Complete Works of Thomas Otway
Page 13
A firmer passion, or a tend’rer care
Show me yours or your honours enemy,
See with what vigour t’your revenge I’le fly.
For you with life I willingly could part,
But whilst that lasts, Timandra has my heart.
Qu.
The heavy pleasures of the marriage Bed,
Dull repetition soon will dead
Taste fresher joys, and when they ,
Then the old pleasures may seem .
Alci.
Could I expect to have such language heard,
Where beauty and such innocence appear’d?
Qu.
Can you my ,
And is’t so difficult a ?
Alci.
Love Madam! only
As you are fair, ,
I’le love you as the .
Qu.
A Sister ,
So little we can hardly name what ’tis.
Where is the transport,
to a sharp appetite.
Alci.
I know y’are
Your beams the lustre of a King adorn,
That King whose piety me happy made,
And can I in return profane his bed?
Though Madam I’ve liv’d free, and never see
Limits to any thing we call delight,
Yet raise not new rebellions in blood:
Beauty hath darts too keen to be withstood.
Qu.
Yet all its power has no force o’re you,
Your cruel heart’s immoveable, but know
‘Twill to your honour be but ill apply’d,
That for your love a Queen, neglected, dy’d.
Alci.
What is’t you majesty would have me do?
Qu.
Are you so ignorant that you don’t know!
Alci.
Death, not to have some sense were to unman
My self; but I’le be conqu’rour if I can.
Should I be made a captive to her charms,
Er’e I am warm in my Timandra’s arms?
One stratagem I’le for my freedom try,
Madam no longer I’le your pow’r deny.
[to the Queen.
For if these eyes had ne’re Timandra known,
You only might have call’d my heart your own.
But whilst with her I enjoy love, and life,
And you remain the mighty Agis wife;
Know this is all I can in justice do,
I’m ready on your least commands, to shew
I live for her; but yet could dye for you.
Qu.
Must I then only border upon bliss?
Rest on the confines of my happiness?
As Souls that are excluded heav’n for sin,
See all its glories, but can’t enter in.
Alci.
No Madam; free from the dull clogs of sense,
We’l reap delights of nobler excellence.
Our entwin’d Souls each other shall enjoy,
Tread vertues paths, and never loose their way.
But if one in his motion chance to err,
Strait regulate it by the other’s sphear:
— Till at the last,
When the short Zodiack of this life w’ave past;
With new imp’t Zeal beyond the Stars wee’l fly,
There meet, and mingle to a Deity.
Qu.
Then to all hopes of happiness adieu,
Since my chief bliss I’ve lost in loosing you.
Oh the Tyrannick cruelty of fate,
That lets us know our happiness too late.
Yet why shou’d I to fears and sorrows bend,
If only on their fate my hopes my depend?
A Rival, and a King, I may remove:
There’s nothing difficult to them that love.
[Exit Queen.
Alci.
She’s gone. —
Greatness, thou gaudy torment of our Souls,
The wise mans fetter, and the range of fools!
Who is’t wou’d court thee if he knew thy ills?
He who the greatest heap of Honour piles,
Does nothing else but build a dang’rous shelf,
Or erect Mountains to o’rewhelm himself.
[Exit.
Scene a Grove adjoyning to the Camp.
Enter Tissaphernes and Theramnes disguis’d.
Tiss.
Now Sir y’are free, and prosperously move,
To reap the long wisht harvest of your love.
One minute and y’are in Timandra’s arms,
New fetter’d in the power of her Charms:
Methinks the thought ev’n my old blood Alarms.
The.
His rage sure works him to an extasie:
How the old Monster hugs his villany!
Good Sir dispatch, I cannot brook delay;
I wast in expectation of my joy.
But heart, did you not hear a murm’ring talk?
Tiss.
Perhaps ’tis she come in this Grove to walk:
Stay here they are, by heav’n the same, ’tis she.
[They go to the door.
Retreat a while; blest opportunity.
Enter Timandra with a Book in her hand, and Draxilla.
Tim.
Methinks Draxilla when Atlanta ran,
And slaughter was the only prize she wan;
Her power a too cruel rigour bore,
To kill those she had wounded so before.
[Theramnes throws off his disguise.
The.
Then Madam be not guilty of her ill:
Me the poor wretch y’ave wounded do not kill.
Ah in your heart, if such a sence there be
Of the injustice of her cruelty;
How much more pitty from your breast is due
To him, who ev’ry minute dyes for you!
Tim.
My Lord Theramnes! by what lucky hap
Have you from guards and prison made escape?
The.
Who wears your sacred image in your breast,
Is of such pure Divinity possest,
And from ignoble bondage so secure,
That feeble chains fall off, and loose their pow’r.
Tim.
Then Sir in your intended flight make haste,
Least by some fatal chance y’are once more lost.
The.
No, I enjoy a nobler safety here;
No danger dares approach when you are near.
These Groves to lovers bliss are dedicate,
Free from th’ uncivil outrages of fate.
Come, let’s to something like delight draw nigh,
And loose our selves a while in extasie.
[seizes roughly on her.
Tim.
Guard me ye powers! Draxilla help my Lord!
Tiss.
Good gentle Madam, if you please one word.
[Draxilla runs out crying help, and Tissaphernes after her.
The.
I cannot see my Rival blest alone;
Must he reap all the sweets, and I have none?
Tim.
This outrage on my knees I beg forbear:
See Sir it is Timandra sheds a tear.
[Tiss. returns.
Her whom you vowd you lov’d with noble flame,
Oh do’nt by savage lust prophane that name!
If ’tis the envy of your Rivals joy,
Remove, remove th’ offence some other way:
Save but my honour, and my life destroy.
The.
Such tenderness might cool anothers blood;
But I am too unhappy to be good.
Let vertue to dull Anchorites repair,
Who ne’re had Soul enough to know despair.
I’le banish the encroacher from my breast,
And shake him off e’re he take hold too fast.
Come let’s retire within this covert by;
I am impatient, and my blood boyls high.
Tim.
I will not go, I’le dye a Martyr here.
The.
Then I must drag you.
Tim.
— Barb’rous Ravisher!
Oh! Oh! —
Enter Alcibiades.
Alci.
— Did I not hear a tender cry!
Oh Heavens! turn base hell-hound, turn and dye.
[draws.
The.
That Sir will thus be better understood.
[draws.
Tiss.
Y’ave undertook Sir more then you’l make good.
[draws.
[They both make at him.
Enter Patroclus.
Patr.
How’s this; assaulted! and by such base odds!
Courage my freind! —
After a fierce fight between Alcibiades and Theramnes, Patroclus and Tissaphernes, Patroclus drives his Father off the Stage, and Alcibiades runs Theramnes through.
Alci.
— To the accurst abodes
Of tortur’d Souls that in dark horrour dwell,
Thus fly, and to thy fellow Devils tell,
It was my Sword that sent thy soul to hell.
The.
Hold Sir, enough, I must your victim fall,
Though an atonement for my sin too small.
My hasty Soul can make no longer stay,
Death touls his leaden Bell, and calls away.
And now, like some sad trav’ler, taking view
Of the long Journey that I have to go,
Whilst I my thoughts to heav’ns sweet mansions bend,
Without your mercy no admittance find.
Oh but one word of pardon e’re I dye,
Secure of that, my Souls dares boldly fly.
Absolv’d by you, it must have welcome there,
As incense that is offer’d up with pray’r.
Tim.
My pardon and my prayers too receive,
More then your guilt could ask me I could give.
Be happy as your penitence is true;
And may kind heav’n forgive you as I do:
[weeps.
The.
Ah! can your piety vouchsafe a tear
Of pitty, on an impious Ravisher!
My Soul will leave me in an extasie:
And I shall want the sense to know I dye.
Thus, pure Divinity, at your feet I bow,
Here ’tis my Soul would make her latest stay:
Nor can she —
Beginning hence her journey miss the way.
But I’d forgot; beware of —
[Dyes.
Alci.
— Who can fear
That is secur’d by charms so pow’rful here?
Within these sphears my Guardian Angels move;
These are my seats of safety, as of love.
Tim.
They weakly others guard, that can’t defend
Themselves; I fear more mischief may depend
On this disaster. —
Enter Patroclus.
Alci.
So when a storm’s blown o’re,
And a calm Breeze has smooth’d the rugged deep,
The joyful Mariners can fear no more:
But thus imbrace and full their cares asleep
[Embraces
Welcome my lifes Protectour and only freind.
Hah! what does that sad look, and sigh intend?
Are you Sir wounded? —
Patr.
Yes too deep I fear.
Aloi.
Forbid it Heav’n; where is’t?
Patr.
— Oh here Sir, here,
My Soul is pierc’t, I’m tortur’d ev’ry where,
Your freind! ah let that Title be no more,
Behold me as a wretch forlorn, and poor.
Imagine ev’ry form of misery;
And when y’ave sum’d up all, then look on me.
Alci.
Now some blest Angel to my Soul reveal
This doubt; can he be wrong’d, and I not feel?
Ah kind Patroclus this sad silence break.
Patr.
Oh Sir you must not hear, nor must I speak.
Paint out black horrour in its deepest dread,
And troops of Murders hov’ring o’re your head,
And when that hideous Masque of Hell you see,
Think if you can that they came all from me.
Alci.
Confusion! how my thoughts begin to start!
A new unwonted heat has seiz’d my heart,
Something unruly, that would fain get place,
But I’le subdu’t, — be free, kind friend, alas!
Force me not wrong our freindship and your worth.
Patr.
That charm’s resistless, and I feel’t will forth.
But oh it must not, duty does forbid:
Yet what’s my duty if my honour bleed?
Know then, — now that this stubborn heart would break!
My cruel Father — oh I dare not speak.
Alci.
Hah!
Patr.
— Led by some blind mistaking jealousie,
Heaps treasons upon you and shame on me.
It was by him Theramnes made escape,
And ’twas he back’t him in this impious rape.
But oh no more, shame does my words suppress,
Yet think what he will do that durst do this.
I’l go and try if I his rage can stay:
I may divert the stream another way.
[Exit Patro.
Alci.
Kind youth; I cannot fear thy Fathers hate:
He sells his honour at too cheap a rate.
What have I done that could be call’d a wrong?
No I’ve a guard of innocence too strong;
Whilst I unspotted that and friendship bear,
No danger is so great that I need fear.
Tim.
Yet be not Sir regardless of my fears;
Some pity have of these sad sighs, and tears.
Whither oh whither, would your rashness lead;
To urge a ruine level’d at your head?
Let us —
To some recess that’s safe and humble go,
Timandra can bear any thing with you.
Let int’rest the unfix’d and wav’ring sway,
With us —
Love shall supply what fortune takes away.
Alci.
Sure ’tis not my Timandra’s voice I hear,
She ne’re had cause to think that I could fear.
Have I so many dangers over-past,
Poorly to shrink from villany at last?
No, with my innocence I’ll brave his hate,
And meet it in a free undaunted state;
See all with smiles, as fearless, and as gay,
As Infants unconcern’d at dangers, play.
Tim.
Then I’le perform what to my love is due;
Unsteady doubts be gone, blind fears adeiu.
I were unworthy of the heart you gave,
Were I then you less faithful, or less brave.
And of my courage too this proof I’le give,
When you dare meet a death, I’le scorn to live,
Nor longer be a vassal to my fear;
Wee’l in each others chance a portion bear:
So fate has thus at least some kindness shown,
Neither can wretches be, nor blest alone.
[Exeunt.
Scene the Camp.
Enter Tissaphernes and four Villains.
Tiss.
Is’t done? —
1 Vil.
Sir to a point your will’s fulfil’d;
Theramne’s guards as they lay drunk we kil’d.
Draxilla too, by th’ ambush you had lay’d
For your retreat, was on her flight betray’d.
>
Tiss.
Next, as from me, be there a message sem,
To bid my Son attend me in my Tent;
In’s passage thither you may seize him, so
Convey him to the Cave —
1 Vil.
— My Lord, we go.
Tiss.
Ye are the best of Rogues; but disappear:
[Ex. 3. Vill.
You know your bus’ness: So the King is here.
Enter King and Queen Attended.
King.
Lead to the Grove —
Tiss.
Oh Sir, there’s Treason in the Camp, retreat,
But now the Guards I in confusion met,
Who led me where Theramnes I beheld,
The late Athenian Captive General kill’d.
That little breath he had left h’employ’d to shew
His honour, and his Gallantry to you:
Treasons so strange and horrid did relate,
As would seem almost Treason to repeat.
But Sir you have no longer safety here:
Secure yourself, and leave all to my care.
King.
No more, you know not what you urge me to:
Secure my self! am I a King, or no?
That Monarch who when danger’s near, sits down,
Shews but a feeble Title to a Throne.
The best securities in courage are,
We but subscribe to Treasons which we fear.
Be free, and let me the bold Traytor know,
To stem the torrent I my self will go:
In state I’ll meet the fond Capricious wretch,
And dare him with that Crown which he would snatch.
Tiss.
Alas dread Sir, force me not to declare
The name, would wound your sacred breast to hear.
I in reviling honour should offend:
He once was noble Sir, and call’d me friend.
King.
How Sir your friend! and Traytor to my Crown!
Reveal him, or his Treasons are your own.
Tiss.
Alass, but must I!— ’tis so foul a deed,
I speak.
King.
Hell Sir; d’ye play? proceed.
Tiss.
Then to be short, he you so lately strove
T’engage in all the firmest tyes of love,
He whom you almost had from nothing rais’d,
And on the highest seats of honour plac’d;
Has thence this use of all your favours shown,
To make ’em steps to mount into your Throne.
King.
Defend me! what do I hear! —
Sir you have rais’d a tumult in my breast,
Which will not be so suddenly appeas’d:
By Heav’ns see all that you inform be true,
Or may all torments which to th’damn’d are due
Light on me, if inflicted not on you.
The brave Athenian false! it cannot be:
His Soul ne’re dreamt of such impiety.
Tiss.
Sir y’are unkind if you suspect me false,
I never yet abus’d your ears with tales.
Had I such mystick Policy pursu’d,