University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter Sohemus and the High-Priest.
Sohemus.
But the human mind,
When 'tis divorc'd from matter, cannot pierce
The distant cloud of dark futurity.
You sleep not sound, my lord! Old age depress'd
With melancholly damps, oft dwindles down
To second infancy, and then renews
Its cradle-dreams; which superstitious fear
Makes sacred with the venerable names
Of vision, or of prophecy; devis'd
To cheat the vulgar, and too oft employ'd
To cover disaffection to the state.

H. Pr.
I have, my lord, no craving appetites
To glut with gain or titles; I've attain'd
The highest name my order can receive.
I bear no symptoms of a feav'rish soul,
Which turbulent with guilt, aspires t' embroil
The state with trait'rous fiction: You may think,
I who commend my self, have brib'd a fool
To be my herald; yet, a modest man,
T' oppose the darts of calumny, may wear
His innocence in sight; a safer shield
Than adamant or gold.

Soh.
Your innocence!
Did you not talk of omens, which forbode
Th' impending wrath of heav'n, to blast the day
Which re-instates our monarch on his throne?

H. Pr.
I did, my lord, and will affirm I saw—
Laugh when you've heard me out.

Soh.
Well, pray proceed!

H. Pr.
I walk'd this morning in my palmy grove,
Where oft to contemplation I devote
My earliest hours: the sun new-rising cheer'd
The face of nature with a purple smile;
My spirits ran as brisk careers of life,
As ever in the careless prime of youth:
When issuing sudden from the bowry shade,
A beauteous form appear'd, and gliding slow,
Approach'd me with a soft dejected air;
Then cry'd, I liv'd the brother of your Queen;
And gave a piteous groan!

Soh.
Aristobulus?

H. Pr.
The same, I knew him well.

Soh.
Ha!—what?—what more?—
Why, he was drown'd, you know—Cou'd I prevent
What heav'n fore-doom'd? My good lord, did he say
That I was accessary? Why to me
This message from the unapparent shades?
Speak—speak—I'll hear it.

H. Pr.
In his hand he wav'd
An airy streamer, like a sable shrowd,
And thus went on: If dire designs prevail,
Before yond' east displays another dawn,
My sister must exchange her robes of state
For such a weed as this; by wicked arts
Betray'd, and in the summer of her days
Cut off by bloody hands! with her will end
The glories of our Asmonæan line!
Tell what I say to Sohemus alone;
Bid him desist.

Soh.
I!—what?—

H. Pr.
He said no more,
But vanish'd from my view.

Soh.
'Tis best, my lord,
To let such shadows fleet neglected by:
They argue perturbation in the brain,
Caus'd by black humours; a few hours will prove
That mimic fancy mock'd your dazzl'd sight,
With images of air.

H. Pr.
Whate'er they prove,
I feel my bosom lighter.
[Exit H. Pr.

Soh.
Thou hast laid
A gauling weight on mine!