Love's triumph, or, The royal union a tragedy / written by Edward Cooke, Esq., and dedicated to Her Highness the Princess of Orange.

SCENE IX.

Enter Roxana, Arbates, Hesione, Perdiccas, Guards, and Attendants.

Rox.

Madam, I come not now the time to waste, With long excuses for my Actions past; Or seek out pow'r full reasons to convince The Justice of this dealing towr'ds the Prince; [Because my pow'rs the Justice of my will, That's above Law, and can do nothing ill.] But 'tis to tell you— Though by your death there would to me survive A double interest—I have let you live, To the destroying of my own repose;— Which act the height of my compassion shows. Yes, and my kindness I could still improve, If you would yield me up the Prince's Love: 'Tis only that, and his Repentance shall Proclaim his safety, and your fate recall.

Per.

And, Oroondates, if you don't resign Up your pretensions, to make way for mine, To the Divine Statira, and despise Th' attractive influence of her charming Eyes; You shall the Fury of a Rival bear, Keen as an Ev'ning's Wolf in her despair,

Sta.

Madam, Your Beauty and your Mind are still, Like Tyrants, never pleas'd but when they kill.

Yet, Cruel Queen, your Menaces pursue, Life I despise, if I must live by you? And in my Death not all the Gods above, Shall for one moment make me quit my Love.

Oroon.

This course, by which you would my Princess get, Is for the greatness of your Courage fit: And brave Perdiccas Nobly does aspire, To gain those charms he does so much admire; Setting his Valour forth in its full power.— 'Gainst one, who is a fetter'd Prisoner: But yet a Man that often made thee fly, And twice repriev'd thy Life from destiny.

Per.

I those good Offices, my Lord, disown, Which you so proudly boast for me t'have done; But here's no place that question to debate,— Besides thy Breath is of too short a date. You must your Life, or Fair Statira lose, Advise with her which Destiny to chuse: If she the Sentence of your Fate would bar, She must resign your Love, and mine prefer.

Rox.

And you this hour Statira's Fate must give, I know you would decree that she should live, She shall— If with this one request you will comply, Quitting her Love, you will not mine deny, For that will but reverse her doom,—to die.

Oroon.

You, for your safety, may consult your Breast,

to Sta.

And take the way which shall displease you least: But to be just, I must my Life pursue, For if it reach not me, 'twill light on you.

Sta.

Hold, Oroondates, I'm resolv'd to die, Statira means that Justice to supply. But though I would have you my Death survive, 'Tis not that you should for Roxana live.

Oroon.

Her Tyrant passion I as much despise, As my Statira's generous Love I prize:

And if so base I prove t'out-live your Fate, May Heav'n, my sin the more to aggravate, Curse me, and joyn me to the Queen I hate.

Rox.

Captive, desist, and with my Love comply; Or by the Gods—

Oroon.

—Before I'll love, I'll die.

Rox.

Offers to stab Sta.

Then thus, rash Man, my just revenge I'll take,

Sta.

And I with joy— Welcome my Death for Oroondates sake.

Per.

Gods, but that must not be—

Per. prevents Rox.

Rox.

—Traytor, how dare Y' oppose my will,—be prudent, and forbear, Or thus expect in my revenge to share.

Presents the Dagger to Per. Breast.

Per.

Thy Female rage I slight, and with this hand, To guard her Life, I'll all your arms withstand.

Rox.

—Guards

As the Guards go to seize Per. he draws, and his party sides with Him, they retire.

Arb.

Ah! Do not such apparant dangers run, By thus dividing you are both undone: Your Common Foes will at a breach so great, An easie Conquest in your Ruins get; Your Kingdom too will feel a killing smart, For you your selves do stab it at the heart.

Rox.

Conduct the Prince to his Apartment strait,

After a Pause.

And then, Arbates, for our Orders wait.

Oroon.

Farewell my Love,— Yet e're I go, this solemn Oath I make, Never to live, but for Statira's sake.

Sta.

The same make I to you:—death shall relieve. Us both, if in our Loves we cannot live: Then shall our Souls together mounting fly, Into the Regions of Eternity; And in those Aery Circles as we go, We'll reap that Love we could not here below.

And in that Heav'nly Orb, like Stars, we'll move, To teach the World true constancy in Love,

Oroon.

Oh! My Statira—

They are parted and taken off severally with Guards.

Sta.

My Soul, my Life, my Love!—

Exeunt.