Classic Poem

Act. I. Sce. 5

To them Arsam .

How doth our new King beare his Royalty? Prax .
If he goe stil on thus, his three daies folly
Will fill your Annalls. Mas .
He is growne the talke
And sight of all the Court: h'hath eyes chayn'd to him,
And some say hearts; nor are they meane ones, such
As he may steale without being miss'd, but those
The theft of whom turnes sacriledge. Arsam .
I hope
Atossa is not in the Rowle; he dares not
Be favour'd by my Queene. Hyd .
Her pure Affections
Are sacred as her Person, and her thoughts
Soaring above the reach of common Eyes,
Are like those better Spirits, that have nothing
Of Earth admixt, but yet looke downe upon
Those numbers of Inhabitants, and where
They see a worthy minde oppress'd, vouchsafe
At least to helpe with pitty. Arsam .
Doth she then
Seeme to compassionate his fortune? we
Must watch his Actions narrowly. Prax .
He may
Grow insolent else past remedy: but yet
Your Majesty hath a preventing eye.
He may, when that his Channel's full. discharge
His streames on all that's round him, rushing forth
With a strong headlong Torrent, as mischeevous
As uncontroulable, th' ungratefull waters
Choaking ev'n that which gave 'm life; but yet
You can kill evils by first seeing them. Oron .
All this hath taken up but one Eare only;
The other, and the softer is reserv'd.
Religion, and your word (which, equally
As that, is binding) are both past for three dayes:
To cut him off before, were to abridge
Your Triumph, and Devotion. Arsam .
He must live
And Reigne his time prescrib'd; but he must not
Performe the Actions he intends. Let then
All the delights and pleasures, that a Slave
Admires in Kings be offer'd. Though an hundred
Still watchfull eyes beset his head, yet there
Is one way left: Musicke may subtly creepe
And rocke his senses so, that all may sleepe.