Varus but wishes to protect thy virtue,
But to revenge thy injuries, and die.
I hoped the great preferver of my life
Wou'd prove the guardian of my honour too;
And to his pity only thought I ow'd
His kind affiftance: ne'er did I expect
That he, of all men, fhou'd increase my forrows;
Or that, to crown the woes of Mariamne,
I fhou'd be forc'd to tremble at thy goodness,
And blush for ev'ry favour I receiv'd:
Yet, think not, Varus, that thy paffion, thus
Delear'd, fhall rob thee of my gratitude :
My conftant 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 fake therefore, Varus, I must leave thee,
I fear your're troubled, Sir; your colour changes.
Albinus, I must own, my fpirits droop;
Pity, my friend, the weakness of a heart
That never lov'd before: alas! I knew not
How ftrong my fetters were, but now I feel,
Nor can I break them with what sweet demeanor,
And lovely softness, did she chide my paffion;
Calm and unruffled, how her tranquil prudence
Taught me my duty, and enforc'd her own;
How I ador'd her ev'n when fhe repuls'd me!
I've lost all hope, yet love her more than ever:
Gods! for what dreadful trial of my faith
Wilt thou then aid her flight?
ALBINUS.
Art thou pleas'd fo well
With her disdain, as thus to make thyself
Unhappy, and promote thy own deftruction?
What doft thou purpose ?
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
Auguftus; she has caufe to fly, and Varus
Has none to murmur or complain; at least
She leaves me the fweet pleasure to reflect,
That I have liv'd and acted but for her;
Have broke her chains, have fav'd her precious life:
Nay more: for I will facrifice my love,
Fly from thofe dangʼrous charms that wou'd betray me,
And imitate the virtue I adore.
VARUS, NABAL, ALBINUS, ATTENDANTS on VARUS.
HE king, my lord, the happy Herod, comes
Triumphant, and the Hebrews flock in crouds
To meet him: Salome, alarm'd and fearful
Of her declining intereft, joins his train
Of fawning courtiers, fooths his pride, and ftrives
By ev'ry art to gain him to her purpose ;
The priests attend, and ftrew their palms before him.
With Herod comes the faithful Idamas,
Deputed by his fov'reign to attend
The noble Varus; he will foon be here.
Still hath he prov'd himself the constant friend
Of Mariamne, and by wholesome counfels
Soften'd the rage of his impetuous master:
The queen, still wavʼring and irresolute,
Condemns herself; her rigid virtue fears
To do what danger tells her must be done :
She quits the palace, then returns; mean while
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 haften her; on thee alone
Depends the safety of the noblest being
Heav'n e'er gave birth to. O preferve her; fave
The race auguft sprung from a line of kings;
Save Mariamne. Are your guards all ready?
May I inform her of it?
I gave them orders; fhe may go this moment.
And wilt thou too permit a faithful servant
To follow his lov'd miftrefs?
Wait on her steps, and guard her as thy life:
This hateful place deferves her not: may heav'n,
In pity to her forrows, fmile upon her;
Light up a fairer fun to gild her journey,
And bid the waves in fmoother currents flow,
Obedient to the facred charge they bear!
Thou, good old man, may'ft follow and attend her;
Thou art too happy, but thou haft deferv'd it.
VARUS, ALBINUS, ATTENDANTS on VARUS.
Already Herod comes; the trumpet's found
Speaks his return; unwelcome found to me!
I dread his prefence: cruel as he is,
Inftant his wrath may fall on Mariamne:
Wou'd fhe had left for ever thefe fad feats
Of guilt and horror! wou'd I might partake
Her flight! bat O! the more I love, the more
I must avoid her: t'were in me a crime
To follow her; and all that Varus can-
But Idamas approaches.
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