University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

MARIAMNE, ELISA, GUARDS.
MARIAMNE.
Soldiers, retire! At least permit your queen
A moment's privacy.
[The soldiers retire to a corner of the stage.]
Hast thou survey'd,
From thy pure residence, all-righteous power!
And is this state of woe decreed by thee!—
Sprung from illustrious blood, nursed in the arms
Of purple greatness, bless'd with all which seem'd
To promise happy days, and firmly fix
The step of sure prosperity; all this
Hath but conspired to poison life, and swell
Its stream with fuller tides of deadly venom.
O birth! O Youth! And thou, whose treacherous light
Enflamed my vanity, pernicious beauty!
Flattering illusion, winding thro' my soul!
Unreal shadow of felicity!
Ah! How hast thou betray'd me with thy wiles!
Beneath the guilty throne which I ascended,
Eternal discontent, and gloomy care
Have dug the grave, which now expands before me.
In Jordan's flood I saw my brother perish,
My father, pierced by Herod's sword expire.
Doom'd by his cruel rage to fall a victim,
My virtue, my integrity remain
Still sacred, and my own; yet even these
Slander dares taint with odious spots of shame.
O Power Supreme! Whose chastisements severe
Prove guileless innocence, my prayers shall not
Invoke thy aid, or call thy vengeance down!
The bright example of my ancestors
Which I pursue, hath taught me to behold
The face of death without a single fear,
Without one conscious stain. From life's warm source
Receive my blood! But oh! Defend my fame!
Curb their wild licence, let not my oppressors
With impious tongues pollute my memory,
Or canker'd falsehood riot o'er my tomb.
Esteem, regret, the homage of the heart
Is virtue's best revenge.—Hah! What alarms!
What dreadful shrieks are these! The palace rings
With loud confusion and the din of arms!
I am the cause. Alas! For me they fight,
For me they bleed. They burst the shatter'd gates,
Hah! What do I behold!

SCENE II.

MARIAMNE, SOHEMUS, ELISA, AMMON. SOLDIERS OF HEROD AND SOHEMUS.
SOHEMUS.
Away vile slaves
Who hold your queen in bondage! Ruffians, hence!
Bind them in chains! Away!
[The guards go off with the soldiers of Herod.]
Now Mariamne
Haste! Our attempt hath prosper'd, use it well—
Fly! Follow me! March o'er the heaps of slain!
Thy persecutors boast their power no more,
They could not bar my entrance. Mazael lies
Bathed in his traitrous blood, and this right hand
At least hath half avenged thee. Linger not.
Seize this auspicious moment. From the storm
Shelter that form august. Haste! Follow me!

MARIAMNE.
Sohemus, no. Tho' generous thy intent
To snatch me from my enemies, I dare not
Accept it now. After the vile affront,
The grimed spot which Herod's jealousy
Hath on my glory cast, I should deserve it,
Could I receive thy proffer'd aid. That aid
Hath more of danger and inspires my soul
With greater dread than his barbarity.
To owe my life to thee; reproach and shame
Attend the deed; the very purpose, honour
Now constitutes a crime. This I must expiate,
And wait, with patience wait, till death acquits me.

SOHEMUS.
What words are these! Alas! Ill-fated princess,
Destruction instantly may light upon thee.
Dubious the conflict: urgent is the time.
Oh! Think with terror on the approach of Herod
Arm'd with despair!

MARIAMNE.
On conscious shame alone
I look with terror, and I know my duty.

SOHEMUS.
Am I then doom'd for ever to offend,
When most I strive to serve thee?—But I go
Spite of thyself t'accomplish thy revenge.
Yes, I will meet the tyrant, whom in vain
Thou would'st preserve; again I seek the fight,
And this keen sword—

MARIAMNE.
Stay; I detest a triumph
Purchased by crimes; to me the life of Herod
Is sacred, and demands my care; his rights—

SOHEMUS.
Are forfeited by his ingratitude.

MARIAMNE.
By the most hallow'd ties—

SOHEMUS.
They all are broken.

MARIAMNE.
Duty unites us.

SOHEMUS.
Guilt divorces you.
Retard no more my eager step. Revenge
Thy wrongs on the barbarian! Oh! preserve
So many virtues!

MARIAMNE.
Thou dishonour'st them.

SOHEMUS.
He seeks thy life.

MARIAMNE.
'Twere sacrilege in me
To aim at his.

SOHEMUS.
His hands are drench'd in blood,
Thy father's blood.

MARIAMNE.
I know what he hath done,
And what I ought to do. Prepared to meet
His utmost fury, here I stand resign'd.
Th'example of his guilt my soul disdains.

SOHEMUS.
O fortitude! O constancy! O heart
Not to be shaken! Gods! How doubly black
Appear the crimes of Herod, when compared
With this transcendent virtue! Thy commands
Not to protect thee, urge me but the more
To disobedience. What thy honour shuns,
Mine bids me execute. No power can stay,
Or daunt me in my course. I fly to find
This odious tyrant, and repair the time
Which I have lost, not fighting in thy cause.

MARIAMNE.
O prince!—

SCENE III.

MARIAMNE, ELISA, GUARDS.
MARIAMNE.
Alas! He's gone, and would not hear me.
Heaven! Gracious heaven! restrain his vengeful sword!
Let not more blood be spilt! Preserve my subjects!
On this devoted head pour all your wrath!
Spare even Herod!

SCENE IV.

MARIAMNE, ELISA, NARBAS. GUARDS.
MARIAMNE.
Narbas! Is it thou?
Where hast thou left my children? Where my mother?

NARBAS.
The wrath of Herod reaches not to them.
In this extreme of fate, unhappy queen,
Sole object of his jealousy and rage,
Fear only for thyself. Sohemus named,
His soul takes fire, and if he conquers him,
Death is thy portion. Even while I speak,
E'en at this instant comes the barbarous Zares,
With secret orders fraught. Oh! Quit the palace!
Dare to protect thyself! The people love thee,
Appear before them; in their guardian arms
They will receive thee. Tho' depress'd and fallen,
Thy presence will restore their ancient virtue.
Rouse then our faithful Hebrews! Let thy voice
Excite our priests! All Judah will defend
The offspring of their much-loved kings! Away!
Now prove thy fortitude, this is the time
To conquer or to die. Let me intreat thee—

MARIAMNE.
Mistaken man! True fortitude of soul
Knows how to suffer; but will ne'er urge on
Rebellious crouds with impious arm high-raised
T'assault their prince. Oh! I should feel my cheeks
Glow with shame's deepest blush, if overcome
With fear, the least intent against his life
Had e'er surprised my heart; if, for a moment,
I had indulged one thought of my revenge;
Or borrowed the most transient gleam of hope
From his destruction. If I must perform
Some desperate action, let it be a deed
Nobler and more illustrious; and methinks
Heaven prompts it now; yes, blinded as he is
With dark suspicions, Herod shall at length
Know Mariamne; mid the thickest fight
I rush, and arm'd with mutual fury, part
Him and Sohemus, then resign my life
To his disposal. Tho' to day I fled
From his stern vengeance, exiled by his crimes,
His danger hath recall'd me; glory speaks,
Its dictates I obey; and fly to save
His life who thirsts for mine.

NARBAS.
Ah! Whither tend
Thy devious steps? What madness thus impells—

MARIAMNE.
Oh! I am lost! He comes! 'Tis he himself!

SCENE V.

HEROD, MARIAMNE, ELIZA, NARBAS, IDAMAS. GUARDS.
HEROD.
Have they then met! Immortal power! Thus stain'd
With perfidy, this moment is thy last.

MARIAMNE.
Yet, hear me Herod, suffer not thy self—

HEROD.
Begone. Guards follow her.

MARIAMNE.
Eternal Justice!

SCENE VI.

HEROD, IDAMAS, GUARDS.
HEROD.
Let me not hear her hated name again;
Abandon'd false one!—Well, my brave defenders!
Followers in arms! Say, are there yet more foes?

IDAMAS.
All are subdued. The Hebrews lowly bend
Imploring mercy. In his blood embathed
Sohemus lies; the victory is thine.
This day with added glory decks thy fame.

HEROD.
With glory! Oh!

IDAMAS.
'Tis painful to reflection.
Slaughter hath raged enough to satisfy
Thy wounded honour. With his latest breath
Sohemus witness'd Mariamne's truth.

HEROD.
Now then shall tardy vengeance punish guilt.
This worthless object which my utmost care
Could never fix as mine, I cast away
For ever from me. Now my reign begins.
With blindness smit, too long this fatal passion
Hath been my only blot, my only weakness.
Die thou ungrateful! Her seducive charms,
Snatch them, oblivion. Her polluted name
Henceforth no tongue pronounce! But above all
Within my heart; perish her memory!
Are all things ready for this sacrifice
Which justice claims?

IDAMAS.
They are, my lord.

HEROD.
Alas!
How quickly they obey me! Oh! What torture!
What agony of woe! And must she perish!
All ready, saidst thou?

IDAMAS.
By the guards secured;
Too soon will thy revenge be satisfied.

HEROD.
She courted her destruction; forced my soul
Struggling reluctant. Seal'd then be her doom.
Bane to my peace, obstrusive thoughts, away!
Oh! For her sake alone I wish'd to live,
I would have died for her. How sunk! How lost!
O, perjured Mariamne, headlong plunged
Into the gulph of misery by thy guilt!

SCENE THE LAST.

HEROD, IDAMAS, NARBAS,
HEROD.
Hah Narbas! Why this haste! Just heaven! In tears!
That face of woe! What terrors at the sight!
Pierce thro' my inmost soul!

NARBAS.
My lord—

HEROD.
Say on;
Proceed, thou dreadful harbinger of ill.

NARBAS.
My faultering voice dies on my lips; I would—
But cannot—

HEROD.
Mariamne—

NARBAS.
Oh! What pangs
Of sharp remorse! Of unavailing grief!

HEROD.
Is then the fatal moment?—

NARBAS.
It is past.
She is no more.

HEROD.
Dead! Dead! Great God!

NARBAS.
Oh! Learn
What a superiour blessing thou hast lost:
What blood, of worth unspeakable, thy hand
Hath rashly shed. This debt her memory claims,
And virtue basely wrong'd; nay, 'tis a debt
I owe to thee, to thy insulted honour.
No Herod, no, she never injured thee;
Her heart was always pure. E'en when Sohemus
Fought in her cause, I saw her shun his aid
With detestation; I beheld her fly
To save thy life, regardless of her own.

HEROD.
What do I hear! Beyond example wretched!
O, dire extremity of hopeless anguish!
What hast thou said?

NARBAS.
That moment, when her heart
With noblest animation fraught, inspired
The generous purpose, came thy cruel orders,
And she was led to death. While Salome
With speed malicious hurried on her doom.

HEROD.
Monster! By my reluctant justice spared!
Fell monster! What avengement waits thy crimes!
Oh! That her blood, that mine—Narbas proceed,
And kill me quite with the soul-harrowing tale.

NARBAS.
What language shall I use? How to thine ear
Unfold the rest? Forced by thy guards from hence,
E'en from the palace of her ancestors,
With daring violence; she follow'd them,
Nor utter'd one reproach accusing thee.
No fear expressing, no affected pride,
Upon her brow was majesty pourtray'd
Blended with meekness. Innocence most pure,
And modesty which every heart engaged,
Within her eyes sat throned, and darted forth
The beams her conscious soul supplied. Around her
A brighter lustre her misfortunes cast,
And heighten'd every charm. Priests, Hebrews, all,
With hands upraised, with tears and loud laments
Conjured the soldiers on their heads to turn
The slaughtering steel, with horrid cries conjured them.
Yet mid their wild extremity of woe
While every eye wept Mariamne's fate,
Thee too they mourn'd; a sentence they exclaim'd,
So cruel, would consume thy life with grief,
And overwhelm thee with remorse eternal.

HEROD.
Immortal power! How every word inflicts
A dreadful wound!

NARBAS.
She felt for their distress,
And as she past along spake comfort to them.
At length upon the fatal scaffold placed,
Lifting her hands opprest with shameful chains,
“Cruel (she said) and most ill-fortuned Herod!
“Thy Mariamne on the verge of life
“Weeps thee alone. Oh! Be this act the last
“Of thy injustice! Live and reign hereafter
“With happier auspices! With eye more mild
“Behold my people, look upon my children!
“Give them thy love—which blessing to obtain,
“I would with transport die.” Serene she spake
In conscious innocence, then downward bent
That lovely face, whose modest charms so oft
Had caught the eye of wonder. I beheld
The parricidal steel uplifted high
I saw it fall—

HEROD.
Dead! Dead, my Mariamne!
And do I still survive! O sacred Manes!
Dear shade of her, whom I must still adore!
Bloody and pale remains of beauty's rare
And perfect masterpiece! I come, I come,
I follow thee, at least, my Mariamne,
And rush into the darkness of the tomb.
Why am I thus restrain'd? Perfidious subjects!
Hah! Dare ye from my hands intent on death,
To wrest my sword? Most loved! Most injured! Thee,
Thee I invoke! Now armed with vengeance come!
Pour all thy wrath upon me! Tear this heart,
Which yet feels warm thy glowing image there.
Oh, welcome death!

[He faints.
NARBAS.
His senses fail; he sinks
Under the vast affliction.

HEROD.
What dire clouds
Thus gather thick o'er my benighted soul?
Gloomy and black grim Melancholy sits,
And weighs my senses down. Why am I left,
Abandon'd to those agonies of woe
Which rack my frame? My eyes dart round in vain
No sister I behold; no Mariamne.
Do you then weep? And dare you not approach me?
Hapless Jerusalem, dost thou avoid
The presence of thy king! What have I done?
Why am I thus the horror of mankind?
Who from this gulph of my calamity
Will guide me forth to day? Whose lenient hand
Shall softly touch, and heal the festering wound
Of long-protracted anguish? Call her hither;
Lead Mariamne to me.

NARBAS.
Mariamne,
My lord!

HEROD.
Aye Mariamne; well I know
The sight of her will with a happy calm
Soothe each perturbed passion; When she casts,
(She whom I love and fear) her glance on me,
My heart feels lighter, and my hours flow on
More gratefully serene. Her very name
Already hath appeased the rage of grief;
And beams of comfort gild the shades of woe.
Let her approach.

NARBAS.
My lord—

HEROD.
I will behold her.

NARBAS.
Hast thou, alas! forgot that she's no more?

HEROD.
What dost thou say, barbarian!

NARBAS.
His ideas.
Swerve from their wonted course, by his misfortunes
Rapt from himself.

HEROD.
Hah! Mariamne dead!
Oh, reason, why break forth thy dreadful rays?
O conscious light, most sad, replete with horror,
Wherefore hast thou again usurp'd my soul?
Detested place, yet smoaking with the streams
Of her pure blood! Ye walls which I have rear'd!
And thou extensive palace, sink in dust!
With the vast ruins of thy haughty towers
O'erwhelm the spot where Mariamne fell,
Untimely fell!—Hah! Mariamne dead!
And I her murderer! Awake revenge!
Tear this vile monster gorg'd with human gore!
Ye subjects who have lost her, 'gainst my life
Arm, arm, transfix me with a thousand wounds!
Thou heaven, where now she dwells, thy thunders send
Prone down, and crush me with the flaming bolt!