Scene draws off, discovers Thersander seemingly courting
Olympia. Enter Cleomena; sees them, starts, gazes
on them, then goes out unseen. The Scene closes and
changes to her Apartment.—She enters in a Rage—
Cleo. Perfidious Man! am I abandon’d then? [Rage.
Abandon’d for Olympia! my Slave—
And yet I lov’d him more than I did Heaven— [Soft.
And shall he quit me thus?
Without being punish’d for this Infidelity?
—No, let me be a shame to all my Sex then
—Oh, Clemanthis! to whom I fondly gave my Liberty,
When first I saw thee sleeping in the Wood.
—But I grow soft, a Passion too unfit
For so much Anger as my Soul’s possess’d with;
’.was but even now he lov’d me with such Ardor,
And he who promis’d me the Crown of Scythia,
Dar’st thou become unjust, ungrateful Stranger!
Who having rais’d thy Eyes to Cleomena,
Would sacrifice her to another Mistress?
—This Heart, which ought not to’ve been given away,
But by the Services and Blood of Kings,
How hast thou lost it on a false Unknown,
Without being paid for it one single Sigh!—
Enter Thersander; she draws a Dagger; offers to kill
him, but cannot.
Traitor—hast thou the impudence to appear before me,
Or dost thou come to meet thy just Reward?
[Offers to stab him.
—There’s something in his Looks that does preserve him,
Or I’m not truly brave, and dare not kill him.
—Go, treacherous Unknown, whom I’ve preferr’d
Before so many Princes, who in vain
Sue for this credulous Heart which thou’st betray’d.
Ther. Ah! Madam, can you be thus cruel to me, And not inform me how I have offended?
Cleo. Be gone, I say, if thou would’st save a Life, Which those that dare do evil fear to lose.
Ther. Those Eyes thus order’d are far worse than Death.
End what you have so well begun,
And kill me;
Yet from another’s Hand
The Blow would he less cruel.
Cleo. Oh, Impudence!
Still he wou’d cheat my Rage, as he has abus’d my Love;
But, Monster, though thou art below my Hand,
I’m yet a Princess, and I can command.
By Heaven, I’ll try how much Rage can invent.
Semiris, call Qlympia to me strait;
She shall in Triumph with me stand and smile,
To see thee by some Vassal bleed.
Ther. There needs no other witness of my Death.
But her I have offended;
To you alone I offer up my Life: for dying,
I’ve something to relate may justify your Rage,
Though not deserve your Pity.
Cleo. Hell!
Now I’m confirm’d, he fears that she should see
Him die, lest it should cost her but a Tear;
—Why should I want the Strength?
—But Oh, I cannot.
[Offers to present the Dagger.
But canst thou live, false Man, and see me frown?