SCENE I.

_The Palace of_ SYPHAX _at Cirta_.

SYPHAX, _with his dagger twon_[336] _about her hair, drags in_ SOPHONISBA _in her nightgown and petticoat_; ZANTHIA _and_ VANGUE _following_.

_Sy._ Must we entreat? sue to such squeamish ears? Know, Syphax has no knees, his eyes no tears; Enragèd love is senseless of remorse. Thou shalt, thou must: kings' glory is their force. Thou art in Cirta, in my palace, fool: Dost think he pitieth tears that knows to rule? For all thy scornful eyes, thy proud disdain, And late contempt of us, now we'll revenge, Break stubborn silence. Look, I'll tack thy head To the low earth, whilst strength of two black knaves 10 Thy limbs all wide shall strain. Prayer fitteth slaves, Our courtship be our force: rest calm as sleep, Else at this quake; hark, hark, we cannot weep.

_So._ Can Sophonisba be enforc'd?

_Sy._ Can? see.

_So._ Thou mayest enforce my body, but not me.

_Sy._ Not?

_So._ No.

_Sy._ No?

_So._ No: off with thy loathèd arms, That lie more heavy on me than the chains That wear deep wrinkles in the captive's limbs! I do beseech thee.

_Sy._ What?

_So._ Be but a beast, Be but a beast.

_Sy._ Do not offend a power 20 Can make thee more than wretched: yield to him To whom fate yields. Know, Massinissa's dead.

_So._ Dead!

_Sy._ Dead.

_So._ To gods' and[337] good men's shame.

_Sy._ Help, Vangue, my strong blood boils.

_So._ O[338] yet save thine own fame.

_Sy._ All appetite is deaf; I will, I must. Achilles' armour could not bar[339] out lust.

_So._ Hold thy strong arm, and hear me. Syphax, know I am thy servant now: I needs must love thee, For (O, my sex, forgive!) I must confess We not affect protesting feebleness, 30 Entreats, faint blushings, timorous modesty; We think our lover is but little man, Who is so full of woman. Know, fair Prince, Love's strongest arm's not rude; for we still prove, Without some fury there's no ardent love. We love our love's impatience of delay; Our noble[340] sex was only born t'obey, To him that dares command.

_Sy._ Why, this is well; Th' excuse is good: wipe thy fair eyes, our Queen, Make proud thy head; now feel more friendly strength Of thy lord's arm: come, touch my rougher skin 41 With thy soft lip. Zanthia, dress our bed. Forget old loves, and clip him that through blood And hell acquires his wish; think not but kiss, The flourish fore love's fight and[341] Venus' bliss.

_So._ Great dreadful lord, by thy affection, Grant me one boon. Know I have made a vow--

_Sy._ Vow! what vow? speak.

_So._ Nay, if you take offence, Let my soul suffer first, and yet----

_Sy._ Offence? Not, Sophonisba; hold, thy vow is free 50 As----come, thy lips!

_So._ Alas, cross misery! As I do wish to live, I long t'enjoy Your warm embrace; but, oh my vow, 'tis thus: If ever my lord died, I vow'd to him A most, most private sacrifice, before I touch'd a second spouse. All I implore, Is but this liberty.

_Sy._ This? go, obtain. What time?

_So._ One hour.

_Sy._ Sweet, good speed, speed, adieu!-- Yet, Syphax, trust no more than thou may'st view.-- Vangue shall stay.

_So._ He stays.

_Enter a Page, delivering a letter to_ SOPHONISBA, _which she privately reads_.

_Sy._ Zanthia, Zanthia! 60 Thou art not foul, go to; some lords are oft So much in love with their known ladies' bodies, That they oft love their--Vails:[342] hold, hold, thou'st find To faithful care kings' bounty hath no shore.

_Zan._ You may do much.

_Sy._ But let my gold do more.

_Zan._ I am your creature.

_Sy._ Be yet;[343] 'tis no stain; The god of service is however gain.

[_Exit._

_So._ Zanthia, where are we now? speak worth my service; Ha' we done well?

_Zan._ Nay, in height of best I fear'd a superstitious virtue would spoil all, 70 But now I find you above women rare. She that can time her goodness hath true care Of her best good. Nature at home begins; She, whose integrity herself hurts, sins. For Massinissa, he was good, and so; But he is dead, or worse, distress'd, or more Than dead, or much distress'd. O sad, poor,-- Who ever held such friends? no, let him go; Such faith is praised, then laugh'd at; for still know Those are the living women that reduce 80 All that they touch unto their ease and use, Knowing that wedlock, virtue, or good names, Are courses and varieties of reason, To use or leave, as they advantage them, And absolute within themselves reposed, Only to greatness ope, to all else closed. Weak sanguine fools are to their own good nice; Before I held you virtuous, but now wise.

_So._ Zanthia, victorious Massinissa lives, My Massinissa lives. O steady powers, 90 Keep him as safe as heaven keeps the earth, Which looks upon it with a thousand eyes! That honest valiant man! and Zanthia, Do but record the justice of his love, And my for ever vows, for ever vows!

_Zan._ Ay, true madam; nay, think of his great mind, His most just heart, his all of excellence, And such a virtue as the gods might envy. Against this, Syphax, is but----and you know, Fame lost, what can be got that's good for----

_So._ Hence! 100 Take, nay, with one hand.

_Zan._ My service.

_So._ Prepare Our sacrifice.

_Zan._ But yield you, ay or no?

_So._ When thou dost know.

_Zan._ What then?

_So._ Then thou wilt know.

[_Exit_ ZANTHIA.

Let him that would have counsel 'void th' advice Of friends, made his with weighty benefits, Whose much dependence only strives to fit Humour, not reason, and so still devise In any thought to make their friend seem wise. But above all, O fear a servant's tongue, Like such as only for their gain do[344] serve. 110 Within the vast capacity of space,[345] I know no vileness so most truly base. Their lord's their gain; and he that most will give, With him (they will not die, but) they will live. Traitors and these are one; such slaves once trust, Whet swords to make thine own blood lick the dust.

_Cornets and organs playing full music, enter under the conduct of_ ZANTHIA _and_ VANGUE, _the solemnity of a sacrifice; which being entered, whilst the attendants furnish the altar_, SOPHONISBA _sings a song; which done, she speaks_.

Withdraw, withdraw; all but Zanthia and Vangue depart.--

[_Exeunt attendants._

I not invoke thy arm, thou god of sound,-- Nor thine, nor thine,--although in all abound High powers immense. But jovial Mercury, 120 And thou, O brightest female of the sky, Thrice-modest Phoebe, you that jointly fit A worthy chastity and a most chaste wit, To you corruptless honey and pure dew Upbreathes our holy fire; words just and few, O deign to hear! if in poor wretches' cries You glory not; if drops of withered eyes Be not your sport, be just; all that I crave Is but chaste life, or an untainted grave. I can no more; yet hath my constant tongue 130 Let fall no weakness, tho' my heart were wrung With pangs worth hell; whilst great thoughts stop our tears, Sorrow unseen, unpitied, inward wears: You see now where I rest, come is my end. Cannot Heaven virtue 'gainst weak chance defend? When weakness hath out-borne what weakness can,-- What should I say?--'tis Jove's, not sin of man. --Some stratagem now! let wit's God be shown, Celestial powers by miracles are known. I have't; 'tis done.--Zanthia, prepare our bed. 140 Vangue!

_Van._ Your servant.

_So._ Vangue, we have perform'd Due rites unto the dead.

[SOPHONISBA _presents a carouse to_ VANGUE.

Now to thy lord, great Syphax, healthful cups, Which done, the king is right much welcome.

_Van._ Were it as deep as thought, off it should thus.

[_He drinks._

_So._ My safety with that draught.

_Van._ Close the vault's mouth lest we do slip in drink.

_So._ To what use, gentle negro, serves this cave, Whose mouth thus opens so familiarly, Even in the king's bedchamber?

_Van._ O, my queen, 150 This vault with hideous darkness, and much length, Stretcheth beneath the earth into a grove, One league from Cirta (I am very sleepy); Through this, when Cirta hath been strong begirt, With hostile siege the king hath safely 'scaped To, to----

_So._ The wine is strong.

_Van._ Strong?

_So._ Zanthia!

_Zan._ What means my princess?

_So._ Zanthia, rest firm And silent. Help us; nay, do not dare refuse.

_Zan._ The negro's dead!

_So._ No, drunk.

_Zan._ Alas!

_So._ Too late! Her hand is fearful whose mind's desperate. 160 It is but sleepy opium he hath drunk. Help, Zanthia!

[_They lay_ VANGUE _in_ SYPHAX' _bed and draw the curtains_.

There lie Syphax' bride; a naked man is soon undress'd; There bide dishonoured passion.

[_They knock within, forthwith_ SYPHAX _comes_.

_Sy._ Way for the king!

_So._ Straight for the king. I fly Where misery shall see nought but itself. Dear Zanthia, close the vault when I am sunk, And whilst he slips to bed, escape; be true; I can no more; come to me. Hark, gods, my breath Scorns to crave life, grant but a well-famed death. 170

[_She descends._

_Enter_ SYPHAX, _ready for bed, with attendants_.

_Sy._ Each man withdraw, let not a creature stay Within large distance.

_Zan._ Sir!

_Sy._ Hence, Zanthia! Not thou shalt hear; all stand without ear-reach Of the soft cries nice shrinking brides do yield, When----

_Zan._ But, sir----

_Sy._ Hence!--stay, take thy delight by steps, Think of thy joys, and make long thy pleasures. O silence, thou dost swallow pleasure right; Words take away some sense from our delight. Music! 180 Be proud, my Venus; Mercury, thy tongue; Cupid, thy flame; 'bove all, O Hercules, Let not thy back be wanting; for now I leap To catch the fruit none but the gods should reap.

[_Offering to leap into bed, he discovers_ VANGUE.

Hah! can any woman turn to such a devil? Or--or--Vangue, Vangue----

_Van._ Yes, yes.

_Sy._ Speak, slave! How camest thou here?

_Van._ Here?

_Sy._ Zanthia, Zanthia! Where's Sophonisba? speak at full--at full. Give me particular faith, or know thou art not----

_Zan._ Your pardon, just-moved prince, and private ear. 190

_Sy._ Ill actions have some grace, that they can fear.

_Van._ How came I laid? which way was I made drunk? Where am I? think I, or is my state advanced? O Jove, how pleasant is it but to sleep, In a king's bed!

_Sy._ Sleep there thy lasting sleep, Improvident, base, o'er-thirsty slave.

[SYPHAX _kills_ VANGUE.

Die pleased, a king's couch is thy too-proud grave.-- Through this vault say'st thou?

_Zan._ As you give me grace To live, 'tis true.

_Sy._ We will be good to Zanthia; Go, cheer thy lady, and be private to us. 200

_Zan._ As to my life.

[_She descends after_ SOPHONISBA.

_Sy._ I'll use this Zanthia, And trust her as our dogs drink dangerous Nile[346] (Only for thirst), that[347] fly the crocodile. Wise Sophonisba knows love's tricks of art: Without much hindrance pleasure hath no heart. Despite all virtue or weak plots I must: Seven-wallèd Babel cannot bar[348] out lust.

[_Descends through the vault._

[335] In the old eds. is the direction--"_Organ mixt with recorders for this Act_."

[336] So ed. 1.--Ed. 2. "_twound_."

[337] Ed. 1. "of good men shame."

[338] Ed. 1. "O save thine owne (yet) fame."

[339] Old eds. "beare."

[340] Quy. "feeble"?

[341] Ed. 1. "is."

[342] Old eds. "That they oft love their vailes; hold," &c.--If the text is not corrupt, we must suppose that a sentence breaks off at the word "their." Marston is fond of employing the horrid figure _aposiopesis_. "Vails" is intelligible on the supposition that Syphax is feeing the waiting-woman.

[343] Old eds. "get."

[344] Old eds. "to."

[345] Old eds. "place."

[346] Dogs on the banks of the Nile were supposed to drink by snatches, running, from fear of the crocodiles.--(Aelian, _Var. Hist._ i. 4.)

[347] Old eds. "Only for thirst; the Flie," &c.

[348] Old eds. "bear" and "beare."