University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE the Camp.
Enter Darius, Cleomedon, Cyraxes, their Swords drawn. Drums and Trumpets.
Dar.
I'm once more King, once more with Conquest Crown'd,
By brave Cyraxes, and Cleomedon renown'd:
You are my Pillars, you my Scepter's Pride;
By Heav'n, I am immortal by your side—
I'll charge agen, my utmost Fate I'll try,
Conquer, or fall, as Monarchs ought to die.
I will my self the foremost Squadrons lead:
Yes, proud, invading, haughty injurious Mede;
I'll meet you all, I'll meet and dash you dead.

Cleo.
Oh Sacred Sir, half of the World is yours;
And to your Glory more, this Day is ours:
'Tis Madness now, not Valour makes resistance.
Retire most Royal Sir, for Persia's Love,
For Leamira's Sake from Dangers move.

Cyr.
Leave it to me and brave Cleomedon,
To glean the Harvest you so well begun.
Tygranes only—
Some odd Battalions Heads, that routed were;
Him will I seek, and end this barbarous War,
Or else my Life.

Dar.
Had proud Astiages been beat before,
By such brave Courage and resistless Power,
Unjustly then he had not this Invasion made;
Yet you my Hero, sav'd th'ambitious King,
When he beneath our trampling Coursers bled;
He else had been, like all his Wishes dead

Cleo.
The divine Majesty which Guards a Crown,
Something so sacred threaten'd from his brow,
That when my Arm was darting Vengeance down,
His awful Visage strook me trembling thro';
Therefore I gave him Life.

Dar.
And Liberty Cleomedon.

Cleo.
True, Royal Sir, but to redeem that Fault,
I'll find him in the midst of all his Guards,
And bring him bound, disrob'd of Royalty,
Beneath your Feet. Agen the Charge renews—
Go back great Emperour, from Dangers free,
And from Persepolis our Conquest see.

Cyr.
The number of the Slain so spread the Feild,
There is no Passage this way to be found;
Your March into the Western Gate is clear,
Hast, Royal Sir, and make your entrance there.

Dar.
Pursue to Conquest noble Youths, your Claims,
And what a King can give, shall crown your Names.

[Exit Darius and Guards.
Cyr.
What shall I call thee, Royal, tho' Unknown?
For sure thy gallant Deeds deserve a Crown.
'Tis you Cleomedon must end the War,
And Medea shall no more your Courage dare;
We've only now to fight with those that fled,
The King and Prince, but scatter'd Forces lead.
To Medea's Monarch bear thy Soldiers on,
Whilst I, with mine, attack his valiant Son.

Cleo.
My curdling Blood is aw'd within my Veins;
Is't that his Royal Mass is so divine?
Or is't because I am asham'd of mine?
Be't what it will, we will for Fight prepare,
In spite of all the Demons of the Air;
He is Cyraxes, Leamira's Foe,
That is the Word wou'd Hercules o'erthrow.

[Exeunt. Charge sounded.
Enter Tygranes pursuing Soldiers that fly.
Tyg.
Ah Cowards, Villains, Traytors! Dare ye fly,
And leave your King to shameful Bonds expos'd?
Turn Fellow-Soldiers, turn, 'tis I, Tygranes calls:
By the dread Fear of Shame, if you have any,
Rescue your King and save your Prince from Ruine—
Nothing will do! Curses o'ertake ye then,
And all the ignominious Deaths you shun.
Am I then left alone? Abandon'd quite!
Can nothing poor Tygranes save but Flight?
Then back, and fall like Hector in the Fight.

Re-enter Cyraxes.
Cyr.
Stay gallant Foe, thou stir'st this way no farther.

Tyg.
Say, who art thou, that dares a Fury stop?
Wou'd thou were worthy of a Death from me,
I want a nobler Foe, the foremost of
The Field—know then I am Tygranes.

Cyraxes.
I catch the Sound with Joy;
The only Name I hate, pleases me now.
Dost thou not know Cyraxes? Him thou wou'dst not know;
I thought, that Hatred first begun at Court,
Cou'd ne'er in Camps be patient, or forgotten.
To vex thee more, I'll sound my Name aloud,
That Hills may Eccho back to thee, Cyraxes.

Tygr.
I know thee now,
And well remember thy ungovern'd rage,
In Medea most ungovern'd, and unjust,
Because I lov'd the beautious Cytheria;
But for thy Sisters Sake, and her Command,
Were all the World the Price of this our single Combat,
And were I sure the Conquest wou'd be mine,
I wou'd not lift my Sword against Cyraxes.

Cyr.
Poor, and precarious, hide thee then
Under some vile disguise as thou didst lately,
Till sav'd by Treach'ry; now thou'st princely Plumes,
Look'st like Achilles or some valiant Leader,
And shoud'st maintain the Character.

Tygr.
Oh Gods, must I bear this! There was a Reason,
Love gave me that Disguise.

Cyr.
Love! Love! To whom?

Tyr.
Need I pronounce her Name?
I thought I need not say, 'twas Cytheria.

Cyr.
Yes, that I may be sure to do you Justice,
And curse your meeting Flames; let this provoke you:
Know, whilst Cyraxes lives, Tygers and Hinds,
The Wolf and harmless Lamb shall fold together;
Fire burn with Water, Light and Darkness mix,
All Nature's Contraries in Peace shall join,
Before Tygranes shall my Sister wed.

Tygr.
'Tis well thou shar'st the Blood of Cytheria;
What is Tygranes Crime, but Love of her?
Speak, wherefore? Do not think 'tis Fear,
But 'tis for that dear Maid, in Heat of Battle,
In midst of Madness and of wild Dispair,
I towards thee am calm.

Cyr.
Then to awake thy drowzy Courage, know
'Tis for that Sisters Sake that I wou'd kill thee.

Tygr.
Ha! nothing cou'd provoke like this!
Then like Astrea I'll unsheath my Sword,
And cut off such a Viper from the Earth.

Cyr.
I'm fix'd like you, my Soul as great,
My Mind's as Royal.

Tygr.
No more, but let our Swords dispute.

[They fight.
Enter Rheusares and Soldiers.
Rheu.
Cyraxes with Tygranes, ha!
In single Combat when the Foe expects you?
Strike down their Swords.

Tygr.
Is this well done, and like thy boasted Valour?

Cyr.
Softly, no more;
Beneath the Bent of yonder rising Hill,
I will again expect the brave Tygranes,
And thou shalt yeild thy Cytheria to me.

Tygr.
Art thou assur'd I shall?

Cyr.
You shall.

Tygr.
There I'll not fail to meet thee.
I have already bended much too low,
Too low for Monarchs, even for Wrongs to bend;
But if I stoop'd 'twas but to bound more high.

Cyr.
Enough, go on, I follow thee

[Exit Tygr. and Cyraxes.
Rheu.
With speed o'ertake 'em, and prevent their Fighting,
And with a Guard of Soldiers seize Tygranes.

[Exeunt Soldiers.
Enter Russus.
Rheu.
Oh, Sir, most brave Rheusares! Medea is no more.
Is not our Vengeance yet to be appeas'd?
She is my Country, Sir, and tho' my Friendship
Is ty'd to you; yet Love to that surmounts
Alas! Astiages—

Rheu.
What of him?

Rus.
Is taken by Cleomedon.
Orna tho' cruel, claims your Pity too,
Who with Impatience wing'd, and tender Love,
Amidst ten thousand Points of Darts and Javelins,
Sought for the Darling of her Soul, Tygranes.
When she beheld the Slaughter of the Field,
(Her Husband and her Son suppos'd both slain)
Tearing her Locks, with wild Despair she cry'd,
I'll watch the Event of Hopes or Fate no more,
Wars I'll foment no more, Ambition court no more,
Leave the blind World to Fortunes blinder sway,
And Night and Woes, for everlasting Day.
This said, she took the Royal Ponyard, which
Our Queens still wear, and stuck it in her Breast.

Rheu.
Is Orna dead!
Then comes the very Crisis of our Fate.
Fly to Cleomedon and these Dispatches bear,
Which next my Bosom, I for Years have worn;
Do thou, my faithful Evidence, unfold
The dear Records that in this Breast are written,
Whilst I at glad Persepolis prepare
A lasting Peace.

Rus.
I go my Lord, and may th'Auspicious Gods
With crown'd Success your just Designs reward.

[Exeunt severally.
SCENE, the Palace. Overtures of Victory
Enter Leamira, Cytheria, and Adrasta severally.
Lea.
O Cytheria, whither shall I fly?
These Sounds of Victory are Death to me:
My Father Triumphs in his Daughter's ruine,
Cleomedon is slain, or he wou'd be the first
Shou'd bring the Palm of Victory and Peace,
And lay the Crown at Leamira's Feet.

Cyth.
Madam; be comforted, Cleomdon's so brave
He can't be kill'd your; Hero is Immortal,
His awful Visage Death it self dispowers,
A common Fate can never reach him.

Lea.
Oh no, he's slain, my working Soul divines
The fatal Shrine, the Oracle takes Place;
The Medean Prince is hither brought in Bonds;
He will be freed, Reasons of State prevail,
And I am doom'd to joyn the Cords of Peace.
Like most unhappy Princes we must wed,
And to our loathed Aversion must comply,
Tho' each for ever curse the Nuptial Tye,
And all the poysonous Politicks that rul'd.
Oh Cytheria, how accurst am I!
No Eye to pity me, no Friend to help,
But thou, and Oh! 'tis greatly in thy Power.
For all besides will bless the fatal Union,
And pray the Gods to grant it, Oh Cytheria!

Cyth.
You call upon my Name so tenderly,
And view me with such kind and fix'd Regards,
I feel your Sorrows darting thro' my Heart.
Oh that the pittying Gods wou'd grant me Power,
But equal to my Wishes and your Wants.

Lea.
Ha! If there were such Friendship in a Woman!
If I cou'd e'er deserve such wondrous Proofs,
I then wou'd tell, 'tis only thou canst save me.

Cyth.
Speak, I conjure you, for your Sake, and mine,
I'm wrack'd with an Impatience till I hear it.

Lea.
You shall wed Tygranes.

Cyth.
Ha!

Lea.
And that way disappoint our rigged Fates.

Cyth.
What said you!

Lea.
Why starts my Friend? Is this your vow'd Assistance?
Nor think dear Madam, tis a loose resolve,
A fond proposal, not well weigh'd with Reason;
I grant it difficult, and dangerous,
But then forget not what the God denounc'd;
Think of Cyraxes Power, when he shall come,
With Plumes of Victory, to dazle Virtue.

Cyth.
Alas! our Loves are pure as vestal Flames.

Lea.
Think of Tygranes constant Passion rather.
O Cytheria!
Take thou this Council, hoard it as Divine;
'Tis happier far to give thy self to him,
To the fond Man who loves to Adoration,
Who ev'ry Hour new Charms in thee will find,
Than choosing one, whom most your Soul admires,
Still striving, tho' alass! in vain, to please,
Growing too soon dispis'd.

Cyth.
Ah Royal Madam! Into what a Lab'rinth
D'you lead my Mind, without a Clew to guide?
Tygranes now's in Fetters bound, and I
A Stranger watch'd, and frighted ev'n to madness.

Lea.
There is no other time;
To morrow may our fatal Ruines bring.
The Officers that Guard Tygranes, are
At my Devotion, and by lucky Chance,
The Sygnet yet remains within my Power,
And all things shall be order'd as you please.

Cyth.
It was my Fathers dire, and last Commands,
My dearest Brothers awful Warning too,
That I shou'd not Tygranes Wed.

Lea.
That is your Brother's Love, that shou'd be shun'd,
And therefore ought to hurry you the sooner.

Cyth.
But if Cleomedon is dead, what boots it then?

Lea.
Were our malicious Fates in this prevented,
I yet shou'd hope he might agen be rais'd.

Cyth.
Why wou'd you tempt a Wretch to Disobedience;
An angry Father's Frowns are in my View,
And poor Cyraxes Tears have drown'd my way.

Lea.
How Cytheria! Does thy Brother stop thee?
Think how such thoughts thy Christal Virtue stains;
Think what the reverend Brachman said with Horrour;
Beware the Crime of Incest—does it start you!
Remember great Apollo from the Altar,
How did his awful Shrine with Terrour blaze,
The frighted Elements in Darkness mourn,
The Temple on it's massy Pillars shake,
And thee and I, and all were struck with Horrour,
When the dread God in Thunder did denounce,
The cruel Woes that urg'd this gentle Caution!
Fly a too charming Brother.

Cyth.
O my rack'd Heart! my Soul, my Mind! what shall
I do?

Lea.
O shun the hated Sound; far be't from thee,
What e'er thy Father and thy Brother mean,
'Tis safer to obey the Gods then Men.
Think of all these; if nothing else can move,
Think of the Horrour of Incestuous Love.

Cyth.
Whirlwinds first snatch me to the dismal Straund,
Where hoary Mountains guard the Snowy Land,
There fix'd, till I a frozen Statue be,
A mark of Woe to all that burn like me.

Lea.
Think too thou sav'st thy Friend, thy Leamira,
Her Vow's already past, her Wishes fix'd;
Destruction and Despair at once will seize me,
When I shall give my Hand to one I love not—
O, save a Prince, and help a wretched Princess.

Cyth.
Both to your self and Prince Tygranes too,
I owe a larger Score of Gratitude,
Than all your Cytheria's Wealth can pay;
Tell me dear Princess, shew me strait the way;
Both Heav'n and you I'm ready to obey.

Lea.
A little Orotory joining my Apartment,
For my Devotion, private I have built;
One only winking Lamp, with gloomy Light
Does endless burn—Tygranes will I free,
And him will send disguis'd in Priestly Robes,
Whilst there, another Priest performs the Nuptials,
Then hursht in Silence, and in Darkness veil'd,
Nought but the Morning Beams shall find the Bride,
And catch thee blushing by Tygranes side.

Cyth.
Now 'tis so near, my aking Heart forbids,
There's something in Tygranes too that awes me,
In all his Charms, in all his Looks I read,
It is the only thing I shou'd not do;
But Heav'n and Leamira says I must.

Lea.
Tygranes best can plead a Lover's Cause,
I'll send him hither strait, if he prevails,
In this Alcove let him remain conceal'd.
Come to these Arms, my Cheeks shall hide thy Blushes;
My Bosom throbs to give its Sorrows vent,
And thine too pants the Language of Consent.
Give to a wretched Prince thy trembling hand,
His Love is Innocent, thy Brother's stain'd,
And Virtuous Deeds both Hell and Fate Command.
[Exit Leamira.

Cyth.
O my Adrasta, whither am I going?
Thus, like a dying Wretch, twixt Hope and Fear,
I leap into the Dark, and know not where.
What Friend, what Comfort have I now to help me?
My darling Brother I no more must see,
Never from hence his tender Accents hear,
Nor charming Sounds that hung upon his Lips;
Ne'er hear an aged Father's Groans, nor see
The Tears that stain his Silver Beard for thee.

[Trumpets Sound.
Adra.
Hark, hark, Cyraxes, Trumpets nearer sound;

Cyth.
Help me, Adrasta, lift me from the Ground,
Quick, quick Tygranes, snatch me to thy Arms,
And save me from a fatal Brothers Charms,
Scatter these Fires, my burning Breast asswage,
Ah save me from an angry Father's Rage,
Save me from Death, from Ruine and the Grave,
From Hell, from Incest, Cytheria save—
See where he comes.

[Going off meets Tygranes.
Tygr.
Why am I bandied thus about the World,
The sport of Chance, the very Ball of Fate,
Tost too and fro' by Fortunes guidy Hand,
Still I pursue that beautious Phantom there,
And catch, in vain, at the deluding Air.
In that bright form dwells all that's tender all that's sweet,
Inspiring Love, inspiring soft Desires,
Yet with that wondrous Brightness, wondrous All,
The Gods and thou too are my Foes.

Cyth.
Oh Tygranes!

Tygr.
Stands there a Wretch upon the Virge of Life,
Shiv'ring like me, pursu'd so close by Fate,
And dares not plunge? No, the most abject Slave,
Loaded with Cares, and bending with his Fears,
Sinks down the Precipice of ragged Death,
And dare not I then? Wherefore do I live?
Oh Cytheria! I will tell thee why;
Because the Pleasure of beholding thee,
Exceeds the Pains for all that I have lost.

Cyth.
No more, Tygranes.

Tygr.
She weeps! My Sufferings melt th'obdurate Maid!

Cyth.
Hear then ye heav'nly Arbiters of Justice!
What I will do to recompence this Truth,
Tho' under most severe and strict Commands,
Vow'd Promises, to those that are thy Foes,
Charm'd by no Power but Gratitude alone,
Hear thou Tygranes, in the midst of Chains,
Disrob'd of all that's Royal, but thy Virtues,
Ev'n in this loath'd Captivity I seek thee,
And give thee Cytheria for Reward,
Who ne'er can bless thee equal to thy Merits.

Tygr.
Love, Life, and Soul!
Speak yet agen; is this my dreaded Fate!
Where am I? whither, whither am I fall'n?
Is this the Precipice! can this be Death?
Shall I not rise to Empire, rise to Love!
Mount the aspiring top of Glory's Height,
And never never think of Sorrows more?

Cyth.
Yet hold Tygranes, pardon that I stop thee,
Stay thy fierce Wishes in their full Carrier.
Another way there is, equally grateful.
And suiting better with our wretched Fortunes,
That is, to dye with thee, and in the Grave
Mingle our Fragrant Ashes with the Dead,
Sweeter than Flowers that strew the Nuptial Bed.

Tygr.
'Tis done, and I am sunk agen in Death.
Oh most unconquer'd hate! most cruel Breath!
O I cou'd curse my Fate and tear the Ground
Till the kind Earth receive me in her Womb.
And give her Son and all his Woes a Tomb.

Cyth.
Live, live Tygranes, I am only yours;
Quick, quickly take, and lead me to the Priest.
What is more dreadful, worse then a relapse!

Tygr.
Can you ye Powers with patient Eyes behold
A bliss too great to be in Raptures told!
What Man like me, Oh Gods, was e'er so blest!
When, where and how, speak Angel, speak the rest.

Cyth.
I'm chill'd with horror when I wou'd proceed.

Tygr.
Oh 'tis the softness of thy Virgin Fears;
Think how these long long Years I've dy'd for thee,
Give me the last convincing tender Proof,
Yeild the consenting Blessing with that balmy Breath;
Pronounce my Joys, give me this Night thy Hand;
Dangers and Death surround me then in vain,
To thee and Life I am restor'd again.
By this dear Extasie of Joy I'll prove
Long Rigour but indears possessing Love.

Cyth.
My word you have already.
Thus, with a trembling Heart, I give my Hand.

[Giving her Hand, a Voice under ground.
—Hold Cytheria, hold.

Cyth.
Save me Adrasta; O Tygranes, save me.
Did ye not hear a mournful Voice, as from
The silent Tomb, cry'd Hold?

Tygr.
A Trick, a Dream.
What babling Demon has to do with us?
Are we not Innocent! secure from guilt?

Cyth.
It was my Father's, or Cyraxes Voice.

Tygr.
In spite of all thy Race, I'll catch thee thus,
Thus clasp, thus hold thee to my Heart;
Nor Earth nor Hell shall ever dare to part us.
[They Embrace.
Oh how this Scene of Bliss transports my Soul!
This Hand, these Lips are mine without Controul.
How fragrant is the Breath of yeilding Joyes!
How soft the Syllables that Crowns the Voice!

Cyth.
Allow me Sir one hour for Devotion,
And I will meet my Lord—Adrasta go before.

[Adra. aside.]
Mean while I'll hasten to inform Rheusares.
[Voice.]
Stay Cytheria.
[Exit Adra.

Cyth.
Where am I going? Oh my Lord support me.

Tygr.
Thy Cares, thy Fears be mine—banish'd this Breast,
Here, let 'em sleep in thy Tygranes Bosom.
Look up my Soul, my Life! give me one Word.
Thus, against all thy Foes, I draw my Sword.
Rheusares come, Cyraxes too, nay more,
Come old Darius with thy Persian Pow'r,
With Love in this, and Fate in th'other Hand,
I'll guard my Venus o'er the Boystrous Strand;
Thus Mars himself did, mounted on a Star,
Defend his Goddess from the Titans War;
Not all the World shall force thee from my Side,
When this dear Hand the Nuptial Knot has ty'd,

[Exeunt.