In ev'ry modeft check!-where's fhame? where's pride?
Sophernes has fubdu'd them. Women, I own,
Are vers'd in little frauds, and fly diffemblings:
But can we rule the motions of the blood?

Thefe eyes, this pulfe-these tremblings-this confufion,

Make truth confpicuous, and disclose the foul.
Think not I fly with man for his protection;
For only you I could renounce a kingdom,
For you, ev'n in the wild and barren desart,
Forget I was a queen! ev'n then more happy
Than feated on a throne. Say, wilt thou chufe
Or liberty, and life, and poor Aftarbe;
Or dungeons, chains, and ignominious death!
Soph. O how I ftruggle in the fnares of beauty!
Thofe eyes could warm pale elders to defire;
I feel them at my heart; the fever rages,
And if I gaze again- -how fhall I anfwer!

Aft. How is my pride brought low! how vilely treated !

The worst of scorn is cold deliberation.

Soph. Cylene may be found. What take me from her? How can I go and leave my hopes for ever? Can I renounce my love, my faith, my all? Who can refift thofe eyes ? go- I'm loft? Cylene holds me back, and curbs defire.

[Afide

Aft. Refolve and answer me. For foon as night Favours our flight I'll gather up my treasures: Prepare thee then, left death fhould intercept thee, And murder all my quiet.

Soph. If in her fight

I've favour found, the queen will hear me speak.
How can my heart refufe her? how obey her?
Can I deny fuch generous clemency?
Join'd with all beauties ever found in woman ♪
Yet think on my unhappy circumftance.
I've giv'n my word, the ftricteft tye of honour,,
Never to pafs beyond my bounds prefcrib'd;
And fhall I break my faith? Who holds fociety
With one who's branded with that infamy?
Did not Phraortes, in the heat of battle,
Stay the keen fword that o'er me menac'd death?
Do not I fhare his palace, and his friendship?

Does he not strive, by daily curtefies,
To banish all the bitter cares of bondage?
And shall I feize and tear his tend'reft heart-string?
Shall I confpire to rob him of all peace?
For on the queen hangs ev'ry earthly joy,
His ev'ry pleasure is compriz'd in you!
What virtue can refift such strong temptation?
O raise not thus a tempeft in my bofom!
What shall I do?-my foul abhors ingratitude.
Should I confent, you must deteft and loath me,
And I should well deserve thofe chains, and death.
Aft. Is this thy best return for proffer'd love?
Such coldness, fuch indifference, fuch contempt!
Rife, all ye Furies, from th' infernal regions,
And prompt me to fome great, fome glorious vengeance!
Vengeance is in my power, and F'll enjoy it.
But majefty perhaps might awe his paffion,
And fear forbid him to reveal his wishes.
That could not be. I heard, I faw him fcorn me;
All his difdainful words his eyes confirm❜d.
Ungrateful man! Hence, traytor, from my fight.
Revenge be ready. Slighted love invokes thee.
Of all the injuries that rack the foul,

Mine is most exquifite! Hence, to thy dungeon:
Araxes!

Enter Araxes.

Take the villain from my prefence;

His crimes are black as hell. I'll turn away,
Left my heart melt and cool into compaffion.

His fight offends me.

Bind his irons fast.

[Ara. puts on his irons?

and let Dorafpe know

So: lead him hence;
The queen permits her entrance.

[Exeunt Araxes and Sophernes.

Enter Dorafpe.

Dor. What's the queen's pleasure? See your servant ready.

Why are your eyes thus fix'd upon the ground? Why that deep figh? and why these trembling lips? This fudden paleness, and these starts of frenzy ? You're fick at heart.

Aft. Yes; I will be reveng'd.

Dor. Lift up your eyes, and know me., 'Tis Dorafpes. Aft. Look on me, tell me, is my beauty blighted ?? And fhrunk at once into deformity?

Slighted! defpis'd! my charms all fet at nought!
Yes. I will be reveng'd.O my Dorafpe,
I've met with foul contempt, and cold difdain:
And shall the wretch who gave me guilt and shame,
The wretch who's confcious of my infamy,
Out-live that crime? he must not, nay, he fhall not,
Dor. Let reafon mitigate and quell this fever;
The fafeft, fureft, is the cool revenge.

Rafh anger, like the hafty fcorpion's fury,
Torments and wounds itfelf.

Ast. It is in vain.

The torrent rushes on; it swells, ferments,
And strongly bears away all oppofition.
What means that hurry in the antichamber ?
What are thofe crowds?

Dor. The king intends to mount the judgment-feat,
And the confpirators now wait their fentence..
Aft. Go, tell Araxes (if with privacy

He could conduct him) I would fee their chief;
The defp'rate inftrument of this bold scheme;
This instant; ere he stands before the prefence.
[Exit Dorafpes-
Revenge, I thank thee for this ready thought:
Death now fhall reach Sophernes, shameful death;
Thus will I fatiate love. His death alone
Can raze him from my heart, and give me peace, .

Araxes conducts in Hydarnes, and retires..

The king is gracious, and delights in mercy;
And know, that free confeffion merits life:
I'll intercede. Know you the prince Sophernes ?!
You are unhappy men betray'd to ruin:
And will ye fuffer for another's crime?

Speak of him, as ye ought; 'twas he betray'd you..
Hyd. If racks and tortures cannot tear confeffion
From innocence, fhall woman's flattery do it? -
No; my heart's firm, and I can fmile on death.
Aft. Think not to hide what is already known.
"Tis to Sophernes that you owe those chains :

We've fathom'd his defigns, they're all laid open;
We know him turbulent and enterprizing.
By the foul murder of my lord the king.
He meant to fet his captive nation free.
Unfold this truth, and I'll infure thy pardon.
Hyd. What! lead a hateful life of ignominy!
And live the bane of all fociety!

Shun'd like a peftilence, a curft informer !
Yet fince the fate of kingdoms may depend
On what I speak; truth fhall direct my lips.
The queen has offer'd grace. I know the terms.
Aft. By the king's life, I swear.

This man feems open, and may be of service.
[Exeunt Araxes and Hydarnes,
How my heart bleeds, thus to pursue revenge
Against the man I love! But me he fcorns;
And from my beauty turns his head away
With faucy arrogance and proud contempt.
I could forgive him ev'ry other crime,
Ev'n the bafe murder of my dearest friend;
But flighted love, no woman can forgive:
For thro' our life we feel the bitter fmart,
And guilt and shame lie fest'ring at the heart.

SCENE, A Room of State with a Throne.

HYDARNES, Confpirators, ORBASIUS, Guards.

T

ift Confpirator.

HE information of those two vile cowards, Who mingled with us brave and active spirits, Hath giv'n us death. Let thofe mean creatures live, They're fitter for the world.

2d Confp. Lead us to death.

Hyd. Death is pronounc'd on you, on me, on alf. Would I could take your guilt upon myself, So to preserve fome virtue in the world: But thofe informers have deny'd me that ; We all muft perifh, and fall unreveng'd. But fince I cannot take your crimes upon me; I'll live, and execute our great defign, And thus revenge your deaths.

1ft Confp. Could this be done! Hyd. It can.

ift Confp. You flatter us. Hyd. I fay, I'll do it.

Soon as the king returns to fign our fentence,
Only confirm the words which I fhall fpeak,
And I'll revenge you foon, and foon be with you.
[Talks to them apart.
Orba. The guilty perith; innocence is freed.
Sufpicion has not caft the fmallest stain

Upon the virtuous Perfian. Thofe accufers,
Who have condemn'd their fellows, know him not.
Of all the pleasures that a monarch taftes,
Sure mercy is moft fweet! 'Tis heavenly pleasure,
To take the galling chains from off the hands
Of injur❜d innocence! That privilege
O'er-balances the cares that load a crown.

Enter Phraortes, who feats himself on the throne; Magi,
Araxes, Sophernes, Guards, and Attendants.

Ara. Make room: The Perfian prince attends his fentence.

Phra. Most noble prince, I grieve that you were injur❜d.

When foul confpiracy molefts a ftate,

The ear of kings is open to fufpicion,
And we grow jealous of our bofom friends.
When calumny would blast a virtuous man,
And juftice has made clear his innocence;
It only, throws a brighter luftre on him,
And ferves to make his virtues more confpicuous.
Approach the throne; and let the king's embrace
Make fome atonement for your shameful bonds.