Arsa.
Ye stern Eumenides, and direful powers
Of the infernal kingdoms, muster all
Your troops together by a general summon,
For I do cite you to the court of hell,
My grievances beget this invocation;
Have I so long served you, and bent my thoughts
To your low centre? have my actions been
As lewd as you would wish them, and as bla•ke
As you your selves, and could you suffer me
To fail in this achievement of my lust?
So much your instigation? is this justice?
⟨image 40⟩Justice that is a word not known in hell;
Is this injustice? no, then are you rebels
To your own laws, I do insist on this:
What other doctrine preach your ministers
But foul injustice, rapes, impieties,
Adulteries, murders, slanders, ignominies,
False accusations and the like, all which
My life hath practised? yet ye punish me
With justice ne'er till now heard in your courts:
You thought it just Cariclea should escape
The poisoned cup, and afterward the fire,
You thought it just Theagines and she
Should scape my hands, and Oroondates know
All my proceedings; cursed fates of mine!
Wretched Arsace, wilt thou live and feel
Thy punishment augmented by thy shame?
Shall the laws triumph o'er Arsaces will?
Or Oroondates say he was revenged
Upon the high and royal blood of Persia
For wrong I did him? no, since I have failed
In my desire, these fates I will withstand,
And die by none but by this Persian hand.
She falls upon a sword, and kills her self.
Arsa.
Ye sterne Eumenides, and direfull powers
Of the infernall kingdomes, muster all
Your troops together by a generall summon,
For I doe cite you to the court of hell,
My grievances beget this invocation;
Have I so long serv'd you, and bent my thoughts
To your low centre? have my actions beene
As lewd as you would wish them, and as bla•ke
As you your selves, and could you suffer me
To faile in this atchievement of my lust?
So much your instigation? is this justice?
⟨image 40⟩Justice that is a word not knowne in hell;
Is this injustice? no, then are you rebels
To your owne lawes, I doe insist on this:
What other doctrine preach your ministers
But foule injustice, rapes, impieties,
Adulteries, murthers, slaunders, ignominies,
False accusations and the like, all which
My life hath practis'd? yet ye punish me
With justice ne're till now heard in your courts:
You thought it just Cariclea should escape
The poison'd cup, and afterward the fire,
You thought it just Theagines and she
Should scape my hands, and Oroondates know
All my proceedings; cursed fates of mine!
Wretched Arsace, wilt thou live and feele
Thy punishment augmented by thy shame?
Shall the lawes triumph o're Arsaces will?
Or Oroondates say he was reveng'd
Upon the high and royall blood of Persia
For wrong I did him? no, since I have fail'd
In my desire, these fates I will withstand,
And die by none but by this Persian hand.
She fals upon a sword, and kils her selfe.
