University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

Arsinoe, Cleone.
Cleo.
Madam, do you hide from him his own Concern?

Arsin.
Yes, and have Reasons thou dost not discern.
I fear his heart would my Designes oppose,
I fear that vertue which to Rome he owes
Has taught him, there's no Glory so sublime,
Can recompence the hazard of a Crime.

Cleon.
Those should guess Rome less scrupulous, who knew.
How Hannibal she did to death pursue.

Arsinoe.
Be not in charging Rome with Guilt deceiv'd,
'Twas I, and but one Roman, who contriv'd
The whole Intreague of that great Heroes Fall;
Rome still had granted Life to Hannibal,
And would not for a more inviting Cause,
Have made a Breach of hospitable Lawes;
For though whilst she did his great Conduct know,
Prudence forbad his Sojourn with a Foe,
And therefore to make good his Peace with them,
Antiochus was forc'd to bannish him.
Yet freed both from Romes Envy, or her Fear,
We being Allies, he might have still liv'd here.
Had not Revenge prompted Flaminius too,
Things which the Senate would have blush'd to do.

Cleone.
What desperate Cause could raise his Hate so high,
That to allay it, Hannibal must dye?

Arsin.
A Fathers Loss of Honor, and of Life,
Hast thou not heard, how in that fatal strife
'Twixt Rome, and Carthage, in one bloody Scene,
Acted nigh to the Lake of Thrasimene,
Flaminius Father, then Romes General,
Fell by the mighty Hand of Hannibal?
The Son since burning to revenge that shame,
A close Conspirator with me became,
And for to have the object of his Hate
Deliver'd up, procur'd the Roman State
To send my Attalus from Hostage home,
And farther whisper'd Jealousies in Rome
Of Nichomede's Conquests here, which might
(Should he to them the Armenian Realm unite
By Marriage with Laodice) one day
To Romes increasing Greatness put a stay;
On which the Senate, who now jealous grew
Of such an Empire, and such Valour too,
Did him as their Ambassadour propound,
To break the Marriage, and the Empire bound:
And this is what Rome undertook to do.

Cleone.
And this makes Attalus, his Mistress woo,
But yet, why did not Rome her self concern,
E're his Return had made her Love too firm?

Arsin.
No, for whilst he a conquering Army led,
'T had been too much to affront him at their Head.
Here we dare do't, and 'twas my Plot at length,
By cunning slights to draw him from his Strength;
To Mithrobates, I did teach the way,
Who seeming false to me, did him betray,
Whisp'ring a thousand pannique Fears, that he
Had been to murder him, suborn'd by me,
That fiery Spirit by degrees he won,
And gently leads him to destruction.
I know he'l to the King for Justice call,
But from that Justice he shall finde his Fall.
His Accusations as my Engines move,
Will fortifie me in his Fathers Love.
At his first sight I did appear dismaid,
And by my change of colour seem'd afraid;
But he mistakes much that Surprize of mine,
Since his Return, was wholly my Design.

Cleone.
But what e're Rome or Attalus pretend,
That Queen will never to his wishes bend.

Arsin.
The Love he showes to her I have design'd
Only the King, the Court, and Rome to blinde,
Not that I would the Armenian Crown procure,
But our Bithinian, for my Son secure.
That done, I care not where the Queen espouse,
But freely leave her whom she please to chuse.
This Passion of my Sons if only prest,
To raise fresh Tempests in the Princes Brest;
Who when he sees the King set on by Rome,
An Advocate for Attalus become,
Will grow outragious, and induced be,
To brave that Father is as fierce as he.
Whose Heat by cunning ways to Flames I'le blow,
And work this daring Lovers overthrow,
Before he blinded by his Love, shall see,
The least intreague of this great Mistery.
By this thou see'st all that I do pretend,
But sure Flaminius does me now attend.
I'le go—the Secrets of thy Queen preserve,

Cleone.
My Faith long try'd does not a Doubt deserve.