 | Pharnaces |  |
24
ACT III.
SCENE I.
The Council-Chamber.Pompey discover'd magnificently attended. Pharnaces guarded. Selinda, &c.
Pharnaces.
Selinda, cease—forbear thy vain Persuasion;
The lazy Drop, that falls upon the Flint,
Hath more Effect.
Sel.
Yet listen to the Voice
Of Mercy, and of Happiness—
Phar.
No more!—
Mercy!—What's that?—Can I, a Kingdom's Heir,
Exil'd my native Walls, reduc'd to see
My Country bleeding, all our Asian Coast
By War laid waste, or sunk in Slavery;
Can I see this, yet to the Hand that caus'd it,
For Freedom bend, and sue for Mercy?—No—
Come Death, Destruction come!—
Pom.
Renown'd Pharnaces,
Let Reason take the Rein—the Terms I offer
Are such as may with Honour be embrac'd.
25
O hark to Reason's pow'rful Tongue,
Obey, obey her Voice;
Fond Hope attunes her soothing Song,
To bid thy Soul rejoice;
Obey, obey her Voice;
Fond Hope attunes her soothing Song,
To bid thy Soul rejoice;
Fair Freedom, deckt in all her Charms,
Invites thee to be blest,
And Friendship longs, with folding Arms,
To wrap thee in her Breast.
Invites thee to be blest,
And Friendship longs, with folding Arms,
To wrap thee in her Breast.
Sel.
Hear how the Victor courts thee to be happy.
Embrace his Love, my Brother.
Phar.
Hence, Selinda!
Abus'd, mistaken Maid!—Embrace his Love!
What Weakness thus misleads thy Mind?—Forbear
To try my Temper further—I'm resolv'd—
AIR.
Roman, thy soft, thy soothing Arts give o'er,
Of Friendship and of Freedom talk no more;
Hope, from her ample Hoard, brings no Relief,
And Reason serves but to encrease my Grief.
Of Friendship and of Freedom talk no more;
Hope, from her ample Hoard, brings no Relief,
And Reason serves but to encrease my Grief.
A Prince appeals!—O dare not thou deny
The Boon, for which his Sorrows loudly cry;
The only Mercy thou, with Pride, can'st shew,
Or! he receive—give, give the fatal Blow!
The Boon, for which his Sorrows loudly cry;
The only Mercy thou, with Pride, can'st shew,
Or! he receive—give, give the fatal Blow!
26
In Sable clad, the Noon of Night approaches;
With earliest Dawn, my Pris'ners must to Rome.
Let me not see Pharnaces in the Number,
Spare me the Sorrow, and thyself the Shame.
My Oath and Honour equally forbid
The fatal Doom should be repeal'd, unless
Thou swear to meet my Wish—thine Aid in Arms
We ask not—take another Hour—that ended,
The Temple shall with ev'ry Rite be crown'd,
That mutual Leagues require; and at the Altar
We shall attend thine Answer—Gallant Prince,
Let it be Peace between us!—'Till that time,
Return to thine Apartment; O return,
And in thy Wife's and Infant's Sorrows read
Persuasion, far beyond the greatest Pow'r
Of human Tongue.
TRIO.
Pom.
Night, as thy gloomy Shades descend,
Our Troubles hide, our Tumults end,
That Concord's clear and gladsome Ray,
May mingle with the Dawn of Day!
Sel.
Night, as thy Shades incline to Rest,
Bring Quiet to the Warrior's Breast,
That Morn may see his Sorrows cease,
And wake his Soul to Love and Peace!
Phar.
Like me, to dark Despair a Prey,
O Night, eternal be thy Sway,
That staring Morn, with thousand Eyes,
No more upon my Shame may rise!
[Exit Pharnaces, guarded.
27
Ath.
His, his Command! away!
[To Gilades entering.
Roman, in me
Behold a Monarch pleading for his Right!
I claim my Captives; to my Rage restore them,
That Vengeance may be gratified!
Sel.
Great Conqueror,
Now interpose thy Pow'r, or all is lost.
Pom.
Athridates,
By virtue of my Place, by Oath enjoin'd,
And by our Country's Law, the Cause of Justice
I here support; and from Oppression's Gripe
Redeem the meanest Captive. Should Pharnaces
Swear Faith to Rome, 'tis mine to seal the Compact;
If not, her Senate doom him—'till that time,
He lives in my Protection—Thou art answer'd.—
Ath.
Vengeance and Death! Is then a King refus'd,
His Claim despis'd?
Pom.
Thou dost forget thyself.
AIR.
Disgrac'd with ev'ry Spot and Shame,
That mean Revenge and Slaughter bring;
No more usurp the sacred Name,
The hallow'd Scepter of a King.
When frantic Wars no longer rave,
'Tis his to succour and redress;
His Scepter is the Pow'r to save,
His Crown, and Triumph, is to bless.
That mean Revenge and Slaughter bring;
No more usurp the sacred Name,
The hallow'd Scepter of a King.
When frantic Wars no longer rave,
'Tis his to succour and redress;
His Scepter is the Pow'r to save,
His Crown, and Triumph, is to bless.
[Exeunt Pompey, Selinda, and Guards.
28
Refus'd! insulted!—Curses on his Head!
The mighty Hunger of Revenge unsated!
But tremble, Roman! know, I came prepar'd
To meet thy Arrogance.—I well foresaw
His boasted Virtue center'd all in this,
To please a Woman!—whom to wanton Dalliance
He now enamour'd leads.—O blest Occasion!
Fit Time for Vengeance! while the City sleeps,
And he in Love dissolv'd.—Here, take this Paper,
It holds my full Instructions—Haste this instant,
Near to the Southern Quarter of the Palace
Assemble all our Troops, prepar'd to close
The Romans in, and at the Signal giv'n,
To drench them in their Gore.—
[Gives the Paper.
Pompey, enjoy
Thy last of Pleasures—for, this very Hour,
Thou sleep'st, to wake no more.
AIR.
The Thunders of Battle prepare
With Horror unwonted to roll;
Loud echoing Groans thro' the Air,
Are the Pleasure and Pride of my Soul.
With Horror unwonted to roll;
Loud echoing Groans thro' the Air,
Are the Pleasure and Pride of my Soul.
See Slaughter his Cavern unfolds,
Forth issues a terrible Flood,
While Vengeance exulting beholds,
And smiles o'er a Deluge of Blood.
Forth issues a terrible Flood,
While Vengeance exulting beholds,
And smiles o'er a Deluge of Blood.
[Exit, attended.
29
Gil.
Now, cruel Tyrant! now my Justice dread,
It bursts, a Tempest, round thy guilty Head.
[Exit.
SCENE II.
Changes to an Apartment.Enter Pompey, Selinda, and Attendants.
Pom.
Oh! how the jealous Minutes speed! too quick
For me and my Desires! e'er yet the Time,
The fatal Period comes, to plunge Us all
In Grief, that knows no Cure, on thee, Selinda,
Rests all the little Hope, that cheers my Heart.
—Thou answer'st not—
Sel.
I fear 'tis all in vain.
AIR.
Sel.
Yet, tho' the Gate of Love be seen
By fell Resentment strongly barr'd,
And stubborn Pride, with rugged Mien,
Each downy Path to Mercy guard,
Once more will I my Pow'r employ,
Your Loves and Duties to combine,
To free Pharnaces be my Joy,
The Praise and Glory all be thine!
Enter Gilades with a Paper, and kneels.
Gil.
Forgive this bold Intrusion, thus to Earth
30
My Heart is wholly thine!—preserve thyself—
This Paper speaks thy Danger—
Pom.
Rise, Gilades!
Sel.
My Heart alas! sinks in me—may Distress
Danger, and Death be far from such Perfection!
Pom.
Confusion!—What so sudden and so near!
Thy Virtue claims our noblest Thanks—Selinda,
Haste to thy Brother; be th'Attempt propitious,
As it is good!—Soldier, conduct her safe,
Repair thou then to me; thy Aid I ask,
In this unlook'd for Treach'ry.
Gil.
You command me,—
[Exit Pompey one way, Gilades and Selinda the other.
Enter Pharnaces with a Dagger, Tamiris and Child.
Phar.
Thou now hast heard, and now must own, Tamiris,
The subtlest Pow'r of Eloquence were vain
Against such mighty Reasons—Pompey sooths
But to betray Us to a mean Concession,
A voluntary Bondage—let Us then
Believe no more, and be no more deceiv'd.
Tam.
Not for myself I fear and tremble thus,
But for my Child—O! look on him, Pharnaces!
Within his streaming Eyes a thousand Torments
Await me—Death, alas! has neither Frown,
Nor Pain, but I could meet with thee unshaken.
31
The Spectre Death, when view'd from far,
Appears a Foe, in Terror drest,
But proves, when we behold him near,
The Comfort of Affliction's Breast;
The steddy Soul he threats in vain,
The Coward he alone affrights,—
And gives us, for a Moment's Pain,
Whole Ages of supreme Delights.
Appears a Foe, in Terror drest,
But proves, when we behold him near,
The Comfort of Affliction's Breast;
The steddy Soul he threats in vain,
The Coward he alone affrights,—
And gives us, for a Moment's Pain,
Whole Ages of supreme Delights.
Enter Selinda.
Sel.
My Brother arm'd! drop, drop that fatal Steel—
Once more great Pompey sends—
Phar.
'Tis past, Selinda.
Sel.
Yet hear me—
Phar.
No—Art thou so lost to Honour,
And to the Blood, thou shar'st, basely to give
Thy Hours to him, who leads Us all to Ruin?
Tamely receive a mean, precarious Life,
Dependant on his Smile!—No—join with Us,
And be thine own Deliverer!
Sel.
Rash Man!
Perversely bold!—he sends to tell thee now—
Phar.
That he prepares to crown our general Fall
With Ruin of thy Virtue.
Sel.
Blind to Goodness!
His Views on me—
Phar.
Are foul as Infamy.
Sel.
My Life upon his Honor!
32
Hence!—begone!—
Consult a wretched Safety—We're resolv'd.
Sel.
Oh! yet forbear!
[Loud Alarms within.
There, there the Storm begins!
Phar.
What Storm! has Wretchedness, like ours, a Gleam
Of Hope?
Sel.
From Pompey's Arm, from him you wrong,
Alone expect it—Gods, protect his Virtues!
Tam.
Explain, my Sister!—quick—
Sel.
Thy cruel Father
Madly resentful, that he is depriv'd
His wish'd-for Vengeance, seeks, by treach'rous Arts,
To make a general Slaughter on the City,
At this dead Hour. The Prince, thro' secret Means,
Appriz'd of his Intent, prepares to meet him,
And turns his Force against his own Ally,
Rather than to Barbarity and Shame
Resign your Lives.
Tam.
My Husband!—
Phar.
Turn thee from me—
A Torrent of Remorse and Shame o'erwhelms me.
Sel.
Indeed the Prince is noble, and of me
He ev'n foregoes a Hope, 'till you are happy.
[A Flourish sounded.
Enter Gilades.
Gil.
The Prince, my Lord, requests your speedy Presence.
Sel.
Is then his virtuous Cause—
Gil.
The Gods have crown'd it—
[Exit.
33
Thanks to the righteous Pow'rs!—
Phar.
Exalted Chief!
How have I wrong'd thy noble Heart!—thou now
Hast found indeed the Way t'inslave Pharnaces.
Sel.
Seek we the sacred Spot—the flaming Altar,
With ev'ry ceremonious Rite expects us.
AIR.
Phar.
The gracious Pow'rs, with timely Care,
Have warn'd my erring Breast,
O! may I hence, with pious Fear,
Abide their great Behest!
All.
O! may We hence, &c.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.
Changes to the Temple.The Altar drest with the Holy Fire, Gilades, Priests, Guards, &c. Pompey discovered on the Steps of the Altar; beneath him, on his Right, stands a Priest, with a Spear in his Hand—on his Left, another with Torch—in the Centre, beneath the Steps of the Altar, a Golden Urn filled with Earth.
Chorus of Priests.
Descend, sweet Peace, descend and bring
Content and Pleasure on thy Wing.
With jocund Plenty in thy Train,
Descend, and cheer the sickning Swain!
34
Hear this, all gracious Pow'rs, and Oh! dispose
Pharnaces' Heart to ratify the Wish!
Mean while, 'till Reconcilement's soothing Balm
Shall heal our wounded Minds, and crown our Bliss,
For Treachery detected and subdued
Pay we our honest Thanks in grateful Song.
AIR.
Wake, wake the loud Blast, and bid Incense arise;
How clear burns the Flame, how it streams to the Skies!
To the Pow'r, who wards the Blow,
And lays the lurking Traitor low,
Dwell upon the pleasing Strain,
The grateful Lay ne'er flows in vain.
Again wake the Blast, &c.
Enter Athridates guarded.
How clear burns the Flame, how it streams to the Skies!
To the Pow'r, who wards the Blow,
And lays the lurking Traitor low,
Dwell upon the pleasing Strain,
The grateful Lay ne'er flows in vain.
Again wake the Blast, &c.
Thou, Athridates, rash, misguided Man,
From thy own Vassals take a great Example.
Not fear of Pain or Death, so soon cou'd vanquish
Men learn'd and practis'd in the Trade of War—
The Fear of Guilt alone unnerv'd their Arms—
Asham'd to strike in such a vicious Cause!
They left thee naked to the bitter Wound
Of Shame and Disappointment.
Ath.
Curses seize
Their dastard Souls! and thee, thou double Traitor,
[To Gil.
False to thy Cause and Master!
Gil.
Bloody Tyrant—
Take back the Term—it suits thee best—thou Traitor
To Virtue, Justice, and Humanity!
35
So lost to Goodness, who wou'd dare abett
Revenge so black, and infamous as thine?
AIR.
In Honour's Cause alone
The fatal Sword I raise,
That, that should point the sacred Steel,
And bid its Lightning blaze.
The fatal Sword I raise,
That, that should point the sacred Steel,
And bid its Lightning blaze.
But edgeless be the Blade,
That Vice attempts to wield,
And blasted be the guilty Arm
That stains the noble Field!
That Vice attempts to wield,
And blasted be the guilty Arm
That stains the noble Field!
Base Wretch! from Sight of Man,
Despairing may'st thou fly!
In desert Wilds to groan, unseen,
And unlamented, die!
Despairing may'st thou fly!
In desert Wilds to groan, unseen,
And unlamented, die!
Pom.
Thy Troops are in our Care, and swear Affiance
To Rome's high State. For thee, the double Name
Of Monarch and Ally, secures thy Person.
To Shame, Disquiet, and each Pang, that tears
The guilty Soul, I leave thee free.
Ath.
To Shame!
I know it not, and glory in the Deed!
My Rage shall still pursue—O! might it reach thee!
36
Could I purchase, from ample Futurity's Roll,
The Blessing, that most would enrapture my Soul,
'Twere to see thee, my Captive, in Agony lie,
Distracted, despairing, and begging to die;
In lingering Pains would I see thee depart,
And riot, and feast on the Pangs of thy Heart.
The Blessing, that most would enrapture my Soul,
'Twere to see thee, my Captive, in Agony lie,
Distracted, despairing, and begging to die;
In lingering Pains would I see thee depart,
And riot, and feast on the Pangs of thy Heart.
[Exit.
Pom.
Repentance may, and will, I hope, o'ertake him.
Tamiris, thou art sav'd the dreadful Sight
Of a Disgrace so near thee—In that Thought
My Heart rejoices—Now the Trial comes,
On which my Bliss depends.—
Enter Pharnaces, Tamiris, Selinda, and Child, with Guards.
Pharnaces, say
Am I to call thee Friend?—Weigh well my Offers
E'er yet—
Phar.
O virtuous Prince, forbear thy Counsel,
Spare further Speech, lest I appear to make
A Merit of embracing Worth like thine.
Shame ties my Tongue!—to You and Rome I bend,
And o'er the sacred Knot, in Floods of Tears,
Will shed Remorse.
Pom.
Blest Hearing!—reverend Flamen,
[To the Priest.
Advance the Torch—
37
Thus be the desp'rate Fire
[Buries the Torch in the Urn.
Of Enmity extinguish'd—ne'er again
Oh! ne'er to be renew'd!
Pom.
Behold I break
[Takes the Spear from the Priest.
The fatal Spear, and, as it falls to Earth,
So die destructive War!
Chorus of Priests.
Th'attentive Gods have heard our pious Pray'r,
For Innocence, and Virtue, are their Care.
Pom.
For Rome, I greet, and hold thee to my Heart.
This City be thine own! 'till Peace restore
Repose to Asia, and to thee thine Empire.
Phar.
My Wife, my Child!—this Transport is too much!
Tam.
In what a Length, an Age of Misery,
Have some few Hours involv'd us! and a Moment
To bring this great Deliverance!—O my Child!—
Phar.
Preserve him ever there, and warn his Mind,
From these his Father's Errors, to correct
Impetuous Heat, and tread in Reason's Path.
Child.
My Mother's Virtue, and my Father's Honour,
I'll make my great Example.
Pom.
Now, Selinda,
I may, with Honour, ask—
Sel.
What I, with Pride,
Consent to, my Preserver, Prince, and Master!
Pharnaces! Sister!—my fond Heart is full
Of Rapture—do I live to see ye thus?
38
Now o'er your Eyes, so sunk of late,
Gay Transport throws his glitt'ring Rays,
And, like the Sun, on swelling Floods,
Within the sparkling Fluid plays.
Gay Transport throws his glitt'ring Rays,
And, like the Sun, on swelling Floods,
Within the sparkling Fluid plays.
O never may the Beam decay,
O be the Channel never dry,
But Virtue, from her thousand Springs,
Eternal Streams of Joy supply!
O be the Channel never dry,
But Virtue, from her thousand Springs,
Eternal Streams of Joy supply!
Tam.
To thee, Selinda (Sister of my Soul,
And ev'ry Feeling there) by Pompey's Virtue
Directed and inspir'd, we owe it all.
AIR.
Denied too soon a Father's Care,
The Comfort Nature lent,
Whom, while his Crimes my Bosom tear,
She bids my Soul lament;
The Comfort Nature lent,
Whom, while his Crimes my Bosom tear,
She bids my Soul lament;
Of fost'ring Love the Pow'rs impart
In thee, kind Maid, an equal Store,
Nor could a Parent's lavish Heart
Bestow a Joy, a Blessing more.
In thee, kind Maid, an equal Store,
Nor could a Parent's lavish Heart
Bestow a Joy, a Blessing more.
Pom.
Oh what a glorious Change!—Let Music wake
Her various Melody, and to the World,
The wond'ring World, proclaim our Happiness!
39
QUINTETTO.
Pom.
Sweet Peace, escap'd from Discord's Chain,
Enraptur'd dances o'er the Plain!
Phar.
Fair Friendship shines in burnish'd Vest,
And Honour leads the noble Guest!
Child.
With placid Smile, Content is seen,
And bids the Bosom be serene!
Tam.
Glad Freedom takes the Mourner's Part,
And comforts, and exalts the Heart!
Sel.
Wealth in his gorgeous Trapping glows,
And round, and round his Treasure throws!
Pom.
See Love his purple Pinions tries,
And scatters Blessings, as he flies!
CHORUS.
In mystic Order they advance,
They raise the Note, they weave the Dance,
While in their Song this Truth's exprest,
Enduring Virtue must be blest!
FINIS.
| Pharnaces | |