University of Virginia Library

SCENE VII.

A magnificent place with a throne on one side; seats opposite the throne for the Grandees of the kingdom. A prospect of the principal port of Seleucia, with the harbour. Ships illuminated to solemnize the election of the new king.
Cleonice preceded by the Grandees of the kingdom, followed by Phenicius and Olinthus. Guards and People.
Chorus.
Each God, and every Goddess hear!
Be present at our prayer:
Behold the important moment near
That must our king declare.

First Chorus.
Hear! Mars and Cupid, now descend;
Your eyes unbind, your falchion sheathe.

Second Chorus.
Let Peace and Hymen here attend,
With kindled torch, and olive wreath.

First Chorus.
Come, Jove, and close beside thee wait
The subject Gods, with Chance and Fate.

Second Chorus.
Benignant come to bless mankind,
And leave thy angry bolts behind.

Chorus.
Each God, and every Goddess hear!
Be present at our prayer;
Behold the important moment near,
That must our king declare.

[while this Chorus is sung, Cleonice, attended by Phenicius, ascends the throne.
Olin.
O queen! all Syria with impatient zeal
Waits from your lips to hear their monarch nam'd,
At length resolve—each, by respectful silence,
Would hasten on th' event.

Cleo.
Sit then—O Gods!
How cruel is this day!

[aside.
[Phenicius, Olinthus and the rest of the Grandees take their places.
Phen.
What means she now!

[aside.
Cleo.
Syrians attend: you rais'd me to the throne;
Your love deserves my thanks; and yet your gift
Is clogg'd with hard conditions: midst so many
Equal in birth, and equal in desert,
Like me, who would not pause? In all my thoughts
Doubtful, irresolute, now this, now that,
I choose, reject; a thousand times an hour
I change my will. Behold I come to choose,
Yet still I come uncertain, unresolv'd.

Phen.
Take then, O queen! a longer time to fix
Your undetermin'd mind.

Olin.
A longer time?

Phen.
Be silent—think not Syria means to press you
With zeal importunate: we all confess
How great must be your trial.

Olin.
Is the course
Of three long moons so little? Thus indeed
May Cleonice still proceed to promise,
And never yet resolve.

Phen.
Presumptuous boy!
Whence springs this insolence?

Olin.
'Tis zeal, 'tis justice,
'Tis sense of danger for my queen. Should Syria
This day be baffled in her hopes, I know not
To what extremes impatience may proceed.

Phen.
They may repent their rashness: those who sit
Supreme on thrones can brook compulsion ill.
Though length of years unnerve my body's strength,
It has not damp'd the vigour of my soul:
No—these old veins shall pour forth all their blood
To guard my sovereign's freedom—

Cleo.
O Phenicius!
Forbear to furnish cause for new contention.
What now avails it to defer th' election,
I still shall be uncertain—Hear me then,
I now declare my choice—

Phen.
You must not choose.
'Tis time we should discover all.

[aside.
Cleo.
What brings
Mithranes here with hasty steps?