Mar. In your breast

I could have spar'd your son a little space;
But sure you lov'd him not.

Her. What! am I form'd

Like monumental marbles, and receive
The name of father from the sculptor's art
And features of the rock? Am I so dead
To the sweet cares that fathers ought to feel?-
An old man's rapture when he first beholds
A new-born heir, when years of fruitless hope
Have led him childless to the verge of life,
Cannot surpass those dear paternal joys,
Which my fond bosom from my son received.
Mar. Yet you resign'd him for a prey to Rome,
With less reluctance!-

Her. Cæsar would allow

Of no alternate to preserve our crown.
Suppliant, I long entreated him to name
What other test of sacred faith he pleas'd:
But frowning, with a victor's haughty air,
He pointed to a picture on the wall,
Whose silent eloquence too plainly spoke
His fix'd resolve against the suit I urg'd.
Mar. What picture?

Her. Perseus, led in chains through Rome:
Where the sad fate of Macedon appear'd
Prophetic of our own, should we like her
Boast a false vigour, and provoke the rage
Of Rome, unequal to sustain her arms.
There fancy figur'd to my mournful eyes,
The wealth of Palestine in chargers pil'd;
Our shields and spears on moving trophies hung,
Ingloriously revers'd; and then succeed
Nobles, and matrons, with a virgin train,
In long procession through th' unpitying crowd:
But oh! what stings of grief and horror pierc'd
My agonizing heart, when there I view'd
A royal captive, far transcending all
In matchless beauty and majestic woe,
Her form resembling thine! On her a throng
Of gay patricians fix'd their wond'ring eyes,
Enamour'd; and with rival passion strove,
Who first should prostrate to his brutal joys
Her unpolluted charms. Thy future doom
Thus pictur'd to my view, so wrapt my soul
In clouds of deep despair, I strait comply'd
To give the filial pledge,

Mar. Just Heav'n, exact

With strict account, from Cæsar's rigid heart,
A pang, for every pang that tortures mine!
May public discord and domestic jars
Make his short reign a stormy winter's day!
And may his children with dishonest shame
Redden his hoary cheek; and wound his soul
With keener anguish than their mother bore
Amid her fiercest throes!

Her. Leave him t' enjoy

The destiny allotted, and restrain

Your passionate complaints, which but foment
A grief much greater than the cause requires.
Mar. Your strange insensibility foments
My wonder more: what grief's more rational,
Or what can equal mine, whose darling hope
Is ravish'd in the tender dawn of life
By savages? A miscreant haughty race!
Who with hereditary hate pursue

The name of monarch; and from us dissent
In manners, habit, speech, religion, laws.
There my poor infant, like a beauteous flow'r
Transplanted to a cold unfriendly soil,
Must droop neglected! What protecting hand
Will there with tender delicacy guard
His op'ning bloom? Ah, none!-He there must
live

A friendless exile; he! whose menial train
Nobles were proud to grace, and all conspir'd
To make his hours in downy circles dance,
And sooth his soul to joy, must now endure-
Alas! what not endure!

Her. The Roman name

Is far renown'd for all the softer arts
Which polish life, and with ennobling grace
Illustrate virtue. Would you but attend,
The voice of reason dictates to our choice,
The deed which strong necessity constrains.
What court but that of Rome could form his
mind

By surest maxims, ere he mounts the throne,
To guide the reins of empire?—Thus of old,
Philip from his dejected realm was sent,
A tender hostage to the Theban state:
Where founding his high virtue on the plan
Of great Epaminondas, he reveng'd
The wrongs of Macedon; and soon reduc'd
More than a hundred potentates.

Mar. The deeds

Of my heroic ancestors might fire

My son, t' ascend the laurel'd heights of fame,
Without a Roman guide. If he pursues
With equal steps the glorious paths they trod,
Like them he'll awe the nations round, and reign
Honour'd in peace, and terrible in war.
Were he of growth in radiant steel to lead
The files of war against his country's foe,
No soft emasculating tear should stain
The lustre of his arms: I'd gird the sword
On the young warrior's thigh, and send him forth,
Resolv'd to conquer in so just a cause,
Or dauntless in her dear defence to fall.

Her. Why then regret you with this rage of

pays

O'er all her bounds; and him we both must

own

The guardian of her crown.

Mar. The crown is bought

Far, far too dear, with such a precious bribe!
Preserv'd by mean submission to the frown
Of alien states, what's he who wears it more
Than a vain idol of imperial pow'r,
Which moves subservient to the master-hand,
No freedom left to will? Had Cæsar urg'd
This haughty mandate, when the realm obey'd
The founders of my Asmonæan race,
They would have plum'd his eagles on the field!
Her. I neither envy nor defame the dead;
Peace to their honour'd shades! Nor should you
praise

Their actions, only in reproach to mine;
That's too severe-When they the sceptre sway'd,
Rome had not stretch'd the terror of her arms,
From far Euphrates and the conquer'd east,
To Lusitania and th' Atlantic main.

If they reign'd now, their prudence would inspire
The same pacific councils I pursue;
Since her vast pow'r makes all resistance vain:
Vain as the fury which a wintry storm
Dischargeth on the sea, whose waves enjoy
Th' impetuous ruin of the rushing clouds,
And swell with prouder state.--Alas! thy breast

Each tear with drops of blood!—Provoke not heav'n,

By violating with superfluous grief,
The brightest image of itself, imprest
On thy resembling graces.

Mar. Though my tears

Equall'd the dew drops of the weeping morn, My fate requires them all!-His infant-charms Sweetly supply'd your absence, and beguil'd My widow'd hours, whene'er the voice of war Call'd you to distant camps!

Her. If ev'ry star

Contain❜d a golden world, and bounteous heav'n
Would make me lord of all, I'd not forsake
My Mariamne, to receive the boon.
My absence never shall afflict thee more.
The blaze of glory, whose deluding light
Misled me from thy arms, shall now be lost
In love's superior flame: Pheroras, train'd
In Roman camps, and perfected in arms,
Shall have the conduct of our future wars.
And now, thou dearest treasure of my soul!
Prepare with every smiling grace t'adorn
The festival; and let victorious joy
Chase every black idea from thy mind:
For ever banish from thy gentle breast
All cares, except the pleasing cares of love!
Be this the prelude of eternal peace,
And mutual passion with our years increase!
[Exeunt.

SCENE I.

Enter SOHEMUS and SALOME.

Soh. Restrain this flood of unavailing tears!
For if they flow for pity or remorse,
They flow in vain. In distant ages past
Pity died young; of grief, they say, to see
An eagle wreak his malice on a wren.
If she were yet on earth, where could she find
A nobler palace than a brother's breast?
But there you found her not; the more's the
shame!

Since pity's fled to heav'n, we'll send remorse
To howl in hell; it has no business here!-
But if these tears flow from the nobler source
Of indignation, and the generous shame
Of injur❜d merit, if they relish strong
The bitterness of soul from which they stream;
O, let increasing fury swell the tide,
Ev'n whilst we put in act our great revenge!
So weeps the storm, while the devouring waves
Close o'er the wrecks it made.

On these sad terms at best you but enjoy
A prison of state. When rival princes laid
Their sceptres at your feet, the queen prevail'd
To have each honourable suit refus'd.

Sal. Revenge no more shall grovel in the dark, But fan with dragon wings the face of day; Oppose her course who can! It is resolv'd

Soh. Once Mariamne was the destin'd prey; But since her charms enthral the king as fast, As in the freshness of her bridal love, They both shall die.

Sul. Yes, both; and all their friends

Soh. How urg'd?

Sal. Along the shore

He walk'd one ev'ning, when the clamorous rage
Of tempests wreck'd a ship; the crew were sunk,
The master only reach'd the neighb'ring strand,
Borne by a floating fragment; but, so weak
With combating the storm, his tongue had lost
The faculty of speech, and yet for aid
He faintly wav'd his hand, on which he wore
A fatal jewel. Sameas, quickly charm'd
Both by its size and lustre, with a look
Of pity, stoop'd to take him by the hand;
Then cut the finger off to gain the ring,
And plung'd him back to perish in the waves;
Crying, go dive for more.-I've heard him boast
Of this adventure.

Soh. He's a very fiend!

If we succeed, he shall not live an hour,
In mercy to ourselves: his poisoning art
In time would taint the vital breath of spring,
And spread contagion with each spicy gale-

[A messenger enters. Mess. Lord Hazeroth releas'd demands to see Your lordship

Soh. Me?

Sal. Receive him; I retire.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.

HAZEROTH and SOHEMUS.

Haz. The king, I thank his grace! vouchsafes me leave

To breathe a freer air, than what was judg'd
Fit for my constitution; though the terms
Of freedom are severe.

Soh. What terms, my lord?

Haz. To sue for reconcilement, and receive In sacred friendship that injurious hand, Which coop'd me, like a starling in a cage :You know the man!

Soh. My lord, the man you mean
That 'tis the favourite passion of his soul,
Bears such devotion to your high descent,
To live your humblest servant-

Haz. And his tongue

Distils court-honey, while his heart o'erflows With quintessence of gall!

Soh. That character,

My lord, with great submission I disown. You hear the dictates of an honest heart, That's warm in all your interests.

Haz. You confin'd

SCENE V.

MARIAMNE and ARSINOE.

Mar. With less regret

I can support your absence, since my son
Will find so kind a guardian, to discharge
The dear engagements that a mother owes:
We differ but in name.

Arsi. The prince shall be

The tender object of my hourly care:
Happy, that fate reserves it in my pow'r,

To express the sense my grateful heart retains
Of royal favour.

Mar. Nature form'd our sex

For soft endearing offices: she starts,
When pity is depos'd, and cruel pride
Usurps the vacant throne. Alas! you see
How deep the darts of fortune wound the great,
Though clad in golden armour. Were you sway'd
By favours in reversion, which allure
Ev'n vulgar souls to succour the distress'd,
Int'rest would tell you, that your darling son
May want a friend; and then, my tender plant
In the full verdure of his royal growth,
May recompense your kind protecting care,
And shield him from a storm.-Is the time fix'd
For your departure?

Arsi. Sohemus intends
Tobtain the royal mandate to delay

My journey with my lord; then all my joys,
Like the false colours of the show'ry bow,
Will fade in tears!

Mar. The politician's art

Must so revenge his disappointed love!
His spider-constitution would dissolve
In its own venom, if he should forbear
To spin it off in crafty dark intrigues,
Pernicious to my peace, and those I love.
Before the banquet, you shall quit the court;
Then let Flaminius vindicate his claim.
And by this prompt compliance with your lord,
Form all your future conduct; and effect
The pow'r to please, and not to give him pain:
For wedded love is founded on esteem,
Which the fair merits of the mind engage,
For those are charms that never can decay:
But time, which gives new whiteness to the swan,
Improves their lustre.

Arsi. None of human race
Would live more happy, could we but transcribe
The bright example of a royal pair:
If my Flaminius ever would reward
My constant ardour, with an equal flame;
Engag'd by such endearing decencies
As make the lamp of love in Herod's breast
To burn so bright as never to consume.
Mar. Beware of flatt'ry! 'tis a flow'ry weed,
Which oft offends the very idol-vice,
Whose shrine it would perfume.

Arsi. But rigid truth

Turns praise to incense, which the nicest sense Of virtue may receive. In your soft chains Your captive lord is led from joy to joy:

Days, months, and years, in circling raptures roll,
And each advancing hour outshines the past.
None, none but he can such a treasure boast,
Rich in perfections, able to suffice.
His avarice of love.

Mar. When hearts are join'd

In virtuous union, love's impartial beams
Gild the low cottage of the faithful swain
With equal warmth, as when he darts his fires
On canopies of state.

Arsi. The danger's fled,

And now I may disclose a stronger proof
Of Herod's passion, than the long records
Of love contain.

Mar. What proof?-a dangerous proof
Conceal'd from me!

Arsi. When Cæsar's mounted beams Prevail'd o'er Antony's inferior star, He thought the victor, in severe revenge, Would take both life and crown; his life and crown Were toys beneath his care; but oh! what pangs He felt, reflecting that your death alone Could save your beauties to himself entire! How vast a passion his, who could not bear A rival in the grave!

Mar. How! did the king

To the red hand of slaughter doom the breast
Of once-lov'd Mariamne? Gave command
This breast should bleed, where never dwelt a
thought

Disloyal or unkind !-Had other lips
Breath'd forth this fatal truth, it would appear
The dictate of inventive spleen, disclos'd
To violate my peace: but you're sincere;
And, knowing that, I know myself undone !
Arsi. O, that I had been born like nature's
mutes,

That swim the silent deep!-Believe me false;
Or else, with me, believe the king's decree
A test of wond'rous love, and dear esteem.
Mar. Love, and esteem!-

Arsi. Alas! rekindling rage

Glows in your cheek, and sparkles in your eyes :-
Think me perfidious, or distrust the power,
And evidence of ev'ry faithful sense,
Rather than doubt yourself the worship'd shrine
Of his fond soul, and treasure of his joys.

Mar. To dissipate my doubt, recite the whole, Without evasions.

Arsi. When he went to Rhodes,
He thus to Sohemus his charge address'd.
If I to Cæsar's rage a victim fall,

Let not my beauteous queen survive, to grace
The victor's triumphs, or to crown his love:
Let me lie envy'd in the grave, possess'd
Of Mariamne there! a happier doom,
Than 'tis to live the world's imperial lord
Without my queen, or rival'd in my love.

Mar. Whene'er did cruelty assume a look
So smooth and fair before?-To summon death,
And arm the terror with a dart of love,
Against his queen! his wife! whose ardent vows,
Incessant pray'r and sacrifice, implor'd
Th' unutterable name, to make his head

Of artless beauty hath such fatal pow'r,
When you, Arsinoe, have a daughter born,
Beg all deformities of shape and face,
T'insure her quiet from that monster, man!
Who, quitting reason, a celestial claim,
To the sweet harmony of souls prefers
A little white and red, the airy food
Of bestial appetite; and for a cheek,
Whose transient beauties hardly will outwear
The wardrobe of a flow'r-[A Messenger enters.
Mess. The king and court

Intreat your majesty would come, to grace
The banquet.

Mar. No! I'm indispos'd-[Exit Mess.] Now
fly,

Arsinoe, fly the meditated snare,
Which Solemus will spread ; and may your love
In the warm smile of fortune flourish fair,
Fruitful of virtuous joys: but, if the pow'r
Blast with malignant frowns the blooming sweets,
Absolve your destiny of partial rage:

Think on the wife, the mother, and the queen,
Whose heart her hostile troops have long besieg'd:
Think with kind pity on the countless store
Of Mariamne's woes, and weep no more.

SCENE VI.

Enter SALOME alone.

[Exeunt.

Sal. I thought my heart was arm'd with ada

mant

Against remorse; but nature fools me now; A faint cold shiv'ring seizeth every limb

SCENE VII.

Enter SOHEMUS.

Sal. My lord! O breathe some cordial to revive

My sick'ning expectation.

Soh. To defeat

Our purpose, Fortune, with malicious joy,

Sal. Avert it, heav'ns!

I hope he fail'd.

Phe. His felon-cheek ne'er chang'd Its colour, when he brought th' impoison'd bowl, With garlands crown'd, and gave it to the king: Who with the fondness of a lover cry'd, He'd not indulge his taste, because the queen Refus'd t' adorn the circle; so resign'd To Hazeroth the pledge of royal grace: Sudden his lips grew livid, and discharg'd A purple foam, his labouring bosom swell'd, His eye-balls like malignant meteors glar'd, Unmov'd and ghastly: as the venom spread, Frightful convulsions writh'd his tortur'd limbs, Then, mad with anguish, rushing to the floor, He groan'd his soul away.

Sul. All 'scap'd but he?

Phe. Had not the villain over-drug'd the wine, We all had perish'd.