My constant friendship shall be ever thine;I will forget thy love, but not thy virtues:
Thou hadst my praise and my esteem till now,
But longer converse may deprive thee of it;
For thy sake therefore, Varus, I must leave thee.
SCENE VI.
varus, albinus.
albinus.
I fear you’re troubled, sir; your color changes.
varus.
Albinus, I must own, my spirits droop;
Pity, my friend, the weakness of a heart
That never loved before: alas! I knew not
How strong my fetters were, but now I feel,
Nor can I break them: with what sweet demeanor,
And lovely softness, did she chide my passion;
Calm and unruffled, how her tranquil prudence
Taught me my duty, and enforced her own;
How I adored her even when she repulsed me!
I’ve lost all hope, yet love her more than ever:
Gods! for what dreadful trial of my faith
Am I reserved?
albinus.
Wilt thou then aid her flight?
varus.
’Tis a sad office.
albinus.
Art thou pleased so well
With her disdain, as thus to make thyself
Unhappy, and promote thy own destruction?
What dost thou purpose?
varus.
Can I e’er forsake her?
Can I rebel against her laws? my heart
Were then unworthy of her. Hence my doubts.
’Twas Mariamne spoke, and I obey:
Quick, let her leave the tyrant; let her seek
Augustus; she has cause to fly, and Varus
Has none to murmur or complain; at least
She leaves me the sweet pleasure to reflect,
That I have lived and acted but for her;
Have broke her chains, have saved her precious life:
Nay more: for I will sacrifice my love,
Fly from those dangerous charms that would betray me,
And imitate the virtue I adore.
End of the Second Act.
ACT III.
SCENE I.
varus, nabal, albinus, Attendants on varus.
nabal.
The king, my lord, the happy Herod, comes
Triumphant, and the Hebrews flock in crowds
To meet him: Salome, alarmed and fearful
Of her declining interest, joins his train
Of fawning courtiers, soothes his pride, and strives
By every art to gain him to her purpose;
The priests attend, and strew their palms before him.
With Herod comes the faithful Idamas,
Deputed by his sovereign to attend
The noble Varus; he will soon be here.
Still hath he proved himself the constant friend
Of Mariamne, and by wholesome counsels
Softened the rage of his impetuous master:
The queen, still wavering and irresolute,
Condemns herself; her rigid virtue fears
To do what danger tells her must be done:
She quits the palace, then returns; meanwhile
Her anxious mother, falling at her feet,
Bathes them in tears, points to her weeping children,
And trembling begs her to depart: she stops,
And doubts, and much I fear will stay too long:
’Tis thou must hasten her; on thee alone
Depends the safety of the noblest being
Heaven e’er gave birth to. O preserve her; save
The race august sprung from a line of kings;
Save Mariamne. Are your guards all ready?
May I inform her of it?
varus.
All’s prepared:
I gave them orders: she may go this moment.
nabal.
And wilt thou too permit a faithful servant
To follow his loved mistress?
varus.
Go with her,
Wait on her steps, and guard her as thy life:
This hateful place deserves her not: may heaven,
In pity to her sorrows, smile upon her;
Light up a fairer sun to gild her journey,
And bid the waves in smoother currents flow,
Obedient to the sacred charge they bear!
