University of Virginia Library

Act 3.

(Herodian meets Halak, as he comes out from the King's Chamber—Guards mounted at the door.)
Herodian
Now Halak, doth the King our father live?—
No, He is dead—That look too plainly speaks
His death and my despair!

Halak-
Dead is thy father,
And dead thy hope: I cannot mask the truth.

Herodn-
Nor need you, Why was not I call'd in time?
So had I rous'd him to a deed of mercy,
And sent him lighter in default to Heaven.

Halak-
It coud not be: Death gave no warning here,
But sprung at once with fury on his Victim
As t'were his purpose to preclude repentance.

Herodn-
Horrible consummation! Was you present?
If so, relate the manner.

Halk-
Words woud fail me;
The nature of a Son coud not support it.
Convuls'd with dreadful agonies he died,
His corpse affrights beholders.

Herodn-
What hath follow'd?

Halk-
Rome's mercenary Legate hath proclaim'd
Your Arab rival King.

Herodn-
Abidah King?
An Æthiop, line his sooty palm with gold,
Shall purchase Judah's diadem.

Halk-
Break off!
See where he comes! there is no safety here,
Augusta too—

Herodn-
I'll meet them, tho' t'were death.

Halk-
Tis madness, ruin—

Herodn.-
Off! I am resolv'd.

Abidah with his Arab guards, habited as King, Augusta, Bethanor and Jewish Guards &c &c.
Abidah
Are all these Ceremonies in your Law?

Auga-
All indispensible; our Jewish Rabbi
Devoted to their forms, account them sacred.

Abidh.-
They weary me; but tho' no time methinks
Nor antient use can dignify such trifles,
Yet let them take their course: What next ensues?

Auga-
Nothing but to consign to holy Earth
Your father's cold remains.

Abidh.-
Stand! who are these?

Auga.-
One I can answer for, my antient Enemy
The traitor Halak—Guards, arrest him!

Abidh.-
Hold!
Short Councils like me well, and yet, good Mother,
A man's life may be worth a moment's pause.
The Traitor! why? Is Treason in his face?
I see none there: Many an honest man
Might barter looks with him, and be no loser
By the Exchange. And what is He, that turns
Disdainful from our presence? Speak; who art thou?

Herodn-
Say'st thou who am I? woud'st thou humble me
To what I hold the lowest of my titles,
Call me thy Brother.

Augusa.-
Heav'n and Earth! Herodian

Herodn-
Tygress of Idumæa, I am he,
The Son of Mariamne.

Abidh-
Were you Son
Of Cæsar, you shoud hold an humbler language:
The rights of hospitality protect you,
Whilst you are here in peace: But if you come
With bold defiance to affront our presence,
Charge, but with manly weapons, not with words,
Nor make a Woman's war.

Herodn-
When I stand here
With only truth and justice on my Side,
Both naked, both disarm'd, can you demand
If tis my purpose to affront your power
Or brave your person? I have here in pledge
A father dead and an imprison'd Mother—

Abidh.-
Set her at large!

Auga-
It must not be.

Abidh-
Why not?
Is there a thing we fear?

Augusa-
Six Years I reign'd
In Herod's heart, his Consort and a Queen;
When Mariamne's Arts seduc'd him from me.
Me he repudiates and espouses her.
Nor is this all; She rises in revenge,
And unrelenting barrs me in a prison
For twice ten years; my Infant Son meanwhile
Driv'n to Arabia's desarts—but that Son
Is now before me. Shall I plead to him?
Arm'd with the Sword of empire, which I gave him,
Vengeance in him is duty, filial duty;
And by a Mother's title I demand it!

Abidh-
Fetters and prisons are a Coward's Weapons,
A Tyrant's mean resource; let the Laws shackle
Robbers and theives, but my Ambition's Rival
Let him be free as air, range o're the world;
And if, like me, he loves a brave revenge,
No fear but we shall meet.—Till then farewell!

Herodn-
In Courts like this, floated with human blood,
And peopled with Assassins, where you keep
Records of Heav'n and Ordinances fram'd
By God himself only to be the sport
Of shameless hypocrites, it moves my wonder
To find one advocate for mercy, one
So singular of Soul, so strange of manners,
And in a Mother's precepts so unschool'd.

Abidh-
I cannot talk, my only Argument
Is Nature, and in her unletter'd Volumn
Dwells all the little Science I can boast.
Exil'd and wand'ring o're Arabia's Wilds,
Whither your persecuting Mother drove me
From infancy till now, your Laws and Records
Are undivulg'd to me; I neither question,
Nor can acknowledge what I never Saw.

Herodn-
Yet by those sacred laws my right to reign,
As heir of David's lineage, stands enroll'd
With dire denunciation of God's wrath
On all opposers.

Abidh-
To the Sanhedrim
With all such titles! to the Scribes and Elders
With rules and records, legendary tales
And Chronicles long past: they fetter Kings,
And manacle the Sinews of ambition.
If thou woud'st meet me hand to hand in arms,
Go forth! convoke thy friends, erect thy standard
And strike for Empire! Arm'd with Right divine,
Take all the heroes of thy race in aid,
Nay, conjure up the Dead: Take Mariamne,
Thy Mother, take her hence: I'll not detain,
Living or dead, one atom of thy Blood.

Herodn-
I hold thee to thy word; produce my Mother,
Release thy prisoner and I'll own thee noble!

Abidh-
Not to extort applause from thee, proud man,
(The vanity of mercy I contemn)
But to demonstrate to thee how I scorn
All womanish revenge, I grant thy Suit.
Within an hour, (for which time I commend you
To your most free occasions) in this spot
I shall expect you.

Herodn-
I will meet thee here.

(exit with Halak)
Auga-
Is this well done, my Son? did you not tell me
Your law and your religion was revenge?

Abidh-
True, but your Son is taught to weild the sword,
Not point the dagger: Be content, good Mother,
He falls opposing, or he lives to yeild.

Auga-
Well, we shall leave you to your better thoughts.
Come, good Bethanor, I must hold some talk
With you in private. (exit Augusta)


Bethr-
Oh, persist in mercy!
If you have hope of Happiness in Heaven,
Or heart's content on Earth, I do conjure you,
Lift not your hand against Herodian's life.

(Exit)
Abidah
Peace to your Councils! when advisers point
So wide asunder, and are pois'd in weight
So equal, well it is I am not bound
To either's will, but can pursue my own.
(Affghar enters to Abidah)
Welcome, my faithful Arab; hast thou done
As I commanded? is the Squadron ready
With all appointments for Glaphyra's Safety,
That our best means can furnish?

Affgr-
All is ready:
Each Arab by his neighing courser stands
Ready to vault at once into the Saddle,
And start upon the Signal.

Abidh-
Faithfull Affghar,
You bear no slight commission: To your care
I give a sacred trust, defenceless beauty
And virgin innocence. Remember, Soldier,
You guard a Lady, whom Abidah loves,
The charge of honour and the test of friendship.
And look! Glaphyra's parting form appears!
Must I renounce those beauties? painful task!
Hah! she descries me; and with quicken'd step
Turns to avoid me—Haste, brave Arab, haste
And bring her—Say, that we command her presence.
(Exit Affghar
What have I said? Command! is that the language
Of love and soft persuasion? Oh, for words
To aid this last attempt! How is't that absent
And meditating on her, I can find
Discourse for ages, now she's in my Sight
My thoughts obey no order, and I'm lost?

(Glaphyra enters)
Glapa-
They tell me, Sir, that you command my presence.
These ensigns of authority bespeak
Your title to command and I obey.

Abidh-
I pray you pardon me; I am not practis'd
Like the soft sons of idleness and ease,
To lull your ears with flattery: my rude voice
Crackt with the shoutings of the clamourous chace
Ne're sounded loves soft pitch; some happier Youth
Pours those melodious accents in your Ear
Whilst mine grate harsh and hateful.

Glapa-
Have you said,
And may I now depart?

Abidh.-
A moment's patience—
Knew I the art to please you and controul
These rustic manners, I woud die to gain it:
But call it instinct, call it the misfortune
Of my wild training, I was never born
To stoop to disappointment and the insults
Of a successful Rival. Oft I've driven
The spotted panther to his desperate stand,
Yet never brook'd I a companion's Spear
To strike my destin'd Victim and arrest
The savage trophies I had held in chase.

Glapa-
This I beleive; it now remains to pay
My grateful thanks and part.

Abidh-
I do perceive
A plain unvarnish'd man, who cannot cull
And candy o're his words with flattery's froth,
Is this vain world's derision. Fair Glaphyra,
What have I done, that every look betrays
Impatience to be gone, each word you utter,
Whilst it augments desire, confirms despair?

Glapa-
Some angel of deliverance be my rescue!

Abidh-
Have you forgot how once in glowing terms
You bade me, If I e're became a King,
That I shoud take fair Virtue by the hand,
Lead her to Courts, to Councils, on the throne
Make her my Consort? I am now a King:
I take fair Virtue by the hand—Ascend my throne!
There sit enshrin'd like a protecting Angel,
With guardian wings outspread and fost'ring smiles
Shelt'ring the frighted tribes, who start aghast
From my fierce manners and coarse rugged looks.
Now what replies Glaphyra

Glapa-
Plainly thus—
Tis not your looks deter me, for they are honest;
Tis not your manners, for I love sincerity;
But tis forbidden by our destiny
That we shoud meet. You think your Crown will tempt me,
Therein you wrong the daughter of a King,
Whose glory once, tho' now eclisps'd and lost,
Dazzled the Nations. For my Life, tis your's:
Take it, tis in your hands; t'was your own gift;
You wanted then no monitor for Virtue,
A deed so noble spoke a noble nature!

Abidh-
I know not yet what Nature I am of;
My course I've held uncheckt; nor ever yet,
Till yesterday's reproof, did old Bethanor
Controul me by a word. Or give me cause
Why you reject my suit, or give your Heart.

Glapa-
I have no Heart to give: It is another's.

Abidh-
Death to my Soul! Anothers! do you own it?
Where is the peasant Slave, that dares to thwart
A monarch in his Choice?

Glapa-
Where is the Slave?
Not in thy power, as I am, prais'd be Heaven!
Where is the peasant-Slave? Where thou art now
Usurper, there he shoud be, there he shall
If Justice aids his Arm—

Abidh-
Give me his name.

Glapa-
Herodian—Hah! it strikes you then, it flashes
Confusion to your Pride

Abidh-
Welcome, Revenge!
Hence from my Heart, Remorse! Your lover dies:
Herodian dies this hour!

Glapa-
Where? How? by whom?

Abidh-
Here, at this instant, in your very sight—
Fast in my toils I hold him: He is here—
Nay, if you brave me to it—Hoa! my Guard!

Glapa-
Angels of mercy save him! (She faints and falls)


Abidh-
Hah! she falls!
Help, Help to Save her!—Is it you, Bethanor?
Hence from my Sight.

Bethanor enters and attempts to raise Glaphyra from the Ground.
Bethr-
What have you done?

Abidh.-
Away!
Come not between me and my wrath, old Man,
You tread upon your Grave.

Bethr-
I care not, strike!
But hear me first. I've been your father, Sir,
And I will be your friend: Say what has pass'd?
Speak, I demand your Answer.

Abidh-
Urge me not;
The Vessel of my peace is tempest-torn,
Whelm'd by contending passions, rackt with Love,
And gulph'd in dark despair.

Bethr-
Are you a Man?
Support her, raise her to the Air! and see,
It fans the fading Lillies into life:
Open a fresh sweet flower!

Abidh-
Look on that form!
Life, Empire, Happiness, in her they center,
With her they're lost. Herodian hath her Heart.

Glapa-
A sight of Horror! save me from that Murderer

Bethr-
Dost thou hear that?

Glapa-
Let him not speak to me,
His very voice can kill; his Eye looks death;
Murder is in his touch—Like Moloch's Idol
See where he stands in robes besmear'd with blood,
A Brother's blood—

Abidh-
Am I this Monster—fly!
Ascend my Chariot; to their utmost speed
Urge my Arabian steeds; outstrip the winds.
Terror will lend thee wings, aversion strength
To fly this Monster, this blood-sprinkled Moloch,
Whose very touch can murder. Go! Depart!

Glapa-
No, I'll remain and share Herodian's death:
No force shall tear me from him. The confession,
Your tyranny extorted, has undone him.
Ill fated prince, to fall into your snares!
He told me not of this, conceal'd his purpose
And bade me to expect his quick return.
Fatal concealment! Why did you prolong
My misery with life? I had a weapon,
And coud have died at once.

Abidh.-
No, twas my chance,
The happiest of my Life, to save Glaphyra.
What deed so glorious hath Herodian done?
I am no boaster, yet I'd fain be told.
What this high-favour'd Youth woud act or suffer
For thy lov'd sake, more than Abidah dares.

Glapa-
What he hath done woud ask the day to tell.
Me and my aged father, the last Wreck
Of Syria's captive Kings, did he redeem
From the most abject State of human misery,
That Rome's proud tyrant coud inflict upon us.
What he woud do, if further thou dost ask,
Be patient and I'll tell—Were he the Monarch,
As thou art, of Judæa, and thyself
The rival of his empire and his love,
He woud disdain the base Assassin's part,
Nor plunge his dagger in a brother's bosom.
Oh, excellent Bethanor, kneel with me!
And join thy prayers to him, to Heaven for mercy.

Abidh-
Stand up! impetuous tho' I am and fierce,
I am a man, and not a dæmon—rise!

Bethr-
Glaphyra, take my counsel and withdraw.
I am your advocate, your pledge for safety:
I will prevail or perish. Nay retire!

Glaphyra retires.
Abidh-
Who dares to say retire?

Bethr-
Bethanor dares:
Bethanor once again his breast opposes
To a fell madman's rage.

Abidh-
Die then, thou Traitor!

Draws his Sword
Bethr-
Stop, Parricide, you kill your father—

Abidh-
Hah!

drops his Sword
Bethr-
By the eternal Truth, I am thy father!

Abidh-
Merciful God, support me!

Bethr-
Oh, my Son,
There was no way but this. You've lost an Empire,
But you have Sav'd a soul.

Abidh-
My blood recoils
And freezes at my heart. If you're my father,
Why did you practise on me to deceive,
And train me up to hopes beyond my reach?

Bethr-
Say rather why did you decline from Virtue?
Had you rul'd others as you rul'd yourself,
What anarchy had follow'd? Oh Abidah!
I had been secret still, had you been constant.
Did I not warn you to abstain from blood,
From Prince Heroidan's blood? By every name
Sacred in Earth and Heaven I did conjure you;
But t'was in vain, and now—

Abidh-
I will have proof:
This may be counterfeited: True or false,
Still there must be deceit: I will have proof,
E're I let loose the Sceptre I have grasp'd.
If I take now your word for truth, I take
Your whole life past for rank dissimulation.
Therefore nor words nor oaths shall win belief,
Nothing but demonstration shall compell it.

Bethr-
Follow me then and you shall have conviction
Such as shall put to silence every doubt
Ambition can oppose.

Abidh-
Lead on: I follow.