University of Virginia Library

Scene the Third

The Prison.
Mariamne, Cleophe weeping.
Mar.
Leave weeping Cleophe, I pray forbear;
Is it the mark of sorrow, or of fear?

Cleoph.
Madam, I doubt your spotless Innocence
Against the Tyrant will be small defence!
You know he spares no Life when Rage bears sway:
And now I fear least it take yours away.—

Mar.
I prithee neither fear, nor weep for that,
'Tis Death alone can make me fortunate.
That will my Soul from Chains of flesh unbind,
And give unbounded freedom to my mind.
This Soul that's fetter'd here, when I shall dye,
To an Eternal Liberty will fly:
And what's contracted in this Body now,
Shall like a mighty Circle endless grow.
How Cleophe, can I your tears approve,
Who weep the fate I both desire and love.
If thou lov'st me, shew an unclouded eye,
I am resolv'd, and am prepar'd to Dy.
'Tis guilt alone disturbs a Soul with fears,
And foolish weakness vents it self in Tears!—

Enter Pheroras, Guard, Attendants.
Pher.
Madam, I am sorry that 'tis I must bring
So sad a Message from an Angry King.

Mar.
Speak it Pheroras, and I'le bless that breath,
That greets my Ear with the kind sound of Death.

Pher.
Nothing can your unhappy Fate put by,
His resolution's fix'd, that you shall dye—
And all things do without already wait,
Therefore prepare your self for this sad Fate.

Mar.
Pheroras, call't not sad; I n'er till now
Receiv'd a Message half so kind from you.
Let Herod know his present I receive
As the most pretious thing he had to give.
And with my thanks Pheroras let him know
This to my memory, and my blood I owe:
I n'ere did derogate in all my Life
From th'Honour and the Vertue of a Wife.

Phero.
Oh would the King your Loyalty believ'd,
Or were by some kind Angel undeceiv'd!

Mar.
The blood of Philon and Sohemus shed,
Will pull down Vengeance on his guilty head:
And if my Death is stain'd by any guilt,
'Tis 'cause imprudently their blood I spilt.
For Tyridates, I confess 'tis true,
I render'd what was to his Vertue due.
Acknowledgments and Innocent esteem,
And that was all I ever gave to him.
I shall not rack your Patience by delay,
However I a little beg your stay.
Whilst I retire to banish from my mind,
All those Ideas I must leave behind.
That my wing'd Soul prepar'd for her high flight,
May shake off Life and Crowns to mount more light.

[Ex. Mar. & Cleop.
Enter Judges and Executioner with an Axe in his hand, dressed with Linnen Sleeves and Apron, and in his other hand a black Cypress Scarf.
1 Judg.
All things are ready! where's the Pris'ner gone.

Pher.
She did desire some time to be alone.

2 Judg.
But does her haughty mind continue still?

3 Judg.
Death will affright her sure, or nothing will.

2 Judg.
But how did she her Sentence Sir, receive?

Pher.
She seem'd not to Rejoyce, nor yet to Grieve!
She heard me speak unmov'd and without fears,
When I my self could scarce refrain from tears.
She whom Friends Deaths has into Passions thrown,
Calmely receives the Knowledge of her own.
And as her tongue did from reproach refrain,
She shew'd it was below her to complain.
She spake! would Herod had himself been by,
And unconcern'd, prepar'd her self to dye:
Enter Mar. & Clophe.
But see she comes; her Eyes no grief betray:
She is Tryumphant on her dying-day.

Mar.
Come Friends, let's go! conduct me to the place,
Whence I shall follow all my Noble Race.
What means that Cypress Scarfe?

Phero.
To blind your Eyes,
Death will be gentler when it does surprize!
Nature will start else in her own defence.
The stroke is suffer'd best, whilst in suspence.
You must not see the Blow!

Mar.
Lay that Scarfe by.
I am a Queen, and like my self will dye.
It is not Death can overcome my heart:
Nor at its blackest horrors make me start.
No, I'le look thus, thus Fate despis'd I'le meet:
'Tis they smile best, who death thus kindly greet.

[Exeunt.