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SCENE IV.

Phra. Come from the croud, Orbasius ; hear and obey.
Haste to the Prison, and bring forth that woman
(Who freed Sophernes from the hand of power)
To publick justice. She shall bleed before me.
Let her be led a publick spectacle.
Dispatch. Remember that the King expects you.

SCENE III.

Phra. Bid them suspend a while the sacrifice,
The Queen requires a private conference
On matters that concern the state. Withdraw.
Now speak, my Queen; I'm ready to obey.
Ast. All is not safe. Your state still harbours treason.
Ev'n now I tremble for my Lord the King;
For through the dark the traytor's arrow flies;
And which way will you turn your shield against it?
Phra. What means my Queen?

SCENE II.

Thou sometimes wert known
To miss Devotion's hours. How comes it then
Thou'rt now so soon? hast thou ought that concerns me?
Think'st thou Araxes honest? I have doubts.
I fear the prisoner 'scap'd by his connivance.
Are my commands obey'd?
Dor. 'Tis not yet done.
He could not gain admission to the King.
Ast. Does he not know a frown of mine can crush him?
Dor. I know his heart and hand are wholly yours.

ACT V. S CENCE I.

A Temple.

Doraspe knows, — and I am in her power.
Araxes was employ'd; he may suspect me.
One crime supports another — I must on.
I fear them both. How shall I lose my fear?
Their deaths must end it. But they may be honest.
I'll sift them — for my Soul has lost all rest.
But see Doraspe .

SCENE XI.

Ast. If I had power, this instant she should die.
Ara. I fear the King will soften into mercy.
Ast. Why that suspicion?
Ara. While she spoke before him,
I saw the King with the most fond attention
Hang on her words, and as she spoke he languish'd,
And ev'ry look he gave was love or pity.
Ast. She shall not live an hour. Lest with each moment

SCENE X.

Ast. Who shall appease this tempest of my soul?
'Tis done. He's dead: now it will rage for ever!
Yet why? Hence, conscience. All I did was justice.
Am I the cause? I proffer'd life and love.
The murder was not mine. Why then this horror?
Could a Queen bear such insolence and scorn?
Was I not injured? shall I not resent?
He well deserv'd his fate. Ungrateful man!
The bloody spectacle shall please revenge,
And fix eternal hatred in my heart.

SCENE IX.

Araxes. Astarbe

Ast. I bring the royal mandate, read your order.
The sentence of Sophernes is suspended;
I'd question him in private. Guide me to him.
Ara. He's dead.
Ast. Sophernes dead! when? how? by whom?
Ara. The captive woman by whose hand he fell,
Is gone before the King; just now she parted.
Ast. My guilt, my hate, my love, all war within.

SCENE VIII.

Cyl. O blessed opportunity, I thank thee.
If for this pious act of love I perish,
Let not Sophernes rashly follow me.
Live to revenge me, and the world shall praise thee.
Though all my hours be doom'd to chains and darkness,
The pleasing thought that I have giv'n thee safety,
Will chear me more than liberty and day-light.
Though I'm condemned to suffer shameful death.
Ev'n in that hour I shall forget his terrors,

SCENE VII.

Cap. Come forth, Sophernes .
Soph. I will meet thee, Death.
Cap. Draw near.
Soph. Hark! was it not a woman's voice?
That voice no more is sweet; — Cylene 's dead.
Yes. 'Tis the Queen. Here satiate thy revenge,
My bosom heaves, and longs to meet the dagger.
Why is thy hand so slow?
Cap. Look on this face,
Is not thy heart acquainted with these eyes?

SCENE VI.

Cap. This letter will instruct you in your duty.
Ara. The prisoner shall be given into your hands.
Cap. And he shall perish by an injur'd woman.
Thus has the King decreed; so shall he suffer
Both for his treason, and my murder'd lord.
To see me arm'd with such just resolution,
My husband's ghost is pleas'd, and smiles upon me.
Phraortes gave this dagger. This shall end him.