University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

Scene an Apartment before that where Adrastus is confin'd.
Aurelia, Phylante, Sileno, Myrtilla, &c.
Aur.
Where will your sorrow lead you? Can your tears
O're doors of Brass prevail, or Marble Walls,
Or Savage man, less flexible than these?

Phy.
'Tis yet imperfect night, and all is husht,
As if her time was spent, and day was nigh.
What means this early quiet, when our shades,
Converted to a Court, shou'd ring with noise,
VVhich waits on Princes, and proclaims their state?
The hours that labour with our Fate are vext
To bring the dreadful issue forth, and lag
Behind their course. Forgive me, I am rude,
My senses wand'ring make me hear your words,
As things which came not from a Friend like you.

Aur.
To speak you comfort, is I know in vain,
All Counsel in excess of trouble's lost.
But what can you propose by coming here;
Tis death for these to let you see the Prince:
Or was it not, while you believe him safe,
A minutes absence you may well endure.

Phyl.
An age for you I suffer'd with content,
An age of absence for my friend; but then
I thought him safe, and wou'd not wish for more.
My eyes have seen him since, the pleasure's new,
And I again must see him, or I dye.

Aur.
You will, on us th'impending storm will fall,
VVith us the Emp'rors wrath will end, with us
His bounds and your despair will be no more.

Phyl.
For you my heart weeps blood as well as him.
My Pity thus divided, scarce can tell
Where first she should her mournful office pay.
She's us'd to visit you, the stranger claims
His debt, and with a voice which will be heard.

Aur.
You've reason, was it in your pow'r to act,
The Guards remov'd, the rest you might o'recome.

Soft musick begins here, and continues till the other is perform'd.
Phyl.
And these we'll conquer with the rest, if 'tis
In Numbers, or in Notes to win on man.
We'll move their hearts to listen to our pray'r,
And when they're most defenceless tempt their faith.

Aur.
On Souls dispos'd to yield you may succeed,
But few will venture where the crime is death.
This sooner will betray 'em from their trust,
My Fathers Signet which I brought from Greece,
That serv'd us in our flight, if pray'rs should fail,
Produce it as the Emp'rors dread command.
Be speedy in your Enterprize, and learn
From whence this violence arose, and how
We may, if possible, prevent its growth.

Phy.
'Tis fatal to expose this Signet here,
But still more fatal to remain in doubt.
I'll try by softer means to make my way,
This the last method I'll attempt to use.

Aur.
I see 'tis time to leave you, and to heav'n
VVill lift my vows, to prosper your design
Ex. Aur.

Phyl.
Ye fair companions of my better days!
Come, minister your aid in my distress,
And with your tuneful airs compose my mind.

She lies on a Couch, Musick plays louder, Scene opens and discovers Nicias and Guards waiting on Adrastus.
Shepherdess.
Underneath a Gloomy Shade,
By an antient Poplar made,
While the Zephyrs round her play,
Cloris thus complaining lay,
Where shall I Philander find?
Eccho answer'd her, Behind.
Thrice she turn'd and saw 'twas false,
Cursing Ecchoes lying tales,
Thus she mourn'd again, and said,
Where is my Philander fled?
From his Flocks, his Friends and Me;
When shall I my Lover see,
Whither turn to find him out?
Eccho answer'd her, About.

Shepherd.
By Eccho thus mockt, on a Bank she reclines,
Resolv'd ne're to trust her complaint to the winds,
Till Cupid, who pity'd her Sorrow and Tears,
On the wings of a Dove to assist her appears.

Cupid is seen the Air.
Cupid.
Love descends at your complaint,
He who knows what most you want.
Bids you to the Cave repair,
Where you us'd to vent your care,
You shall find your Lover there.
Bound by mighty Pan he lies,
Piercing with his grief the Skies.
There with your Companions go,
Try what Virgin Songs will do.
The force of Youth and Beauty try,
And Pan will yield as well as I.

Shepherd.
We'll go the Cave where the Shepherd in Chains
Lies wrongfully punish'd for Crimes he abhors;
With our Layes we'll endeavour to lessen his pains,
And please him with singing the name he adores.
'Tis Cloris, who loves him, the Cloris he loves,
Who must use all her art to obtain him relief;
But she'll use it in vain, for her Harmony moves
Rocks only and Trees, and the Tyrant's still deaf.

Shepherdess.
Happy, ever happy we,
Cou'd we see Philander free.
Love, the best and sweetest Care,
Is our only Torment here.

The Ghost of Orpheus arises.
Ghost of Orpheus.
In vain, fair Nymph, with your Celestial art,
You strive to move a Mortal's heart.
Ev'n I, whose Musick husht the roar of Heil,
And made her Fiends forget their Plains,
When not one hideous groan, nor yell,
Was heard throughout the Stygian Plains,
Whose voice to things insensible was known,
And dancing Woods confest its wondrous pow'r;
I ne're could humane rage repel,
But by the Monsters fury fell,
Which often does her first begot, and darling Sons devour.
Cease your Heavenly notes a while,
You will soon your Lover see,
Keep your Songs till fate shall smile.
Fate has told you this by me.

Chorus.
Haste, ye happy minutes, haste,
To Cloris her Lover restore;
And grant us, ye Gods, when this danger is past,
That Pan may torment us no more.

Nic.
'Tis all Enchantment, every thing I see,
And hear, and meet transports me, or I dream,
Or I have seen that Angel form before;
A fairer sure I never saw, nor heard
Such sounds in Greece, where first the Lyre was strung.

Phy.
You seem surpriz'd.

Nic.
And who without surprize
Can hear such harmony, or look on you.
I thought in woods to meet with none but Nymphs
Of humble make, and here I find a choire
Of Beauties, who may well adorn a Court.

Phy.
This language in a Soldier we excuse,
Their words, like their profession, should be rough,
And when you speak us fair, we women think
'Tis meant to do us wrong.

Nic.
To such as you,
'Tis equally impossible to speak
In harsher phrase, or mean to do you wrong.

Phy.
If by your talk I might your temper guess,
I rather should believe you'd help our Sex,
That begg'd a service of you, tho it lookt
Like danger, than dismiss 'em with reproach.

Nic.
For you, whate'er you ask, by heav'n! 'tis done,
My Master's honour, and his life secur'd.

Phy.
My business is within.

Nic.
Ha! I'm betray'd.
Madam, my Oath's still unprofan'd and you—

Phy.
Deny'd—what less could I expect from man,
Than with one breath to swear, and be forsworn.

Nic.
My Masters honour, and his life secur'd,
I swear again, whate're you ask, 'tis done.

Phy.
How if I saw the Prince, wou'd that concern
Your Masters honour or his safety?

Nic.
Both.
His honour in my breach of his Command,
His safety in my serving of his Foe.

Shews the Signet.
Phy.
This then is his command.

Nic.
Which I obey.

Phy.
I try'd your Loyalty, and found you true.
The Royal word that order'd this, forbids
Such liberty to all but me. Be just.

Enter Parm.
Par.
Is that the apartment of the Thracian Prince?

Nic.
Yes.

Par.
Or my Eyes deceive me, or I saw
A woman enter there.

Nic.
You did, my Lord.

Par.
By whose command?

Nic.
The Emp'rors, she produc'd
His Signet.

Par.
'Tis impossible!
But now
We parted, and since last I saw thee, none
Have been allow'd to see him but my self.
Confusion! he has cheated me, or thou
Art by some idle tale abus'd, I'll know
The meaning of this Riddle, and by whom
Thy truth has been debauch'd.

Would Enter, & is stopt.
Nic.
My Lord forbear.
To you this liberty I must defend.
The Imperial Licence reaches only her.

Par.
Oh Insolence! art thou too of their plots?
Let me no more be call'd the Emp'rors friend
If I forget this Injury.

Nic.
Yourself
Permitted only such to pass as brought
My Masters Signet; she was first, and I
Have sworn to see the Emp'rors word obey'd.
If pray'rs or charms that would have melted Rocks,
Cou'd have seduc'd me from my trust. To these
I sooner had submitted than to threats.
She tempted every sence to try my Faith,
My Ears with Musick, that might match the Spheres,
My Eyes with smiles that wou'd have won on Priests,
And forc'd a Hermit to forget his Vow.

Par.
From whnce these racking thoughts? it cannot be
I tremble yet, as if my fears were true;
Amidst their sports a Virgin I beheld,
Who seem'd the Goddess of their mirth, and such
Was she, her Beauty and her Art conspir'd
Alike, to triumph o're Mankind.
Hadst thou ne're seen this Lady? I grow mad.
'Tis all Extravagance.

Nic.
My Lord, I gaz'd
So much, and with such pleasure, I began
To think I might have seen her oft in Greece.

Par.
Where?

Nic.
In Byzantium.
VVith the Princess.

Parm.
Ha!
If thou cou'dst, unconcern'd, imagin this,
Tho reason is against me, what I feel
Confirms my jealousies, and thy report.
Six years the Princess has been lost, and Fame
Not once has nam'd the place to which she fled.
Martian, the Captain of Arcadius Guards,
Convey'd her; him I still remember well.
True—These are wanderers, but they rose from Flocks
And Herds to govern men—Besides, I ne're
Have met Amintor till I came to Rome.
Why, when the Emp'ror of the East descends
To grace this Mansion with his presence, why
Must she be sick at this unlucky hour?
Who owns it, and of whom we heard such talk.
Sure, any one but he I serve, had guest
E're now. What Treasure could support this cost,
'Tis plain, this Lady Nicias is the same,
For whom the Prince of Thrace remains in bonds,
And in eternal bonds must soon be laid.

Nic.
My Lord, you've rais'd suspicions in my breast,
Which make me wonder we could err so long.

Phyl. crosses the Stage as from Adrastus.
Par.
Then I will see. Distraction! I am fixt,
My Limbs forsake me; what is this but Love?
And who is she that awes me thus unseen?
Phylante! coming from my Rivals arms:
Ye Furies, can I fancy this and live?
Time flies on nimble Wings, and I must haste,
Thou know'st of what importance 'tis to me
And thee, whose Fortune wholly lives on mine,
That since we have Adrastus in our power,
We ne'er may be in his—And if at last
Arcadius knows the secret we suspect,
Let this secure us both, and all the spoils
Gives a Dagger.
Of Thrace in equal portions shall be ours.
The Emp'ror shall believe he gave the blow
Himself, and freed from him, suppose the worst,
The Princess with her pardon will be pleas'd.

Nic.
All but my being, to your gift I owe,
Convinc'd, that if Adrastus scapes us now,
Not only you, my Lord, but I must fall,
Which best instructs me what to do.

Ent. Emp. & Train.
Parm.
Enough—
The Emp'ror; we from him must keep our doubts,
For he with rapture would receive the news,
And we should act in vain.

Arc.
What further is discover'd, is our Host
In league for our destruction with the Prince,
Or holds he guilty Commerce with our Foes?

Par.
You best can tell what Commerce, Sir, he holds
Your tydings are of later date than mine.

Arc.
You speak in fables, has your Wisdom found
New plots, or are you weary of the old.

Parm.
Whom you approve, my Lord, at least in me
'Twere folly to condemn. Perhaps my zeal
Already has transported me too far?

Arc.
Our danger is your sport; what means this change?
Have you betray'd me to commit a deed,
Outrageous to the sanctity of Crowns.
And would you when you see your weakness, throw
The shame on us. No more, I am not now
Dispos'd to play with what concerns our life
Or honour.

Par.
We have reason to believe.
You think, my Lord, that you are safe in both.
The Lady, who this minute left the Prince,
Whose word cou'd pass where mine was heard like wind,
She doubtless has convinc'd you you are safe.

Arc.
What Lady? Still you keep me on the Rack?
Who's this that has usurpt such mighty power?

Par.
The pow'r was yours, your Signet licenc'd all.

Arc.
My Signet? see 'tis here—Nor have I seen
A humane Face but these since thine.

Par.
Your Guards
Will tell you what has past of late. I saw
A Woman enter, and the Signet shewn.

Nic. & Guards.
My Lord, 'twas yours, your Signet.

Arc.
Treason all.
I'll have you to the Wheel, your Tongues will then
Speak Truth.

Par.
My Lord, their truth deserves reward,
And those the torture who abus'd your name.

Arc.
Excuse me, by thy Friendship 'tis I live
They cou'd not steel it from me.

Par.
Not so soon
This mischief must be old, and form'd in Greece.
The Signet wrought by yours to be produc'd
On all extremities, their Plots should want.
I wou'd have enter'd, and have seen by whom
This trick was manag'd, but your Guards were told,
The Imperial Warrant reacht to none but her.

Arc.
All falshood; Nicias, keep your charge secure,
When safety is restor'd us with the day,
We'll leave this place of horror, and inflict
Those pains at leisure, which their crimes require.
The Roman Senate shall the Traytors Judge.
Enter Eud.
Well, Sir, you seem to have affairs of haste,
Which claim immediate Audience: so have we.
Who's this with out our leave, presumes to wear
The Seal of Empire, which alone is ours,
And in our name to visit him, whom these
In strict Confinement hold?

Eud.
My Lord,
Deceit's a stranger to this place, but where
Our business calls us, we wou'd think at least
This house was free, the rest I owe to you.
In peace I kept my Flocks before, and beg
That I again may hold my Crook in peace.
For if my hands a Soveraigns Scepter weild,
My heart will long to have a Soveraigns Right.

Arc.
Princes you are, yet all depend on us,
As we on Heaven depend, nor dare you claim
A Soveraigns pow'r, where we are pleas'd to reign.

Eud.
Happy ye Swains! who on the Mountain live,
Lords of your homely Cells, your Cells are yours,
And none disputes your right to govern there.
Oh had you left me to my self, this Vale,
The purchase of my labour, had been still
The bounds of my Ambition; but my Ear
Charm'd with a Princes name, has taught my Soul
To think indeed that I am here to reign.

Arc.
We are not now to ask you whence this wealth,
The Fleeces must be fine which yield such Gold,
Not that of Colchos was a richer prize.
A Guest shou'd only wonder, and as yours,
All curious inquisition we forbear;
And while you're flusht with infant Grandeur, leave
Such questions to some other place, and hour,
Tho you, who can protest against our sway,
And in our presence tell us what we ought.
Possest of these, and visions of your right,
May once grow dangerous, Sir, you rise too fast.
This we can pardon, but provokt again,
You may be sent to murmur with your Friend.

Eud.
He is my Friend, which soon th'astonisht world
Shall see: nor wou'd he thus have us'd a wretch
VVho su'd for Justice. I cou'd tell what name
The men of antient Greece had giv'n to Kings,
VVho to their Subjects wrongs wou'd thus reply.
Go on—and listen to your Minions Tales.
Howe'er, remember you too late shall know,
Whom you have wrong'd, and curse their pois'nous tongues

Arc.
This Minute then we'll know. Guards!

Enter Alcan.
Eud.
Off ye Slaves!
For by the Majesty that awes my arm,
He dies that in my house insults me first.

Arc.
The Shepherd rages, leave him, he'll grow cool,
Rome is a milder air, and good to cure
Distempers, which like his have seiz'd the blood.

Ex. Arc. and Train.
Eud.
Must we like Captives then be led to Rome?
VVait on his Chariot-wheels in chains, like those
His Sword has conquer'd in the Field.
This morning Sun beheld me on a Throne,
And oft his beams reflected on my Brows,
Have borrow'd lustre from the Crown I wore.
And must I like a purchas'd Slave, be linkt
With him, whom Nature and Desert have made
My Friend, who suffers all, and dies for me?
Must this inevitably be, and I
Submit with patience? Curst be him who wears
The marks of Bondage when he might be free.
Alcander, are our Friends prepar'd?

Alc.
They are.
All arming for your rescue, but in vain,
Thé Roman Guard of every Pass possest,
Opposes all assistance from without,
A while to enter 'twas deny'd to me;
Hadn't their Captain known me well, I scarce
My self had been allow'd to bring this news.

Eud.
Who now will doubt to what this treatment tends,
We have been flatter'd with fallacious smiles,
Till things were ready for our solemn fall.
Why asks he not for her, whose crime his wrath
Once swore he neither wou'd forgive in her,
Nor in her memory; does his heart relent,
And are we only destin'd to Revenge.
So well I love Aurelia, I wou'd yield
My self a Sacrifice for her with joy.
Adrastus—Why must he be punisht first?
'Tis doubtful all but this—My friend's in Bonds,
And calls aloud for Liberty on me.
Oh had he known I tamely cou'd behold
My Brother bound and murder'd, how my ear
This morn had suffer'd with his just reproach.
One way is left us still, if that shou'd fail,
We'll charge the Roman Guard, and dye like men,
Tho Conquest oft has waited on Despair.
Alcander—let Dametas with his Band
Be ready, and assoon's the alarm is heard
Attack their Troop without, while I within
Thro all that dare oppose us force my way:
The rest we'll leave to fate. Howe're it ends,
'Tis brave to fall like Princes, and like Friends.