University of Virginia Library

Act 5

An Antique Vestibule with passages leading to different Apartments. Herodian and Glaphyra enter under separate Guards.
Herodian
Here we must part. To that commission'd Spirit,
Which o're the virgin innocence of Sleep
Keeps his angelic watch, I do commend thee.

Glapa-
Oh that the night were past! To part is dreadful;
The very scene inspires my soul with horror:
I doubt, I tremble. Day ne're enter'd here,
Hope, chearful Offspring of the morn, n'ere dwelt;
But murder, ambusht in these gloomy Cells,
Brooding in midnight silence wakeful sits
With list'ning Ears, till from yond antique tower
His Centinel the Raven croaks the Knell,
His Signal for our doom

Herodn-
Nor yet despair,
Nor yet, confiding in our promis'd hope,
Be careless of your safety.

Glapa-
Oh Herodian,
What can I do defenceless? See'st thou not
This Arab Youth how he is tost with passions?
Fierce as the gust that tears his sandy Wilds,
And fiery as the Sun, whose burning Orb
Withers parcht Nature up: His wavering Mind
Now points to mercy, now with quick recoil
Drives like a wreck before the hellish blast
Of murderous revenge.

Herodn-
I have survey'd him
With anxious scrutiny, and trembling own
The force of all your fears: Therefore, Glaphyra,
Be arm'd for the occasion; better t'were
And more beseeming of your princely birth,
To fall untainted, than Survive disgrace.
There is a horrid thing that harbours here—
How shall I utter it?

Glapa-
Proceed: Unfold it.

Herodn-
If his seducing Mother shoud assail,
And passion's raging heat shoud urge him on
To Violation—

Glapa-
Horrible to thought!
Give me the means of Death! if not, I'll force them
From Nature's last resource.

Herodn-
Oh! nobly thought,
Offspring of Kings! to great atchievements born
And more than Roman dignity: Behold!
I have a Weapon

Shewing a Dagger.
Glapa-
Give it me: Tis welcome.
I love, I reverence the manly gift;
And doubt me not, I have an arm to guide,
A bosom to receive it. Now farewell!
Come, Sirs, dispose me where your King commands.
I'm ready; lead the way—Once more farewell!

Herodn-
Remember—

Glapa-
Fear me not.

Herodn-
Good Angels guard you.

Exeunt severally guarded.
(Abidah enters alone)
Abidh-
Tis madnight: Now the darkling Imps are busy,
And couching close beside the Ear of sleep
Whisper their hellish fancies: Horrid dreams
Are now at work; Now Ghosts may stalk unchalleng'd
By Morn's shrill Centinel. How now!—what thoughts
Rush on my mind?—Avaunt, ye devilish Agents!
Strengthen my soul, just Heavn!—There sleeps Herodian.
What then?—there let him sleep—Let him awake
Tomorrow and be blest—Oh! blest too much!—
There, there that passage leads him to Glaphyra:
And I, I must not bend my Eyes that way,
Outcast from Hope and Life—On Him the Sun
Laughing shall rise; round him the dancing hours
Shall tread their sportive measures, His the Day,
And every Day—Night and despair are mine.

(Augusta enters)
Auga-
How now, my Son! well met. This solemn privacy
And midnight silence recommend the moment
For serious meditation. Hast thou thought
On what I told thee and at leasure weigh'd
In thy mind's ballance what a trivial thing
Weak pity is? a toy to please a baby,
A Coward canting Virtue?—Thou hast stept
Up to the very threshold of thy Hope;
But one Step more and Hope becomes Possession.
Wilt stop, go back; recoil from thy good fortune?
Sure thou wilt not, my Son. There Sleeps thy Rival!
So let not thy Revenge.

Abidh-
He is my Brother.

Auga-
But not thy Mother's Son. Oh that the blood,
Which thou deriv'st from my maternal veins
Might with my Spirit touch thy filial Heart!
Look yet again—behold! that entrance leads
To Love, to Beauty, to Glaphyra—

Abidh-
Hah!
Can it be possible? In very truth
Art thou my Mother? Can such direful thoughts
Visit a matron's bosom?

Auga-
Woud I save
A Son from madness, from despair and death?
Take Nature's answer from a Mothers lips;
I woud—Can Mercy point that saving way?
Tis not in Mercy's power—To Justice then
Turn thy revolving thoughts; inquire of Reason,
Ask if tis fitting to supplant a Son,
To give a Son's fair birthright to his Rival,
And sacrifice thy life to save Herodian's:
Does Heaven prescribe such Mercy to a Mother?
I'll not beleive it does. I, like thyself,
Was once weak pity's dupe, and mark what follow'd—
Twenty long Years of dark Imprisonment—
If the Example terrifies, avoid it,
And profit by Experience dearly purchas'd.

Abidh-
Tis not my principle to spare my Rival,
And to resign Glaphyra is to die:
But still the manly purpose of my Soul
Melted at beauty's tear; it struck like magic;
From the fair fountain of Glaphyra's Eyes
The supplicating drop of pity fell,
And from my Heart, tho' bleeding fresh with wrongs,
Revenge, like an exorcis'd dœmon, fled.
Now it comes back, rebounds upon my breast
With tenfold force resistless—Hah! tis Here—
Welcome, ye black Associates of my Soul,
Murder and Violation! Rise ye furies
And twine your snaky folds about my Heart;
For it is all your own. Lo, I am arm'd!
Avoid the Chamber—Vengeance be my Guide!

Auga-
Now, now, my Son, if thou woud'st be a Monarch,
Thou handlest that, which in a brave Man's grasp,
Will not be idle long.

Abidh-
Hark! He approaches—

Auga-
He comes, thy rival comes! and on thy brow,
Prophetic of his fate, sit stern Revenge
And frowning Resolution. Oh, strike home!
And if thy wrongs suffice not to direct
Thy forceful Sword to his proud hostile Heart,
Thus let me strain thee to my throbbing bosom
And add my rage to thine.

Abidh-
Enough! Depart.
Exit Augusta.
I'll not dispatch him Sleeping—Hoa. Come forth;
Herodian, come forth! Hah! what art thou?
Bethanor!

(Bethanor enters follow'd by Serapion)
Bethr-
Oh defend me! I am wounded.
See, the Assassin comes!

Abidh-
This to his Heart!
Serapion falls.
Die, blood Hound, like a Dog I spurn thee—Die!
There lie and howl.

Bethr-
Oh! I am slain my Son—
Support me!—Ask that Ruffian, if he lives,
Who set him on the deed.

Abidh-
Speak, if thou can'st:
Answer, thou bloody Slave, who set thee on
To kill this good old Man?

Serapn-
Art thou Abidah?
Art thou the King?

Abidh-
Abidah and the King.

Serapn-
Then I confess thy Mother did employ me
To kill Bethanor. With a poison'd dagger
I struck him; If he bleeds, tho but a drop,
He dies—I can no more—Oh Horror! Horror!

(dies)
Abidh-
Speak quickly, do you bleed, O fatal Sight!

Bethr-
Lament not: Tis Heavn's Justice—I submit.

Abidh-
Now by the awfull presence of thy God,
Where thou shalt soon appear, I do adjure thee,
Give me the truth—Am I thy Son, Bethanor;
Or did'st thou practise on my credulous Spirit
A Merciful deception to divert
My vengeance and preserve Herodian—?

Bethr-
No;
With my last breath now parting I declare
I've spoke the truth—Augusta's Princely Son,
Whose name you counterfeit, died in his birth,
And poverty corrupted my weak Virtue
To substitute my Infant in his place.
Thy Mother, now a Saint in Heav'n, but liv'd
To bless her new-born Murderer and Expir'd:
Had she not died, I had not been thus guilty.
Can'st thou forgive me? wilt thou not with Curses
Load thy sad father?

Abidh-
Mark, if I will curse thee—
Judge of all human Hearts, absolve my father!
Blanch with his contrite tears this Crimson Sin,
And white as Snow record him in the book
Of Life eternal! Give me now your blessing.

Bethr-
Ye interceeding Angels, who address
The throne of mercy for imperfect Man,
Make this dear Youth your care, confirm his Virtue
And grant him life, if life be innocence;
But if dishonour, misery await him,
Waft him yet guiltless on your wings to glory!

Abidh-
Help then to fit me for this towring flight,
By throwing off my load of guilty passions:
If you have Love or pity at your heart
For me, your Son confest, be now a Father;
And with parental firmness point this Sword
Against this recreant bosom; no way else
Remains to save me, Tis not me you kill
Tis Guilt—Oh, stab the Dæmon at my Heart!

Bethr-
Thy sword was in thy hand; thy visage wild;
I trembled at the Sight: What was thy purpose?

Abidh-
I'll not belie my purpose. Dire revenge
Had turn'd my heart to stone; this midnight hour,
This solitary silence, mad desires
And prompt occasion, aided by the Counsels
Of Hell's infernal Tempter, all assail'd
And shook my Constancy; with ready sword
I flew to meet my Rival; for I scorn'd
To kill him Sleeping, and I call'd him forth
To equal Combat—for my Virtue Struggled—

Bethr-
Where is Glaphyra?

Abidh-
Name not her—That passage
Leads to her Chamber.

Bethr-
Hah! your looks alarm me.
Not name her! Sure you have not dar'd to Spoil
The holy shrine of Chastity—

Abidh-
Oh Horror!
May every Guardian Spirit of the Night
Shelter her sleeping innocence! in Act
I'm free, in meditation curst.
But sure he hears me not: his Sightless Eyeballs
Glaze with the pangs of death—He falls—He dies!
Bethanor sinks on the Ground.
Oh, speak to me, My father! Affghar! Guards!
Haste, haste, my friends and bring Herodian forth,
Glaphyra too—delay not for a moment
(Exeunt Guards.
Lift up your Eyes awhile: Look on your Son—
Behold a deed of justice, e're you close
Their trembling lids—Ah no!—Convulsion tears
His labouring heart—It rises to his throat;
He gasps; he writhes in anguish—He expires

Bethanor dies.
(Glaphyra brought in by Affghar &c
Glapa-
Where will you force me? Off! let go my arm.
I will advance no further—Grace defend me!
Abidah?—Heav'ns what dying Man is that?
Why do you drag me to this Scene of blood?
Bethanor!—Yes, tis He—Inhuman Tyrant,
You've murder'd my defender.

Abidh-
Peace: Be Silent!
Wound not the Night with Shrieks, lest ev'n the Dead
Shoud hear them, and his Spirit, hovering o're us,
Drop from the wing, and cower into the Grave.

Glapa-
Another bleeding Trunk!
discovering Serapion another Sea
Of human gore, that with it's Crimson tide
Eddies and [broms?] around my trembling Steps.
Let me depart, or See me die at once

draws her dagger.
Abidh-
Stop, Stop her desperate hand!

Herodian rushes in, follow'd by a Guard.
Herodn-
Oh, save Glaphyra!
Or let me share her death—Is this thy promise,
Monster, is this thy faith?—Augusta comes!
The pavement streams with murder, and the fiends
Flock to the Scent of blood.

Augusta enters and speaks to Abidah.
Auga-
Degenerate peasant!
Base Parricide! thou hast undone thy Mother.

Abidh-
My Mother!—

Auga-
Mariamne lives. I met her;
Yes, like an Adder in my path, she crost me;
And 'tis thy doing Traitor.

Abidh-
Now, brave Arabs!
Now, Affghar, do thy friend a noble service,
And seize that Murderess, She is not my Mother.

Guards approach to Seize her.
Auga-
Ruffians, avaunt! Sayst thou I'm not thy mother?
Then know me for thy Queen; nor dare to assault
The majesty of Judah.

Abidh-
Lo, where lies
The Assassin you employ'd to kill Bethanor!
Know t'was my hand that smote him, t'was my father
You and your murderer slew. Now to Herodian,
Judæa's rightful monarch, I commit you.
The dungeon, from whose life-devouring jaws
I snatcht his Mother, yawns to give you welcome.
Prince, you once told me, when I call'd you Brother,
I humbled you to what you proudly deem'd
Your meanest title—proudly did I say?
T'was justly deem'd, for I am not your Brother.
I'm not Augusta's Son, nor Judah's king.

Herodn-
Nay, but you are a King; tis now you reign
Enthron'd above all earthly Potentates;
Tis now with pride I own you for my brother.

Abidh-
Crowns I can abdicate without a Sigh;
The tryal of my Soul, the painful Struggle,
Which Honour must at life's expence Endure,
That is the test of Virtue—Oh, Glaphyra!—

Auga-
Pause for a moment! Hear me speak apart—
I yet will Save thee: I confess Bethanor
Hath told thee truth: I own thou art nor mine
Nor Herod's Son; and therefore this Herodian
Is not thy brother; Nature hath no plea
Which urges thee to Spare him—Art thou mad
To sacrifice revenge; ambition—love?
Can'st thou survey that beauty and resign it?
The Secret of thy birth dies with thy father:
Send but Herodian where Bethanor is,
And it shall rise no more

They Confer apart.
Glapa-
Herodian, mark,
Mark how that tempter winds about his Heart!
See, see, he faulters! Look his colour changes!
Strengthen his Constancy, all-saving Goodness,
Or we are lost.

Herodn-
Tis a tremendous moment:
Remember I have arm'd thee: Be prepar'd!

Glapa-
Firm as the faith of Martyrs I abide.
Now, now the terror comes.

Abidh-
Tempt me no more:
I'll die before I'll do it, Hah! behold
My father's corpse; His wounds burst out afresh;
Tho dead, his blood yet speaks, Away, Corrupter!
The Dæmon, that is in thee, gives this Counsel:
Hence with that Murderess! bear her to the dungeon
When Mariamne issued.

Auga-
Stop; Reflect
Not to a Dungeon—that has been endur'd;
My Soul yet unsubdu'd has stood that trial;
And wearied it's tormentors: Oh tis malice
Weak woman's malice; you shoud kill outright
Murder your benefactress; Come, dispatch—
When I enthron'd a Beggar I deserv'd it.
But in a Dungeon, in a living Tomb
Imprison not my Spirit, lest again
It may break forth to Scorn and to defy you
As it does now.

Abidh-
Why did you kill my father?

Auga-
Why did I kill him? why did he betray me?
Why did I kill—thy father.—dost thou ask?
Because I was a Queen, and he a Traitor—
Because I held it better to enjoy
Life on a throne, than languish in a Dungeon,
Because—but I have causes infinite,
You have but one, and that's ingratitude,
To which and to your folly I bequeath you:
Settle my fate—I'll talk with you no longer.

(Exit)
Abidh-
Come hither, fair one—fear me not; approach!
That I have lov'd, to desperation lov'd thee,
It is my torment, not my crime: The conflict
Was sharp, but I have conquer'd. Go, be free!
Go to thy heart's first choice! Herodian take her;
Now I've no more to give

Glapa-
Oh, with what praises,
What thanks shall I address thee?

Abidh-
Give no praise:
Spare me a little Earth, and let my bones
Sleep by my father's—Now deliverance comes:
This to my Heart—(Stabs himself)


Glapa-
Help, help! he has kill'd himself!

Herodn-
O Horror, Horror! unexpected Stroke!
My Life to save him—

Abidh-
Ah, you knew not me.
My Spirit is too proud to be imprison'd
In an ignoble case. It bends its flight
To realms, where disappointment never enters,
Where love is universal as the day
That brightens thro' Eternity: Farewell!
There we shall meet, Glaphyra—Ah—no more—
My Eyes lose sight of thee—tis past—I die.

(Dies)
Glapa-
Oh horrible! He dies—afflicting Sight
Alas that no preventive hand coud stop
The rapid stroke of Death—What noble fruit
Of growing Virtue with its native Trunk
Is now cut down and strew'd upon the grave!
Judge him with mercy, Heaven! He was not taught
Thy precepts of forbearance: Nature's Child
Will with the God of Nature meet acceptance.

Herodn-
Well may we mourn his most untimely fate,
When tears are all that we can now bestow:
Yet what we can we'll pay—Sepulchral Honours
With royal Rites as to a King and Brother.
Further, in memory of his last request,
We will entomb his father at his side,
Whilst these his virtuous Acts, and the sad story
Of his unhappy Love shall stand recorded
In living Chronicles, to be a theme
For Ages yet unborn of future praise.