Elizabeth Cary - The Tragedy of Mariam, Act 4, Scene 8 lyrics

scene 8 MARIAM Am I the Mariam that presumed so much, And deemed my face must needs preserve my breath? Ay, I it was that thought my beauty such, As it alone could countermand my d**h. Now d**h will teach me: he can pale as well A cheek of roses as a cheek less bright, And dim an eye whose shine doth most excel, As soon as one that casts a meaner light. Had not myself against myself conspired, No plot, no adversary from without Could Herod's love from Mariam have retired, Or from his heart have thrust my semblance out. The wanton queen that never loved for love, False Cleopatra, wholly set on gain, With all her sleights did prove, yet vainly prove, For her the love of Herod to obtain. Yet her allurements, all her courtly guile, Her smiles, her favors, and her smooth deceit Could not my face from Herod's mind exile, But were with him of less than little weight. That face and person that in Asia late For beauty's goddess, Paphos' queen, was ta'en: That face that did captive great Julius' fate, That very face that was Anthonius' bane, That face that to be Egypt's pride was born, That face that all the world esteemed so rare: Did Herod hate, despise, neglect, and scorn, When with the same, he Mariam's did compare. This made that I improvidently wrought, And on the wager even my life did pawn: Because I thought, and yet but truly thought, That Herod's love could not from me be drawn. But now, though out of time, I plainly see too late It could be drawn, though never drawn from me, Had I but with humility been graced, As well as fair I might have proved me wise: But I did think because I knew me chaste, One virtue for a woman might suffice. That mind for glory of our s** might stand, Wherein humility and chastity Doth march with equal paces hand in hand. But one, if single seen, who setteth by? And I had singly one, but 'tis my joy, That I was ever innocent, though sour: And therefore can they but my life destroy, My soul is free from adversary's power. You princes great in power, and high in birth, Be great and high, I envy not your hap. Your birth must be from dust, your power on earth; In Heav'n shall Mariam sit in Sara's lap. DORIS Ay, Heav'n—your beauty cannot bring you thither, Your soul is black and spotted, full of sin: You in adult'ry lived nine year together, And Heav'n will never let adult'ry in. MARIAM What are thou that dost poor Mariam pursue, Some spirit sent to drive me to despair? 580 Who sees for truth that Mariam is untrue? If fair she be, she is as chaste as fair. DORIS I am that Doris that was once beloved, Beloved by Herod, Herod's lawful wife: 'Twas you that Doris from his side removed, And robbed from me the glory of my life. MARIAM Was that adult'ry? Did not Moses say, That he that being matched did deadly hate: Might by permission put his wife away, And take a more beloved to be his mate? DORIS What did he hate me for: for simple truth? For bringing° beauteous babes for love to him? For riches, noble birth, or tender youth? Or for no stain did Doris' honor dim? Oh, tell me, Mariam, tell me if you know, Which fault of these made Herod Doris' foe? These thrice three years have I with hands held up, And bowèd knees fast nailèd to the ground, Besought for thee the dregs of that same cup, That cup of wrath that is for sinners found. And now thou art to drink it: Doris' curse Upon thyself did all this while attend, But now it shall pursue thy children worse. MARIAM Oh, Doris, now to thee my knees I bend, That heart that never bowed to thee doth bow: Curse not mine infants, let it thee suffice, That Heav'n doth punishment to me allow. Thy curse is cause that guiltless Mariam dies. DORIS Had I ten thousand tongues, and ev'ry tongue Inflamed with poison's power, and steeped in gall: My curses would not answer for my wrong Though I in cursing them employed them all. Hear thou that didst Mount Gerizim command, To be a place whereon with cause to curse: Stretch thy revenging arm, thrust forth thy hand, And plague the mother much: the children worse. Throw flaming fire upon the baseborn heads That were begotten in unlawful beds. But let them live till they have sense to know What 'tis to be in miserable state: Then be their nearest friends their overthrow, Attended be they by suspicious hate. And, Mariam, I do hope this boy of mine Shall one day come to be the d**h of thine. [Exit.] MARIAM Oh! Heaven forbid. I hope the world shall see, This curse of thine shall be returned on thee: Now, earth, farewell, though I be yet but young, Yet I, methinks, have known thee too too long. [Exit.] CHORUS The fairest action of our human life Is scorning to revenge an injury: For who forgives without a further strife, His adversary's heart to him doth tie. And 'tis a firmer conquest truly said, To win the heart than overthrow the head. If we a worthy enemy do find, To yield to worth, it must be nobly done: But if of baser metal be his mind, In base revenge there is no honor won. Who would a worthy courage overthrow, And who would wrestle with a worthless foe? We say our hearts are great and cannot yield; Because they cannot yield it proves them poor: Great hearts are tasked° beyond their power but seld, The weakest lion will the loudest roar. Truth's school for certain doth this same allow, High-heartedness doth sometimes teach to bow. A noble heart doth teach a virtuous scorn: To scorn to owe a duty overlong, To scorn to be for benefits forborne, To scorn to lie, to scorn to do a wrong, To scorn to bear an injury in mind, To scorn a freeborn heart slavelike to bind. But if for wrongs we needs revenge must have, Then be our vengeance of the noblest kind: Do we his body from our fury save, And let our hate prevail against our mind? What can 'gainst him a greater vengeance be, Than make his foe more worthy far than he? Had Mariam scorned to leave a due unpaid She would to Herod then have paid her love: And not have been by sullen pa**ion swayed. To fix her thoughts all injury above Is virtuous pride. Had Mariam thus been proved, Long famous life to her had been allowed.