Page:Representative American plays.pdf/26

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Can charm like mourning beauty) soon struck off

Her chains, and rais'd her to his bed and throne.

Adorn'd the brows of her aspiring Son,

The fierce Vonones, with the regal crown

Of rich Armenia, once the happy rule

Of Tisaphernes, her deceased Lord.

. And he in wasteful war return'd his thanks,

Refus'd the homage he had sworn to pay,

And spread Destruction ev'rywhere around,

'Til from Arsaces' hand he met the fate

His crimes deserv'd.

. As yet your princely Brother

Has scap'd Thermusa's rage, for still residing

In peaceful times, within his Province, ne'er

Has fortune blest her with a sight of him,

On whom she 'd wreck her vengeance.

. She has won

By spells, I think, so much on my fond father,

That he is guided by her will alone.

She rules the realm, her pleasure is a law,

All offices and favours are bestow'd,

As she directs.

. But see, the Prince, Vardanes,

Proud Lysias with him, he whose soul is harsh

With jarring discord. Nought but madding rage,

And ruffian-like revenge his breast can know,

Indeed to gain a point he 'll condescend

To mask the native rancour of his heart,

And smooth his venom'd tongue with flattery.

Assiduous now he courts Vardanes' friendship,

See, how he seems to answer all his gloom,

And give him frown for frown.

. Let us retire,

And shun them now; I know not what it means,

But chilling horror shivers o'er my limbs,

When Lysias I behold.—

(Shout.)

. That shout proclaims

Arsaces' near approach.

. Peace, prithee, peace,

Wilt thou still shock me with that hated sound,

And grate harsh discord in my offended ear?

If thou art fond of echoing the name,

Join with the servile croud, and hail his triumph.

. I hail him? By our glorious shining God,

I 'd sooner lose my speech, and all my days

In silence rest, conversing with my thoughts,

Than hail Arsaces.

. Yet, again his name,

Sure there is magic in it, 's drunk

And giddy with the joy; the houses' tops

With gaping spectators are throng'd, nay wild

They climb such precipices that the eye

Is dazzl'd with their daring; ev'ry wretch

Who long has been immur'd, nor dar'd enjoy

The common benefits of sun and air,

Creeps from his lurking place; e'en feeble age,

Long to the sickly couch confin'd, stalks forth,

And with infectious breath assails the Gods.

O! curse the name, the idol of their joy.

. And what 's that name, that thus they should disturb

The ambient air, and weary gracious heav'n

With ceaseless bellowings? Vardanes sounds

With equal harmony, and suits as well

The loud repeated shouts of noisy joy.

Can he bid Chaos Nature's rule dissolve,

Can he deprive mankind of light and day,

And turn the Seasons from their destin'd course?

Say, can he do all this, and be a God?

If not, what is his matchless merit? What dares he,

Vardanes dares not? blush not, noble Prince,

For praise is merit's due, and I will give it;

E'en 'mid the croud which waits thy Brother's smile,

I 'd loud proclaim the merit of Vardanes.

. Forbear this warmth, your friendship urges far.