Revive his doubts, and work her own destruction:With new disdain will irritate his soul:
Rely upon herself, and mark her ruin.
salome.
O! ’tis uncertain; I can never wait
Such tardy vengeance; I have surer means;
Danger has taught me wisdom: this loud rage,
These violent transports of the impassioned Varus,
If I observe aright, can never flow
From generosity alone, and pity
Is seldom known by marks like these: the queen
Has charms, and Varus may have charms for her.
I know the power of Mariamne’s beauty,
Nor envy her the crowd of gazing fools,
Who throw their flattering incense at her feet;
The dangerous happiness may cost her dear:
Whether she listens to the Roman’s vows,
Or with the conquest only means to soothe
Her fickle pride, it is enough for me,
If it preserves that power I must not lose
O’er Herod’s heart. Take care my faithful spies
Perform their office; let them be rewarded,
And sell me precious secrets.—Ha! she comes,
Must I then see her?
SCENE II.
mariamne, eliza, salome, mazael, nabal.
salome.
Joy to Mariamne:
Herod returns, and Rome this day restores
To me a brother, and to thee a husband.
Thy cruel scorn had raised his just resentment,
Which now subsides, and love has quenched the flame
Which love alone inspired: his triumphs past,
His future glories, all the senate’s rights
Reposed in him, the titles he has gained,
All brought to lay at Mariamne’s feet,
Proclaim thy happiness: enjoy his heart;
Enjoy his empire; I am pleased to see
Thy virtues thus rewarded; Salome
Shall lend her aid to join your hands together.
mariamne.
I neither looked for, nor desired your friendship:
I know you, madam, and shall do you justice;
I know by what mean arts, and treacherous falsehood,
Your powerless malice has pursued my life.
Perhaps thou thinkest my heart is like thy own,
And therefore tremblest; but thou knowest me not:
Fear nothing, for thy crimes and punishment
Are both beneath my notice: I have seen
Thy base designs, and have forgiven them:
I leave thee to thy conscience, if a heart
Guilty as thine is capable of feeling.
salome.
I’ve not deserved this bitterness and wrath
From Mariamne: to my honest zeal,
My conduct, and my brother, I appeal
From thy suspicions.
mariamne.
I’ve already told thee,
All is forgotten, I am satisfied,
And I can pardon, though I can’t believe thee.
mazael.
Now, by the power supreme, my royal mistress,
Scarce could my pains—
mariamne.
Stop, Mazael, excuse
Is added injury; obey the king,
That is thy duty: sold to my oppressors,
Thou art their instrument; perform thy office,
I shall not stoop to make complaints of thee.
Thou, Salome, mayest hence, and tell the king
[To Salome.
The secrets of my soul; inflame his heart
Once more with rage; I shall not strive to calm it:
Instruct your creatures to deal forth their slander,
I’ve left their vile attempts unpunished still;
Content to use no arms against my foes,
But blameless virtue, and a just disdain.
mazael.
What haughtiness!
salome.
’Twill meet with its reward:
It is the pride of art to punish folly.
SCENE III.
mariamne, eliza, nabal.
eliza.
Why, my loved mistress, would you thus provoke
A foe who burns with ardor to destroy you?
Perhaps the rage of Herod is suspended
But for a time, and yet may burst upon you.
Death was departing,
