University of Virginia Library

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
I bend, and swear, tho' born and bred Armenian,
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.
AIR.

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!

Phar.
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.
Tam.
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.