Herod.
ANd heere she comes indeed: happily met
My best, and deerest halfe: what ailes my deare?
doest the difference certainly forget
Twixt Duskey habits, and a time so cleare.
Mar.
My Lord, I suit my garment to my minde,
And there no cheerfull colours can I finde.
Herod.
Is this my welcome? haue I longd so much
To see my dearest Mariam discontent?
What ist that is the cause heart to touch?
Oh speake, that I sorrow may preuent.
Art not Iuries Queene, and Herods too?
Be my Commandres, be my Soueraigne guide:
To be by directed I will woo,
For in pleasure lies my highest pride.
Or if thinke Iudaeas narrow bound,
Too strict a limit for great command:
be Empresse of Arabia crownd,
For rule, and I will winne the Land.
Ile robbe the holy Dauids Sepulcher
To giue wealth, if for wealth do care:
haue all, they did with him inter,
And I for will make the Temple bare.
Mar.
I neither haue of power not riches want,
I haue enough, nor doe I wish for more:
Your offers to my heart no ease can grant,
Except they could my brothers life restore.
No, had you wisht the wretched Mariam glad,
Or had your loue to her bene truly tide:
Nay, had you not desir'd to make her sad,
My brother nor my Grandsyre had not dide.
Her.
Wilt beleeue no oathes to cleere Lord?
How haue I with execration sworne:
art by me belou'd, by me ador'd,
Yet are my protestations heard with scorne.
Hercanus plotted to depriue my head
Of this long setled honor that I weare:
And therefore I did iustly doome him dead,
To rid the Realme from perill, me from feare.
Yet I for Mariams sake doe so repent
The death of one: whose blood she did inherit:
I wish I had a Kingdomes treasure spent,
So I had nere expeld Hercanus spirit.
As I affected that same noble youth,
In lasting infamie my name inrole:
If I not mournd his death with heartie truth.
Did I not shew to him my earnest loue,
When I to him the Priesthood did restore?
And did for him a liuing Priest remoue,
Which neuer had bene done but once before.
Mariam.
I know that mou'd by importunitie,
You made him Priest, and shortly after die.
Herod.
I will not speake, vnles to be beleeu'd,
This froward will not doe you good:
It too much already Herod grieu'd,
To thinke that you on termes of hate haue stood.
Yet smile my dearest Mariam, doe but smile,
And I will all vnkind conceits exile.
Mari.
I cannot frame disguise, nor neuer taught
My face a looke dissenting from my thought.
Herod.
By heau'n you vexe me, build not on my loue.
Mari.
I wil not build on so vnstable ground.
Herod.
Nought is so fixt, but peeuishnes may moue.
Mar.
better sleightest cause then none were foud.
Herod.
Be iudge your selfe, if euer Herod sought
Or would be mou'd a cause of change to finde:
Yet let your looke declare a milder thought,
My heart againe you shall to Mariam binde.
How did I for you my Mother chide,
Reuile my Sister, and my brother rate:
And tell them all my Mariam they belide,
Distrust me still, if these be signes of hate.