Chapter 24

_The Curtain is let down--being drawn up, discovers_ Orsames _seated on a Throne asleep, drest in Royal Robes, the Crown and Sctpter lying by on a Table_. Geron _near the Throne. On either side of the Stage, Courtiers ready drest, and multitude of Lights. Above is discovered the_ Queen, Olympia, _and Women_, Pimante, Artabazes, Ismenes; _Soft Musick plays;--whilst he wakes by degrees, and gazes round about him, and on himself with Wonder_.

_Ors_.--Gods! what am I? --Or, is there any other God but I?

_Ger_. Yes, my great Lord; But you’re a King, a mighty Monarch, Sir.

_Ors_. I understand thee, ‘tis some God thou mean’st.

_Ger_. On Earth it is: your Power too is as great; Your Frowns destroy, and when you smile you bless; At every Nod the whole Creation bows, And lay their grateful Tributes at your Feet; Their Lives are yours, and when you deign to take ‘em, There’s not a Mortal dares defend himself: But that you may the more resemble Heaven, You should be merciful and bountiful.

_Ors_. I do believe I am the King thou speak’st of.

_Ger_. Behold this Crown--this sacred Thing is yours.

[_Kneels and gives him the Scepter and Crown; he puts it on, and walks about_.

_Ors_. It is a glorious Object-- And fit for none but me--

_Olymp_. Madam, methinks the King is the finest Man That e’er I saw--shall he not still be King?

_Qu_. I hope he will deserve it.

_Ors_. So, now methinks I move like Heaven itself, All circled round with Stars, --Hah! what’s this that kneels?

[_The_ Queen _kneels, he snatches her up_.

_Ger_. The Queen your Mother, Sir.--

_Ors_. By my great self it is another Woman, Which I have burnt with a desire of seeing. --Be gone, and leave us here alone together; I’ve something to impart to this fair Thing, Must not be understood by you.

_Qu_. Why, Sir, what is it you can impart to me, Which those about you must not understand?

_Ors_. A new Philosophy inspir’d by Nature, And much above whatever Geron taught. --Come and augment my Knowledge.

_Qu_. Why me, Sir, more than any one about you?

_Ors_. Thou art all soft and sweet like springing Flowers, And gentle as the undisturbed Air.

_Qu_. But I am your Mother.

_Ors_. No matter; thou’rt a Woman, art thou not? And being so, the Mother cannot awe me.

_Ger_. Sir, ‘tis the Person gave you Life and Being.

_Ors_. That gave me Life! oh, how I love thee for’t! Come--and I’ll pay thee back such kind Returns--

_Ger_. Most Royal Sir, this Woman was Not made by Heaven--for you.

_Ors_. Away with your Philosophy; but now you said-- I was a King, a mighty God on Earth, And by that Power I may do any thing.

_Ger_. But Kings are just as well as powerful, Sir.

_Ors_. I am so to my self, do not oppose me.

_Ger_. Sir, this one is not meant, not form’d for you.

_Ors_. Am I a God, and can be disobey’d? Remove that Contradiction from my sight, And let him live no longer: ha, more Women! [Exit Geron.

_Enter_ Olympia _and other Women_.

Oh Nature, how thou’st furnish’d me with Store! And finer far than this-- [_Gazes on_ Olympia. --But what is that whose Eyes give Laws to all, And like the Sun, eclipse the lesser Lights?

_Qu_. Speak to him, _Olympia_.

_Ors_. Who tells me what she is?

_Olym_. Oh, how I tremble!--Sir, I am a Maid.

_Ors_. A Maid! and may you be approacht with Knees and Prayers [_Kneels_.

_Olym_. I am your Slave, you must not kneel to me-- Takes him up.

_Ors_. How soon my Glory’s vanisht! Till now I did believe I was some God, And had my Power and my Divinity Within my Will; but by this awful Fear, I find thou art the greater Deity: --Pray tell me, fairest, are you not a Woman?

_Olym_. I am a Woman, and a Virgin, Sir.

_Ors_. I did believe that thou wert something more, For I have seen a Woman, and ne’er knew So much Disorder in my Soul before: --For every Look of thine gives me a Pain, And draws my Heart out of its wonted Seat.

_Olym_. Alas, Sir, have I hurt you?

_Ors_. Extremely hurt me, thou hast a secret Power, And canst at distance wound, Which none but Heaven and you cou’d ever do. --But ‘twas my Fault; had I not gaz’d on thee, I had been still a King, and full of Health. --Here--receive this Crown, ‘tis now unfit for me, Since thou hast greater Power--whilst it sits here-- [_He takes off his Crown, and puts it on her_. It looks like Stars fall’n from their proper Sphere: --So, now they’re fixt again.

_Qu. Pimante_, speak to him to take it back.

_Pim_. He kills me with his Looks. --Sir, when you part with this, you’ll be despis’d; Your Glory, and your Thunder, all will vanish.

_Ors_. I yet have something that shall make thee fear, I’m still a King, though I must bow to her; Take him away to Death immediately--

_Pim_. Any where to be out of your Sight-- A King, quotha? [_Exit_.

_Ors_. Come, my fair Virgin, this shall be my Altar, And I will place thee here, my Deity.

_Qu_. Great Sir, that Throne is only fit for you.

_Ors_. I say again, I’ll have it fit for two: Thou art a Woman, thank the Gods for that: --Ascend, my lovely Virgin, and adorn it; Ascend, and be immortal as my self.

_Art_. That Throne she was not born to.

_Ors_. Into the Sea with that bold Counsellor, And let him there dispute with Winds and Waves. [_Art. ex_.

_Being seated on a Throne, enter several in Masquerades, and dance_.

--Cou’d I be sensible of any Pleasure, But what I take in thee, this had surpriz’d me.

_Olym_. A Banquet, Sir, attends you.

_Ors_. Dispose me as you please, my lovely Virgin; For I’ve resign’d my Being to your Will, And have no more of what I call my own, Than Sense of Joys and Pains, which you create. [_They rise, and sit down at a Banquet. He gazes on her_.

_Olym_. Will you not please to eat?

_Ors_. It is too gross a Pleasure for a King. Sure, if they eat, ‘tis some celestial Food, As I do by gazing on thy Eyes-- Ah, lovely Maid--

_Olym_. Why do you sigh, Sir?

_Ors_. For something which I want; yet having thee, What more can Heaven bestow to gratify My Soul and Sense withal?

_Olym_. Sir, taste this Wine; Perhaps ‘twill alter that deceiv’d Opinion, And let you know the Error of your Passion; ’.will cause at least some Alteration in you.

_Ors_. Why shouldst thou ask so poor a Proof of me? But yet, I will obey,--give me the Wine.

[_They put something into the Bowl_.

_Olym_. How do you like it, Sir?

_Ors_. Why--well; but I am still the same. Come, give it me again--’tis very pleasant-- Will you not taste it too?-- Methinks my Soul is grown more gay and vigorous; What I have drank, has deify’d thee more, Heightens the Pleasure which I take to gaze on thee, And sends a thousand strange uneasy Joys, That play about my Heart, and more transport me-- Drink, my fair Virgin, and perhaps thy Eyes May find some Charms in me to make thee thus.

_Olym_. Alas, they’ve found already but too many. [_Aside_.

_Ors_. I thought I must have gaz’d on thee for ever; --But oh! my Eyes grow heavy in the Play, As if some strange Divinity about me Told me my Safety lay in their Declension. --It is not Sleep!--sure, Kings do never sleep; That were a low submission to a Power A Monarch shou’d despise--but yet ‘tis so: Ye Gods, am I but mortal then? Or do you ever sleep? I find ye do! But I must--and lose this lovely Object: Grant, oh ye Gods, that I may find it in a Dream, Let her Idea hover about my Soul, And keep it still in this harmonious Order --And gently blow the Flame’t has kindled there. [_Falls asleep_.

_Enter_ Geron, Pimante, _and_ Arates.

_Pim_. Are you sure he’s asleep?

_Ger_. How do you like him, Madam?

_Qu_. I fear he is a Tyrant in his Nature.

_Ger_. But since he can be tam’d by Love and Beauty, You should not doubt but he’ll be fit to reign.

_Qu_. Remove him now into his own Apartment, And still continue to impose upon him, Till you receive new Orders.

[_Exeunt_.