[Excunt.
SCENE V. Changes to Thersander’s Tent.
He in a Night-gown sitting on a Couch; by him the King,
Officers, Attendants to them. Enter Cleomena, Semiris,
Pimante; Lysander; the King rises to meet Cleo. and
seats her in a Chair by him.
Cleo. Thersander, I am come to beg thy pardon,
If thou art innocent, as I must believe thee,
And here before the King to make confession
Of what I did refuse the Queen my Mother.
—Know then, I lov’d, and with a perfect Passion,
The most unfortunate of Men, Clemanthis.
His Birth I never knew, but do believe
It was illustrious, as were all his Actions;
But I have lost him by a fatal accident,
That very day he should have fought with you.
[Weeps.
Ther. Gods! where will this end? [Aside.
Cleo. But e’er the fatal moment of his Death, Ismenes beg’d to know who did the Murder: But he could answer nothing but Thersander, And we believ’d it you. Then Love and my Revenge made me a Soldier; —You know the rest— And doubtless you’ve accus’d me with Ingratitude.
Ther. No, I shall ne’er complain of Cleomena, [He kneels before her. If she still love Clemanthis.
Cleo. There needs no more to make me know that Voice. Oh stay, this Joy too suddenly surprizes— [Ready to swound. —Gently distil the Bliss into my Soul, Lest this Excess have the effects of Grief: —Oh, my Clemanthis! do I hold thee fast? And do I find thee in the Prince of Scythia?
King. I lose my Reason by this strange encounter!
Ther. Was’t then a secret to my Cleomena, That her Clemanthis was the Prince of Scythia? I still believ’d that was his only Crime.