 | Tryphon |  |
THE FOURTH ACT.
Stratonice Demetrius and Irene.The Scene Nicanors Pallace.
Ire.
to Str.
Such are the Sorrows he does now endure,
As, if You are not, Death will be his Cure.
Stra.
Those Griefs, Demetrius, which in you I see
Contagious prove and have infected me;
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Of sorrows whose Effect your Looks reveal.
Dem.
Madam I hop'd you rather would deplor
Those Griefs I beare, then load me thus with more,
Judge with what Malice Fate does me pursue,
Since I'm affraid to tell my Grief to you,
To you who only have the Pow'r to Cure
Those Matchles Miseries which I endure.
Stra.
Alas what you have told me now, I find,
More then your Silence is to me Unkind,
For you lament, and in a high degree,
Those Griefs whose Cure you say depends on me:
What have I done that you should use me so?
Dem.
Ah Madam, sure you my Transgression know,
Or your Resentments could not be so High,
As by such Cruel Words to make me Dye,
Which now I humbly begg your leave to doe,
Since twice you say I was unkind to you;
But for those Words I never could have thought,
That my Misfortune did Transcend my Fault,
I must Despair your Pardon now to win,
My Grief for needing it being judg'd my Sin.
Stra.
You never my Resentments did provoke
But by your Silence and what now you spoke.
Dem.
Would to the Gods I never had, then I
Should but Unhappy and not Guilty Dye,
But I alas must by a Fatall Oath
Ending my Life contract the Guilt of both,
That is my Fate whatever I shall doe.
Stra.
I feare your Sorrows have Distracted you.
Dem.
Alas Distraction, Madam, would appear
A Happiness compar'd to what I bear,
For though the Joys I in your Love Recieve
Transcend all those which Heaven to me can give,
Yet I those Charming Glories must foregoe,
And to my self the Sin thereof must owe.
Stra.
Demetrius, I believ'd you had a Soul
Which could th'approaches of Despair controul.
Dem.
Condemn not, Madam, the Despair I show,
Since Tryphon is Declar'd my Rivall now.
Stra.
Since this is the Misfortune you deplore,
I have more cause to Blame you then before,
For could you Grieve at this, did you not fear
I would his Crown above your Love preferr?
By your first Fault you did but wrong my Love,
But this a wrong does to my Vertue prove;
Alas what two worse Actions could you doe,
Then thus to doubt my Love and Vertue too.
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Ah Madam, if you would have heard me out,
You would have found that I do neither doubt,
For Nothing can to either equall be,
But that Misfortune which has fall'n on me;
When I thus grieve he does my Rivall prove,
I feare his Cruelty, not doubt your Love;
But though his Fire for you I must Lament,
Yet Fate on me a sharper Curse has sent;
For he not knowing I his Rivall am,
Imployes me to acquaint you with his Flame;
To court you for him I am hither sent
And he his Rival makes his Confident.
Str.
He has more cause to mourn for this then you.
Dem.
Yet to a Trust Fidelity is due,
That Man who can be faithless to his Friend,
Though 'tis in Love, deserves to lose his End:
Could I but one Unworthy Action do,
I should by it forfeit my Right in you,
And though you might to Pardon me think fit
Yet to my self I ne're could Pardon it.
Stra.
Heaven this strict Virtue does in you Inspire,
Which therefore I Condemn not but Admire;
Then with what you did Promise him Comply,
But what you ask for Him I'le still Deny;
Thus you to Friendship's Duty Just may prove,
And I as Faithfull to the Rights of Love.
Dem.
Oh gods! What is Demetrius's Offence,
That you to him so strange a Fate dispence;
Your Fiercest Anger could not plague him worse,
Then thus to turn his Blessings to his Curse;
Your Love and Vertue which should give Releif,
But more contributes to Augment my Grief,
Yes, Madam, your Inconstancy and Hate
Had been to me a less Tormenting Fate,
Less Horror I had felt from Deaths Assault
Caus'd by my Mistress Justice then my Fault;
I'me as Unfortunate as you are Fair.
Stra.
Alas what causes in you this Despair?
Since I have let you know how you might be
Just to your Vowes, to Tryphon, and to Me.
Dem.
'Tis more then all the World has Pow'r to doe,
I must be False to Him or False to You,
For not believing he Ador'd your Eyes,
I swore a solemn Oath I would despise
His Conquerors Charmes to serve him, thus you see
I must Forsake you or must Perjur'd be,
I know which of the two I ought to doe,
'Tis less to loose then be unfit for you;
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Calls me to Death, you to the Syrian Throne;
Death is to my Ambitious Passion due
Which from the Throne can only hinder you,
My Fate I therefore shall Undaunted bear,
Since 'tis my Ruine helps to raise you there.
Stra.
Could I of what you now propose admit,
I of that Throne should judge my self Unfit;
Tryphon, to gain it, has acquir'd such Hate,
As 'tis scarce strong enough to bear his Weight,
And to his Guilt if I should add my own,
'Twould be a Certain Way to sinke the Throne.
Dem.
If with his Pow'r your Virtue you doe mix,
Madam, the Throne you would not Sink but Fix;
Then what he offers you vouchsafe to take,
Both for your own and for your Countries sake.
Stra.
My Country will deserve those Chaines shee's in,
Could she consent to Break them by my Sin.
Dem.
Your Country cannot charge you with a crime,
Since, Madam, I Resign you up to Him.
Stra.
Resign me up to him! Ah you shall find,
That I to Tryphon will not be Resign'd;
Now you Pretend to more then you can Do,
For you'd Forsake me and Bestow me too;
You may, if you think fit, your Love decline,
But I, Demetrius, ne're can alter mine.
Dem.
Ah the more Kindness you to me Express,
You still to it Intitle me the less.
Stra.
I see too clearly what you told me now,
And mourn your Sin more then the Losing you;
Yet I by Scorning Tryphon will make known,
I Value you more then the Syrian Throne;
If to your Guilt I so Oblieging prove,
Ah judge what I'de have been unto your Love;
Farewell, you are the first the World e're knew
Who Lov'd his Mistress and Forsook her too.
Stratonice and Irene go out. Demetrius gazing after them.
Dem.
Thus when the Sun from us withdraws his Light,
He leaves the World to Horror and to Night;
Why to the Throne did Heaven let Tryphon climb
And then Revenge on me my Truth to him?
Prodigious is my Fate, my Death I find
In Friendships being True and Beauty Kind;
Oh Gods! to what must I hereafter Trust?
Since you Destroy me but for being Just;
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Why am I Ruin'd for pursuing it?
[He goes out.
Cleopatra and Hermione,
Cleopatra holding Tryphon's letter in her hand.
The Scene the Garden of Nicanor's Palace.
Cleo.
To Court and gain my leave his Queen to be,
And after dare thus to Abandon me!
Th'Affront which he thereby on me would lay,
Can only by his Blood be wash'd away.
Her.
Why should his leaving you your Anger move,
Since now you may Accept Aretus Love?
That Fatal Promise which eclips'd your Joy
Tryphon's Inconstancy does now Destroy.
Cleo.
I should Aretus Flame too much Abuse,
If I gave him what Tryphon does Refuse.
Her.
Sure, Madam, if you argue at this rate,
To lose Aretus is your Choice not Fate.
(Enter Aretus.
Ar.
Madam, I bring before your Justice now
One who has been so Criminal to you,
As he no longer could deferr to come,
And beg he may from you Receive his Doom?
He would have free'd you from pronouncing it,
But that he did believe it was unfit,
Since against you he did commit the Crime,
That any but your self should Sentence him;
His Sorrow for his Sin must needs be High,
Since he himself makes it his Suit to Dye.
Cleo.
Who e're, Aretus, has Offended me,
And then does Grieve for it to such degree,
As proves it was not his Design but Fate,
Deserves my Pardon rather than my Hate.
And since by me he is exempt from Blame,
You safely may acquaint me with his Name,
And in what 'tis he did so guilty prove.
Ar.
I am th'Offender and th'Offence is Love,
By my Respects to you I Guilty am;
'Tis they alas make me miscal my Flame,
For those blest Fires which on your Altar shine
Are not more Sacred or more Pure than mine,
Judge, Madam, of your Beauties Influence,
Which makes me call such Love as this Offence,
A Love which does produce so bright a Flame,
As nothing can Displease you but the Name.
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Aretus, I'me Amaz'd at what you say.
Ar.
But yet my Vows to you I durst not pay,
Till you to Tryphon gave that Fatal leave,
Which show'd you might a Lovers Vows Receive,
And since you did not his Address decline,
It made me Hope that you might Pardon mine,
For he ne're did what a Brave Man should do,
Unless it were in Daring to Love you;
I would not therefore make my Passion known,
While he by his might place you on a Throne,
And yet that Throne appear'd for you Unfit,
Since such a Tyrant once had sate in it,
But now that he your Service has Forsook,
I come to beg those Chains which he hath Broke;
I would have begg'd I might Revenge you too,
But he has done it by Forsaking you;
Heaven could on him no Greater Curse have sent
For such a Sin than such a Punishment.
Cleo.
Th'Affront's too Great which he has laid on me,
To think his Choice his Punishment should be,
But since you say your Love for me is Strong,
Prove what you say by Punishing this Wrong;
The Tyrants Guard will but in vain Withstand,
A rip'ned Vengeance from a Lovers Hand,
Ar.
Of a more sharp Revenge you well might Boast,
Would you give me that Blessing he has Lost,
'Twill be much Worse for him than to be Dead,
To see me have what he has Forfeited.
Cleo.
Aretus hold, while I my self perswade
Not to Resent what you so boldly said,
And to obtain me, Love would have you do
But what your Country's Wrongs do call you to,
You can against my just Commands contend,
Though Glory be your Way, and Love your End,
'Tis onely I who a fit Judge can prove,
In what relates to my Revenge or Love;
'Tis just you knew, since you my Love have sought,
The lowest Price at which it can be bought.
Cleop. and Herm. go out.
Ar.
O Love, O Friendship, and O Fatal Vow!
To which shall I pay my Obedience now?
My Friend has done that which he promis'd me,
And I from Tryphon's Rivalship am free,
By which my Vow and Friendship ties my Hand,
From Acting what my Mistress does command,
In Love for ever I must miss my End,
Or must be false both to my Oath or Friend;
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Opposing thus my Vertue to my Love,
And yet I Merit what I suffer now,
Since I could make so criminal a Vow.
Demetrius comes in.
Heaven, my Demetrius, does you hither send,
That you the Torments I am in may end.
What I more wish than Life or Fear than Death
Does now entirely Hang upon your Breath,
For neither those nor ought that I can name
Should come in Balance with my Love or Fame.
Dem.
If I can ease your Pains, you'l do me Wrong
If you Suspect they shall Afflict you long;
Tell me what Service I must pay you now.
Ar.
You know you made me make a hasty Vow,
That I th'Usurpers Life would not Pursue.
Dem.
Has he not Done that which I Promis'd you,
And from your Mistress does his Love recall?
Ar.
'Tis therefore by my Hands that he must Fall.
Dem.
Rage o're your Reason has the Empire got,
You'll kill him when your Rival and when not.
Ar.
From this Resolve nothing can me Remove,
His Life does Rival me as did his Love,
For Cleopatra will not mine Admit,
Till Tryphon's Death evince the Truth of it;
'Tis therefore by your Friendship that I now
Beg you to free me from that Guilty Vow.
Dem.
That Hate which she for Tryphon doth Express
Ought sure to make your Hatred for him Cease,
Since Cleopatra Tryphon does abhor
Onely because he Rivals you no more.
Ar.
I find some Reason in what now you say,
But I find Greater her Command t'Obey;
Since I'de have kill'd him while I did but Fear,
That from my Hopes he might have Ravish'd Her,
How can I now th'Usurpers Death delay,
Since to Obtain her 'tis the certain Way?
Heaven which my Sacred Flame for her does know,
And that same chiefly made me take that Vow,
Pittying that on a Love so free from Guilt
The Safety of a Tyrant should be Built,
Does, to Repair that Sin it did contract,
Ingage me now by Love his Fate to Act,
'Twas fit, as Love made me the Sin commit,
So it should free me from the Guilt of it;
Since too by Friendship I to it was won,
Let Friendship free me from't as Love has done.
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Sure such Discourse as this you'de not approve,
Did you conferr your Reason with your Love.
Ar.
Ah this Reproach you cast upon me now
Would have been Just when I did make the Vow,
A hated Name you for your self will win,
Making the killing of a Tyrant sin;
Can you then more for an Usurper do,
Than for your Friend and for your Country too?
Dem.
To what you Ask I cannot Condescend,
In Kindness to my Country and my Friend.
Ar.
Alas you'l shew that you abhorr them Both,
If you will not absolve me from an Oath,
By which your Friend the happiest Man may be,
And Syria will from Tyranny be free.
Dem.
To Grant what you Desire would be so farr,
From Ending Tyranny, 'twill Raise a War.
Ar.
Though I consider War as no small Curse,
Yet to be Rul'd by an Usurper's worse.
Dem.
All would, were Tryphon kill'd, fight for the Throne,
'Tis worse to have Many Tyrants than but One.
Ar.
If by our Hands they saw this Tyrant fall,
'Twould frighten Usurpation from them all.
Dem.
The Pow'r so fully Tryphon's Friends engross,
As they on us would soon Revenge his Loss,
And Syria would such ill by War endure,
As the Disease seems easier than the Cure.
Ar.
Such as to fight for his Revenge would dare,
Are people fit to be destroy'd by War.
Dem.
But by the Pow'r they have so long enjoy'd,
They 're likelier to destroy then be destroy'd.
Ar.
Ah you your self what now you said must blame,
Or must think Justice but an empty Name;
Who has the Right has on his side the Odds,
Else chance does Rule the World and not the Gods.
Dem.
The Right Antiochus had on his side,
And yet alas by Tryphon's Sword he dy'd.
Ar.
You know that hapless Monarch did not dye
By Tryphon's Force but by his Trechery;
Those onely then to bear his Yoke are fit
Who can Fear ought more than to suffer it;
Do not a Guilt so great as this pursue.
Dem.
I have more Cause to be his Foe than you,
For he is fall'n in Love with Stratonice,
And me he did into a Vow surprize,
Before to me his Conqueress he did name,
That I would Help and Serve him in his Flame,
By which the Death of Tryphon, you may see,
Cannot more Grateful prove to you than me,
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Even those I have for Stratonice's Love,
Then doe not Blame me, if I hinder you
From Doing what I think is Sin to Doe.
Ar.
The Justice of the Gods in this you see,
He punishes in you your Guilt to me;
You Cross my Love and bind me to my Oath,
Tryphon alike Revenges me in both;
'Tis Heaven permits him thus to do you Wrong,
Because his Death you have delay'd so long.
Dem.
That Wrong you mention I with Patience take,
Since I'me convinc'd it is for Syria's sake;
By me be taught to give your Passion Lawes,
And Bravely Suffer for your Contry's cause;
Farewell, to Sacred Virtue let us trust;
The Gods would not be Gods were they not Just.
(Demetrius offers to goe out.
Aretus drawes his Sword.
Ar.
Demetrius stay.
Dem.
Ha! what meane you now?
Ar.
Since you Deny to free me from my Vow,
By which my Hopes of Cleopatra End,
And Syria must under a Tyrant Bend,
Either of which, too Cleerly you must see,
Is worse a thousand times then Death to me,
Thus I cast off that Friendship which does prove
So Fatall to my Country and my Love;
My Death must End the Grief of losing both,
Or yours Absolve me from my Guilty Oath.
Dem.
Put up your Sword, for when this Storm is Laid,
You'll Hate your self for what you now have said;
Though to your Rage your Friendship you Resign,
Yet you shall see nothing can alter mine.
Ar.
How dare you mention Friendship's Sacred Name
And yet Oppose my Country, Love, and Fame?
By that Enchanting Word you shall not now
That payment Stop which to these three I Owe.
Draw or I'll kill thee.
Dem.
—Heare me but one Word.
Ar.
I will not hear thee till thou draw'st thy Sword.
Dem.
Then thus I draw it, but to Heaven I Vow
I'l soner Kill my self with it then You.
Ar.
Thy Guilt to me thy Courage has betray'd,
It makes Demetrius now of Death affraid.
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When thou reflect'st the King my Rivall is,
How by my Oath I have lost Stratonice,
And how thy self on whom I did rely
Art from my Friend become my Enemy,
It may perhaps to thee a Truth appeare,
That Death is what I Wish not what I Feare;
What I have told thee now I thus make good;
[Opening his doublet and spreading his armes.
Here quench thy Rage in my unguarded Blood,
And in my Death no Grief I shall endure,
But that thy Rage not Friendship acts the Cure.
(Aretus turns away.
Why dost thou turn away? we are Agreed,
My Death is what thou Seek'st and what Need.
Ar.
Oh my Demetrius, that which now you doe
Is worse then not to free me from my Vow;
For Friendship's sake methinks you should not give
Wounds worse then Death, yet after let me Live.
Dem.
If this appears a cruelty to thee,
Then be not Guilty of the like to me.
Ar.
I but provok'd you to that High Degree
To get that Death from you you seek from me.
Dem.
Such Wounds from You and Fate I now Recieve,
As I much rather Death would Take then Give.
Ar.
I hop'd for me your Friendship was so High,
As, when you found Tryphon or I must Dye
You then to Kill him your Consent would give,
Or let me the Denyal not Survive,
But now alas both are refus'd by you.
Dem.
Ah doe not blame what Honour makes me doe,
You know how much Tryphon my Friend has bin.
Ar.
Call you him Friend who's Guilty of the sin
Of Tying you by Oath from Stratonice?
Dem.
He does not know that he my Rivall is;
But, she whom I acquainted with it now,
And how I was surpris'd into my Vow,
Does Scorn his Passion and Condemn my Crime
In being False to her and true to him,
For thus she tearmes what my Oath binds me to,
By which I am under such Torments now,
As if the Gods should but one day deny
The Cure I need, the Grief will make me die;
So long your Aimes at Tryphons Death suspend,
'Tis but one day and beg'd too by your Friend.
Ar.
So long I'le respite Justice for your sake,
But know, so long I shall be on the Racke.
Dem.
Heaven Knows, which on us both such Ills has thrown,
That I lament Your Sufferings as my Own.
They goe out embracing.
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The Scene Tryphons Pallace.
Try.
Yes, in my first Address my chiefest End
Was by Alliance to make you my Friend,
And this Address to the like End does move,
But with th'Addition of a Deathless Love;
The Bond between us nothing can Undoe,
When ty'd by Love and by Alliance too.
Nic.
That Honor you to Stratonice design
Deserves her best Acknowledgments and mine.
Try.
You then Consent I place her in my Throne.
Nic.
Sir, it were fit you first Obtain'd her Own,
For as by Natures Dictates she is led
Not without my Consent her self to Wed.
So 'twould in me, Unnaturall appear,
Should I without her leave dispose of Her.
Try.
'Twould much Advance the Union I pursue,
If I could tell her 'tis Approv'd by you.
Nic.
Too much to me it like Injustice showes
T'Approve that Union till I know she Does.
Try.
You'l make me doubt, your Scruples are so nice,
That you on it do set too Low a Price.
Nic.
No Sir, I doe Esteem it as I ought;
Call not my Duty to my Child a Fault.
Try.
I Know what e'r you Please shee'll alwayes Do,
And therefore I'll alike Ascribe to you
Those Charming Joy Im her Love shall find,
As all my Torments should she prove Unkind;
To you, Nicanor, I this Ev'ning give,
T'ingage her, my Addresses to receive,
But if to be Rejected be my Fate,
Know I'l resent it at the Highest Rate.
Nic.
I'l Rather to a Punishment submit,
Then to the Guilt of what may Merit it.
(Tryphon and Nicanor goe out severall wayes.
Enter Cleopatra and Seleucus.
The Scene Nicanors Pallace.
Sel.
Though Tryphon does to me much Favour show,
Yet, Madam, the Respect to you I owe
Makes me abhor th'Affront he did to you,
And makes me offer to Revenge it too;
40
More then they doe his Usurpation;
Since it in Reason cannot be deny'd,
But that Inconstancy is worse then Pride;
Pride oft in Heighthned Souls does it self show,
Inconstancy Rules only in the Low,
And since your Sex does your own Hand Confine,
From Acting your Revenge, accept of mine.
Cleo.
That Generous Sence you of my Wrongs doe show,
And the Brave Offer which you make me now,
Joyn'd with that Friendship which I alwayes see
You have both for Nicanor and for me,
Makes me believe I should Unjustly doe,
If I in ought could hide my Greif from you;
Know then my Wrongs to me so Weighty seem,
As I am Rack'd till I'm Reveng'd on him;
And know that no Revenge can Grateful be,
But one as Vast as is the Injury.
Sel.
Will you not judge that our Deposing him
Is a Revenge proportion'd to his Crime?
Cleo.
Ah talk not of deposing him, you know
That's less then what you to your Country owe,
For Syria's Wrongs and mine will you pursue
A less Revenge then is to either due?
And for those Sins which he has Done before,
Will you Restraine him but from Doing more?
Sel.
Tryphon will find, since he in Crimes was bred,
That such Restraint is worse then to be Dead;
To one Depos'd what Sentence can you give
So Cruel as Condemning him to Live;
Some Generous men who did that Fate endure,
To shun the shame in Death have Sought the Cure.
Cleo.
A Generous man, Seleucus, I will owne,
Finds Death an Ease when he has lost his Throne;
But he whose Soul is Low, and Crimes are High,
Thinks it the Greatest Punishment to Dye;
And that Revenge has still the Sharpest bin,
Which is held such by him who did the Sin.
Ah for my Wrongs there's no Revenge seems Good
That is not written in th'Offenders Blood;
In all else you Propose you Lose your Breath,
And to Obliege me you must act his Death.
Sel.
If nothing else your Anger can atone,
Madam, depend upon't, it shall be Done;
But 'tis a Deed so Daring and Sublime,
That to Perform it will require some time;
Though I his Guards command, I dare not yet
Trust them with things so Dangerous and Great.
41
To Dangerous Acts the Brave should alwayes run,
Those must not be Consulted of but Done;
A Tyrants Pow'r still on his Life depends,
Who cuts it off cuts off with it his Friends;
But that you may this Deed the boldlier doe,
My Secrets I will now Disclose to you.
Aretus who your Friendship does Possess,
And who is Gallant ev'n to an Excess,
Courts my Affection to a High Degree,
And I must Blushing say is Own'd by me;
In my Revenge him I engag'd of late,
He shall joyn with you to Act Tryphons Fate,
Which by th'Usurper cannot be declin'd,
When two such Men his Ruine have design'd;
But some Disorders in your Looks I see.
Sel.
What have you Trusted any one but Me?
I am perplex'd that you Revenge Design,
And yet make use of any Arm but Mine.
Cleo.
Into new Griefs me my Revenge had Thrown,
If I had ow'd so Great a Debt to one,
I therefore chuse to share it betwixt two,
Love does in him what Friendship does in you.
Sel.
Yes, to Aretus, Madam, I'l be Just,
He does Deserve this Honour and this Trust;
Wee'l both Consult which is the surest Way,
In this Great Work your Orders to Obey.
Cleo.
This Favour no Addition can admit,
But by Celerity in Doing it,
Since while my Just Revenge you both defer,
I feel those Pains which Tryphon ought to bear.
[Cleopatra goes out.
Seleucus
alone.
O Prodigy of Fate! I hither came
T'Acquaint Fair Cleopatra with my Flame,
And scarce could doubt but I should Happy prove,
Since I through her Revenge did Court her Love;
But e'r my Heart I at her Feet could lay,
She tels me she has giv'n her Own away,
Nay more in her Revenge shee'd have me Joyn
With him who most of all does Merit Mine:
Never was any Lovers Fate so hard,
The Danger I must Share, not the Reward;
Was it her Ignorance or else her Art,
Thus to accept my Hand but not my Heart?
Aretus hitherto has been my Friend,
But Love now to that Name does give an End.
And to Obtain her he shall quickly see
He must not only Tryphon Kill but Me.
| Tryphon | |