Cleo. Do not disturb me with thy Grief, Semiris:
Go leave me to my self, and Thoughts of Vengeance:
And thou, base Traitor-Prince, shalt buy thy Life
At such a Rate shall ruin thee for ever;
And if I fall—as I believe I shall—
The very Shame to know I am a Woman,
Shall make thee curse thy Fortune and thy Arms,
If thou hast any Sense of Manhood left,
After the barbarous Murder thou hast done:
But if my better Fortune guide my Arm,
This Arm (whom Love direct) to meet thy Heart,
Then I shall die with real Satisfaction.
The time draws on when I should try my Fate;
Assist me, mighty Love, in my Design,
That I may prove no Passion equals mine.
Sem. Madam, consider whom you must encounter.
Cleo. Consider thou who’s dead, the brave Clemanthis! [Weeps. Oh, ‘tis a Shame to weep, being thus attir’d; Let me once more survey my self— And yet I need not borrow Resolution: Clemanthis, thou art murder’d, that’s the Word, ’.is that creates me Man, and valiant too, And all incensed Love can prompt me to. Hark—hark—the joyful Summons to my Death. [Trumpets sound. Go, leave me to approach it solemnly— Come, my dear Sword, from thee I must expect That Service which my Arm may fail to affect; And if thou ever did’st thy Master love, Be sure each Stroke thou mak’st may mortal prove.
[Exeunt severally.
SCENE II. Between the two Camps.
After a Noise of Trumpets at some distance and fighting, the Scene draws, and discovers Cleomena and Thersander fighting: Lysander. On one side stands the King of Scythia with his Party: on the other, the Queen of Dacia, Hon. Artabazes, and her Party: Vallentio.
Ther. What mak’st thou to fight as if indeed thou wert Clemanthis? But since thou art not him thou represent’st, Whoe’er thou be’st, ‘twas indiscreetly done, To draw me from an order might have sav’d thee; —Whois’t that dares assume _Clemanthis’. shape? [They fight.
Cleo. Unworthy Scythian, whose reported Valour Unjustly was admir’d, cou’dst thou believe the covert of the Wood [Cleo. falls, he stoops to look on her. Cou’d hide thy Treason—Treason which thou durst own too? [A cry of Joy on the Scythian’s side.
Ther. Ah! Cleomena, is it you? What have I done that could so far transport you? _Clemanthis’. Boldness has incur’d your Hate, But he has been severely punisht for’t; And here in lieu of that unhappy Stranger, Receive Thersander with his equal Passions, But not his equal Crimes.
Cleo. Oh, Villain, since thou’st punish’d Clemanthis, Punish the unhappy Cleomena too, And take her Life who came to have taken thine.