Classic Poem

To them

1. Priest.

1. Priest . The fire is fully kindled, and the people
All in their festivall attire; there wants
Only the Sacrifice, and your selfe to kill it,
Arsam . The voyce of Ravens in the dead of night
Conveighs not harsher notes into mine cares.
I've pardon'd him.
1. Priest . You cannot, unlesse you
Will be more impious in preserving him,
Than you were valorous in conquering.
Arsam . Will not the Gods receive an Hecatombe
Of Oxen in exchange? may we not finde
The Destiny's in Beasts entralls? we will choake
The fire with weighty lumps of richer gummes,
And send perfum'd clouds up into their seates
In one continued thankefulnesse, if that
They'le spare this humane Sacrifice.
1. Priest . To promise
The fairest Captive, and redeeme him with
A Beast, or Teare of some relenting Tree,
Is not to worship, but delude.
Arsam. Cratander ,
The Gods recall my courtesy; I stand
Doubly ingag'd, to Heav'n, and to thee;
But thou canst easier pardon; for I know
Thy Vertue's such; that thou hadst rather suffer
Thy selfe, than Heav'n should be violated.
Being then this sword must cut thy pretious thread,
If Statues may preserve thee, and thou thinkst it
A life to florish in faire memory,
I'le people all my Kingdome with thy Images,
To which they shall pay vowes, as to those Gods
Who now require thy company.
Atos. Yee Powers,
Why are you growne thus cruell unto Vertue?
'T will be a wish hereafter to be foule.
I cannot see him die, and live my selfe.
Pray you defer his death a while, don't post him
Away; perhaps the Gods may spare him yet.
Crat. I know that divers mindes are here contain'd
Under one silence, all expecting how
I'le beare this sudden accident. T'accuse
Or Gods, or Men, 's the part of him that would
Live longer. If I looke on the desires
Of some here, whensoever I shall fall,
I shall be thought t'have liv'd too little: if
On the Actions I have done. I've liv'd enough:
If on the injuries of Fortune, too much:
If on mine honour, and my fame, I shall
Live still; he gaines by death that doth die prays'd.
Others have longer kept an Empire, but
None better left it. To speake more, were but
A sluggard's Policy, to defer his suffrings.
On to the Altar.
Arsam. Art thou willing too?
Curs'd be my Victory! and thou my Sword
Be never henceforth happy, if there be
Another Sacrifice to fall like this.
Witnesse yee Gods, how I unwilling pay
My vowes in kinde. Most vertuous Cratander ,
(Worthy of Heav'n, but yet to tarry longer,
And make Earth happy by thy presence,) looke;
These teares I pay thee as a sad farewell.
I feele the blow my selfe that I must give thee.
Crat. These teares doe neither befit you to pay,
Nor me to take; be then Arsamnes , on.
Arsam . I feele a numnesse seize me; I am stone;
I shall not lift mine arme against thee. Sure
The Gods desire it not.