 | Cambyses King of Persia |  |
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Scena quarta.
Enter Prexaspes, and Mandana.Prex.
Can you refuse Cambyses's Love, who wou'd
To purchase yours wade to new Crowns in blood?
'Tis strange that he cannot your heart subdue,
To whom the Conquest of the World is due.
Mand.
Thy soul, and his, in this were Rivals still:
You never overcome, but when you kill.
Prex.
But, Madam, what I reade in those fair eyes—
Has poyson in't. There's something in that Form
[Aside.
Disturbs my soul, and does my courage storm.—
Madam, your Beauty.—Oh, turn it away.
Should I on that bright Object longer stay,
Lead by my wand'ring fires, I should my senses quit;
And lose my self by gazing after it.—
Madam—
[Continuing with his eyes fixt upon her.
Mand.
Is not your Message yet exprest?
Prex.
Your eyes won't give me leave to tell the rest.
Mand.
I must confess his Love I would not hear:
Death's frowns I can, his smiles I cannot bear.
Prexaspes, name no more Cambyses's flame.
Prex.
Then, Madam, I may tell him, in your name,—
I am his Rival.—
[Aside.
Her subtle Darts have made my heart their Prize,
That sure my soul's transparent, as my eyes,
To let her Image in.—
But tell me, can your Breast so cruel prove,
To banish from your heart all thoughts of Love?
Mand.
Now, my Osiris, I remember thee.
[Aside.]
[Sighs.
Prex.
(Aside ...)
Her alter'd Visage wears a Mystery.
A broken sigh, joyn'd with a fainting look!
Just so my Love its sudden birth first took.
Her Actions copy mine: sure my disease
Infectious is, and does new Subjects seize.
For the same signs argue the same desires:
Perhaps she feels my pains, and meets my fires. (... Aside)
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My heart have won, so nobly use it too.
What, start? You think it is Cambyses.
Mand.
—No.
Both thee, and thy inhumane deeds I know.
Could I but think, that Love could be a guest
To thy black soul, and harbour in thy breast;
The very name of Love 'twould odious make.
Prex.
You must seem cruel for your honour's sake.
No more of this—
[Advancing up to her.
Mand.
—Stand off. Your aim you miss.
What, stoop to him that Murder'd Amasis?
Prex.
That was Cambyses's fault.
Mand.
—No, Slave, thy hand,
Thy hand did Act what he did but command.
Prex.
But his command did to your Life extend,
Which I did from his cruelty defend;
And 'twas my favour that you did not dye.
Mand.
No, Barb'rous Villain, 'twas thy cruelty.
Yee sacred Pow'rs above what was my guilt,
That with my Fathers blood mine was not spilt?
My Death Heav'ns Fatal kindness did prevent;
Reserving me for greater punishment.
Prex.
What, can it be a punishment to rest
In the Protection of a Prexaspes's Breast?
It cannot be, Mandana. Come, I see
You've learnt the Female slights of Modesty.
[Advances up to her, and proffers to kiss her hand, at which she steps from him.
What, a retreat?
As 'tis in Natures Laws, so 'tis in Love;
Th'effect's the same if th'Earth or Sun do move.
And so our Love the same effect procures,
If your heart move tow'rds mine, or mine tow'rds yours.
Come then—
[Rudely stepping to her.
Mand.
This Language, Sir, I cannot hear:
I can my Death, not thy addresses bear.
To thee Mandana's Breast thus kind can prove,
To entertain thy Sword, but not thy Love.
What, art thou slow, and dost thou sluggish stand,
When belov'd Murder does invite thy hand?
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Captive, take heed lest you provoke my hate.
'Tis but ill policy to tempt your Fate.
You trust my Love, and therefore you presume—
But, Madam, know your scorn has chang'd your doom.
Nought but your Love your ruine shall recall:
For they who once from my high favour fall,
Never leave sinking, till they reach their Graves.
Mand.
'Twixt Love and Rage, like meeting Tides, he raves.
[Aside.
That Death he threatens gladly I'de obey:
That Life I owe to Amasis, I'de pay.
Yet Amasis—
Do but this fault (if it be one) forgive,
If for Osiris I could wish to live.
Enter Cambyses, who meets Prexaspes going off.
Camb.
Prexaspes, is Mandana yet more kind?
Prex.
I cannot meet her in so good a mind.
Camb.
Since my late frowns and threatnings could not move
Your Breast, I'le treat you with a milder Love.
[To Mand.
Prex.
(Aside.)
She thinks
I'm some tame Lover of the common sort,
Whom they use cruelly to make 'em sport:
No, she shall find my Love does higher flye:
I'le either teach her how to Love, or dye.
[Exit.
Camb.
I of my frowns a Nobler use should make,
To awe the trembling World, make Empires quake,
And check Heav'ns Thunder. 'Tis not fit my brow,
The terrour of the World, should threaten you.
No, you shall find Cambyses, for your sake,
As mild and calm as Loves soft charms can make.
Mand.
Cambyses, no; rage, and be cruel still:
Tyrants are only kind, then when they kill.
My Death's the only kindness you can do:
My life I hate, since 'tis preserv'd by you.
Camb.
Hold: You're ungrateful. Though you've cruel bin,
Thus, thus Cambyses will your favour win.
You shall enjoy Osiris—Do not start:
'Tis he alone that lodges in your heart.
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Be cruel to my self, and kind to you.
Fame shall no longer to the World impart
That I want pow'r to win a Ladies heart:
For since all other means succesless prove,
To gain your kindness I'le resign my Love.
I to my Rival will with Honour yield;
As the retreating Parthians win the field.
Osiris, Madam, is for you decreed,
He is—I, and the gods have so agreed.
Mand.
Oh, now I fear—
Camb.
Now for his Arms prepare.
Draw back that Curtain.
Take your Lover—there.
The Scene opens, and on a Table appears the Body of Osiris, beheaded; & an Executioner with the suppos'd head in a vessel of blood.
Since you all lesser offerings despise,
Take there, take there your Beauty's sacrifice.
Mand.
Osiris murder'd! And can Heaven be
An idle gazer on his destiny?
Gods, can you suffer this; and yet lay claim
To this low'r World? Or, is your Thunder tame,
To let the Tyrant live? Are not y'afraid,
Who here below all Virtue has betray'd,
When there's none left on Earth he may pursue,
The next blow he intends will be at you?
Oh, no, this stroke by your consent was given,
To rob the World, to add new Stars to Heav'n.
[Weeps.
O Tyrant—Tyrant is a name too good
For him whose soul's so deeply stain'd in blood.
Inhumane Murd'rer, had you learnt the sence
Of Virtue from Osiris's Innocence;
Or borrow'd so much blushes from his blood,
You had not rob'd the World of all that's good.
But, Sir, I hope you don't this Virtue want,
[Sinking her voice.
But what you're pleas'd to promise you will grant.
You promis'd that Mandana should this day
Enjoy Osiris.
Camb.
—Ay, and so you may.
Mand.
Tyrant, why then does not Mandana fall,
To mix her blood with his?
Camb.
—Madam, you shall.
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More just to the great Persian Monarch's Love.
Mand.
I will do more than Love, let but your breath
Pronounce my Fate, I'le thank you for my death:
And I'le embrace it too as your kind gift,
And th'onely happiness on Earth,—that's left.
[Weeps.
Come, in my Death let me your favour find—
What, must Mandana court you to be kind?
[Raising her Voice.
I do conjure you strike, by all your guilt,
Your cruelties, the blood your Rage has spilt;
By all that sacred debt of Love I owe
Osiris, nay, and more, my Hate to you.
What, are the furies vanisht from your soul?
What sudden tameness does your arm controul?
Or is your fierceness calm'd, your rage subdu'd,
Stifled with Murders, and or'e-cloy'd with blood?
My Virtues are not ripe enough t'afford
A Subject for a bloody Tyrant's Sword.
[Weeps.
Camb.
Since Death would such a signal favour be,
You shall wait longer for your destiny.
Monarchs should not their favours rashly place,
But—
Consider e're they pass their Acts of Grace.
No, you shall live, and live till you have known
The infl'ence of an angry Monarch's frown.
Your tears shall otherwise b'imploy'd, to mourn,
That your Pride durst Cambyses's favour scorn.
[Exit.
Mand.
I dare not look (my soul's so much amaz'd)
Where I before for ever could have gaz'd.
Oh, that I could but weep away my sight,
To share with Thee in an eternal Night.
Or, that I could but melt in tears away;
That when our rising Sun proclaims the day,
With Morning dew I by his Rays might be
Exhal'd, and snatcht up to his Heav'n, and Thee.
[Exit.
| Cambyses King of Persia | |