Chapter 19

_Within the Scene lies_ Thersander _sleeping, his Cap and Feather at a distance from him_.

_Enter_ Cleomena _drest like an_ Amazon, _with a Bow in her Hand, and a Quiver of Arrows at her Back, with_ Semiris _attired like her_.

_Cleo_. I’m almost tir’d with holding out the Chase.

_Sem_. That’s strange! methought your Highness followed not So fast to Day as I have seen you heretofore.

_Cleo_. I do not use to leave the Game unvanquish’d, Yet now by what strange inclination led I know not, The Sport growing dull, I wish to meet a place Far from the noise and business of the Day: Hast thou ty’d fast my Horses?

_Sem_. Madam, I have.

_Cleo_. What place is this, _Semiris_?

_Sem_. I know not, Madam, but ‘tis wondrous pleasant.

_Cleo_. How much more charming are the Works of Nature Than the Productions of laborious Art? Securely here the wearied Shepherd sleeps, Guiltless of any fear, but the disdain His cruel Fair procures him. How many Tales the Echoes of these Woods Cou’d tell of Lovers, if they would betray, That steal delightful hours beneath their Shades!

_Sem_. You’d rather hear ‘em echo back the sound Of Horns and Dogs, or the fierce noise of War.

_Cleo_. You charge me with the faults of Education, That cozening Form that veils the Face of Nature, But does not see what’s hid within, _Semiris_: I have a Heart all soft as thine, all Woman, Apt to melt down at every tender Object. --Oh, _Semiris_! there’s a strange change within me.

_Sem_. How, Madam!

_Cleo_. I would thou knew’st it; Till now I durst do any thing--but fear, Yet now I tremble with the thoughts of telling thee What none but thou must know--I am in love.

_Sem_. Why do you blush, my Princess? ‘tis no sin; But, Madam, who’s the happy glorious Object?

_Cleo_. Why, canst thou not guess then?

_Sem_. How is it possible I should?

_Cleo_. Oh Gods! not guess the Man! Or, rather think some God! Dull stupid Maid, Hast thou not heard of something more than mortal! ’.wixt Human and Divine! our Country’s Genius, Our young God of War! not heard of him!

_Sem_. ‘Tis not Prince _Artabazes_, or _Ismenes_?

_Cleo_. Away, thou anger’st me.

_Sem_. Pardon me, Madam, It can be none at Court, if none of these? And all besides are much below that Glory.

_Cleo_. What call’st thou much below, mistaken thing? Can a gay Name give Virtue, Wit, or Beauty? Can it gain Conquest, or in Fields or Courts? No, nor defend its own fantastick Owner. --Come, guess again.

_Sem_. I can guess no further than a Man, and that I’m sure he is.

_Cleo_. I know not-- For yet I never saw him, but in’s Character, Unless sometimes in Dreams.

_Sem_. Is’t not enough he conquers where he comes, But that his Fame prevents his Sword and Eyes? Perhaps his Person may not be agreeable; The best in Camps are not the best in Courts.

_Cleo_. So brave a Mind must have as brave an Outside. My Uncle’s Letters from the Camp contain Nothing but Wonders of his Worth and Valour, And ‘tis impossible but such a Man Must merit Love as well as Admiration.

_Sem_. Does he not come to Court?

_Cleo_. The Queen has made him many Invitations; But he for some unknown and cruel Cause, Humbly implores her Pardon for refusing: Nor can the General learn his Quality; But like his Deeds, believes it must be great.

_Sem_. ‘Tis most likely; but I should never fall in love with Fame alone.

_Cleo_. I hope it is not Love--but strange Curiosity To see this brave Unknown--and yet I fear-- I’ve hid this new Impatience of my Soul, Even from thee, till it grew too importunate; And strove by all my lov’d Divertisements, To chase it from my Bosom, but in vain: ’.is too great for little Sports to conquer; The Musick of the Dogs displeas’d to day, And I was willing to retire with thee, To let thee know my Story: And this lone Shade, as if design’d for Love, Is fittest to be conscious of my Crime. --Therefore go seek a Bank where we may sit; And I will sigh whilst thou shall pity me.

[_Stands with her Arms across_. [Sem. _looks about, finds the Cap and Feathers_.

_Sem_. See, Madam, what I’ve found.

_Cleo_. ‘Tis a fine Plume, and well adorn’d, And must belong to no uncommon Man: --And look, _Semiris_, where its Owner lies --Ha! he sleeps, tread softly lest you wake him: --Oh Gods! who’s this with so divine a Shape?

_Sem_. His Shape is very well.

_Cleo_. Gently remove the Hair from off his Face, [Sem. _puts back his Hair_. And see if that will answer to the rest: --All lovely! all surprizing! Oh, my Heart, How thou betray’st the weakness of our Sex! --Look on that Face, where Love and Beauty dwells-- And though his Eyes be shut, tell me, _Semiris_, Has he not wondrous Charms?

_Sem_. Yes, Madam, and I wou’d excuse you, if you shou’d now fall in Love, here’s Substance; but that same Passion for Fame alone, I do not like.

_Cleo_. Ah, do not call my Blushes to my Face, But pardon all my weakness: May not my Eyes have leave to gaze a while? Since after this there’s not another Object Can merit their Attention-- But I’ll no longer view that pleasing Form-- [_Turns from him_. And yet I’ve lost all power of removing-- [_Turns and gazes_. Even now I was in love with mere Report, With Words, with empty Noise; And now that Flame, like to the Breath that blew it, Is vanish’d into Air, and in its room An Object quite unknown, unfam’d, unheard of, Informs my Soul; how easily ‘tis conquer’d! How angry am I with my Destiny! Till now, with much disdain I have beheld The rest of all his Sex; and shall I here Resign a Heart to one I must not love? Must this be he must kill the King of _Scythia_? For I must lay no claim to any other: Grant, Oh ye Gods, who play with Mortals thus, That him for whom ye have design’d your Slave, May look like this Unknown, And I’ll be ever grateful for the Bounty. --But these are vain imaginary Joys.

[Thersander _wakes, rises, and gazes_.

_Ther_. Am I awake, or do my Dreams present me Ideas much more bright and conquering, Than e’er approach’d my waking Sense by far? --Sure ‘tis _Diana_, the Goddess of these Woods, That Beauty and that Dress confirm me ‘tis. [_Kneels_. --Great Goddess, pardon an unlucky Stranger, The Errors he commits ‘gainst your Divinity, Who, had he known this Grove had sacred been, He wou’d not have profan’d it by his Presence.

_Cleo_. Rise, Sir, I am no Deity; Or if I were, I cou’d not be offended [_He rises_. To meet so brave a Man--Gods, how he looks!

_Ther_. Can you be mortal! What happy Land contains you? or what Men Are worthy to adore you?

_Cleo_. I find you are a Stranger to this place, You else had known me to be _Cleomena_.

_Ther_. The Princess _Cleomena_! my mortal Enemy! [_Aside_.

_Cleo_. You seem displeas’d at the knowledge of my Name; But give me leave to tell you, yours on me Wou’d have another Sense.

_Ther_. The knowledge of your Name has not displeas’d me; [_Kneels_. But, Madam, I had sooner took you for The Sovereign of the World than that of Dacia; Nor ought you to expect less Adoration From all that World, than those who’re born your Slaves. --And amongst those devout ones number him, Whom happy Fate conducted to your Feet, And who’ll esteem himself more fortunate, If by that little service he had rendred you, _Clemanthis’. Name have ever reach’d your Ear.

_Cleo. Clemanthis_! what cou’d the Gods do more, [_Aside_. To make me ever bless’d!--Rise, noble Youth-- [_Raises him_. Cou’dst thou salute me Mistress of the World, Or bring me news of Conquest over _Scythia_, It would not reach so kindly to my Soul, As that admir’d illustrious Name of thine. This Crown’s in debt to your all-conquering Sword; And I’m the most oblig’d to make Returns, Which if you knew me, sure you wou’d not doubt, If to those Favours you’ve already done us, You’ll add one more, and go with me to Court.

_Ther_. To th’ Court? to th’ utmost Bounds of all the Universe. At your Command, through Dangers worse than Death, I’d fly with hasty Joy-- Like Gods, do but decree, and be obey’d.

_Sem_. Madam, the Company we left are coming this way, and with them Prince _Honorius_.

_Ther_. The General here so soon! [_Aside_.

_Enter_ Honorius, Ismenes, _Women, and Huntsmen_.

_Cleo_. Welcome, victorious Uncle. [Hon. _kisses_ Cleo’s _Hand_.

_Hon_. Madam, I heard the Noise of Horns and Dogs, And thought your Highness was abroad to Day; Following the Cry, it brought me to this Company, Who were in search for you, and ‘twas my Duty to attend them. --My gallant Friend _Clemanthis_ here! This was above my hopes; let me embrace thee,-- And tell thee with what Joy I find thee in the presence Of my fair Niece, who must prevail upon you To wait on her to Court; what I cou’d not intreat, let her command.

_Ther_. Where Duty and my Inclination leads me, There needs no Invitation.

_Cleo_. Already, Uncle, he has promis’d it.

_Ism_. Sir, is this the Man to whom all _Dacia_ is so much oblig’d?

_Hon_. This is that gallant Man, whose single Valour Has gain’d the Victory over the Nomades, Who kill’d their King, and scatter’d all their Forces; And when my feeble Strength (which Age and Wars Had made unfit for mighty Toils) grew faint, He, like _Aeneas_, bore my aged Limbs Through all the fiery Dangers of the Battel.

_Ther_. Too much you’ve said to my Advantage, Sir, Robbing the Gods and Fortune of their Glory.

_Ism_. Rank me amongst your Captives; for I find, Whether you fight or not, you must be Victor. [_Embraces_ Ther.

_Enter_ Vallentio, Urania, Pimante; Vallentio _kneels and delivers_ Urania _to the Princess_.

_Cleo_. What new Encounter’s this?

_Val_. I need not ask where I shall pay my Duty: My Wonder will direct me to your Feet.

_Cleo_. Who knows the Man that makes me such a Present?

_Hon_. Madam, he is an Officer of mine, A worthy gallant Fellow; But one that hardly knows what Cities are, But as he’as view’d ‘em through their batter’d Walls, And after join’d ‘em to your Territories.

_Cleo_. Rise high in her Esteem that loves a Soldier. [_He rises_.

_Val_. I need say nothing for my Prisoner, Madam, Whose Looks will recommend her: only this, It was against my Will I made her so, Who ne’er refus’d till then to take your Enemies.

_Ther_. It is Urania, she’ll know me, and betray me. [_Aside_.

_Cleo_. Say, lovely Maid, whom, and from whence thou art?

_Ura_. A _Scythian_, Madam, and till now your Foe.

_Pim_. Ay, Madam, we took her, we took her.

_Cleo_. So fair an one must merit my Esteem: I hope there are not many such fine Creatures Brought into the Camp against us; if there be, The _Scythians_ cannot doubt of Victory. --Thy Name and Business here?

_Ura. Urania_, Madam-- My Story were too tedious for your Ear, Nor were it fit I should relate it here. --But ‘tis not as an Enemy I come, ’.is rather, Madam, to receive my Doom; Nor am I by the chance of War betray’d, But ‘tis a willing Captive I am made: Your Pity, not your Anger I shall move, When I confess my Fault is only Love, Love to a Youth, who never knew till now How to submit, nor cou’d to ought but you. --His Liberty for Ransom you deny; I dare not say that this is Cruelty, Since yet you may be pleas’d to give me leave To die with him, with whom I must not live.

_Ther_. Excellent Maid! what Generosity her Love has taught her! [_Aside_.

_Cleo_. That you esteem me cruel, is unkind, But Faults of Lovers must Forgiveness find: _Amintas’. Chains had far more easy been, Had he been less a Favorite to his King. --But you, _Urania_, may perhaps redeem That Captive which I would not render them.

_Ura_. Madam, this Bounty wou’d exceed Belief, But you too generous are to mock my Grief: And when you shall m’ unhappy Story learn, ’.will justify my Tears, and your Concern.

_Cleo_. I need no Arguments for what I do, But that I will, and then it must be so.

_Ura_. The Prince of _Scythia_ in the Camp of _Dacia_! If I could be mistaken in that form, I’d hate my Eyes for thus deluding me: But Heaven made nothing but _Amintas_ like him. [_Aside_.

_Cleo_. Come, let’s to Court, by this the Queen expects us: --You, my fair Prisoner, must along with me: [_Takes her Hand_. --Thy Hand, _Clemanthis_, too--Now tell me, Uncle, [Takes him with the other Hand. --What _Scythian_ that beholds me thus attended, Would not repine at my Felicity, Having so brave a Friend, so fair an Enemy?

[_Exeunt_.