WHEN breathing statues mould'ring waste away, And tombs, unfaithful to their trust, decay, The muse recalls the suffering good to fame, Or wakes the prosp'rous villain into shame: To the stern tyrant gives fictitious pow'r, To reign the restless monarch of an hour.
Obedient to her call, this night appears Great Herod rising from a length of years; A name enlarg'd with titles not his own, Servile to mount, and savage on the throne: Whose bold ambition trembling Jewry view'd, In blood of half her royal race imbru'd. But now reviving in the British scene, He looks majestic with a milder mien: His features soften'd with the deep distress
| Of love, made greatly wretched by excess! From lust of pow'r to jealous fury tost, We shew the tyrant in the lover lost.
If no compassion, when his crimes are weigh'd, To his ill-fated fondness must be paid, Yet see, ye fair! and see with pitying eyes, The bright afflicted Mariamne rise.
No fancied tale our op'ning scenes disclose, Historic truth, and swell with real woes. Awful in virtuous grief the queen appears, And strong the eloquence of royal tears. Then let her fate your kind attention raise, Whose perfect charms were but her second praise: Beauty and virtue your protection claim; Give tears to beauty, and to virtue fame.
PHERORAS, the King's Brother.
SOHEMUS, first Minister.
NARBAL, a Lord of the Queen's Party.
HAZEROTH, a young Lord related to the Queen. High-Priest.
SALOME, the King's Sister.
ARSINOE, chief Attendant on the Queen.
Guards, Messengers, Attendants.
SCENE, A Room of State in Herod's Palace at Jerusalem.
Enter PHERORAS, NARBAL, and SOHEMUS. Pher. The morning in her richest purple rob'd, Smiles with auspicious lustre on the day, Which brings my royal brother back from Rhodes, Confirm'd in empire by the general voice Of Cæsar, and the senate.
In latest annals shall distinguish'd shine, Sacred to majesty, and dear to love: The same which saw the royal lovers march In nuptial pomp, revolving, now restores Herod to Mariamne, and his crown.
Soh. Fortune at length to merit grows a friend, Or fate ordain'd the happiest stars to shed Their influence on his birth: or sure, since Rome, With civil discord rent, so oft hath chang'd Her own great lords, (as bleeding conquest rais'd, Or sunk the doubtful balance,) we had shar'd The same vicissitudes of restless pow'r.
Nar. Herod avow'd the dear respect he bore To Antony, and dropp'd a generous tear To grace his ruins.
Pher. Yes, and Cæsar sat
Pensive and silent; in his anxious breast Perhaps revolving, that of all his train, Who proudly wanton in his mounted rays, Gay flutt'ring insects of a summer noon, How few would bear the wintry storms of fate! At length he smiling rose, receiv'd the crown From Herod's hand, and plac'd it on his brow; Crying, shine there! for Cæsar cannot find A worthier head to wear thee.
Soh. From the grace
Of such a victor to receive a crown, With such peculiar attributes of fame, Confers more glory than a chronicle Of scepter'd ancestors.
Pher. Narbal, your care
Will see due honours to the day discharg❜d. Let the shrill trumpet's cheerful note enjoin A general feast, and joy with loud acclaim Through all the streets of Solyma resound : Let steams of grateful incense cloud the sky, 'Till the rich fragrance reach the utmost bounds Of Herod's empire: let each smiling brow Wear peaceful olive, whilst the virgin choirs Warbling his praise, his paths with flow'rs per- fume,
Who guards Judæa with the shield of Rome.
With Narbal's talents; none is better form'd To gild the pageant of a gaudy day: He's nobly born, and popularly vain, Rare tinsel-stuff' t'adorn a room of state! But in the council, where the public care-
Pher. In that high sphere you, Sohemus, alone Must ever shine: and may your wisdom raise Your master's fortune, to divide the globe With this new Cæsar; and no longer sway A short precarious sceptre, which must shake With each tempestuous gust that blows from Rome.
Soh. With blushes I must hear you call me
When one impassion'd woman can destroy My surest plans, and with a sigh blow down The firmest fabric of deliberate thought. Heav'ns! that a king consummate for a throne, So wise in council, and so great in arms, Should, after nine long years, remain a slave, Because his wife is fair! What art thou, beauty, Whose charm makes sense and valour grow as
As a blind turtle?
Pher. Is thy wisdom proof
Against the blandishments of warm desire? It ill defends thee from Arsinoe's charms! The sullen sweetness of a down-cast eye, A feign'd unkindness, or a just reproach, Breath'd in a sigh, and soften'd with a tear, Would make thy rigid marble melt like snow On the warm bosom of the youthful spring. Soh. In thoughtless youth, gay nature gives the rein
To love, and bids him urge the full career: But Herod should restrain his head-strong course, Now reason is mature.
For Mariamne with superior charms Triumphs o'er reason; in her look she bears A paradise of ever-blooming sweets: Fair as the first idea beauty prints
On the young lover's soul: a winning grace Guides every gesture, and obsequious love Attends on all her steps; for, majesty Streams from her eye to each beholder's heart, And checks the transport which her charms in- spire:
Who would not live her slave !-Nor is her mind Form'd with inferior elegance!—By her, So absolute in every grace, we guess What essence angels have.
The brightest angel, when his hand unsheaths The vengeful sword, or with dire pestilence Unpeoples nations? If death sits enthron'd In the soft dimple of a damask cheek,
Sch. My lord, the province you've assign'd He thence can aim his silent dart as sure,
As from the wrinkle of a tyrant's frown : D
Crush the crown'd basilisk, or else she kills Whate'er her eye commands.-You need, my lord,
No clearer light than this, by which to read The purpose of my soul.
Pher. Though 'tis obscure,
It strikes like lightning that with fear confounds The pale night-wanderer, whilst it shews the path. You, Sohemus, have cause to think the queen Charges the taking off her uncle's head To your advice; and gladly would atone Her kindred blood with yours: revenge still glows, Though hid in treacherous embers; and you'll feel
The dire effect, whene'er occasion breathes A gale to waken and foment the flame. But I, unpractis'd in th' intrigues of courts, And disciplin'd in camps, will not supply Increase of fuel to these home-bred jars: I hope the king will see them soon supprest; Or care succeeding care will ever tread The circle of his crown.
The safest measure to secure his throne, Shall irritate the queen to make me fall A victim to her rage, the conscious pride Of having acted what the king ordained,
Enter Messenger with a Letter to PHERORAS. Will yet support me. 'Tis not worth my care, Whether the trembling hand of age must shake From the frail glass my last remaining sand; Ör fortune break the phial, ere the sum Of half my life is told.
Pher. "Tis from the king:
A most unpleasing message for the queen. Soh. May I, my lord, partake? Phar. The infant prince
Must live an hostage of the league at Rome; Cæsar hath sent a minister of trust
With guards to wait him. This perhaps the king Hath kept concealed, that his return might calm The afflicted queen, and soften the surprise. Soh. Names he, my lord, the general to whose
The prince must be consigned?
Pher. Rome could not chuse For that high charge a nobler delegate, Than my Flaminius; for a bolder hand Ne'er flew her conquering eagles at their prey. We in the Parthian wars together learned The rudiments of arms; the summer sun Hath seen our marches measured by his own; In battle so intrepid, that he shewed An appetite of danger; oft I've heard The weary veterans, resting on their spears, Swear by the gods and majesty of Rome, They blushed with indignation to behold
Believes his near relation to the queen Exempts his haughty youth from all restraint. He's Mariamne's echo, and repeats But half her menaces.
Soh. What time more fit
To put her threats in act, than when the king Flies with redoubled ardour to her arms? Passion improves with absence; and his heart So soft and passive to the power of love, Will then be vacant only to his queen.— Fortune of late a glorious scene disclos'd, But soon snatch'd back the visionary joy! The blissful hour is past-Curst, doubly curst Be this boy-emperor! who tamely spar'd The warmest friend that Antony could boast. Had Herod perish'd by his vengeful sword, I soon had sent (for so he left in charge) His queen, the worshipp'd idol of his soul, To attend him to the shades.-Clouds of despair Now terminate our view!
No glimmering hope? Though dim, the distan ray
May serve to steer our course. Soh. The king will send
His son for hostage, to reside in Rome.
Sal. Were triple thunder vollied at the queen, It could not rend her bleeding bosom more Than such a message.
Soh. At this little spark,
Discord may light her ever-burning torch: The imperious queen perhaps will edge her tongue, With keen resentments for her ruined race. For 'tis the infirmity of noblest minds, When ruffled with an unexpected woe, To speak what settled prudence would conceal : As the vexed ocean, working in a storm, Oft brings to light the wrecks, which long lay calm
In the dark bosom of the secret deep. From such reproach, his promised joy may change To coldness and distrust, perhaps to hate; And their high souls, that now, like friendly stars, Mingling their beams, in mutual ardour shine, In fiercest opposition then will thwart Each other's influence, and divide the court: Then, mischief, to thy work!-
Sal. In me you'll find
A sure assistant. Shall Pheroras join?
Soh. I'd fly him at the quarry, but I fear He'd check, if other game should cross the flight: He scorns dissimulation, nor perceives That nature never meant simplicity
A grace to charm in courts: he serves the crown With such a blind disinterested zeal, He's even proud to obey.
His cold-complexioned principles, and fall A traitor to himself.
Soh. O princess! born
To bless the world with a long progeny Of future heroes; and renew the strain Of valour, which the softness of your sex Unspirited at first! So great a soul Deserves, and sure is destined to a throne! But hark!-
Sal. The queen's approaching: she repairs To sacrifice.
Soh. 'Tis best we both retire.
Mar. The princess and her friend were unprepared
To pay the decencies the day requires: The most unpractis'd in the courtier's art, And they who hate us most, might sure vouchsafe A smooth unmeaning compliment at least. But night-born treason is too tender-ey'd, To bear the blaze of dazzling majesty, And seeks the guilty shade.
Arsi. They're both deprived
Of your propitious smile; so dire a loss Would cloud the most serene.
Mar. That sullen gloom
Proceeds not from a conscience of their crimes Which sues by penitence for royal grace; But argues high contempt; their brows display A banner of defiance, and avow
Their trait'rous combination: but I'll quell The towering crest of their presumptuous hate, Or perish in the attempt. Henceforth forbear All commerce with the princess, and her train, For fear the infection of example taint
Your sound allegiance.
Arsi. If a single thought
Were tinctured with disloyalty, this hand Should pierce my heart to drive the rebel out. Your strict command with pleasure I obey; For at the sight of Salome, my breast Shivers with chilling horror, and revolves The destiny which a Chaldæan seer Of late foretold. The pious sage had pass'd Full sixty winters in a private cell: His locks were silvered o'er with reverend white; And on his cheeks appeared the pale effect Of studious abstinence: his custom was In his small hermitage to outwatch the moon, To marshal in his schemes the host of heaven; And from their ruling influence at the birth, Formed his predictions. As the princess pass'd, I asked him if his foresight could discern The colour of her fate: he answered, black! 'Tis black chequered with blood! deep in her breast
I see the dagger, doomed by heaven's decree To cut her half-spun thread.
Mar. What powerful cause
Urged you to hear a vain diviner tell
His waking dreams? Perhaps you went to know What happy star presided o'er the love, Which Sohemus, I hear, addressed to you: If so, I'll be your oracle; forbear
To enquire the doubtful omehs of the sky, And fix your faith on this unerring truth: If your ill-judging choice mislead your heart, To meet his passion with an equal flame, Henceforth forever banished from my sight, In exile you shall end an odious life; Attended only in that friendless state By black remorse, which step by step pursues The ungrateful and the false.
The afflicting hand of heaven, without the guilt Of murmur or complaint: but to be thought False and ungrateful, is too much to bear. Chase that suspicion from your royal mind; Nor cast my blameless innocence a prey To those who envy your distinguished grace, With which I've long been honoured. Mar. To receive
Private addresses from my deadliest foe; A wretch, whose dark infernal arts have wrought The ruin of my race, but ill repays
My condescending favour, which vouchsafed To lose the style of subject and of queen, In friendship's softer name.
Arsi. While thus I kneel,
Imploring heaven to attest my spotless faith, May I be fixed a dreadful monument Of perjured guilt, if e'er my bosom gave Reception to his suit. Were he possessed Of all the sun surveys, and formed to please With every grace that captivates the soul; And your command, concurrent with his love, Should urge me to comply; that hard command, And that alone I dare to disobey.- No, my dear Roman! nothing can deface Thy image from thy virgin-widow's breast;
The inviolable band of strong desire Shall ever join our souls.
Mar. Dismiss your fears,
And let them with my vanish'd doubt expire: But, whence this transport of reviving woe? Recite the series of your fate at large.
Arsi. When Anto y and Cæsar found the globe Too narrow, to suffice the boundless views Of two such mighty spirits, my virgin-vow Was plighted to a brave patrician youth, The friend of Cæsar. Antony proscribed The chiefs who sided with his potent foe; And foremost in the tablet my lov'd lord Was doom'd to slaughter; whilst with nuptial joy
His palace rung, crowded with friends who came To attend the bride's arrival, through the gates A troop of cut-throats rushing in, surpris'd And dragged him to his fate!
What could you do, and whither did you fly? Arsi. At Alexandria then the fatal cause
Would soon interpret love; but softly sighed, And slipt it in his bosom. Strait her cheeks Glowed with an angry blush, which faded soon, And left them lily pale. Breathless and faint She then reclined her head, and from his breast Snatch'd what she fear'd might lie too near his heart:
With amorous reluctance while he strove To gain the ravish'd prize, she let it fall (More by design than chance) into the Nile: He springing up to catch it, half-o'er-set The gilded barge; and with a sterner brow, And haughtier tone, than e'er she knew before, He cried, your river is too well repaid, For all the wealth you owed.-
[A messenger enters to NAR. Mess. Pheroras, sir,
Desires to see the Roman general. Nar. Sir, I'll conduct you.
Enter SOHEMUS and the High-Priest. Soh. But the human mind,
When 'tis divorced from matter, cannot pierce The distant cloud of dark futurity.
You sleep not sound, my lord! Old age depress'd
With melancholy damps, oft dwindles down To second infancy, and then renews Its cradle dreams; which superstitious fear Makes sacred with the venerable names Of vision, or of prophecy; devis'd To cheat the vulgar, and too oft employed To cover disaffection to the state.
High-Pr. I have, my lord, no craving appetites
To glut with gain or titles; I've attained
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