University of Virginia Library

THE SECOND ACT.

The Scene the Palace Garden.
Demetrius and Aretus as in discourse:
Dem.
But for his interrupting of us, you
Had then known all which I have told you now:
Methinks you seem amaz'd at what I said.

Are.
Alas your Words have struck me worse then Dead:
Fortune no Curse so bad as this could send,
Made sharper too, since acted by my Freind.

Dem.
How could I think that you concern'd had been,
In Cleopatra's being Tryphon's Queen.

Are.
I am so much concern'd in it, that I,
Rather then see her Tryphon's Wife, wou'd Dye.

Dem.
Doe you then love her—

Are.
Love's too low a name
For that which does Aretus heart Inflame,
For never any Fire resembled mine
But that Bright Fire which in her Eyes does shine.

Dem.
Was't fit this Love from me conceal'd should be?

Are.
Alas 'twas till last night unknown to me,
Something I felt of late had Charm'd me so,
As did at once Please and Subject me too;
But those Emotions were so farr above
All that the world has ever known of Love,
As, that 'twas Love no more by them I knew,
Then I can now describe that Love to you:
'Twas fit that Eyes that shoot unusuall Rayes
Should kindle Fires too in unusuall wayes.

Dem.
I am not Guilty though my self I Blame,
But Sure you might suppress so young a Flame,
Your Freind from no small Trouble it would free.

Are.
Ah 'twere not Love, did it depend on me,
Those Guilty Words therefore you should recall,
Love does not take but gives the Law to all.
Would you not think me cruell or unwise
Should I beg you not to love Stratonice?

Dem.
I durst not aske that you'de your Love decline,
If it had took so deep a root as mine.

Are.
Nothing can fix a Love to such degree
As Cleopatra's Eyes have done in me.

Dem.
You have not yet your Conquerors Favour gaind,
But I my Stratonice's have obtain'd,
That Secret's only trusted to your breast.

Are.
And there in silence it shall ever rest:
But oh in what you say you have not prov'd
That I love less than you, but less am lov'd,
Success may raise my Joys but not my Flame,
The World for Love like mine does want a Name.

Dem.
Ah my Aretus, had I known before,
That you fair Cleopatra did Adore,
I had prevented those sad streights we're in,
And hindred Tryphon courting her for Queen;
Now there's no cure for a disease so high.

Are.
Yes but there is—

Dem.
—what is't—

Are.
—Tryphon shall dye;
On two accompts his death to him I owe,
For hee's my Tyrant and my Rivall too;
Yet with the last I merit to be curs'd,
Since I to kill him needed but the first.

Dem.
In killing him your Country you'le expose.

Are.
Not killing him I Cleopatra loose,
And he unworthy of her will appeare
Who above all things does not value her.

Dem.
This Truth with greater lustre may be seen,
If you would not oppose her being Queen.

Are.
Ile not oppose (by taking Tryphons life)
Her being Queen, but being a Tyrants wife.

Dem.
Since she would have him as her Choice or Fate,
Shee'l take such proofs of Love as proofs of Hate.

Are.
Her Virtue which has still appear'd so High
Shews 'tis a Marriage of Necessity,
Which hath engag'd me by one generous blow
To free my Mistress and my Countrey too.
Farewell Ile goe and act what I intend,
And If I fall say you have lost a Freind.

Embracing him
Dem.
Hee'le perish in th'attempt—Aretus stay,
And is there to your cure no other way?

Are.
In such a question you mispend your breath,
In Rival'd Love what Cure is there but Death.

Dem.
You'le meet your owne, attempting his I fear.

Are.
Tis worse than Death to be depriv'd of her,
Farewell—wast this for which you call'd me backe.

Dem.
Stay Friend, for I'me contriving for your sake
That which may reach your End a safer way;
Suspend th'Attempt the remnant of this day,
Since in your Love you are engag'd so farr,
To serve you in it 'Ile imploy my care;
You know the Pow'r which I with Tryphon have.

Are.
This is but spoke th'Usurpers Life to save.

Dem.
How's this, your self as me you now offend;
Can you suspect me and yet call me Freind?

Are.
What I have said in such a Storm of Fate
Deserves your pitty rather then your Hate,
Doe not the Pardon which I beg deny,
Twas my Distraction wrong'd you and not I.

Dem.
Alas I see you are or'come with Greif.

Are.
Yet to my Sorrows 'twould be some Releif,
Would you then Swear if you in your Designe
Should faile, you would assist me then in mine.

Dem.
But will you swear his Death you'le not attempt,
If from his Rivallshipp I you exempt?

Are.
In such a vow myself I cannot Trust,
Tis less to be Unhappy then Unjust,
Which I should be if I to you should give
A promise that I'de let th'Usurper live.

Dem.
The Vow which I desire that you would make
Is not for Tryphon's but for Syrias sake.

Are.
Poor Syria! since Demetrius thinks it good
To bind me not to shed thy Tyrants Blood,
What greater Curse could Heaven on thee have sent,
Then make thy safety be thy Punishment.

Dem.
Since 'tis the will of Heaven we must submit
What will you doe,

Are,
I'le doe—what shall be fit.

Dem.
But will you then too no more condescend,
To loose a Rivall and oblige a Freind.

Are.
Would you have me doe more then what is fit.

Dem.
But will you Vow to make me Judge of it?
If By my Power with Tryphon and my Skill
I make him cease to Rival you.

Dre.
I will—
Oh Cleopatra! never Lover yet
Did of his Passion give a Proof so great,
With such Devotion to your Eyes I bend,
As I pay them what I deny'd my Freind;
Nay for their sake, and what more could I doe,
I spare the Tyrant of my countrey too;
If I in this Act against Duties Laws,
Let Love forgive the Effect which Love did cause;
Ah Freind! from me you have extorted now
That which I feare may prove a Guilty Vow,
But you are judge of all which gives me Rest.

Dem.
Can you then doubt what's trusted to my Breast?

Are.
You see I doe it not, since I decline
Even to inquire what you for me designe.

Dem.
Feare not, I'le ner'e betray a Trust so High.

Are.
When you betray me 'tis high time to Dye.

[Embracing him they goe out
Enter Nicanor, Stratonice, Irene.
The Scene Nicanor's Pallace.
Stra.
I thought my Sister your consent had got.

Nic.
So farr from getting, that she askd it not;
Hermione to me has been Unjust,
I left my Cleopatra to her Trust,
And know not now which most I should Suspect,
Or her Unfaithfulness or her Neglect:
Th'Ambition of your Sister, I foresee,
Will make her Wretched and will Hazard me;
For if she marryes Tryphon Shee's undone,
And me hee'le ruine if his Love she shun.

Ire.
Hermione and I have but one Breast,
And she to me did solemnly protest,
She not, till 'twas too late, the Business knew,
And, Sir, laments for it as much as you.

Nic.
In such a Fault she'd show herself Unwise,
If she from you did not herself disguise.

Stra.
Hermione is Innocent therein,
Sir, 'tis my sisters Fate or else her Sin.

Nic.
You both absolve Hermione from Guilt,
Shew me on what your Confidence is built.

Stra.
The cause of mine to you, Sir, Ile relate,
She Loves my sister and does Tryphon Hate;
And would not, Sir, I know, deserve your Frown,
To gaine for her own self the Syrian Crown.

Iren.
I know she does Aretus much esteem,
And thinks your Daughter only merits him;
And to Hermione he told this day
The Love he does to Cleopatra pay;
Besides she vow'd to me 'tis her Intent,
In that Address, to be her Confident.

Nic.
Does then Aretus, Cleopatra love?

Stra.
And in that height, I fear, his Death 'twill prove,
For when he knowes shee'l be th'Usurpers Wise,
He will attempt his own or Tryphon's Life.

Nic.
That Happiness at which I most did aime
Is now fall'n on me,, but is fall'n in vaine,
That Height'ned Worth Aretus still has shewn
Makes me esteem him above Tryphon's Throne.
My Stratonice, Irene, you and I,
Must for this Ill find a quick Remedy;
All must assault her in a several way,
On Cleopatra my Commands I'll lay,
And with Hermione you two must joyne,
To make your Sister break off her Designe.

Stra.
You may be of our best Endeavour sure,
But, Sir, I fear this Ill is past our Cure.

Nic.
Those who of Feare in their Attempts admit,
Doe take the surest way to faile in it;
Her Resolutions cannot be above
Her Duty, Friendship, and Aretus Love;
But we lose Time while we together stay,
And this Affair admits of no Delay.

[They goe out several wayes
(Enter Cleopatra, Hermione.
The Scene a Garden and a Grove of Trees.
Her.
Forgive me, Madam, that I thus have prest
To know the Grief which does invade your Breast,
For though, when you in publick doe appeare,
Your Speech is Chearfull and your Looks are Clear,
Yet they are clouded when you are alone,
And every Word is brought forth with a Groan.

Cleo.
That which you have observ'd alas is true,
Those various Actings to my Fate are due;
I ought, since Destin'd to a Tyrants Throne,
Joyfull to seem, yet mourn when I'm alone,
Nor know I which my Soul does most subdue,
Feigning false Joys, or hiding Greif that's true.

Her.
Rather then Griev me thinks you should Rejoyce,
Since Tryphon, Madam, you have made your choice.

Cleo.
Rather then I, Hermione, would have
Tryphon for husband I would wed my Grave.

Her.
Why did you his Addresses then receive,
And ne're so much as ask Nicanor's leave;
Had you but to your Father told your mind,
He, to prevent it, Something had design'd.

Cleo.
'Tis that which made me doe what I have done,
For I more feare his Ruine then my owne.
This is my Duty which appears my Crime,
Better he mourn'd for me then I for him;
But now my Word is given 'tis past recall;
I'l be Unhappy to prevent his Fall;
He gave me Life, and therefore for his sake
The Life he gave me I will Wretched make,
For such 'twill be when I am Tryphon's Wife;
This way alone could Save Nicanor's life,
For by th'Usurpers Fury he had dy'd,
If he to marry me had been deny'd.

Her.
Since 'tis your Duty, Madam, as you owne,
And not Ambition led you to the Crowne,
Why did you not Aretus arm employ,
To save your self and Tryphon to destroy?

Cleo.
Ah I was loath to act the Guilty part
Of Owing and not Paying him my Heart.

Her.
Do you so hate him as you'le Wretched be,
Rather then yield his Sword should set you Free,
And under Tryphon let your Countrey bow,
Sooner then let him save both it and you?
Ah, Madam, to my Grief alas I see,
That you would now conceal your self from me.

Cleo.
Think not that I conceal my self from you,
Telling you what my Duty made me doe.

Ar.
Duty might you to marry Tryphon lead.
If that alone could save Nicanor's head;
But you a much more Easie Way may chuse,
To reach that End, and yet that Way refuse,
When, Madam, by pursuing of it, you
Might save at once Your Self and Countrey too;
For none but brave Aretus, that I see,
The valour has to end this Tyranny;
From which his Love to you will him restrain,
If you with Tryphon as his Queen should Raign.
Alas, what is the poor Aretus Crime,
That rather then you'l be oblig'd to him,
You'l of your Contry's Tyrant be the Wife,
And which is worse you'll save that Tyrants Life.

Cleo.
Doe not I shew I think him free from Crime,
That lose my self rather then hazard him?

Her.
In that Attempt he'l but some Hazard runne,
But if you marry Tryphon he's undone;
Thus from the Hazard you Aretus free,
But to destroy him the more certainly;
Ah, Madam, by such reas'ning you declare,
That in your Confidence I have no share;
'Tis therefore fit our Friendship here should End,
For who Distrusts, deserves to Lose a Freind.
And since with me so Cruelly you deale,
I'l bid you now eternally farewell.
Would to the Gods this had been done before,
That none might think I like what I Abhorre;
But though from you my self I thus divide,
Yet still I'l pray that Heaven may be your Guide.

Cleo.
Raise not the Sorrows under which I bend,
By threatning to deprive me of my Friend,
This vsage so severe I needs must blame.

Her.
Why doe you thus abuse that Sacred Name?
Alas for me, it is no longer fit,
For your Mistrust, Madam, has cancel'd it;
Therefore from you for ever will I part.

she offers to goe out
Cleo.
Oh stay and I'l Disclose to you my Heart,
Yet with so cross a Fortune I contend,
As I'm asham'd to tell it to my Freind.

Her.
What ever Sorrows have opprest your Heart,
Yet since you strove to hide your self by Art
From me whom you call Freind, you ought much more
That Sin then those Misfortunes to Deplore.

Cleo.
My Grief from you I will no longer hide,
That you may Pity her whom now you Chide;
But let us first, Hermione, remove
To some such Shady Place as yonder Grove,
That when to you my Secret I commit,
You scarce may see how much I blush at it.

[They goe out
Enter Tryphon and Seleucus
The Scene Tryphon's Apartment.
Sel.
Forgive me, Sir, if I presume to say
You have appear'd in too much Grief this day,
And all last night you took so little Rest
As if some Sorrow had your Heart opprest.

Try.
Alas, Seleucus, I am under, now,
Sorrows would make the Strongest Soul to Bow,
And I have often for Demetrius sent,
That in his Friendship I might give them vent;
But since he does not come, and since I know
That perfect Friendship which he has for you,
Being with Trouble so much overprest,
I will commit that Secret to your Breast.

Sel.
This Favour no addition can admit,
Unless, Sir, I may serve you too in it.

Try.
That Friendship for Demetrius which I have;
And which shall never cease but in the Grave,
Made me resolve by his Advice to gaine
The Syrians Kindness by a gentle Reigne,
And since Nicanor's Vertue most does Shine,
That I without Reserve might make him Mine,
I by Demetrius Councell too was led
To raise Nicanor's Daughter to my Bed.

Sel.
Which of Nicanor's Daughters is it, Sir,
That he would have you to your Crown preferr.

Try.
'Tis Cleopatra whose Bright Eyes I own
Makes her deserve to share the Syrian Throne;
You seem to Sigh at what I told you now.

Sel.
Under your Grief how could I choose but Bow,
But under what Affliction can you bend,
Having a Crown, that Mistress and, that Friend?

Try.
Most men with one of those might Happy be,
But I am Wretched though I have all three,
For Heaven decrees, from whence our Law we take,
How much shall every mortall Happy make;
And if he does but faile in one of those
Desires, which must that Happiness compose,
That one Deny'd, though with all th'other Blest,
Will rob him of the Gust of all the rest:
If I must Love and in Love miss my ends,
Fortune in vaine sends me a Crown and Freinds.

Sel.
Do's Cleopatra your Addresses slight?

Try.
That shee'le receive them even my Heart does fright;
I who Undaunted through such Storms did steer,
As the most Brave would tremble but to hear,
I who have Kings depos'd, and Battels won,
And never any thing like Feare have known,
Am now to see my Dearest Freind affraid,
And of the Yeildings of a Lovely Maid.

Sel.
To share your Crown can you esteem her fitt,
And yet, Sir, fear that shee'l accept of it?
Those words appear a Mistery to me.

Try.
Seleucus, I'l unvail the mistery;
'Twas yesterday that I Demetrius sent,
My Crowne to Cleopatra to present;
But 'twas last night alas that I did see
A Brighter Beauty which has Conquerd me,
Whose Eyes are blest with such a Pow'rfull charm
They Burn those Hearts which others can but warm;
Till I that Beauty saw, I did believe,
A man resolv'd the Law to Love could give.

Sel.
Why should you, Sir, appear afflicted now,
Since 'tis to so much Beauty that you Bow;
Love is a Fate which every one must Taste,
Some soon, some late, but all must Burn at last.
Your Fate you rather should Applaud then Blame,
(Since you must Burn) that 'tis in such a Flame.

Try.
To wear her Chaines, Seleucus, is to Me
A Happiness transcending Liberty,
Then doe no longer think it is my Love,
But 'tis my Friendship does my Torment prove,
Since with Demetrius I did once contract,
I never yet, in Thought or Word or Act,
Yielded to what might it in Question call,
But now I feare, Seleucus, that I shall;
For while that he by me employ'd has been
To Court fair Cleopatra for my Queen,
This other Beauty has so Conquer'd me,
As without her thy Prince must Wretched be,
Which justly my Demetrius will offend:
Hard choice when I must wrong my Love or Friend.

Sel.
Is this, Sir, the Misfortune you Lament?

Try.
You ask as if Fate could a Worse have sent.

Sel.
Demetrius would not Merit your Esteem,
If that which makes your Joy should Trouble him.

Try.
Yet that I shall offend him I must Grieve.

Sel.
Such an Offence as this hee'l soon Forgive.

Try.
My Grief, (though he forgave it) would not end,
'Tis much to need the Pardon of a Freind.

Sel.
'Tis more when Fortune does a Subject bring
To such a height as to Forgive his King,
That Glory will the heaviest Wrong outweigh.

Try.
Through all this Darkness I might see some Day,
If my Demetrius e're in Love had bin,
For then hee'd judge this Change my Fate not Sin:
Lovers still pay to Love a deep Respect,
And where Love is, Causes excuse th'Effect.

Sel.
At my request, Sir, banish all your Care,
Leave it to me to manage this Affair.

Try.
Ah if to this thou giv'st a Happy End,
Embracing him.
Thou hast for ever made thy King thy Freind:
'Tis not enough that he forgives my Sin,
He must be still my Friend as he hath been
For know I need, my Sorrows to remove,
As much his Freindship, as my conquerors Love,
Since if to Win the Last I Lose the First,
I shall thereby at once be Blest and Curst.

[They goe out