What is an hour of life! an hour of torment.
Think then what I fhall fuffer for your fake,
How I fhall long and pant to be among you!
To him who fears not death revenge is fure;
To him who fears not death revenge is fpeedy.
Soon as the chains are ftruck from off thefe hands,
I'll dye them purple in the royal blood;

I'll watch all time. The throne thall not fecure him;
The folemn temple, even that facred ground,
Shall not protect him from my refolution.

Would it were done; that we might fall together!
ift Confp. May all fuccefs attend thy glorious purpofe!
Thinking upon thy brave undaunted spirit,

I fhall forget my pains, and fmile in torture,
Ev'n when the sharpest pang of death is on me.

Hyd. Ere you are cold, my ghoft fhall overtake you, And bring the welcome news. -Impatience racks me. 2d Confp. We thank our bold revenger, and will die Like men that well deferv'd fo great a chief.

3d Confp. Farewell. And when you lift the dagger for the blow,

Think on my friendship.

4th Confp. And on mine. 5th Confp. And mine.

ift Confp. Think of us all, and give him death for each. Hyd. Farewell, unhappy friends; you're brave and

true,

And you entrust one who deferves fuch friendships.
Your prayers and wifhes fhall direct the dagger
Deep in his heart. And when this deed is done
I've done my tafk of life, and I'll refign it.

Enter Araxes, and officers.

Ara. Time preffes on us, and your hour is come. We must obey our orders. Lead them hence. Torture and death expect you.

ft.Confp. Well. Lead on.

Ara. 'Tis your laft moment.

ift Confp. We're impatient for it.

Ara. Stay here till my return. To you, my meffage

[Ta Hyd.

Is of a sweeter found; 'tis life, 'tis freedom.
I'll fee them to the fcaffold; then discharge you.

[Exeunt Araxes, Confpirators, and Officers. Hyd. What's death to that I feel within! 'Tis nothing. Tortures but tear the flesh, and crush the bones; But guilt and horror tear my restless soul, And ev'ry thought's an arrow in my heart. Sophernes is condemn'd, and I accufed him.

For what?

For means to fatiate my revenge,
And that's fufficient. O revenge, fupport me!
What, am I grown a coward? Does repentance,
Does vile contrition fink my boafted courage?
Does refolution ftagger! Hence, away,

I will not hear thee, daftard, meddling confcience!
No, I'll go on, I feel my fpirits rife ;

My heart grows harder, and I fcorn remorfe ;
That's the poor whining refuge of a coward.
My friends are now expiring. Hark, their groans
Start me from thought, and fummon me to vengeance!
I come, my friends; in that great deed I'll fall.

Ara. Phraortes fends you life and liberty.
Twelve days are granted you to pafs the confines
Of his domains: to ftay beyond that time
Annuls his pardon, and your life is forfeit.
You're now discharg'd. Be grateful for this mercy,
Pray for the peace of Media, and repent.

Hyd. Media, farewell. With all the wings of speed

I fly thy bounds. Let me forget thy naine;
"Twill bring to my remembrance my loft friends.

[Exit.

Ara. Come forth, unhappy prince; excufe my words:: [Unlocks the dungeon..

'Tis with reluctance that I bring the meilage.

Your death's at hand.

Sopb. Death is the only friend)

That I have left; thy meffage is most welcome.

My friend's at hand; O how I long to meet him!
In him is all my hope, in him my refuge,
He thall difburthen me of all misfortune,..
He fhall wipe off calamity and forrow,

Ant

And give me peace and everlafting reft.

I thank thee for the news.
Ara. Such unconcern,

Such steady fortitude amid ft afflictions,
Was never feen till now.

Soph. My wife is dead!

And I have no attachment to the world.
What is't to live? And who counts life a bleffing
It is to fee injuftice hold the fcale,

And weigh with partial hand the deeds of men;
It is to fee a race of fervile flatterers
Worship the author of all mischief, gold;
To fee oppreffion rich, and virtue ftarving.
Death only clofes this diftafteful scene.

Ara. This fcorn of death appears like innocence. Soph. All mortal juftice errs. Heaven knows the heart.. 'Tis eafy in my circumftance to die,

For I have no poffeffions to forego:

My kingdom is another's; round my couch
No faithful fervants ftand with weeping eyes;
No darling children cling around my neck,
And with fond kiffes warm my hollow cheek ;-
No wife, who (worn, and wearied out with grief).
Faints in my arms. Thefe give the pangs of death;,
These make us covet life. But Fleave nothing,

Ara. What manly refolution! I grieve for you.. Soph. At death's approach the guilty confcience trem bles,

But I have not thofe horrors. Hark, he knocks.
[Knocking beards.
With what impatient joy I come to meet thee!
Ara. Farewell, thou most unfortunate of men ;-

A mind fo great, unfhaken by diftrefs,,
Deferv'd a nobler end. Forgive my duty,
It seems severe, but 'tis the king's command
The dungeon muft confine you.

Sopb. I fubmit. [Araxes locks him in the dungeon..

Enter Captive.

Cap. This letter will inftruct you in your duty. Ara. The prifoner shall be given into your hands.

Cap.

Cap. And he shall perish by an injur'd woman.
Thus has the king decreed; fo fhall he suffer,
Both for his treafon, and my murder'd lord.
To fee me arm'd with fuch jutt resolution,
My husband's ghoft is pleas'd, and fmiles upon me.
Phraortes gave this dagger: this shall end him.
Ara. Within that iron gate. he mourns in darkness.
[Gives the keys.
This will conduct you.- -'Tis the king's command,,
Soon as the bloody office is perform❜d,

That you prefent yourself once more before him.
Cap.. His will fhall be obey'd..
Ara. He's now your charge.

Cap. And foon my charge. fhall end.
to juftice..

How will my fight difmay his guilty foul?
Ev'n while that terror preys upon his heart,
I'll hurl him to the deepeft, fhades below.
But I delay; and juftice grows impatient..
F'd be alone. You now have done your duty.

-Leave me

[Exit Araxes. Cap. Come forth, Sopbernes. [Unlocks the dungeon. Soph. I will meet thee, death.

Cap. Draw near..

Soph. Hark! was it not a woman's voice ?

That voice no more is.fweet;

Cylene's dead.

Yes. "Tis the queen. Here fatiate thy revenge,

My bofom heaves, and longs to meet the dagger.
Why is thy hand fo flow?

Cap. Look on this face,.

[Lifts up her veil.

Is not thy heart acquainted with thefe eyes?

And is thy ear a stranger to this voice.?.

What, not a word!

Soph. O dear delufion !:

Cyl. Wake

[Faints.

"Tis thy Cylene calls, thy loft Cylene.

Cannot this bofom warm thee into life?

Cannot this voice. recall thy finking spirits 2
Cannot thefe lips reftore thee? O look up;
Thy voice, thy lips, could call me from the dead.
Look up, and give me comfort.

Soph

Soph. 'Tis Cylene.

"Tis no delufion. Do I live to see thee?
And muft I be torn from thee? cruel thought!
O tyrant death, now thou haft made me fear thee!
Cyl. When will misfortunes leave us?
Soph. Death muft end them.

"Twas faid you fell in battle; from that time
I loft all pleasure, and defire of life.

Cyl. In that fad day of our adverfity,
When Perfia was made captive, every eye
Wept for the fall of my dear lord Sophernes,
For you they forrow'd, and forgot their bondage.
I loft myself in heart-confuming grief,
And, left a conqueror's arrogance and pride
Should tempt him to condemn a captive queen
To his loofe hours, induftriously I fpread
The rumour of my death; and by thofe means
Have figh'd away my days obfcure, unknown.

Soph. How gain'd you this accefs? and why that
dagger

Cyl. This is no time for talk; confult thy fafety. Catch at the prefent moment, for the next

May throw us back again into despair.

Soph. What means my love? No innocence can stand Against the voice of perjur'd calumny.

Cyl. This dagger was defign'd to murder thee;

And I am fent upon that bloody errand:

This hand that now is thrown about thy neck,
Was to have done the deed O horrid thought!
Unknown, among a train of captive women,
They brought me to the palace, there I learnt.
The tale of thy unhappy fufferings,

And how the king had fign'd the fatal fentence.
I fell before the throne, extoll'd his juftice;
Then, with feign'd tears, and well-diffembled fpeech,
Charg'd thee with violation of my honour,
And murder of a husband. He was mov'd;
Pleas'd with my bold requeft, he heard my prayer,
And for revenge and juftice gave me this.

(Shews the daggers But the time flies. I come, my lord, to fave thee. "Fis by that hope, I live,

Soph.