Aristomenes:
or, the
Royal Shepherd.
A
tragedy.
Dramatis Personæ.
Men.
Aristomenes, Prince of the Messenians and Arcadians.
Aristor, Son to Aristomenes.
Alcander, a Principal Officer under Aristomenes.
Demagetus,
Or the
Royal Shepherd,
Son to the Prince of Rhodes, under the
Disguise
of a Shepherd call’d Climander.
Arcasius,
An old Lord, under the Habit of a Shepherd, Counsellor
to Demagetus.
Anaxander,
One of the Kings of
Lacedemon (for they had always
Two) and Leader of their Forces against
Aristomenes.
Clarinthus, Chief Counsellor to Anaxander, a Lord of Sparta.
Clinias,A Shepherd keeping his Flock
on the Plains of Messenia,
close to the Walls of Phærea, with other
Shepherds.
Women.
Herminia, Daughter to Aristomenes.
Barina, Her Woman and Confident.
Amalintha, Daughter to Anaxander.
Phila, Her Woman and Confident.
Theata,
and
Lamia,
Shepherdesses on the Plains of Messenia.
Soldiers, Officers, Guards, and Attendants, several Lords of the
Spartan Council.
The general scenes are Aristomenes’s Camp near the Walls
of Phærea; sometimes the Town of
Phærea, and sometimes
the Plains among the Shepherds.
Aristomenes.
Act I. Scene I.
A pleasant Plain by a Wood-side; beyond it are seen,on one side, some of the Shepherds Hamlets; on the
other (at a distance) the Walls of Phærea, a Garrison
of the Lacedemonians. Enter Climander meeting Arcasius; both drest like
Shepherds.
Clim.
Arms,
A Sword, Arcasius, that when Time
has freed me
From the severe Injunctions of a Father,
May fill my Hand, instead of this vile Hook,
And fit it for the Work, a Prince is born to?
Arca.
But, ’till to-morrow’s, and the next day’s Sun
Shall light the angry, and contentious World,
Your Promise to your Father is in Force;
As well as the Assurance, which you gave,
That in my Custody these Arms shou’d rest,
Until that fatal Time demands their Use.
Clim.
That Aristomenes, the Spartan Terrour,
Were leading me, this moment, bravely on
Through Dangers, equal to the Cause he fights
for,
Preserving these free Plains from foreign Bondage!
Though in the Strife this Body strew’d the
Ground,
To Fame, and Publick Good an early Victim.
Arca.
And thou beneath th’impending Plagues may’st
perish;
Since He, whom Oracles appoint to Aid thee,
Thus wishes with his Own, to sell Thy Safety,
For the rash Praise of an intruding Warriour.
Clim.
Which oftner we fulfil by heedless Chance,
Than the vain Study to pursue their Meaning;
Which makes me banish, from my lab’ring
Thoughts,
Those Mystick Words, which serve but to perplex
them.
Arc.
shou’d from Yours;
Which to prevent, ev’n now I will repeat them:
“The Isle of Rhodes shall be of Peace bereft,
Unless it by the Heir thereof be left,
And that He wed, ere he returns agen,
The Beauteous Daughter of the Best of Men;
Whose U6r 299Whose Father’s presence there shall save the State,
And smooth the threatning Brow of angry Fate.”
Clim.
Daughter is,
Was left in Darkness, to employ our Search:
Yet, in Obedience, Hither did I come
To feed a Flock, and mix with simple Swains;
Because the Priests, who sway in Princes Courts,
Declar’d, that perfect Innocence, and Virtue
Was to be found but in their lowly Rank,
And There, the Best of Men was to be sought for.
Arc.
our Prince;
That slighting (in a Case of such Importance)
The Pride of Titles, and of equal Birth,
You might espouse One of these Rural Maids,
Whose Parents harmless Presence in our Land
Might bring the Blessings of the Gods upon us;
And, lest the Wards (which still infest these Countries)
Shou’d tempt you from the Fates, and his Design,
How strictly did He Charge it on your Duty,
That, ’till the Time, which now, Two Days
must end,
You shou’d not leave these Plains, to seek the
Camp!
Clim.
But here have spent the long and lazy Hours,
Carelesly stretch’d beneath some Sylvan Shade,
And only sent my Wishes to their Tents:
But ere the Battle (which is soon intended)
Shall U6v 300Shall meet in glorious Tryal of their Right,
I will be there, and side with the Messenians.
Arc.
That first your Native Country might be serv’d,
Think on her Danger, and your Sovereign’s Will:
’Twas to the Reed, and not the wrangling
Trumpet
He bid you listen, to secure his Peace;
Nor have you look’d with Love, as he requir’d,
On any Shepherdess, tho’ ne’er so Fair,
Or born of Parents, harmless as their Flocks.
Low on my Knees, my Lord, let me prevail.
He Kneels.That, when the Time, decreed you, do’s expire,
You will not prosecute this rash Design;
But go with me yet farther on these Plains,
And seek to please your Father, and the Gods,
In such safe, humble ways, as they direct us.
Clim.
my Nature: Raises him.
But trust me, when we have subdued these
Countries,
When Lacedemon’s Kings shall sue for Peace,
And make great Aristomenes Returns
Agreeing to his Merits, and their Wrongs,
And I have gain’d such Honour as becomes me;
Whate’er thou dost request shall be observ’d:
And tho’ my Soul finds such vast disproportion
Betwixt the Thoughts, with which she is inspir’d,
And those, that lodge in these poor Country Maids;
Yet U7r 301Yet shall my Duty o’er my Temper rise,
I’ll trust (like Others) only to my Eyes,
And think, that Women in Perfection are,
Tho ne’er so Ignorant, if Young and Fair,
Arc.
Sure I hear the distant Sound of Drums.
Aside.Heav’n grant what I’ve been told, and kept so
secret,
Of a Design this Day to end the War,
Be not a Truth too tempting for my Reasons!
Thea.
For all the Lawns, that lie beyond the Hill,
Where still our Flocks were us’d to feed in peace,
Are fill’d with War, and dark with flying Arrows:
The Sheep disperse, whilst none regard their
Safety,
But call on Pan, to shield th’advent’rous Chief,
The noble Aristomenes from Danger.
Clim.
me; Aside to Arc.
Nor tye me to a few remaining Hours:
For, by the horrid Shield, that bears the Gorgon,
I Swear; if thou refuse to arm me now
With what I sent thee lately to provide,
These Feet shall bear me sandal’d to the Battle,
This flow’ry Wreath shall mix with their stern
Helmets,
And Death I’ll take, if not impower’d to give it.
Arc.
Tryal,
Call all your fainting Virtue to assist
And help you keep your Promise to your Father.
Clim.
To let the Sound of War thus strike my Sense,
Yet keep my Heart in a cool, even Temper.
Hark! this way comes the Noise, and I will
meet it.
Arc.
Shouts of Battle.
I hope All’s past, lest He and Rhodes shou’d perish.
Shepherds.
1st Shep.
Clinias,[Speaker label not present in original source]
Turn their sweet Harmony to Sighs and Groans!
To the fierce Wolves deliver up their Flocks,
And leave Messenia to the cruel Victor!
Clim.
over?
Clin.
Clim.
And, if he’s Dead, fall’n in his Country’s Cause:
The Gods have giv’n Him Fame, whilst We are
Wretched.
Clin.
Power, Which, U8r 303
Which, ’tis believ’d, they’ll use with utmost
Rigour:
Pressing too far on the Auxiliary Troops,
The Foe surrounding bore him from his Horse,
Then with the Thongs of their curs’d Cretan Bows
Bound his strong Arms, and lead him off, in
Triumph.
Clim.
that Triumph!
Rescue from their vile Hands the noble Prey,
And send him warmer Friends than Demagetus,
Aside.Who, knowing not his Person, lov’d his Valour!
O ill-tim’d Duty, how hast thou betray’d me!
Where is Aristor? Where’s the brave Alcander?
Clin.
Fate,
For ought, as yet, the Army can discover:
Alcander heads, but cannot lead them on,
And ’tis believ’d they quickly will forsake him;
Such cold Dismay and Terrour had possess’d ’em!
Yet ere we part, forever part from hence,
(If so the cruel Tyrant shou’d Decree)
Let us appoint one sad and solemn Meeting,
Where all the Ensigns of our former Mirth
May be defac’d and offer’d to His Praise,
That made our Nights secure, and bless’d our
Days.
1st Shep.
Again, one Ev’ning on these Plains
we’ll meet,
2d Shep.
chearful Feet.
Clim.
Charming me, with thy Tears, to this soft Circle,
Whilst the bright Spirit, Honour is gone by,
And borne away on never-turning Pinions!
Why wou’d’st thou thus contrive against my Fame,
And rob my fiery Youth of this first War,
(For which it languish’d with a Lover’s Fondness)
By saying still ’twou’d last, ’till Time had freed
me?
But I will yet pursue it thro’ Despair,
And share their Ruin, tho’ deny’d their Glory.
Arc.
Which if you slight shall of the Gods implore
A hasty Death, to fall on old Arcasius:
Nor think, this Posture means to cross your way;
For, by those Powers I swear; if they will Fight
As much, we hear ’tis doubted by the Shepherds,
I will not sue, to keep you from the Army,
Or bring on me your future Life’s Reproaches.
Let me obtain but This, for all my Service,
To be first sent to sound their Disposition,
Which I’ll relate with Truth, and help your Purpose:
In this Attempt Two Hours will not be lost;
Oh! give so much, to save his Life, that loves you.
Clim.
Aid,
And my long Knowledge of the Truth that guides
thee.
About it then, whilst, in that shady Grove,
I with impatience wait for thy Return.
Arca.
believe me.
throwing away their Arms.
1st Sold.
Shelter.
2d Sold.
3d Sold.
will.
Here lies my Way――
1st Sold.
General!
2d Sold.
General!
2d Sold.
broken!
3d Sold.
Away, away――
Alcand.
these from ye?
For shame! like Men, that once have known their
Use,
Take ’em again, and wait, or seek the Foe.
3d Sold.
We cannot find our General out amongst ’em:
’Tis thought they’ve made sure Work with him
already;
And now you’d have us run upon their Swords.
We thank you, Captain. Come away, away!
Alc.
me;
Can ye so soon forget your Noble General,
Your Aristomenes, whose Courage fed ye,
And by whose Conduct, ye have slept securely
In reach of Foes, that trebled ye in Number!
Can ye forget the Care, that heal’d your Wounds;
The Tongue, that prais’d them; or those Liberal
Hands,
That pour’d down Gold, faster than they your\
Blood!
1st Sold.
Dye with him.
2d. Sold.
Ungrateful.
But, since they say, He’s Dead, What can we
do?
Alcand.
At least, ’till there are Tydings from the Town:
Then, if he lives, we may attempt his rescue;
Or, if he’s Dead, in a most just despair
Burn their accurst Phærea o’er their Heads,
And then disperse, when we’re so far reveng’d.
Do this my Friends; Come, come, I know you
will:
You lov’d the General――
1st Sold.
2d Sold.
him more.
3d Sold.
sure enough.
4th Sold.
here,
And stay, ’till we’re inform’d as he advises.
Alcand.
Take up your Arms and trust, my Friends, to me:
Your Lives shall not be set on idle Hazards;
Lose no more time, but let us join the Army.
Shepherdesses.
Herm.
Bar.
Safety,
Which in those Hamlets, now within our Sight,
The Shepherds find, with whom we may partake it.
Herm.
to seek it,
Urging the Danger of a Virgin’s Honour,
When left defenceless to the Conqueror’s Will:
But dost thou think, we may not thro’ these Woods
Find out some gloomy Cave to Men unknown,
And there expiring, sleep secure for ever?
Bar.
Since Aristomenes may yet be Living?
Herm.
Might have its Course; for now ’twill flow
And stop our farther Passage, barring the Sight
Which shou’d conduct our Steps.
Bar.
it,
But put on chearful Looks to suit this Habit,
And make the World believe you what you seem.
Herm.
I shou’d forget the gay, fantastick Scene,
And drop these Tears, when Smiles were most
expected.
Bar.
Let us return and wait in your Pavilion,
Till Anaxander shall command you thence
To serve the base Delight of some proud Spartan.
Herm.
Powers!
I yield, Barina; make me what thou wilt:
See, I no more am Sad, look on this Brow;
Canst X3r 309Canst thou read there that I have lost a Father,
The best, the fondest, and the dearest Father?
Forgive the tender Thought, that breeds this
Change;
I’ll weep it off, and smile again to please thee.
Bar.
And your approaching Ruin.
Herm.
What must I do? indeed I will observe thee.
Bar.
Grove
Wait my Return, who must go find the Shepherds,
And frame some Story; that when you appear,
Thro’ no Enquiries we become suspected:
And in my absence, be your Thoughts employ’d
To bend your Mind to what the Times require.
Herm.
Suit to my alter’d State my low Desire;
My Fare be plain, and homely my Attire,
My Tresses with a simple Fillet bind,
Face the hot Sun, and wither in the Wind;
In my parch’d Hand a rural Crook be found,
The Trees my Curtains, and my Bed the Ground:
That Fortune (who at Greatness aims her Blow)
When thus disguis’d may not a Princess know.
Phærea (the Lacedemonian Garrison) a Rabble
and many common Soldiers in the Street.
1st Sold.
We may now go home to our Wives, and our
Shops.
1st Rabble.
him at last
That has been our Back-friend so long,
As one may say――
2d Sold.
Thou ne’er look’d’st him in the Face:
But we shall have the tossing, and the tumbling
of him
Assoon as ever the sowre-fac’d Senators
Have dismiss’d their Judgments upon him.
3d Rabble.
Here, here he comes; bear back, bear back.
Stage, the Rabble crouding and following him
with confus’d Cries and Shouts, Exeunt.
in Anaxander’s Palace: Anaxander, Clarinthus,
and several Lords of Sparta.
Anax.
met,
To see those Hands in servile Fetters ty’d
Which X4r 311Which broke the Bondage of the proud Messenians,
Whom Sparta long had held in hard Subjection.
Ere yet their Captive General do’s appear,
Be it amongst your selves, My Lords, resolved
What Course will answer best our Ends upon
them.
Speak you, Clarinthus, for’most of the Assembly;
And then, let ev’ry one add what he pleases.
Clar.
way
Which must secure what Lacedemon toils for:
Let him resign that Country, kept by him
From the entire Subjection, to our Yoke;
Or let his speedy Death deliver to Us
What his too active Life has long kept back.
Anax.
All the Sen.
Clar.
Anax.
A Lord.
Command.
Aristor in a Spartan Dress presses in amongst the
Croud, whilst Phila appears at the Door.
Anax.
Clar.
still,
And so his Mind will prove, if I mistake not.
Anax.
Foe, X4 Have X4v 312
Have urg’d that Country, where you rule in Chief,
To break our Yoke, and make Incursions on us,
Since known to all, will justify our Sentence
Which is; That you shall meet the Death deserv’d,
Unless to keep our Quiet for the future,
You bring again Messenia to our Sway,
Paying such Tribute, as shall be impos’d
By Us, the Lords of that offensive State.
This is the Choice, we kindly set before you,
And wish, that you wou’d take the safest Part.
Aristom.
Life!
That Pow’r forbid it, under whose Protection
I’ve often fought her Battles with Success,
And drove th’ ill-grounded War home to your
Sparta!
Clar.
Dye.
Aristom.
I am a Man, and Nature bars that saying:
Yet I dare Dye; no Spartan here, but knows it.
But since the Fates (whose Wills we best can read,
When thus unfolded in their dire Events)
Tell me by these vile Bonds I must submit;
Propose the gentlest Bargain you can make,
And if I find my Life bears equal Weight,
I am content to take it, else ’tis Yours.
Anax.
Terms,
Mistaken Men, who think not of our Power,
And that we may command what we propose:
Since the first Sally, now, must take Possession
Of X5r 313Of what your frighted Rout will soon abandon.
Aristom.
Ye basely wrong with foul reproachful Names
Those valiant Troops, which yet ye cannot Conquer:
For know, thou proud insulting Anaxander,
There’s at their Head a resolute young Man,
That will not ’bate thee in his strict Account
One Sigh or Groan, thy Tortures or thy Dungeons
Shall wrest in Dying from his Father’s Bosom.
Anaxander and the Senate talk among themselves,whilst Aristor comes forward upon the Stage.
But there he stands!
Aside seeing Aristor.Aristor thro’ that Spartan Dress I view,
And ne’er, till now, wish’d not to see my Son.
Protect him from their Knowledge, some kind
Pow’r,
If Youth, or Virtue e’er engag’d your Pity!
Clar.
For He’ll ne’er yield to what has been demanded.
Anax.
too
Of swift Revenge, thinking to fright our Justice:
But we’ll take care, first, to perform our Part,
Then, venture what your daring Son can offer.
The Dungeon is his Sentence, thither bear him.
Aristor.
Justice.
Anax.
Phila.
Spartan,
Who now has got a Sword; Disarm, and take
him.
Aristor.
I am――
Phila.
he Dyes.
Aristom.
more Aside.
Therefore be blest the Stratagem that stopt him!
Anax.
this Madman?
Phila.
Sent from the Country here to find a Cure;
But hearing, as the Croud pass’d by his Lodgings,
That Aristomenes wou’d soon be Sentenc’d,
He broke his Ward, and fancy’d He must save
him.
I have pursu’d him, ’till I’m faint with Crying,
And am confounded at his frantick Passion.
Oh! Royal Sir, forgive it――
Anax.
Then, to thy Mistress, my dear Daughter, Go
And say we now again shall soon see Sparta.
Phila.
Now follow me, I’ll lead ye to his Lodgings.
Aristom.
May Heaven reward her, if she means his Safety.
Aside.Now I can meditate on my own Fortunes,
And slight the worst can reach me.
Anax.
a Change.
Again I’ll try him――
To Clar.Now, Aristomenes, that this wild Chance
Has given you time to think upon our Sentence,
Have you enough consider’d of it’s Horror,
To bend your stubborn Will to our Demands?
Aristom.
That active Faculty, which we call “Phancy”,
Soon as you spoke, dragg’d me thus bound by
Slaves
Thro’ the throng’d Streets, exciting several Passions;
The Barb’rous Croud shouted their clamorous Joy,
Because unpunish’d they might sport with Blood;
Old Men and Matrons, destin’d long for Death,
With envious Pleasure saw me forc’d before them
To tread that Path, in spight of vigorous Nature,
Whilst tender Virgins turn’d aside their Heads,
And dropt, in Silence, the soft Tears of Pity:
But, Oh! the Soldiers; from the Soldier’s hands
Methoughts I saw their Swords neglected thrown,
When Fortune shew’d they cou’d not save the
Bravest
(If once she frown’d) from such a Fate as mine.
Clar.
Anax.
Whether you’ll meet our Mercy, or the Dungeon.
Aristom.
Cave had led me;
I stood reclin’d upon the horrid Brim,
And gaz’d into it, ’till my baffl’d Sight
Piercing beyond the many jetting Rocks
That help to break by turns the falling Body,
Was lost in Shades, where it must rest for-ever:
And ready now to be push’d rudely off,
This was my last, and best Reflection on it,
That there dwelt Peace, which is not to be found
In his dark Bosom, that has sold his Country.
Anax.
See this obey’d, and plunge him headlong down;
There, he’ll have Time, if Life, for such fine
Thoughts.
Away, and bring me word it is perform’d.
Aristomenes born off.
Rabble and Sold.
the Dungeon.
Peace and Prosperity to Lacedemon!
Act II. Scene I.
A Room in the Palace. Aristor alone.Arist.
Mansion,
And from that Window, barr’d too closely up
To give me leave to leap upon their Heads,
Have curs’d the Croud, and told ’em whose I am:
At which they laugh, and cry ’tis Phila’s Madman.
Confusion! that she dares confine me thus!
Whilst my free Thoughts, unfollow’d by my
Hand,
Must see that cursed Deed, they can’t prevent.
Oh! Aristomenes, my noble Father!
Hear me, ye Fates, and let me but Revenge him;
Give me Revenge; and now, methinks, I grasp it,
Broke thro’ his Guards, I seize upon the Tyrant,
And stab him thus, and thus――
He acts all this.Then bear him to the Ground, thus falling on
him,
And to his Heart thus tearing my wide way.
Oh! O’,O’,O’,――
lock’d after her.
Amal.
Oh! let me find him, tho’ to raise his Sorrows
With X7v 318With the sad Sound of my repeated Groans.
Ha! on the Ground! then be it too my Seat!
Sits on the Ground by him.For I will share in this Excess of Grief,
As well as in the Days of milder Fortune,
I bore a part in Love, that knew no Measure.
O Aristomenes! oh! my Aristor!
Aristor.
Sound:
Such Groans shall hourly issue from his Dungeon,
And fright the bloody Spartans into Madness.
He looks up.Ha! sure I shou’d know that Form, that Shape,
those Limbs,
That lab’ring Bosom, and those Locks dishevel’d:
But take not from thy Face that friendly Cloud;
Do not expose it, lest thro’ all it’s Charms
My deep Revenge find out whose Stamp it bears,
And urge me on to something Dark and Fatal.
Amal.
Aristor.
Maid,
And bring the Blood of Anaxander near me?
Coming up fiercely to her.Canst thou too fondly think, that Love’s soft
Bands,
His gentle Cords of Hyacinths and Roses,
Wove in the dewy Spring, when Storms are silent,
Can tye these Hands, provok’d by horrid Murther!
But fly this Ground, while I have Power to bid
thee.
Amal.
me:
The Life, I’ve kept but to indulge your Love,
Now to this loud, mistaken Rage I offer.
Take it, Oh! take it; Means cannot be wanting,
Altho’ no Instrument of Death be near you:
This Hair, these flatter’d Locks, these once-lov’d
Tresses
Round my sad Neck thus knit will soon perform it;
Or, on these trembling Lips your Hand but prest
Will send the rising Breath down to my Heart,
And break it, telling who deny’d it Passage.
Aristor.
and Lover!
Amal.
Speak but a few such Words, as now you utter’d,
And my poor hov’ring Soul will fly before ’em.
Farewel Aristor, see! the Work is done:
I did but think I heard their killing Sound,
And the bare Fancy saves you farther Study.
Aristor.
And I will whisper to it such Repentance,
Such Love, such Fondness, such unheard-of
Passion,
As shall confine it to it’s beauteous Mansion.
Thus let me hug, and press thee into Life,
And lend thee Motion from my beating Heart,
To X8v 320To set again the Springs of thine in working.
Amal.
returns:
But tell me, ere again so firm ’tis fixt
That it must cost an Agony like this,
To let it out to Liberty and Ease,
Will you not hate me for my Father’s Guilt?
Aristor.
Breast,
And dart through all the Horrors of my Soul,
Like Heaven’s bright Flashes in a Night of Shadows,
I will not hate, or e’er reproach thee more:
Yet let me breathe so gently one Complaint,
So gently, that it may not break thy Peace,
Tho’ it for ever has discarded mine,
And ask, why you thus cruelly wou’d use me,
Why, have me seiz’d, and bound with frantick
Fetters,
Snatch’d from my Duty by a Woman’s wile,
And here confin’d, whilst my great Father
perish’d?
Amal.
swear;
It was the Fates design and Phila’s action:
She saw you thus disguis’d amongst the Croud,
And, ere she would acquaint me with your
Danger,
Follow’d to watch the means how to prevent it.
Aristor.
Which must have broke, had your Consent been
with her.
But, Amalintha, now my Rage is gone,
And Love thro’ this mistake has forc’d his way,
It spreads before my Thoughts the gaudy Scene
Of those Delights, which have been once allow’d it;
Brings to my Phancy in their softest Dress
The gentle Hours, that told our Private Meetings;
Shews me the Grove, where, by the Moon’s pale
Light
We’ve breathd out tender Sighs, ’till coming
Day
Has drawn them deeper, warning us to part,
Which ne’er we did, ’till some new Time was
set
For the return of those transporting Pleasures.
Amal.
And so again, we’ll meet, and sigh, and love.
Aristor.
Amal.
deathlike Groan!
Aristor.
softer;
And I must leave thee, Soul to sad Aristor,
With all those Pleasures which I but repeated,
As Dying Friends will catch one last Embrace
Of what they know, they must forego forever.
Amal.
Fancy back
From those Delights, where ’twou’d have endless
stray’d:
But, my Aristor! (for I’ll call you mine,
Though all the Stars combine against my Title,
And bar fulfilling of the Vows they’ve witness’d)
Y Tell Y1v 322Tell me, tho’ we must ne’er in Nuptials join,
May we not meet, and at this distance sigh?
And when I’ve hoarded up a Stock of Tears,
Which in the Spartan’s fight I dare not lavish,
Oh! tell me, if I may not seek you out,
And in large Showers thus pour them down before
you?
Aristor.
Beauty,
And think with what vast Storms my Soul is toss’d!
Comes up to hear earnestly.Think too, that but to gaze upon thee thus,
To stand in reach of thy Ambrosial Breath,
And hear thy Voice, sweet as the Ev’ning Notes,
When in still Shades the Shepherds sooth their
Loves,
I wou’d not mind an Army in my way,
Or stop at raging Seas, or brazen Towers.
Yet, Amalintha, tho’ I Dye to speak it,
Yet, we must part, we must, my Amalintha!
Amal.
Aristor.
Let them make even one Account betwixt us,
And we’ll in spight of vengeful Thunder join,
If then, thy Heart be as resolv’d as mine.
Amal.
must not meet:
But since those Fates deny it to your Power,
The Y2r 323The Will I to your mighty Wrongs forgive,
Phila.
return:
Your Father’s now just going to your Lodgings.
Aristor.
Amal.
A little time will call the State to Council;
And when the Croud by that is thither drawn,
One I will send to wait on your Escape:
And if you tempt new Dangers, know Aristor
That Amalintha too will perish in them.
Aristor.
Phila.
Undone.
Amal.
away
A gasping Wretch, the cruel Bird of Prey;
Bids him make haste th’ Eternal Shades to find,
And leave like me, all that is Dear behind.
Aristor.
weeping by,
I see the much lov’d Spirit from me fly;
And with vain Cries pursue it to that Coast,
Where it must land, and my weak Hopes be
lost.
as he’s going out at the Other.
Now, let Revenge awhile sustain my Heart,
And Fate yet close my Life with some exalted
Part!
Aristomenes lying down in it, and struggling as
coming out of a Swoon.
Aristom.
Spirits
Dispel the gloomy Vapours, that oppress’d them,
And cloath’d my Dreams with more than mortal
Horrour.
So low in my deep Phancy was I plung’d,
That o’er my Head impetuous Rivers rush’d,
And Mountains grew betwixt our World and me:
Hungry and Cold, methought I wander’d on
Thro’ fruitless Plains, that Food nor Comfort
nourish’d,
’Till hideous Serpents twisted me about,
And drew me to their Den all foul and loathsome;
But I will quit the Bed, that breeds such Visions,
And summon all my Officers to Council;
For with to-morrow’s Dawn we’ll storm Phærea.
He walks about feeling for the Door.Ha! where’s the Door, my Tent is sure transform’d,
And all I touch is Rock that streams with Dew.
Oh! that I’d slept, that I had slept for ever!
He starts.Yes, Anaxander, yes! thou worst of Furies!
I know thy Dungeon now, and my dark Ruin:
Yet why, ye Fates, since fall’n below your Succour,
Wou’d ye thus cruelly restore my Senses,
To make me count my Woes by tedious Moments,
Dye o’er again, choak’d by unwholsome Damps,
Parch’d up with Thirst, or clung with pining
Hunger,
Borne piecemeal to the Holes of lurking Adders,
Or mould’ring to this Earth, where thus I cast
me?
play’d awhile and ceases, He speaks.
How, Harmony! nay then the Fiends deride me:
For who, but they, can strike Earth’s sounding
Entrails,
Or with low Winds thus fill her tuneful Pores?
Oh! that some Words of horrid Sense wou’d join
it,
To tell me where I might conclude my Sorrows!
1st Voice.
To that last Asylum fly,
Where no anxious Drops of Care,
Where no sighing Sorrows are,
Friends or Fortune none deplore,
None are Rich, and none are Poor,
Nor can Fate oppress them more.
To this last Asylum fly,
Fallen Wretch! make haste and Dye!
Aristom.
the way,
And with the Speed thou urgest I’ll obey thee.
1st Voice.
Will split the Circle of thy Brains.
To thy Freedom I persuade thee,
To a wat’ry Pit will lead thee,
Which has no glorious Sun-beam seen,
No Footsteep known, or bord’ring Green,
For thousand rolling Ages past.
Fallen Wretch! to this make haste,
To this last Asylum fly.
Fallen Wretch! make haste and Dye!
Aristom.
Which still is nearest Cure, when at the Highest.
I come, I come――
other side, upon which He stops and listens.
2d Voice.
And wou’d breed thee more Confusion.
I, thy better Genius, move thee,
I, that guard, and I, that love thee;
I, who in thy rocky way,
Cloth’d in Eagles Feathers lay,
And in safety brought thee down,
Where none living e’er was known.
Chearful Hope I bring thee now,
Chearful Hope the Gods allow.
Mortal Y4r 327Mortal, on their Pleasures wait,
Nor rush into the Arms of Fate.
Aristom.
Brave:
And tho’ a just Despair had dispossess’d it,
Yet, thus encourag’d, will I trust the Gods
With those few Moments, Nature has to spare
me;
Nor follow thee, thou bad persuading Spirit.
Yet tell me, who thou art, and why thou tempt’st
me?
1st Voice.
To Phærea with thee came;
Hung o’er thee in the murd’ring Croud,
And clapp’d my dusky Wings aloud;
Now endeavour’d to deceive thee,
And will never, never, leave thee.
2d Voice.
1st Voice.
2d Voice.
War and Honour’s Trumpet hear.
1st Voice.
He his dearest Blood shall pay.
Hear it ye repeating Stones,
And confirm it by your Groans!
Aristom.
Death! Y4 The Y4v 328
The Field of Honour is his Bed of Ease;
He toils for’t all the Day of his hard Life,
And lays him there at Night, renown’d and happy:
Therefore this Threat was vain malicious Fury.
1st Voice.
For hated Good is rushing by.
and rushes against Aristomenes, who taking
it for his evil Genius, catches at it, and speaks.
Aristom.
dar’st assault me!
Nay then, thou shalt not ’scape; I’ll seize and
grapple with thee,
And by my conqu’ring Arm o’ercome thy Influence.
Fool that I was! to think, it cou’d be vanquisht.
This is some rav’ning Beast; the Fur betrays it;
A Fox, I think, teach me to be as subtle,
Extremity, thou Mother of Invention!
He catches it.I have it now; and where it leads, will follow.
My better Genius do’s this Hour preside:
Be strong that Influence, and thou my Guide.
Herm.
stray’d,
Unheeding every thing, but my sad Thoughts,
That Y5r 329That my faint Limbs no longer can support me.
Oh! let me rest; and if ’tis Death I feel,
A Guest more welcome none yet entertain’d.
the return of Arcasius.
Clim.
And yet, I wou’d not doubt him:
I’ve climb’d the Hill, better to view the Camp;
And all are fixt, and motionless as Death.
Therefore awhile I will command my Patience:
He cannot now be long――
He turns and sees Herm. and
gazes earnestly on her.
――Ha! Who lies there?
A lovely Shepherdess; but faint she seems.
Say, beauteous Maid, if so much Strength is left,
How best a Stranger, may assist, or serve you!
He kneels down by her.She do’s not speak; but looks into my Heart,
And melts it to the softness of her Eyes.
Hard by, a Spring clear as the Tears she drops,
Runs bubbling under a delicious Shade:
Water, thence fetch’d in a Pomegranate’s rind,
May call her fainting Spirits to their office.
Herm.
Yet he’s so gentle sure I need not fear him:
Tho’ at his first approach my Heart beat high,
’Till Halcyon sounds, and words of Pity calm’d it;
Nay, something courtly in them was imply’d:
And if the Swains are polish’d, all like him,
Their humble Sheds may scorn our ruder Greatness.
Shell.
Clim.
Prayer,
Endue this Water, sacred to thy Name,
With all the Vertues, needful to restore her.
Herm.
my Thanks,
And He, whom you invok’d, reward you largely!
Clim.
In but declaring where you feed your Flocks,
And to what Shade, when Phœbus hottest shines,
You lead those happy Sheep, to ’scape his Fury;
That I, exposing mine to the wide Plains,
May seek you out, and sigh till Night before you.
Herm.
them;
No leafy Hamlet, strew’d with painted Flowers;
Or mossy Pillow, to repose my Head:
But wander from a distant, fatal Place,
Where I have lost my Parents, and my Succour,
And now, in such a Habit as becomes it,
Seek the low Plains, to learn the Art you practise.
Clim.
’Tis sure the fairest that my Eyes e’er fix’d on.
Aside.Who were your Parents, gentle Maid, declare?
Herm.
conceal them:
My Mother early Dy’d; but Fame has told me,
She’d Y6r 331She’d all Perfections, which make other Proud,
Yet wore them, as she knew not they adorn’d her.
And be, in this, my Father’s Praise exprest:
That by an Oracle He was confest
Of all the Race of Men to be the Best.
Clim.
Woman!
And in a Moment I the greatest Lover!
He speaks this transportedly and seizes her Hand,which he kisses.
Whilst to complete my Bliss, by Heav’ns decree
These Beauties all are mine, and thus I claim them.
Herm.
Virtue,
From the dark Ends of such unruly Transports!
She takes her Hand away hastily and rises.Nor dare, presumptuous Swain, once to renew
them,
Or tempt more Dangers than a Crook can answer!
Clim.
that to me,
Built round with Steel, or plung’d all o’er in Styx.
Then, let your Beauty’s Triumphs be complete,
Which, after such a Threat, can bend my Knee,
And make me sue for Pardon, as for Life.
Herm.
Since She, who yields to have her Beauty worshipp’d,
Must pay too much to him, that brings the Incense.
Clim.
Your Heart is mine; the amorous Stars ordain it,
Which smiling, hung o’er my auspicious Birth,
And Y6v 332And not an angry Planet cross’d their Influence:
They bid me Love, and the Harmonious God
When askt, what Path shou’d lead me on to Glory,
Sent forth a Sound, that charm’d the hoary Priest,
And said, a Passion, soft as that, must bless me.
Then, do not strive to disappoint their Purpose,
Or quench Celestial Flames with Scorn or Coldness.
Oh! that a Smile might tell me, that you wou’d not,
A gentle Word, a Look, a Sigh confirm it,
Or any sign, that bears the stamp of Love!
But ’tis in vain, and some more happy Youth
Has drawn my Lot, and mock’d foretelling Phœbus.
Herm.
that wrongs me:
For know, no Passion e’er possess’d this Breast,
Nor will the mighty Griefs, that now have seiz’d it,
E’er yield to give a softer Guest admittance.
But my Companion comes; Shepherd farewell!
When next we meet, if Heav’n that Moment sends,
For your Assistance lent, we may be Friends.
Clim.
Nor Oracles explain themselves by Words.
Let talking Age the Joys of Friendship prove,
Beauty for Youth was made, and Youth alone for
Love.
Act III. Scene I.
A Myrtle-Grove with a Fountain belongingto Anaxander’s Palace. Enter Amalintha and Phila.
Amal.
Soul,
Unapt for Love, and harsh, as our rude Customs!
Or why, ye cruel Fates! did you deny
My Birth to be among the neighb’ring Swains,
Where, on the flow’ry Banks of smooth Panisus
I might have sat, and heard the gentle Vows
Of some protesting Shepherd, uncontroul’d!
Phila.
That first your Eyes encounter’d with Aristor’s.
Amal.
allow’d it,
Where the young Prince, whom I too much had
mark’d
Thro’ all the graceful Toils of that blest Day,
Redeem’d my Life, with Hazard of his own,
From the chas’d Boar, that now had almost seiz’d
me.
Phila.
I heard you thank him for the gen’rous Rescue.
Amal.
him,
And paid if down a Ransom for my Life:
Since Y7v 334Since when, how often in this Place we’ve met,
And with what Pleasure, thou alone can’st tell,
The only Friend, and witness of our Passion.
But, prithee go, and keep off all Intruders,
Exit Phila..Whilst with my Sorrows now I tread this Grove,
Which shou’d not thrive, when all our Hopes are
blasted.
follow’d soon after by Aristomenes, his Hands foul
with Earth.
Aristom.
Leader! Pointing to the Fox.
Henceforth thy figure, in my Ensigns borne,
Shall tell the World (if e’er I ’scape these Walls)
That ’twas thy Conduct drew me from my Bondage.
How fair this Grove appears to my loath’d Dungeon!
Oh! welcome to my Sight, thou gentle Spring!
Ne’er did’st thou cool a Thirst, that rag’d like mine.
I bow my Knees upon thy mossy Brim,
He kneels and lays his Mouth to the Stream.And, as they drank, ere Art had worsted Nature,
Draw thy refreshing Stream to my scorch’d
Entrails.
Again, O Nectar, most delicious!
This favour more, and then I quit thy Borders.
Amal.
Faded the Flow’rs, and with’ring ev’ry Branch:
Whilst Y8r 335Whilst thro’ the Leaves the sad, and sighing Winds,
Methinks, all say, the Hours of Bliss are past;
And here, we ne’er shall meet each other more.
Aristom. comes towards her.Ha! what Intruder do my Eyes behold?
A Stranger, and invade my private Walks,
The Doors too all secur’d! Tell how you came.
Aristom.
upwards,
Till the sweet Air beat on my clammy Brows.
Amal.
utter;
Which (tho’ offended with your Presence here)
I wou’d be glad farther to have Unriddl’d.
Draws her Dagger.This be my Guard; and now you may proceed,
And, if you dare, discover who you are.
Aristom.
Dungeon, Pointing behind the Scenes.
From whence these Hands have dug my way to
Light.
’Tis Aristomenes that stands before you.
Amal.
Aristom.
As ’tis reported of you Spartan Ladies,
By my Escape your Fame shall rise so high,
That ne’er an ancient Heroes shall outsoar it:
If not, I know the Place from whence I came,
And ’twill be told with more uncommon Things,
Which shall make up the Story of my Fortunes,
That I alone liv’d to be there twice Bury’d.
She looks about. Nay, Y8v 336Nay, look not round; for if you fear you wrong
me,
I wou’d not injure you, to gain my Safety.
Amal.
For all that Lacedemon holds most Precious.
I gaz’d about, lest any were in sight,
That might prevent my dear Design to save you.
Support me, as I walk, like one that serv’d me,
And when they have unlock’d that Postern-door,
I’ll give you some Command before the Guard,
Which to perform they shall admit your Passage:
Or this must force it, if your evil Stars
Gives him her Dagger.Have plac’d such there, as know and wou’d detain
you.
Aristom.
Favour.
Amal.
moment.
Aristom.
tow’rds Freedom,
Let me be told, to whose blest Aid I owe it;
And how I may discharge so vast a Debt:
Tho’ I, and all that’s dear to me shou’d perish,
I wou’d not stir, ’till satisfy’d in this.
Amal.
Tho’ whilst I speak, I tremble for your Danger,
That to declare my Name, might work my Ruin:
But since such Gratitude crowns your great Virtues,
I have a Blessing to implore from you,
When the full Time shall ripen and reveal it;
Harder, I fear, to grant, and much more dear
Than Z1r 337Than what I now assist you to preserve.
Aristom.
value,
By new-recovered Light, and what it shews me,
Your brighter Form, with yet a fairer Mind,
By all the ties of Honour, here I swear;
Be that untouch’d, and your Request is granted.
Amal.
Gods
I ask no more――but, that you haste to ’scape:
Without that Camp the open Champain lies.
May Fortune, which the hardest Part has done,
Crown her great Work, and lead you safely on!
Phila.
her?
Is’t not enough, ye Gods, we bear our own,
That thus you suffer the vain trifler Love
To bring the Griefs of others too upon us!
Amal.
thee,
But thou hast chill’d them in a Moments space
With that cold dew that trickles from thine Eyes.
Is not Aristor safe?――
Thou say’st he is not, in that weeping silence:
But lives he yet? if this thou do’st not answer,
My Death shall free thee from all farther Questions.
Phila.
But oh! that some free Tongue, that lov’d you less,
Cou’d tell how little time that Life must last
To you so precious, and I fear so fatal!
Amal.
Story,
Believe thou’st crown’d the Kindness of thy Life,
By giving endless Rest to her that wants it.
Phila.
Amal.
seek for.
Phila.
Stay, Madam, stay, and since it must be told,
Know that Aristor, soon as free to do it,
Again into your Father’s presence rush’d,
And makes a new attempt upon his Person,
But miss’d his Blow, was seiz’d, and in Confinement
Now waits but the assembling of the Council,
Throughly to be examin’d, and discover’d.
Amal.
With this Relief to my sad Bed I go,
Siezes Phila’s Dagger.There wrapt in horrid Shades will lay me down,
And, when thou com’st charg’d with the heavy
News,
Beware, no tedious Circumstance detain,
No fruitless Pray’r, or word of Comfort ’scape
thee;
But with a Voice, such as the Dying use,
Bid me expire―― ――Then to my Father go,
And Z2r 339And say, he kill’d his Daughter in his Foe;
Who knowing, she his Temper cou’d not move,
Th’excess of Hate paid with th’excess of Love.
Clim.
I will not wait the Trifler’s slow return,
But go my self (tho’ thus unarm’d) amongst them.
He is going and meets Arcasius.Art thou at length come back!
If ’twou’d not waste more time to blame thy stay,
Old loit’ring Man! I shou’d reprove thee for it.
Arcas.
utmost,
Clim.
not Fight?
Not Dye for such a General!
Arcas.
Tho’ brave Alcander tries to urge their Fury,
And wastes his own, to put new Life into them:
Sometimes he weeps, and throws his Helmet
from him,
Kneels to his Troops, and wooes them to Compassion,
Which draws a gen’ral sympathizing Show’r,
And makes him think, he has obtain’d his Purpose:
Then on his fiery Steed in haste he leaps,
And cries, Come on; but not an Ensign waves,
Or any Motion seconds the Design.
Z2 The Z2v 340The Meaner sort cry out aloud for Pay,
And mutiny to be discharg’d the Service.
Clim.
use:
The Gold and Jewels which my Father gave,
Will fire their Souls, insensible of Duty;
And by it’s aid, I’ll gain what most I thirst for.
A King his Claim but to one Kingdom lays,
Wide as the Universe is boundless Praise.
This shining Mass shall buy a glorious Name,
They purchase all the World, who purchase Fame.
Arcas.
Dangers,
Let me declare the Time to be expir’d,
Which bound you in your Promise to your Father:
By Artifice I wrought you to believe
Those Days remain’d, which are indeed run out.
Your Soul may now be free, and Heaven protect
you!
Clim.
Worthy thy knowledge, when we meet again:
But now make haste, and from its deep concealment,
In the low Earth, fetch me the Wealth I mention’d.
About these Woods thy quick Return shall find me.
Bar.
prove so.
Herm.
I dare not tell her, that I like this Shepherd,
Nor yet indeed scarce own it to my self.
’Tis strange, my Mind shou’d sink thus with my
Fortunes;
Yet he did talk above their humble strain,
And, as he knew that Nature had supply’d
What Fortune had deny’d him for Attraction,
Claim’d my weak Heart, and said he must possess it.
Bar.
Meeting
Design’d in Honour of their lost Protector,
In which our share (tho’ secret) must be greatest.
I see none move, nor hear their mournful Notes.
Herm.
better?
Have I not heard thee say sometimes, Barina,
That in a Dream, form’d by the Day’s discourse
Of the sweet Life, that here they led in safety,
My Mother saw me wed one of these Swains,
And smil’d, tho’ I had made a Choice below me?
Bar.
That you, like others, shou’d behold their Revels:
Nor have I, since her Death left you my Charge,
Allow’d it, till worse Dangers forc’d us hither;
Tho’ of my self, I ne’er observe such Trifles,
Herm.
Trifles?
Bar.
of Phancy,
Where things of Yesterday are odly piec’d
Z3 With Z3v 342With what had pass’d some twenty Years before,
Knit in a weak and disproportion’d Chain,
Which cannot hold to lead us to the Future.
Whate’er I’ve said, I wish this had no meaning,
Aside.And that some other Place cou’d give us shelter.
Herm.
Great Aristomenes, now cou’d I meet thee!
But that’s a Blessing which I must not know,
Aside.’Till where thine is, my Spirit too shall go.
Oh! that my Grief wou’d force it to retire,
And Tears for him quench this new-kindl’d Fire!
Clim.
Deceive my Hopes; or now, within their reach
That unknown Beauty moves, which lately charm’d
them.
’Tis she! and with the speed that suits my Passion,
I will o’ertake, and farther urge it to her.
Herm.
me go,
Before th’ assembling Shepherds are arriv’d;
And having met one that can give her tydings,
Is busy to enquire about their coming.
Untimely Z4r 343Untimely Caution!―― ――’Tis too late to move,
When once o’ertaken by the wings of Love.
Clim.
word,
But all the neighb’ring Ecchoes caught the Sound,
And sent it doubl’d to Climander’s Bosom:
The am’rous Streams have borne it down their
Banks,
And the glad Plains breathe nothing, since, but
Love.
Oh! speak it one again, and the fond Vine
Shall with a stricter grasp embrace the Elm,
Whilst joyful Birds shall hail it from the Branches.
Herm.
Since on these Plains no syllable is secret,
Hereafter my close Thoughts shall be confin’d,
And in this Breast lock’d up from all Men’s Knowledge.
Clim.
Silence can ne’er last long, nor yet conceal it,
A thousand ways ’twill speak without a Voice,
And, whilst it struggles to obtain that Freedom,
Betraying Sighs will ’scape, and more declare it;
’Twill speak in list’ning to the Lover’s Tale,
And say, ’tis Sympathy that makes it pleasant.
Herm.
describe it:
For all he speaks I feel, and he must find.
Aside. Z4 Oh! Z4v 344Oh! yet, let me reflect upon my Birth,
And quit, in time, the Ground I can’t maintain!
Clim.
For if I speak, whilst on your Eyes I gaze,
It must be all of Love, and that offends you;
Yet since, perhaps, I ne’er may meet you more,
I wou’d have told the Story of my Heart,
And e’er it breaks, have mov’d you to compassion.
Herm.
Crowns afford me,
Amidst the noisie Pomp, that waits their Lustre?
Still shou’d I vainly listen for the Sound
Aside.Of such soft Words which charm my Sorrows from
me.
Oh! that our Births were equal, as our Thoughts!
Yet I will pity him, and Fate be guilty.
Clim.
your steps,
And turns again those gentle Lights upon me!
If Pity ’twas; Oh! yet indulge that warmth,
And Love ’twill soon produce, to meet my Wishes.
She looks kindly on him.’Tis done, ’tis done! be witness ye still Skies,
That all her Looks are calm, and smooth as yours,
And not one Frown forbids my forward Hopes:
Let this fair Hand be added to confirm them,
And ease the mighty longings of my Passion.
Herm.
Favours.
Now, Shepherd rise, and hear what I’ve to say;
And if a Sigh mix with the fatal Sentence,
Believe, ’tis from the Grief, with which I give it.
You must not love me――
She sighs.Clim.
speak it!
Shou’d Pan pronounce it, in a Voice so loud
’Twou’d rive the knotty Oaks, that shade his
Altars,
I wou’d to Syrinxes oppose your Beauties,
And ask the Gods, whose Loves had best Foundation?
Herm.
disproportion’d,
Wou’d say, they ne’er design’d our Hands shou’d
join.
But see! the Swains are gath’ring tow’rds this
Place:
Yet, Shepherd, know, that if a Prince wou’d Love,
’Tis in your Form he must successful prove.
Clim.
it,
Behold――
Herm.
I’ve shown you.
Clim.
Th’ Ambition of her Mind charms like her Person,
Aside. Nor Z5v 346Nor can the Blood, that bleeds such Thoughts be
abject .
But welcome good Arcasius with that Bait,
Which shall be soon dispers’d among the Soldiers:
And if it win them to my great Design,
’Tis worth the Kingdoms which its Price might
ransom.
Lamia.
Whilst from this neighb’ring Grove are heard the
Notes
Of that sweet Bird, that warbles to the Night,
Now telling us her Shadows are approaching:
And yet the tardy Shepherds are not come.
Theata.
not thus:
But who can haste to break his chearful Pipe,
Tear the sweet Garland, made by her he sighs for,
And sing of Death, when Love is all his Passion?
Lamia.
we part,
Or fall into our melancholy Strains,
Lend to that Eccho, greedy of thy Voice,
Some moving Words, upon so soft a subject.
Theata.
prefer
To all things else the Joys of these sweet Plains;
Since, now perhaps, we must too soon forsake them.
Lamia.
it,
Lest the sad Ceremony break our purpose.
Theata,[Speaker label not present in original source]
TheSong.
(1.)
She Sings.In soft Pleasure still leads,
Tunes his Voice to his Reed,
And makes Love in the Shades.
To be Great, to be Wise,
To be Rich, to be Proud,
To be loaded with Bus’ness
Or lost in a Croud,
He ne’er seeks, or desires:
Let but Silvia be won,
He is Great, he is Rich,
And his Bus’ness is done.
(2.)
Whilst their Nymphs are as happy,
As Happy as Fair;
For who has most Beauty,
Has of Lovers most share.
Some will stay, some will fly,
Some be false, some be true:
For the Lost we ne’er grieve,
But still cherish the New.
Shouts.’Tis vain of their Frailties,
Or Falshoods to mind ’em:
Mankind we must take,
We must take, as we find ’em.
Thealta.
Lamia.
still repeated.
Lamia.
Shouts proceed?
Herm.
tell us.
Climn.
Bounds,
Flow like our Joy, and chear the Meads about thee.
Pan, take in thankful Sacrifice; our Flocks,
And ev’ry rural Swain proclaim his Praises!
Lamia.
gen’ral welcome:
But yet, the Cause we wish to hear explain’d.
Good Clinias, tell the Cause――
Clin.
amongst ’em,
The Plain’s Protector, and the Army’s Genius,
The Virgin’s Refuge, when the Town’s in Flames,
And Shield to those whom Fortune makes his
Vassals.
Herm.
No other e’er cou’d fill a Praise like this.
Clin.
Succour.
Herm.
meet him?
Clin.
And rushes on, when once ’t has forc’d a Passage.
2d Shep.
that they toss ’em:
And not a dusty Soldier in the Host,
That has not hugg’d him to his swarthy Bosom.
Clin.
And their hoarse Joy sounds like their distant
Drums:
His Hands, as if the Cretan Thongs still held
them,
Are useless made, and fetter’d now with Kisses;
Whilst neighing Steeds think that the War surrounds
them,
And prance in Air light as their Master’s Minds.
2d Shep.
That their loud Questions drive his Answers back,
And will not let them reach the nearest to him.
Herm.
We now must change our Habits, and return.
Aside to Bar.What did I say, return! O yes! I must,
And never hope to see Climander more:
To herself.Yet will I give my Heart this last Relief
(Since Fate will have it bear th’unequal Passion)
To let him know my Love, and endless Flight,
And live on the dear Thought that he laments it.
Lam.
Clin.
And ’twas the only one that cou’d be heard:
But Z7v 350But no reply was made; I think he is not.
Theata.
For he so heavily will take that Loss,
Our Joys will not be long, nor he amongst us.
Lamia.
2d. Shep.
That with large Sums new fir’d the trembling
Host,
And from the Camp had led on some Design
A Party, that for Wealth wou’d risque their Lives,
Tho’ cold and dull to Thoughts of gen’rous Duty.
Clin.
And some I heard that call’d him Demagetus.
Thick flew his Gold, as swarms of Summer-Bees,
And ’twas to succour or revenge the Gen’ral.
He ask’d their Aid――
But whither he has led them, none can tell.
Ere Aristomenes return’d, he went
And is not heard of since.
2nd Shep.
for us:
Now therefore Clinias, you that guide our Sports,
Tell us what we’re to do to shew our Joy.
Clin.
To rise with new appearing Day;
And ere the Sun has kiss’d ’em dry,
With various Rubans Nosegays tye.
Deckt with Flow’rs, and cloath’d in Green,
Ev’ry Shepherdess be seen:
Ev’ry Swain with Heart and Voice
Meet him, meet him, and rejoice:
With Z8r 351With redoubl’d Pæans sing him,
To the Plains, in Triumph bring him:
And let Pan and Mars agree,
That none’s so kind and brave as He.
Act IV. Scene I.
The General’s Pavilion. Enter Drest in the Habit of an Officer Demagetuswith Arcasius.
Dema.
found.
How cou’d’st thou bring this cruel Story to me,
Ere thou had’st search’d Messenia’s utmost Bound,
And travell’d o’er the spacious World of Shepherds?
She must be yet amongst their Shades conceal’d;
And thro’ them will I pierce, like prying Phœbus,
To find my Love, or lose myself for ever.
Acra.
sways)
The Reasons, why I chose to see you first,
Ere I proceeded to pursue her Paths.
Dema.
froze thee,
And turn’d swift eager Love to Icy Reasons.
I must be Cold as thou art, if I hear thee,
Or lose one moment more in doating Questions.
Arca.
you.
Dema.
Oh! thou hast found a way indeed to stay me.
Arca.
And ’twas my Hopes from thence of some Discovery,
That kept me here ’till you had broke and read it.
Dema.
“This to Climander from the Nymph that leaves him
To everlasting Grief”, shou’d have been added:
For so ’twill prove, if no more Comfort’s here.
He reads it.To love, yet from the Object fly,
Harder is, than ’tis to Dye:
Yet, for ever I remove,
Yet, for ever will I love.
Shepherd, seek no more to find;
Fate, not I, has been Unkind.
We pluck on Fate, by striving to avoid it.
To shun the low Addresses of a Swain,
For ever has she left a Prince despairing.
Why didst thou not, as I at parting bid thee,
Find out, and let her know my fair Intentions,
And that my Birth was Noble as her Wishes?
Arca.
so:
But full of Transports when I heard your Story,
Thinking the Fates wou’d now fulfill their Promise
Thro’ her the Daughter to the best of Men,
Fled Aa1r 353Fled to discover what you gave in Charge,
Travers’d the Plains in a long fruitless Search,
But cou’d not find that Beauty born to Bless us.
Dema.
rais’d Hamlet.
Arca.
For ere I reach’d it, the fair Guest was vanish’d;
Upon the Floor lay her neglected Hook,
And o’er the Door hung Boughs of fading Willow,
To shew, as Shepherds use, the Place forsaken.
That Paper there I found, and near it lay
This precious Gemm, that bears a well-cut Signet,
Shews him a Ring.By chance sure dropt, yet may assist your Purpose.
Dema.
For without End is that, as is this Circle.
Oh! that my way to Bliss shou’d seem so plain,
Yet in a moment thus be lost and wilder’d!
Now in the midst of Crouds and loud Applauses,
That greet me for restoring them Aristor,
Must wretched Demagetus sigh for Love,
And hang his drooping Head, tho’ wreath’d with
Laurels.
But hark! the Gen’ral comes――
To him the Oracle I have reveal’d,
And all the Story of my rural Life.
I’ll tell him too the Cause of my new Grief,
Which to relieve, I instantly must leave him.
other Attendants.
Aristom.
Sight,
From these fond Arms, that ever thus wou’d
hold thee!
Thou kind Restorer of my lov’d Aristor.
Come to the Camp, and hear them shout thy
Name,
Whilst I declare thee equal in Command
With him, who owes his Life to thy young Valour.
Dema.
Aristom.
attends him!
I know you Love, by your own kind Confession:
But that too must succeed, since now your Birth
Is known to answer all the great Desires,
Which, to my Wonder, did possess the Breast
Of that fair rural Maid, whose Beauty charm’d
you.
We’ll send, and with the Pomp that suits a
Princess,
(Since such your gen’rous Passion means to make
her)
Have her conducted to a rich Pavilion,
And join your Hands, as Heav’n has join’d your
Hearts.
This, my Aristor, be your pleasing Task.
Attend.
your Pleasure.
Aristom.
I sent for her, to see the generous Stranger.
Aristor.
in charge. To Aristomenes.
Tell me, my best of Friends, the way to serve you.
Dema.
Torture.
Hear me, my Lord, nor think my Sorrows light:
To Aristomenes.For Love, the only Comfort of fond Youth,
Is lost for ever to the poor Climander.
Herm.
That Name and Voice bears down my fainting
Spirits.
I shall be known, yet have not Strength to fly:
Where will this end, and where’s Herminia’s
Honour!
Aristom.
Proceed, and if there’s help on Earth, we’ll find it.
Dema.
With hasty Steps, and in my Heart soft Wishes,
Love, and a thousand flatt’ring Expectations,
I fled the clam’rous Praise prepar’d to meet me,
And sought the Path that led to my Desires:
Aa2 But Aa2v 356But ere I was advanc’d beyond the Camp,
The Voice of this Old Man
Cross’d my sad way, and cry’d, She’s gone for
ever.
Aristom.
If other Proofs are wanting to confirm it.
Dema.
She own’d her Love, and with this Signet bound it,
And in the Folds of this dear Paper left
At once the Tokens of my Joy and Ruin.
Herm.
And now Necessity must make me Bold.
Aside.Oh! yet, ere you proceed to view that Paper,
She throws her self at Aristomenes Feet.(Wrapt in Confusion) hear your Daughter speak,
As he is opening the Letter.And pity in her Fate all Women’s Frailty.
Aristom.
but go on,
And, ’till she has finish’d, let no Word be utter’d.
Dema.
Nor cou’d I, but to hear her speak, be Silent.
Aside.Aristom.
stay thy Speech.
Herm.
you gave me,
And cast my doating Love upon that Shepherd,
(For such he is, altho’ a Plume adorns him)
My Aa3r 357My wretched Hand, and now my Tongue confesses:
For by that Paper, indiscreetly penn’d,
The Secret wou’d be told, shou’d I conceal it.
But Oh! my Lord, since you can ne’er forgive me;
A sad Recluse for ever let me live,
Or Dye for Love, to do my Birth more Justice.
Aristom.
How first you came acquainted with this Shepherd.
Herm.
Disguis’d, I in your absence sought the Plains,
And in that Habit heard the pow’rful Sighs
Of one that knew not then his own Presumption.
Aristom.
urge his Suit
Wou’d’st thou receive’t, and bless the Pow’rs that
sent him?
Herm.
to own them.
Yes, I cou’d bless those Pow’rs which now undo me.
Demag.
my Pardon,
When, Sir, I disobey your order’d Silence,
And haste to tell her ’tis a Prince adores her,
That wou’d have sought her on the lowly Plains,
And for her Favour quitted all Dominion.
Aristom.
Prince of Rhodes! Giving her to him.
And know, Herminia, to encrease thy Passion,
Thou hold’st that noble Hand, that sav’d thy
Brother,
And gives thy Father, in this new Alliance,
More Joy, than when he first receiv’d and bless’d
thee.
Dema.
mine,
Whilst in deep, silent Raptures I possess them:
Taking her from Aristomenes.For Demagetus is above Discourse,
And will not wrong his Love with faint Expressions.
Herm.
I smiling give my Hand now to a Shepherd,
Yet fear not to offend my Mother’s Ghost.
Bar.
serve you.
Arca.
now;
And old Arcasius has outliv’d his Cares.
Aristor.
To Demagetus.
Tho’ all the Love, it shews, you had before.
Aristom.
I’ll soon be there, and see those Rites perform’d,
That shall confirm her Yours; be Kind and Happy.
Exeunt Herminia and Demagetus leading her follow’dby Arcasius, Barina and others. Aristor
is going too but is call’d back by his Father.
Come back Aristor, and the rest withdraw:
For something I wou’d say to you in private.
The Attendants go off.Free from the Croud, and unobserv’d my Transports,
I wou’d embrace, and welcome thee to Life,
And Aa4r 359And with a loud repeated Blessing pay
The pious Care, that brought it to such Dangers.
Oh! that the Love of Women shou’d be thought
To pass the Fondness which a Father feels,
When thus he grasps a Son of thy Perfections,
Embracing him.My Dear, my Lov’d Aristor!
Aristor.
of Fathers!
Aristom.
at my Breast
Seems as ’twou’d close in conference with mine.
Aristor.
its Passage.
Aristom.
plain,
And tell thee, thou dost lock some Secret there
Which all my depth of Kindness ne’er cou’d fathom:
I see it in the Cloud, that shades thy Brow.
And still thy pensive Eyes are downwards cast,
As thou wou’d’st seek the Grave, or something
lower:
Long have I this observ’d――
And thought whole Nights away, to find the
Cause,
Which now, my Son, I urge thee to reveal:
And think that He who best can love thee asks it.
Aristor.
not ask it!
I cannot speak, for speaking must offend:
Yet shou’d my Silence grieve such mighty Goodness,
Aa4 ’Twou’d Aa4v 360’Twou’d break that Heart, which thus you seek
to succour.
Upon my Knees a strange Request I make,
Offering to Kneel but his Father takes him up.That you wou’d quite forget, and think me Dead;
Which the approaching Battle shou’d confirm,
And leave you to possess your other Comforts.
Aristom.
Thee:
And when I wou’d have shar’d amongst my Race
Impartial Kindness, as their Birthrights claim’d,
Still to my Heart Aristor wou’d be nearest,
Still, with a Merit not to be withstood,
Wou’d press beyond my cool and equal Purpose,
And seize a double Portion of my Love:
And wilt thou lose it now, to keep thy Silence?
Aristor.
Lord! [Sighs.
Aristom.
And then, let Words relieve this mighty Passion:
They will, they will; the Sweetness of thy Temper
Will melt before a just and warm Persuasion.
Now, let me know it――
Aristor.
told:
But Oh! my Lord, ’tis what you must not know.
Aristom.
As is thy faded Cheek now to thy Father,
It were most fit――
Oh! think, my Son, who ’twas that made it Noble,
And train’d it in the Paths of Truth and Honour:
Else, what had hinder’d, but thou might’st have been
(In Aa5r 361(In spite of all the Virtues with thee born,
For Education is the stronger Nature)
A bragging Coward, or a base Detractor,
A Slave to Wealth, or false to Faith or Friendship,
Lull’d in the common Arms of some Seducer,
And lost to all the Joys of Virtuous Love.
Aristor.
Aristom.
meant thou shou’d’st.
When hastily I press’d that Word upon thee,
To catch that flushing Witness in thy Face,
Was all this Bait contriv’d; no more, my Son,
No more dissembling of a Truth so plain:
I see ’tis Love, the best of all our Passions,
And fram’d like Thee; sure none cou’d e’er
Despair,
Nor can I fear thou’d’st make a vulgar Choice.
Aristor.
When of three Goddesses he chose the Fairest.
Aristom.
Aristor.
And answers it with Vows, more strong than Ours.
Aristom.
fear?
Aristor.
Aristor
Than is the frown of Jove, that shakes the Poles,
And makes the Gods forget they are Immortal.
Aristom.
mistaken Terror.
By all those Powers I swear, I will not cross thee;
Be she a Spartan Dame, ’bate me but One,
And Aa5v 362And tho’ a Foe, I yield thou shou’d’st possess her.
Aristor.
forbids it.
Who is that One, so fatally excepted?
Aristom.
Trouble.
It is the Tyrant Anaxander’s Daughter,
Whom, tho’ I ne’er beheld, I must abhor,
As borrowing her Blood from such a Fountain.
Aristor.
out that Stain Offers his Breast.
You’ll think it has contracted by her Love:
For ’tis that Tyrant’s Daughter I adore,
And ne’er, while Life is here, will change my
Purpose.
Aristom.
that caus’d ’em!
Not Groans of Earthquakes, or the Burst of
Thunder,
The Voice of Storms urging the dang’rous Billows,
E’er struck the Sense with sounds of so much Horror.
It must not, Oh! it must not, shall not be:
Sooner this Dagger, tho’ my Soul lives in thee,
Drawing Amalintha’s Dagger.Shou’d let out thine with this prepost’rous Passion,
Than I wou’d yield, it e’er shou’d meet Success.
Aristor.
That Poinard best is fitted to my Heart,
Since Her’s it was, whose Eyes have deeper pierc’d it:
Quickly, my Lord, let me receive it here,
And Aa6r 363And see me proud in Death to wear that Favour.
speaks to himself.
Aristom.
Daughter’s!
Fate then is practising upon my Soul
What sudden Turns, and Tryals man can bear.
Aristor.
Lest fainting with the Weight of what I feel,
I poorly fall, unlike your Son or Soldier.
Aristom.
grateful Vows,
With which I rashly charg’d the Life she gave me.
Still to himself.Aristor.
Word!
Then my own Hand thus sets me free for ever.
Aristom.
hold!
Aristor.
command a Moment
But let it not exceed, lest both I cancel,
And only listen to my wild Despair.
Aristom.
plead?
And to a Woman’s Claim resign my Vengeance?
No; let my Ear still fly the fatal Suit,
And from her Tears be turn’d my harden’d Face.
What did I say! a hasty Blush has seiz’d it,
For but imagining a Thing so vile.
Turn Aa6v 364Turn back my Face from Her that shunn’d not
mine,
When it was Death to know, and to preserve me!
No; let the Fiends be obstinate in Ill,
Revenge be their’s, while Godlike Man is grateful.
Attend.
Intrusion.
Two Ladies veil’d, escaping from Phærea,
Ask with such earnestness for Prince Aristor,
That, sure, their Bus’ness is of mighty Moment.
From one this Ring at her entreaty, Sir, I must
deliver.
Aristom.
more.
Aristor.
She’s come in time, to see me fall her Victim.
Aristom.
my Son;
Since ’twas from her’s, I took this healing Weapon,
That has cut off the Hate in which I held her.
’Twas she that met me rising from my Grave,
And fearless freed the Foe to her and Sparta:
Then in a grateful Promise was I bound
Not to deny whate’er she shou’d request;
And sure thy Love, before the Pomp of Crowns,
Is what a Maid must ask, that knows its Value.
Aristor.
Then let me Dye, for having griev’d such Goodness.
Aristom.
thy Love,
And to this Tent conduct the Royal Maid,
Whilst in that inner Part I stand conceal’d,
And hear her tell, why thus she comes to seek us:
Thence will I issue, as occasion calls,
And giving thee, give all I hold most precious.
the other Door and re-enters immediately leading
Amalintha veil’d follow’d by Phila.
Aristor.
Fears,
Safe in this Camp, and in Aristor’s Love,
Which ne’er was truly bless’d, ’till this glad Moment.
Now Amalintha, let my Joys o’erflow;
And ere I ask what brought thee to my sight,
Let it be fill’d with thy amazing Beauties,
And with this Hand my longing Lips be clos’d.
Amal.
meet,
Thus pleas’d, thus wrapt in Love, thus dying
fond.
But oh Aristor! since I last beheld you,
So has this Life been threaten’d by the Fates,
That to your Arms ’tis forc’d for Peace and Safety.
Aristor.
Love,
Too strong for all the Shocks of rig’rous Fortune.
But what beneath thy Father’s Roof cou’d fright
thee?
Or what bold Danger break thro’ his Protection?
Amal.
of Sparta.
When Aristomenes they found escap’d,
High was their Rage as Billows in a Tempest;
And all the Arts of State were put in use
To find who had assisted in his Flight:
But still in vain, ’till subtle, vile Clarinthus――
Aristor.
Mischief.
But cou’d he pry into thy generous Heart,
And find it there, that you had nobly done it?
And are not secret Thoughts secure against him?
Amal.
For ’twas his Counsel, when all others fail’d,
To know by speaking Gods the deep Contrivance;
And from the Oracle, in some few Moments,
The full Discov’ry will have reach’d Phærea,
Which ere it does, I was advis’d to leave,
By one that heard the horrid Voice accuse me,
And with a Speed unmark’d outflew the rest.
Aristor.
reward him.
Amal.
But not to save my Life, or ’scape their Fury:
For shou’d your Heart, which boldly I will claim,
Be yet deny’d me by your injur’d Father,
Not all his Army shou’d retard my Steps
From leading to the Town, and certain Ruin:
For they have sworn it (with this Imprecation,
That ’till ’tis done, no Victory may bless them)
To sacrifice the Soul that sav’d the Gen’ral.
Aristom.
in Flames
Consume the utmost Town of Lacedemon.
Take your Security, and softest Wishes,
Your dear Aristor take, and if ought more
The fair Preserver of his Father claims,
Be it but nam’d, and at that instant granted.
Amal.
No longing Thought, no Hope for Amalintha:
For still his Love prescrib’d their tender Limits.
Aristor.
Passion,
If in the awful Presence of a Father
I run upon my Joys, and grasp ’em thus.
Embraces her.Aristom.
For Privacy is only fit for Lovers.
Aristor.
mistake it.
Aristom.
Trumpet calls,
Which must be soon, remember thou’rt a Soldier,
And that the Battle, we shall lead to morrow,
Will ask for our best of Care and Preparation.
Aristor.
But give me leave here to attend that Summons.
Exit Aristomenes.For Oh! my Amalintha, since thou’rt mine,
Since I can tell my Heart that darling Truth;
The Moments that must take me from thy sight,
Will pass for lost, and useless to Aristor.
And Aa8v 368And this War done, which now we soon shall finish
(For You not there, what God will fight for
Sparta?)
I’ll swear the Sun and radiant Light shall part,
Ere I will once be found from this lov’d Presence.
Amal.
And let the pattern of a Love so perfect
Reform Mankind, and bless believing Women.
But can I think it is Aristor speaks?
That I behold, and hear you safe from Danger,
Whom late I saw assaulted so with Death,
When from the Guard a Weapon you had snatch’d,
And but that brave Swords length cou’d keep him
from you?
Hope and fond Expectation all had left me:
Arm’d with this Dagger full I stood in vain,
And from my Window watch’d the fatal Stroke,
Which soon was to be copy’d on my Heart;
Then, had I meant to own your noble Love,
And told mine Dying, whilst the Croud had
trembl’d.
Aristor.
me:
For ’twas to stop your Arm, that mine perform’d
What else had been above the Force of Nature;
And when the Drums of Demagetus thunder’d,
As thro’ the shiver’d Gates he rush’d to save me,
You may remember, that I wou’d not meet him,
Till I had told my Love what meant the Tumult,
Which since has given me Fears, cold as pale Death,
Lest some Observer might have charg’d it on you.
Amal.
engag’d them.
But Oh! already hark! the Trumpet calls,
And jealous Fame no longer lets me keep you.
Must you be gone, must you obey this Summons?
Aristor.
Honour.
Yet, do not weep――
Be this Embrace the Earnest of a Thousand.
Now let me lead you to Herminia’s Tent:
Then think, I go more to secure your Charms,
And fight to rest with Peace in these fair Arms.
Act V. Scene I.
The Scene is the Camp. A Noise ofDrums and Trumpets. Enter Aristomenes,
Aristor, Demagetus, Alcander, several
Officers and Soldiers. Enter an Officer from the other Door, and speaks
to the General.
Offiocer.
to say,
The Battle he has marshall’d as you order’d;
And that your Presence now is only wanted.
Aristom.
beat higher. Bb Now, Bb1v 370
Now, my brave Followers, be your selves to Day,
And more I need not ask, that know your Valour;
Who’ve seen you at the backs of Spartans ride,
Till their long Flight, and not your Conquest, tir’d
you.
And Oh! my Sons, since they who bravely seek it,
May meet with Death, when all his Darts are
flying,
Let me Embrace, and breathe my Blessings on ye.
Embraces Demagetus.Yet, Demagetus, if I ’scape him now,
And Victory attends my great Endeavour,
Thou shalt Thriumphant lead me into Rhodes,
Where we’ll obey the Gods, and save thy Country.
Dem.
declar’d you.
Aristom.
best Treasure! He Embraces Aristor, but seems disorder’d, and
not to feel him in his Arms, which he often clasps
about him.
Thou dost not fill my Arms, ’tis Air I grasp:
Nor do my Eyes behold thee――
Where is my Son, ha! where is my Aristor?
Aristor.
your Bosom.
different from what it was usually.
Aristom.
thy Voice? It Bb2r 371
It sounds so hollow, scarce my Ear receives it.
Aristor.
Aristom.
fail’d me.
They talk of Omens, ha! I must not think on’t;
Such chilling Damps wou’d blast a Day of Battle:
Aside.Yet let my evil Genius but be true,
And a fam’d End is all it can portend me.
Aristor.
from others.
May we not know what thus disturbs your
Thoughts?
Aristom.
’tis gone:
And now the Field, the dusty Field, my Sons,
Must be the Scene, where we shall nobly act
What our great Spirits, and our Country urges.
The Trumpet calls, with the impatient Drum;
And He that loves his Honour, let him come.
rest with their Swords drawn, Drums and Shouts
of Battle immediately succeed.
fine Tent. Enter Amalintha follow’d by Phila.
Amal.
cease!
Is there no happy Land,
Where only Love, and its kind Laws prevail?
Bb2 Where Bb2v 372Where the false Trumpet flatters not to Death,
Nor the more noisy Drum outcries the Dying?
Oh! Phila, why shou’d Men with Hearts unmov’d
Seek the bold War, and leave ours trembling for
them?
Now whilst I speak, a chilling Fear surrounds
me;
And ev’ry Tread I hear, is hast’ning on,
Methinks, to tell me, all my Hopes are perish’d.
Phila.
pass’d already,
Unhurt by Fortune, thro’ more threat’ning Dangers,
Now faint, when Reason bids you think the best?
The Sound goes from us, and the lucky War
(Since you’ve the Promise of your Father’s Life)
Proceeds, as we cou’d wish, for the Messenians.
Amal.
Spirits
Sink to my Heart, and bid it think of Ruin.
Last Night my Dreams shew’d me Aristor bleeding;
And o’er my Head a screaming Voice proclaim’d
That Amalintha’s hasty Fate had kill’d him:
I clos’d my Eyes to catch another Vision,
That might interpret, or prevent the first;
But all in vain, no Help or Comfort found me,
And wrapt in Fears, I wak’d and still continue
For what’s foretold so fatal to my Love.
Phila.
him.
But here come Tydings, and the Bearer smiles;
Good let them be, and these vain Fears will vanish.
Amal.
send you?
Officer.
And bids me say, what I my self can witness,
That Lacedemon’s Battle breaks to pieces,
And soon will give him leave to find you here.
Amal.
News; Gives him a Jewel.
And may your Honours still outshine its Lustre.
Stay here, whilst I report this to Herminia,
If Demagetus too be yet in safety.
Officer.
Amal.
heavy,
And wou’d be forcing Tears to my sad Eyes:
But I’ll repel them with this welcome Message,
And put on all the smiles of Love to meet him.
Officer.
In hopes to share the Plunder of the Foe,
Finding by their retiring we prevail:
But I’ll report it loudly to the General.
Oh! here are some returning; are they Messenians?
They wear the Habit, yet no Face I know;
Their Haste and Looks do seem to point at Mischief:
I will conceal my self, and watch their Purpose.
Messenian Soldiers.
Clar.
of Sparta
Wish, that no Victory might bless our Arms,
Till we had sacrific’d the Traytor’s Life,
That freed this Lyon, which devours us all.
Sold.
Clar.
Action.
Sold.
shou’d stand:
And she had Dy’d, I think, had she not fled
for’t.
Clar.
our Curse,
And saw that Conquest wou’d no more attend us
Till we perform’d what to the Gods we swore,
I mov’d the King――
To let me with your Aid attempt the Camp,
Which if I found unguarded,
I wou’d to Sparta soon convey the Traytress,
Where she shou’d meet the Rigour of the Law.
These are the Royal Tents, where she must be;
Therefore no more remains, but to secure her.
conceal’d Officer comes out.
Officer.
With but my single Arm against their Numbers!
But to the Battle, and Aristor’s Ear I’ll fly for
Help;
That may o’ertake, and cross the bloody Purpose.
Clarintha, &c. leading in Amalintha and Phila.
Amal.
Restrain those Hands, that gave your Gen’ral to
you.
Let me but hear you speak, and name the Cause;
Which, if a just one, I’ll submit to Fortune.
Clar.
Amal.
The cruel Sentence of an angry Father.
Turn not away that Face, but hear your Princess;
I can’t resist, no Force, no Help is near me:
Therefore command, that but my Arms be freed,
And let me not be dragg’d, where I must follow.
Clar.
Forbear to cry for Help, as we conduct you?
Amal.
Clar.
Arms.
Give me your Hand, and now perform your
Promise,
To follow where I’ll lead you――
she snatches Phila’s Dagger, and then answers
Clarinthus.
Amal.
My Voice, and not my Feet, my Word engag’d;
Bb4 And Bb4v 376And whilst my Hand holds this, I will not follow.
Clar.
her.
Amal.
My Father’s Life already I’ve secur’d;
And if you yet will quit this dang’rous Purpose,
Yours with Rewards, as great as your Desires,
Shall too be given you, and all Wrongs lie bury’d.
Clar.
Therefore alive or dead will bear you from ’em.
off with her Dagger kneels.
Amal.
Fortunes;
A Princess at your Feet behold in Tears,
And spare my Blood, the Royal Blood of Sparta.
Clar.
Trayt’ress?
For, such you’ve been to that high Blood you’ve
boasted.
I will not spare nor pity, but thus seize you.
and follow’d by Phila escapes into the Tent,
Clarinthus pursues her, and immediately the
Cries of Women are heard. Enter at the other Door Aristor and Soldiers.
Aristor.
Villains,
Your Deaths are all that you shall meet with here.
Clar.
borne off. Aside.
Now my next Task
Must be to rescue those, who shar’d the Danger.
He runs at Aristor who kills him, he speaks falling.Thou’st kill’d Clarinthus; And
The Fiends reward thee.
Aristor.
meet thy Spirit.
I askt but that, to crown the War we’ve ended.
Amal.
Couch,
The dying Bed of wretched Amalintha!
Nay, do not weep, since ’tis the Fate’s Decree,
Who let one luckless Moment interpose
Betwixt Aristor’s coming, and my Ruin.
Here, set me down; and let this last Embrace
Sits down.Reward the Cares and Fears, my Life has cost
thee.
Now leave me, Phila, to perform a Part,
Which must not be prevented by thy Tears.
Phila.
leave you!
Amal.
But be not far, and when thou seest me fall’n
Dead Bb5v 378Dead in Aristor’s Arms, who’ll soon return,
Come forth, and tell him ’twas my last Request
(By all our Love, by all our Sighs and Sorrows,
By our new Vows, and swiftly faded Joys)
That He wou’d yet survive his Amalintha;
Nor let the fatal Vision prove a Truth,
That ’twas my Fate, my hasty Fate that kill’d
him.
Phila.
Amal.
hear him coming.
Quickly retire, and let me hide this Stream,
Lest he shou’d swell it with a Flood of Tears,
And waste in Grief my small remaining Life,
Which I design to lavish out in Love.
Phila goes off. Amalintha pulls her Garmentover her Wound.
About him let my dying Arms be thrown,
Whilst I deny my parting Life one Groan.
My failing Breath shall in soft Sighs expire,
And tender Words spend my last vital Fire;
That of my Death Men this Account may give,
She ceas’d to Love, as others cease to Live.
Aristor.
your Fears,
When this most lucky Hand has made them
groundless,
Securing to my Life its greatest Blessing,
Your matchless Love, and all its dying Transports.
Amal.
Aristor?
I wou’d be glad to know, that Death has Transports.
But are there none, none that do Live and Love?
That early meet, and in the Spring of Youth,
Not cross’d, or troubl’d in the soft Design,
Set sweetly out, and travel on to Age
In mutual Joys, that with themselves expire?
Aristor.
Happy.
But since our Lot it is, t’encrease the number,
Let us not lose a Thought on other’s Fortunes,
But keep them still employ’d upon our own;
For in no Hearts, sure, Love e’er wrought more
Wonders.
Amal.
Thro’ the stern hazards of a Father’s Wrath,
And all the Hate of Sparta and Messenia.
If e’er I wept, ’twas Love that forc’d the Dew,
And not my Country, or my colder Friendships;
And on my Face (when Lacedemon mourn’d)
Suspected Smiles were seen to mock her Losses;
Because that Love was on the adverse Party.
Thus fond, thus doating have I pass’d my Hours,
And with their dear remembrance will I close
My Life’s last Scene, and grasp you thus in Dying.
Aristor.
Proceed thus to describe thy tender Soul,
And charm me with thy mighty Sense of Passion:
For Bb6v 380For know, ’twas that which fix’d me ever thine,
When with a Pleasure, not to be express’d,
I found no Language of my Love escap’d thee,
Tho’ wrapt in Myst’ry to delude the Croud;
When ev’ry longing Look cou’d raise a Blush,
And every Sigh I breath’d, heave this lov’d
Bosom,
Which held such soft Intelligence with mine,
And now o’erflows with a like Tide of Pleasure.
Amal.
And takes the Thoughts ev’n of Elysium from me.
Nor will I, as some peevish Beauty might,
Take light offence, that mine you did not mention;
Since ’tis my equalling Aristor’s Love
Is all the Charm, I wou’d be proud to boast of.
Aristor.
I saw you Fair, beyond the Fame of Helen;
But Beauty’s vain, and fond of new Applause,
Leaving the last Adorer in Despair
At his approach, who can but praise it better:
Whilst Love, Narcissus-like, courts his Reflection,
And seeks itself, gazing on other’s Eyes.
When this I found in yours, it bred that Passion,
Which Time, nor Age, nor Death, shall e’er diminish.
Amal.
Power.
But, after Death, Aristor, cou’d you love me,
Still call to me your Thoughts, when so far absent,
And Bb7r 381And mourn me sleeping in that Rival’s Arms?
Aristor.
Still shou’d I turn my Eyes to thy cold Grave,
Still love thee there, and wish to lie as low.
But why do’s ev’ry Period of thy Speech
Thus sadly close with that too mournful Subject?
Why, now I press this Question, dost thou weep,
Yet in my Bosom strive to hide thy Tears?
Paleness is on thy Cheek, and thy damp Brow
Strikes to my Heart such sympathizing Cold,
As quenches all its Fire, but that of Love.
Oh! speak my Life, my Soul, my Amalintha;
Speak, and prevent the boding Fears that tell me
Eternal Separation is at hand,
And after this, I ne’er shall clasp thee more.
Amal.
Aristor.
The tender circling of these Arms can wound,
’Tis sure some inward Anguish do’s oppress thee,
Which too unkindly thou wilt still keep secret.
Amal.
had seal’d it;
Had not that Groan, and my Weak Tears betray’d
me:
For Death, which from Clarinthus I receiv’d,
Is come to snatch my Soul from these Embraces.
Aristor.
it,
Till Art is weary’d for thy Preservation.
Haste to procure it Phila: all that hear me
Fly to her Aid; or you more speedy Gods
The Bb7v 382The Cure be yours, and Hecatombs attend you.
But none approach: then let me haste to bring it,
Tho’ thus to leave her is an equal Danger.
Amal.
One Moment lose the Sight that ever charm’d
them.
No Art can bring relief; and melting Life
But lingers till my Soul receives th’Impression
Of that lov’d Form, which ever shall be lasting,
Tho’ in new Worlds, new Objects wou’d efface it.
Aristor.
Together we’ll expire, and trace those Worlds,
As fond, and as united as before:
For know, my Love, the Sword of War has reach’d
me;
And none wou’d I permit to bind this Wound,
Till to thy gentle Hand I cou’d reveal it.
The Blood uncheck’d shall now profusely flow,
And Art be scorn’d, that cou’d but half restore me.
Amal.
Purpose,
Employ my Hand, yet warm, to close the Wound,
And with my suppling Tears disperse the Anguish.
Your Country asks your stay, and more your Father:
This Blood is his, ally’d to all his Virtues,
By him more priz’d, than what supports his Frame,
Nor shou’d be lavish’d thus without his Licence.
Oh! Aristomenes haste to preserve it,
Since Life from me departs, and Love is useless
Aristor――
Aristor.
my Name:
But soon my following Spirit shall o’ertake her.
My Godlike Father gave her to my Arms,
And then resign’d to her more powerful Claim
This purple Stream, which wafts me to possess her.
May every Power, that shields paternal Goodness,
Enfold his Person, and support his Sway:
His dear remembrance take these parting Tears,
He weeps.And then be free, my Soul, for ties more lasting,
Eternal Love, the faithful Lovers due,
In those blest Fields, which stand display’d before
me.
My Amalintha――
Phila.
If when I saw her fall my Strength had served me:
But all my Cares departed with her Life,
And mine I hope is now for ever going.
Alcander, and several Officers, their Swords
drawn as coming from Battle.
Demag.
fought:
Nor ever did a Victory more complete
Stoop Bb8v 384Stoop to the General’s Valour――
Some Troops are order’d to secure Phærea;
And with to-morrow’s Sun he enters there
To take the Homage of the conquer’d Spartans.
Alcand.
As generously, as he’d ne’er known the Dungeon.
Demag.
And now, with the high Marks of Conquest
crown’d,
Is coming to declare to Amalintha
That all her Wishes, and her Fears are ended.
Turning to go into the Tent, he sees the Bodies.They are indeed; for ever, ever ended.
Oh! turn and see where that pale Beauty lies,
And faithful, dead Aristor, bleeding by her!
Alcand.
now,
Our lofty Boasts, and brave expected Triumphs?
Lie there, my Sword, beneath my Leader’s Feet;
Lays his Sword at Aristor’s Feet.For under him I fought, and now weep for him.
Dema.
Shower.
A Soldier for a Soldier’s Fall may weep,
And shed these Drops without unmanly Weakness.
A Sound of Trumpets.But hark! the Gen’ral, how shall we receive him?
A while we’ll with our Bodies shade this Prospect,
And tell him by our Looks, some Grief attends him;
Lest all his Fortitude shou’d not support
A Cc1r 385A Change so sudden in his wretched Fortune.
Nor can we learn from whence this Loss proceeds.
Phila.
remains,
And will admit of the too dire Relation.
Demag.
it from her; They lead off Phila.
That when the Sorrow, which at first must bar
All cold Enquiries, shall awhile be past,
The Gen’ral may be told to what he owes it.
But see! he enters; be we Sad and Silent:
For Oh! too soon this fading Joy must vanish.
with Shouts of Joy. Enter several Officers and Soldiers, the Shepherds and
Shepherdesses strewing Flowers, follow’d by Aristomenes,
his Sword drawn in his Hand, and a
Wreath of Victory on his Head.
Aristom.
Fellow-Soldiers!
And you kind Shepherds, and your gentle
Nymphs,
Receive my Thanks for the Perfumes you scatter,
Which yet shall flourish under our Protection.
Shepherds, &c.
and happy!
Others.
Aristom.
The joyful Tydings of this Day’s Atchievements:
Therefore let her be told, we wish her Presence.
Seeing none move.Ha! what none stir! perhaps Aristor’s with her:
Why let him tell it; from a Lover’s mouth,
’Twill bear a Sound more welcome and harmonious.
And sure in Love and Battle none exceeds him,
The last you all can witness; you saw him Fight,
Saw the young Warrior with his Beaver up
Dart like the Bolt of Jove amongst their Ranks,
And scatter ’em like an Oak’s far-shooting
Splinters.
Will none confirm it? this is envious Silence.
Walks up and down.Thou Demagetus, ha! thou’rt all in Tears,
And so are these that make a Wall about thee:
The Cause deliver, Oh! declare it quickly.
Demag.
’twill find you.
Aristom.
Reveal it you, or you, since all partake it:
To Alcander, &c.What silent still!――
If yet ye do not speak, ye do not love me;
I find ye do not, since ye all are Speechless.
Aristor wou’d have spoke, had he been here.
Demag.
speak. You Cc2r 387
You have it now, my Lord, and must weep
with us.
Aristom.
seek the Centre: Looks down.
For round this Place I dare not let them stray,
Lest they explain, too soon, thy fatal meaning.
Oh! Anaxander, had such Trembling seiz’d me,
When at the Army’s Head I met thy Fury;
The poorest of thy Troops had cry’d me Coward.
Why so we’re all, there’s not a Man that is
not;
We all dread something, and can shrink with
Terror:
Yet he that comes a Conqu’ror from the Field,
Shall find a vain Applause to crown his Valour,
Tho’ fainting thus, and sweating cold with Fear.
Pauses and leans on an Officer.But didst thou say, Aristor cou’d not speak?
Oh! that I live to ask it! not answer to his Father!
Demag.
Aristom.
revolve,
Rough Winters pass, and Springs come smiling on;
But Thou dost talk of Never, Demagetus:
Yet ere Despair prevails, retract that Word
Whose cloudy distance bars the reach of Thought,
Nor lets one Ray of Hope e’er dawn beyond it.
Never, Oh never!
Demag.
falls.
Divide, and let him know the worst.
To the Officers.Aristom.
all Bounds,
All dallying Circumstance, and vain Delusion,
And will be told directly where to find him.
Demag.
awhile amaz’d and speechless, drops his Sword,
then speaks.
Aristom.
her Mate;
So gloomy, waste, so destitute of Comfort,
When all Mankind besides lay drown’d in Ruin.
Oh! thou wert well inform’d, my evil Genius;
And the complaining Rocks mourn’d not in vain:
For here my Blood, my dearest Blood I pay
For this poor Wreath, and Fame that withers
like it;
The Ground, that bore it, take the slighted Toy,
Whilst thus I throw me on his breathless Body,
And groan away my Life on these pale Lips.
Oh! O’, O’, O’,――
Thus did I clasp him, ere the Battle join’d,
When Fate, which then had Doom’d him, mock’d
my Arms,
Nor in their folds wou’d let me feel my Son.
Oh! that his Voice (tho’ low as then it seem’d)
Cou’d reach me now!――But the fond Wish is
vain,
And all but this too weak to ease my Pain.
goes to fall upon it, Demagetus takes hold of it. Demag. Cc3r 389
Demag.
your Army.
Alcand.
my Lord,
The Spartans may come back, and take our
Bodies;
For when yours goes, our Spirits shall attend it.
Aristom.
thus unbowell’d,
Without the Charms of my Aristor’s presence,
Without his Arm to second me in Fight,
And in still Peace his Voice to make it perfect?
He rises in a Passion and comes forwardon the Stage.
Yes, I will live, ye Sov’reign Pow’rs, I will:
You’ve put my Virtue to its utmost Proof;
Yet thus chastis’d, I own superiour Natures,
And all your fixt Decrees this Sword shall further,
’Till Rhodes is rescu’d, and my Task completed.
Who knows, but that the Way to your Elysium
Is Fortitude in Ills, and brave Submission;
Since Heroes whom your Oracles distinguish,
Are often here amidst their Greatness wretched?
But yet my Heart! my lov’d, my lost Aristor!
Demag.
And join with all the Earth to bring you Comfort.
Aristom.
be found.
My Demagetus, thou hast far to travel;
The Cc3v 390The Bloom of Youth sits graceful on thy Brow,
And bids thee look for Days of mighty Pleasures,
For prosp’rous Wars, and the soft Smiles of Beauty,
For generous Sons, that my reflect thy Form,
And give thee Hopes, as I had, of their succour.
Demag.
still been flatter’d.
Aristom.
aside,
And bid thee here, here in this Face behold
How biting Cares have done the work of Age,
And in my best of Strength mark’d me a Dotard.
Defeated Armies, slaughter’d Friends are here;
Disgraceful Bonds, and Cities laid in Ashes:
And if thou find’st, that Life will yet endure it,
Since what I here have lost――
So bow’d, so waining shalt thou see this Carcass,
That scarce thou wilt recall what once it was.
Then be instructed Thou, and All that hear me,
Not to expect the compass of soft Wishes,
Or constant Joys, which fly the fond Possessor.
Since Man, by swift returns of Good and Ill,
In all the Course of Life’s uncertain still;
By Fortune favour’d now, and now opprest,
And not, ’till Death, secure of Fame, or Rest.
Finis.