I"ll not my Weakness nor Resentment show; A Heart like mine, should sooner break than bow.
--Come, my _Semiris_, we too long have stay"d; That Call, till now, was never disobey"d.
[_Trumpets sound. Ex_.
SCENE III. _Scythian Tents_.
_Enter_ Amintas, _drest fine, with_ Urania.
_Ura_. Within this Shade till the black Day be past, I will attend thy Fortune, or thy Fate.
_Amin_. The King has taken Horse, the Fight"s begun, And I must leave thee to the G.o.ds and Prayer.
_Ura_. Why was I made a Woman? or being so, Why had I not a masculine Courage given me?
That side by side I might have shar"d thy Glory, Or have expir"d together?
_Amin_. Thou wilt undo me with this Tenderness.
Come send me kindly from thee, With Joys about my Heart that may preserve it; Here rest till my Return; farewel, my Fair.
_Ura_. And if I never see thee more, farewel-- [Amin. _exit_.
Here I will lay me down, and never rise, Till thou return"st with Laurel, or with Cypress.
[_Sits down_.
Now I cou"d curse the Fortune of my Prince, Who quits a Father for an Enemy, To satisfy a Flame will ruin him.
[_A noise of Fighting_.
--The Fight increases; Oh ye G.o.ds of Battel, In midst of all your Rage preserve my Love.
_Enter_ Artabazes _over the Stage, and goes out_.
_Art_. My Nephew kill"d! and I dismounted too! oh curst Fate!
_Ura_. This Noise has comfort in"t, it sounds like Victory.
[_A hollowing within amongst the noise of Fighting.
Enter_ Amintas.
--Oh G.o.ds! _Amintas_! what has Fortune done?
_Amin_. The undaunted _Scythians_ never lost the Field; Yet now at first "twas doubtful To which side Fortune would incline her self _Ismenes_ kill"d where"er he turn"d his Sword, And quite defeated our _Agrippian_ Forces; Yet was not satisfy"d, knowing the King To be the Price of _Cleomena"s_ Heart, But sought him out on all sides, Whom "twas not hard to find; For he was hurrying now from Rank to Rank, Distributing a Death to all Opposers.
But young _Ismenes_ having pierc"d the Squadrons, And knowing our great King by several Marks, Boldly cry"d out,--Defend the Life I claim.
The King made no Reply, but at that Word Prepar"d himself to fight.
_Ura_. Thou kill"st me, till thou bring"st him off again.
_Amin_. Disorder"d thus--the _Dacian_ took Advantage, And charg"d with so much Vigour--we gave Ground; When on that side the single Combat was, There appear"d a Body of two thousand Horse, Led by a Man, whose Looks brought Victory, And made the conquering Foe retire again: But when he did perceive the King engag"d, With unresisted Fury he made up, And rushing in between them, Gave the young Prince a blow upon his Head, That struck him from his Horse.
After this Victory _Thersander"s_ Name Did fly from Mouth to Mouth, Inspiring every _Scythian_ with new Valour: He kill"d _Philemon_, and forc"d _Artabazes_ To seek his Safety by his Horse"s Flight; --But here"s the King--retire into this Wood.
[Ura. _Ex_.
_Enter_ King, Thersander, _Officers, and Soldiers_.
_King_. Let me once more embrace my dear _Thersander_.
_Amin_. The Prince is wounded, Sir.
_King_. He is--but they look lovely on him.
_Ther_. They"re too slight Marks to give you of my Duty; Your Majesty has greater need of Care.
_King_. Thou art my best Physician, and thy sight Heals all the Wounds I have: come in with me, And let me lay thee to my panting Bosom, Thou great Preserver of my Crown and Life.
_Ther_. I"ll wait upon you, Sir, [_Exeunt all but_ Ther. _and_ Amin.
Now let me take thee to my Arms, my Friend; For thou art half my self, my dear _Amintas_: I have strange News to tell thee since we parted, And need thy Counsel in an Affair of Love --Thou know"st my business to the Dacian Court Was to have set thee free; but oh, my Friend!
In lieu of that I"ve made my self a Captive.
_Amin_. Your Story, Sir, I know, but heard withal, The Princess did repay your grateful Flame.
_Ther_. I thought she did, for so a while she seem"d; And when I thought my self the most secure, Being fortify"d with all her new-made Promises, My blooming Hopes were blasted e"er full-blown, And I receiv"d her Orders for my Banishment, Which I as soon obey"d: but by the way, I did conceive a thousand Revolutions, Sometimes to serve my Princess--then my Father; Sometimes "twas Nature got the upper hand, And then again "twas Love: in this Dispute I met the Levies of the _Isadons_, Who were the last of all our Cavalry, To whom I made me known, and came so luckily, As gain"d the yet-disputing Victory.
_Amin_. "Twas in an happy Moment.
_Ther_. Thus I comply"d with what I ow"d my Duty.
But these of Love are still unsatisfy"d: Dare I, who could offend to that degree, As to deserve a Banishment from her, Approach her uninvited?
_Amin_. "Twas dangerous, Sir.
_Ther_. Then "twere the fitter for my Enterprise: --But her Displeasure--oh, my _Cleomena_!
If, for the Punishment of my Disobedience, You"d only take away that Life you threaten, How willingly I wou"d resign it up, Rather than undergo this Separation!
_Amin_. You"ll certainly expose your Life by going: What other Reason could she have to banish you, But from her Knowledge that you were _Thersander_?
And, Sir, you see her Pa.s.sion for _Clemanthis_ Cou"d not o"ercome her Hatred for her Enemy.
_Ther_. No, when I call to mind her cruel Words; If chusing me before so many Kings, I find "twas to the Stranger, not the _Scythian_, She killingly addrest "em; therefore I"ll venture on in my Design: --Give order that our Horses be made ready, Whilst I excuse our Absence to the King; our stay will not be long: Mean time it may be thought We"re gone to view the Camp; Interest and Love but rarely do agree, Yet I must reconcile "em both to me.
[_Exeunt_.
SCENE IV. _The Dacian Tents_.
_Enter_ Queen, Cleo. Hon. Arta. Ism. _Women, Attendants_.
_Cleo_. "Twas strangely lost, and yet I dare affirm, The Victory had been ours but for _Thersander_, Who like the impetuous Sea oppos"d by Land, Made Breaches, and o"erflow"d all that lay near it.
_Ism_. I had reveng"d you on the King of _Scythia_, Had his Arrival not prevented me.
_Cleo_. He is brave, without dispute.
_Ism_. And "tis as certain that he did surprize me, Without permitting time for my Defence, He had not else so soon dismounted me.
But, Madam, I design (if you approve it) To fight _Thersander_ in a single Combat.
_Art_. That Justice I may hope as well as you; He kill"d my Nephew, young _Philemon_, For which I"ll be reveng"d.