University of Virginia Library

The Scene. The Palace Royal.
Enter Cassander, Roxana, Hesione.
Roxa.
Can you pretend to Love, yet fear to do
The thing, your Mistress does require of you?

Cass.
I do, with pleasure, your commands obey,
When reason, does o're your fierce passions sway.
But, what you now require—
Will the bright lustre, of your Virtue stain.

Roxa.
I find, your passion for me, is but small,
Love without Limits, or love not at all;
Were your Love great, your Reason would submit,
And you would think, that just, which I thought fit.
If you lov'd as you ought, and I were she,
Your Love would have no bounds, no shores but me.

Cass.
My Love, no other Bound, than you does know,
I have no will, but what from yours does flow,
But if our Hearts, and Wills, but one are found,
Yet honour, is to both, the equal Bound,
How do I then, your will, and pleasure shun,
When I do all, in Honour, may be done?

Roxa.
That empty Name, Cassander, you may prize,
Since I am less, than shaddows in your Eyes,
But on their Deaths, whom you so well defend,
My life, my peace, my happiness depend.
'Tis by their Deaths, and by their Deaths alone,
I must preserve my life, and fix my Throne.
Do you in Honour, my desires refuse,
Whilst I through it, my life, and Empire loose.

Cass.
Ah! Madam, that which makes you thus severe,
Is rather the effect of Hate, than fear.
You hate Statira, and would her remove,
Because she is a Rival, in your love:
She dead, your dying hopes, would then revive,
But that destroys my hopes, which makes yours thrive.
Should I do all you ask, I soon shall see,
Orontes have, what should be giv'n to me.

Roxa.
'Tis true, Orontes once my heart possest,
But hatred, now has driv'n him from my Breast.
Of late, Cassander, I your Image find,
Making too deep impressions, on my mind,
Your constant Love, and Services, I weigh,
And will, at last, my obligations pay.
This last effect then of your Duty show,
And for Reward, I'le give my self to you:
When you, for me, have this great Service done,
Take then your Mistress, and with her a Throne.

Cass.
There's nothing in this World, like you I prize,
Love ranks you equal with the Deities:
The great Roxana's pow'er, who can withstand?
Mortals dispute not, what the Gods command.
I do submit, and will your Will obey,
And soon will snatch your Rival's Life away.
When your bright God, sleeps in the Western Wave,
And will not look on those, he cannot save:
When horrid Night, arises from the deep,
And o're the World, deep Silence shedds, and sleep,
Then I, about this dreadful work, will hast,
And those you doom to dye, shall sleep their last.

Roxa.
Go my Cassander, it is you alone
Must fix Roxana, on the Persian Throne:
No bold attempt, from danger, can be free,
'Tis still well done, if it Successful be:
What you intend, you by surprize must doe;
But, I shall leave the Management to you.
Let not in vain, the pretious Minutes hast,
Dispatch, that you, a Lover's Bliss may taste,
Think on our Joys, and our Felicitie,
The Prize, a Crown, and what is greater, Me.

[Exit with Hesione.
Cass.
It must be done, such is Roxana's Hate,
Her Rival's Death, can only it abate:
And such is my great Passion, I must be
The Instrument, of all her Crueltie.
I see the Danger, which I cannot shun,
And to the Precipice, run headlong on:
Great is the Prize, Roxana, and a Throne.
Enter a Black Mute.
To day, this Mute, was giv'en me, by a Friend.
Oxas come near—I will to you impart,
The most important secrets of my heart.
I do repose in you, no Common trust,
You can be secret, but can you be just?
[Black bows.
Can you obey all that I shall Command?
[Bows again.
And do what e're I bid?—you understand?
[Black bows.
Without Remorse, can you obey my Will?
[Bows again.
Can you unmov'd, the Blood of Women spill?
Thou instantly two Princesses must Kill.
[Black starts.
Hah! does the name of Princess, make you start?
Hast thou a tender place about thy heart?
The Black bows, and puts his hand to his Sword, making signes it shall be done.
Tis well—anon I will Instruct you more.

[Exeunt.