kill him yet Is this the Love you bear the Emperor Nay then I see you are Traitors all have at ye Chy. Oh I am hurt Balb. And I am kill'd Exit Chylax and Balbus Pont. Dye Bawds As you have liv'd and flourisht AEcius Wretched Fellow What hast thou done Pont. Kill'd them that durst not kill And you are next AEcius Art thou not Pontius Pont. I am the same you cast AEcius And in the face of all the Camp disgrac'd AEcius Then so much nobler as thou art a Soldier Shall my death be Is it revenge provokt thee Or art thou hired to kill me Pont. Both. AEcius Then do it Pont. Is that all AEcius Yes Pont. Would you not live AEcius Why should I To thank thee for my Life Pont. Yes if I spare it AEcius Be not deceiv'd I was not made to thank For any Courtesie but killing me A fellow of thy Fortune Do thy Duty Pont. Do you not fear me AEcius No. Pont. Nor love me for it AEcius That 's as thou dost thy Business Pont. When you are dead your Place is mine AEcius AEcius Now I fear thee And not alone thee Pontius but the Empire Pont. Why I can govern Sir AEcius I would thou coul'dst And first thy self Thou canst fight well and bravely Thou can'st endure all Dangers Heats Colds Hungers Heav'ns angry Flashes are not suddener Then I have seen thee execute nor more mortal The winged feet-of flying Enemies I have stood and seen thee mow away like Rushes And still kill the Killerâ— were thy mind But half so sweet in Peace as rough in Dangers I dy'd to leave a happy Heir behind me Come strike and be a General Pont. Prepare then And for I see your honour cannot lessen And 't were a shame for me to strike a dead man Fight your short span out AEcius No. Thou know'st I must not I dare net give thee such advantage of me As Disobedience Pont. Dare you not defend you Against your Enemy AEcius Not sent from Caesar I have no power to make such Enemies For as I am condemn'd my naked Sword Stands but a Hatchment by me only held To shew I was a Souldier had not Caesar Chain'd all defence in this Doom Let him dye Old as I am and quench'd with Scars and Sorrows Yet would I make this wither'd Arm do wonders And open in an Enemy such wounds Mercy would weep to look on Pont. Then have at you And look upon me and be sure you fear not Remember who you are and why you live And what I have been to you Cry not hold Nor think it base injustice I should kill thee AEcius I am prepar'd for all Pont. For now AEcius Thou shalt behold and find I was no Traitor Pontius kills himself And as I do it bless me Dye as I do AEcius Thou hast deceiv'd me Pontius and I thank thee By all my Hopes in Heav'n thou art a Roman Pont. To shew you what you ought to do this is not But noble Sir you have been jealous of me And held me in the Rank of dangerous persons And I must dying say it was but justice You cast me from my Credit Yet believe me For there is nothing now but truth to save me And your forgiveness tho' you hold me heinous And of a troubled Spirit that like fire Turns all to flames it meets with You mistook me If I were Foe to any thing 't was ease Want of the Souldiers due The Enemy The nakedness we found at home and scorn Children of Peace and pleasures no regard Nor comfort for our Scars nor how we got 'em To rusty time that eats our Bodies up And even began to prey upon our hours To Wants at home and more than Wants Abuses To them that when the Enemy invaded Made us their Saints but now the Sores of Rome To silken Flattery and Pride plain'd over Forgetting with what Wind their Fathers sail'd And under whose protection their soft pleasures Grow full and numberless To this I am Foe Not to the State or any point of Duty And let me speak but what a Souldier may Truly I ought to be so yet I err'd Because a far more noble Sufferer Shew'd me the way to Patience and I lost it This is the end I dye for to live basely And not the follower of him that bred me In full account and Virtue Pontius dares not Much less to out-live all that is good and flatter AEcius I want a Name to give thy Virtue Souldier For only good is far below thee Pontius The Gods shall find thee one Thou hast fashion'd Death In such an excellent and beauteous manner I wonder men can live Canst thou speak one word more For thy words are such Harmony a Soul Would chuse to fly to Heav'n in Pont. A farewell Good noble General your hand Forgive me And think whatever was displeasing to you Was none of mine you cannot live AEcius I will not Yet one word more Pont. Dye nobly Rome farewel And Valentinian fall In joy you have given me a quiet Death I would strike more Wounds if I had more Breath Dies AEcius Is there an hour of goodness beyond this Or any man that would outlive such Dying Would Caesar double all my Honours on me And stick me o're with Favours like a Mistress Yet would I grow to this man I have Lov'd But never doated on a Face till now Oh Death Thou art more than Beauty and thy Pleasures Beyond Posterity Come Friends and kill me Caesar be kind and send a thousand Swords The more the greater is my fall why stay you Come and I 'le kiss your Weapons fear me not By all the Gods I 'le honour ye for killing Appear or through the Court and World I 'le search ye I 'le follow ye and ere I die proclaim ye The Weeds of Italy the dross of Nature Where are ye Villains Traitors Slaves Exit SCENE V. Valentinian and the Eunuch discover'd on a Couch Emp. Oh let me press these balmy Lips all day And bathe my Love-scorch'd Soul in thy moist Kisses Now by my Joys thou art all sweet and soft And thou shalt be the Altar of my Love Upon thy Beauties hourly will I offer And pour out Pleasure and blest Sacrifice To the dear memory of my Lucina No God nor Goddess ever was ador'd With such Religion as my Love shall be For in these charming Raptures of my Soul Claspt in thy Arms I 'le waste my self away And rob the ruin'd World of their great Lord While to the Honour of Lucina's Name I leave Mankind to mourn the loss for ever A SONG 1. KIndness hath resistless Charms All besides can weakly move Fiercest Anger it disarms And clips the wings of flying Love 2. Beauty does the heart invade Kindness only can perswade It guilds the Lovers servile-chain And makes the Slave grow pleas'd and vain Enter AEcius with two Swords Emp. Ha! What desperate Mad-man weary of his Being Presumes to press upon my
the VVomen should chance to fail too Chy. As 't is ten to one Proc. VVhy what remains but new Nets for the purpose Th' Emperor Enter Valentinian Emp. VVhat have you brought Her Chy. Brought her Sir Alas VVhat would you do with such a Cake of Ice VVhom all the Love i' th' Empire cannot thaw A dull cross thing insensible of Glory Deaf to all Promises dead to Desire A tedious stickler for her Husband's Rights VVho like a Beggars Curr hath brought her up To fawn on him and bark at all besides Emp. Lewd and ill-manner'd Fool wer 't not for fear To do thee good by mending of thy Manners I 'd have thee whipt Is this th' account you bring To ease the Torments of my restless mind Balb. Kneeling Caesar In vain your Vassals have endeavour'd By Promises Perswasions Reasons VVealth All that can make the firmest Virtue bend To alter Her Our Arguments like Darts Shot in the Bosom of the boundless Air Are lost and do not leave the least Impression Forgive us if we fail'd to overcome Vertue that could resist the Emperor Emp. You impotent Provokers of my Lust VVho can incite and have no power to help How dare you be alive and I unsatisfied VVho to your Beings have no other Title Nor least Hopes to preserve 'em but my Smiles VVho play like poysonous Insects all the Day In the warm Shine of Me your Vital Sun And when Night comes must perish VVretches whose vicious Lives when I withdraw The Absolute Protection of my Favour VVill drag you into all the Miseries That your own Terrors Universal Hate And Law with Jayls and VVhips can bring upon you As you have fail'd to satisfie my VVishes Perdition is the least you can expect VVho durst to undertake and not perform Slaves was it fit I should be disappointed Yet live Continue infamous a little longer You have deserv'd to end But for this once I 'l not tread out your nasty snuffs of Life But had your poysonous Flatteries prevail'd Upon her Chastity I so admire A Virtue that adds Fury to my Flames Dogs had devour'd e're this your Carcasses Is that an Object fit for my Desires VVhich lies within the reach of your persuasions Had you by your infectious Industry Shew'd my Lucina frail to that degree You had been damn'd for undeceiving me But to possess her chaste and uncorrupted There lies the Joy and Glory of my Love A Passion too refin'd for your dull Souls And such a Blessing as I scorn to owe The gaining of to any but my self Haste strait to Maximus and let him know He must come instantly and speak with me The rest of you wait here I 'le play to night You sawcy Fool send privately away To Chylax For Lycias hither by the Garden Gate That sweet-fac'd Eunuch that sung In Maximus's Grove the other day And in my Closet keep him till I come Exit Valent. Chyl I shall Sir 'T is a soft Rogue this Lycias And rightly understood Hee 's worth a thousand Womens Nicenesses The Love of VVomen moves even with their Lust VVho therefore still are fond but seldom just Their Love is Usury while they pretend To gain the Pleasure double which they lend But a dear Boy 's disinterested Flame Gives Pleasure and for meer Love gathers pain ,In him alone Fondness sincere does prove And the kind tender Naked Boy is Love Exit SCENE 2 A GARDEN Enter Lucina Ardelia and Phorba Ard. You still insist upon that Idol Honour Can it renew your Youth Can it add VVealth Or take off wrinkles Can it draw mens Eyes To gaze upon you in your Age Can Honour That truly is a Saint to none but Souldiers And lookt into bears no Reward but Danger Leave you the most respected VVoman living Or can the common Kisses of a Husband VVhich to a Sprightly Lady is a Labour Make you almost immortal You are cozen'd The Honour of a VVoman is her Praises The way to get these to be seen and sought to And not to bury such a happy Sweetness Under a smoaking Roof Lucina I 'l hear no more Phorb That VVhite and Red and all that blooming Beauty Kept from the Eyes that make it so is nothing Then you are truly fair when men proclaim it The Phoenix that was never seen is doubted But when the Virtue 's known the Honour 's doubled Virtue is either lame or not at all And Love a Sacriledge and not a Saint VVhen it barrs up the way to mens Petitions Ard. Nay you shall love your Husband too VVe Come not to make a Monster of you Lucin. Are you VVomen Ard. You 'l find us so and women you shall thank too If you have but Grace to make your Use. Lucin. Fie on you Phor. Alas poor bashful Lady By my Soul Had you no other Virtue but your Blushes And I a man I should run mad for those How prettily they set her off how sweetly Ard. Come Goddess come you move too near the Earth It must not be a better Orb stays for you Lucin. Pray leave me Phorb That were a Sin sweet Madam and a way To make us guilty of your Melancholy You must not be alone In Conversation Doubts are resolv'd and what sticks near the Conscience Made easie and allowable Lucin. Ye are Devils Ard. That you may one day bless for your Damnation Lucin. I charge you in the Name of Chastity Tempt me no more how ugly you seem to me There 's no wonder Men defame our Sex And lay the Vices of all Ages on us When such as you shall bear the Name of Women If you had Eyes to see your selves or sence Above the base Rewards yee earn with shame If ever in your Lives yee heard of Goodness Tho' many Regions off as men hear Thunder If ever you had Fathers and they Souls Or ever Mothers and not such as you are If ever any thing were constant in you Besides your Sins If any of your Ancestors Dy'd worth a Noble Deed that would be cherish'd Soul-frighted with this black Infection You would run from one anothers Repentance And from your Guilty Eyes drop out those Sins That made ye blind and Beasts Phorb You speak well Madam A sign of fruitful Education If your religious Zeal had Wisdom with it Ard. This Lady was ordain'd to bless the Empire And we may all give thanks for Her Phorb I believe you Ard. If any thing redeem the Emperor From his wild flying Courses this is she She can instruct him if you mark she 's wise too Phor. Exceeding wise which is a wonder in her And so religious that I well believe Tho' she wou'd sin she cannot Ard. And besides She has the Empire's Cause in hand not Love's There lies the main consideration For which she is chiefly born Phorb She finds that Point Stronger than we can tell her and believe it I look by her means for a Reformation And such a one and such a rare way carry'd Ard. I never
VALENTINIAN A TRAGEDY As 't is Alter'd by the late EARL of ROCHESTER And Acted at the Theatre-Royal Together with a Preface concerning the Author and his Writings By one of his Friends LONDON Printed for Timothy Goodwin at the Maiden-head against St. Dunstans-Church in Fleetstreet 1685. Prologue spoken by Mrs. Cook the first Day Written by Mrs. Behn WIth that assurance we to day address As standard Beauties certain of Success With careless Pride at once they charm and vex And scorn the little Censures of their Sex Sure of the unregarded Spoyl despise The needless Affectation of the Eyes The softening Languishment that faintly warms But trust alone to their resistless Charms So we secur'd by undisputed Wit Disdain the damning Malice of the Pit Nor need false Arts to set great Nature off Or studied Tricks to force the Clap and Laugh Ye VVou'd-be-Criticks you are all undone For here 's no Theam for you to work upon Faith seem to talk to Jenny I advise Of who likes who and how Loves Markets rise Try these hard Times how to abate the Price Tell her how cheap were Damsels on the Ice 'Mongst City-VVives and Daughters that came there How far a Guinny went at Blanket-Fair Thus you may find some good Excuse for failing Of your beloved Exercise of Railing That when Friend cryes How did the Play succeed Deme I hardly minded what they did VVe shall not your Ill-nature please to day VVith some fond Scriblers new uncertain Play Loose as vain Youth and tedious as dull Age Or Love and Honour that o're-runs the Stage Fam'd and substantial Authors give this Treat And 't will be solemn Noble all and Great VVit sacred VVit is all the bus'ness here Great Fletcher and the Greater Rochester Now name the hardy Man one fault dares find In the vast VVork of two such Heroes joyn'd None but Great Strephon's soft and pow'rful VVit Durst undertake to mend what Fletcher writ Different their heav'nly Notes yet both agree To make an everlasting Harmony Listen ye Virgins to his charming Song Eternal Musick dwelt upon his Tongue The Gods of Love and VVit inspir'd his Pen And Love and Beauty was his glorious Theam Now Ladies you may celebrate his Name VVithout a scandal on your spotless Fame VVith Praise his dear lov'd Memory pursue And pay his Death what to his Life was due Prologue to VALENTINIAN Spoken by Mrs. Cook the second Day 'T IS not your easiness to give Applause This long hid Iewel into publick draws Our matchless Author who to VVit gave Rules Scorns Praise that has been prostitute to Fools To factious Favour the sole Prop and Fence Of Hackney-Scriblers he quits all Pretence And for their Flatteries brings you Truth and Sence Things we our selves confess to be unfit For such side-Boxes and for such a Pit To the fair Sex some Complement were due Did they not slight themselves in liking you How can they here for Iudges be thought fit VVho daily your soft Nonsence take for VVit Do on your ill-bred Noise for Humour doat And choose the Man by the embroider'd Coat Our Author lov'd the youthful and the fair But even in those their Follies could not spare Bid them discreetly use their present store Be Friends to Pleasure when they please no more Desir'd the Ladies of maturer Ages If some remaining Spark their Hearts enrages At home to quench their Embers with their Pages Pert patch'd and painted there to spend their days Not crowd the fronts of Boxes at new Plays Advis'd young sighing Fools to be more pressing And Fops of Forty to give over dressing By this he got the Envy of the Age No Fury's like a libell'd Blockhead's Rage Hence some despis'd him for his want of VVit And others said he too obscenely writ Dull Niceness envious of Mankind's Delight Abortive Pang of Vanity and Spite It shows a Master's Hand 't was Virgil's Praise Things low and abject to adorn and raise The Sun on Dunghils shining is as bright As when his Beams the fairest Flowers invite But all weak Eyes are hurt by too much Light Let then these Owls against the Eagle preach And blame those Flights which they want VVing to reach Like Falstaffe let 'em conquer Heroes dead And praise Greek Poets they cou'd never read Criticks should personal Quarrels lay aside The Poet from the Enemy divide 'T was Charity that made our Author write For your Instruction 't is we Act to night For sure no Age was ever known before VVanting an AEcius and Lucina more Prologue intended for VALENTINIAN to be spoken by Mrs. Barrey NOw would you have me rail swell and look big Like rampant Tory over couchant Whig As spit-fire Bullies swagger swear and roar And brandish Bilbo when the Fray is o're Must we huff on when we 're oppos'd by none But Poets are most fierce on those wh'are down Shall I jeer Popish Plots that once did fright us And with most bitter Bobs taunt little Titus Or with sharp Style on sneaking Trimmers fall Who civilly themselves Prudential call Yet Witlings to true Wits as soon may rise As a prudential Man can ere be wise No even the worst of all yet I will spare The nauseous Floater changeable as Air A nasty thing which on the surface rides Backward and forward with all turns of Tides An Audience I will not so coursely use 'T is the lewd way of every common Muse. Let Grubstreet-Pens such mean Diversion find But we have Subjects of a nobler kind We of legitimate Poets sing the praise No kin to th' spurious Issue of these days But such as with desert their Laurels gain'd And by true Wit immortal Names obtain'd Two like Wit Consuls rul'd the former Age With Love and Honour grac'd that flourishing Stage And t'every Passion did the Mind engage They sweetness first into our Language brought They all the Secrets of man's Nature sought And lasting Wonders they have in conjunction wrought Now joyns a third a Genius as sublime As ever flourish'd in Rome's happiest time As sharply could he wound as sweetly engage As soft his Love and as divine his Rage He charm'd the tenderest Virgins to delight And with his Style did fiercest Blockheads fright Some Beauties here I see Though now demure have felt his pow'rful Charms And languish'd in the circil of his Arms. But for ye Fops his Satyr reach'd ye all Vnder his Lash your whole vast Herd did fall Oh fatal loss that mighty Spirit 's gone Alas his too great heat went out too soon So fatal is it vastly to excel Thus young thus mourn'd his lov'd Lucretius fell And now ye little Sparks who infest the Pit Learn all the Reverence due to sacred Wit Disturb not with your empty noise each Bench Nor break your bawdy Iests to th' Orange-wench Nor in that Scene of Fops the Gallery Vent your No-wit and spurious Raillery That noisie Place where meet all sort of Tools Your huge fat Lovers and consumptive Fools Half Wits
our Dishonour That I abhor the Person of my Prince Alas That Honour were a trivial Loss Which she and I want merit to preserve Virtue and Maximus are plac'd too near Lucina's Heart to leave him such a fear No private loss or wrong inflames my Spirits The Roman Glory AEcius languishes I am concern'd for Rome and for the World And when th' Emperor pleases to afford Time from his Pleasures to take care of those I am his Slave and have a Sword and Life Still ready for his Service AEcius Now you are brave And like a Roman justly are concern'd But say he be to blame Are therefore we Fit Fires to purge him No My Dearest Friend The Elephant is never won with Anger Nor must that man who would reclaim a Lion Take him by the Teeth Our honest Actions and the Truth that breaks Like Morning from our Service chast and blushing Is that that pulls a Prince back then he sees And not till then truly repents his Errors Max. My Heart agrees with yours I 'l take your Council The Emperor appears let us withdraw And as We both do love him may he flourish Exeunt Enter Valentinian and Lucina Val. Which way Lucina hope you to escape The Censures both of Tyrannous and Proud While your Admirers languish by your Eyes And at your feet an Emperor despairs Gods Why was I mark'd out of all your Brood To suffer tamely under mortal hate Is it not I that do protect your Shrines Am Author of your Sacrifice and Pray'rs Forc'd by whose great Commands the knowing World Submits to own your Beings and your Power And must I feel the Torments of Neglect Betray'd by Love to be the Slave of Scorn But 't is not you Poor harmless Deities That can make Valentinian sigh and mourn Alas All Power is in Lucina's Eyes How soon could I shake off this heavy Earth Which makes me little lower than your selves And sit in Heaven an Equal with the first But Love bids me pursue a Nobler Aim Continue Mortal and Lucina's Slave From whose fair Eyes would pity take my part And bend her Will to save a bleeding Heart I in Her Arms such Blessings shou'd obtain For which th'unenvy'd Gods might wish in vain Lucin. Ah! Cease to tempt those Gods and Virtue too Great Emperor of the World and Lord of me Heaven has my Life submitted to your Will My Honour 's Heav'ns which will preserve its own How vile a thing am I when that is gone When of my Honour you have rifl'd me What other Merit have I to be yours With my fair Fame let me your Subject live And save that Humbleness you smile upon Those Gracious Looks whose brightness shou'd rejoyce Make your poor Handmaid tremble when she thinks That they appear like Lightning's fatal Flash Which by destructive Thunder is persu'd Blasting those Fields on which it shin'd before And shou'd the Gods abandon worthless Me A Sacrifice to shame and to dishonour A Plague to Rome and Blot to Caesar's Fame For what Crime yet unknown shall Maximus By Me and Caesar be made infamous The faithfull'st Servant and the kindest Lord So true so brave so gen'rous and so just Who ne'er knew fault Why shou'd he fall to Shame Val. Sweet Innocence Alas Your Maximus Whom I like you esteem is in no Danger If Duty and Allegiance be no shame Have I not Praetors through the spacious Earth Who in my Name do mighty Nations sway Enjoying rich Dominions in my Right Their Temporary Governments I change Divide or take away as I see good And this they think no Injury nor Shame Can you believe your Husband 's Right to you Other than what from me he does derive Who justly may recall my own at pleasure Am I not Emperor This World my own Given me without a Partner by the Gods And shall those Gods who gave me all allow That one less than my self should have a Claim To you the Pride and Glory of the whole You without whom the rest is worthless dross Life a base Slavery Empire but a Mock And Love the Soul of all a bitter Curse No only Blessing Maximus and I Must change our Provinces the World shall bow Beneath my Scepter grasp'd in his strong hand Whose Valour may reduce rebellious Slaves And wise Integrity secure the rest In all those Rights the Gods to me have given While I from tedious Toils of Empire free The servile Pride of Government despise Find Peace and Joy and Love and Heav'n in Thee And seek for all my Glory in those Eyes Lucina Had Heav'n design'd for me so great a Fate As Caesar's Love I shou'd have been preserv'd By careful Providence for Him alone Not offer'd up at first to Maximus For Princes should not mingle with their Slaves Nor seek to quench their Thirst in troubled streams Nor am I fram'd with thoughts fit for a Throne To be commanded still has been my Joy And to obey the height of my Ambition When young in Anxious Cares I spent the Day Trembling for fear least each unguided step Should tread the paths of Error and of Blame Till Heav'n in gentle pity sent my Lord In whose Commands my Wishes meet their end Pleas'd and secure while following his Will Whether to live or die I cannot err You like the Sun Great Sir are plac'd above I a low Mirtle in the humble Vale May flourish by your distant influence But should you bend your Glories nearer me Such fatal Favour withers me to dust Or I in foolish gratitude desire To kiss your feet by whom we live and grow To such a height I should in vain aspire VVho am already rooted here below Fixt in my Maximus's Breast I lie Torn from that Bed like gather'd Flow'rs I die Val. Cease to oppress me with a thousand Charms There needs no succour to prevailing Arms Your Beauty had subdu'd my Heart before Such Virtue could alone enslave me more If you love Maximus to this degree How would you be in Love Did you love Me In Her who to a Husband is so kind VVhat Raptures might a Lover hope to find I burn Lucina like a Field of Corn By flowing streams of kindled Flames ore-born VVhen North-winds drive the Torrent with a storm These Fires into my Bosom you have thrown And must in pity quench 'em in your own Heav'n when it gave your Eyes th' Inflaming pow'r VVhich was ordain'd to cast an Emperor Into Loves Feaver kindly did impart That Sea of Milk to bathe his burning Heart Throu ' all those Joys Lays hold on Her Lucina Hold Sir for Mercy 's sake Love will abhor whatever Force can take I may perhaps persuade my self in time That this is Duty which now seems a Crime I 'l to the Gods and begg they will inspire My Breast or Yours with what it shou'd desire Val. Fly to their Altars strait and let 'em know Now is their time to make me Friend or Foe If to my Wishes they your Heart
thought the Emperor had wisdom Pity or fair Affection to his Country Till he profest this Love Gods give 'em Children Such as her Virtues merit and his Zeal I look to see a Numa from this Lady Or greater than Octavius Phor. Do you mark too Which is a noble Virtue how she blushes And what flowing Modesty runs through her When we but name the Emperor Ard. Mark it Yes and admire it too for she considers Tho' she be fair as Heav'n and Virtuous As holy Truth Yet to the Emperor She is a kind of Nothing but her Service Which she is bound to offer and she 'l do it And when her Countries Cause commands Affection She knows Obedience is the Key of Virtues Then fly the Blushes out like Cupid's Arrows And though the Tie of Marriage to her Lord Would fain cry stay Lucina yet the Cause And general Wisdom of the Prince's Love Makes her find surer Ends and happier And if the first were chaste these are twice doubled Phor. Her Tartness to us too Ard. That 's a wise one Phor. I like it it shews a rising Wisdom That chides all common Fools who dare enquire What Princes would have private Ard. What a Lady shall we be blest to serve Lucin. Go get you from me Yee are your Purses Agents not the Princes Is this the virtuous Love you train'd me out to Am I a Woman fit to Imp your Vices But that I had a Mother and a Woman Whose ever living Fame turns all it touches Into the Good it self was I should now Even doubt my self I have been searcht so near The very Soul of Honour Why shou'd you Two That happily have been as chaste as I am Fairer I think by much For yet your Faces Like Ancient well-built Piles shew worthy Ruines After that Angel Age turn mortal Devils For Shame for Womanhood for what you have been For rotten Cedars have born goodly Branches If you have hope of any Heav'n but Court Which like a Dream you 'l find hereafter vanish Or at the best but subject to Repentance Study no more to be ill spoken of Let Women live themselves if they must fail Their own Destruction find ' em Ard. You are so excellent in all That I must tell it you with Admiration So true a joy you have so sweet a fear And when you come to Anger 'T is so noble That for my own part I could still offend To hear you angry Women that want that And your way guided else I count it nothing Are either Fools or Fearful Phorb She were no Mistress for the World 's great Lord Could she not frown a ravisht Kiss from Anger And such an Anger as this Lady shews us Stuck with such pleasing Dangers Gods I ask yee Which of you all could hold from Lucin. I perceive you Your own dark Sins dwell with you and that price You sell the Chastity of modest Wives at Run to Diseases with you I despise you And all the Nets you have pitcht to catch my Virtue Like Spiders webs I sweep away before me Go tell th' Emperor You have met a Woman That neither his own Person which is God-like The VVorld he rules nor what that VVorld can purchase Nor all the Glories subject to a Caesar The Honours that he offers for my Honour The Hopes the Gifts and everlasting Flatteries Nor any thing that 's His and apt to tempt No! not to be the Mother of the Empire And Queen of all the holy Fires he worships Can make a VVhore of Ard. You mistake us Madam Lucin. Yet tell him this h 'as thus much weaken'd me That I have heard his Slaves and you his Matrons Fit Nurses for his Sins which Gods forgive me But ever to be leaning to his Folly Or to be brought to love his Vice Assure him And from her Mouth whose Life shall make it certain I never can I have a Noble Husband Pray tell him that too Yet a Noble Name A Noble Family and last a Conscience Thus much by way of Answer for your selves You have liv'd the shame of VVomen die the better Ex. Luc. Phor. VVhat 's now to do Ard. Even as she said to die For there 's no living here and VVomen thus I am sure for us two Phor. Nothing stick upon her Ard. VVe have lost a Mass of Money VVell Dame Virtue Yet you may halt if good Luck serve Phor. VVorms take her Ard. So Godly This is ill Breeding Phorba Phor. If the VVomen Should have a longing now to see the Monster And she convert 'em all Ard. That may be Phorba But if it be I 'l have the Young men hang'd Come let 's go think she must not scape us thus Exeunt ACT. III. SCEN. I. The Scene opens and discovers the Emperor at Dice Maximus Lycin. Proc. and Chylax Emp. NAy set my Hand out 'T is not just I should neglect my Luck when 't is so prosp'rous Chy. If I have any thing to set you Sir but Cloaths And good Conditions let me perish You have all my Money Proc. And mine Lycin. And mine too Max. You may trust us sure till to morrow Or if you please I 'l send home for Money presently Emp. 'T is already Morning and staying will be tedious My Luck will vanish ere your Money comes Chy. Shall we redeem 'em if we set our Houses Emp. Yes fairly Chy. That at my Villa Emp. At it 'T is mine Chy. Then farewel Fig-Trees For I can ne'r redeem ' em Emp. VVho sets Set any thing Lycin. At my Horse Emp. The Dapple Spaniard Lycin. He. Emp. He 's mine Lycin. He is so Max. Hah Lycin. Nothing my Lord But Pox on my Damn'd Fortune Emp. Come Maximus You were not wont to flinch Max. By Heaven Sir I have not a Penny Emp. Then that Ring Max. O Good Sir This was not given to lose Emp. Some Love-Token Set it I say Max. I beg you Sir Emp. How silly and how fond you are grown of Toys Max. Shall I redeem it Emp. VVhen you please to morrow Or next day as you will I do not care Only for luck-sake Max. There Sir will you throw Emp. Why then have at it fairly the last stake 'T is mine Max. Y' are ever fortunate to morrow I 'l bring you what you please to think it worth Emp. Then your Arabian Horse but for this night I 'l wear it as my Victory Enter Balbus Balb. From the Camp AEcius in haste has sent these Letters Sir It seems the Cohorts mutiny for Pay Emp. Maximus This is ill News Next week they are to march You must away immediately no stay No not so much as to take leave at home This careful haste may probably appease 'em Send word what are their Numbers And Money shall be sent to pay 'em all Besides something by way of Donative Max. I 'l not delay a moment Sir The Gods preserve you in this mind for ever Emp. I 'l see 'em march my self Max. Gods ever keep
you Exit Max. Emp. To what end now de' e think this Ring shall serve For you are the dull'st and the veriest Rogues Fellows that know only by roat as Birds Whistle and sing Chy. Why Sir 't is for the Lady Emp. The Lady Blockhead which end of the Lady Her Nose Chy. Faith Sir that I know not Emp. Then pray for him that does Exit Chylax Fetch in the Eunuch You See th'Apartment made very fine That lies upon the Garden Masks and Musick With the best speed you can And all your Arts Serve to the highest for my Master-piece Is now on foot Proc. Sir we shall have a care Emp. I 'l sleep an hour or two and let the Women Put on a graver shew of Welcome Your Wives they are such Haggard-Bawds A Thought too eager Enter Chyl and Lycias Chy. Here 's Lycias Sir Lyc. Long Life to mighty Caesar. Emp. Fortune to thee for I must use thee Lycias Lyc. I am the humble Slave of Caesar's Will By my Ambition bound to his Commands As by my duty Emp. Follow me Lyc. With Joy Exeunt SCENE 2. GROVE and FOREST Enter Lucina Lucin. Dear solitary Groves where Peace does dwell Sweet Harbours of pure Love and Innocence How willingly could I for ever stay Beneath the shade of your embracing Greens Listning to Harmony of warbling Birds Tun'd with the gentle Murmurs of the Streams Upon whose Banks in various Livery The fragrant offspring of the early Year Their Heads like graceful Swans bent proudly down See their own Beauties in the Crystal Flood Of these I could mysterious Chaplets weave Expressing some kind innocent Design To shew my Maximus at his Return And fondly chiding make his Heart confess How far my busie Idleness excels The idle Business he persues all day At the contentious Court or clamorous Camp Robbing my Eyes of what they love to see My Ears of his dear Words they wish to hear My longing Arms of th'Embrace they covet Forgive me Heav'n if when I these enjoy So perfect is the happiness I find That my Soul satisfi'd feels no Ambition To change these humble Roofs and sit above Enter Marcellina Marc. Madam My Lord just now alighted here Was by an Order from th' Emperor Call'd back to Court This he commanded me to let you know And that he would make haste in his return Lucin. The Emperor Unwonted Horror seizes me all o're When I but hear him nam'd sure 't is not Hate For tho' his impious Love with scorn I heard And fled with terror from his threatning force Duty commands me humbly to forgive And bless the Lord to whom my Lord does bow Nay more methinks he is the gracefullest man His Words so fram'd to tempt himself to please That 't is my wonder how the Pow'rs above Those wise and careful Guardians of the Good Have trusted such a force of tempting Charms To Enemies declar'd of Innocence 'T is then some strange Prophetick Fear I feel That seems to warn me of approaching Ills. Go Marcellina fetch your Lute and sing that Song My Lord calls his I 'l try to wear away The Melancholy Thoughts his Absence breeds Come gentle Slumbers in your flattering Arms I 'l bury these Disquiets of my Mind Till Maximus returns for when he 's here My Heart is rai'sd above the reach of Fear Marcellina sings SONG By Mr. W. WHere wou'd coy Aminta run From a despairing Lovers Story When her Eyes have Conquests won Why shou'd her Ear refuse the Glory Shall a Slave whom Rackes constrain Be forbidden to complain Let her scorn me let her fly me Let her Lookes her Life deny me Ne're can my Heart change for Relief Or my Tongue cease to tell my Grief Much to Love and much to Pray Is to Heaven the only Way Mar. She sleeps The Song ended Exeunt Claudia and Marcellina before the Dance SCENE 3. Dance of Satyrs Enter Claudia and Marcellina to Lucina Claud. Prithee what ails my Lady that of late She never cares for Company Marc. I know not Unless it be that Company causes Cuckolds Claud. Ridiculous That were a Childish Fear 'T is Opportunity does cause 'em rather When two made one are glad to be alone Marc. But Claudia Why this sitting up all Night In Groves by purling streams This argues Heat Great Heat and Vapors which are main Corrupters Mark when you will Your Ladies that have Vapors They are not Flinchers that insulting Spleen Is the Artillery of pow'rful Lust Discharg'd upon weak Honour which stands out Two Fits of Head-Ach at the most then yields Claudia Thou art the frailest Creature Marcellina And think'st all Womens Honours like thy own So thin a Cobweb that each blast of Passion Can blow away But for my own part Girl I think I may be well stil'd Honours Martyr With firmest Constancy I have endur'd The raging Heats of passionate Desires While flaming Love and boyling Nature both Were pour'd upon my Soul with equal Torture I arm'd with Resolution stood it out And kept my Honour safe Marc. Thy Glory 's great But Claudia Thanks to Heav'n that I am made The weakest of all women fram'd so frail That Honour ne'er thought fit to chuse me out His Champion against Pleasure my poor Heart For divers years still tost from Flame to Flame Is now burnt up to Tinder every Spark Dropt from kind Eyes sets it a-fire afresh Prest by a gentle hand I melt away One Sigh's a Storm that blows me all along Pity a wretch who has no Charm at all Against th' impetuous Tide of flowing Pleasure Who wants both Force and Courage to maintain The glorious War made upon Flesh and Blood But is a Sacrifice to every wish And has no power left to resist a Joy Claud. Poor Girl How strange a Riddle Virtue is They never miss it who possess it not And they who have it ever find a want With what Tranquility and Peace thou liv'st For stript of Shame Thou hast no cause to fear While I the Slave of Virtue am afraid Of every thing I see And think the World A dreadful wilderness of savage Beasts Each man I meet I fancy will devour me And sway'd by Rules not natural but affected I hate Mankind for fear of being lov'd Marc. 'T is nothing less than Witchcraft can constrain Still to persist in Errors we perceive Prithee reform what Nature prompts us to And Reason seconds why should we avoid This Honour is the veriest Mountebank It fits our Fancies with affected Tricks And makes us freakish what a Cheat must that be Which robs our Lives of all their softer hours Beauty our only Treasure it lays waste Hurries us over our neglected Youth To the detested state of Age and Ugliness Tearing our dearest Hearts Desires from us Then in reward of what it took away Our Joys our Hopes our Wishes and Delights It bountifully pays us all with Pride Poor shifts still to be proud and never pleas'd Yet this is all your Honour can do for
for ever Chy. The fair Lucina Nay then I find Our Slander'd-Court has not sinn'd up so high To fright all the good Angels from its Care Since they have sent so great a Blessing hither Madam I beg th' Advantage of my Fortune VVho as I am the first have met you here May humbly hope to be made proud and happy VVith the honour of your first Command and Service Lucin. Sir I am so far from knowing how to merit Your Service that your Complements too much And I return it you with all my heart You 'l want it Sir for those who know you better Chy. Madam I have the honour to be own'd By Maximus for his most humble Servant Which gives me Confidence Marc. Now Claudia for a Wager What thing is this that cringes to my Lady Claud. Why some grave States-man by his looks a Courtier Marc. Claudia a Bawd By all my hopes a Bawd What use can reverend Gravity be of here To any but a trusty Bawd States-man are markt for Fops by it besides Nothing but Sin and Laziness could make him So very fat and look so fleshy on 't Lucin. But is my Lord not gone yet do you say Sir Chy. He is not Madam and must take this kindly Exceeding kindly of you wondrous kindly You come so far to visit him I 'le guide you Lucin. Whither Chy. Why to my Lord. Lucin. Is it impossible To find him in this Place without a Guide For I would willingly not trouble you Chy. My only trouble Madam is my fear I 'm too unworthy of so great an Honour But here you 're in the publick Gallery Where th' Emperor must pass unless you 'd see him Lucin. Bless me Sir No pray lead me any whither My Lord cannot be long before he finds me Exeunt Enter Lycinius Proculus and Balbus Musick Lycin. She 's coming up the Stairs now the Musick And as that softens her love will grow warm Till she melts down Then Caesar lays his Stamp Burn these Perfumes there Proc. Peace no noise without A SONG Nymph INjurious Charmer of my vanquisht Heart Canst thou feel Love and yet no pity know Since of my self from thee I cannot part Invent some gentle Way to let me go For what with Ioy thou didst obtain And I with more did give In time will make thee false and vain And me unfit to live Shepherd Frail Angel that wou'dst leave a Heart forlorn With vain pretence falshood therein might lye Seek not to cast wild shadows o're your scorn You cannot sooner change than I can dye To tedious life I le never fall Thrown from thy dear lov'd Breast He merits not to live at all Who cares to live unblest Chor. Then let our flaming Hearts be joyn'd While in that sacred fire Ere thou prove false or I unkind Together both expire Enter Chyl Lucina Claudia Marcellina Lucin. Where is this Wretch this Villain Lycias Pray Heav'n my Lord be here for now I fear it I am certainly betray'd This cursed Ring Is either counterfeit or stoln Claud. Your fear Does but disarm your Resolution Which may defend you in the worst Extreams Or if that fail Are there not Gods and Angels Lucin. None in this Place I fear but evil ones Heav'n pity me Chy. But tell me dearest Madam How do you like the Song Lucin. Sir I am no Judge Of Musick and the words I thank my Gods I did not understand Chy. The Emperor Has the best Talent at expounding 'em You 'l ne'r forget a Lesson of his Teaching Lucin. Are you the worthy Friend of Maximus Would lead me to him He shall thank you Sir As you desire Chy. Madam he shall not need I have a Master will reward my Service When you have made him happy with your Love For which he hourly languishes Be kind Whispers Lucin. The Gods shall kill me first Chy. Think better on 't 'T is sweeter dying in th' Emperor's Arms. Enter Phorba and Ardellia But here are Ladies come to see you Madam They 'l entertain you better I but tire you Therefore I 'le leave you for a while and bring Your lov'd Lord to you Exit Lucin. Then I 'le thank you I am betray'd for certain Phorb You are a welcome Woman Ard. Bless me Heaven How did you find your way to Court Lucin. I know not would I had never trod it Phorb Prithee tell me Call Emperor behind Good pretty Lady and dear sweet Heart love us For we love thee extreamly Is not this Place A Paradise to live in Lucin. Yes to you Who know no Paradise but guilty Pleasure Ard. Heard you the Musick yet Lucin. 'T was none to me Phor. You must not be thus froward Well this Gown Is one o' th' prettiest by my troth Ardelia I ever saw yet 't was not to frown in Madam You put this Gown on when you came Ard. How d ee ye Alas poor Wretch how cold it is Lucin. Content you I am as well as may be and as temperate So you will let me be so Where 's my Lord For that 's the business I come for hither Phor. We 'l lead you to him he 's i' th' Gallery Ard. We 'l shew you all the Court too Lucin. Shew me him you have shew'd me all I come to look on Phor. Come on we 'l be your Guides and as you go We have some pretty Tales to tell you Madam Shall make you merry too You come not hither To be sad Lucina Lucin. Would I might not Exeunt Enter Chylax and Balbus in haste Chyl Now see all ready Balbus run Balb. I fly Boy Exit Chy. The Women by this time are warning of her If she holds out them the Emperor Takes her to task he has her Hark I hear ' em Enter Emperor drawing in Lucina Ring Emp. Would you have run away so slily Madam Lucin. I beseech you Sir Consider what I am and whose Emp. I do so For what you are I am fill'd with such Amaze So far transported with Desire and Love My slippery Soul flows to you while I speak And whose you were I care not for now you are mine Who love you and will do at on you more Than you do on your Vertue Lucin. Sacred Caesar. Emp. You shall not kneel to me rise Lucin. Look upon me And if you be so cruel to abuse me Think how the Gods will take it Does this Face Afflict your Soul I 'le hide it from you ever Nay more I will become so leprous That you shall curse me from you My dear Lord Has ever serv'd you truly fought your Battels As if he daily long'd to die for Caesar Was never Traitor Sir nor never tainted In all the Actions of his Life Emp. How high does this fantastick Vertue swell She thinks it Infamy to please too well Aside I know it To her Lucin. His Merits and his Fame have grown together Together flourish'd like two spreading Cedars Over the Roman Diadem O let not As you have a Heart
that 's humane in you The having of an honest Wife decline him Let not my Vertue be a Wedge to break him Much less my Shame his undesery'd Dishonour I do not think you are so bad a man I know Report belyes you you are Caesar Which is the Father of the Empires Glory You are too near the Nature of the Gods To wrong the weakest of all Creatures Woman Emp. I dare not do it here Rise fair Lucina Aside When you believe me worthy make me happy Chylax wait on her to her Lord within Wipe your fair Eyes Exeunt Ah Love ah cursed Boy Where art thou that torments me thus unseen And ragest with thy Fires within my Breast With idle purpose to inflame her Heart Which is as inaccessible and cold As the proud tops of those aspiring Hills Whose Heads are wrapt in everlasting Snow Tho' the hot Sun roll o're 'em every day And as his Beams which only shine above Scorch and consume in Regions round below Soft Love which throws such brightness thro' her eyes Leaves her Heart cold and burns me at her feet My Tyrant but her flattering Slave thou art A Glory round her lovely Face a Fire within my Heart Who waits without Lycinius Enter Lycinius Lycin. My Lord. Emp. Where are the Masquers that should dance to night Lycin. In the old Hall Sir going now to practise Emp. About it strait 'T will serve to draw away Those listning Fools who trace it in the Gallery And if by chance odd noises should be heard As Womens Shrieks or so say 't is a Play Is practising within Lycin. The Rape of Lucrece Or some such merry Prank It shall be done Sir Ex. Emp. 'T is nobler like a Lion to invade Where Appetite directs and seize my Prey Than to wait tamely like a begging Dog Till dull Consent throws out the Scraps of Love I scorn those Gods who seek to cross my Wishes And will in spite of 'em be happy Force Of all the Powers is the most generous For what that gives it freely does bestow Without the after-Bribe of Gratitude I 'le plunge into a Sea of my Desires And quench my Fever tho' I drown my Fame And tear up Pleasure by the Roots No matter Tho' it never grow again what shall ensue Let Gods and Fate look to it 't is their Business Exit SCENE III. Opens and discovers 5 or 6 Dancing-masters practising 1 Dan. That is the damn'st shuffling Step Pox on 't 2 Dan. I shall never hit it Thou hast naturally All the neat Motions of a merry Tailor Ten thousand Riggles with thy Toes inward Cut clear and strong let thy Limbs play about thee Keep time and hold thy Back upright and firm It may prefer thee to a waiting Woman 1 Dan. Or to her Lady which is worse Enter Lycinius Ten dance Lycin. Bless me the loud Shrieks and horrid Outcries Of the poor Lady Ravishing d'ye call it She roars as if she were upon the Rack 'T is strange there should be such a difference Betwixt half-ravishing which most Women love And through force which takes away all Blame And should be therefore welcome to the vertuous These tumbling Rogues I fear have overheard 'em But their Ears with their Brains are in their Heels Good morrow Gentlemen What is all perfect I have taken care Your Habits shall be rich and glorious 3 Dan. That will set off Pray sit down and see How the last Entry I have made will please you Second Dance Lycin. 'T is very fine indeed 2 Dan. I hope so Sir Ex. Dancers Enter Chyl Proculus and Lycias Proc. 'T is done Lycinius Lycin. How Proc. I blush to tell it If there be any Justice we are Villains And must be so rewarded Lycias Since 't is done I take it is not time now to repent it Let 's make the best of our Trade Chy. Now Vengeance take it Why should not he have settl'd on a Beauty Whose Modesty stuck in a piece of Tissue Or one a Ring might rule or such a one That had a Husband itching to be honourable And ground to get it If he must have Women And no allay without 'em why not those That know the Mystery and are best able To play a Game with judgment such as she is Grant they be won with long siege endless travel And brought to opportunities with millions Yet when they come to Motion their cold Vertue Keeps 'em like Beds of Snow Lycin. A good Whore Had sav'd all this and happily as wholsom And the thing once done as well thought of too But this same Chastity forsooth Chy. A Pox on 't Why should not Women be as free as we are They are but will not own it and far freer And the more bold you bear your self more welcom And there is nothing you dare say but Truth But they dare hear Proc. No doubt of it away Let them who can repent go home and pray Exeunt Scene opens discovers th' Emperor's Chamber Lucina newly unbound by th' Emperor Emp. Your only Vertue now is Patience Be wise and save your Honour if you talk Lucin. As long as there is Life in this Body And Breath to give me words I 'le cry for Justice Emp. Justice will never hear you I am Justice Lucin. Wilt thou not kill me Monster Ravisher Thou bitter Bane o' th' Empire look upon me And if thy guilty eyes dare see the Ruines Thy wild Lust hath laid level with Dishonour The sacrilegious razing of that Temple The Tempter to thy black sins would have blusht at Behold and curse thy self The Gods will find thee That 's all my Refuge now for they are righteous Vengeance and Horror circle thee The Empire In which thou liv'st a strong continu'd Surfeit Like Poyson will disgorge thee good men raze thee From ever being read agen Chast Wives and fearful Maids make Vows against thee Thy worst Slaves when they hear of this shall hate thee And those thou hast corrupted first fall from thee And if thou let'st me live the Souldier Tired with thy Tyrannies break thro' Obedience And shake his strong Steel at thee Emp. This prevails not Nor any Agony you utter Madam If I have done a sin curse her that drew me Curse the first Cause the Witchcraft that abus'd me Curse your fair Eyes and curse that heav'nly Beauty And curse your being good too Lucin. Glorious Thief What restitution canst thou make to save me Emp. I 'le ever love and ever honour you Lucin. Thou canst not For that which was my Honour thou hast murder'd And can there be a Love in Violence Emp. You shall be only mine Lucin. Yet I like better Thy Villainy than Flattery that 's thy own The other basely counterfeit Fly from me Or for thy safeties sake and wisdom kill me For I am worse than thou art Thou maist pray And so recover Grace I am lost for ever And if thou let'st me live thou' rt lost thy self too Emp. I fear no loss
happy Moments AEcius And arm'd Whence comes this impious Boldness Did not my Will the Worlds most sacred Law Doom thee to die And dar'st thou in Rebellion be alive Is Death more frightful grown than Disobedience AEcius Not for a hated Life condemn'd by you Which in your Service has been still expos'd To Pain and Labours Famine Slaughter Fire And all the dreadful Toyls of horrid War Am I thus lowly laid before your feet For what mean Wretch who has his Duty done Would care to live when you declare him worthless If I must fall which your severe Disfavour Hath made the easier and the nobler Choice Yield me not up a wretched Sacrifice To the poor Spleen of a base Favourite Let not vile Instruments destroy the man Whom once you lov'd but let your hand bestow That welcome Death your anger has decreed Lays his Sword at his feet Emp. Go seek the common Executioner Old man thro' vanity and years grown mad Or to reprieve thee from the Hangman's stroak Go use thy military Interest To beg a milder Death among the Guards And tempt my kindl'd Wrath no more with folly AEcius Ill-counsell'd thankless Prince you did indeed Bestow that Office on a Souldier But in the Army could you hope to find With all your Bribes a Murderer of AEcius Whom they so long have follow'd known and own'd Their God in War and thy good Genius ever Speechless and cold without upon the Ground The Souldier lyes whose generous Death will teach Posterity true Gratitude and Honour And press as heavily upon thy Soul Lost Valentinian as thy barb'rous Rape For which since Heavâ—n alone must punish thee I 'le do Heav'ns justice on thy base Assister Runs at Lycias Lycias Save me my Lord. Emp. Hold honest AEcius hold I was too rash Oh spare the gentle Boy And I 'le forgive thee all Lycias Furies and Death Dies Emp. He bleeds mourn ye Inhabitants of Heav'n For sure my lovely Boy was one of you But he is dead and now ye may rejoyce For ye have stol'n him from me spiteful Powers Empire and Life I ever have despis'd The vanity of Pride of Hope and Fear In Love alone my Soul found real Joys And still ye tyrannize and cross my Love Oh that I had a Sword Throws him a Sword To drive this raving Fool headlong to Hell Fight AEcius Take your desire and try if lawless Lust Can stand against Truth Honesty and Justice I have my Wish Gods Give you true Repentance And bless you still beware of Maximus They fight Acius runs on the Emp. Sword and falls Dies Emp. Farewel dull Honesty which tho' despis'd Canst make thy owner run on certain Ruine Old AEcius Where is now thy Name in War Thy Interest with so many conquer'd Nations The Souldiers Reverence and the Peoples Love Thy mighty Fame and Popularity With which thou kept'st me still in certain fear Depending on thee for uncertain safety Ah what a lamentable Wretch is he Who urg'd by Fear or Sloth yields up his pow'r To hope protection from his Favourite Wallowing in Ease and Vice feels no Contempt But wears the empty Name of Prince with scorn And lives a poor lead Pageant to his Slave Such have I been to thee honest AEcius Thy pow'r kept me in awe thy pride in pain Till now I liv'd but since th' art dead I 'le reign Enter Phidius with Maximus Phid. Behold my Lord the cruel Emperor By whose tyrannick Doom the noble AEcius Was judg'd to die Emp. He was so sawcy Slave Struck by this hand here groveling at my feet The Traitor lyes as thou shalt do bold Villain Go to the Furies carry my Defiance Kills him And tell 'em Caesar fears nor Earth nor Hell Phid. Stay AEcius and I 'le wait thy mightier Ghost Oh Maximus thro' the long vault of Death I hear thy Wife cry out revenge me Revenge me on the Ravisher no more Aretus comes to aid thee oh farewel Dies Emp. Ha! what not speak yet thou whose wrongs are greatest Or do the Horrors that we have been doing Amaze thy feeble Soul If thou art a Roman Answer the Emperor Caesar bids thee speak Max. A Roman Ha! And Caesar bids thee speak Pronounce thy Wrongs and tell 'em o're in Groans But oh the Story is ineffable Caesar's Commands back'd with the Eloquence Of all the inspiring Gods cannot declare it Oh Emperor thou Picture of a Glory Thou mangled Figure of a ruin'd Greatness Speak saist thou Speak the Wrongs of Maximus Yes I will speak Imperial Murderer Ravisher Oh thou royal Villany In Purple dipt to give a Gloss to Mischief Yet ere thy Death inriches my Revenge And swells the Book of Fate you statelier Mad-man Plac'd by the Gods upon a Precipice To make thy Fall more dreadful Why hast thou slain Thy Friend thy only Stay for sinking Greatness What Frenzy what blind Fury did possess thee To cut off thy right Hand and fling it from thee For such was AEcius Emp. Yes and such art thou Joynt Traitors to my Empire and my Glory Put up thy Sword be gone for ever leave me Tho' Traitor yet because I once did wrong thee Live Like a vagrant Slave I banish thee Max. Hold me you Gods and judg our Passions rightly Lest I should kill him kill this luxurious Worm Ere yet a thought of Danger has awak'd him End him even in the midst of night-Debauches Mounted upon a Tripos drinking Healths With shallow Rascals Pimps Buffoons and Bawds Who with vile Laughter take him in their Arms And bear the drunken Caesar to his Bed Where to the scandal of all Majesty At every grasp he belches Provinces Kisses off Fame and at the Empires ruine Enjoys his costly Whore Emp. Peace Traitor or thou dy'st Tho' pale Lucina should direct thy Sword I would assault thee if thou offer more Max. More By the immortal Gods I will awake thee I 'le rouze thee Caesar if strong Reason can If thou hadst ever sence of Roman Honour Or th' imperial Genius ever warm'd thee Why hast thou us'd me thus for all my Service My Toyls my Frights my Wounds in horrid War Why didst thou tear the only Garland from me That could make proud my Conquests Oh ye Gods If there be no such thing as Right or Wrong But Force alone must swallow all possession Then to what purpose in so long descents Were Roman Laws observ'd or Heav'n obey'd If still the Great for Ease or Vice were form'd Why did our first Kings toyl Why was the Plow Advanc'd to be the Pillar of the State Why was the lustful Tarquin with his House Expell'd but for the Rape of bleeding Lucrece Emp. I cannot bear thy words Vext Wretch no more He shocks me Prithee Maximus no more Reason no more thou troublest me with Reason Max. What servile Rascal what most abject Slave That lick'd the Dust where ere his Master trod Bounded not from the Earth upon his feet And shook his Chain that heard of