1613 spelling, from EEBO-TCP A17956. Not modernized.
Mariam.
AM I the Mariam that presum'd so much, And deem'd my face must needes preserue my breath? I, I it was that thought my beautie such, At it alone could countermaund my death. Now death will […]each me: he can pale aswell A cheek[…] of roses, as a cheeke lesse bright: And dim an eye whose shine most excell, Assoone as one that casts a meaner light. Had not my selfe against my selfe conspirde, No plot: no aduersarie from without Could Herods loue from Mariam haue retirde, Or from his heart haue thrust my semblance out. The wanton Queene that neuer lou'd for loue, False Cleopatra, wholly set on gaine: With all her slights did proue: yet vainly proue, For her the loue of Herod to obtaine. Yet her allurements, all her courtly guile, Her smiles, her fauours, and her smooth decei[…]: Could not my face from Herods minde exile, But were with him of lesse then little weight. That face and person that in Asia late For beauties Goddesse Paphos Queene was tane: That face that did captiue great Iulius fate, That very face that was Anthonius bane. That face that to be Egipts pride was borne, That face that all the world esteem'd so rare: Did Herod hate, despise, neglect, and scorne, When with the same, he Mariams did compare. This made that I improuidently wrought, And on the wager euen my life did pawne: Because I thought, and yet but truly thought, That Herods loue could not from me be drawne. But now though out of time, I plainly see It could be drawne, though neuer drawne from me: Had I but with humilitie bene grac'te, As well as faire I might haue prou'd me wise: But I did thinke because I knew me cha[…]te, One vertue for a woman, might suffice. That mind for glory of our sexe might stand, Wherein humilitie and chastitie march with equall paces hand in hand, But one […] […]ingle seene, who setteth by? And I had singl[…] o[…]e, but my ioy, That I was euer innocent, though sower: And therefore can they but my life destroy, My Soule is free from aduersaries power.) Enter Doris. You Princes great in power, and high in birth, Be great and high, I enuy not your hap: Your birth must be from dust: your power on earth, In heau'n shall Mariam sit in Saraes lap.
Doris.
I heau'n, your beautie cannot bring you , Your soule is blacke and spotted, full of sinne: You in adultry liu'd nine yeare together, And heau'n will neuer let adultry in.
Mar:
What art that poore Mariam pursue? Some spirit sent to driue me to dispaire: Who sees for truth that Mariam is vntrue, If faire she be, she is as chaste as faire.
Doris.
I am that Doris that was once belou'd, Belou'd by Herod: Herods lawfull wife: you that Doris from his side remou'd, And rob'd from me the glory of my life.
Mar:
Was that adultry: did not Moses say, That he that being matcht did deadly hate: Might by permission put his wife away, And take a more belou'd to be his mate?
Doris.
What did he hate me for: for simple truth? For bringing beautious babes for loue to him: For riches: noble birth, or tender youth, Or for no staine did Doris honour dim? Oh tell me Mariam, tell me if you knowe, Which fault of these made Herod Doris foe. These thrice three yeares haue I with hands held vp, And bowed knees fast nailed to the ground: Besought for the dreggs of that same cup, That cup of wrath that is for sinners found. And now art to drinke it: Doris curse, Vpon selfe did all this while attend, But now it shall pursue children worse.
Mar:
Oh Doris now to my knees I bend, That hart that neuer bow'd to bow: Curse not mine infants, let it suffice, That Heau'n punishment to me allow. curse is cause that guiltles Mariam dies.
Doris.
Had I ten thousand tongues, and eu'ry tongue Inflam'd with poisons power, and steept in gall: My curses would not answere for my wrong, Though I in cursing imployd them all. Heare that mount Gerarim command, To be a place whereon with cause to curse: Stretch reuenging arme: thrust forth hand, And plague the mother much: the children worse. Throw flaming fire vpon the baseborne heads That were begotten in vnlawfull beds. But let them liue till they haue sence to know What to be in miserable state: Then be their neerest friends their ouerthrow, Attended be they by suspitious hate. And Mariam, I doe hope this boy of mine Shall one day come to be the death of . Exit.
Mariam.
Oh! Heauen forbid. I hope the world shall see, This curse of shall be return'd on : Now earth farewell, though I be yet but yong, Yet I, me thinks, haue knowne too too long. Exit.
Chorus.
THe fairest action of our humane life, Is scorniug to reuenge an iniurie: For who forgiues without a further strife, His aduersaries heart to him tie. And a firmer conquest truely sed, To winne the heart, then ouerthrow the head. If we a worthy enemie doe finde, To yeeld to worth, it must be nobly done: But if of baser mettall be his minde, In base reuenge there is no honor wonne. Who would a worthy courage ouerthrow, And who would wrastle with a worthles foe? We say our hearts are great and cannot yeeld, Because they cannot yeeld it proues them poore: Great hearts are task't beyond their power, but seld The weakest Lyon will the lowdest roare. Truths schoole for certaine this same allow, High hartednes sometimes teach to bow. A noble heart teach a vertuous scorne, To scorne to owe a dutie ouer-long: To scorne to be for benefits forborne, To scorne to lie, to scorne to doe a wrong. To scorne to beare an iniurie in minde, To scorne a free-borne heart slaue-like to binde. But if for wrongs we needs reuenge must haue, Then be our vengeance of the noblest kinde: Doe we his body from our furie saue, And let our hate preuaile against our minde? What can gainst him a greater vengeance bee, Then make his foe more worthy farre then hee? Had Mariam scorn'd to leaue a due vnpaide, Shee would to Herod then haue paid her loue: And not haue bene by sullen passion swaide To fixe her thoughts all iniurie aboue Is vertuous pride. Had Mariam thus bene prou'd, Long famous life to her had bene allowd.