melancholy Hours But how then Madam in this unsuitable condition how shall I answer the infinite Honours and Obligations Your Grace has laid upon me Your Grace who is the most beautiful Idea of Love and Glory who to that Divine Composition have the noblest and best-natur'd Wit in the World All I can promise Madam and be able to perform is That your Grace shall never see a Play of mine that shall give offence to Modesty and Vertue and what I humbly offer to the World shall be of use at least and I hope deserve imitation which is or ought to be I am sure the Design of all Tragedies and Comedies both Ancient and Modern I should presume to promise my self too some Success in things of this nature if Your Grace in whom the Charms of Beauty Wit and Goodness seem reconcil'd at a leisure Hour would condescend to correct with Your excellent Judgment the Errors of MADAM Your Graces most humble most obedient and devoted Servant NAT. LEE THEODOSIUS OR THE Force of Love ACT I. SCENE I. A stately Temple which represents the Christian Religion as in its first Magnificence Being but lately establisht at Rome and Constantinople The Side Scenes shew the horrid Tortures with which the Roman Tyrants persecuted the Church and the Flat Scene which is the Limit of the Prospect discovers an Altar richly adorn'd before it Constantine suppos'd kneels with Commanders about him gazing at a bloody Cross in the Air which being incompass'd with many Angels offers it self to view with these words distinctly written In hoc signo vinces Instruments are heard and many Attendants The Ministers at Divine Service walk busily up and down till Atticus the Chief of all the Priests and Successor of St. Chrysostom in rich Robes comes forward with the Philosopher Leontine The Waiters in Ranks bowing all the way before him A Chorus heard at distance Prepare prepare the Rites begin Let none unhallow'd enter in The Temple with new Glory shines Adorn the Altars wash the Shrines And purge the place from Sin Attic. O Leontine was ever Morn like this Since the Celestial Incarnation dawn'd I think no Day since that such Glory gave To Christian Altars as this Morning brings Leont Great Successor of holy Chrysostom Who now triumphs above a Saint of Honour Next in degree to those bright Sons of Heav'n Who never fell nor stain'd their Orient Beams What shall I answer How shall I approach you Since my Conversion which your breath inspir'd Attic. To see this Day th' Emperour of the East Leaves all the Pleasures that the Earth can yield That Nature can bestow or Art invent In his Life's spring and bloom of gawdy years To undergo the Penance of a Cloyster Confin'd to narrow Rooms and gloomy Walks Fastings and Exercises of Devotion Which from his Bed at midnight must awake him Methinks O Leontine is something more Than yet Philosophy could ever reach Leont True Atticus you have amaz'd my reason Attic. Yet more to our Religious lasting honour Marina and Flavilla two young Virgins Imperial born cast in the fairest mould That e're the hands of Beauty form'd for Woman The Mirrors of our Court where Chastity And Innocence might copy spotless Lustre To Day with Theodosius leave the World Leont Methinks at such a glorious resignation The Angelick Orders should at once descend In all the Paint and Drapery of Heav'n With charming Voices and with lulling Strings To give full Grace to such Triumphant Zeal Attic. No Leontine I fear there is a fault For when I last confess'd th' Emperour Whether disgust and melancholy Blood From restless Passions urg'd not this Divorce He only answer'd me with Sighs and lushes 'T is sure his Soul is of the tenderest make Therefore I 'll tax him strictly but my Friend Why should give his Character to you Who when his Father sent him into Persia Were by that mighty Monarch then appointed To breed him with his Son the Prince Varanes Leont And what will raise your Admiration is That two such different Tempers should agree You know that Theodosius is compos'd Of all the softness that should make a Woman Judgment almost like fear fore-runs his Actions And he will poise an Injury so long As if he had rather pardon than revenge it But the young Persian Prince quite opposite So Fiery sierce that those who view him nearly May see his haughty Soul still mounting in his Face Yet did I study these so different Tempers Till I at last had form'd a perfect Union As if two Souls did but inform one Body A friendship that may challenge all the World And at the proof be matchless Attic. I long to read This Gallant Prince who as you have inform'd me Comes from his Father's Court to see our Emperour Leon. So he intnded till he came to Athens And at my homely board beheld my Daughter Where as Fate ordered she who never saw The Glories of a Court bred up to Books In Closets like a Sybil. She I say Long since from Persia brought by me to Athens Unskill'd in Charms but those which Nature gave her Wounded this scornful Prince In short he forc'd me To wait him thither with deep protestations That Moment that bereft him of the sight Of Athenais gave him certain Death Enter Varanes and Athenais But see my Daughter honour'd with his presence Vara. 'T is strange O Athenais wondrous all Wondrous the Shrines and wonderful the Altars The Martyrs though but drawn in painted Flames Amaze me with the Image of their suff'rings Saints Canoniz'd that dar'd with Roman Tyrants Hermits that liv'd in Caves and fed with Angels By Orosmades it is wondrous all That bloody Cross in yonder Azure Sky Above the Head of kneeling Constantine Inscrib'd about with Golden Characters Thou shalt o'er-come in this If it be true I say again by Heav'n 't is wond'rous strange Athen. O Prince if thus Imagination stirs you A fancy rais'd from figures in dead Walls How would the Sacred Breath of Atticus Inspire your Breast purge all your dross away And drive this Athenais from your Soul To make a Virgin Room whom yet the Mould Of your rude Fancy cannot comprehend Vara. What says my Fair Drive Athenais from me Start me not into Frenzy lest I rail At all Religion and fall out with Heaven And what is she alas that should supplant thee Were she the Mistress of the World as fair As Winter Stars or Summer setting Suns And thou set by in Nature's plainest Dress With that chaste modest look when first I saw thee The Heiress of a poor Philosopher Recorders ready to flourish I swear by all I wish by all I love Glory and thee I would not lose a thought Nor cast an Eye that way but rush to thee To these lov'd arms and lose my self for ever Athenais Forbear my Lord. Vara. O cruel Athenais Why dost thou put me off who pine to death And thrust me from thee when I would approach
as he sleeps SONG Happy day ah happy day That Caesar's Beams did first display So peaceful was the happy day The Gods themselves did all look down The Royal Infant 's Birth to Crown So pleas'd they searce did on the guilty frown Happy day ah happy day And oh thrice happy hour That made such Goodness Master of such Pow'r For thus the Gods declare to Men No day like this shall ever come agen Enter Marcian with an Order Theo. Ha! what rash thing art thou who set'st so small A value on thy Life thus to presume Against the fatal Orders I have given Thus to entrench on Caesar's solitude And urge me to thy ruine Marc. Mighty Caesar I have transgrest and for my Pardon bow To thee as to the Gods when I offend Nor can I doubt your Mercy when you know The nature of my Crime I am Commission'd From all the Earth to give thee thanks and praises Thou Darling of Mankind whose Conqu'ring Arms Already drown the Glory of great Julius Whose deeper reach in Laws and Policy Makes wise Augustus envy thee in Heav'n What mean the Fates by such prodigious Vertue When scarce the manly Down yet shades thy Face With Conquest thus to over-run the World And make Barbarians tremble O ye Gods Should Destiny now end thee in the Bloom Methinks I see thee mourn'd above the loss Of lov'd Germanicus thy Funerals Like his are solemniz'd with Tears and Blood Theo. How Marcian Marc. Yes the raging Multitude Like Torrents set no bound to their mad grief Shave their Wives Heads and tear off their own Hair With wild Despair they bring their Infants out To brawl their Parents sorrow in the Streets Trade is no more all Courts of Justice stopt With Stones they dash the Windows of their Temples Pull down their Altars break their Houshold Gods And still the Universal Groan is this Constantinople's lost our Empire 's ruin'd Since he is gone that Father of his Country Since he is dead O Life where is thy Pleasure O Rome Oh conquer'd World where is thy Glory Theo. I know thee well thy Custom and thy Manners Thou dost upbraid me but no more of this Not for thy Life╌ Marc. What 's Life without my Honour Could you transform your self into a Gorgon Or make that beardless Face like Jupiter's I would be heard in spight of all your Thunder O pow'r of Guilt you fear to stand the Test Which Vertue brings like Sores your Vices shake Before this Roman-healer But by the Gods Before I go I 'll rip the Malady And let the Venom flow before your Eyes This is a Debt to the great Theodosius The Grand-father of your Illustrious Blood And then farewell for ever Theo. Presuming Marcian What canst thou urge against my Innocence Through the whole Course of all my harmless Youth Ev'n to this hour I cannot call to mind One wicked act which I have done to shame me Marc. This may be true yet if you give the sway To other Hands and your poor Subjects suffer Your negligence to them is as the Cause O Theodosius credit me who know The World and hear how Soldiers censure Kings In after-times if thus you should go on Your Memory by Warriers will be scorn'd As much as Nero or Caligula loath'd They will despise your sloth and backward case More than they hate the others Cruelty And what a thing ye Gods is scorn or pity Heap on me Heav'n the hate of all Mankind Load me with Malice Envy Detestation Let me be horrid to all apprehension And the World shun me so I escape but Scorn Theo. Prithee no more Marc. Nay when the Legions make Comparisons And say thus cruel Nero once resolv'd On Galba's Insurrection for Revenge To give all France as Plunder to the Arms To poison the whole Senate at a Feast To burn the City turn the wild Beasts out Bears Lions Tigers on the Multitude That so obstructing those that quench'd the Fire He might at once destroy Rebellious Rome Theo. O cruelty why tell'st thou me of this Am I of such a barbarous bloody temper Marc. Yet some will say this shew'd he had a spirit However fierce avenging and pernicious That savour'd of a Roman but for you What can your partial Sycophants invent To make you room among the Emperours Whose utmost is the smallest part of Nero A pretty Player one that can act a Heroe And never be one O ye immortal Gods Is this the old Caesarian Majesty Now in the name of our great Romulus Why sing you not and siddle too as he did Why have you not like Nero a Phenascus One to take care of your Coelestial Voice Lie on your Back my Lord and on your Stomach Lay a thin Plate of Lead abstain from Fruits And when the Business of the Stage is done Retire with your loose Friends to costly Banquets While the lean Army groans upon the Ground Theo. Leave me I say lest I chastise thee Hence be gone I say╌ Marc. Not till you have heard me out╌ Build too like him a Palace lin'd with Gold As long and large as that to the Esquiline Inclose a Pool too in it like the Sea And at the Empires cost let Navies meet Adorn your starry Chambers too with Gems Contrive the plated Ceilings to turn round With Pipes to cast Ambrosian Oils upon you Consume with his prodigious Vanity In meer Perfumes and Odorous Distillations Of Sisterces at once 400 Millions Let naked Virgins wait you at your Table And wanton Cupids dance and clap their Wings No matter what becomes of the poor Soldier So they perform the Drudgery they are sit for Why let 'em starve for want of their Arrears Drop as they go and lie like Dogs in Ditches Theo. Come you are a Traytor Marc. Go too you are a Boy╌ Or by the Gods╌ Theo. If Arrogance like this And to the Emperour's Face should 'scape unpunish'd I 'll write my self a Coward die then Villain A Death too glorious for so bad a Man By Theodosius's hand Marcian disarms him but is wounded Marc. Now Sir where are you What in the name of all our Roman Spirits Now charms my Hand from giving thee thy Fate Has he not cut me off from all my Honours Torn my Commissions sham'd me to the Earth Banisht the Court a Vagabond for ever Does not the Soldier hourly ask it from me Sigh their own wrongs and beg me to revenge ' em What hinders now but that I mount the Throne And make to that this purple Youth my Footstool The Armies court me and my Countries Cause The Injuries of Rome and Greece perswade me Shew but this Roman Blood which he has drawn They 'll make me Emperour whether I will or no Did not for less than this the latter Brutus Because he thought Rome wrong'd in Person head Against his Friend a black Conspiracy And stab the Majesty of all the World Theo. Act as you please I am within your Power Marc. Did not the
thee Can there be ought in this Curse then thy birth-right Thy glorious Titles and ill-suited Greatness Since Athenais scorns thee Take again Your ill-tim'd Honours take 'em take 'em Gods And change me to some humble Villager If so at least for toils at scorching Noon In mowing Meadows or in reaping Fields At night she will but crown me with a smile Or reach the bounty of her hand to bless me Athen. When Princes speak their Subjects should be silent Yet with humility I would demand Wherein appears my scorn or my aversion Have I not for your sake abandon'd home Where I had vow'd to spend my calmer days But you perhaps imagine it but little For a poor Maid to follow you abroad Especially the Daughter of old Leontine Yet I must tell you Princeâ•Œ Vara. I cannot bear Those Frowns I have offended but forgive me For who Athenais that is toss'd With such tempestuous tydes of love as I Can steer a steady course Retire my Fair Recorders flourish Hark! the Solemnities are now beginning And Theodosius comes Hide hide thy Charms If to his clouded Eyes such Day should break The Royal Youth who dotes to Death for Love I fear would forfeit all his Vows to Heav'n And six upon thy World thy World of Beauty Excunt Enter Theodosius leading Marina and Flavilla all three drest in white followed by Pulcheria Theo. Farewel Pulcheria and I pray no more For all thy kind Complaints are lost upon me Have I not sworn the World and I must part Fate has proclaim'd it therefore weep no more Wound not the tenderest part of Theodosius My yielding Soul that would expire in Calms Wound me not with thy Tears and I will tell thee Yet e're I take my last farewel for ever The cause of all my sufferings O my Sister A bleeding Heart the stings of pointed Love What Constitution soft as mine can bear Pulch. My Lord my Emp'rour my dearest Brother Why all this while did you conceal it from me Theo. Because I was asham'd to own my Weakness I knew thy sharper Wit and stricter Wisdom Would dart Reproofs which I could not endure Draw near O Atticus and mark me well For never yet did my complaining Spirit Unlaid this weighty Secret upon him Nor groan a syllable of her Oppression Attic. Concealment was a fault but speak at large Make bare the Wound and I will pour in Balm Theo. 'T is folly all and fondnessâ•ŒO remembrance Why dost thou open thus my Wound again And from my Heart call down those warmer drops That make me die with shame Hear then Pulcheria Some few preceding days before I left The Persian Court hunting one morning early I lost my self and all the Company Still wandring on as Fortune would direct me I past a Rivulet and alighted in The sweetest Solitude I ever saw When streight as if Enchantment had been there Two charming Voices drew me 'till I came Where divers Arbours over-lookt the River Upon the Osier Bank two Women sate Who when their Song was ended talkt to one Who bathing stood far in the Chrystal stream But oh what thought can paint that fair Perfection Or give a glimpse of such a naked Glory Not Sea-born Venus in the Courts beneath When the green Nymphs first kiss'd her Coral Lips All polisht fair and washt with Orient Beauty Could in my dazling Fancy match her brightness Attic. Think where you are Theo. O! Sir you must forgive me The chaste Enthusiastick Form appears As when I saw her yet I swear Pulcheria Had cold Diana been a looker or She must have prais'd the Vertues of the Virgin The Satyrs could not gâ—in for she was veil'd Nothing immodest from her naked Bosom Down to her knees the Nymph was wrapt in Lawn But oh for me for me that was too much Her Legs her Arms her Hands her Neck her Breasts So nicely shap'd so matchless in their Lustre Such all-perfection that I took whole draughts Of killing Love and ever since have languisht With lingring surfeits of her fatal Beauty Alas too fatal sure O Atticus Forgive me for my story now is done The Nymph was drest and with her two Companions Having descry'd me shriekt and fled away Leaving me motionless till Leontine Th' Instructer of my Youth by chance came in And wak'd me from the wonder that entranc'd me Attic. Behold my Lord the Man whom you have nam'd The Harbinger of Prince Varanes here Theod. O Leontine ten thousand Welcomes meet thee Thou Foster-Father of my tender Youth Who rear'd the Plant and prun'd it with such Care How shall I look upon thee who am fallen From all the Principles of manlier reason By thee infus'd to more than Woman's weakness Now by the Majesty Divine that aws This sacred place I swear you must not kneel And tell me for I have a thousand things To ask thee Where where is my Godlike Friend Is he arriv'd and shall I see his Face Before I am cloyster'd from the World for ever Leont He comes my Lord with all the expecting Joys Of a young promis'd Lover from his Eyes Big hopes look forth and boiling Fancy forms Nothing but Theodosius still before him His thought his every word is Theodosius Theo. Yet Leontine yet answer me once more With tremblings I demand thee Sayâ•Œhast thou seen Oh has that Heav'nly form Appear'd to thee again Behold he 's dumb Proceed then to the Solemn last farewel Never was Man so willing and prepar'd Enter Varanes Aranthes Attendants Vara. Where is my Friend oh where is my belov'd My Theodosius point him out ye Gods That I may press him dead betwixt my Arms Devour him thus with over-hasty Joys That languish at his Breast quite out of breath And cannot utter more Theo. Thou mightiest Pleasure And greatest Blessing that kind Heav'n could send To glad my parting Soul a thousand Welcomes O when I look on thee new starts of Glory Spring in my Breast and with a backward bound I run the Race of lusty Youth again Vara. By Heav'n it joys me too when I remember Our thousand Pastimes when we borrow'd Names Alcides I and Thou my dearest Theseus When through the Woods we chas'd the foaming Boar With Hounds that open'd like Thessalian Bulls Like Tygers flu'd and sanded as the shoar With Ears and Chests that dasht the morning Dew Driv'n with the Sport as Ships are tost in Storms We ran like Winds and matchless was our Course Now sweeping o'er the limit of a Hill Now with a full Career come thundring down The Precipice and sweat along the Vale. Theo. O glorious time and when the gathering Clouds Have call'd us home say Did we rest my Brother When on the Stage to the admiring Court We strove to represent Alcides Fury In all that raging Heat and pomp of Madness With which the stately Seneca adorn'd him So lively drawn and painted with such horror That we were forc'd to give it o'er so loud The Virgins shriek'd so fast they dy'd
away Vara. My Theodosius still 't is my lov'd Brother And by the Gods we 'll see those times agen Why then has Rumour wrong'd thee that reported Christian Enthusiasm had charm'd thee from us That drawn by Priests and work'd by Melancholy Thou hadst laid the golden Reins of Empire down And sworn thy self a Votary for ever Theo. 'T is almost true and had not you arriv'd The solemn business had by this been ended This I have made the Empress of the East My elder Sister These with me retire Devoted to the Pow'r whom we adore Vara. What Power is that that merits such Oblations I thought the Sun more great and glorious Than any that e're mingled with the Gods Yet even to him my Father never offer'd More than a Hecatomb of Bulls and Horses Now by those golden Beams that glad the World I swear it is too much For one of these But half so bright our God would drive no more He 'd leave the darken'd Globe and in some Cave Injoy such Charms for ever Attic. My Lord forbear Such Language does not suit with our Devotion Nothing prophane must dare to murmur here Nor stain the hallow'd Beauties of the Place Yet thus far we must yield the Emperour Is not enough prepar'd to leave the World Vara. Thus low most Reverend of this sacred place I kneel for Pardon and am half converted By your permission that my Theodosius Return to my Embraces O my Brother Why dost thou droop There will be time enough For Prayer and Fasting and Religious Vows Let us enjoy while yet thou art my own All the Magnificence of Eastern Courts I hate to walk a lazy Life away Let 's run the Race which Fate has set before us And post to the dark Goal Theo. Cruel Destiny Why am not I thus too O my Varanes Why are these costly Dishes set before me Why do these sounds of Pleasure strike my Ears Why are these Joys brought to my sick remembrance Who have no appetite but am to sense From Head to Foot all a dead Palsie o're Vara. Fear not my Friend all shall be well again For I have thousand ways and thousand stories To raise thee up to Pleasure we 'll unlock Our fastest Secrets shed upon each other Our tender'st Cares and quite unbarr those Doors Which shall be shut to all Mankind beside Attic. Silence and Reverence are the Temple 's dues Therefore while we pursue the Sacred Rites Be these observ'd or quit the awful place Imperial Sisters now twin-stars of Heaven Answer the Successor of Chrysostom Without least Reservation answer me By those harmonious Rules I charg'd ye learn Atticus Sings Attic. Canst thou Marina leave the World The World that is Devotion 's bane Where Crowns are tost and Scepters hurld Where Lust and proud Ambition Reign 2 Priest Can you your costly Robes forbear To live with us in poor Attire Can you from Courts to Cells repair To sing at midnight in our Quire 3 Priest Can you forget your golden Beds Where you might sleep beyond the morn On Mats to lay your Royal Heads And have your beauteous Tresses shorn Attic. Can you resolve to fast all Day And weep and groan to be forgiv'n Can you in broken slumbers pray And by affliction merit Heav'n Chor. Say Votaries can this be done While we the Grace Divine implore The World has lost the Battel 's won And sin shall never charm ye more Marina Sings The gate to Bliss does open stand And all my penance is in view The World upon the other hand Crys out O do not bid adieu Yet Sacred Sirs in these extreams Where Pomp and Pride their Glories tell Where Youth and Beauty are the Themes And plead their moving Cause so well If ought that 's vain my thoughts possess Or any Passions govern here But what Divinity may bless O may I never enter there Flavilla Sings What! what can Pomp or Glory do Or what can humane Charms perswade That Mind that has a Heav'n in view How can it be by Earth betray'd No Monarch full of Youth and Fame The Joy of Eyes and Natures Pride Should once my thoughts from Heav'n Reclaim Though now he woo'd me for his Bride Haste then Oh haste and take us in For ever lock Religion's Door Secure us from the Charms of sin And let us see the World no more Attic. Sings Hark! hark behold the Heavenly Choir They cleave the Air in bright Attire And see his Lute each Angel brings And hark Divinely thus he Sings To the Pow'rs Divine all glory be given By Men upon Earth and Angels in Heaven Scene shuts and all the Priests with Marina and Flav. disappear Pulch. For ever gone for ever parted from me O Theodosius till this cruel moment I never knew how tenderly I lov'd 'em But on this everlasting separation Methinks my Soul has left me and my Time Of dissolution points me to the Grave Theo. O my Varanes does not now thy temper Bate something of its fire dost thou not melt In meer Compassion of my Sister's Fate And cool thy self with one relenting thought Vara. Yes my dar'd Soul rouls inward melancholy Which I ne'er felt before now comes upon me And I begin to loath all humane greatness Oh! sigh not then nor thy hard Fate deplore For 't is resolv'd we will be Kings no more We 'll fly all Courts and Love shall be our guide Love that 's more worth than all the World beside Princes are barr'd the liberty to roam The fetter'd mind still languishes at home In golden Bands she treads the thoughtful round Business and Cares eternally abound And when for Air the Goddess would unbind She 's clogg'd with Scepters and to Crowns confin'd Exeunt ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Pulcheria Julia Attendants Pulch. THese Packets for the Emperour Honorius Be swift let the Agent haste to Rome╌ I hear my Julia that our General Is from the Goths return'd with Conquest home Jul. He is to day I saw him in the Presence Sharp to the Courtiers as he ever was Because they went not with him to the Wars To you he bows and sues to kiss your Hand Pulch. He shall my dearest Julia oft I have told thee The secret of my Soul It e'er I marry Marcian's my Husband he is a Man my Julia Whom I have study'd long and found him perfect Old Rome at every glance looks through his Eyes And kindles the Beholders Some sharp Atomes Run through his Frame which I could wish were out He sickens at the softness of the Emperour And speaks too freely of our Female Court Then sighs comparing it with what Rome was Enter Marcian and Lucius Pulch. Ha! Who are these that dare prophane this place With more than barb'rous Insolence Marc. At your Feet Behold I cast the scourge of these Offenders And kneel to kiss your Hand Pulch. Put up your Sword And e'er I bid you welcome from the Wars Be sure you clear your Honour of this rudeness Or
Marcian leave the Court Marc. Thus then Madam The Emperour receiv'd me with affection Embrac'd me for my Conquests and retir'd When on a sudden all the gilded Flies That buz about the Court came flutt'ring round me This with affected Cringes and mine'd Words Begs me to tell my Tale of Victories Which done he thanks me slips behind his Fellow Whispers him in the Ear then smiles and listens While I relate my Story once again A third comes in and asks me the same favour Whereon they laugh while I still ignorant Go on but one behind more impudent Strikes on my Shoulder then they laught out-right But then I guessing the abuse too late Return'd my Knight behind a box o' th Ear Then drew and briefly told them they were Rascals They laughing still cry'd out the General 's musty Whereon I drove 'em Madam as you saw This is in short the Truth I leave the Judgment To your own Justice if I have done ill Sentence me and I 'll leave the Court for ever Pulch. First you are welcome Marcian from the Wars And still when e'er occasion calls for Arms Heav'n send th' Emperor a General Renown'd as Marcian as to what is past I think the World will rather praise than censure Pulcheria when she pardons you the Action Marc. Gods Gods and thou great Founder of Old Rome What is become of all that mighty Spirit That rais'd our Empire to a pitch so high Where is it pent What but Almighty Power Could thus confine it that but some few Atoms Now run through all the East and Occident Pulch. Speak calmly Marcian╌ Marc. Who can be temperate That thinks as I do Madam Why here 's a Fellow I have seen him fight against a Troop of Vandals In your Defence as if he lov'd to bleed Come to my arms my Dear Thou canst not talk But hast a Soul above the proudest of ' em O Madam when he has been all over Blood And hackt with Wounds that seem'd to mouth his Praises I have seen him smile still as he pusht Death from him And with his actions rally distant Fate Pulch. He has a noble Form Marc. Yet ev'n this Man That fought so bravely in his Country's Cause This excellent Man this Morning in the Presence Did I see wrong'd before the Emperour Scorn'd and despis'd because he could not cringe Nor plant his Feet as some of them could do One said his Cloaths were not well made and damn'd His Taylor╌╌Another said he look'd As if he had not lost his Maiden-head If things are suffer'd to be thus down all Authority Preeminence Degree and Vertue Let Rome be never mention'd no in the Name Of all the Gods be she forgotten ever Effeminate Persians and the Lydian softness Make all your Fights Marcian shall out no more For by my Arms it makes a Woman of me And my swoln Eyes run o'er to think this worth This fuller Honour than the whole Court holds Should be ridiculous to Knaves and Fools Should starve for want of what is necessary To Life's Convenience When luxurious Bawds Are so o'er grown with Fat and cram'd with Riot That they can hardly walk without an Engine Pulch. Why did you not inform the Emperour Marc. Because he will not hear me Alas good Man He flies from this bad World and still when Wars And Dangers come he runs to his Devotions To your new thing I know not what you call it Which Constantine began Pulch. How Marcian are not you of that Religion which the Emperour owns Marc. No Madam if you 'll see my naked thought I am not of their Principle that take A wrong so far from bearing with a Foe I would strike first like old Rome I wou'd forth Elbow the neighbouring Nations round about Invade enlarge my Empire to the bounds Of the too narrow Universe Yes I own That I despise your holy Innovations I am for the Roman Gods for Funeral Piles For mounting Eagles and the fancied greatness Of our Fore-Fathers Methinks my heated Spirit Cou'd utter things worth losing of my Head Pulch. Speak freely Marcian for I know thee honest Marc. O Madam long long may the Emperour live But I must say his gentle Disposition Suits not alas the Oriental sway Bid him but look on Pharamond O Gods Awake him with the Image of that Spirit Which like a Pyramid revers'd is grown Ev'n from a point to the most dreadful greatness His very Name already shakes the World And still in Person heading his first Squadrons Like the first Caesar o'er the hardy Gauls He seems another Thunderbolt of War Pulch. I oft have blam'd my Brother most for this That to my hand he leaves the State Affairs And how that sounds you know╌╌ Mar. Forgive me Madam I think that all the greatness of your Sex Rome's Clelia and the fam'd Semiramis With all th' Amazonian Valour too Meet in Pulcheria yet I say forgive me If with reluctance I behold a Woman Sit at the Empire 's Helm and steer the World Pulch. I stand rebuk'd╌ Marc. Mark but the growing French The most auspicious Omen of their greatness That I can guess is their late Salique Law Blest by their Priests the Salii and pronounc'd To stand for ever which excludes all Women From the Imperial Crown But oh I speak The least of all those infinite grievances Which make the Subjects murmur In the Army Tho' I proceeded still like Hannibal And punisht ev'ry Mutineer with Death Yet oh it stabb'd me through and through the Soul To pass the Wretches Doom because I knew With Justice they complain'd for hard they fought And with their Blood earn'd that forbidden Bread Which some at Court and great ones though un-nam'd Cast to their Hounds while the poor Soldier 's starv'd╌ Pulch. Your pity too in mournful fellowship No doubt might sooth their murmurs Marc. Yes it did That I might put 'em once again in heart I said 't was true the Emperour was to blame Who dealt too coldly with his faithful Servants And paid their great Arrears by second hand I promis'd too when we return'd to Court Things should be mended╌ But how oh Gods forgive my Blood this Transport To the Eternal Shame of Female Councils And to the blast of Theodosius Name Whom never Warlike Chronicle shall mention O let me speak it with a Roman Spirit We were receiv'd like undone Prodigals By curst ungrateful Stewards with cold looks Who yet got all by those poor Wretches ruine Like Malefactors at the hands of Justice I blush I almost weep with bursting rage If thus receiv'd how paid our long Arrears Why as intrusted Misers pay the Rights Of helpless Widows or the Orphans Tears O Soldier for to thee to Thee I speak it Bawd 's for the drudgery of Citizens Wives Would better pay debilitated Stallions Madam I have said perhaps too much if so It matters not for he who lies like me On the hard ground is sure to fall no further Pulch. I have given you
a Man a╌gain No track behind for Care to find 'em out Nor is it possible╌ Vara. It is it shall I 'll struggle with impossibilities To find my Athenais Not the Walls Of Athens nor of Thebes shall hide her from me I 'll bring the Force of all my Fathers Arms And lay 'em waste but I 'll redeem my Love O Leontine morose old Leontine Thou meer Philosopher O cruel Sage Who for one hasty word one Cholerick doubt Hast turn'd the Scale though in the sacred Balance My Life my Glory and my Empire hung Aranth Most sure my Lord they are retir'd to Athens I will send Post to Night╌ Vara. No no Aranthes Prepare my Chariots for I 'll go in Person I swear 'till now 'till I began to fear Some other might enjoy my Athenais I swear I did not know how much I lov'd her But let 's away I 'll to the Emperour Thou to the hasty management of my business Prepare to day I 'll go to day I 'll find her No more I 'll take my leave of Theodosius And meet thee on the Hippodrome away Let the wild hurry of thy Masters Love Make quick thy apprehension Haste and leave me Exeunt SCENE II. Pulcheria Atticus Leontine Votaries leading Athenais in procession after her Baptism to be confirm'd Atticus Sings O Chrysostom look down and see An Off'ring worthy Heav'n and thee So rich the Victim bright and fair That she on Earth appears a Star Chor. Endosia is the Virgin 's Name And after-times shall sing her Fame Atticus Sings Lead her Votaries lead her in Her holy Birth does now begin 1 Votary In humble Weeds but clean Array Your hours shall sweetly pass away And when the Rites Divine are past To pleasant Gardens you shall haste 2 Votary Where many a flowry Bed we have That Emblem still to each a Grave And when within the Stream we look With Tears we use to swell the Brook But oh when in the liquid Glass Our Heav'n appears we sigh to pass Chor. For Heav'n alone we are design'd And all things bring our Heav'n to mind Athen. O Princes O most worthy of the World Kneels That is submitted by its Emperour To your most wise and providential sway What Greek or Roman Eloquence can paint The Rapture and Devotion of my Soul I am adopted yours you are my Goddess That have new-form'd new-moulded my Conceptions And by the plat-form of a Work Divine New-fram'd new-built me to your own desires Thrown all the Lumber of my Passions out And made my heart a Mansion of perfection Clean as an Anchorite's Grot or Votary's Cell And spotless as the Glories of his steps Whom we far off adore Pulch. Rise Eudosia And let me fold my Christian in my Arms With this dear pledge of an Eternal Love I Seal thee O Eudosia mine for ever Accept blest Charge the Vows of my Affection For by the sacred Friendship that I give thee I think that Heav'n by Miracle did send thee To ease my Cares to help me in my Councils To be my Sister partner in my Bed And equally through my whole Course of Life To be the better part of thy Pulcheria And share my Griefs and Joys Athen. No Madam no Excuse the Cares that this sad Wretch must bring you O rather let me leave the World for ever Or if I must partake your Royal Secrets If you resolve to load me with such Honour Let it be far from Cities far from Courts Where I may fly all human Conversation Where I may never see nor hear nor name Nor think nor dream O Heav'n If possible Of Mankind more Pulch. What now in Tears Eudosia Athen. Far from the guilt of Palaces O send me Drive me O drive me from the Traytor Man So I might 'scape that Monster let me dwell In Lyons haunts or in some Tyger's Den Place me on some steep craggy ruin'd Rock That bellies out just dropping in the Ocean Bury me in the hollow of its Womb Where starving on my cold and flinty Bed I may from far with giddy apprehension See infinite Fathoms down the rumbling deep Yet not ev'n there in that vast whirl of Death Can there be found so terrible a ruin As Man false Man smiling destructive Man Pulch. Then thou hast lov'd Eudosia or my Sister Still nearer to my heart so much the dearer Because our Fates are like and hand in hand Our Fortunes lead us through the Maze of Life I am glad that thou hast lov'd nay lov'd with Danger Since thou hast ' scap'd the ruin╌╌Methinks it lightens The weight of my Calamities that thou In all things else so perfect and Divine Art yet a-kin to my Infirmity And bear'st thy part in Love's melodious ill Love that like bane perfum'd infects the mind That sad delight that Charms all woman-kind Athen. Yes Madam I confess that Love has charm'd me But never shall again No I renounce him Inspire me all the wrongs of abus'd Women All you that have been cozen'd by false Men See what a strict Example I will make But for the Perjuries of one I will revenge ye For all that 's past that 's present and to come Pulch. O thou far more than the most Masculine Vertue Where our Astraea where O drowning brightness Where hast thou been so long Let me again Protest my Admiration and my Love Let me declare aloud while thou art here While such clear Vertue shines within our Circle Vice shall no more appear within the Palace But hide her dazled Eyes and this be call'd The holy Court But lo the Emperour comes Enter Theodosius and Attendants Beauty like thine may drive that Form away That has so long entranc'd his Soul╌My Lord╌ Theod. If yet alas I might but hope to see her But oh forgive me Heav'n this wilder start That thus would reach impossibility No no I never must behold her more As well my Atticus might raise the Dead As Leontine should charm that Form in view Pulch. My Lord I come to give your grief a Cure With purer Flames to draw that cruel Fire That tortur'd you so long╌Behold this Virgin╌ The Daughter of your Tutor Leontine Theo. Ha! Pulch. She is your Sisters Charge and made a Christian And Athenais is Eudosia now Be sure a fairer never grac'd Religion And for her Vertue she transcends Example Theod. O all ye blest above how can this be Am I awake or is this possible Athen. Kneels Pulch. She kneels my Lord will you not go and raise her Theod. Nay do thou raise her for I am rooted here Yet if laborious Love and Melancholy Have not o'recome me and quite turn'd me mad It must be she that naked dazling sweetness The very Figure of that morning Star That dropping Pearls and shedding dewy Beams Fled from the greedy Waves when I approach'd Answer me Leontine am I distracted Or is this true by thee in all encounters I will be rul'd in Temperance and Wildness When Reason clashes with extravagance But
to stay at least so long As our Espousals will be solemnizing I told him I was honour'd once to know you But that so slightly as I could not warrant The grant of any thing that I should ask you╌ Vara. O Heaven and Earth O Athenais why VVhy dost thou use me thus Had I the VVorld Thou know'st it should be thine Athen. I know not that╌ But yet to make sure work one half of it Is mine already Sir without your giving My Lord the Prince is obstinate his Glory Scorns to be mov'd by the weak Breath of Woman He is all Heroe bent for higher Game Therefore 't is nobler Sir to let him go If not for him my Lord yet for my self I must intreat the Favour to retire Exit Athen. c. Vara. Death and Despair Confusion Hell and Furies Theo. Heav'n guard thy Health and still preserve thy Vertue VVhat should this mean I fear the Consequence For 't is too plain they know each other well Vara. Undone Aranthes lost undone for ever I see my Doom I read it with broad Eyes As plain as if I saw the Book of Fate Yet I will muster all my Spirits up Digest my Griefs swallow the rising Passions Yes I will stand this Shock of all the Gods VVell as I can and struggle for my Life Theo. You muse my Lord and if you 'll give me leave To judge your thoughts they seem employ'd at present About my Bride I guess you know her too Vara. His Bride O Gods give me a moments Patience I must confess the sight of Athenais VVhere I so little did expect to see her So grac'd and so adorn'd did raise my wonder But what exceeds all admiration is That you should talk of making her your Bride 'T is such a blind effect of monstrous Fortune That tho' I well remember you affirm'd it I cannot yet believe╌ Theo. Then now believe me By all the Pow'rs Divine I will espouse her Vara. Ha! I shall leap the bounds Come come my Lord. By all these Pow'rs you nam'd I say you must not Theo. I say I will and who shall bar my pleasure Yet more I speak the Judgment of my Soul Weigh but with Fortune Merit in the Balance And Athenais loses by the Marriage Vara. Relentless Fates malicious cruel Pow'rs O for what Crime do you thus rack your Creature Sir I must tell you this unkingly meanness Suits the Profession of an Anchorite well But in an Oriental Emperour It gives offence nor can you without Scandal Without the notion of a groveling Spirit Espouse the Daughter of old Leontine Whose utmost Glory is to have been my Tutor Theo. He has so well acquitted that Employment Breeding you up to such a gallant height Of full perfection and imperial greatness That ev'n for this respect if for no other I will esteem him worthy while I live Vara. My Lord you 'll pardon me a little Freedom For I must boldly urge in such a Cause Who-ever slatters you tho' ne'er so near Related to your Blood should be suspected Theo If Friendship would admit a cold Suspicion After what I have heard and seen to day Of all Mankind I should suspect Varanes Vara. He has stung me to the Heart my Groans will choke me Unless my strugling Passion gets a vent Out with it then╌I can no more dissemble╌ Yes yes my Lord since you reduce me to The last necessity I must confess it I must avow my Flame for Athenais I am all Fire my Passion eats me up It grows incorporate with my flesh and Blood My Pangs redouble now they cleave my heart O Athenais O Eudosia╌ oh╌ Though plain as day I see my own destruction Yet to my death and oh let all the Gods Bear Witness I swear I will adore thee Theo. Alas Varanes Which of us two the Heav'ns Have mark'd for death is yet above the Stars But while we live let us preserve our Friendship Sacred and just as we have ever done This only Mean in two such hard Extreams Remains for both To morrow you shall see her With all advantage in her own Apartment Take your own time say all you can to gain her If you can win her lead her into Persia If not consent that I espouse her here Vara. Still worse and worse O Theodosius oh I cannot speak for sighs my death is seal'd By this last sweetness had you been less good I might have hop'd but now my Doom's at hand Go then and take her take her to the Temple The Gods too give you joy O Athenais Why does thy Image mock my Foolish sorrow O Theodosius do not see my Tears Away and leave me leave me to the Grave Theo. Farewel let 's leave the Issue to the Heav'ns I will prepare your way with all that Honour Can urge in your behalf tho' to my Ruine Ex. Theod. Vara. O I could tear my Limbs and eat my Elesh Fool that I was fond proud vain-glorious Fool Damn'd be all Courts and treble damn'd Ambition Blasted be thy remembrance Curses on thee And plagues on plagues fall on those Fools that seek thee Aranth Have comfort Sir╌ Vara. Away and leave me Villain Traytor who wrought me first to my destruction╌ Yet stay and help me help me to curse my pride Help me to wish that I had ne'er been Royal That I had never heard the name of Cyrus That my first Brawl in Court had been my last O that I had been born some happy Swain And never known a life so great so vain Where I extreams might not be forc'd to choose And blest with some mean Wife no Crown could lose Where the dearer Partner of my little state With all her smiling Off-spring at the Gate Blessing my Labours might my coming wait Where in our humble Beds all safe might ly And not in cursed Courts for Glory dy ╌ Exeunt SONG 1. Hail to the Mirtle Shade All hail to the Nymphs of the Fields Kings would not here invade Those pleasures that virtue yields SONG after the Third ACT. Hail to the Myrtle shade all Hail to the Nymphs of the Fields Kings will not her in-vade tho Vir╌tue all free╌dom yields Beauty here opens her arms to soften the languishing mind and Phillis un╌locks her Charms ah Phillis ah why so kind Chorus Beauty here opens her Arms to soften the languishing mind and Beauty here opens her Arms to soften the languishing mind and Phillis un locks her Charms ah Phillis ah why so kind ah Phillis un locks her Charms ah Phillis ah why so kind ah Phil╌lis ah why so kind Phil╌lis ah why so kind Chor. Beauty here opens her Arms To soften the languishing mind And Phillis unlocks her Charms Ah Phillis ah why so kind 2. Phillis thou Soul of Love Thou joy of the Neighb'ring Swains Phillis that Crowns the Grove And Phillis that guilds the Plains Chor. Phillis that ne'er had the skill To paint to patch and be fine Yet Phillis whose Eyes can kill Whom
Nature hath made Divine 3. Phillis whose charming Song Makes labour and pains a delight Phillis that makes the day young And shortens the live-long night Chor. Phillis whose lips like May Still laughs at the sweets that they bring Where Love never knows decay But sets with Eternal Spring ACT IV. SCENE II. Enter Marcian and Lucius at a distance Marc. THE General of the Oriental Armies Was a Commission large as Fate could give 'T is gone why what care I O Fortune Fortune Thou laughing Empress of this busie World Marcian defies thee now╌ Why what a thing is a discarded Favourite He who but now tho' longing to retire Cou'd not for busie Waiters be alone Throng'd in his Chamber haunted to his Closet With a full Croud and an Eternal Court When once the Favour of his Prince is turn'd Shun'd as a Ghost the clouded Man appears And all the gaudy worshippers forsake him So fares it now with me where-e'er I come As if I were another Cataline The Courtiers rise and no man will sit near me As if the Plague were on me all men fly me O Lucius Lucius if thou leav'st me too I think I swear I think I cou'd not bear it But like a Slave my Spirit broke with Suffering Should on these Coward Knees fall down and beg Once to be great again╌ Luc. Forbid it Heav'n That e'er the noble Marcian condescend To ask of any but the Immortal Gods Nay I avow if yet your Spirit dare Spight of the Court you shall be great as Caesar. Mar. No Lucius no the Gods repel that humour Yet since we are alone and must ere long Leave this bad Court let us like Veterans Speak out╌Thou saist alas as great as Caesar But where 's his Greatness Where is his ambition If any Sparks of Vertue yet remain In this poor Figure of the Roman Glory I say if any be how dim they shine Compar'd with what his great Fore-Fathers were How should he lighten then or awe the World Whose Soul in Courts is but a Lambent-fire And scarce O Rome a Glow-worm in the Field Soft Young Religious God-like qualities For one that should recover the lost Empire And wade through Seas of Blood and walk o'er Mountains Of slaughter'd Bodies to immortal Honour Luc. Poor heart he pin'd a-while ago for Love Marc. And for his Mistress vow'd to leave the World But some new chance it seems has chang'd his Mind A Marriage but to whom or whence she came None knows but yet a Marriage is proclaim'd Pageants prepar'd the Arches are adorn'd The Statues Crown'd the Hippodrome does groan Beneath the Burden of the mounted Warriors The Theatre is open'd too where he And the hot Persian mean to act their Follies Gods Gods Is this the Image of our Caesars Is this the Model of our Romulus O why so poorly have you stampt Rome's glory Not Rome's but yours is this Man fit to bear it This waxen Portraicture of Majesty Which every warmer Passion does melt down And makes him fonder than a Woman's longing Luc. Thus much I know to the eternal shame Of the Imperial Blood this upstart Empress This fine new Queen is sprung from abject Parents Nay basely born but that 's all one to him He likes and loves and therefore marries her Marc. Shall I not speak Shall I not tell him of it I feel this big-swollen throbbing Roman Spirit Will burst unless I utter what I ought Enter Pulcheria with a Paper in her hand and Julia. Marc. Pulcheria here why she 's the Scourge of Marcian I tremble too when ever she approaches And my Heart dances an unusual measure Spite of my self I blush and cannot stir While she is here╌What Lucius can this mean 'T is said Calphurnia had the heart of Caesar Augustus doted on the subtle Livia Why then should I not worship that fair Anger Oh didst thou mark her when her Fury lightned She seem'd all Goddess nay her Frowns became her There was a Beauty in her very Wildness Were I a Man born great as our first Founder Sprung from the Blood Divine But I am cast Beyond all possibility of Hope Pulch. Come hither Marcian read this Paper o'er And mark the strange neglect of Theodosius He signs what-e'er I bring perhaps you have heard To morrow he intends to wed a Maid of Athens New-made a Christian and new-nam'd Eudosia VVhom he more dearly prizes than his Empire Yet in this Paper he hath set his Hand And seal'd it too with th' Imperial Signet That she should lose her Head to morrow morning Marc. 'T is not for me to judge yet this seems strange╌ Pulch. I know he rather would commit a murder On his own Person than permit a Vein Of her to bleed yet Marcian what might follow If I were envious of this Virgins Honour By his rash passing whatsoever I offer╌╌ VVithout a view╌ha but I had forgot Julia let 's haste from this infectious Person╌ I had forgot that Marcian was a Traytor Yet by the Pow'rs Divine I swear 't is pity That one so form'd by Nature for all Honour All Titles Greatness Dignities Imperial The noblest Person and the bravest Courage Should not be honest Julia is 't not pity ╌ O Marcian Marcian I could weep to think Vertue should lose it self as thine has done Repent rash Man if yet 't is not too late And mend thy Errors so farewel for ever Ex. Pulch. Jul. Marc. Farewel for ever no Madam ere I go I am resolv'd to speak and you shall hear me Then if you please take off this Traytor 's Head End my Commission and my Life together Luc. Perhaps you 'll laugh at what I am going to say But by your Life my Lord I think 't is true Pulcheria loves this Traytor Did you mark her At first she had forgot your Banishment Makes you her Counsellor and tells her Secrets As to a Friend nay leaves them in your Hand And says 't is pity that you are not honest With such Description of your Gallantry As none but Love could make Then taking leave Through the dark Lashes of her darting Eyes Methought she shot her Soul at every Glance Still looking back as if she had a mind That you should know she left her Heart behind her Marc. Alas thou dost not know her nor do I Nor can the Wit of all Mankind conceive her But let 's away This Paper is of use Luc. I guess your purpose He is a Boy and as a Boy you 'll use him There is no other way Marc. Yes if he be not Quite dead with sleep for ever lost to Honour Marcian with this shall rouze him O my Lucius Methinks the Ghosts of the great Theodosius And thundering Constantine appear before me They charge me as a Soldier to chastise him To lash him with keen words from lazy Love And shew him how they trod the paths of honour Exeunt SCENE II. Theodosius lying on a Couch with two Boys drest like Cupids singing to him