Herod and Mariamne a tragedy, acted at the Duke's Theatre.

Scene Second: Herods Chamber.

Enter Herod and Salome.

Herod.

What sting is this to an Imperial mind, Thus in his will and power to be confin'd?

Salom.

Herod's a King, and does Iudea sway— But he's no King, who others does obey.

Salom.

Though many Passions grow within your Breast, I see Ambition's greater then the rest. And fear to lose your new acquired Crowne Th' aspiring boldness of the rest pulls downe! This made a Monarch to a Romane stoop, When the whole Forces of his Rage were up.

Herod.

'Tis Wisdom to submit to greater Powers:

Salom.

None should be greater in your Realm then Yours; You this affront in Wisdom may put by, Sit tamely downe — But King so will not I! For he shall fall my Victim, and in this I will perform what Kings but faintly wish — But How, Do You proceed with your ungrateful Queen?

Herod.

I've sent for Her.

Salom.

To ask her Pardon.

Herod.

No. But that her Doom she from my Breath may Know.

Enter Philon.

What says our Haughty Queen?

Philon.

She'le wait on You, When she has first paid to her God his due. She's busie yet.

Herod.

At Prayers: Yes, and 'tis time. But Heaven may stay, her absence is a Crime: Bid her make hast, and let her Understand I now no more entreat Her, but Command.

Phil.

I Shall.

Exitt

Salom.

This was like Herod and a King; But yet I fear her Eyes such Forces bring, Which she still manages with such an Art, They will regain your undefended Heart.

Herod.

No, Though tame Love did once my Heart engage, I have now resign'd this Royal Seat to rage!

Enter Mariamne and Cleophe.

Salom.

She's here I must retire.

Thy Lover Queen shall share thy Sufferings, My Jealousy can kill as well as Kings.

Exit.

Herod.

See with what Noble Pride she steps? That State So like a Queen, as yet I cannot hate! Not all the marks of Anger that I bear Can shake this Womans Soul into a fear! I must no longer pause — You had obey'd us straight, Had you not been retarded by your hate.

Mar.

Any to hate the Laws of Heaven forbid! Else 'twere but Justice Herod if I did.

Herod.

You Queen have yet no Reason to complain, My Love it is that proves your greatest pain.

Mar.

What are those Signalls of your Love you boast?

Herod.

The World the Greatness of my Love can Read, In that you still proud Queen do wear your Head, After your Love to Tyridates shown, And his to you so publiquely made Known.

Mar.

My Innocence still wears a Robe so White, That I esteem Your Accusations light.

Herod.

I say that you still Live shews Love enough.

Mar.

But of your Love I have another proof: You can't forget the Compliment you sent When You to Antony and Caesar went. You sent me Word, with Grief you left me — true — For had you Dy'd I must have follow'd too. Was this th' Effect either of Love or Hate, That both our Lives must have an Equal Date?

Herod.

I am Betray'd! Undone! Those who my Trust into my Bosome drew, Forsake me and betray my Secrets too. To what Extremities am I reduc'd, By Slaves and a Disloyal Wise abus'd:

Mariam.

I by Imprudence now have rais'd a storm,

aside.

I doubt my Philon and Sohemus harm.

Herod.

I my Intentions never will deny; I did intend —if I did—you should dye. It was excess of Love—

Mar.

Of Jealousie and Hate!—

Herod.

Those Traytors who my Secrets did relate, Did not for nothing so great hazard run, Expose themselves by m•• to be undone; And buy your favour with their Lives expence, If you had not propos'd a Recompence: Which seem'd so great and glorious in their eyes, They to obtain it, me, and life despise.

Mar.

What recompence had I to give?

Herod.

I know No gifts could ever undermine them so: Such mean things never could their Faith surprize! No Traytress; by the Charmes of those false eyes, They were seduc'd—

Mar.

I will acquit them, they are Innocent: 'Twas Heaven reveal'd to me thy black intent.

Herod.

Thou usest thus thy Lovers to excuse, And dost thy Husbands Love and Bed abuse!

Mar.

Believe what e're thou wilt against me now, The baseness of your Soul and Birth you show. I scorn thee now so much—that I disdain— To stoop so low, to speak to thee again: Or any more my Innocence defend Against th'unworthy Crime which you pretend.

Herod.

'Twould be in vain—I now will Justice do, Yes! you shall suffer, and your Lovers too! If all the Torments of the Rack will do? Truth by that Tryal quickly will appear; What do you smile? my Guard without there

Enter Guard.

Here! Safely the Queen to the great Prison bear.

On pain of Death, away.

Mar.

Touch not my hand, I willingly obey his kind command.

Exeunt Queen & Guards.

Herod.

Still the same Queen! still the same port she bears, And not one look of fear nor horror wears!

Enter Salome and Pheroras.

My Fatal Love thus long has made me blind, And with false Errors preposses't my mind; But her high Pride shall feel: Pheroras haste! And make you Ioseph and Sohemus fast. Let them be Rack'd till they the truth declare.

Pher.

They shall—

about to goe.

Herod.

Hold! Ioseph from the Rack we spare: We will some method in our Anger take; He's Marry'd to our Aunt, and for her sake, Let him escape the Rack, but Strangl'd be; Be gone—let it be done immediately.—

Salom.

Sir, seize on Philon, he knows her Intrigues; A great Contriver in her amorous Leagues.

Herod.

See He be tortur'd too— And forc'd by pains the hidden Truth to tell: I to the utmost will my Wrath pursue. After they're Rack'd—let'em be strangl'd too. Away: let it be done before you sleep.

Exit Phero.

Salom.

O Sir! I see 'tis difficult to keep Our selves with all the helps of humane Art, From those misfortunes Heav'n will still impart▪ Appearances delude a humane sight, But Treason cannot always walk in Night.

Herod.

This Woman to my mind distraction brings; And on the Rack my tortur'd Soul she flings.

Salo.

'Tis plain! no small things could their Faiths remove, They could not stoop at ought below her Love. But were this Amorous League a dubious thing; It is enough! she dares affront her King▪

In that unlawfull Love which she dares own To Tyridates.— But where's that height of Pride she did pretend, When she can to a Subjects Love descend.

Herod.

What shall I do?

Salom.

'Tis fatal Love, your troubles does Create: O Sir, but strip your Princely Soul from that Which with dark shaddows over-hangs your mind, And makes you to your chiefest Interest blind; You soon will be from all Vexations freed, When Traytors justly for their Treason bleed.

Herod.

Yes, Mariamne soon should lose her head, But that I Caesar and the People dread.

Salom.

Never let that keep your great Soul in awe, Salve it with Justice; let her dye by Law: Let there some Process be against her fram'd: Some Reverend Judges in Commission nam'd.

Herod.

I am resolv'd now —and the way is good, It is the Law, not Herod, spills her blood. She, who reduc'd me to this shame and fear, Shall as a Subject at the Bar appear!

Enter Alexandra,

Salom.

But here comes one! though often Proud and High, Falls down as poorly in Adversity. You'l not be mov'd with Tears! —

Herod.

No, nor with Prayers.

Salom.

But I'le be gone—Their Lives my Joys debar: Revenge to thee! to thee! I'le Altars rear.

Exit.

Alex. kneels and weeps:

Alex.

O Sir! take pitty, I your Grace implore; Deny not one, who never Kneel'd before.

Herod.

Peace! 'tis in vain; nor Tears, nor Words shall do, And you deserve to share her Ruine too!

Alexan.

I will not rise unless you grant her Life.

Herod.

No more! She is a Disobedient Wife.

Alexan.

I'le grant it—yet some mercy show.

Herod.

Away.

No Tears; nor Prayers shall my arm'd Justice stay—

Alexan.

I'le follow you—

Herod.

My Guard without there!—here!

Enter Guard.

This Woman quickly to her Chamber bear, And keep her safe.

Alexan.

O see: I beg agen!

kneels.

I do submit—

Herod.

Hast, quickly take her in.

Alexan.

O Jealous Husband! O thou wilful Wife! 'Tis cruel Death I see must end this strife. If thou had'st but Obedient been to me, Herod had had that Death he gives to Thee.

Ex. with Guards.

Herod.

Still! still Confusion in my breast does roll, And I feel mighty struglings in my Soul. The Queens Death only satisfies my mind: And yet in that Reluctancy I find.

Exit.

Enter Pheroras reading Papers, and Salome.

Salom.

Are the Kings Orders then obey'd?

Pher.

They are!

Salom.

This hast bespeaks your Loyalty and Care.

Pher.

Here's their Confessions.

gives 'em Salome.

Tortures made them tell What they before could by no force reveal.

Salom.

Not the great danger which they ran could move, No Obstacle could blunt their sharpen'd Love. The Queen and Tyridates met this Night.

Reads.

O here is Argument enough for spight. This, this will do—what though Mariamne dye, It Cures not quite! the Prince must fall, or I: Pheroras; it is late; the King possest with Rage, is gone to try if he can rest: To morrow Morning I'le these Papers show, And he by me your Diligence shall know. But much of this must not be seen by him: They justifie her more then they condemne!

In mid'st of all their Torments they seem bold, And have the Truth to her advantage told. But say Pheroras, dy'd they all like men?

Pher.

They dy'd as if they were to live agen: And did with so much Courage yeild their breath, As made me almost too in Love with Death: If any sorrow in their Looks were shown, 'Twas for the Queens hard fate, and not their own.

Exeunt.