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• The Works of Voltaire: the Dramatic Works of Voltaire Vol. Viii— Part I
• MÉrope
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• A Letter to the Marquis Scipio Maffei, Author of the Italian Mérope, and Many Other Celebrated Performances.
• A Letter From M. De La Lindelle to M. De Voltaire.
• The Answer of M. De Voltaire to M. De La Lindelle.
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.
• Act IV.
• Act V.
• Olympia
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.
• Act IV.
• Act V.
• The Orphan of China
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• To the Most Noble Duke of Richelieu, Marshal and Peer of France, First Gentleman of the Chamber to His Majesty, Governor of Languedoc, and Member of the Academy of Sciences.
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.
• Act IV.
• Act V.
• Brutus
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.
• Act IV.
• Act V.
• The Dramatic Works of Voltaire Vol. Viii— Part Ii
• Mahomet.
• To His Majesty the King of Prussia.
• A Letter From M. De Voltaire to Pope Benedict XIV.
• The Answer of Pope Benedict XIV. To M. De Voltaire. Benedictus P. P. Dilecto Filio Salutem & Apostolicam Benedictionem.
• A Letter of Thanks From M. De Voltaire to the Pope.
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Act Ii
• Act III.
• Act IV.
• Act V.
• Amelia
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.
• Act IV.
• Act V.
• Œdipus
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.
• Act IV.
• Act V.
• Mariamne
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.
• Act IV.
• Act V.
• Socrates
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.

ACT III.

SCENE I.

duke of foix, lisois.

duke.

• The day is ours; thanks to thy friendly hand
• That guided my rash youth; thy noble soul,
• In peace or war, is my best counsellor.

lisois.

• The glorious fire that animates thy heart
• Must always conquer, when ’tis checked by prudence,
• As here it was: preserve this happy virtue,
• ’Twill make thee happy, and ’twill make thee great;
• The coward is restless, but the hero calm.

duke.

• How is the lover? can he ever taste
• Of sweet tranquillity? But say, my friend,
• This unknown chief, that mounted on our ramparts,
• And with his single arm so long suspended
• The doubtful victory: I grow jealous of him:
• Where is he? what became of him?

lisois.

• Surrounded
• By slaughtered friends, alone long time he stood,
• And braved opposing legions; but what most
• Surprised us, when at length he had escaped
• From every danger, wondrous to relate!
• He yielded up himself a prisoner to us;
• Conceals his rank and name, accuses heaven,
• And begs for instant death. One friend alone
• Attends him, and partakes his sorrows.

duke.

• Lisois,
• Who can this bold, this fearless soldier be?
• He wore his beaver down: some secret charm
• O’erpowered my trembling soul when I opposed him.
• Whether this fatal passion that enslaves me
• Hath spread its weakness o’er each faculty,
• And left the soft impression on my soul,
• Or that my bleeding country’s voice alarmed
• This conscious heart, and silently reproached me.

lisois.

• As for the weakness of thy soul, advice
• I know were vain, but sure thy country’s voice
• May still be heard; now is the time to show
• The greatness of thy soul, and give us peace.
• Fortune, that smiled on us to-day, perhaps
• May frown to-morrow, and thy pride be forced
• To sue for pardon to a haughty foe.
• Since thou art happy, and Amelia’s thine,
• Now rest thy glory on the common cause,
• This brave unknown may forward our designs;
• Let us improve the lucky moment.

duke.

• Yes,
• My friend, I will do all to serve Amelia,
• Her cause is mine: I must prepare the minds
• Of my brave followers for the change; to thee,
• And to thy happy counsels, every bliss,
• Glory and peace, and hymeneal joys,
• To thee I owe, to friendship and to love.

SCENE II.

lisois, vamir and emarat the farther end of the stage.

lisois.

• It is the noble prisoner, and his friend,
• If I mistake not: this way they advance;
• He seems o’erwhelmed with deep despair.

vamir.

• O heaven!
• Where am I? whither dost thou lead me?

lisois.

• Stranger,
• Whoe’er thou art, be comforted; thy fate
• Hath thrown thee into noble hands: thou’lt find
• A generous master, who can see desert
• Even in a foe: may I not ask thy name?

vamir.

• I am a poor abandoned wretch, the sport
• Of fortune, one whose least affliction is
• To be a captive, and from every eye
• Would wish to hide the story of my fate:
• It is enough to be supremely wretched,
• Without this cruel witness of my woe:
• Too soon my name and sorrows will be known.

lisois.

• Respect is due to misery like thine;
• I will not urge thee further, but retire:
• Perhaps even here thy soul may find relief
• In generous treatment, and a milder fate.

SCENE III.

vamir, emar.

vamir.

• A milder fate! I must not hope for it:
• O I have lived too long.

emar.

• Thank heaven, my lord,
• That we are fallen amongst such noble foes,
• And shall not groan beneath a stranger’s power.

vamir.

• No yoke sometimes so galling as a brother’s.

emar.

• But you were bred together, and the ties
• Of tenderest friendship linked your hearts.

vamir.

• They did:
• But O the friendship of our early years
• Soon takes its flight: he loved me once, and still
• This heart retains a brother’s kindness for him:
• I cannot hate him, though he conquered me.

emar.

• He knows not yet how great a captive comes
• To grace his triumph; knows not that a brother
• Is in his power, whom vengeance had inspired.

vamir.

• No: Emar, never did a thought of vengeance
• Enter my heart; a different passion swayed
• The soul of Vamir: can it be, just heaven!
• Or is it but the lying voice of fame,
• That my Amelia’s false, that she has broke
• Her solemn vows? for whom, too? added guilt
• To her, and double sorrow to thy friend!
• The sacred laws of nature, and the ties
• Of tender love, all broken, all betrayed!
• Unjust, inhuman brother!

emar.

• Knows he then
• How dear a treasure he hath robbed thee of
• In thy Amelia? did not Vamir say
• That he was still a stranger to thy love?

vamir.

• But she is not: she knows what solemn ties,
• What strict engagements, bound us to each other:
• That at the altar, ere we had confirmed
• Our mutual vows, the barbarous Moor rushed in,
• And tore her from me; the base ravishers
• Escaped my vengeance, and my happier brother
• Enjoys the precious treasure Vamir lost
• Ungrateful woman! came I here, my friend,
• But to reproach her? what will it avail?
• She will not listen to my fond complaint:
• But to my royal master I have lived
• A faithful servant, and to false Amelia,
• And faithful will I die: when she shall know
• How well I loved her, she may shed a tear,
• And in a brother’s arms lament my fate.

emar.

• Repress thy sorrows; see, the duke approaches.

vamir.

• Be still, my heart.

SCENE IV.

duke of foix, vamir, emar.

duke.

• This mystery alarms me:
• But I must see this noble captive: ha!
• He turns aside with horror.

vamir.

• Hateful life!
• Must I support thee still? must I again
• Behold the faithless wretch?

duke.

• What do I hear?

vamir.

• Dost thou not know me?

duke.

• Ha! my brother! Vamir!

vamir.

• Alas! too sure I am that wretched brother,
• Thy vanquished foe, a poor abandoned captive.

duke.

• Thou art my brother still, and I forgive thee;
• But ’tis most strange, and most unnatural:
• Could the king find no instrument but thee
• To execute his vengeance on my head?
• What had I done to Vamir?

vamir.

• Made his life
• Unhappy: would that thou hadst taken it from me!

duke.

• Dreadful effects of civil strife!

vamir.

• More dreadful
• Are the deep wounds that pierce the heart of Vamir.

duke.

• Against another foe I might have shown
• A soldier’s courage, but I pity thee.

vamir.

• Pity thyself, the wretch who has betrayed
• His country, and deceived the king that loved him;
• A traitor, and unworthy of thy race.

duke.

• Brand me not, Vamir, with opprobrious name
• Of traitor, lest I should forget myself,
• And spurn thee for the insult: no, my brother,
• I’m not that base, ungrateful wretch thou thinkest me;
• Thou seest me ready to restore fair peace,
• And heal the wounds of my divided country.

vamir.

• Thou heal our wounds! thou—

duke.

• Yes: the day that seemed
• So fatal to thy peace shall quench the flames
• Of public discord, and unite us all.

vamir.

• O ’tis a day of sorrow.

duke.

• Of delight
• And joy, the day that crowns my wishes—

vamir.

• How!

duke.

• Yes, Vamir, all is changed, and I am happy.

vamir.

• It may be so: I heard indeed thy heart
• These three months past has been the slave of love;
• And if report say true, most violent
• And fierce thy passion.

duke.

• Thou hast heard aright;
• I love her even to madness: thou art come
• In happy hour to make our bliss complete.
• Yes: I will lay my friends, my foes, my every claim,
• Revenge and glory, all beneath her feet.
• Go, tell her two unhappy brothers, long
• [To his attendants.
• By adverse fate to different interests bound,
• Wait but a look from her to be united.
• [To Vamir.
• Blame not my passion, Vamir, when thou seest
• The lovely object, soon thou wilt approve it.

vamir.

• [Aside.
• And does she love thee? cruel thought!

duke.

• At least
• She ought: one obstacle alone remained,
• And that shall be removed.

vamir.

• [Aside.
• Inhuman brother!
• Knowest thou what led me to this fatal place,
• And meanest thou to insult me?

duke.

• Let us bury
• In deep oblivion every thought of discord;
• Behold, the fair Amelia comes.

SCENE V.

duke of foix, vamir, amelia.

amelia.

• O heaven!
• What do I see? I die.

duke.

• Amelia, listen,
• And mark how happiness ariseth oft
• From our misfortunes; this day I have conquered,
• And this day found a brother; thou, my Vamir,
• Shalt be a witness to the power of love.
• What nor Amelia’s prayers, nor her reproaches,
• My generous friend, my country, and my king,
• Long time in vain solicited, her charms
• At length have won: to them I yield submissive.
• Amelia, whilst I was thy sovereign’s foe,
• Thou wouldst not listen to my vows: henceforth
• I have no laws, no friends, no king, but thine:
• So love commands, and love shall be obeyed.
• Vamir, thou’rt free: be thou the messenger
• Of welcome tidings to the court: away,
• And tell the king I hasten to present
• His fair ally, the conqueror who subdued
• A rebel’s heart, and of a dangerous foe
• Hath made a faithful subject; changed by her,
• And her alone.

vamir.

• [Aside.
• ’Tis as I wished: my fate
• Will soon be known: speak, and pronounce our doom.

duke.

• Amelia, speak, art thou not satisfied
• With my submission? Is it not enough
• To see a conqueror thus humbly kneel
• Before thee? Can my life alone content
• Thy cruel heart? take it, ungrateful woman!
• I wished but to preserve it for thy sake;
• For thee alone I lived, for thee will die.

amelia.

• I am astonished, and my faltering voice
• Will scarce give utterance to my words—my lord,
• If thy great soul laments thy country’s fate,
• And feels for her distress, thy generous care
• Must spring from nobler motives than the wish
• To serve Amelia; thou hast heard the voice
• Of powerful nature: what hath love to do
• Where only honor hath a right to dictate?

duke.

• ’Tis thy own work, Amelia, all thy own:
• O’er every interest, every passion, love
• Superior reigns; reproach me, cover me
• With shame, no matter: I must force thy heart;
• Come to the altar.

vamir.

• Darest thou—

amelia.

• No, my lord;
• I’d sooner die: my life’s at thy command,
• But not my heart: there is a fatal bar
• Between us, and I never can be thine.

duke.

• ’Tis well, ungrateful—dost thou hear her, Vamir?
• But I’ll be calm: I’ll not complain of thee,
• I see thee now: the soft persuasive arts
• That call our passions forth, the flattering hope
• That’s given but to betray, the subtle poison
• Spread o’er our hearts, deceitful all and vain,
• No longer shall seduce my easy faith,
• The eye of reason hath detected them,
• And the same art that bound hath set me free:
• I will not blush before thee, Vamir: no,
• I will not be despised: but let me see
• This hidden rival, bring him here before me,
• And I will yield him up the worthless prize;
• For know, I have contempt enough for both
• To wish you were united; that alone
• Should be your punishment.

amelia.

• Perhaps, my lord,
• ’Twere fittest for Amelia to retire
• In silence, but I hold my honor dear,
• And must defend it: I have been accused
• Before thy brother, and must answer thee.
• Know, then, I’m destined to another’s arms;
• I own my love, my tender passion for him;
• Amelia were unworthy of his heart,
• Had she e’er given a distant hope to thee:
• But thou wouldst seize my faith and liberty,
• As if they were by right of conquest thine.
• I owed thee much, but injuries like these,
• My lord, discharge the debt of gratitude,
• And cancel all: I saw, and pitied long
• The violence of thy fruitless passion for me;
• Do not then make me hate thee: I rejected
• Thy proffered vows, but never scorned thy love:
• I wished for thy esteem, and gave thee mine.

duke.

• Perfidious woman! naught hast thou deserved
• But my resentment, which thou soon shalt know
• Is equal to my love: thou waitedst then
• For Vamir to be witness of my shame!
• I should have thought he was himself the traitor,
• If—but he ne’er beheld thy fatal charms,
• My happier brother never knew Amelia.
• Who is this rival? let me know his name,
• But think not I will tamely yield to him.
• No: I deceived thee there, but cannot long
• Dissemble; I will drag thee to the altar,
• There, as he dies in torment, shall he see
• Our hands united; I will dip in blood
• The torch of Hymen: well I know that princes
• Have been despised for mean and vulgar slaves,
• But I shall find him.

vamir.

• Why shouldst thou suppose
• This rival so contemptible?

duke.

• And why
• Shouldst thou excuse him? Didst thou never know her?
• ’Tis dreadful to conceive it. If thou didst,
• Now, traitor, tremble.

vamir.

• Vamir tremble? No:
• Too long already I have borne in silence
• Thy cruel insults; know me now, barbarian,
• Know a despair that’s equal to thy own:
• Strike here; behold thy brother, and thy rival.

duke.

• Thou, Vamir, thou?

vamir.

• Yes: for these two years past
• We’ve been united in the strictest bonds
• Of tender love; the only good on earth
• I wished to keep, thy cruel hand hath strove
• To ravish from me, made my life unhappy:
• Judge of my miseries by thy own: we both
• Are jealous, both were born the slaves of passion:
• Hatred and love, resentment, and despair,
• Possess our souls, and all in the extreme:
• Thou wert my rival, therefore I opposed thee:
• Furious and blind, I ran, I flew to save
• The object of my love; not all thy power
• Restrained me, nor my weakness, time nor place,
• Not even thy noble courage; love prevailed
• O’er friendship, and the ties of blood: be thou
• Cruel like me, like me unnatural.
• Whilst I have life, thou never canst enjoy
• Thy conquest, never canst possess Amelia:
• Strike, then, and punish, shed thy brother’s blood;
• But when thou draggest her with thee to the altar,
• Remember, she’s thy sister, and my wife.

duke.

• Guards, seize the traitor, take him from my sight.

amelia.

• Stay, cruel prince; art thou inflexible,
• Deaf to the voice of nature? O, my lord!

vamir.

• Sue not for me, Amelia, Vamir’s fate
• Is to be envied: he most claims your pity
• Who hath betrayed his king, and injured thee:
• I am revenged, the victory is mine;
• For thou art hated here, and I’m beloved.

amelia.

• [Kneeling to the Duke.
• O dearest prince, my lord, see at your feet—

duke.

• Away with him: rise, madam, for thy tears
• And fruitless prayers to save a traitor’s life
• But pour fresh poison o’er my wounded heart
• That bleeds for thee; but I will die, Amelia,
• Not unrevenged: when thou shalt feel my rage
• Accuse thyself; the work is all thy own.

amelia.

• I cannot leave thee: O my lord, yet hear—

duke.

• If I must hear thee, speak, go on.

SCENE VI.

the duke, vamir, amelia, lisois.

lisois.

• My lord,
• The people are in arms; at Vamir’s name
• They rose tumultuous, and on every side
• Disorder reigns; the affrighted soldiers leave
• Their colors, and in wild confusion fly:
• Meantime the foe unites his scattered powers,
• And rushes on us.

duke.

• Go, ungrateful woman!
• Thou hast not long to glory in thy crimes;
• Follow her—
• [To one of her attendants.
• I must to the factious crowd
• And show myself: thou, Lisois, guard this traitor.

SCENE VII.

vamir, lisois.

lisois.

• Art thou a traitor? couldst thou thus disgrace
• Thy noble blood, to violate the laws
• Of nature? could a prince so far forget
• His duty and himself?

vamir.

• I never did:
• The people’s just: my brother is a rebel,
• And has betrayed his master.

lisois.

• Hear me, Vamir;
• My soul desires no greater happiness
• Than to unite you: long have I beheld
• With deep regret my bleeding country’s woes,
• Our fields laid waste, and nature sacrificed
• To discord and revenge; the haughty Moor,
• Raised on our ruins, menacing the state,
• Which we have weakened by our own divisions.
• O if thou bearest a heart that’s truly noble,
• And worthy of thy race, now save thy country;
• Exert thy power to reconcile the king,
• Soften thy brother, and put out the flames
• Of civil war.

vamir.

• Impossible! thy cares
• Are fruitless all and vain: if naught but discord,
• Revenge and hatred, led me to the field,
• Had glory and ambition fired my breast,
• Thou mightest have hoped indeed to reunite us;
• But there’s a bar more fatal still behind.

lisois.

• What could it be! O tell me, Vamir.

vamir.

• Love:
• Love that has filled this breast with savage fury,
• And made my brother cruel and inhuman.

lisois.

• Good heaven! that vain caprice should thus destroy
• The noblest purposes! Almighty love,
• Canst thou reverse the laws of nature, fill
• With unrelenting hate the jealous hearts
• Of fondest brothers, and in every clime
• By private passions work the public ruin?
• Vamir, I feel for both, but long have served
• Thy brother; I must hence, and second him
• Against thy factious friends: the strife is dreadful,
• And much I fear will have a bloody end;
• But I must fly to succor him: farewell;
• Thou art my prisoner, but I leave thee here;
• Give me thy word, that shall suffice.

vamir.

• I do.

lisois.

• Would I could knit you in the bonds of peace!
• But much more to be feared than all thy foes
• And far more fatal, is the tyrant, love.

End of the Third Act.