Act 4 — SCENE V. Cleomena’s Apartments.

Enter Queen, Cleomena in a Night-Gown, Semiris. A Table with Pen and Ink.

Cleo. Madam, I confess my self unworthy of your Tenderness.

Qu. Ah, Cleomena! you value my Repose at too cheap a Rate, When you expose a Life so dear to me To so much Danger, as to fight Thersander.

Cleo. I am not the first Person of my Sex Has drawn a Sword upon an Enemy; Do you not say he is my Father’s Murderer? And does he not deprive me of that Crown, You say the Gods have destin’d me to wear?

Qu. ‘Tis true, he’s Son to him that kill’d thy Father; But bating that, he has committed nothing But what wou’d rather cause esteem than hate.

Cleo. Pardon me, Madam, if I am forc’d to say, My Sentiments cannot correspond with yours.

Qu. What think you of a Husband in this Prince?

Cleo. How, Madam, marry Thersander!

Qu. The King has generously offered it; My Council do approve it, and the Army Cannot contain their Joy for the blest News.

Cleo. Gods! let the Council and the Army perish, E’er I lose one single Moment of my Satisfaction; Is this the Hate which with my Milk you made me suck For all that Race? is this th’ Effect of my fierce Education?

Qu. All things must be preferr’d to th’ Publick Good, When join’d with my Commands.

Cleo. What you command, I dare not disobey: But, Madam, I beseech you do not claim That cruel Duty here.

Qu. You’ll find it fit to change that peevish Humour, And I will leave you to consider of it. [Exit.

Cleo. Gods! marry me, marry me to Thersander! No, not whilst this—remains in my Possession; [Pulls out a dagger. —I must confess it is a generous Offer; How came it in their Souls?

Sem. Madam, perhaps Love has inspir’d it.

Cleo. Hah, Love—that Miracle may be; When I reflect upon the Prince’s words, When he had vanquish’d me—I do not doubt it; Then he confess’d he had a Passion for me; I wonder at the sudden Birth of it—

Sem. Madam, your Eyes make Captives at first sight.

Cleo. Oh my dear Eyes, how shall I love ye now, For wounding more than my dull Sword could do? ’.was Anger and Revenge that gave ye Charms, Only to help the weakness of my Arms; And when my Woman’s Courage feeble grew, My Heart did kindly send its Aids to you. And thou, Thersander, surely canst not blame My Cruelty, who do allow thy Flame: Love on, love on; and if thou dost despise All other ways, I’ll kill thee with my Eyes.

She sits down, and writes. Enter a Page.

Page. Madam, there is without an Officer Who bad me tell your Highness that he waits.

Cleo. Admit him—and, Page, give you this Letter to the Queen.

Sem. Madam, it is Vallentio whom you sent for.

Enter Vallentio.

Cleo. Vallentio, I believe thee brave and honest.

Val. Madam, the last I dare affirm.

Cleo. Tell me, Vallentio, didst thou ever love?

Val. Madam, your Interest, my Arms, and a brave Enemy.

Cleo. But didst thou never feel a softer Passion?

Val. Madam, I own, though with a Blush I do so, I’ve felt the Power of two fair Eyes; And I have Wounds that yet would bleed afresh, Should but the cruel Murderess appear.

Cleo. Then thou art fit to hear a Secret from me; —But first, Vallentio tell me who I am.

Val. My Princess, Madam, and my General; And one, who from your Power of Beauty holds No less Dominion o’er th’ adoring World, Than from the Greatness you were born to.

Cleo. And you’re contented I should be your Queen?

Val. Madam, I am—Pimante has been prating. [Aside.

Cleo. The Army too are of your mind.

Val. I cannot answer for the Army, Madam.

Cleo. But—what think you of Orsames?

Val. Madam, I think he merits to be King In any other World but where you reign.

Cleo. And what if I would have him King of this?

Val. Why then he shall be King, if you would have it so.

Cleo. Yes, I would have it, by my self I would; This is the time to let the Monarch know The Glories he was born to; Nor can I die in Peace till he be crown’d. [Aside. I’ll have this Nation happy in a Prince, A Prince they long in silence have bemoan’d, Which every slight occasion breaks out loud, And soon will raise them up to a Rebellion, The common People’s God on Holy-days. —And this, Vallentio, I have often observ’d; And ‘tis an Act too humble for my Soul, To court my self into security.

Sem. Madam, the Gods do disapprove his Reign, Which they not only say shall be but short, But Bloody and Tyrannick.

Cleo. I will expound that Oracle, Which Priests unridling make more intricate: They said that he should reign, and so he did, Which lasted not above a pair of Hours. But I my self will be his Oracle now, And speak his kinder Fate, And I will have no other Priest but thee, [To Vallentio. Who shall unfold the Mystery in plain terms.

Val. Madam, the City and the Army are, by this Defeat, Enough inclin’d to hear that Reason.

Cleo. Geron already has Instructions what to do, And you need none, wanting no Resolution.

Val. If I miscarry, Madam, I’ll be condemn’d, Never to look my Foe i’th’ Face again.

Cleo. Haste, and be prosperous—

[Exit. Val.

Semiris, are those Garments ready I spoke for?

Sem. Madam, they’re here—but now what will you do?

Cleo. Now, I will die—and now thou know’st my Will.

Sem. Ah, Madam, ‘tis too much you let me know, Denying me t’ attend you where you go, With such a Guide I cannot err.

Cleo. Alone I’ll go, the Journey is not far In passing; though I miss the aids of Day, Yet my Clemanthis lights me on my way. Why dost thou weep? indeed thou art unkind.

Sem. I weep because you’d leave me here behind; Doubting my Love, I beg you wou’d permit That I might give you the last proof of it. I in your last adventure was too slow, And will not be deny’d my Duty now.

Cleo. Thou show’st a Soul so generous and free, That I’m contented thou shou’dst follow me; Come, dry thy Eyes, such helps we do not need; To ease our Griefs, we must not weep but bleed.

[Exeunt.