The Tragedy of Mariam Act 1 Scene 4 by Elizabeth Cary Lyrics
scene 4
[SALOME alone.]
SALOME
Lives Salome to get so base a style
As “foot” to the proud Mariam? Herod’s spirit
In happy time for her endured exile,
For did he live, she should not miss her merit:
But he is dead: and though he were my brother,
His death such store of cinders cannot cast
My coals of love to quench: for though they smother
The flames a while, yet will they out at last.
Oh blest Arabia, in best climate place,
I by the fruit will censure of the tree:
’Tis not in vain they happy name thou hast,
If all Arabians like Silleus be.
Had not my fate been too too contrary,
When I on Constabarus first did gaze,
Silleus had been object to mine eye:
Whose looks and personage must all eyes amaze.
But now, ill-fated Salome, thy tongue
To Constabarus by itself is tied:
And now, except I do the Hebrew wrong,
I cannot be the fair Arabian’s bride:
What childish lets are these? Why stand I now
On honorable points? ’Tis long ago
Since shame was written on my tainted brow:
And certain ’tis, that shame is honor’s foe.
Had I upon my reputation stood,
Had I affected an unspotted life,
Josephus’ veins had still been stuffed with blood,
And I to him had lived a sober wife.
Then had I never cast an eye of love
On Constabarus’ now detested face,
Then had I kept my thoughts without remove:
And blushed at motion of the least disgrace:
But shame is gone, and honor wiped away,
And impudency on my forehead sits:
She bids me work my will without delay,
And for my will I will employ my wits.
He loves, I love; what then can be the cause
Keeps me [from] being the Arabian’s wife?
It is the principles of Moses’ laws,
For Constabarus still remains in life.
If he to me did bear as earnest hate,
As I to him, for him there were an ease;
A separating bill might free his fate
From such a yoke that did so much displease.
Why should such privilege to man be given?
Or given to them, why barred from women then?
Are men than we in greater grace with Heaven?
Or cannot women hate as well as men?
I’ll be the custom-breaker: and begin
To show my sex the way to freedom’s door,
And with an off ’ring will I purge my sin;
The law was made for none but who are poor.
If Herod had lived, I might to him accuse
My present lord. But for the future’s sake
Then would I tell the king he did refuse
The sons of Babas in his power to take.
But now I must divorce him from my bed,
That my Silleus may possess his room:
Had I not begged his life, he had been dead,
I curse my tongue, the hind’rer of his doom,
But then my wand’ring heart to him was fast,
Nor did I dream of change: Silleus said,
He would be here, and see, he comes at last.
Had I not named him, longer had he stayed.
[SALOME alone.]
SALOME
Lives Salome to get so base a style
As “foot” to the proud Mariam? Herod’s spirit
In happy time for her endured exile,
For did he live, she should not miss her merit:
But he is dead: and though he were my brother,
His death such store of cinders cannot cast
My coals of love to quench: for though they smother
The flames a while, yet will they out at last.
Oh blest Arabia, in best climate place,
I by the fruit will censure of the tree:
’Tis not in vain they happy name thou hast,
If all Arabians like Silleus be.
Had not my fate been too too contrary,
When I on Constabarus first did gaze,
Silleus had been object to mine eye:
Whose looks and personage must all eyes amaze.
But now, ill-fated Salome, thy tongue
To Constabarus by itself is tied:
And now, except I do the Hebrew wrong,
I cannot be the fair Arabian’s bride:
What childish lets are these? Why stand I now
On honorable points? ’Tis long ago
Since shame was written on my tainted brow:
And certain ’tis, that shame is honor’s foe.
Had I upon my reputation stood,
Had I affected an unspotted life,
Josephus’ veins had still been stuffed with blood,
And I to him had lived a sober wife.
Then had I never cast an eye of love
On Constabarus’ now detested face,
Then had I kept my thoughts without remove:
And blushed at motion of the least disgrace:
But shame is gone, and honor wiped away,
And impudency on my forehead sits:
She bids me work my will without delay,
And for my will I will employ my wits.
He loves, I love; what then can be the cause
Keeps me [from] being the Arabian’s wife?
It is the principles of Moses’ laws,
For Constabarus still remains in life.
If he to me did bear as earnest hate,
As I to him, for him there were an ease;
A separating bill might free his fate
From such a yoke that did so much displease.
Why should such privilege to man be given?
Or given to them, why barred from women then?
Are men than we in greater grace with Heaven?
Or cannot women hate as well as men?
I’ll be the custom-breaker: and begin
To show my sex the way to freedom’s door,
And with an off ’ring will I purge my sin;
The law was made for none but who are poor.
If Herod had lived, I might to him accuse
My present lord. But for the future’s sake
Then would I tell the king he did refuse
The sons of Babas in his power to take.
But now I must divorce him from my bed,
That my Silleus may possess his room:
Had I not begged his life, he had been dead,
I curse my tongue, the hind’rer of his doom,
But then my wand’ring heart to him was fast,
Nor did I dream of change: Silleus said,
He would be here, and see, he comes at last.
Had I not named him, longer had he stayed.