Elizabeth Cary - The Tragedy of Mariam, The Argument lyrics

THE ARGUMENT Herod, the son of Antipater (an Idumean), having crept by the favour of the Romans into the Jewish monarchy, married Mariam, the daughter of Hircan*s, the rightful king and priest, and for her (besides her high blood, being of singular beauty) he repudiated Doris, his former wife, by whom he had children. This Mariam had a brother called Aristobolus, and next him and Hircan*s, his grandfather, Herod, in his wife's right, had the best title. Therefore, to remove them, he charged the first with treason and put him to d**h, and drowned the second under colour of sport. Alexandra, daughter to the one, and mother to the other, accused him for their d**hs before Antony. So when he was forced to go answer this accusation at Rome, he left the custody of his wife to Josephus, his uncle, that had married his sister, Salome, and out of a violent affection (unwilling any should enjoy her after him), he gave strict and private commandment that, if her were slain, she should be put to d**h. But he returned with much honour, yet found his wife extremely discontented, to whom Josephus had (meaning it for the best, to prove Herod loved her) revealed his charge. So, by Salome's accusation, he put Josephus to d**h, but was reconciled to Mariam who still bare the d**h of her friends exceedingly hard. In this meantime, Herod was again necessarily to revisit Rome for Caesar, having overthrown Antony, his great friend, was likely to make an alteration of his fortune. In his absence, news came to Jerusalem that Caesar had put him to d**h. Their willingness it should be so, together with the likelihood, gave this rumour so good credit as Sohemus, that had succeeded Josephus' charge, succeeded him likewise in revealing it. So at Herod's return, which was speedy and unexpected, he found Mariam so far from joy that she showed apparent signs of sorrow. He, still desiring to win her to better humour, she, being very unable to conceal her pa**ion, fell to upbraiding him with her brother's d**h. As they were thus debating, came in a fellow with a cup of wine, who, hired by Salome, said first it was a love potion which Mariam desired to deliver to the king, but afterwards he affirmed that it was a poison, and that Sohemus had told her somewhat which procured the vehement hate in her. The king hearing this, more moved with jealousy of Sohemus than with this intent of poison, sent her away, and presently after by the instigation of Salome was beheaded. Which rashness was afterward punished in him with intolerable and almost frantic pa**ion for her d**h.