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Mithridates-Jean Racine · Tristan and Isolde

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  Speaker 1: Act one of mithrid Dates by Jean Racine, translated by
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  Speaker 1: Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox
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  Speaker 1: recordings are in the public domain. For more information or
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  Speaker 1: to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Introduction to Mithridates.
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  Speaker 1: Mithridates appeared in sixteen seventy three. None of the characters
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: impress one with any very lively feeling. The struggle in
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  Speaker 1: Ziphares between amorous rivalry and filial devotion is perhaps the
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: nearest approach made to powerful treatment. The play has a
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: tragic ending so far as the fate of the nominal
• 0:48
  Speaker 1: hero is concerned, but the chief interest of the reader
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: or spectator is centered in the mutual affection of Monima
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  Speaker 1: and zifharrees from the free indulgence of which all obstacles
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: are removed by the final catastrophe. The closing scene, however,
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: is one of sorrow and lamentation, in which the cry
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: of how are the mighty fallen? Suffers no sound of
• 1:14
  Speaker 1: rejoicing to be heard. The historical features of the character
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  Speaker 1: and career of Mithridatees the sixth are in the main preserved,
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  Speaker 1: but Racine has complicated his relations with his sons by
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  Speaker 1: representing Monima as exerting an influence over them, which is
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: due to his own romantic imagination. Monima was in reality
• 1:38
  Speaker 1: put to death by order of Mithridatees to prevent her
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  Speaker 1: falling into the hands of his previous conqueror, Lucullus. This
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: was in the year BC seventy one, whereas his own
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  Speaker 1: death did not occur till BC sixty three. Dramatis Personae.
• 2:00
  Speaker 2: Dates, King of Pontus and of many other lands read
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  Speaker 2: by Greg Giordano.
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  Speaker 3: Monima betroth to misri Dates and already declared queen read
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  Speaker 3: by Sonya.
• 2:15
  Speaker 4: Pharnaces, son of Mithradates read by Jen Broda.
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  Speaker 5: Cipharis, son of Mithridates read by Tchaikowsky.
• 2:28
  Speaker 6: Arabake's friend of Mithredantes and Governor of Nymphaeum read by.
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  Speaker 7: Todd Fidima, friend of Monima, read by Wendy Katziller.
• 2:44
  Speaker 8: Arcus, servant of Mithridates read by Joanna Michael Hoyt.
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  Speaker 1: Stage directions read by Alan Mapstone. The scene is laid
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  Speaker 1: at Nymphium, a seaport on the Chemerian boss for us
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  Speaker 1: in the taurik Chersonesus now the crimea Mithridates a tragedy
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  Speaker 1: Act one seen one Ziphares Arbatees.
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  Speaker 5: We have received a true report. Arbatees, Rome triumphs. Mithridates
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  Speaker 5: is no more. The Romans, in a night attack surprised
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  Speaker 5: my father's wonted prudence near Euphrates. The conflict was a
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  Speaker 5: long one, but at last his army routed, left him
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  Speaker 5: on the field among the slain, and into Pompey's hand
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  Speaker 5: a soldier, as I bare his sword and crown delivered. Thus,
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  Speaker 5: he who for forty years has baffled all Rome's bravest generals,
• 3:45
  Speaker 5: and in the east, with uniform success, maintained the common
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  Speaker 5: cause of all her kings, dies, leaving two ill fated
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  Speaker 5: sons behind at variance with each other.
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  Speaker 6: To avenge him, you and your brother prince, and does
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  Speaker 6: desire to mount your father's throne already make you a
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  Speaker 6: foe of our nasses.
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  Speaker 5: Nay, at such a price, I would not buy Arbates
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  Speaker 5: the mere wreckage of an ill fated empire. I respect
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  Speaker 5: his birthright and contend with the states assigned to me.
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  Speaker 5: Shall see without regret all that Rome's friendship promises fall
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  Speaker 5: ready into his hands.
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  Speaker 6: Rome's friendship with the son of Mithridates. Is it true,
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  Speaker 6: my lord.
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  Speaker 5: Ay Farnacees has long at heart been a Roman, and
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  Speaker 5: now on Roman Pompey rest his hopes. While I more
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  Speaker 5: faithful to my sire than ever still to the Roman's
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  Speaker 5: vow undying hatred. But tis the least source of our
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  Speaker 5: strife that rises from his pretensions and my enmity.
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  Speaker 6: What other motive arms your wrath against him?
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  Speaker 5: I shall surprise you this fair Monima who won the king,
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  Speaker 5: our father's heart, of whom my brother since declares the
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  Speaker 5: lover Well, Brent, I love her, and may my own
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  Speaker 5: passion now that that brother is my only rival. Doubtless
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  Speaker 5: you wonder at the words I speak. But tis no
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  Speaker 5: secret of a few short days long. Has this love
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  Speaker 5: of mine grown up in silence? How could I make
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  Speaker 5: you realize its ardor my earliest size my latest disappointment.
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  Speaker 5: But in the state to which we are reduced, tis
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  Speaker 5: no fit time to task my memory with the recital
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  Speaker 5: of an amorous tale. Let it suffice to justify myself
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  Speaker 5: that it was I who first beheld the queen and
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  Speaker 5: loved her. Ere the name of Monimah had reached my
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  Speaker 5: father's ears, her charms had roused a lawful passion in
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  Speaker 5: my heart. He saw her and courted her, but with
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  Speaker 5: unworthy suit, deeming that she would prove an easy conquest,
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  Speaker 5: without presuming to claim marriage honors. You know how warmly
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  Speaker 5: he assailed her, virtue and weary of a long and
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  Speaker 5: fruitless struggle absent, but never parted from his passion. He
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  Speaker 5: by your hands sent her his diadem, judge of my grief.
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  Speaker 5: When tidings came that told too truly of the purpose
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  Speaker 5: of the king. How Monimah, his destined bride, had taken
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  Speaker 5: her journey hither under your protection. Twas then ah odious time.
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  Speaker 5: My mother's eyes were opened to the offers of the Romans,
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  Speaker 5: whether in jealous rage at these new nuptials, or to
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  Speaker 5: procure me Pompey's powerful favor. My father she betrayed and
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  Speaker 5: gave to Rome the town and treasures to her care. Entrusted,
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  Speaker 5: How did my mother's crime affect my feelings?
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  Speaker 9: No more?
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  Speaker 5: I saw a rival in my father. I thought not
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  Speaker 5: of the love his own had crossed, and had no
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  Speaker 5: eyes but for my father's wrongs. Soon I attacked the Romans,
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  Speaker 5: and my mother, distracted, saw me wounded to the death,
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  Speaker 5: recovering the place she had surrendered, and with my dying
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  Speaker 5: breath cursing her name. Since then the Euxine has been free,
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  Speaker 5: and so remains, from Pontus to the boss Us, all
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  Speaker 5: owned my father's sway, his fleet victorious, found winds and waves,
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  Speaker 5: its only enemies. More I would fain have done. I
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  Speaker 5: thought our bodies to march upon Euphrates to his rescue.
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  Speaker 5: When I was stunned by tidings of his death, but
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  Speaker 5: mingled with my tears, I will confess it back to
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  Speaker 5: my thoughts, came charming Monima, entrusted by my father, to
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  Speaker 5: your hands. In these sad times, I trembled for her life,
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  Speaker 5: dreading that in his cruel jealousy the king, as oft
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  Speaker 5: before with many a mistress, might means have taken to
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  Speaker 5: secure her death. Hither I flew, and neath Nymphaeum's walls,
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  Speaker 5: my anxious eyes encountered Farnaces, a sight I trow of
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  Speaker 5: evil augury. You received both of us, and know the rest.
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  Speaker 5: Hasty in all his actions, Arnaches of his presumptuous wishes,
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  Speaker 5: made no secret related to the queen my father's ruin,
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  Speaker 5: and since the king was dead, offered himself to fill
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  Speaker 5: his place. Nor will his deeds fall short of words.
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  Speaker 5: I too will show what I can do the love
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  Speaker 5: that bade me reverence, a sire to whom from childhood
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  Speaker 5: I have owned submission. This very love, now rising in revolt,
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  Speaker 5: scorns the authority of this new rival. Either the suit
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  Speaker 5: I venture to advance must be by Monima herself rejected,
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  Speaker 5: or else, whatever ill may come of it, she shall
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  Speaker 5: not be in other's while I live. Thus, I have
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  Speaker 5: told the secrets of my heart with you at rest,
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  Speaker 5: to choose the side you take. Which of us seems
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  Speaker 5: the worthier of allegiance, the slave of Rome or Mithridates's son,
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  Speaker 5: proud of her friendship for a Nach's no doubt, thinks
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  Speaker 5: to command all here and to dictate to me where
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  Speaker 5: I refuse to own his power. His heritage is Pontus
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  Speaker 5: coltious mine, and ever have the Colchian princes claimed this
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  Speaker 5: Bosphorus as to their realms belonging.
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  Speaker 6: Whatever strength I have is at your service. My choice
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  Speaker 6: is made already. I will do my duty and the
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  Speaker 6: self same zeal and valor with which I served your
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  Speaker 6: father and maintained this place, against your brother and yourself.
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  Speaker 6: Now that the king is dead, shall aid your efforts
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  Speaker 6: against all foes. Had it not been for you my
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  Speaker 6: certain death, would I know well have followed your brother's entrance,
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  Speaker 6: and my blood have stained these ramparts which he vainly
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  Speaker 6: sought to storm. As to the Queen, you need not
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  Speaker 6: fear her choice. And for the rest, unless false shadows
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  Speaker 6: mock me, var Nassas soon will leave you master here
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  Speaker 6: to reap elsewhere the harvest of Rome's bounty.
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  Speaker 5: Thanks dear abodies, But I hear a footstep, leave me,
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  Speaker 5: my friend, tis Moneima herself.
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  Speaker 1: Scene too, Monima siphares.
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  Speaker 3: My lord, I come to you for if to day
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  Speaker 3: you help me not, then my my last hope is gone,
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  Speaker 3: orphaned and friendless, full of fears, forsaken, long called the Queen,
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  Speaker 3: yet all the time a captive, a widow now though
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  Speaker 3: never yet a wife. These are, my Lord, the lightest
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  Speaker 3: of my woes. I trembled in your ears to breathe
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  Speaker 3: the name of my oppressor. But a heart so great
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  Speaker 3: will not I trust to ties of kindred blood between you,
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  Speaker 3: sacrifice the tears of grief. AI, now you know his name.
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  Speaker 3: This far nazis tis he, my lord, whose criminal presumption
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  Speaker 3: would by main force fast bind me to himself in
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  Speaker 3: wedlock that to me were worse than death. What baleful
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  Speaker 3: star must on my birth have shone destined to loveless
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  Speaker 3: union with another? Scarce am I free to taste a
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  Speaker 3: moment's peace, When to a yoke yet heavier I must bend,
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  Speaker 3: perchance more humble in my misery, I should remar remember
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  Speaker 3: that it is his brother to whom I speak. But
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  Speaker 3: whether reason prompts, or fate or hatred, that with him
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  Speaker 3: confounds the Rome, whose eight he seeks no marriage, yet
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  Speaker 3: was ever more odious than the one I dread. And
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  Speaker 3: if I cannot move you with my tears, if I
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  Speaker 3: have naught to trust but my despair. At the same
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  Speaker 3: altar where I stand the bride, you shall see Monima
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  Speaker 3: thus only free from tyranny, fall stricken to the heart,
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  Speaker 3: a heart that never was herst to give away.
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  Speaker 5: Madam, of my obedience rest assured here your authority is paramount.
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  Speaker 5: Let fernaches, if so he will elsewhere make himself dreaded.
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  Speaker 5: But you know not yet all your distress.
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  Speaker 3: Ah, What fresh trouble then frowns upon Monima.
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  Speaker 5: If loving you is sin, not far naces alone is guilty.
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  Speaker 5: My crime is worse a thousand times than his hugh
• 12:01
  Speaker 5: reckon this the climax of misfortunes. Invoke the heavenly powers.
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  Speaker 5: If so you must against a seed accursed, born to torment,
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  Speaker 5: and persecute you, sire and sons alike. But however bitter
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  Speaker 5: the surprise with which you hear me own this fatal love,
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  Speaker 5: never could all your woes together reach the anguish of
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  Speaker 5: my efforts to conceal it. Yet think not that like
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  Speaker 5: Farnace's my brother, I serve you now to take his
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  Speaker 5: place hereafter you would be free. I pledge my word,
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  Speaker 5: you shall be neither on Farnaces nor me dependent. But
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  Speaker 5: when your wishes have been satisfied, where will you choose
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  Speaker 5: the place of your retreat? In regions far remote or
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  Speaker 5: near my states? Shall I be suffered to escort you
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  Speaker 5: thither with the same eye? Will you regard my homage
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  Speaker 5: and his oppression flying from my rival? From me too?
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  Speaker 5: Will you fly, and for reward of faithful service banish
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  Speaker 5: me forever?
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  Speaker 3: What is this you tell me?
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  Speaker 5: If advantage in time Phaermonimen confers aright here, I assure
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  Speaker 5: you it was I who first saw and admired, resolved
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  Speaker 5: to make you mine and when, to my sire unknown
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  Speaker 5: your budding charms rejoiced your mother's eye and hers alone,
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  Speaker 5: If by my duty forced to quit your side, I
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  Speaker 5: could not all my ardent love display. Have you lost
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  Speaker 5: all remembrance of the grief with which I oft bewailed
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  Speaker 5: that sad constraint? Have you forgotten my last fond farewells
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  Speaker 5: at parting from the sight of your sweet eyes? My
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  Speaker 5: heart alone retains those memories. Confess that I recall a
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  Speaker 5: vanished dream, while far from you and hopeless of return,
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  Speaker 5: I cherish still an unrequited love you well content to wed,
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  Speaker 5: my sire scarce heaved a single sigh in sympathy for me,
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  Speaker 5: alas did my distress one moment.
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  Speaker 3: Move you, prince. Do not mock me in my misery.
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  Speaker 5: Mock you, ye God, when eager to defend you, daring
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  Speaker 5: to press no claim, asking for nothing? What shall I say, then,
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  Speaker 5: when I give my promise to place you where you
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  Speaker 5: near shall see me? More?
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  Speaker 3: You promise what you never will perform?
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  Speaker 5: What will you not believe my solemn oath? Think you
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  Speaker 5: that I shall so abuse my power and that I
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  Speaker 5: mean to curb your liberty? Explain yourself, I pray you
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  Speaker 5: someone comes one word.
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  Speaker 3: Protect me from your brother's rage to make me grant
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  Speaker 3: consent to see you. Sir, you need not have recourse
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  Speaker 3: to tyranny, Oh madam Prince, you see your brother.
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  Speaker 1: Comes scene three monima farnaces zippaes.
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  Speaker 4: How long will you expect? My father, Madam, fresh witness
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  Speaker 4: to his death, arrives each moment to satisfy your doubt
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  Speaker 4: and child delay. Come fly with me from this delightless climb,
• 15:03
  Speaker 4: whose savage aspect cannot but remind you of bondage, hard
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  Speaker 4: obedient subjects, weight you neath happier skies, and worthier of
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  Speaker 4: your charms. Pontus has long acknowledged you. Her Queen still
• 15:18
  Speaker 4: wears your brow. The Royal diadem has token of your
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  Speaker 4: sovereignty and pledge of her assured submission to your sway.
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  Speaker 4: I by my father's will, Am master there, and tis
• 15:32
  Speaker 4: my privilege to keep his promise. But trust me, time
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  Speaker 4: is pressing, tarry not Our marriage and departure must be hastened.
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  Speaker 4: Our common interests and my heart demand it. My ships
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  Speaker 4: are ready waiting to receive you, and from the altar
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  Speaker 4: you may go aboard, Queen of the seas that are
• 15:55
  Speaker 4: to bear you hence.
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  Speaker 3: Such kindness, sir, and too overwhelming. But since time presses
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  Speaker 3: and I needs must answer, May I, without disguise, freely
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  Speaker 3: express the secret feelings.
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  Speaker 2: Of my heart?
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  Speaker 4: You may, and that without reserve to you.
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  Speaker 3: I think my origin is known of Ephesus, a native,
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  Speaker 3: but of royal ancestry. Kings were my sires, or heroes,
• 16:24
  Speaker 3: whom ere wild griefs, for their virtues ranked higher than kings.
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  Speaker 3: When Mithridatis saw me, Ephesus and all Ionia crowned his
• 16:33
  Speaker 3: prosperous arms this pledge of faithful love, he deigned to
• 16:37
  Speaker 3: send me my family, presumed not to dispute his sovereign will.
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  Speaker 3: As slave. Though crowned, I went to be as bright
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  Speaker 3: as fortune had ordained. While he in Ponts waited to
• 16:50
  Speaker 3: receive me. New projects called him thence, and he obeyed
• 16:54
  Speaker 3: the summons to wage war against the Romans, sending me
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  Speaker 3: hither to avoid the storm. I came, and here I
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  Speaker 3: still abide. My father paid dear, however, for that dangerous honor.
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  Speaker 3: For the first victim of victorious Rome was Philopomenn, sire
• 17:11
  Speaker 3: of Monima, a fatal title costing him his life. It
• 17:16
  Speaker 3: was to speak of that I wished to see you, however,
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  Speaker 3: justly moved to indignation. I have no army to oppose
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  Speaker 3: to Rome. Helpless I witness all her injuries, no scepter
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  Speaker 3: mine nor soldiers to avenge me, only a heart to feel.
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  Speaker 3: All I can do is to be faithful to my
• 17:37
  Speaker 3: filial duty, nor in my father's blood imbru my hands
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  Speaker 3: by wedding you, the sworn ally of Rome.
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  Speaker 4: Why speak you thus of Rome and her alliance? Why
• 17:50
  Speaker 4: the suspicion in these words of anger? Who told you
• 17:53
  Speaker 4: that the Romans are my friends?
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  Speaker 3: Can you, my lord, deny that so it is? How
• 17:59
  Speaker 3: could you do you offer welcome as a queen to
• 18:02
  Speaker 3: me where all the land is in their power? Did
• 18:06
  Speaker 3: not a secret treaty with the Romans smooth your way
• 18:09
  Speaker 3: thither and secure your throne?
• 18:12
  Speaker 4: I might inform you of my purposes, for which I
• 18:15
  Speaker 4: have good reasons, and could state them, if, leaving once
• 18:20
  Speaker 4: for all these vain disguises, you had explained to me
• 18:23
  Speaker 4: your secret feelings. But now long baffled, I begin to
• 18:29
  Speaker 4: gather the meaning of your manifold excuses. I see an
• 18:33
  Speaker 4: interest you would fain conceal another than a father prompts
• 18:37
  Speaker 4: your speech.
• 18:39
  Speaker 5: Whatever motive may inspire her words. At least, Sir, they
• 18:42
  Speaker 5: deserve no doubtful answer, Nor should you your just resentment
• 18:46
  Speaker 5: against Rome one moment hesitate to burst in fury. What,
• 18:50
  Speaker 5: after having learned our sire's disgrace, slow to avenge him,
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  Speaker 5: swift to fill his place, shall we forget our honor
• 18:57
  Speaker 5: and his blood? We know that he is dead, but
• 19:00
  Speaker 5: he may lie unburied, while your soul, eager with hoope,
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  Speaker 5: dwells on the thought of hymenial bliss. This king, whom
• 19:07
  Speaker 5: all the east full of his feats, may justly name
• 19:10
  Speaker 5: her last and greatest hero in his own realms. Deprived
• 19:14
  Speaker 5: of funeral rites, or laid dishonor'd mid a meaner crowd
• 19:17
  Speaker 5: perchance accuses Heaven's unjust neglect, and two unworthy sons who
• 19:23
  Speaker 5: dare not fight for vengeance. Why should we lurk longer here?
• 19:27
  Speaker 5: If any prince still free in all the world Parthian
• 19:31
  Speaker 5: Sarmatian Scythian loves his freedom there, Let us find allies
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  Speaker 5: and march beside them to live or die, true sons
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  Speaker 5: of Mithridates. Whatever love beguiles us, let us think rather
• 19:44
  Speaker 5: of rescue from a foreign yoke than of constraining hearts
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  Speaker 5: that will not yield.
• 19:49
  Speaker 4: He knows your feelings. Was I wrong? Fair lady? Your
• 19:53
  Speaker 4: father and my fancied league with Rome are but the
• 19:57
  Speaker 4: pretext for a stronger reason.
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  Speaker 5: Her secret feelings are to me unknown. But if I thought,
• 20:03
  Speaker 5: like you that I could read them, I would submit
• 20:05
  Speaker 5: my claims to their decision.
• 20:07
  Speaker 4: You would do well, And I too know my duty.
• 20:12
  Speaker 4: I am not bound to copy your example.
• 20:15
  Speaker 5: Here, know I none at least who may presume to
• 20:17
  Speaker 5: shape his conduct on another model.
• 20:20
  Speaker 4: So might you boast in colchis I admit here?
• 20:23
  Speaker 5: And in Colchius is my right the same?
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: Not?
• 20:27
  Speaker 2: Hear?
• 20:27
  Speaker 4: I ween? If you would escape destruction.
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: Seem four Monima pharnaces zippaes fidema.
• 20:39
  Speaker 7: Princes. The sea is all alive with ships, and soon,
• 20:44
  Speaker 7: despite the tidings of his death, will Mithradates disembark in person.
• 20:49
  Speaker 5: The king, my father?
• 20:52
  Speaker 8: What is this?
• 20:52
  Speaker 4: I hear?
• 20:53
  Speaker 7: Despatch boats have arrived to bring the news. Tis he
• 20:57
  Speaker 7: himself and prompt to pay do homage. Our batties goes
• 21:02
  Speaker 7: to greet him.
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: Ere he lands Zifarres to Monima, what have we done?
• 21:09
  Speaker 1: Monima to Zifarres.
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  Speaker 3: Farewell, Prince wondrous.
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: Tidings seam five far Na says Zifarres. Farna says, aside.
• 21:24
  Speaker 4: The king returns ah cruel stroke of fortune. My life
• 21:29
  Speaker 4: and love are both in jeopardy. The expected romans will
• 21:33
  Speaker 4: arrive too late. What shall I do.
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: To Zipharres.
• 21:39
  Speaker 4: I know your heart is sore. I can imagine her
• 21:42
  Speaker 4: sad words at parting. But this is not the time
• 21:46
  Speaker 4: to speak of that cares more important task our thoughts. Today.
• 21:51
  Speaker 4: The King returns, perchance, implacable, more dreadful, he the more unfortunate.
• 21:59
  Speaker 4: The peril is far worse than you suppose. We verily
• 22:03
  Speaker 4: are guilty, and you know him how rarely tenderness disarms
• 22:07
  Speaker 4: his rage. His sons can have no more relentless judge
• 22:11
  Speaker 4: has shown to two of them, who died the victims
• 22:14
  Speaker 4: of mere suspicion. We have greater reason to fear, each
• 22:19
  Speaker 4: for himself and for the Queen. I pity her the
• 22:23
  Speaker 4: more the more he loves her for amorous ardor piques
• 22:28
  Speaker 4: his jealousy and hatred. Ever far outstrips his love, place
• 22:34
  Speaker 4: no reliance on his past affection. His jealous fury will
• 22:37
  Speaker 4: burn all the fiercer. Consider well the favor of the
• 22:42
  Speaker 4: army is yours. I speak not of mine own resources
• 22:47
  Speaker 4: be ruled by me. Let us secure our pardon, make
• 22:51
  Speaker 4: ourselves masters of this place, and so force him to
• 22:55
  Speaker 4: offer to his sons such terms as they shall be
• 22:58
  Speaker 4: contented to accept.
• 23:01
  Speaker 5: I recognize my guilt. I know my father, my mother's crime.
• 23:04
  Speaker 5: Besides have I to bear. But though my eyes are
• 23:07
  Speaker 5: dazzled still with love, when comes my sire, I cannot
• 23:11
  Speaker 5: but obey him.
• 23:12
  Speaker 4: Let us at least be faithful to each other. You
• 23:16
  Speaker 4: know my secret. I have read your own. The king,
• 23:20
  Speaker 4: devising ever dangerous whiles, will turn our slightest words to
• 23:25
  Speaker 4: our destruction. You know his way, how tenderness can mask
• 23:31
  Speaker 4: deceitful hatred. Lead and I will follow, since it must
• 23:36
  Speaker 4: needs be so. But while submitting to duty, let us
• 23:40
  Speaker 4: scorn to act the traitor.
• 23:44
  Speaker 1: End that one. Act two of Mithred dates by Jean Racine,
• 23:57
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 24:06
  Speaker 1: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Acts
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: to scene one, Monima Fadema.
• 24:18
  Speaker 7: What you here still? When mithridates lands, when all are
• 24:24
  Speaker 7: flocking to the shore and welcome. What mean you, madam?
• 24:28
  Speaker 7: What remembrance checks your steps and makes you turn them back?
• 24:33
  Speaker 7: Will you offend a king whose soul adores you only
• 24:37
  Speaker 7: almost his wife?
• 24:40
  Speaker 3: Not yet, dear Fidima, until that time, I think my
• 24:43
  Speaker 3: duty bids me await him here and not go forth
• 24:47
  Speaker 3: to greet him.
• 24:49
  Speaker 7: Nay, you must not regard him as a lover of
• 24:52
  Speaker 7: common rank, but trothed to this great king, bound by
• 24:57
  Speaker 7: a father's promise, you have pledges which, when he will,
• 25:02
  Speaker 7: the solemn rights of marriage may ratify. Go forth and
• 25:07
  Speaker 7: show yourself.
• 25:09
  Speaker 3: See would you have me meet him as I am?
• 25:13
  Speaker 3: Look at this tear stained face, and tell me rather
• 25:16
  Speaker 3: to hide myself than seek his presence?
• 25:19
  Speaker 7: Thus, heavens, what is this?
• 25:24
  Speaker 3: It kills me? His return? Wretched I am? How can
• 25:28
  Speaker 3: I dare to face him? His diadem on my brow
• 25:32
  Speaker 3: and in my heart? Can you not read its secret
• 25:35
  Speaker 3: in these blushes?
• 25:37
  Speaker 8: What is it?
• 25:38
  Speaker 7: So crushed by the same alarms that made you shed
• 25:43
  Speaker 7: so many tears? And Greece your path seems always crossed
• 25:48
  Speaker 7: by Zafaris.
• 25:50
  Speaker 3: Greater than you can think is my distress? Then in
• 25:54
  Speaker 3: my thoughts I dwelt on Zifari's only as noble virtues
• 25:58
  Speaker 3: and brave. I knew not that inflamed with love for me,
• 26:03
  Speaker 3: he was of mortals the most amorous.
• 26:07
  Speaker 7: He loves you, Madam. And this charming hero.
• 26:12
  Speaker 3: Is no less wretched fidima than I. His heart adores me,
• 26:17
  Speaker 3: and the self same sorrow that he had tormented me
• 26:21
  Speaker 3: elsewhere consumed him.
• 26:24
  Speaker 7: Knows he how far he has secured Your favor is
• 26:29
  Speaker 7: here where you love him?
• 26:31
  Speaker 3: No, dear friend, heaven guarded me from that. I kept
• 26:35
  Speaker 3: strict silence, or said at most but half of what
• 26:39
  Speaker 3: I felt. Ah, If you only knew how this sad
• 26:43
  Speaker 3: heart has striven its resolution to maintain what conflicts, what
• 26:48
  Speaker 3: assualts I have endured, hark fiedema. I never more will
• 26:53
  Speaker 3: see him if I can help it. Fain were all
• 26:57
  Speaker 3: my efforts. I should be forced to speak where I
• 27:00
  Speaker 3: again to see his grief. He'll come in spite of
• 27:04
  Speaker 3: me and tear my secret from me, But no joy
• 27:08
  Speaker 3: His love will then still arrive. So dear, the cost
• 27:12
  Speaker 3: twere better had his bliss remained unknown.
• 27:15
  Speaker 7: See they are coming? What is to be done?
• 27:19
  Speaker 3: I cannot will not meet him? Thus distracted.
• 27:24
  Speaker 1: Scene too, mithridates phar Nasis, Zepharrees ar Bartes, guards Princes.
• 27:35
  Speaker 2: Whatever excuses you may frame your duty never should have
• 27:39
  Speaker 2: brought you hither, nor made you quit at such a
• 27:43
  Speaker 2: time of need. Partus and Caucus to your care confided,
• 27:49
  Speaker 2: But an indulgent father is your judge. Those rumors you believed,
• 27:55
  Speaker 2: which I myself dispersed, and since you wish it, I
• 27:59
  Speaker 2: will deem you guiltless and thank Heaven for this our meeting.
• 28:05
  Speaker 2: Vanquished as I have been, and all but shipwrecked, I
• 28:10
  Speaker 2: nurse a project worthy of my courage, of which you
• 28:14
  Speaker 2: soon shall learn the full details. But go and leave
• 28:19
  Speaker 2: me to repose a moment.
• 28:23
  Speaker 1: Scene three Mithra dates Arbartes.
• 28:28
  Speaker 2: A year is gone, and once again you see me,
• 28:33
  Speaker 2: but not as Erst, the favorite child of fortune, who
• 28:37
  Speaker 2: kept the destinies of Rome suspended her rival for the
• 28:41
  Speaker 2: empire of the world. I have been conquered. Pope took
• 28:47
  Speaker 2: advantage of darkness that left little room for courage. My troops, unarmed,
• 28:54
  Speaker 2: were in the gloom, affrighted their ranks, attacked on all
• 28:58
  Speaker 2: sides unaware, while wild disorder magnified their fears and made
• 29:05
  Speaker 2: them turn their weapons on their comrades. Loud cries terrific
• 29:11
  Speaker 2: from the rocks, resounding all the worst horrors of a
• 29:15
  Speaker 2: midnight conflict. In such confusion, what could Valor do to
• 29:20
  Speaker 2: help us? Many fell flight saved the rest, so great
• 29:26
  Speaker 2: the panic that I owe my life to tidings of
• 29:29
  Speaker 2: my slaughter left behind me some time unrecognized, I crossed
• 29:36
  Speaker 2: the faces, thence to the foot of Caucasus. I pressed soon,
• 29:41
  Speaker 2: I took shipping ready in the Euxon, and joined the
• 29:45
  Speaker 2: scattered fragments of my army. Thus, driven by disastrous fortune,
• 29:51
  Speaker 2: hither and Bosphorus, I find new woes await me with
• 29:57
  Speaker 2: the same love. You see me, still inflame as ever,
• 30:02
  Speaker 2: and his heart, though fed with carnage and hungry, still
• 30:06
  Speaker 2: despite the weight of years and dire misfortunes, passionately clings
• 30:12
  Speaker 2: to Manima, where'er I roam, and finds its worst foes
• 30:18
  Speaker 2: here in two ungrateful.
• 30:21
  Speaker 6: Sons, both of them, Sire.
• 30:25
  Speaker 2: Listen, my rage admits that Zypharis is different from his brother.
• 30:32
  Speaker 2: I know him ever to my will, obedient, hating our
• 30:37
  Speaker 2: common foe as much as I do, and I have
• 30:40
  Speaker 2: seen his valor justify my secret tenderness display'd to please me.
• 30:48
  Speaker 2: I know too ay, I know, with what despair to
• 30:53
  Speaker 2: every other claim preferring duty, he hasten'd to disown a
• 30:58
  Speaker 2: faithless mother, and from her crime won a fresh crown
• 31:02
  Speaker 2: of glory. I dare not cannot think that, after all
• 31:08
  Speaker 2: so good a son has wilfully offended. But what concern
• 31:13
  Speaker 2: had either of them?
• 31:14
  Speaker 6: Hear?
• 31:15
  Speaker 2: Have they not both made offers to the Queen, to
• 31:19
  Speaker 2: which seemed secretly her heart inclined? And with what looks?
• 31:24
  Speaker 2: Shall I myself accost her? Speak strongly? As I feel
• 31:29
  Speaker 2: her sweet attraction? I must be told how matters stand
• 31:34
  Speaker 2: between them? What has occurred? What have you seen?
• 31:38
  Speaker 9: What know you?
• 31:40
  Speaker 2: How came you to submit? Since? When? And why?
• 31:46
  Speaker 6: Eight days ago did Varnasus come first beneath these walls,
• 31:51
  Speaker 6: with his authority confirming the vague rumor of your death?
• 31:55
  Speaker 6: Impatient for admittance, but no heed paid I to what
• 31:59
  Speaker 6: I deemed his rash assertions, and death remained until the Prince,
• 32:05
  Speaker 6: his brother less by his words, my liege than by
• 32:09
  Speaker 6: his tears, assured me of their truth on his arrival.
• 32:14
  Speaker 2: What did they?
• 32:15
  Speaker 9: Then?
• 32:16
  Speaker 6: Scarce had the former entered, when in hot haste he
• 32:20
  Speaker 6: urged his amorous suit and promised as her husband to
• 32:25
  Speaker 6: secure to her the diadem your hand bestowed the traitor.
• 32:30
  Speaker 2: What's without a moment given to shed the tears that
• 32:34
  Speaker 2: to my shade were due? What of his brother?
• 32:38
  Speaker 6: Till this day his conduct has betrayed no sign of love,
• 32:43
  Speaker 6: but all his soul in sympathy with yours has seemed
• 32:47
  Speaker 6: to breathe no thought but war and vengeance?
• 32:51
  Speaker 2: What purpose brought him hither?
• 32:52
  Speaker 6: Then, arbatais that you will learn sooner or later, sire.
• 32:59
  Speaker 2: Speak, I command you, I must hear it now.
• 33:04
  Speaker 6: In'n Till this very day, his plea has been that
• 33:08
  Speaker 6: he was justified after your death, in reckoning this province
• 33:12
  Speaker 6: as his own, and calling courage to support his claim.
• 33:17
  Speaker 6: He came to take his heritage by force that were.
• 33:21
  Speaker 2: The least reward he could expect. Should Heaven permit me
• 33:26
  Speaker 2: to bequeath my power, I breathe once more, Arbates, glad
• 33:31
  Speaker 2: at heart, I trembled. I confess both for a son
• 33:36
  Speaker 2: beloved and for myself, lest I had lost so sure
• 33:41
  Speaker 2: a stay and found myself at war with such a rival.
• 33:47
  Speaker 2: Not like Varnasus, who has so long confronted my displeasure
• 33:53
  Speaker 2: and holding Rome in secret admiration, has ne'er opposed her,
• 33:59
  Speaker 2: but with sore reluctance and with favor, Monema regards him
• 34:05
  Speaker 2: lavish elsewhere of love that is my due. Then woe
• 34:10
  Speaker 2: betide the wretch who comes to rob me, defies his
• 34:15
  Speaker 2: father and disdains his yoke. Say does she love him? Here?
• 34:22
  Speaker 6: She comes my lead.
• 34:25
  Speaker 1: Scene for mithridatees Monima.
• 34:30
  Speaker 2: Madam kind, Heaven at last has brought me back to you,
• 34:35
  Speaker 2: in seconding my tender wishes, restores you to my love
• 34:40
  Speaker 2: fairer than ever. I little thought that I should have
• 34:44
  Speaker 2: to wait so long to celebrate our marriage, writes Nor
• 34:50
  Speaker 2: that misfortune marking my return would show my sorrow rather
• 34:55
  Speaker 2: than my love. Yet tis that love which leads me
• 34:59
  Speaker 2: to Your guide will let me choose another place of refuge,
• 35:05
  Speaker 2: and my worst troubles lose their bitterness. If but my
• 35:10
  Speaker 2: presence here brings none to you to tell me so
• 35:15
  Speaker 2: only vouchsafe to hear me. Have you not long looked
• 35:19
  Speaker 2: forward to this day? You wear a pledge of my sincerity,
• 35:24
  Speaker 2: which ever tells you that you are my own. Come
• 35:28
  Speaker 2: then and let us seal our mutual vows. For hence
• 35:33
  Speaker 2: the voice of glory summons us, and without hindrance to
• 35:39
  Speaker 2: this grand design wedded to day, we must depart tomorrow.
• 35:46
  Speaker 3: Your will is law. The authors of my life, their
• 35:50
  Speaker 3: sovereign empire, have on you conferred whenever you choose to
• 35:54
  Speaker 3: exercise that right, I have no other answer but to obey.
• 36:00
  Speaker 2: So, Madam, to an irksome yoke, submissive you to the altar, go,
• 36:06
  Speaker 2: But as a victim, and I, constraining a reluctant heart,
• 36:13
  Speaker 2: shall owe no thanks to you for its possession. Think
• 36:17
  Speaker 2: you that such compliance can content me? Must I, henceforth,
• 36:23
  Speaker 2: despairing of your love, aspire to be your tyrant. Nothing
• 36:28
  Speaker 2: more have my misfortunes than made you despise me? Ah,
• 36:34
  Speaker 2: Were I yet new conquests to attempt, with every obstacle
• 36:39
  Speaker 2: to check my march to lower depths? Cast down by
• 36:43
  Speaker 2: hostile fate, vanquished, pursued, helpless, my scepter lost, flying from
• 36:50
  Speaker 2: sea to sea, Less king than pirate, the name of
• 36:55
  Speaker 2: Mithridates only left me know that that aim alone, renowned
• 37:01
  Speaker 2: in story, would win for me the world's admiring gaze.
• 37:08
  Speaker 2: There would not be a king worthy to reign, who
• 37:12
  Speaker 2: seated on his throne, would not prefer to royal splendor.
• 37:17
  Speaker 2: My more glorious ruin which Rome in forty years have
• 37:21
  Speaker 2: scarce effected with other eyes. Would you yourself behold me
• 37:27
  Speaker 2: if in your soul your Grecian sires revived, and since
• 37:32
  Speaker 2: in fine your husband, I must be. Were it not nobler,
• 37:38
  Speaker 2: worthier of yourself to freely choose what you accept from
• 37:42
  Speaker 2: duty oppose to fortune's buffets your esteem and soothing my distress,
• 37:50
  Speaker 2: Give me a balm against despair the dog's misfortune steps. What, madam,
• 37:58
  Speaker 2: have you no reply to make? Serves all my ardor
• 38:02
  Speaker 2: only to confound you? Still? You are dumb, and even
• 38:08
  Speaker 2: worse than silence, I see, though you would hide them
• 38:14
  Speaker 2: rising tears.
• 38:16
  Speaker 3: Oh no, my lord, I have no tears to shed.
• 38:20
  Speaker 3: Have you not had my answer? I obey? And is
• 38:24
  Speaker 3: it not enough?
• 38:26
  Speaker 5: Nay, it is not.
• 38:29
  Speaker 2: I understand this better than you think. I see they
• 38:33
  Speaker 2: told me true. Just jealousy, by your own words is
• 38:38
  Speaker 2: but too well confirmed. A faithless son smitten by such
• 38:44
  Speaker 2: rare beauty I see, has wooed and finds a willing
• 38:49
  Speaker 2: ear new terrors. Now I waken in your breast for him.
• 38:55
  Speaker 2: But not for long shall he enjoy your care? If
• 38:59
  Speaker 2: my commands are heeded? Still on him your faithless eyes
• 39:04
  Speaker 2: have looked their last call Zepharius, Alas, what would you do?
• 39:11
  Speaker 1: He?
• 39:12
  Speaker 2: Zepharius has not betrayed his father. You need not be
• 39:16
  Speaker 2: so eager to disown him. He has done nothing to
• 39:20
  Speaker 2: estrange my love. Your crime were less, as less would
• 39:24
  Speaker 2: be my shame if one so worthy of your high
• 39:28
  Speaker 2: regard had roused some touches of yet warmer feelings. But
• 39:34
  Speaker 2: that a traitor, bold and disobedience, in whom no virtue palliates.
• 39:40
  Speaker 2: Presumption that Pharnaces forsooth should thus supplant me that he
• 39:46
  Speaker 2: should be beloved, And I detested.
• 39:52
  Speaker 1: Scene five Mithridates Monima Ziphares.
• 39:59
  Speaker 2: Come my son, Come, your father is betrayed. I have
• 40:04
  Speaker 2: a son who dares to mock my ruin, thwarts my designs,
• 40:09
  Speaker 2: inflicts a fatal wound. A to my queen makes love
• 40:14
  Speaker 2: and wins her favor, stealing a heart she owes to
• 40:19
  Speaker 2: me alone. Yet am I happy in this deep dishonor
• 40:24
  Speaker 2: to blame no other son than Pharnaces To know a
• 40:28
  Speaker 2: mother's treason and a brother's audacious plots have failed to
• 40:33
  Speaker 2: make you swerve from duty. Yes, my son, and you alone,
• 40:37
  Speaker 2: I lean and long have chosen you to be the
• 40:41
  Speaker 2: worthy comrade of my great designs, heir of my scepter,
• 40:48
  Speaker 2: in my glorious name. Not now may pharnieces an outraged
• 40:53
  Speaker 2: love engross my thoughts, the careful preparation for an important enterprise,
• 41:01
  Speaker 2: my ships, which I must hold in readiness to sail,
• 41:04
  Speaker 2: my soldiers, whose devotion I would try demand my presence
• 41:10
  Speaker 2: at this very hour. Do you, however, here, keep watch
• 41:15
  Speaker 2: for me and foil the plots of an insiduous rival.
• 41:20
  Speaker 2: Nor quit the queen, but strive to overcome her opposition
• 41:25
  Speaker 2: to a king who loves her, dissuade her from a
• 41:29
  Speaker 2: choice iniquitous, and your unbiased judgment will convince her better
• 41:35
  Speaker 2: than I can. She has proved my weakness. Let her
• 41:40
  Speaker 2: not try that tenderness too far, or it may turn
• 41:44
  Speaker 2: to fury, unrepented, till vengeance has atoned for wrong resented.
• 41:53
  Speaker 1: Scene six Monima ziphares, What.
• 41:58
  Speaker 5: Shall I say? How may I understand this charge? These
• 42:02
  Speaker 5: words incomprehensible? Great Gods? Can it be true that Farnaces,
• 42:08
  Speaker 5: too dear to you, indeed deserves this rage? That your
• 42:12
  Speaker 5: distress is all for Farnaces, for for Nazis.
• 42:17
  Speaker 3: Why speak of forar Nazis. Heavens, Is it not enough
• 42:21
  Speaker 3: that this sad day robs me of all I loved
• 42:24
  Speaker 3: forever more? And that I find myself the slave of duty,
• 42:28
  Speaker 3: fast bound with chains of sorrow and despair? Must this
• 42:33
  Speaker 3: last insult to my grief be added? That I be
• 42:36
  Speaker 3: thought to weep for for Nazis, in spite of all
• 42:40
  Speaker 3: my hatred deemed too dear, I can't forgive the king,
• 42:45
  Speaker 3: blinded by anger to him, my heart must never be revealed.
• 42:49
  Speaker 3: But you, my lord, but you to treat me so?
• 42:55
  Speaker 5: Ah madam? Pardon a distracted lover who himself, bound by
• 42:59
  Speaker 5: cruel bonds of duty, sees threatened loss of all, nor
• 43:03
  Speaker 5: dares take vengeance. But how am I to judge of
• 43:06
  Speaker 5: the King's fury? What other love is this? With his
• 43:09
  Speaker 5: conflicting Who then can be this happy criminal? Speak?
• 43:14
  Speaker 3: Why so ready to increase your woe with self inflicted torture?
• 43:20
  Speaker 5: I these fears had pangs to which it were a
• 43:22
  Speaker 5: light affliction to see her whom I love, my father's bride.
• 43:26
  Speaker 5: To see a rival honored with your tears, this is
• 43:30
  Speaker 5: indeed my crowning agony. But in despair I fain would
• 43:34
  Speaker 5: know the worst. Tell me for pity's sake? Who is
• 43:39
  Speaker 5: this lover? And change suspicion into certainty?
• 43:44
  Speaker 3: Is it so hard for you to guess the truth?
• 43:48
  Speaker 3: Just now? When I sought refuge from constrained of power?
• 43:51
  Speaker 3: Unjust to whom did I appeal on? Whose kind succor
• 43:56
  Speaker 3: did my heart relye whose words of love heard? I?
• 44:00
  Speaker 3: Without this pleasure?
• 44:02
  Speaker 5: Heavens? Can it be that I am the lucky culprit
• 44:06
  Speaker 5: whom you are pleased to look upon with favor? Was
• 44:10
  Speaker 5: it for the faris you deigned to weep?
• 44:13
  Speaker 3: Yes, Prince, I cannot keep the secret longer. My sorrow
• 44:18
  Speaker 3: is too violent for silence. Though Duty's stone decree condemns
• 44:22
  Speaker 3: my tongue, Yet must I violate her harsh commands and
• 44:26
  Speaker 3: utter for the first time and the last the language
• 44:30
  Speaker 3: of my heart? Long? Have you loved me? Long? Has
• 44:34
  Speaker 3: an equal tenderness for you moved me with sad concern.
• 44:38
  Speaker 3: Retrace the time when first you owned a faction for
• 44:41
  Speaker 3: these charms unworthy of your praise, the short lived hope,
• 44:46
  Speaker 3: the trouble that your father's passion raised, tortured to lose
• 44:50
  Speaker 3: me and to see him blessed to bow to duty
• 44:53
  Speaker 3: when your heart was torn you cannot, prince, recall those
• 44:58
  Speaker 3: memories without repeating in your own misfortunes my story too.
• 45:03
  Speaker 3: And when I heard this morning your tale, my heart
• 45:06
  Speaker 3: responded to it all futile or rather fatal sympathy union
• 45:13
  Speaker 3: too perfect to be realized. Ah, with what cruel care
• 45:18
  Speaker 3: did heaven entwine to hearts? It never destined for each other.
• 45:22
  Speaker 3: For howsoever my heart is drawn to yours, I tell
• 45:26
  Speaker 3: you once for all, where honor leads, I needs must follow,
• 45:31
  Speaker 3: even to the altar, to swear to you an everlasting silence.
• 45:36
  Speaker 3: I hear you groan, but miserable fate your father claims me,
• 45:42
  Speaker 3: I may never be yours. You must yourself support my
• 45:46
  Speaker 3: feeble will and help me from my heart to banish you.
• 45:51
  Speaker 3: Let me at least rely upon your kindness, my presence
• 45:54
  Speaker 3: to avoid henceforth forever have I not said enough, Sir,
• 45:59
  Speaker 3: to pursue you? How many reasons urge you to obey
• 46:03
  Speaker 3: me after this moment. If that gallant heart has ever
• 46:07
  Speaker 3: felt true love for Monima, I will not recognize its
• 46:11
  Speaker 3: loyalty safe by the care you take to shun me.
• 46:15
  Speaker 5: Always, Great Gods, how terrible a test of love ill starred,
• 46:21
  Speaker 5: how happiness and misery are mine at once. From what
• 46:25
  Speaker 5: a glorious height, to what an awful gulf you cast
• 46:29
  Speaker 5: be down? Have I prevailed to touch a heart like yours,
• 46:33
  Speaker 5: and one your love, only to see another possess that
• 46:36
  Speaker 5: heart which fondly clings to mine. Father unjust and cruel,
• 46:41
  Speaker 5: but withal unhappy too, So you would have me fly.
• 46:46
  Speaker 5: And yet the King has bidden me attend you. What
• 46:49
  Speaker 5: will he say?
• 46:51
  Speaker 3: It matters not obey me, contrive such reasons as may
• 46:56
  Speaker 3: blind his eyes. Prove your heroic nature by an effort
• 46:59
  Speaker 3: to and for your own self sacrifice tax quick invention,
• 47:04
  Speaker 3: as less noble lovers have done to gratify their cherished hopes.
• 47:09
  Speaker 3: Weak as I know myself, with life at stake, I
• 47:13
  Speaker 3: cannot but distrust my strongest efforts. The sight of you
• 47:17
  Speaker 3: would wake fond memories and guilty sighs, betray the aching heart,
• 47:22
  Speaker 3: which torn asunder by a secret strife, would fain fly
• 47:27
  Speaker 3: back to you, powerless to bear its separation. But if
• 47:31
  Speaker 3: it depends on you to make me cherish thoughts so sweet,
• 47:35
  Speaker 3: I know you will do nothing to prevent me from
• 47:38
  Speaker 3: vindicating straight offended honor. When searching for your image in
• 47:43
  Speaker 3: my heart my hands shall tear it thence and leave
• 47:47
  Speaker 3: me free from shame. But ah, while yet a few
• 47:52
  Speaker 3: brief moments I left us, how I take a fatal
• 47:56
  Speaker 3: pleasure in seeking to prolong the risk I shun and
• 48:00
  Speaker 3: wish the more I speak for one word more? Oh,
• 48:05
  Speaker 3: but I needs must force myself to fly, nor lose
• 48:09
  Speaker 3: imparting words the feeble relics of firmness. Prince, I go farewell.
• 48:16
  Speaker 3: Remember see me no more prove worthy of my tears.
• 48:24
  Speaker 5: Ah Madam, she is gone. She will not hear me
• 48:30
  Speaker 5: unhappy saphar As, what wilt thou do? Banished and yet beloved,
• 48:36
  Speaker 5: One thing is clear. The path of duty is for
• 48:39
  Speaker 5: her and thee the same swift death must end this agony.
• 48:44
  Speaker 5: Yet till her fate is certain, let me wait. And
• 48:47
  Speaker 5: if a rival Monima must own dying, I'll yield her
• 48:51
  Speaker 5: to the king alone.
• 48:54
  Speaker 9: And that too.
• 49:02
  Speaker 1: Act three of Mithra Dates by jeen Arcine, translated by
• 49:08
  Speaker 1: Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox
• 49:14
  Speaker 1: recordings are in the public domain. For more information or
• 49:17
  Speaker 1: to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Act three seem
• 49:24
  Speaker 1: one Mithra Dates pharnaces, ziphares.
• 49:30
  Speaker 2: Draw near my sons. At last the hour is come
• 49:35
  Speaker 2: my secret purpose to display before you all things conspire
• 49:41
  Speaker 2: to aid this noble venture. Nothing remains but to inform.
• 49:46
  Speaker 6: You of it.
• 49:48
  Speaker 2: I am a fugitive, so hostile fortune has willed, but
• 49:53
  Speaker 2: my life's history you know too well to think that
• 49:58
  Speaker 2: long courting concealment I should await my hunters in these deserts.
• 50:04
  Speaker 2: War has its favors as it has its losses. Already
• 50:09
  Speaker 2: more than once my coarse retracing, while by my flight
• 50:14
  Speaker 2: deceived the foe and triumph rode through the streets of Rome,
• 50:19
  Speaker 2: mid idle plaudits and engraving his vain victories on brass,
• 50:24
  Speaker 2: displayed my conquered realms and captive chains. The bas frust
• 50:30
  Speaker 2: has seen me with fresh fleets swarming from all her marshes,
• 50:35
  Speaker 2: spreading terror, and from astonished Asia, chasing Rome's battalions back
• 50:42
  Speaker 2: undoing in a day work of a year. New times
• 50:47
  Speaker 2: demand new cares. Fiercer attacks have overwhelmed the East. Its
• 50:53
  Speaker 2: plains are covered with yet vaster hosts of Romans, whom
• 50:57
  Speaker 2: the war at our expense, in rich, greedy of all
• 51:02
  Speaker 2: nations wealth, our rumored hordes have drawn the robbers thither.
• 51:08
  Speaker 2: In crowds. They rush each of his neighbor, jealous, leaving
• 51:13
  Speaker 2: their own to inundate our land. I only dare resist,
• 51:19
  Speaker 2: warn or subdued. All my allies discard my fatal friendship,
• 51:25
  Speaker 2: a burden that their heads can ill support. Poppy's great
• 51:30
  Speaker 2: name makes his success assured all Asia's dread. I will
• 51:35
  Speaker 2: not seek him there. Nay tis to roame my son's
• 51:39
  Speaker 2: I mean to march. Surprised at this bold stroke, you
• 51:44
  Speaker 2: think perhaps despair alone can give it birth to day.
• 51:49
  Speaker 2: I pardon your mistake. Projects like this seem folly till
• 51:54
  Speaker 2: successfully accomplished. Do not suppose that Rome from Us is
• 52:00
  Speaker 2: guarded by ramparts of eternal separation. I know each mountain
• 52:06
  Speaker 2: passed that I must traverse, and if not thwarted by
• 52:11
  Speaker 2: untimely death, instead not set it farther. Three months hence,
• 52:16
  Speaker 2: and you shall mount the capital with me two days
• 52:20
  Speaker 2: upon the Euxan. Never doubt it will waft us westward
• 52:24
  Speaker 2: to the Danube's mouth Scythia with me has sworn a
• 52:28
  Speaker 2: strict alliance which lays the entrance into Europe open. There,
• 52:34
  Speaker 2: gathering our forces in their ports their troops will join
• 52:38
  Speaker 2: our ranks, and at each step Dacians, Venonians, Germans swell.
• 52:45
  Speaker 2: Our numbers all wait but for a leader to repel
• 52:50
  Speaker 2: the common tyrant. Have not Spain and Gaul sought to
• 52:55
  Speaker 2: excite my vengeance against those walls that Brynnus once laid
• 53:00
  Speaker 2: glow yea Greece herself, as by her envoys months blamed
• 53:05
  Speaker 2: me for lack of vigor, ready to overflow on them.
• 53:10
  Speaker 2: This torrent bearing me along, they know, will whelm them all,
• 53:17
  Speaker 2: and to prevent its ravage, they'll guide and follow me
• 53:20
  Speaker 2: to Italy. There will you find Rome's name in horror
• 53:25
  Speaker 2: held supreme, the fires still smoldering through the land which
• 53:31
  Speaker 2: freedom kindled with her dying breath. No princes tis not
• 53:37
  Speaker 2: in Earth's realms remote. Rome's galling fetters weigh most heavily.
• 53:43
  Speaker 2: The nearer that she is, the more abhorred. Rome's greatest
• 53:47
  Speaker 2: enemies are at her gates, ah if they choose to
• 53:52
  Speaker 2: free them from her yoke. Vile Spartacus the Gladiator's slave,
• 53:58
  Speaker 2: and followed vengeance with a band of robbers. Think with
• 54:02
  Speaker 2: what noble ardor will their ranks march neath the colors
• 54:06
  Speaker 2: of a conquering king, whose royal line from Cyrus boasts descent.
• 54:12
  Speaker 2: Think too, how we will take her by surprise, stripped
• 54:17
  Speaker 2: of the legions that might else defend her, Were they
• 54:21
  Speaker 2: not all busied in my pursuit, Will babes and women
• 54:25
  Speaker 2: have the power to stop me. Let us march on
• 54:29
  Speaker 2: and carry to her heart the havoc which she spreads
• 54:33
  Speaker 2: from east to west. Let those proud conquerors crouch behind
• 54:37
  Speaker 2: their walls and tremble in their turn for hearth and home.
• 54:42
  Speaker 2: Let us believe what Hannibal predicted the Romans save in Rome,
• 54:48
  Speaker 2: will ne'er be vanquished? Let her own blood and righteous
• 54:52
  Speaker 2: torrents drown her, and let the capital that thought to
• 54:56
  Speaker 2: see me in chains to ashes sink. Let us destroy
• 55:01
  Speaker 2: its glory and blot out the shame of kings of
• 55:04
  Speaker 2: every tribe and nation with my own that fire, consume
• 55:10
  Speaker 2: all those illustrious names devoted there to endless infamy. Lo,
• 55:17
  Speaker 2: this is the ambition that has seized me. But think not.
• 55:22
  Speaker 2: I will suffer Rome in peace to lord it over Asia.
• 55:26
  Speaker 2: In my absence, I know where I shall find her.
• 55:30
  Speaker 2: Stout defenders Rome everywhere, surrounded by fierce foes, shall call
• 55:37
  Speaker 2: in vain on Pompey to relieve her. The Parthian name
• 55:41
  Speaker 2: dreadful to Rome is mine. Is ready to take up
• 55:45
  Speaker 2: my righteous quarrel to seal this bond with union of
• 55:49
  Speaker 2: our blood. He asks of me a son to wed
• 55:52
  Speaker 2: his daughter. I, for this honor, have made choice of you,
• 55:57
  Speaker 2: my pharnaces. Go be the happy bridegroom. No longer I
• 56:03
  Speaker 2: delay tomorrow's dawn, shall see my ships far from the Bosphorus.
• 56:10
  Speaker 2: Go you at once, since nothing here detains you, And
• 56:13
  Speaker 2: let your ardor justify my choice. The marriage rites performed
• 56:19
  Speaker 2: recross Euphrates. Let Asia see another mithridates and terror blanch
• 56:25
  Speaker 2: the faces of our foes. While I at Rome rejoice
• 56:29
  Speaker 2: to hear the tidings.
• 56:33
  Speaker 4: Sir, you surprise me, and I cannot hide it. This
• 56:37
  Speaker 4: grand attempt I hear with admiration. How bolder project never
• 56:42
  Speaker 4: yet was broached to make the vanquish turn the tide
• 56:45
  Speaker 4: of war. That dauntless heart in you I most admire,
• 56:50
  Speaker 4: which seems to rise more strong for being crushed. And yet,
• 56:54
  Speaker 4: if I may dare to speak with frankness, are you
• 56:58
  Speaker 4: reduced to this extremity? Why go so far on such
• 57:02
  Speaker 4: a desperate errand while still your states offer a safe asylum.
• 57:07
  Speaker 4: Why undertake so difficult a task fitter for leader of
• 57:10
  Speaker 4: a band of exiles than for a monarch on whose
• 57:13
  Speaker 4: banner's hope so lately smiled where'er he appeared? Who founded
• 57:20
  Speaker 4: upon thirty states the throne, whose ruined leaves a mighty empire?
• 57:24
  Speaker 4: Yet you, after two score years, you only you have
• 57:30
  Speaker 4: courage left to struggle against fate to rome and to
• 57:34
  Speaker 4: repose relentless foe. Count not on troops heroic as yourself.
• 57:40
  Speaker 4: Think not that hearts made timid by disaster, worn out
• 57:44
  Speaker 4: with hardships and a long retreat, are eager to meet
• 57:47
  Speaker 4: death neath foreign skies, encountering toils more terrible than dangers.
• 57:53
  Speaker 4: If routed when their country's eyes were on them, how
• 57:57
  Speaker 4: will they meet the conqueror's fury? There his own city,
• 58:01
  Speaker 4: with his gods before him? Will he strike less alarm
• 58:05
  Speaker 4: or yield himself in easier prey? So Parthia seeks alliance
• 58:10
  Speaker 4: with you in marriage, prompt to lend her aid when
• 58:14
  Speaker 4: all the world seemed our support. Will she receive a
• 58:17
  Speaker 4: son in law, poor and defenseless? What shall I go,
• 58:21
  Speaker 4: an outcast and alone to prove the Parthian faithless as
• 58:25
  Speaker 4: of your and haply has the fruit of match, so
• 58:29
  Speaker 4: hasty expose your credit to his court's contempt, at least,
• 58:35
  Speaker 4: if stoop we must, if we must borrow the unaccustomed
• 58:39
  Speaker 4: gestures of a suppliant, send me not to embrace the
• 58:43
  Speaker 4: Parthian's knees, nor beg from kings whose powers less than yours?
• 58:48
  Speaker 4: Can we not take a surer course than that? And
• 58:52
  Speaker 4: falling into arms of joyful welcome Rome, readily appeased, will
• 58:58
  Speaker 4: grant us favor?
• 59:01
  Speaker 5: Rome does my brother, then, dare to propose such a
• 59:04
  Speaker 5: base humiliation to the king, as in one day, to
• 59:07
  Speaker 5: make his life's long course a lie, to trust the
• 59:11
  Speaker 5: Romans and submit to tyranny for forty years resisted onward
• 59:16
  Speaker 5: my father vanquished as you are, War and its perils
• 59:19
  Speaker 5: are your only refuge. Rome has in you a fatal
• 59:23
  Speaker 5: foe whose oat is more implacable than Hannibal's, all crimson
• 59:28
  Speaker 5: with her blood. Do what you may, ne'er look for peace,
• 59:32
  Speaker 5: but through such butchery, as on a single day in Asia,
• 59:36
  Speaker 5: blasted a hundred thousand Romans by your order. Yet spare
• 59:40
  Speaker 5: your own inviolable head, march not yourself from land to land,
• 59:45
  Speaker 5: nor show to gaping nations. Mithridities humbled, darkening the brilliant
• 59:50
  Speaker 5: luster of your name. The vengeance you must execute his
• 59:54
  Speaker 5: just lay Roman ruins burn the capital, but tis enough
• 59:58
  Speaker 5: for you to point the way to younger hands. Pass
• 1:00:01
  Speaker 5: on the fiery torch, And while my brother keeps control
• 1:00:04
  Speaker 5: of Asia, honor my courage with this high exploit. Give
• 1:00:08
  Speaker 5: the command, and let us justify our title as your
• 1:00:10
  Speaker 5: son's heirs of your name through all the world, set
• 1:00:14
  Speaker 5: east and west in flames. While still you tarry in
• 1:00:17
  Speaker 5: the Bosphorus, and Rom hard pressed on every side alike
• 1:00:21
  Speaker 5: shall find you omniprescent to destroy her this very moment,
• 1:00:25
  Speaker 5: order me to start all that detains you here urges
• 1:00:28
  Speaker 5: my flight. And if this enterprise surpass my powers, such
• 1:00:32
  Speaker 5: hope forlorn befits my evil case. Yes, I will go too,
• 1:00:37
  Speaker 5: glad to end my woes. So soon I will erase
• 1:00:40
  Speaker 5: my mother's crime that makes me blush, my sire, here
• 1:00:43
  Speaker 5: at your knees, ashamed to know myself a son of hers,
• 1:00:47
  Speaker 5: scarce all my blood can wash away that stain. Only
• 1:00:50
  Speaker 5: let me, by death enhance your glory, and Rome, the
• 1:00:54
  Speaker 5: object of my grand despair, shall to the son of
• 1:00:57
  Speaker 5: Mithridates offer a worthy tomb.
• 1:01:00
  Speaker 1: Mithri Dantes, rising my.
• 1:01:04
  Speaker 2: Son, let us not speak of her again. Your father
• 1:01:08
  Speaker 2: is content. He knows your zeal, nor will he have
• 1:01:12
  Speaker 2: you face dangers that his affection will not share. Nothing
• 1:01:17
  Speaker 2: shall part us. You shall follow me, and you prepare yourself, Prince,
• 1:01:23
  Speaker 2: to obey. The ships are ready. I myself have ordered
• 1:01:28
  Speaker 2: the train and the equipment you require, Arbates charged to
• 1:01:33
  Speaker 2: bring you to your bride. Let me know how you
• 1:01:36
  Speaker 2: perform your duty. Go in maintaining your ancestral honor. In
• 1:01:42
  Speaker 2: this embrace, receive your sires. Farewell, sir. Let the expression
• 1:01:49
  Speaker 2: of my will suffice you obey. It were superfluous to
• 1:01:53
  Speaker 2: repeat it, sir?
• 1:01:56
  Speaker 4: Might it please you to accept my death? None shall
• 1:01:59
  Speaker 4: be found. It's more eager to embrace it. Let me
• 1:02:02
  Speaker 4: fall fighting in your ranks before you.
• 1:02:06
  Speaker 2: I have commanded you to start directly, and if you linger, Prince,
• 1:02:11
  Speaker 2: you hear my voice. Answer, be not, or do it
• 1:02:15
  Speaker 2: at your peril.
• 1:02:17
  Speaker 4: If you should hold a thousand deaths in prospect, I
• 1:02:21
  Speaker 4: could not seek a maiden whom I know not. My
• 1:02:25
  Speaker 4: life is in your hands.
• 1:02:28
  Speaker 2: Ha as I thought you cannot go, I understand you traitor.
• 1:02:34
  Speaker 2: I know what makes you shun this marriage. Here you
• 1:02:38
  Speaker 2: have a quarry, you are loath to leave. Tis Monema
• 1:02:41
  Speaker 2: detained you. Guilty love moved you to tear her from
• 1:02:46
  Speaker 2: your father's arms. Neither the warmth which you know I
• 1:02:50
  Speaker 2: wooed her, nor yet my diadem that decks her brow,
• 1:02:54
  Speaker 2: nor this retreat selected for her safety, nor fear of
• 1:02:58
  Speaker 2: my just wrath had forced to check you. Was then
• 1:03:02
  Speaker 2: your treacherous sympathy with Rome offense so venial in your
• 1:03:07
  Speaker 2: father's eyes, that this perfidious passion still was wanting to
• 1:03:12
  Speaker 2: render you the horror of my life. Far from repentance
• 1:03:17
  Speaker 2: on your face, I see confusion, to to rage and disappointment.
• 1:03:23
  Speaker 2: You long already from my hands, escaping to sell me
• 1:03:28
  Speaker 2: to the Romans and secure my ruin. But to justice,
• 1:03:33
  Speaker 2: I'll defer departure ho there guards.
• 1:03:39
  Speaker 1: Scene too misredates Pharnace's Sefarre's guards.
• 1:03:46
  Speaker 2: Arrest the traitor. I him there, pharniesus, go quit him,
• 1:03:52
  Speaker 2: not till you have locked him safely in the tower.
• 1:03:57
  Speaker 4: Were idle to assert me innocent? Yes, it is true.
• 1:04:02
  Speaker 4: My love deserves your hatred. My love is hers. You
• 1:04:07
  Speaker 4: have been told the truth. But Zipharis has not revealed
• 1:04:11
  Speaker 4: the whole. What he has said is less than what
• 1:04:15
  Speaker 4: he hides. And this devoted son should have informed you
• 1:04:19
  Speaker 4: that he long smitten with the self same passion, loves
• 1:04:25
  Speaker 4: the queen also, and is loved by her.
• 1:04:31
  Speaker 1: Scene three Mithri Dantes Sephares, Sir?
• 1:04:37
  Speaker 5: Can you think me guilty of a scheme?
• 1:04:40
  Speaker 2: My son? I know your brother's villainy. May Heaven preserve
• 1:04:45
  Speaker 2: me ever from suspecting that you could make so cruel
• 1:04:50
  Speaker 2: a return for all my kindness, that a son so
• 1:04:55
  Speaker 2: dear could have betrayed a father's trusting heart. Not believe it?
• 1:05:02
  Speaker 2: Go far be the thought henceforth, be all my mind
• 1:05:07
  Speaker 2: bent upon vengeance.
• 1:05:10
  Speaker 1: Seem for Mithredacees.
• 1:05:14
  Speaker 2: I'll not believe it, vainly flattering, hope you do believe it,
• 1:05:20
  Speaker 2: wretched mithradatees Is, ifairis my rival, does the Queen conspire
• 1:05:26
  Speaker 2: with him? And dare she to deceive me? On whatsoever side?
• 1:05:31
  Speaker 2: I turn mine eyes? All hearts have lost their loyalty
• 1:05:36
  Speaker 2: to me, friendless without within my home, betrayed Pharnisus Monema,
• 1:05:44
  Speaker 2: and thou my son, thou too, whose virtue solaced my disgrace?
• 1:05:51
  Speaker 2: But know I not this pharnisus a traitor? How weak
• 1:05:56
  Speaker 2: am I to trust his baffled fury, whom spite an
• 1:06:01
  Speaker 2: envy arm against his brother, or whose despair, inventing idle
• 1:06:07
  Speaker 2: tales to save himself, would make all others guilty. Nay,
• 1:06:13
  Speaker 2: I'll believe him not, nor be too hasty, but probe
• 1:06:18
  Speaker 2: the truth. Yet where shall I begin? Whose witness will
• 1:06:23
  Speaker 2: convince me?
• 1:06:25
  Speaker 8: By?
• 1:06:25
  Speaker 2: What proofs? A heaven inspires me? With a sudden thought,
• 1:06:31
  Speaker 2: I'll call the queen. Yes, without going further, I'll hear
• 1:06:37
  Speaker 2: her and rely upon her witness. Love greedily believes what
• 1:06:43
  Speaker 2: gives it pleasure. If he has won her heart, none
• 1:06:47
  Speaker 2: else so will can show it. Let me see which
• 1:06:51
  Speaker 2: of the two her love will charge they have deserved
• 1:06:55
  Speaker 2: a snare. I scorn to use tis laws, to deceive
• 1:07:01
  Speaker 2: deceivers and to unmask treachery. But here she comes a
• 1:07:07
  Speaker 2: skillful falsehood. Now shall mock her hopes and make her
• 1:07:12
  Speaker 2: truth avow.
• 1:07:15
  Speaker 1: Seem five monima mithridates.
• 1:07:20
  Speaker 2: My eyes at last are open, and I own the
• 1:07:24
  Speaker 2: claims of justice. Twere a sorry gift to charm, so
• 1:07:30
  Speaker 2: rare to offer you a hand burdened with age and
• 1:07:34
  Speaker 2: a long train of troubles, fortune and victory have heretofore
• 1:07:41
  Speaker 2: with thirty crowns conceal'd my hoary head. But it is
• 1:07:45
  Speaker 2: so no longer once a king. I am a fugitive
• 1:07:51
  Speaker 2: old and disgraced my brow, despoiled of all its royal honors,
• 1:07:58
  Speaker 2: to plainly show the ravages of time. Besides all that
• 1:08:04
  Speaker 2: a thousand schemes engross my care. You hear the shouts
• 1:08:08
  Speaker 2: of troops prepared to start forthwith once more. I man
• 1:08:13
  Speaker 2: the vessels that brought us nuptial rites would ill consort
• 1:08:18
  Speaker 2: with hurried flight. Nor can I let you share my
• 1:08:22
  Speaker 2: shattered fortunes in this desperate quest. But think no more
• 1:08:27
  Speaker 2: of Pharnesus for justice, claim sacrifice on your part as
• 1:08:32
  Speaker 2: on mine. I will not suffer this rebellious son, whom
• 1:08:37
  Speaker 2: I have banished from my sight forever, to own a
• 1:08:41
  Speaker 2: heart which was denied to me, and bring it into
• 1:08:45
  Speaker 2: friendship with the Romans. My throne is due to you.
• 1:08:50
  Speaker 2: Far from regretting the gift, there will I place you
• 1:08:53
  Speaker 2: ere I go, if only you consent that one so
• 1:08:57
  Speaker 2: dear to me, a sun worthy a father's love, that
• 1:09:03
  Speaker 2: Zypherus in short, shall take my place. Wedge you and
• 1:09:07
  Speaker 2: wreak my vengeance arm the traitor who Zifar is my lord,
• 1:09:14
  Speaker 2: I madam he whence comes this agitation at his name?
• 1:09:20
  Speaker 2: What leads you to object to choice? So just is
• 1:09:24
  Speaker 2: it disdain that reason cannot quell?
• 1:09:27
  Speaker 6: He?
• 1:09:28
  Speaker 2: I repeat it is my second self victorious in the field,
• 1:09:33
  Speaker 2: a son who loves me, by me beloved, the foe
• 1:09:38
  Speaker 2: of Rome, the heir of my renown that will revive
• 1:09:42
  Speaker 2: in him. And whatsoever pledge you may have taken, tis
• 1:09:47
  Speaker 2: only to his hands that I'll resign you.
• 1:09:51
  Speaker 3: What say you, gracious heaven? Can you approve?
• 1:09:56
  Speaker 4: Why?
• 1:09:56
  Speaker 3: My lord? Why try me so severely? Cease to torment
• 1:10:01
  Speaker 3: us soul? Unfortunate? I know that I was destined to
• 1:10:06
  Speaker 3: be yours. I know this very moment, at the alter
• 1:10:10
  Speaker 3: the victims stands to see our marriage bond.
• 1:10:14
  Speaker 2: Come, I see clearly to whatever I may you fain,
• 1:10:19
  Speaker 2: would keep yourself for pharnisus. I find your scorn is
• 1:10:25
  Speaker 2: as unjust as ever, passing from me to my unhappy son.
• 1:10:31
  Speaker 3: I scorn him.
• 1:10:33
  Speaker 2: Let us speak of it no more. Pursue the shameful
• 1:10:38
  Speaker 2: flame the lrds you are, while with my son far
• 1:10:42
  Speaker 2: from your sights, I go to the world's end, seeking
• 1:10:46
  Speaker 2: a glorious death, stay here to share his brother's degradation
• 1:10:52
  Speaker 2: and to the Romans cell a father's blood. Come, Can
• 1:10:57
  Speaker 2: I better punish your disdain than by committing you to
• 1:11:00
  Speaker 2: hands so vile? No longer shall your honor be to me,
• 1:11:06
  Speaker 2: matter of moment, you shall be forgotten. Come, madam, I
• 1:11:10
  Speaker 2: am going to unite you.
• 1:11:12
  Speaker 3: Punish me rather with a thousand deaths.
• 1:11:16
  Speaker 2: Mere subterfuge tis idle to resist to.
• 1:11:20
  Speaker 3: What extremity am I reduced? But after all, I cannot
• 1:11:25
  Speaker 3: think that you could force yourself so long to act
• 1:11:28
  Speaker 3: a part. Heaven is my witness that I aim to
• 1:11:31
  Speaker 3: please you, and to its destiny my soul submitted. But
• 1:11:36
  Speaker 3: if to any weakness I had yielded, had I been
• 1:11:40
  Speaker 3: bound to fortify my heart against alarm, believe me, my
• 1:11:44
  Speaker 3: good Lord, I never had shed a tear. For far
• 1:11:47
  Speaker 3: nazis the sun whom you esteem, whose image lives within
• 1:11:52
  Speaker 3: your heart, whose victories have curbed the insolence of Rome,
• 1:11:57
  Speaker 3: your second self. That the far is whom you would
• 1:12:00
  Speaker 3: have me love you love him had the fates not
• 1:12:06
  Speaker 3: made me yours to be his bride, were happiness supreme?
• 1:12:10
  Speaker 3: Before this pledge of your affection reached me. We loved
• 1:12:14
  Speaker 3: each other. You change countenance.
• 1:12:19
  Speaker 2: No, no, it is enough, Go and I'll send him
• 1:12:22
  Speaker 2: to you. I must be busy. Time is precious. I
• 1:12:27
  Speaker 2: see that you are willing to obey me. I am content.
• 1:12:32
  Speaker 1: Monima going away Heaven grant this be no trick. Scene
• 1:12:40
  Speaker 1: six Mithri datees.
• 1:12:43
  Speaker 2: They love each other. I have been befooled. Ah Thou
• 1:12:48
  Speaker 2: ungrateful son. Thy death shall pay for all I know
• 1:12:53
  Speaker 2: how thou hast stolen from me, my soldier's hearts by
• 1:12:58
  Speaker 2: virtues well assume and martial glory. But my stroke shall fall.
• 1:13:04
  Speaker 2: Sure I'm the trader. I will scatter far the seeds
• 1:13:08
  Speaker 2: of mutiny for star rebellion, and keep no troops but
• 1:13:13
  Speaker 2: such as I can trust. But I must still simulate,
• 1:13:18
  Speaker 2: nor go hence with a frown that may displeasure show.
• 1:13:25
  Speaker 1: End of Act three, Act four of mithridates by Genre.
• 1:13:37
  Speaker 1: Scene translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 1:13:44
  Speaker 1: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 1:13:47
  Speaker 1: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Act four,
• 1:13:54
  Speaker 1: Scene one, Monima Fodema.
• 1:14:00
  Speaker 3: Name of Heaven, Dear fidema, do what I wish, see
• 1:14:03
  Speaker 3: what is going on, and bring me word. My heart
• 1:14:06
  Speaker 3: is ill at ease, torn by a thousand terrible suspicions.
• 1:14:10
  Speaker 3: Why terries the Fari's what holds him back?
• 1:14:14
  Speaker 4: Now?
• 1:14:14
  Speaker 3: When his father's sanction crowns his vows? His father said
• 1:14:18
  Speaker 3: that he would send him hither. But may he not
• 1:14:21
  Speaker 3: have feigned finding it needful to disavow the truth? While
• 1:14:26
  Speaker 3: I disclosed my inmost heart, has Heaven abandoned me and
• 1:14:30
  Speaker 3: suffered my unguarded love to bring upon my lover's head
• 1:14:34
  Speaker 3: the king's resentment. When thou, dear Prince, with passionate entreaty,
• 1:14:39
  Speaker 3: didst urge me to confess my cherished secret full twenty
• 1:14:43
  Speaker 3: times I cruelly refused, and even punish thee for having
• 1:14:47
  Speaker 3: torn the veil aside. Yet when thy sire perchants distrusty,
• 1:14:53
  Speaker 3: when thy very life's in danger, I speak, and, but
• 1:14:57
  Speaker 3: too easily deceived, point out the fatal s.
• 1:15:00
  Speaker 7: But to pierce thy heart, nay, madam, treat the king
• 1:15:04
  Speaker 7: with less injustice. He is too great to stoop to
• 1:15:08
  Speaker 7: tricks so mean, what need was his to tread the
• 1:15:12
  Speaker 7: paths of guile before him to the altar you were
• 1:15:16
  Speaker 7: bound without a murmur? Would he slay a son so
• 1:15:20
  Speaker 7: fondly loved? Nothing has passed to show his promise false.
• 1:15:26
  Speaker 7: He told you that a scheme momentous must tomorrow take him. Hence,
• 1:15:31
  Speaker 7: against his will, this occupies his thoughts and hastening his
• 1:15:37
  Speaker 7: departure on the shore, He orders all himself and mans
• 1:15:42
  Speaker 7: his ships, while Zafaris accompanies his steps where'er he goes.
• 1:15:48
  Speaker 7: Is this a rival's fury? What has he done to
• 1:15:52
  Speaker 7: contradict his words?
• 1:15:55
  Speaker 3: Yet par Nazi's arrested by his order, finds him arrival
• 1:16:00
  Speaker 3: harsh and unrelenting. Will s faris be treated with more favor?
• 1:16:05
  Speaker 7: He punishes in him the friend of Rome. His just
• 1:16:09
  Speaker 7: displeasure needs no other spur.
• 1:16:13
  Speaker 3: I grant you right, and so far as I can
• 1:16:15
  Speaker 3: believe you, grief grows calmer while you speak, But see
• 1:16:20
  Speaker 3: fares still comes not.
• 1:16:22
  Speaker 4: Why is this?
• 1:16:24
  Speaker 7: Lovers expect too much? Fain? Would they have all things
• 1:16:29
  Speaker 7: give way to feed their fond desires? Chafing against the
• 1:16:33
  Speaker 7: smallest obstacle?
• 1:16:36
  Speaker 3: Who could conceive this marvel fidema? After two years of sorrow? Ah,
• 1:16:41
  Speaker 3: you know how sore a burden I can breathe once more,
• 1:16:46
  Speaker 3: Dear Prince, Shall I indeed see THEE mine own, and
• 1:16:50
  Speaker 3: so far from endangering thy life? May I admit a
• 1:16:53
  Speaker 3: love so long resisted as consonant with duty and with virtue.
• 1:17:00
  Speaker 3: May I each day assure THEE that I love THEE? Oh?
• 1:17:04
  Speaker 3: Why comes he not.
• 1:17:08
  Speaker 1: Scene too? Monima Cephares ferdiema.
• 1:17:14
  Speaker 3: Of you, Sir, I was speaking and longing in my
• 1:17:17
  Speaker 3: heart to see you here, to tell you.
• 1:17:20
  Speaker 5: I must now bid you farewell. Farewell, yes, madam, and
• 1:17:25
  Speaker 5: for all my life?
• 1:17:26
  Speaker 4: What say you?
• 1:17:28
  Speaker 3: I was told I have been betrayed, Madam?
• 1:17:33
  Speaker 5: I know not what insidious foe has sought my ruin
• 1:17:36
  Speaker 5: and betrayed our secrets. But now the king, whom Fernache
• 1:17:40
  Speaker 5: is in vain tried to inflame against us, knows our hearts.
• 1:17:44
  Speaker 5: He hides his purpose under mock caresses. But I, brought up,
• 1:17:49
  Speaker 5: as I have been beside him and grown familiar with
• 1:17:52
  Speaker 5: his every mood, have read approaching vengeance in his looks.
• 1:17:57
  Speaker 5: He sends away in haste all whom my woes might
• 1:18:00
  Speaker 5: rouse to indignation and revolt. I see how forced and
• 1:18:04
  Speaker 5: false are all his favors. Arbotes, by a single word,
• 1:18:08
  Speaker 5: confirmed my dread and thus, with tearful eyes dressed me.
• 1:18:12
  Speaker 5: Save yourself, fly, said he, for all is known. This
• 1:18:16
  Speaker 5: made me shudder at the thought of danger to you.
• 1:18:19
  Speaker 5: Tis that concern which brings me hither. I fear what
• 1:18:23
  Speaker 5: you may do, and on my knees entreat you to
• 1:18:25
  Speaker 5: have pity on yourself. Your life is in the power
• 1:18:28
  Speaker 5: of one whose rage, too seldom spares the blood he
• 1:18:31
  Speaker 5: holds most Dear, I dare not tell you to what
• 1:18:35
  Speaker 5: cruelty the jealousy of Mithridates often tells him. It may
• 1:18:39
  Speaker 5: be that I alone incur as wrath, and he will
• 1:18:41
  Speaker 5: pardon you. Deign to appease him in the name of heaven.
• 1:18:44
  Speaker 5: Do not provoke him by a fresh refusal. The less
• 1:18:48
  Speaker 5: you love him, strive the more to win his favor.
• 1:18:51
  Speaker 5: Hide your feelings, and remember he is my father. Be
• 1:18:55
  Speaker 5: content to live and leave my woe. This solace that
• 1:18:59
  Speaker 5: you tears are all that I have cost you.
• 1:19:03
  Speaker 3: Oh, this I have ruined you.
• 1:19:06
  Speaker 5: My noble Monoma. Blame not your kindness for the ills
• 1:19:10
  Speaker 5: that crush me. I am a wretch whom evil fate pursues.
• 1:19:15
  Speaker 5: Tis she who robs me at my father's love makes
• 1:19:18
  Speaker 5: him my rival. Made my mother rise against him, and
• 1:19:22
  Speaker 5: has roused a secret foe at this disastrous moment to
• 1:19:25
  Speaker 5: betray us.
• 1:19:26
  Speaker 3: What is the traitor still to you? Unknown?
• 1:19:31
  Speaker 5: To add to my distress, I know him not happy.
• 1:19:35
  Speaker 5: Were I if ere my own destruction, I might transfix
• 1:19:39
  Speaker 5: that false and treacherous heart.
• 1:19:41
  Speaker 3: Then from my lips learn who this monster is. It
• 1:19:45
  Speaker 3: needs not to search far to find your foe. Let
• 1:19:49
  Speaker 3: not regard to restrain you strike my lord. The guiltis mine,
• 1:19:54
  Speaker 3: tis me? You have to punish you with what depth
• 1:19:59
  Speaker 3: of cunning cruelty? He took my tender feelings by surprise?
• 1:20:03
  Speaker 3: How well did he affect to love you? Truly? So pleased?
• 1:20:08
  Speaker 3: He seemed that I should be your bride? Who would
• 1:20:11
  Speaker 3: have thought?
• 1:20:12
  Speaker 4: But no?
• 1:20:14
  Speaker 3: Love should have been more cautious than to trust to
• 1:20:16
  Speaker 3: speecious falsehood. The gods whose guidance I followed Ill Thrice
• 1:20:22
  Speaker 3: warned me secretly to hold my peace. I should have
• 1:20:26
  Speaker 3: still kept silence and maintained, yes, it is I have
• 1:20:31
  Speaker 3: been your evil fate. I should have dreaded that his
• 1:20:35
  Speaker 3: gifts were poisoned, and should you pardon me, I shall
• 1:20:39
  Speaker 3: become my own Tormentor.
• 1:20:43
  Speaker 5: Was it then your love exposed me to this storm?
• 1:20:46
  Speaker 5: Springs bitterness from source so sweet and has excess of fondness,
• 1:20:50
  Speaker 5: betrayed our secret to have made me happy needs no excuse.
• 1:20:56
  Speaker 5: What would I more? I die, faithful and proud. Another
• 1:21:01
  Speaker 5: fate invites you to the throne. No more resist that summons,
• 1:21:05
  Speaker 5: wedd mithridates, and consent to reign.
• 1:21:09
  Speaker 3: What do you ask me to espouse a savage whose
• 1:21:13
  Speaker 3: hateful love parts you and me forever?
• 1:21:17
  Speaker 5: Remember you are pledged to be his bride this morning
• 1:21:20
  Speaker 5: and to see me never more.
• 1:21:22
  Speaker 3: Ah, then I knew not all his cruelty. What shall
• 1:21:27
  Speaker 3: I lend my sanction to his fury? And after I
• 1:21:30
  Speaker 3: have seen his stagger pierce you follow a tyrant the
• 1:21:34
  Speaker 3: marriage altar, And in the hand he had a reeking
• 1:21:37
  Speaker 3: with your blood place mine alas the hand you love
• 1:21:42
  Speaker 3: to hold. Go seek some shelter from your father's rage,
• 1:21:47
  Speaker 3: nor in vain efforts to persuade me lose the precious
• 1:21:50
  Speaker 3: moments Here the gods will teach me what part to
• 1:21:54
  Speaker 3: play if he surprised you. Now I hear a step quick,
• 1:22:00
  Speaker 3: it'd be too late. And live in patience till you
• 1:22:03
  Speaker 3: learn my fate.
• 1:22:06
  Speaker 1: Scene three Monima fidema, Oh what.
• 1:22:11
  Speaker 7: A risk dear Madam, did he run?
• 1:22:14
  Speaker 3: It is the king go help him to make good
• 1:22:18
  Speaker 3: his exit. Leave him, not make him secure his safety
• 1:22:22
  Speaker 3: without learning what befalls me.
• 1:22:26
  Speaker 1: Seeing four mifredates Monima.
• 1:22:31
  Speaker 2: Come, madam, Come, I have a secret reason for hastening
• 1:22:35
  Speaker 2: my departure from this place. While my devoted troops embark
• 1:22:40
  Speaker 2: once more, ready to follow me, where'er I go? Come
• 1:22:45
  Speaker 2: at the altar, be my promised sealed, Let wedlock in
• 1:22:49
  Speaker 2: eternal bonds, unite us us sire, you surely dare not hesitate?
• 1:22:58
  Speaker 3: Did you not bid me cease to think of it?
• 1:23:01
  Speaker 2: I had my reasons. Then forget it, madam, think only
• 1:23:06
  Speaker 2: now of answering my flame your heart? Remember is my property?
• 1:23:14
  Speaker 3: Why, then, Siah, did you give it back to me?
• 1:23:17
  Speaker 2: What still enamored of my faithless son? You could not think?
• 1:23:23
  Speaker 3: Have you deceived me?
• 1:23:24
  Speaker 2: Then it well becomes a traitress to talk. Thus, who
• 1:23:30
  Speaker 2: nursing in her heart illicit loves? When I was raising
• 1:23:34
  Speaker 2: her to glory's heights, the blackest treason had prepared for me?
• 1:23:40
  Speaker 2: Have you forgotten? False, ungrateful woman worse than the Romans,
• 1:23:45
  Speaker 2: my sworn enemies, What exalted rank I dared to stoop
• 1:23:50
  Speaker 2: to offer you a throne little expected. See me not
• 1:23:56
  Speaker 2: as I am defeated, hunted, but as I was victorious
• 1:24:02
  Speaker 2: and renowned. Think how in Ephesus I you preferred to
• 1:24:09
  Speaker 2: all the daughters of a hundred kings, and for your sake,
• 1:24:14
  Speaker 2: neglecting their alliance, laid at your feet innumerable realms.
• 1:24:20
  Speaker 5: Ah, if the.
• 1:24:21
  Speaker 2: Vision of another love made you insensible to gifts so splendid,
• 1:24:27
  Speaker 2: why did you leave your home to find a husband
• 1:24:30
  Speaker 2: you hated? Keeping silence till today? Did you postpone confession
• 1:24:36
  Speaker 2: so unwelcome, till fate had robbed me of all other treasure,
• 1:24:41
  Speaker 2: Till whelmed beneath a flood of countless evils, I had
• 1:24:46
  Speaker 2: no hope of happiness but you, And now, when I
• 1:24:51
  Speaker 2: am willing to forgive the grievous wrong and bury its remembrance,
• 1:24:57
  Speaker 2: dare you to bring the past before my eyes eyes again,
• 1:25:02
  Speaker 2: accusing him whom you have injured? I see infatuation for
• 1:25:07
  Speaker 2: a traitor flatters your hopes? Gods, how ye try, my patience?
• 1:25:14
  Speaker 2: What was the secret charm that checked a wrath so
• 1:25:18
  Speaker 2: prompt to punish the severity? Seize the brief moment that
• 1:25:23
  Speaker 2: my love afford you come. This shall be my last appeal.
• 1:25:29
  Speaker 2: Nor draw superfluous perils on your head for one whom
• 1:25:33
  Speaker 2: you shall never see again. A son who scorns me,
• 1:25:38
  Speaker 2: boast not of your faith to him tis due to me.
• 1:25:43
  Speaker 2: Let him be lost to mind as well as sight,
• 1:25:46
  Speaker 2: and henceforth, by your sense of gratitude, deserve this proffered pardon.
• 1:25:54
  Speaker 3: My lord. Not unremembered is the bounty that should have
• 1:25:58
  Speaker 3: claimed my loyalist obedience. Whatever rank my ancestors attained of your,
• 1:26:04
  Speaker 3: their distant glory dazzled not my eyes that recognized how
• 1:26:07
  Speaker 3: far beneath so glorious a bridegroom I was born, and,
• 1:26:11
  Speaker 3: in despite of early predilection for Zifhari's, the noblest of mankind,
• 1:26:16
  Speaker 3: after yourself. When once this diadem my brow adorned him
• 1:26:21
  Speaker 3: and my former love did I renounce, for both agreed
• 1:26:25
  Speaker 3: to make the sacrifice by my command he left me
• 1:26:30
  Speaker 3: the secret flame was dying in my breast. Nor did
• 1:26:33
  Speaker 3: my lot seem one to be deplored, since at the
• 1:26:36
  Speaker 3: cost of vows once fondly cherished, I could bring happiness
• 1:26:39
  Speaker 3: to such a hero twas you, my lord, twas you yourself,
• 1:26:44
  Speaker 3: who tore the bond between us set me free again
• 1:26:48
  Speaker 3: that fatal love which I had crushed and conquered, the
• 1:26:51
  Speaker 3: flame I deemed extinguished and forgotten, when he who kindled
• 1:26:55
  Speaker 3: it was gone forever your wilds detected. And I cannot
• 1:27:00
  Speaker 3: but now disown what I confessed. You cannot raise its memory.
• 1:27:04
  Speaker 3: The shame of that avowal to which you forced me
• 1:27:07
  Speaker 3: will abide forever present before my mind, and I should
• 1:27:11
  Speaker 3: think that you were always of my faith uncertain. The
• 1:27:15
  Speaker 3: grave itself, to me were less abhorrent than marriage, bed
• 1:27:19
  Speaker 3: shared with a spouse who took cruel advantage of my
• 1:27:23
  Speaker 3: simple trust, and to destroy my peace forever fannd a
• 1:27:27
  Speaker 3: flame that fired my cheek for other love than his?
• 1:27:32
  Speaker 2: Is this your answer? Then? Do you reject the honor
• 1:27:37
  Speaker 2: I would fain confer, ponder it well? Or yet the
• 1:27:42
  Speaker 2: choice is yours?
• 1:27:45
  Speaker 3: No, sire, tis vain to work upon my fears. I
• 1:27:50
  Speaker 3: know you, nor am ignorant. What woes I for myself prepare?
• 1:27:55
  Speaker 3: I see them all? But I am resolved, and naught
• 1:27:59
  Speaker 3: can shake my purpose. Judge for yourself, since thus I
• 1:28:03
  Speaker 3: dared to speak, and in my zeal forget that modesty
• 1:28:07
  Speaker 3: by which till now I ever curbed my tongue you
• 1:28:10
  Speaker 3: from my hand. Unwitting took the knife to stab a
• 1:28:14
  Speaker 3: son whose secret eye betrayed, A son whose passion bore
• 1:28:19
  Speaker 3: no stain of guilt. And though he only feared to
• 1:28:22
  Speaker 3: lose your love, his death must follow. Faith or love
• 1:28:27
  Speaker 3: from me shall never reward such crooked cruelty. Let this
• 1:28:32
  Speaker 3: decide your action. Slay a rebel? You have me in
• 1:28:37
  Speaker 3: your power, spare not to use it. You can command,
• 1:28:41
  Speaker 3: and I can wait the sentence I beg but one thing,
• 1:28:45
  Speaker 3: ere I take my leave. Justice demands this tribute to desert.
• 1:28:50
  Speaker 3: Believe me the sole traitor. No accomplice have I, and
• 1:28:55
  Speaker 3: full success would crown your wishes? Did I but heed
• 1:28:58
  Speaker 3: the wishes of your sun?
• 1:29:02
  Speaker 1: Seen five Mithridates.
• 1:29:06
  Speaker 2: She leaves me, and in silence, like a coward, I
• 1:29:13
  Speaker 2: seem to sanction her audacious flight. My heart is almost
• 1:29:18
  Speaker 2: ready to pronounce myself too cruel, and to take her side.
• 1:29:24
  Speaker 2: Who am I is this monema? Am I no longer Mithradates?
• 1:29:30
  Speaker 2: Rage returns, No lingering love shall make me pardon her.
• 1:29:36
  Speaker 2: Three wretched victims shall appease my fury at once. Ere
• 1:29:41
  Speaker 2: I set sail with Rome before me. This sacrifice or
• 1:29:45
  Speaker 2: render heaven. Propitious, tis right, tis easy. All the most
• 1:29:50
  Speaker 2: seditious who might have helped them have been far removed,
• 1:29:54
  Speaker 2: No matter which I love or which I hate. First,
• 1:29:58
  Speaker 2: saf Airies himself shall meet his fate. What am I saying?
• 1:30:03
  Speaker 2: These are words of madness? Who is it thou wilt
• 1:30:06
  Speaker 2: sacrifice thy son, the dread of Rome, who may avenge
• 1:30:11
  Speaker 2: his sire? Why should I shed blood to myself so
• 1:30:15
  Speaker 2: precious Ah? Fallen as I am, and brought so low?
• 1:30:21
  Speaker 2: Find I those friends too many who are left me?
• 1:30:25
  Speaker 5: Nay?
• 1:30:26
  Speaker 2: Let me rather foster his affection. I need a sort
• 1:30:30
  Speaker 2: of vengeance, not a mistress. Since I must lose her,
• 1:30:35
  Speaker 2: would it not be better to yield her to this
• 1:30:39
  Speaker 2: son whose life I value? Aye? Let me give her
• 1:30:44
  Speaker 2: up a vain attempt that only shows how feeble is
• 1:30:49
  Speaker 2: the heart which seeks its own deception. Still inflamed, it
• 1:30:55
  Speaker 2: will not cease Ah. Hers is guilt beyond pardon, but
• 1:31:01
  Speaker 2: pity checks my timid hand. Have I not punished others
• 1:31:05
  Speaker 2: who were found less? Faithless? Oh? My monima, my son,
• 1:31:10
  Speaker 2: Oh futile wrath? What triumph Rome were thine? If thou
• 1:31:15
  Speaker 2: shouldst hear the tidings of my shame, and how conflicting
• 1:31:19
  Speaker 2: feelings thus unman me what pains I took, fearing domestic
• 1:31:24
  Speaker 2: treason to arm my life against all kinds of poison.
• 1:31:29
  Speaker 2: By long and careful study, I have learned how best
• 1:31:33
  Speaker 2: to neutralize their fatal power. Ah twould have been a wiser,
• 1:31:38
  Speaker 2: happier course, forestalling danger from the assaults of love, to
• 1:31:44
  Speaker 2: fortify a heart already frozen by age, against passion's hot
• 1:31:50
  Speaker 2: envenomed cup? How shall I escape these toils that close
• 1:31:54
  Speaker 2: round me?
• 1:31:57
  Speaker 1: Scene six mistre dates are born, says sire.
• 1:32:02
  Speaker 6: All your troops refuse to go detained by Varnaces, who
• 1:32:08
  Speaker 6: has to them revealed that for fresh warfare you are
• 1:32:11
  Speaker 6: bound for Rome? What pharnesus his guards he first seduced,
• 1:32:19
  Speaker 6: And the mere name of Rome alarms the boldest. A
• 1:32:23
  Speaker 6: thousand frightful dangers they imagine. Some, in their vehemence, embrace
• 1:32:29
  Speaker 6: the shore. Others who were aboard plunge in the waves,
• 1:32:33
  Speaker 6: or flash their weapons in the sailor's eyes. Confusion, reigns
• 1:32:38
  Speaker 6: are orders disregarded. Peace they demand and talk of self surrender,
• 1:32:44
  Speaker 6: And Varnasus, who flatters all their wishes, heads them and
• 1:32:49
  Speaker 6: offers in the name of Rome the peace.
• 1:32:52
  Speaker 2: They seek, traitor, Lets Ipharius be summoned quickly. Let him
• 1:32:57
  Speaker 2: follow me and lend me succor.
• 1:33:00
  Speaker 6: What he means I know not, But to the port
• 1:33:03
  Speaker 6: he suddenly has flown and followed by a band of
• 1:33:07
  Speaker 6: trusty friends. They say he has been seen among the rebels,
• 1:33:12
  Speaker 6: and that is all I know.
• 1:33:15
  Speaker 2: What news is this? Traitors? Too long has vengeance been delayed?
• 1:33:20
  Speaker 2: I fear them not, despite their insolence, My presence will
• 1:33:25
  Speaker 2: put down this mutiny.
• 1:33:27
  Speaker 9: Ah.
• 1:33:28
  Speaker 2: Let me only see them, and before their eyes this
• 1:33:31
  Speaker 2: hand shall slay two impious sons.
• 1:33:37
  Speaker 1: Scene seven Mithri dances Arbates arcasts.
• 1:33:46
  Speaker 8: Sire. All is lost, The Rebels, Pharmacies, the Romans, all
• 1:33:52
  Speaker 8: are crowding thick around.
• 1:33:53
  Speaker 2: Us, the Romans II.
• 1:33:56
  Speaker 8: The shore is full of them, and you will be
• 1:33:58
  Speaker 8: beleaguered here full soon.
• 1:34:00
  Speaker 2: Hence, then, in Heaven's name to Monima, hear me perjured, princess.
• 1:34:08
  Speaker 2: No profit shall you reap from my misfortune.
• 1:34:14
  Speaker 1: End of Act four, Act five of Mithridates by Jeen Racine,
• 1:34:27
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 1:34:33
  Speaker 1: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 1:34:36
  Speaker 1: information or to volunteer. Please visit LibriVox dot org, Act
• 1:34:43
  Speaker 1: five see one monima fiedema.
• 1:34:48
  Speaker 7: Whither dear madam, haste you? What blind passion makes you
• 1:34:52
  Speaker 7: lay impious hands upon yourself? What you have tried with
• 1:34:57
  Speaker 7: criminal intent to desecrate this sacred diadem? See how kind
• 1:35:03
  Speaker 7: Heaven more merciful than you? This fatal noose has broken
• 1:35:08
  Speaker 7: in your hands.
• 1:35:10
  Speaker 3: Why we obstinately thwart my wishes? I long to die?
• 1:35:15
  Speaker 3: Why would you have me live? Mysy Fares is dead?
• 1:35:19
  Speaker 3: The king's despair looks for nought better than assured destruction.
• 1:35:23
  Speaker 3: What fruit expect you from your rude presumption? Mean you
• 1:35:27
  Speaker 3: to give me up to four nurses?
• 1:35:30
  Speaker 7: Ah? Wait, at least till tidings of whose truth we
• 1:35:34
  Speaker 7: cannot doubt confirm his brother's death. May it not be
• 1:35:39
  Speaker 7: that in the wild confusion of which we hear, man's
• 1:35:44
  Speaker 7: eyes have been deceived.
• 1:35:46
  Speaker 8: At first you know.
• 1:35:48
  Speaker 7: A scandalous report range the ferris upon the rebel side.
• 1:35:53
  Speaker 7: And now they tell us these same mutineers, in cruel
• 1:35:57
  Speaker 7: rage have turned their arms against him. One tale confuses
• 1:36:02
  Speaker 7: the other deign to listen.
• 1:36:06
  Speaker 3: Nay, the far Is is dead. I cannot doubt it,
• 1:36:10
  Speaker 3: Nor has the event belied my expectation. Even if the
• 1:36:13
  Speaker 3: fatal news had failed to reach me, his death were
• 1:36:16
  Speaker 3: no less sure. I know his courage, and how his
• 1:36:20
  Speaker 3: name is hateful to the Romans. Long have they thirsted
• 1:36:24
  Speaker 3: for such noble blood. Rome's triumph now alas is but
• 1:36:28
  Speaker 3: too certain what enemy opposed his hand to theirs? Wretched
• 1:36:33
  Speaker 3: that I am, I dare not shift the blame on others.
• 1:36:37
  Speaker 3: Monimer to thee he owes his woeful fate. Open thine
• 1:36:41
  Speaker 3: eyes and see thy guilt in all his sufferings. Thou
• 1:36:45
  Speaker 3: hast armed a host against his life? How could he
• 1:36:48
  Speaker 3: escape so many blows? The Romans and his brother were
• 1:36:52
  Speaker 3: not enough? I to his father's wrath exposed him. I
• 1:36:57
  Speaker 3: the fatal torture of discord, the fury that Rome's steam
• 1:37:01
  Speaker 3: and bread and nurse to aid them. Ay it was
• 1:37:04
  Speaker 3: who fent the fire of mutual jealousy to conflagration. Yet
• 1:37:10
  Speaker 3: do I live and wait till far Nazis, bespattered with
• 1:37:13
  Speaker 3: their blood, comes in the train of Roman victors, and
• 1:37:17
  Speaker 3: before mine eyes displace his savage joy death to despair.
• 1:37:22
  Speaker 3: Open small waist than one Your cruel kindness in vain
• 1:37:26
  Speaker 3: would bar swift passage to the tomb, even in your arms.
• 1:37:29
  Speaker 3: I shall not miss the goal. Thou, fatal band, ill
• 1:37:34
  Speaker 3: omened diadem, the instrument and witness of my woes a
• 1:37:38
  Speaker 3: thousand times bedewed with scalding tears. Couldst thou not do
• 1:37:43
  Speaker 3: me this poor piece of service to rid me of
• 1:37:46
  Speaker 3: my life and all its anguish go object hateful to
• 1:37:50
  Speaker 3: my weary eyes. Some other instrument will aid me better
• 1:37:54
  Speaker 3: perish the day cursed be the fatal hand that bound
• 1:37:57
  Speaker 3: thee first upon this aching brow.
• 1:38:00
  Speaker 7: See Arcas comes Heaven. Grant that he appears with tidings
• 1:38:05
  Speaker 7: which may banish all your fears.
• 1:38:09
  Speaker 1: Scene too, monima fiedima, Arcass.
• 1:38:14
  Speaker 3: Say is all over and has far nazis.
• 1:38:19
  Speaker 8: Ask me not what has happened? I am charged with
• 1:38:22
  Speaker 8: sterner duty, madam, and this poison sent by the King
• 1:38:25
  Speaker 8: tells you his will and pleasure.
• 1:38:28
  Speaker 9: Unhappy Princess, Oh, surpassing joy, give it me, Arcas, Tell
• 1:38:34
  Speaker 9: the king who sends it, of all the gifts his
• 1:38:37
  Speaker 9: bounty has bestowed, this is the one most welcome, most desired.
• 1:38:42
  Speaker 3: I breathe at last, with freedom, saved by heaven from
• 1:38:46
  Speaker 3: those whose irksome care forced me to live. For once.
• 1:38:50
  Speaker 3: He leaves me mistress of my fate, nor interferes to
• 1:38:54
  Speaker 3: check me in my choice. Alas, repress your cries. This
• 1:39:00
  Speaker 3: happy moment must not be troubled with unworthy tears. Your love,
• 1:39:04
  Speaker 3: my Fidima, had better cause to weep when I was
• 1:39:07
  Speaker 3: honored with the title pregnant with woe, when torn from
• 1:39:10
  Speaker 3: my sweet home they dragged your mistress to this savage
• 1:39:14
  Speaker 3: climb Now to that happy land. Return, and should the
• 1:39:17
  Speaker 3: name of Monima be there remembered, Say what you see,
• 1:39:21
  Speaker 3: Tell the sad history of all my glory, faithful Fidima,
• 1:39:26
  Speaker 3: and thou with whom parted by envious fate forever from
• 1:39:30
  Speaker 3: a heart that held thee dear, I may not ask
• 1:39:33
  Speaker 3: even to share the tomb to which I go received
• 1:39:36
  Speaker 3: this sacrifice, heroic soul, And may this poison now be
• 1:39:41
  Speaker 3: my atonement for my lover's blood.
• 1:39:45
  Speaker 1: Scene three Monima arbatz Fidima Archass.
• 1:39:51
  Speaker 6: Stop Stop what is it that you do?
• 1:39:54
  Speaker 8: Our babies Stop?
• 1:39:56
  Speaker 6: I'm the bearer of the King's.
• 1:39:57
  Speaker 1: Command, Arbates, throwing down the poison cease.
• 1:40:05
  Speaker 6: I tell you, suffer me to execute the pleasure of
• 1:40:09
  Speaker 6: the king. Live, madam, haste to Mithradates. Arcus tell him.
• 1:40:15
  Speaker 6: Success has crowned my zealous service.
• 1:40:19
  Speaker 1: Seen for monima arbates fidema.
• 1:40:25
  Speaker 3: Cruel alberts, Why prolonged the woes I suffer? Was my
• 1:40:29
  Speaker 3: punishment too mild? And does the king grudge me?
• 1:40:32
  Speaker 7: An end?
• 1:40:33
  Speaker 3: So sudden? A single death too little to content him?
• 1:40:38
  Speaker 6: You soon shall see him, and I feel assured your
• 1:40:42
  Speaker 6: tears for him will mingle with mine own.
• 1:40:46
  Speaker 3: What is the king?
• 1:40:48
  Speaker 6: The King's last hour draws an eigh. His eyes will
• 1:40:52
  Speaker 6: never see another son. I left him bleeding, born upon
• 1:40:57
  Speaker 6: a litter, and weeping by his side. When sefaris great
• 1:41:03
  Speaker 6: heavens the Fharis am I awake?
• 1:41:07
  Speaker 3: I tremble, and can scarce believe mine ears? Is he
• 1:41:11
  Speaker 3: yet living? The fharis for whom.
• 1:41:14
  Speaker 6: He lives with glory, crowned with grief, overwhelmed, the tidings
• 1:41:21
  Speaker 6: of his death here spread abroad. Not you alone have
• 1:41:24
  Speaker 6: needlessly alarmed the Romans, crying out in all directions. The
• 1:41:29
  Speaker 6: fatal news chilled every hopeful heart. The king himself, deceived,
• 1:41:35
  Speaker 6: shed bitter tears, and looking forward henceforth to defeat as
• 1:41:39
  Speaker 6: certain by a rebel son, hard pressed, despairing of relief,
• 1:41:44
  Speaker 6: and all but forced to yield and seeing to increase
• 1:41:47
  Speaker 6: his pangs, the Roman eagle, with his standards born against him,
• 1:41:51
  Speaker 6: to no higher aim, aspired than to avoid the shame
• 1:41:55
  Speaker 6: of a surrender into their hands. Alive, First, he tried
• 1:41:59
  Speaker 6: poisons he knew, most deadly. In effect, he found them
• 1:42:03
  Speaker 6: all harmless and impotent. Vain help, said he, too long,
• 1:42:08
  Speaker 6: with anxious care this body. Have I strengthened to resist
• 1:42:11
  Speaker 6: all poisons. Baffled by my own success, some aid more
• 1:42:16
  Speaker 6: certain I must now attempt and seek a death more
• 1:42:18
  Speaker 6: fatal to my foes. He speaks and bids the palace
• 1:42:23
  Speaker 6: gates be thrown wide open, in defiance of their numbers.
• 1:42:27
  Speaker 6: When they beheld those eyes whose noble fury had spread
• 1:42:30
  Speaker 6: such frequent terror through their ranks, you might have seen
• 1:42:33
  Speaker 6: them all fall back, amazed, leaving wide interaval between us
• 1:42:37
  Speaker 6: and them. While some already struck with panic, ran and
• 1:42:42
  Speaker 6: sought a refuge in the ships that brought them, but
• 1:42:45
  Speaker 6: reassured all heavens by pharnaces and shame within their hearts.
• 1:42:50
  Speaker 6: Awakening thalor they take fresh courage, they attack the king
• 1:42:55
  Speaker 6: found whom I rallied a small band of heroes who
• 1:42:58
  Speaker 6: could relate what feet incredible. While flashed his sword as
• 1:43:02
  Speaker 6: fiercely as his eyes. His arm performed in this the
• 1:43:06
  Speaker 6: closing scene that brought him to the pinnacle of glory.
• 1:43:10
  Speaker 6: Weary at last, covered with blood and dust, he stood
• 1:43:15
  Speaker 6: at bay behind a wall of corpses. Another force advanced
• 1:43:19
  Speaker 6: in arms against us. The Romans, all ceasing to fight elsewhere,
• 1:43:23
  Speaker 6: joined with united strength to overwhelm him. Then said he, dear, Arbartes,
• 1:43:30
  Speaker 6: tis enough my fury has outrun my failing powers. Yet
• 1:43:35
  Speaker 6: never will I yield myself alive, so saying in his breast,
• 1:43:40
  Speaker 6: he plunged his sword, but fate refused to free his
• 1:43:44
  Speaker 6: mighty soul, and in my arms with gaping wound. He
• 1:43:48
  Speaker 6: lay exhausted, chafing at death's slow approach, and vexed that
• 1:43:53
  Speaker 6: life still lingered in his veins. He could not speak,
• 1:43:57
  Speaker 6: but raised his heavy hand and laid it on his heart,
• 1:44:00
  Speaker 6: as if to ask a surer stroke from me to
• 1:44:03
  Speaker 6: make an end. While I, possessed with overmastering grief, was
• 1:44:08
  Speaker 6: minded rather to destroy myself With loud and sudden shouts,
• 1:44:12
  Speaker 6: the air was rent, and I beheld a sight most
• 1:44:15
  Speaker 6: marvelous from every quarter. Fled, routed, and vanquished the Romans
• 1:44:19
  Speaker 6: to their ships with Varnassus, and drawing near my dazzled
• 1:44:23
  Speaker 6: eyes discerned victorious Cxares in hot pursuit. Oh heaven is
• 1:44:29
  Speaker 6: just the faithful Exares had, by his brother's orders, been
• 1:44:33
  Speaker 6: surrounded when in the thickest of the fray. But he,
• 1:44:37
  Speaker 6: after hard fighting, had at last escaped the rebels and
• 1:44:40
  Speaker 6: regained his little band e'en in the jaws of death,
• 1:44:43
  Speaker 6: with keen delight across a thousand corpses. Had he hewn
• 1:44:46
  Speaker 6: his way victorious to his father's side, alas, what horror
• 1:44:52
  Speaker 6: to that joy succeeded lifeless, he would have fallen at
• 1:44:55
  Speaker 6: his feet had we not rushed opposing his despair. The
• 1:44:59
  Speaker 6: dying ca at that sad moment, fixed his eye on
• 1:45:02
  Speaker 6: me and said, with feeble voice, run, if there yet
• 1:45:07
  Speaker 6: is time, and save the Queen. My fears aroused for you, Forksfares,
• 1:45:14
  Speaker 6: suspecting secret orders had been given, all weary as I was,
• 1:45:19
  Speaker 6: alarm and zeal inspired fresh strength, and to my feet
• 1:45:22
  Speaker 6: lent wings and some relief. It is made all our
• 1:45:26
  Speaker 6: woe thus to have warded off this latest.
• 1:45:29
  Speaker 3: Blow ah Me at this said end of all his greatness,
• 1:45:35
  Speaker 3: My horror, stricken heart is thrilled with pity. I were
• 1:45:38
  Speaker 3: to Heaven that I had had no share in such
• 1:45:41
  Speaker 3: a consummation of disaster, and free from self accusing thoughts,
• 1:45:45
  Speaker 3: might weep merely to witness woe so terrible he comes. Ah,
• 1:45:51
  Speaker 3: what a piteous side appears the father dying and the
• 1:45:55
  Speaker 3: son in tears.
• 1:45:58
  Speaker 1: Scene five, Sthridatees Monima, Ziphares, Arbotes, Fidema Arcass guards supporting Mithridates.
• 1:46:12
  Speaker 3: Alas, my lord, how dreadful is your fate?
• 1:46:16
  Speaker 2: Cease and let both of you restrain your tears, pointing
• 1:46:22
  Speaker 2: to Ziphares from his devotion and your tenderness. I look
• 1:46:28
  Speaker 2: for other feelings than compassion. My glory rather claims your admiration, Sully,
• 1:46:36
  Speaker 2: it not with sighs and lamentation. As far as in
• 1:46:40
  Speaker 2: me lay, I have avenged the world, and death alone
• 1:46:45
  Speaker 2: has balked my efforts to strike a mortal blow at Tyranny,
• 1:46:50
  Speaker 2: the enemy of Rome. I spurned her yoke, and in
• 1:46:54
  Speaker 2: the role of those heroic names whose hatred has opposed her,
• 1:46:59
  Speaker 2: mine will stand pre eminent for dear bought victories that
• 1:47:04
  Speaker 2: fill her annals with unlucky days. Twas not in Heaven's
• 1:47:09
  Speaker 2: decrees that I should die amidst the ashes in the
• 1:47:13
  Speaker 2: wreck of Rome. But my last moments, by this thought
• 1:47:17
  Speaker 2: are sooth'd full. Many a foe has fallen. Ere I
• 1:47:22
  Speaker 2: fell full deeply have I dyed my hands with blood,
• 1:47:26
  Speaker 2: and I have seen the Romans fly. Ere death darkens
• 1:47:29
  Speaker 2: my sight. Tis afairis my son.
• 1:47:33
  Speaker 5: I owe this boon.
• 1:47:35
  Speaker 2: He spares my dying eyes their hateful presence to repay
• 1:47:41
  Speaker 2: this service. My glorious empire in its palmiest days were
• 1:47:46
  Speaker 2: not enough. And now for throne and scepter I have,
• 1:47:52
  Speaker 2: But you let me present that gift and all the
• 1:47:57
  Speaker 2: love which for myself I claim'd, I ask you to
• 1:48:01
  Speaker 2: bestow on's affairs.
• 1:48:05
  Speaker 3: Live, my dear Lord, for the world's happiness, Live for
• 1:48:08
  Speaker 3: her liberty which rests on you alone, for triumph over
• 1:48:13
  Speaker 3: your vanquish'd foes. For vengeance.
• 1:48:17
  Speaker 2: Madam, I have done with life, my son. Secure your safety,
• 1:48:23
  Speaker 2: nor attempt resistance against numbers so immense. Soon will the Romans,
• 1:48:32
  Speaker 2: goaded on by shame, return, and like a flood sweep
• 1:48:37
  Speaker 2: all before them, waste not the precious moments their retreat
• 1:48:42
  Speaker 2: affords in vain devotion at my tomb, so many lifeless
• 1:48:49
  Speaker 2: romans lying round me are a sufficient tribute to my
• 1:48:54
  Speaker 2: ashes your name and person for a time, conceal, go
• 1:49:02
  Speaker 2: and reserve yourself.
• 1:49:04
  Speaker 5: How can I fly ere? Fernachis is punished. Let me
• 1:49:08
  Speaker 5: curb the pride of Rome.
• 1:49:10
  Speaker 2: Nay, I command you hence, sooner or later Varniceus must
• 1:49:15
  Speaker 2: perish trust to the Romans for his recompense. But strength
• 1:49:21
  Speaker 2: is ebbing fast. I feel that life is all but ended.
• 1:49:28
  Speaker 2: Come my son, come nearer, and in a last embrace
• 1:49:35
  Speaker 2: full of sweet comfort, receive the parting soul of Mithridates.
• 1:49:45
  Speaker 4: He dies.
• 1:49:47
  Speaker 5: In grief. Let us united be and search for vengeance
• 1:49:52
  Speaker 5: over earth. And see
• 1:49:55
  Speaker 1: End of a five End of Mithridates by Jean Escine,
• 1:50:01
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell,