University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

SCENE A Garden.
Enter Cleora.
Cleo.
Love in Absence finds no Ease;
Crouds, diverting, but displease:
This dark, this melancholick Grove
Suits my Sadness, and my Love.
Ye feather'd Songsters, round me flying,
Courting,
Sporting,
Care defying;
Oh! did you but feel my Anguish,
Soon you'd change your Notes, and languish.
AIR.

Enter Thomyris.
“Tho.
aside.
While chosen Bands, by young Orontes led,
“Press the retreating Foe,
‘Who, from our growing Army, dread
“A fatal Blow;
“I come as great a Danger to remove;
“And save him from the Harms of Love.—
“She's here; I'll strive to know
“If she loves him.—
“To Cleora.]
Will you still your Fate bemoan?
“Still indulge your Grief alone?

Tho.
Lov'd and cherish'd every where,
What should pain you, grieving Fair?
Sure you mourn an absent Lover.

Cleo.
aside.
Oh! my Looks my Flame discover.

Tho.
Ev'n your Blushes I will spare:
I'll be kind beyond desiring.
Since now before my Son I hear
Persia's Army is retiring,
For your Return you may prepare.
Tho' Justice might restrain you,
Clemency will not detain you.

Cleo.
aside.
Cruel Kindness!

Tho.
apart.
Her Looks her Love betray.
To her.]
Are you not pleas'd?

Cleo.
Oh! with Favours now you pain me.
How shall I my Debt repay!
So much you bless,
It griev'd me less
To be confin'd, than now to go away.
“Ev'n your Foes, admiring, share
“The Blessings of your gentle Sway:
“Thrice happy those, who ever here
“Your lov'd Commands obey!
“AIR.

“Tho.
How slavish must those Spirits be,
“Who lose the very Sense of Liberty!
“Blest Freedom, lost are those who lose thee,
“Doubly lost those who refuse thee.
AIR.

Cleo.
Thus obliging, you undo.
What is Freedom, losing you?

AIR.
Tho.
When Duty's requiring,
How sweet is obeying,
How fatal delaying?

Cleo.
Your Virtues admiring,
How sweet is delaying,
Our Moments repaying?

Tho.
In vain do you press me!
Oh why do you press me?

Cleo.
Oh why do you press me?
Detain me to bless me.
How sweet, &c.

[Exeunt Thom. and Cleo.
Enter Media, follow'd by Baldo in a warlike Habit.
AIR.
Bald.
Halt! when Love and Honour calls you.
Tho' some other might maul you,
No harm now can befal you,
Your Anger takes me down.
Take my Heart, my Love to crown.
Let me garrison the Town;
Then, then, let me hang or drown.

Med.
Follow your Prince! Go join his Army!
Dare to be kill'd, and then, then, then, you'll charm me.

Bald.
I stay'd behind, from him to bear
A Message to his Princely Fair.

Med.
You have your Answer:
What more d'ye want, Sir?

Bald.
Some kind Token of your Favour;
And then your Soldier's made for ever.

AIR.
Med.
Can you leave ranging?—No
Ne'er think of changing?—No.
And constant grow.—No.
Reform and marry—No.
In Love ne'er vary.—No.
You'd soon grow weary,
And from me go.
You'd wish to leave me.
I'd wish to leave you.
You would deceive me.
I would deceive you.
Your Fate you know.
Can you leave ranging, and constant grow? &c.

Bald.
in Imitation of Media,
I'd ne'er grow weary.—No.
Nor from you go.—No.

Med.
Will nothing fright you out of Love?
Then know, I'll ne'er your Flame approve.
What e'er of Constant Love is said;
Of the dull Whim we're all afraid.
Our Flame we must smother,
When tir'd of each other.
AIR.

[Exit.
Bald.
Who knows where to have her!
In vain I endeavour.
Oh! I cou'd rail; I cou'd rave; I cou'd curse;
I cou'd wed her for Spight—I cou'd—never do worse.
No; wisely I'll go,
And turn my Fury on the Foe.
Tho' wild, like Fortune, now I find her,
My brave Exploits may make her kinder.
AIR.

[Exeunt.