 | Pharnaces |  |
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!
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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!
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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!
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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—
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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?
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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!
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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!
| Pharnaces | |