University of Virginia Library

Plan, for the First Act of Daraxes. AN Opera: of two Acts only.

Arpasia , a beautiful shepherdess, is discover'd, reading, in the entrance of an arbour at the foot of a mountain, the scene, all round her, representing vallies, and openings, between ridges of rocks; with prospects of sheep, at pasture; and shepherds, reclin'd, at a distance.

During a song, that expresses sentiments, prefering the serene life, to the busy—she is approached, from one of the remotest openings, behind the hills, by Zamora, another noble shepherdess.

They meet, and salute, with tenderness, innocence, and mutual declaration of their happiness: and, it appears, from their dialogue, that Zamora, (tho' not insensible of the charms of her retir'd life) has wishes for an enlargement, into the greater world; while Arpasia, on the contrary, enjoys the whole of her desire, in possession of her present happiness.

Hydarnes, father of Zamora, in the venerable habit of one of the Persian Magi, enters to them, thro' the arbour; and, having overheard the dispute, declares in favour of Arpasia; and warns Zamora of the dangers of the busier world; representing, in contraste, the calmness and delights of their retreat, in a lovely and fruitful tract, on the river Indus, unknown to, and cut off from, the rest of Persia, by inaccessible ranges of mountains, where he governs, independently, a peaceful, and happy, number

of families, whom, from ignorance and rudeness, he had soften'd into knowledge and politeness.

In the midst of this conference, they are interrupted by the sound of a trumpet; at which they express amazement: the peace, and silence of their happy region having never been invaded by so warlike an alarm.—On a sudden, down from the hills, and from the windings behind them, rush in a number of shepherds; under impressions of terror, to behold, descending from the top of a rock, on one side the stage, Daraxes, an Indian General, plum'd, in a warlike, and heroic habit.

The shepherds interpose between the stranger and Hydarnes; but, Daraxes, surprized at appearance of the Ladies, first addresses himself to them with a modest gallantry; and, then, approaching Hydarnes, with a resigned and humble gesture, implores his pity, and the protection, due, to unfortunate virtue.

Hydarnes, mentioning the trumpet, is answered, by Daraxes, that he brought it not with him, but is flying from its menaces—that he is Lord of a province on the other side of the Indus; and, having received great wrongs, from Persia, had gather'd a number of his friends, and invaded the kingdom, for revenge of his injuries—that he had been victorious in two pitch'd battles; but, unfortunately overpowered, by superior numbers, in a third, was seeking shelter, among those desart mountains; and now closely pursued, after loss of all his followers, by Hystaspes, the Persian Monarch, at the head of his light-arm'd; therefore, begs the furtherance of Hydarnes, for his escape, if it is possible;—if not, at least for his concealment, against a day of happier fortune.

Hydarnes bids him be of comfort—since he was, himself, of Indian blood, and cou'd protect him, in the inmost parts of his region, by advantage of a neighbouring pass, which he points to, against the utmost force of Persia.—He then sends out a party of shepherds up the hills on the left, to observe, and bring him word, how near, and how numerous the pursuers;—and, leaving

a second party, to attend Daraxes, and the Ladies, promises to return, after having given orders for arming his people, and the necessary defence of the pass. He then goes out, up the hills, on the right, attended by a third division of shepherds.

Daraxes, with the Ladies, mistaking them for sisters, Zamora tells him they are friends, if possible, nearer than sisters: and expressing apprehension, presses Arpasia, to retire; who, appearing now more spirited, and affirming that she fears no danger, Zamora smiles, to perceive how willingly she wou'd forgive her being left alone, with the agreeable stranger; and goes out, up the hill, after her father.

Then comes on an amorous, and gallant scene, between Daraxes and Arpasia: which closes the first Act of the Opera.

To the sound of trumpets, and drums, Hystaspes, and his soldiers, appear, among the hills, descending into the valley, on the left side:—And, on the opposite side, to sound of flutes, and soft instruments, interchangeably heard from each quarter, descends Hydarnes, surrounded by a venerable number of Magi, with the holy fire; followed by Daraxes, between Arpasia and Zamora; and, supported by armed shepherds, with bows and quivers; great numbers of spears appearing, above, as it were, among, and behind, the hills.—The Persian soldiers range themselves, as fast as they descend, on one side the stage; and the armed shepherds do the like, on the other.

After a solemn pause, and slow advance, to give time for the contraste in the music, Hystaspes commands his followers to reverence the holy fire, and commit no outrage against, or in presence of the Magi.—He then approaches

Hydarnes, and demands sternly who and whence he is; and of what branch of the Magi. —Hydarnes answers, that he was, not originally, but, adoptedly, of the Magi,—once, a slave, to the uncle of that Lady, pointing to Arpasia; who was a branch of their Royal, and most illustrious, stem.—But, that, as to himself, having by his skill, in music, arms, and arts, polish'd, and improv'd, the manners of the rural inhabitants of that savage tract, he had grown so far into the esteem of their true and original Lord, that he had bequeathed to him his power, and adopted him his successor. —That he has, since then, so far improv'd the happiness of his impenetrable region, that it has, now, neither the want, the fear, nor desire, of the wealth, or the strength of Persia.

The King then reproaches Hydarnes with the abuse of his religious indemnity, by protection of an enemy in arms; an invader of Persia: and, upon rejection of his demand that Daraxes should be given up, grows furious, with resentment, and is advancing to attack the shepherds; who, on their side, advance also; but, the Ladies coming forward, and asserting the rights of their sanctuary, the King seems struck with the beauty of Zamora, and agrees, at her desire, to refer the justice of his claim to the decision of herself, and Hydarnes.—And, upon her proposition, Daraxes, too, on his part, consents to submit himself, without complaint, to her judgment.

Hydarnes desires the King to explain the foundation of his anger; gently reproaching too eager a thirst of revenge.—The King informs him, that this Daraxes, the Indian, had, unprovok'd, invaded his dominion, destroy'd his towns, and his people, and being, now, after two successful battles, deliver'd into his hands, by favour of the Gods, upon loss of a third, it would be impious in the Magi to withstand the pleasure of Heaven. He therefore insists, that they give up Daraxes as a public enemy to Persia—a fugitive, forsaken by Gods, and men, and deserving the punishments, which were prepared for his violence.

Daraxes, coming to plead, in his turn, denies that he had, unprovok'd, invaded Persia.—Asserting, on the contrary, that Darius, the father of Hystaspes, had fallen into India, with fire and sword; at which time he, Daraxes, had narrowly escap'd death, in his tenderest infancy, after having seen his mother, and brothers, barbarously destroy'd, in the flames of their city; and his father, and a little sister, forc'd away into captivity;—that his hopes of a glorious revenge was his warmest motive, and the justest for supporting a life, which had, so early, been imbitter'd with misery;—that he had, to that end, made arms his study, and that, however the Gods (for some causes unknown) had now seem'd to frown on his purpose, they would restore him sure means, hereafter— for, they forsake not virtue, for ever.

Hydarnes, in the close of what Daraxes had utter'd, keeping his eye fix'd on his face, interrupts him, with marks of confusion, enquiring, first, his own name, then that of his city—next, with increasing passion and amazement, his mother's name—lastly, that of his lost father, and his sister; and, receiving answers to his expectation, throws himself, with extasy, upon the neck of Daraxes; telling him, that he is, himself, that lost father— and, giving Zamora into his arms, bids him embrace his captive sister.

After the surprize, natural to the occasion, Hystaspes, in reverence of a virtue so great, and so visibly protected by the Gods; and, also, in atonement, for the wrongs which had been done, by his father, proposes to make Zamora his Queen; which being consented to, by Hydarnes, Daraxes then begs, that he may be bless'd with Arpasia, and quit an unsteady world, for that happiest of lives, which had, so long, been enjoy'd by his father. —The Opera, here closes, with a dance of the Shepherds, six and six, for entertainment of the King, and in honour of the intended nuptials.