And this we all have sworn to.

Omnes.
All, all, all.

Beliz.
Instead of Infamy, a Death with Honour.
Death!—Well, and what is Death, hoary Philosophers
Term it a leap i'th' dark! A Disquisition
Horrid, yet natural.—Senseless Contradiction,
Death is no more than Nature's final Couch,
Whereon she rests from Cares; so easy too
That little Birds endure it without Noise,
And Infants with a Sigh give back their Beings:
Or if Disease or Age give some short Pangs,
The Joy free Conscience brings, and balmy Honour
So heals the Minute Woe, it turns to Pleasure.

Helm.
And tho' the Separation, may seem terrible,
Of Soul and Body, like two ancient Friends
Of long Acquaintance, that are loth to part;
Yet when we think of the Future State—

Beliz.
Ay, my Helmige, that Scene of lasting Glory,
Where impious Tyrants act no cruel Part;
Nor dreadful Revolutions can molest us,
There's the Reward still of a Death with Honour;
Life's a short Voyage to that heavenly Place,
Prepar'd to recompense our anxious Days;
To which the Soul in her frail Vessel stow'd,
Thro' numerous Dangers makes its vent'rous Road;
And painfully o'er Rocks and Sands do's ride
Thro' the tempestuous War of Wind and Tide:
Endures the Storms above that boisterous grow,
And booming Terrors of the Deeps below;
'Till past Vexations that each Moment chance
On Nature's Sea, of frail Intemperance,
The blissful Haven do's at last appear,
Where endless Joy succeeds short Pain and Fear.

Enter Aristander, Damocles, Cilon, and Guards.
Arist.
So, my good Subjects of the Viper kind,
You bare it bravely still; these great Successes
Without the Walls, by your victorious Husbands,
Add Freshness to your Cheeks; my Clemency,
I see, has been to blame, I shou'd have stinted ye
Of your high Diet, and your Ease; a Woman
Must be kept low, if you wou'd have her humble.

Damo.
Just like the Viper you were speaking of,
Wear 'em within your Bosom, they shall sting ye;
But let 'em feel the frozen Blast a little,
The Venom cools, then you may turn and wind 'em
Just as you please.

Cilon.
All Women are to me a sort of Cockatrices,
And kill me with a Look,—as I do them.

Arist.
But think not but I note your Insolencies,
Your proud Contempt, and your neglect of Duty;
Especially of you, their Captain here,
[To Beliz.
Who are, no doubt, most wonderfully pleas'd
With your new Hopes of Liberty.

Beliz.
My Soul do's still enjoy its Liberty,
That soars aloft above thy Power to fetter;
And for my Body in this impious World,
Where Villainy has got such monstrous Privilege,
'Tis not worth thinking on, enslav'd or free.

Arist.
Most Heroine-like deliver'd; let the Devil,
If he would act Pride nearer to the Life
Than he's yet Master of, copy it there.
But I have no time to trifle.—Hear me,
And with regard, for it concerns ye nearly;
Your Husbands, a vile Rout of lawless Rebels,
Have dar'd to take up Arms 'gainst me their Master,
As insolently have besieg'd my City;
And tho' I cou'd confound 'em in my Anger,
Scatter 'em like a Flock of fearful Crows
Upon a Field of Grain.—Yet my indulgent Grace
Moves me another way more mild and gentle,
And guides me calmly to remand their Duty,
Before my Power storms with Extremity.
Sit down, take Pen and Ink then all, and write;
Write with a Tenderness your Sex is skill'd in;
When you design and purpose to inveigle;
Intreat, that for your Sakes, to save your Lives,
Which else shall surely second the Refusal,
Straightway to raise the Siege, and to retire.

Damo.
The Matron starts; there, the proud Heart being pinch'd,
Shrinks at the biting Pain.—How the rest stare too?

[To Cilon.
Arist.
Nor shall your puny Lives atone th'Affront,
But what's far dearer to ye still,—your Children,
Without considering either Sex or Age,
Mangled, dismembred, torn and cut in pieces,
Shall, as a Present, on each Soldier's Blade,
Be sent your Husbands the next Sally made.

Beliz.
Now, dear Helmige, the fatal Crisis comes,
With Aspect horrible!

Clindor is playing amongst the Children.
Helm.
The Gods direct ye.

Damo.
Your toysome Chit, there, will have little reason
To thank his Mother for her Obstinacy,
Should you hold out; be wise then, and go scrawl,
The King's not in a Humour to be play'd with;
Think on the Boy.

Beliz.
Oh, do not name him, Monster!
Lest thy invenom'd Breath, tho' thus far off,
Wither the infant Bloomings of his Face,
Lately his wretched Mother's chief Delight,
With loathsom Leprosy.

Arist.
'Sdeath!—Dare ye then delay?
Now, by the Gods of Greece, let it be done,
Write quickly, or ------

Beliz.
Oh! that those bounteous Gods
Should give Mankind a Figure like themselves,
To damn it so with Frowning.

Arist.
Death and Hell!
Am I still trifled with? Who am I, hah!
Am I not Aristander, my Will absolute?
Which whoe'er dares to disobey, my Breath,
Like darting Lightning, can consume to Atoms;
To Dust in th'Moment!—Briefly then, will ye write?

Beliz.
Then briefly no;
Believe not, cruel Tyrant, because Women,
Thy Threats shall awe us to betray our Country;
And by the Weakness of our Sex and Fear
Nature imposes; for our Childrens Slaughter
Shall e'er destroy the Means of publick Liberty
To all the Ellien Race. No, Aristander,
[Boldly to him.
The Tract our Husbands have begun we'll follow;
Follow with Wills unanimous, confirm'd too
With Venture of our Lives.

Arist.
You will, you say;
By Heaven 'tis brave, fantastically brave.
Come, think agen e'er 'tis too late.

Damo.
Scrawl, scrawl;
Ten Billet Deux had been blur'd o'er by this time:
Begin your Conjuring.

Beliz.
I will not write a Tittle;
No, let the Consequence be what Heaven pleases,
The Happiness of Corinth to be freed
From such abominable Tyranny,
Out-vies, by far, the Woes that we can suffer.

Arist.
Oh! there's the Bar, the Hopes you have of Freedom
By Force and Conquest; but remember Hecate,
You shall be nothing e'er that comes to pass;
Your rebel Off-spring too be chopt to Fragments,
And thrown to Fowls o'th' Air.

Beliz.
'Twill be some Comfort
To know those airy Executioners
Soon after shall revenge that Cruelty,
And gorge upon the Carcass of a Tyrant
More ravenous than they.

Arist.
Fetch her Brat hither.

Damo.
I'll do ye that kind Office.

[Damocles fetches Clindor, who is playing with an Orange amongst the Children.
Beliz.
And Pluto one for thee in happy time:
Go, Clindor, go, my little Angel, willingly,
[Tenderly to Clindor.
To meet thy heavenly Play-fellows above;
And bless the Gods, dear Boy, that frees thee from
The Slavery thy wretched Country suffers;
Thou art the second Martyr crown'd for Corinth:
Make haste, my Darling, from yon' starry Mansion,
Bright Cherubims will soar to fetch thee thither,
And please thy innocent Soul with Joys innumerable.

[Here Clindor looking pityfully in Aristander's Face, offers him the Orange he was playing with, who spurns him away.
Arist.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, give the Brat the Joys she speaks of;
this Minute comply, or ------

[Here one of the Guards stabs Clindor.
Beliz.

Now help, relenting Nature, ye blest Deities,

[Trembles and stands silent.
Arist.

Ha!—stubborn still!—Strike, strike then, and throw
it to her sprawling.

[The Guards kill Clindor.
Beliz.
Ah!—worst of Devils!

[Shrieks.
Arist.
I'll make ye change your Note.

[Walking about ragingly.
Beliz.
No, Tyrant, thou shalt never;
Tho' thou hast done a Deed would make thy fellow Fiends
Blush even in Hell, with a much deeper red
Than Fire can imitate! Make all Nature dumb,
Stupid with Horror, [Wringing her Hands.
yet shall the anguish of my Soul
Breath out new Curses and perish to Death!
Oh my Soul's Happiness!
[Throws her self upon Clindor.
Art thou then gone, that pretty prattling Tongue
That was each Day my most delightful Musick,
Untun'd for ever? Oh! could that cursed Hand
Do this, and yet not rot dropping to Earth!
Ye Powers, since this can be, from henceforth then
Let injur'd Innocence despair of Vengeance.

Arist.
Vengeance is me, I'm Fate, and will controul;
Not the fictitious Terrors of the Priesthood
Charming the Gods to shower down Plagues upon me,
Nor all the juggling Magick of their Trade
Shall ever change me from my fixt Resolve;
My Will's my Law, and born to be a Monarch;
My Province is to govern, without weighing
What's Right or Wrong, Justice, or otherwise;
'Tis just enough if I command: [To Helmige and the rest.
Once more then,
Since by Example I have shewn ye now
What I intend to prosecute, will ye yet write,
And save the rest?

Helm.
Never, [Raising her Voice.
tho' utmost Cruelty fall upon us and ours.

Omnes.
We never, never will.

Arist.
Hags, Witches, Furies seize 'em, I'm all Flame!

[Raging.
Beliz.
Oh! ye most noble, virtuous, best of Women,
[Rising and embracing the Ladies.
You now out-do the Heroines of old,
So practis'd in the glorious Laws of Honour;
How, when this poor weak Mansion of your Bodies
Shall crumble into Dust, shall your bright Names
In Golden Letters deck the Monuments,
That Time shall ne'er erase? [Turns to Aristander.
Now, cruel Tyger,
For thou art lost to all Humanity;
Reflect with Shame, how far a Woman's Honour
Excels thy Power; senseless, feeble Woman,
Undaunted, can defie the Rage of Tyrants:
Woman, well arm'd with the strong Mail of Virtue,
Can smile on Racks, Wheels, Axes, Swords or Poyson:
Woman, defies the Rage of Hell, and th'worst,
The great Devil there—curst Aristander.

[In extreme Passion.
Arist.
Defiance is a Call to Combat—there!
[Offers to kill her, who stands still boldly opposing 'till Demetrius rushes and parrys his Sword.
How now! how darest thou cross me? Hah! sure my
Eyes dazzle, speak, Art thou not Demetrius?

Demet.
I am, Sir, happy Demetrius now, since 'tis my Fortune
To save great Aristander from an Action
That would for ever have eclips'd his Glory,
The Blood of simple Women; let your Enemies,
Who now are in the Snare, Sir, feel your Sword.
To be more plain, Sir, first know Grimoald is taken.

Arist.
That's well, now I begin to understand thee.

Demet.
And shall have better Reason, Sir: I've long
Been curst with Misconstruction from your Majesty,
But now kind Fate is pleas'd to give the Means
Of shewing Proofs of my Fidelity.

[Belizaria throws her self agen on Clindor.
Arist.
'Tis well, there has indeed been some Suspicions.

Demet.
Besides my apprehending then that Traytor,
I have encountred, Sir, by being diligent,
Some friendly Messengers sent from Craterus,
Your Royal Friend and Ally; who inform ye
Ten Thousand Men are on the March already
To raise the Siege, which will be done to Morrow.

Arist.
My brave Demetrius, this is indeed such Tidings
As I could wish for, and a piece of Service
Which shall not be ill paid.—Prithee, good Friend,
Forget what's past, the Value of good Jewels
Are never known 'till try'd; I'll make Amends; this coming Night, then
Thou, and I, and Damocles
Will make Collation with our trusty Messengers;
And after we have examin'd that Dog Grimoald,
Consult about a Sally; at that Juncture
The others shall attack.

Damo.
Easily done, Sir, and surprize Timoleon.

Arist.
Oh! I could eat his Heart, and th'Bandog Governor's.
Come, Friends, let's to our Strangers, no Affair now
But this, shall fill my Thought; here is a Letter
Just sent from my Gilmunda, News of some Trick I warrant
Upon her preaching Sister.—Prithee read it at thy Leisure;
[Gives Demetrius the Letter.
And humour her, you are acquainted.—You Officer,
Go lock up those she Wolves, who e'er next Sun
Will howl out loud Repentance for their Insolence,
And in return meet Scorn.—Come, my Demetrius.

Demet.
Please ye to grant me, Sir, but one short Minute
With the Virago there, I have something new to teaze her with.

Arist.
And dost me Pleasure in't; [Officer takes off Helmige and Ladies.
she has lost her Cub there,
And is in Tears, damn'd Traytress, insolent Fury!
Fate grant me but her Husband in my Power,
Then my Revenge is perfect.

[Exeunt Aristander, Damocles, Cilon and Guards.
Manent Demetrius and Belizaria.
Demet.
So, hitherto it prospers; shine out my Stars,
Cloud not one Spark of your propitious Radiance
From your Demetrius; and thou, my better Genius,
My sweet Clorona, let thy sacred Spirit
Be still at hand to hallow my Revenge.
Hah! here agen, [Ghost appears, smiles and Exit.
by Heaven, and smil'd upon me.
Nay, then my Enterprize succeeds I'm sure,
Those Looks have no Portent but Happiness.
Now to my Letter here, I'm grown a Man in Trust,
Damocles will grow jealous if this hold.
Oh Fate! [Reads the Letter and starts.
Oh my lov'd Genius! Is this possible!
By Heaven, a fatal Letter from the Princess,
Discovering mine, and our close Correspondence
With the Ætolian Governor; which had the King but seen
My Life had gone with Torment, shewing this lost Paper,
Which has so terrify'd me, lest any Foe should find it.
Now I perceive too, why blest Clorona smil'd,
Which shews the Fate of Tyranny is fix'd
To give it due Reward.—Oh Belizaria!
[Coming to her.
If thy deep Sorrows can afford an Ear
To one that brings thee News of sweet Revenge,
And Comfort, hear me speak?

Beliz.
Oh Heaven! Comfort!
Is Comfort possible, when such Griefs as mine
Press on the loaded Heart, and crush it down?

Demet.
The sacred Powers, that have their Cause for all
The Infelicities of human Life,
Have, in their Turn, the Means of Comfort too;
And have, no doubt, reserv'd for you some Share
To mitigate your Sorrows: Let your Sense then
Be thus instructed: E'er the Sun shall drive
This burnisht Carr twice round the Universe,
Timoleon shall be found a Conqueror,
And, crown'd with Laurel, bless the Streets of Corinth.

Beliz.
Are then the Guardian Angels of the City
Return'd again? Will they be good to Corinth,
And to the rest of the Distress'd within?
No longer suffer Aristander's Cruelty,
Nor let his horrid Ministers of Death
Gorge in the Vitals of their Infant Sons?
I Joy to hear it, but withal must say
I was forgot, they were not so to mine.

[Weeping over Clindor.
Demet.
Divert the Thought, dear Madam, with the Prospect
Of Comforts that are coming.

Beliz.
My poor Boy!
Forgive, ye Gods, if thus a Mother's Passion
Forgets her Reverence, was not so much your Care.

Demet.
The awful Deities have secret Ends
In all these wond'rous Acts, and Resignation
Is our chief point of Duty.—Fate is tir'd
With the ill Dooms fal'n on unhappy Corinth,
And has resolv'd to make her Satisfaction.

Beliz.
Me 'tis impossible; Oh Heaven! what Satisfaction!

[Weeping tenderly.
Demet.
Nay all the tutelar Divinities
Join on our side; amongst the rest, Clorona,
The sacred Genius of our hopeful Enterprize,
Whilst you lay there o'erwhelm'd in Floods of Sorrow,
Appear'd; and with a propitious Smile
On you and me, dispersing Influence,
Gave Omen of Success, and safe Revenge.

Beliz.
That then, a while, shall raise me from the Grave
[Rising up.
A little Bustle must be done in the World;
Then to my darling Angel I'll return,
[Kissing Clindor.
Make his cold Bed, and gently lie down by him.

Demet.
The Voice of Fame eternally must sing
In your Applause, the noble Grecian Heroine
Will be a Theme to all Futurity
For our immortal Bards upon their Lyres,
To charm the World with, and in Womens Right
Renown their wond'rous Constancy and Honour.

Beliz.
Traverse the Stories of immortal Heroes,
Penn'd by the noblest Hands in their Applause
For doing Wonders in their Country's Service;
Contempt of Danger, and Heart-breaking Woes,
Let 'em be all enrol'd and canoniz'd;
And, when they are sum'd up to the last Degree,
Then let all tender Mothers write of me.

[Looking tenderly and kissing Clindor.
Demet.
A Theme for ever to be celebrated
Whilst Time exists, and Humans have a Being.
Come then, thou Soul of Honour, rouze and cherish
Thy noble Heart with Courage, clear thy Brow,
And then prepare thy self to bear a part
In the ensuing Wonders.

Beliz.
Lead the way,
[Takes up Clindor's Body in her Arms.
Revenge inspires me, and I'll try to follow,
Clearing sad Looks, as if my Heart were easy:
But as the wounded Deer, by Hunters prest,
Bearing a Shaft deep in his wounded Breast,
Bounds over spatious Plains, do's Mountains climb;
And makes the best of his short dated Time
T'avoid his Pain; from thence he hops, he flies,
Runs, then stops short, and several ways he tries;
But vainly strives his former Rest to win,
The Dart sticks fast, the Grief is still within.

[Exeunt, she carrying out Clindor's Body.