And absolute within themselves repos'd,
Only to greatnesse ope, to all else clos'd.
Weak sanguine fooles are to their own good nice;
Before I held you vertuous, but now wise.
So. Zanthia, victorious Massinissa lives.
My Massinissa lives. O steddy powers,
Keep him as safe as heaven keepes the earth,
Which looks upon it with a thousand eyes;
That honest valiant man, and Zanthia,
Doe but record the justice of his love,

And my for ever vowes, for ever vowes.

Za. I, true madam; nay, thinke of his great mind, His most just heart, his all of excellence,

And such a vertue as the gods might envy.

Against this, Syphax, is but

and you know,

Fame lost, what can be got that's good for

So. Hence,

Take, nay, with one hand.

Za. My service.

So. Prepare our sacrifice.

Za. But yield you, I, or no?
So. When thou dost know.

Za. What then?

So. Then thou wilt know.

Let him that would have counsel 'voyd th' advice

Of friends, made his with waighty benefits,
Whose much dependance onely strives to fit
Humour, not reason, and to still devise

[Exit Zanthia.

In any thought to make their friend seeme wise.
But above all, O feare a servants tongue,
Like such as onely for their gaine to serve,

Within the vaste capacity of place,

I know no vilenesse so most truly base.

Their lords, their gaine; and he that most will give,
With him (they will not dye, but) they will live.
Traytors and these are one; such slaves once trust,
Whet swords to make thine owne blood like the dust.

T Cornets and organs playing full musicke. Enters the solemnity of a sacrifice; which being entered, whilst the attendance furnish the altar, SOPHONISBA song, which done, she speakes

Withdraw, withdraw; all but Zanthia and Vangue depart.
I not invoke thy arme, thou god of sound;
Nor thine, nor thine, although in all abound
High powers immense. But joviall Mercury,
And thou, O brightest female of the sky,
Thrice modest Phoebe, you that joyntly fit
A worthy chastity, and a most chaste wit,
To you corruptlesse hunny, and pure dew,
Upbreathes our holy fire; words just and few,
O daine to heare, if in poore wretches cryes
You glory not; if drops of withered eyes
Be not your sport, be just; all that I crave
Is but chaste life, or an untainted grave.

I can no more; yet hath my constant tongue
Let fall no weaknesse, tho' my heart were wrung

With pangsworth hell; whilst great thoughts stop our teares,
Sorrow unseene, unpitied inward weares :

You see now where I rest, come is my end.

Cannot Heaven, vertue, 'gainst weake chance defend ?

When weaknesse hath out-borne what weaknesse can,

What, should I say tis Joves, not sinne of man.

Some stratagem now let wits God be shewen,
Celestiall powers by miracles are knowne.
I hav't; tis done. Zanthia, prepare our bed
Van. Your servant,

So. Vangue, we have perform'd

Due rites unto the dead.

[Sophonisba presents a carouse to Vangue, &c. Now to thy lord, great Syphax, healthfull cups, which done, The king is right much welcome.

Van. Were it as deepe as thought, off it should thus—

So. My safetie with that draught.

[He drinkes.

Van. Close the vaults mouth least we doe slip in drinke. So. To what use, gentle negro, serves this cave, Whose mouth thus opens so familiarly,

Even in the Kings bed-chamber?

Van. O, my Queene,

This vault with hideous darkness, and much length,
Stretcheth beneath the earth into a grove,

One league from Cirta (I am very sleepy);

Through this when Cirta hath beene strong begirt,

With hostile siege the King hath safely scaped
To, to

So. The wine is strong.

Van. Strong?

So. Zanthia!

Za. What meanes my Princesse ?

So. Zanthia, rest firme

And silent. Helpe us; nay, doe not dare refuse.

Za. The negros dead!

So. No, drunk!

Za. Alas!

So. Too late!

Her hand is fearefull whose mind's desperate.
It is but sleepie opium he hath drunke.

Helpe, Zanthia!

[They lay Vangue in Syphax bed, and draw the curteines. There lie Syphax bride; a naked man is soone undrest; There bide dishonoured passion.

[They knock within, forthwith Syphax comes.

Sy. Way for the King!

So. Straight for the King. I fly

Where misery shall see nought but it selfe.

Deare Zanthia, close the vault when I am sunke,
And whilst he slips to bed escape, be true;

I can no more; come to me. Harke, gods, my breath
Scornes to crave life, grant but a well-famde death.

Enter SYPHAX, ready for bed.

[She descends.

Sy. Each man withdraw, let not a creature stay Within large distance.

Za. Sir!

Sy. Hence, Zanthia,

Not thou shalt heare; all stand without eare-reach
Of the soft cryes nice shrinking brides do yeeld,
When

Za. But, Sir

Sy. Hence, stay, take thy delight by steps, Thinke of thy joyes, and make long thy pleasures. O silence, thou dost swallow pleasure right; Words take away some sense from our delight. Musicke! be proud, my Venus; Mercury, thy tongue; Cupid, thy flame; 'bove all, O Hercules

Let not thy backe be wanting; for now I leape
To catch the fruite none but the gods should reape.
[Offering to leape into bed, he discovers Vangue.
Hah! can any woman turne to such a devill?
Or-or-Vangue, Vangue

Van. Yes, yes.
Sy. Speake, slave.

How cam'st thou here?

Van. Here?

Sy. Zanthia, Zanthia, wher's Sophonisba? speake at full-at full.

Give me particular faith, or know thou art not

Za. Your pardon, just mov'd Prince, and private eare. Sy. Ill actions have some grace, that they can feare. Van. How came I laid? which way was I made drunke ? Where am I? thinke I, or is my state advanc'd?

O Jove, how pleasant is it but to sleepe

In a kings bed!

Sy. Sleepe there thy lasting sleepe,

Improvident, base, o're-thirsty slave.

[Syphax kils Vangue.

Dye pleas'd, a kings couch is thy too proud grave.

Through this vault say'st thou?

Za. As you give me grace

To live, tis true.

Sy. We will be good to Zanthia;

Goe, cheare thy lady, and be private to us.

Za. As to my life.

Sy. I'le use this Zanthia,

[She descends after Sophonisba."

And trust her as our dogs drinke dangerous Nile,

Only for thirst; the flie, the crocodile :