Classic Poem

Act. I. Sce. 2.

To them

Arsamnes, Praxaspes, Hydarnes, Masistes. Orontes, Priests; after a while Cratander. Arsam .

Are these the fairest, and the handsomest mong all the Captives? Mol .
There is one more which I set apart; a good personable fellow, but he's wondrous heavy and bookish, and therefore I thought him unfit for any honour. Arsam .
Goe call him forth; there's none of all these has
A Forehead for a Crowne; their blood runnes thicke,
As if 'twould blot a sword.
See, there comes one
Arm'd with a serious and Majestique looke,
As if hee'd read Philosophy to a King:
We've conquer'd something now. What readst thou there? Mol .
I beleeve hee's conning a Hymne against the good Time. Crat .
'Tis a discourse o'th' Nature of the Soule;
That shewes the vitious Slaves, but the well inclin'd
Free, and their owne though conquer'd. Arsam .
Thou dost speake
As if thou wert victorious, not Arsamnes . Crat .
I not deny your Conquest, for you may
Have vertues to entitle't yours; but otherwise,
If one of strange and ill contriv'd desires,
One of a narrow or intemperate minde
Prove Master of the field, I cannot say
That he hath conquer'd, but that he hath had
A good hand of it; he hath got the day,
But not subdued the men: Victory being
Not fortunes gift, but the deservings Purchase. Arsam .
Whom dost thou call deserving? Crat .
Him, who dares
Dy next his heart in cold blood; him, who fights
Not out of thirst, or the unbridled lust
Of a flesh'd sword, but out of Conscience
To kill the Enemy, not the man. Who when
The Lawrell's planted on his brow, ev'n then
Under that safe-protecting Wreath, will not
Contemne the Thunderer, but will
Acknowledge all his strength deriv'd, and in
A pious way of gratitude returne
Some of the spoyle to Heav'n in Sacrifice;
As Tenants doe the first fruits of their Trees,
In an acknowledgment that the rest is due. Arsam .
True, Tell me, wert thou then to pay thy vowes,
What wouldst thou sacrifice? the best, or worst? Crat .
The best, unto the Best, If I had destin'd
An Oxe unto the Altar, he should be
Faire, and well fed; for th' Deity doth not love
The maymed, or mishapen, cause it is
A thing so different from himselfe, deformity
Being one of Natures trespasses: he should
Be crown'd then, and conducted solemnly,
That my Religion might be specious,
'Twere stealth else, not Devotion. Arsam .
Bravely sayd.
But (t's pitty) thou hast reasoned all this while
Against thy selfe, for our Religion doth
Require the Immolation of one Captive;
And thou hast prov'd that he is best bestow'd
That best deserveth to be spar'd. Crat .
I could
Tell you, the Gods have neither appetite
Nor entralls; that they doe not hunger after
Your Cookery of sacrifice, and that
A graine of Incense, or a peece of Gumme,
If offer'd with Devotion, may redeeme
A destin'd Hecatombe. But this would be
To deprecate my fate; which by your Sun,
Your Sun that doth require me, I expect
With the same minde, as I would doe my Nuptialls. Arsam .
And so't shall come, thy shape and vertues doe
Enrich and furnish thee for Heav'n. I would
Or thou hadst fled, or I not conquered.
Adorne him with the Robes. But thou must sweare
First to be faithfull to the State. Crat .
I sweare.
The Priest's song whiles he puts on the Robes.

‘Come from the Dungeon to the Throne
‘To be a King, and streight be none.
‘Reigne then a while, that thou mayst be
‘Fitter to fall by Majesty. Cho .
‘So Beasts for sacrifice we feed;
‘First they are crown'd, and then they bleed.
‘Wash with thy Bloud what wars have done
‘Offensive to our God the Sun:
‘That as thou fallest we may see
‘Him pleas'd, and set as red as thee.
‘Enjoy the Gloryes then of state,
‘Whiles pleasures ripen thee for fate. Cho .
‘So Beasts: &c Arsam .
Now then, Cratander , I doe here indulge thee
All the Prerogatives of Majesty
For three full dayes: which being expir'd, that then
Thou may'st fall honourably, I intend
To strike the blow my selfe. Crat .
I neither take
New courage from the Power, nor suffer new
Feares from the Death that waytes it: both are things
That have two eares, by which they may be taken;
So that they are indifferent in themselves;
And only good or bad as they are order'd.
Off with their shakells Sirrah: you my Lordes
Take order they be quickly well attir'd,
That they may come to Court, and doe us service.
'Tis next of all our Royall pleasure, that
Battle be re-inforc'd by the next Sun,
To make our Conquest perfect: all's not safe
Till the Snake leave to threaten with his tayle.
Our Reigne is short, and businesse much, be speedy.
Our Counsels and our deeds must have one birth. Mol .
If you'l make use of any Ornaments. I've a couple of Jack-chaynes at your service: Come Gentlemen, please you to follow, I'le give you ease of your Irons suddenly. Phil .
Sirrah be quicke, that my foot may be at liberty to kicke thee. Prax .
Whether tends the minde of this ambitious wretch?
H'hath thoughts so hasty, and so large, as if
Hee'd over-runne the whole world in a breath. Hyd .
I like the courage of the man: methinkes
H'hath given a tast, how worthy he is of
A longer Kingdome. Masist .
You'l obey him then? Hyd .
I don't obey
Him, but the King; as they that pay their vowes
Unto the Deity, shrowded in the Image. Masist .
True, 'tis the King's will he should be obey'd,
But hee's a Slave; the man lookes personable,
And fit for Action, but he is a Slave.
He may be noble, vertuous, generous, all,
But he is still a Slave. Oron .
As if the sullying
Must turne all purer mettle into drosse;
Or that a Jewell might not sometimes be
In the possession of a private man. Mas .
What? you too for the rising Sun, my Lord.
Though't be but a Meteor cast from the true one?
If that the conquer'd Hart must lead the Lyon.
I'le teach my wishes to runne thwart unto
That large successe you looke for. Prax .
Be my feares
No Omen to the Kingdome, ô yee Gods,
But I suspect, this Comicke folly will
Sport our free Monarchy into a Nation
Of cheated Slaves. But peace; the Queene. Oron .
We two
Will goe, and see his carriage. Prax .
Doe my Lords;
And 'cause you wish his State so well, pray see
The Slaves provided of their cloathes.