University of Virginia Library

SCENE LAST.

Enter Rugildas, dragging in Cleomira with a Dagger in his Hand.
[Bedchamber.
Cleo.
Oh, whither Monster, whither dost thou dragg me?

Rug.
To bear me company to the other World.
Thou sayest,
There is a Power above what we Adore,
I am sure to dye, but know not where I go;
And if thy Heaven be happier than ours,
I'le cling thus to thee when thy Saints receive thee,
And take thy better choice.

Cleo.
No, Villain, no; no Murderers come there,
No poysoning Infidels of thy black Dye:
Hell scarce will take thee.

Rug.
If Hell wo'nt take me, then the other must,
And to be blacker yet, so much I hate thy Husband,
That had I time,
I would not kill thee, but enjoy thee, proud One!
Tast, like Otrantes, all thy rifled Sweets,
And leave thee more polluted for Hormidas.
But hark! he comes! This I am sure of,
[Clashing of Swords.
And have a chance for more.

Horm.
Not a Soul enter, as you love your General,
[Hormidas within.
If any hand revenge me but my own,
My Shame's but half wash'd off.

Enter Hormidas.
Horm.
Where is the Traytor?

Rug.
Thou hits me right, the Traytor's here.

Hor.
Horrour! That Beauteous Prey in that keen Vultures Talons.

Rug.
What, didst thou never see this thing before?
Look on her well, thou hast not long to look,
Nor we to live.

Hor.
What says the Villain?

Rug.
What he means to do:
Keep off, or by the Sun, nay, by thy Gods I swear,
If thou approach me, this shall enter here.

Hor.
O hold, and hear me.

Rug.
What is't thou canst propose to save her Life?

Hor.
Propose thy self, and I'll agree to all that thou shalt ask.

Rug.
Thou canst not save my Life, if I spare hers.

Hor.
By all I Worship and Adore, I will.

Rug.
The King has sworn my Death.

Hor.
No matter, he'll relent:
I'll hang upon his Knees, and wring his Hands,
Melt with my Prayers and Tears his stubborn Heart,
And beg for all the Injuries he has done me,
Thy Life, which shall atone for my vast Wrongs.

Rug.
And when he has given me Life, what shall I do with it?
I must for ever live abhorr'd and shunn'd
A Wandring Scandal through the Persian Empire.
No, I am satisfied thou canst not save me;
It is thy fear that promises this Pardon:
The Crimes I've done, not Man nor Heaven can pardon,
And, Christian, thou art a Dog if thou'dst forgive me,
After such Wrongs.

Hor.
My Faith my Soul's at pawn for 't.

Cleo.
No, let him strike, I'd rather die than owe
My Life to such a barbarous Monster.


[Within.]
Room for the King.

Rug.
Then 'tis no time to parley.

[Stabs Cleomira.
Hor.
Damnation seize the Insatiate Bloodhound.

[Hormidas runs at Rugildas, they close. Enter King and Guards, Rugildas in the close stabs Hormidas, and falls.
King.
Part them, you Villains,
And sheathe your Swords in curst Rugildas Heart.
Oh Cleomira!—Oh execrable Barbarous Butcher!
How is it, my Hormidas?

Hor.
Near my kind end, set me but nearer there,
And I shall die in peace.

King.
Unparallell'd Monster!
What could provoke thee to so damn'd an Action?

Rug.
Revenge: I knew that I should die for them,
And now they die with me.

King.
To Tortures with the Slave; the little Life that's left him,
Let him curse out in exquisite Torments.

Rug.
No, silly, credulous, and thoughtless King,
I am past thy spight; and what most vexes me,
Is, that thou art past mine.

[Dies.
King.
Unheard of Wickedness! Drag him hence.
Oh Cleomira, if the Wound's not Mortal,
Look up to Empire; 'tis a Father calls,
And offers thee his Crown.

Cleo.
A Father! To that honour'd Name thus let my Reverence bow;
But to an Empire; King, you call too late,
That Villain's Dagger, Sir, has gone too far;
A Grave, alas, is all my Birthright now.

King.
Unhappy Innocence! But my Hormydas sure—

Hor.
Must follow her.
All I have left to do, is now
Only to steer this tatter'd Barque to Shore,
And Land me safe upon Eternal Peace.
But Oh! I had once a little Infant-Son—

King.
Snatcht from thy Arms by my Barbarian Rage.
But post kind Artaban with Angels speed,
And bring that Infant-Innocence, that budding Bloom
Of Majesty, the unplum'd Imperial Eaglet,
Back to his Native Nest, the Royal Cedar.

Cleo.
Now Life and Love, Farewel: To my new Bridal
Eternal Mercy calls.

Hor.
Oh thou soft Soul!

Cleo.
Farewel.
I only go to take my last kind Sleep,
That I may wake all thine.

[Dies.
Hor.
She 's gone, and dying grasp'd me by the Hand
As she were jealous I would stay behind her.

King.
O that thou couldst! A Crown, Hormidas,—

Hor.
The Vanity of Crowns I cannot choose;
I have a Heaven to find, and World to loose.

[Dies.
King.
Yes, go, blest Pair, now more than Royal Heirs;
Go to your happy Groves, and there look down
On the dim Lustre of my poorer Crown:
Their Reign above me blest with Joys Divine,
I'll envy yours, and you shall pity mine.