_After a Noise of Trumpets at some distance and fighting,
the Scene draws, and discovers_ Cleomena _and_ Thersander
_fighting_: Lysander. _On one side stands the_ King of Scythia
_with his Party: on the other, the_ Queen of Dacia, Hon.
Artabazes, _and her Party_: Vallentio.
_Ther_. What mak’st thou to fight as if indeed thou wert _Clemanthis_?
But since thou art not him thou represent’st,
Whoe’er thou be’st, ‘twas indiscreetly done,
To draw me from an order might have sav’d thee;
--Whois’t that dares assume _Clemanthis’. shape?
[_They fight_.
_Cleo_. Unworthy _Scythian_, whose reported Valour
Unjustly was admir’d, cou’dst thou believe the covert of the Wood
[Cleo. _falls, he stoops to look on her_.
Cou’d hide thy Treason--Treason which thou durst own too?
[_A cry of Joy on the_ Scythian’s _side_.
_Ther_. Ah! _Cleomena_, is it you?
What have I done that could so far transport you?
_Clemanthis’. Boldness has incur’d your Hate,
But he has been severely punisht for’t;
And here in lieu of that unhappy Stranger,
Receive _Thersander_ with his equal Passions,
But not his equal Crimes.
_Cleo_. Oh, Villain, since thou’st punish’d _Clemanthis_,
Punish the unhappy _Cleomena_ too,
And take her Life who came to have taken thine.
_Qu_. ‘Tis not _Clemanthis_, but my _Cleomena_--
With whom _Thersander_ fights--ah, cruel Child;
[_They carry her off_.
_Ther_. Oh, whither, whither do you bear my Goddess?
Return, and here resign your sacred Load,
That whilst’t has Life it may behold the Sacrifice
That I will make of this wild wretched Man
That has so much offended--Disobey’d!
--My Arms, my Arms, Lysander, mount me strait,
And let me force the disobedient Troops;
Those Coward-Slaves that could behold her bleed,
And not revenge her on the Murderer:
Quickly my Arms, kill, burn, and scatter all;
Whilst ‘midst the Ruins of the World I fall.
[_The_ Scythian _Guards carry him off by force.
Enter_ Ismenes _with his Sword. They all descend_.
_Ism_. Still thus defeated and outstript by Fate,
Resolv’d betimes, but sallied out too late;
Fortune and Love are equally unkind:
--Who can resist those mighty Powers combin’d?
[_Exeunt_.