University of Virginia Library

Scena tertia.

The Scene, a Palace.
Enter Smerdis, and Patasithes, with Guards and Attendants.
Pat.
'Twas by Heaven's pleasure, and our wills decreed,
To place the Crown of Persia on your head.
Let dull successive Monarchs idly wait
To be enthron'd by the slow hand of Fate.
And Phœnix-like, expect their rise, and power,
Onely from th'ashes of an Ancestour.
You by a Nobler force have Empire gain'd,
Wresting the Scepter from Cambyses hand.
Thus on his ruine you his Throne ascend,
And make the means as glorious, as the end.

Smerd.
The Fate of Crowns depends on common chance,
Fortune and pow'r may to a Throne advance.
But to confirm that Crown our pow'r affords,
Requires our souls more active than our Swords.

Pat.
You must yet Act unseen, and veile your pow'r,
Untill your Thunder's in your hand secure.
Till then, Sir, you your Majesty must shrowd,
Like Lightning, taking birth first from a Cloud.
Till you like that, a full-blown glory wear,
And gain at once, both reverence and fear.

Enter Theramnes.
Ther.
Your Subjects joys grow loud, as is your fame;
Persia speaks nothing now, but Smerdis name.
And their excessive joys so high advance,
Their Piety's joyn'd with their Allegiance;
Rendring that Homage, which to Heaven is due,
Adoring less the rising Sun, than you.

Smerd.
'Tis this must make my Sov'reignty compleat;
Those joys that speak them Loyal, speak me great.

Ther.
You Conq'rours have out-done: your name affords
The subject of more Trophies, then their swords.
Great Cyrus glories must submit to you;
He Conquer'd Nations, you their hearts subdue.

Smerd.
This is but half a Conquest; who defends
A Crown, conquers his Foes, as well as Friends.
And now our cause for speedy action calls;
Cambyses is in sight of Susa's Walls.
Go then, Theramnes, muster all our Force;
Our Syrian Infantry, and Persian Horse.
Prepare such strength, that it may be exprest
That we can conquer, if he dare resist.

Ther.
I do not Conquest doubt: whilst Monarchs are
Themselves above plac'd in a higher sphear;
You, like the Heav'ns, your sacred pow'rs dispense,
You'll give us Conquest by your Influence.

[Exit.
Smerd.
See how the fond deluded World mistakes,
And what false light my borrow'd glory makes:
Yet such as dazles Persia. This disguise
Has rais'd so thick a mist before their eyes;
That my best Friends, Theramnes, and the croud
Of wondring Subjects, all are in one Cloud;
And their mistaken Faiths so far advance;
That they seem Rivals in Allegiance.
Like their Devotion who the gods implore,
Men first believe, and then they do adore.

Pat.
Thus Kings and Beauty in this Title share,
'Tis the adorers eye makes Beauty fair.
The Persians thus by their Allegiance show,
You're the true Prince, if they but think you so.

Smerd.
I by such Arts do the Worlds Empire sway,
As the Worlds frame does Natures Laws obey;
Mov'd by a Cause admir'd, but never known.
Secrets of State and Heav'n agree in One.
Thus I, and thus the gods themselves disguise
Their high'st designs in darkest Mysteries.

[Exeunt.