University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

A Royal Tent.
Orontes sleeping, and chain'd. Guards about him.
After a short piece of Instrumental Musick, proper for a Sleep.
Enter Tigranes.
Tigr.
“He sleeps! still Happy, spight of Fate.
“Of Quiet he partakes;
“Kind Dreams upon his Slumbers wait.
“I envy him this easie State.
“The Jealous ever wakes.—
Wake, Orontes! wake, arise!

[Orontes awakes; and, looking about, starts up in a great Surprise.
Oro.
Ha! sure I dream—What Objects strike my Eyes!
To Arms—My Sword—Ha! Chain'd—
Tigranes here!—
My Fellow Soldiers!—
Ah! ch'io sogno—che remiro—
Strano oggetto! all'armi, all'armi.
La mia Spada—Ahi! son legato—
Qui Tigrane!—Miei Soldati!—

Tigr.
Surpriz'd, like you, Death, or your Chains they share.
Retreating Cyrus, press'd by you,
His Camp did to the Foe resign,
With Dainties stor'd, and treach'rous Wine,
Your Scythians to subdue.
Lethargic Drugs, mix'd with the gen'rous Juice,
Soon did to Sleep your wearied Troops reduce:
“With Ease a Grave they found in every Bed;
“Buried in Wine and Sleep, already like the Dead.

Oro.
Oh! Fraud alone of Vict'ry cou'd deprive 'em.
Kill me! Why shou'd I survive 'em?
Coll'arte sol tu vincergli potevi
Se l'opra uvoi compir, me pure uccidi!

Tigr.
Brave Orontes, you must live.

Oro.
No; I hate the Life you give.
No; se tu me la doni, odio la vita.

Tigr.
Live.

Oro.
No; let me die.
No lascia, chio mora.

Tigr.
Live, from Revenge Cleora to retrieve.

Oro.
Oh! her Name forces a Reprieve.
Ah! questo nome sol mi chiama in vita.

Tigr.
Promise to resign the Fair,
And now I'll set you free.

Oro.
Death, or Slav'ry, let me bear;
But claim her not of me!
Ch'io la ceda? mai non fia.
Morte, e catene soffriro ben pria.
“Fate enough to you is kind;
“You're free, approv'd, and I confin'd.

“Tigr.
Who knows what Fate designs!
“I dread too sudden Joys.
“When the glitt'ring Lightning shines,
“Soon the Thunderbolt destroys.
AIR.

“Oro.
The same my Passions, worse my Woes:
“My Fair, and Fate, my Joys oppose.
“Let Valor then the double Cause decide;
“Honour's first, then Love's be try'd.
“By Orosmades by the Sun I swear,
“To her own Choice, I'll leave the Fair.
“First release me, as I freed you,
“Then let me fall, if she's decreed you.

Tigr.
“Be wise, comply!
“Resolve, no more to love her, or to die.

Oron.
Without her, Life no Joys can give.
No more to love her! 'tis no more to live.
Senza lei, piacer non sento.
Se non l'amo, piu non vivo.

Oron.
No more to love her!
Ah, no! I'll ne'er give over.
E're I comply,
I'll die.
I prize no Joy above her.
Love chains my fond Heart.
In vain from her you tear me:
We ne'er can part.
She's here, she's ever near me.
No more, &c.
Ch'io piu non l'ami!
Ah! no: morro ben pria.
Vorrebbe i cor,
No nol potra mai.
Ella e crudel;
Ma che piu bella assai:
Ell' e infedel;
Lo so; ma cio non fia.

[Da Capo.
Tigr.
Honour has conquer'd: Gen'rous Foe,
Take Liberty, the Debt I owe.

[The Guards set Orontes free.
Oro.
I thank Tigranes: Tho' now Life's a Pain.
Like Friends we'll part, like Foes to meet again.
Benche il viver sia tormento,
O Tigrane, io ti ringrazia.
Amici or Siam, ci rividrem nemici.

Tigr.
I no Hopes can discover.

Oron.
I despair, yet I love her.

Both.
Like War's are Love's Alarms:
Tho' Fatal are the Charms,
Who can give over?
In van sospiro, e bramo.
Non posso piu sperar;
E pur io amo.

Exeunt severally.