University of Virginia Library

Third Scene

A Chamber.
Enter Mariamne, Alexandra, Cleophe, &c.
Mar.
Mother, the force wherewith you me Invade,
To a Rebellious Thought can ne're perswade.
Though I no Passion for that Tyrant know,
Nor Obligation to his Merits owe;
I by the Sacred Law of Heav'n am taught,
To habour against Herod, no ill thought.

Alexand.
He is a Monster, and deserves that ill.

Mar.
But yet that Monster is my Husband still.

Alexand.
He then did forfeit both the Name and Place;
When He began to Murder all your Race:
'Tis He that Murder'd the Asmonean Seed;
And the last Relicks of that Race made bleed.
And now He has Imprison'd You and Me,
For what; unless He does our Deaths decree?

Mar.
Death is the last of ills that he can do.

Alexand.
But I wou'd first that Monsters death pursue;
And have the Pride before my life depart,
To strike my Dagger to the Tyrants Heart.

Mar.
May Heav'n defend my Innocence from guilt:
His blood alone shou'd by just Heav'n be spilt.
I'le neither act, nor wish so great a Crime.

Cleop.
Who ever saw a Vertue more sublime?

Alexand.
Now He is gone to Rhodes, it is not hard
For you to gain to our just side the Guard.
You in the Peoples Love so great are grown,
That for your sake they Herod wou'd Dethrone:
Besides, We may by speedy Letters send
For Valiant Tyridates, who's our Freind.
The Army wee'l call home, and all those Powers
Will be as well as Tyridates, Yours.

Mar.
The very hearing this in me's a Crime.

Alexan.
Why then you dote on him, and wish his good?
Can you love Tyrants stain'd with your own blood?

Mar.
What now I do; you did at first command,
When forc'd by You, to him I gave my Hand.
Whilst that you urg'd no Crime, I did obey:
With me, to Him, you gave your Power away.
These Tears I shed, to Murder'd Friends I owe;
[Weeps.
This to weak Nature I must needs allow.

Alexand.
Those Tears th'Asmonians-Valiant-Race disown,
And Mariamne is a Coward grown.
Sit down so tamely with your Sexes fears?
No marks of Courage are those foolish Tears.

Mar.
Though hateful Crimes I like a Coward fly,
I have a Heart that's not afraid to dye.
Where I may Honour, and my Duty save,
I have a Courage dares the Tyrant brave.

Enter Sohemus.
Cleoph.
See Madam, one of your Gardians, Sohemus come.

Alexan.
Perhaps he's come to let us know our Doom.

Sohem.
Madam, dry up those Tears, and Weep no more,
Put this Imprisonment on safety's score:
The King a Passion has so great and just;
He dares to none but Us your safety trust.
His Jealousie the issue is of Love.

Mar.
What act of mine did that base humour move?

Sohem.
Lovers have oft without cause Jealous been.

Mar.
He might have yet remembred me his Queen.

Sohem.
Madam, you nothing want, but Liberty.

Mar.
Denying that, what does he not deny?

Alexan.
From guilty Souls, such Jealousies arise;
Herod can't live unless he Tyrannize.

Mar.
Sohemus knows my Husbands foul intent,
When he his Voyage to Antonius went.
And now he is to great Augustus gone,
If he miscarries—must he go alone?

Sohem.
Your Pardon Madam, if I tell you more;
And 'tis a Warrant which he Sign'd before.
Seems to Whisper.
He must enjoy you in another World,
Thus into Crimes, by Jealousie he's hurld?

Mar.
This Jealousie from Malice springs, not Love—

Sohem.
It is your Vertue makes me thus your Friend:
And that you may suppose my Friendship true,
The power of my Head I give to you.
For if this Secret from your Lips does come,
Herod will make me sharer in your Doom.

Mar.
I weigh your kindness, you shall find me true.

Sohem.
Herod does not mistrust the Queen, nor You.

Alexan.
Why are we Prisoners then?—

Sohem.
It is his Care.
'Twill not be long e're Herod will return,
You'l then no longer your lost Freedom mourn.

Enter Philon.
Mariam.
Philon, thy looks speak News; what is't?

Philon.
They say
The Valiant Prince of Parthia comes this Day,
Into Jerusalem.—
The City and the Court their Joys express,
To see him come Crown'd with so great success.
With swifter wings arriv'd his greater Fame,
And told his glorious acts before he came.

Mar.
What are they Philon?—

Philon.
He has such conduct, and such valour shown;
Those Storms which threatn'd us are all o're-blown:
Th'Arabians are out of Judea fled;
But left behind them 13 thousand dead.
Twice by his Valour, He the Battle won;
And twice unhors'd the King, and once his Son.
He brake their Troops like lightening as he flew;
Where e're he went with him, He Conquest drew.
Th'Arabian King from place to place he chas'd,
Till to his Country He return'd disgrac'd.

Mar.
I have already heard of his great Name.

Philon.
And yet I speak it lesser then his Fame.

Mar.
That Princes Vertues I did ever prize,
And his praise now with my own Interest lies:
If to the Kingdoms Interest I am true,
I must his Vertues Love, and praise 'em too.

[Exeunt.