University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

A Palace.
Enter Thomyris.
AIR.
Tho.
Cares, on a Crown attending,
How pressing is your Weight!
Crouds to the Great are bending;
But Cares command the Great:
Cares, on a Crown attending,
How pressing is your Weight!

Enter Orontes.
Oron.
How pleas'd were I, cou'd I but share,
Tho' not your Empire, yet your Care?
Qual piacer, se dividesti
Pene meco si moleste!

Tho.
I thank your Love—But oh! my Son,
When you, the Hopes of Scythia, run
Into the Dangers others shun,
The Nation fears; I grieve unseen;
And, in the Mother, lose the Queen.
“Then wisely temper and controul
“That noble Ardour of your Soul.

“Oron.
When you, Great Queen, in Souls inspire
“Your more than Amazonian Fire,
“Shall I not dare? and with Applause?
“For such a Queen, and such a Cause?

“Tho.
Two Hundred Thousand Persians still
“Our Plains with War and Horror fill.
Our Troops are few; but those to join
The King of Pontus does incline.
The Pledge of Union is to be
His beauteous Daughter, blest with thee.
For this the People sue, this now the State demands;
The Mother counsels; but the Queen commands.

“Oron.
Tho' the Subject must comply,
“Great Queen, oh! grant a short Reprieve;
“Yet averse to such a Tye,
“To the Son some Moments give,
“To strive not to deny.

“Tho.
Think—But know, superior Fate
“Dooms the Great
“To be Victims to the State.
Exit Thom.

“Oron.
Victims indeed—
You Pow'rs above!
Oh! must I sacrifice my Love!

Enter Cleora.
Oron.
But see! she comes—Oh! how she charms!
How struggling Reason she disarms!
Forgive, forgive, you Rules of State!
I yield to Her, and Fate.
Her very Silence is persuading.
There is no Choice, when she's invading.
Ahi! convien tradir l'amore.
Ma s'en viene. O come è bella!
Contro amor non val ragione.
Deh! voi massime di stato,
Perdonate! io cedo al fato.

Cleo.
Oh! my Blushes will reve al
The Flame I wou'd conceal.

Oron.
Lovely Princess, oh! forgive me!
Turn not from me, do not leave me,
With a pitying Look reprieve me!
Press'd from you my Heart to tear,
I grow daring by Despair.
Deh! Mia bella, ah! perdonate!
Non fugite, e consolate
Con un guardo l'amor mio!
Il veder di speme un raggio
Mi da forza, e piu coraggio.
“With one Look my Flame approve,
“And I swear Eternal Love.

“Cleo.
Ah! Prince.

“Oron.
Speak, my Goddess! speak my Fate:
“I dread nothing, but your Hate.

“Cleo.
Cease a Passion to pursue,
“That too soon may both undo.
“By warring Pow'rs to other Loves design'd,
“Will they bear to see us join'd?
“Ah! no, the lost Cleora leave,
“Who only dares to grieve.

Cleo.
Ah Prince, I must not hear—you must not stay.
I shall gaze my Heart away.

[Aside.
AIR.
Oron.
A lover near despairing,
Bright Charmer must be daring.
His Flame he cannot smother,
Nor can he love another:
He must alone implore you,
Alone adore you.
A Lover, &c.
Amante disperato,
Al fato oppone il core.
Osi cimenti, e pera
Quel alma, che non spera
I frutti dell' amore!
Amante, &c.

Da Capo.
“Oron.
Do but suffer me to Love,
“And leave the rest to Fate:
“I'm blest enough, if you approve,
“But wretched if you hate.

“Cleo.
Partial Trial: forc'd Denial!
[Aside.
“Pride dissembles; Reason trembles.
Be firm, my Mind! Maintain a Sov'reigns Part!
Let the Head controul the Heart!

AIR.
Let us fly, let us fly our Undoing!
Love allures us; but Reason denies.
Those are caught, who the Chace are pursuing:
But she's safe, and may conquer, who flies.
Let us fly, let us fly our Undoing:
Love allures us, but Reason denies.

[Exeunt.