Guards Por. You hear Cleander where you soon may find me Go to my Lord and let him know the Joy 'T will ease his throbbing Heart and cure his â—riefs He 'll bless the Gods that when no help was hop'd Sent kind Relief to Vertue in Distress Mar. Madam I will and may the Pow'rs above Crown all the Pious Empresses Desires Exit Emp. Come gentle Portia use the present Hour The next perhaps may not be in our Pow'r Exeunt Ambo SCENE II. A Gallery in the Pallace Enter Perennius and Laetus in a Vestal Virgins Habit. Peren. THIS is the place the Empress order'd us To wait her in But I must not be seen Is going Gods what sudden Trembling's this that shakes me My Nerves forsake their office my knees knock Faintness and Shiv'ring chills my Heart Laet. 'T is the surprize of near approaching Joy That like a Mid-night 'Larum in a Camp Starts all your Faculties into Confusion They 'll soon into their ancient order fall And bear you bravely to the noble Onset Per. I hope they will-Hark a Noise ' st 't is the Door I will before to give you timely Notice If ought approach bring her through the back Court 'T is most remote and safe Laet. Be gon I will Exit Peren. The Door opens the Empress and Portia enter with a Candle Laetus goes to ' em Empress O! Here 's the pious Priestess that conducts you To her and to the Gods I must commend you And if the Wishes of a Wretch like me Will ought avail may they convey you safe To him you love and make your Exile easie Por. Opinion is the God that makes us happy And where my Martian is I must be so Fâ—r he is Country Friends and all to me Laet. Madam this Light mâ—st out or back with you To the Empress Por. What in the Dark Laet. The Light will discoverâ—s The Moon 's kind Beams will do our business best Por. And will you gentle Virgin bring me safe Laet. To Vesta's Temple and from thence to Martiâ—â—u It is our Duty to assist th' unhappy Por. It were Impiety indeed to doubt The highest Holy Ministers of Heav'n Laet. Nothing but Fear and Noise and worse delay Can disappoint your Happiness Emp. Portia faâ—ewel may Heav'n reward thy Virtue Por. And yours the Emperor Exit with Laetus Emp. Oh! that he wou'd It is not in Heav'ns Pow'r to bless me more But I 'll go seek him out and with fresh Tears Melt his hard Heart dissolve it into Love And in the Flames that all my Bosome Fires Consume his wandring Wishes and Desires Exit at the Door and shuts it after her Enter Emperor with Attendants and Lights Emp It was not well to leave her in Despair I might have giv'n at least some doubtful Hope Pauses I swear her tender Love was strongly moving And she is fair by Heav'n yes wondrous fair And must be lov'd by all the World but me But I am doom'd to odd Fantastic Madness To doat on Pride and vain affected Virtue That spuâ—ns me from her and disdains my Love While I avoid the willing Charms that Court me But I will shake thy Chains off cruel Portia And in my Empress's downy Arms forget thee Why dost thou fix thy beauteous Hand upon me Tear out my Heart yet by the Gods I 'll leave thee Gentle Valeâ—ia in her Breast shall shield me From the imperious fury of thy Eyes Oh! Groans Like a poor Wretch upon his Feavourish Bed I toss and tumble turn from side to side And yet no easie posture can I find The raging Calenture still burns within Seems to muse Enter Perennius at a distance Por. Now Curses on ill Luck the Doors are fast Through which we shou'd have made our wish'd escape They must come this way back Ha! the Emperor Seeing him Studys Hell and Furys all 's lost what must be done Emp. Well I will to her dry her falling Tears Lock her within my burning Arms and swear Never to see her fatal Rival more Peren. It must be so this Laetus is unlucky His Head designs well but he has no Fortune And I still loose by vent'ring on his Bottom This Dagger as he enters shall secure me For yet this Secret is between us two And see they come Enter Laetus and Portia Laet. Dâ—spond not Madam all will yet be well Per. Ay when this Dagger has transfixt thy Heart Stabs him Laet. As he falls Ha! slain by thee Villain Dog but I deserve it Dyes Per. Aside Dye quickly then or else 't will do no good Hold Madam hold I must secure you For the Emperâ—r Lights there Portia Treason Portia is flying Aloud to Portia who shrieks at Laetus's fall and is running back Emp. Ha! what say'st thou That Sound has ruinâ—d all my best Resolves Runs to her Whither is she Flying whither and with whom Per. That Sir I can't yet tell but this will shew me Takes a Light and looks at Laetus Emp. Go instantly and seize the heedless Guards Per. O ye good Gods Sir if it ben't Religion That has conspir'd against your Happiness Seems to look moâ—e earnestly at Laetus with the Light kneeling down to the Body Emp. Throw her vile Body to the hungry Dogs Per. Ha! what is' t I see sure my Eyes must Err It is impossible it cannot be What Laetus my Friend Death to my Repose The honest Laetus slain by this curs'd Hand Was this the kind return of all thy Friendship This the best Gift Perennius cou'd bestow Emp. How 's this bemoan the Traytor in my hearing Per. Pardon me Emperor if I pay these Tears To one that lov'd me better than himself He was my Friend my faithful honest Friend At least I thought him so the best good Man The plainest open Virtue I e'er met with That and his zealous Love for you my Lord Won my Heart for I 've heard him swear He 'd dye a thousand Deaths for your least Pleasure But oh I find alas that he shou'd prove it The fairest Tongues oft hide the foulest Hearts And noisie Zeal conceals the Traytors ends Yet if he did dissemble Emp. If he did Why is' t not plain art not thou witness of it Per. 'T is true my Sov'raign and the Avenger too He from my Hand deserv'd to meet his Fate That durst impose upon my honest Nature And wrong the best of Masters and his Friend Per. Bless me Sâ—r a Man what is' t a Man Emp. A Man Madam yes a young handsom Man I find your boasted Virtue 's of a piece With that of all the rest of your frail Sex A cunning Blind to put off them you like not And to secure your sport with those you fancy Yet tell me foolish Fair how coud'st thou choose This groveling Vassal and refuse his Lord Per. O! base Valeria coud'st thou fall so low From all thy shining Virtue to Revenge So mean and so ungenerous as this Emp. Ha Valeria didst thou say the Empress Didst thou
this Midnight hour Sees him All raging Love and she within his Pow'r Her Virtue must too weak a Guard have been Against the force of such alluring Sin Emp. Wrong not by your fond Jealousie betrayd Th' immortal Virtue of this heav'nly Maid In Contradiction by the Gods design'd To our false Maxims against Woman kind For in a Court in â—pight of Force or Pray'r She 's Constant Chast a Woman Young and Fair. Empress Why will you then pursue a fruitless pain Fly what you have for what you can't obtain Return my Wanderer O! return again I Sigh I Pant I perish by delay My sleeping Cares my Pangs and Fears all Day Embraces him Come to my Breast thou 'st been too long away When scarce awake about my Arms I cast With eager hopes to press my Emperor fast But he not there I draw 'em back gain Then reach all round but all alass in vain For he 's fled from me who should ease my Pain My Fears awake me and I gaze around But there no Print of my false Love is found Frighted I rise to seek where he is fled Then throw my self upon my Widow'd Bed Por. O! Emperor can't such a tender Love Your stubborn Heart with gentle Pity move Emp. Her nauseous fondness but provokes my scorn Por. O barbarous Wretch sure of no Woman born No soft Compassion harbours in thy Mind But all thy Deeds confess thy Savage kind Foolish as false slight the best Joys of Life In the Embraces of a constant Wife Emp. A Wifes Embraces are all pall'd and dull Besides your Image fills m' extended Soul From your fierce Love no Refuge I can find Like Guilt inexpiable it hants my Mind Converts me all into its self like Fire In which like Fuel spent I must at last expire Empress O! try by Absence to dissolve these Charms Fly from her Witchcraft to my Circling Arms. Emp. Too weak that Circle to secure my Heart Sh' has spread the Poyson through each vital part Absence alas attempts my Cure in vain Absence it self augments the charming Pain The more I 'm from her still I love the more Possession only can my Peace restore But there Fate stands and with an awâ—ul Brow Checks each sond Wish and every eager Vow Drives me all naked from Hopes warmer Air To the severest Winter of Despair Por. Behold more kind and nobler Beautys there Pointing to the Empress Emp. You turn my Eyes from you to her in vain ' Spight of Despair and all its gastly train I 'll love you still and fond the raging Pain Nor to pale Night will I resign my Breath But shun the enticing blandishments of Death Death to your Pow'r a speedy end wou'd give But in the Tortures you ordain I 'll live Empress Believe him not for he is all Deceit Taught by my Ills avoid the treacherous Bait. For ah by fond Credulity betray'd I thought all true the lov'd Dissembler said Beliv'd his Words addrest with all the Art Of strong Perswasion to subdue my Heart Believ'd his Oaths believ'd each tender Vow Believ'd his melting Tears which artfully did flow The fatal shelf of Faith in him oh shun I but believ'd him and I was undone Portia Fear not fair Empress any wrong from me How little he can move my Heart you see His Words like empty sounds pass by my heedless Ears His Love gives me no Pleasure and his Threats no Fears Empress See she rejects you whether wou'd you fly It is not Portia doats on you but I. Oh let me reap the Fruit of her kind Scorn Emperor Away this fondness is not to be born Nor do you much insult ingrateâ—ul Fair On thee I will revenge these Pangs of my Despair I will not long thus burn with hopeless Fires Nor groan beneath the weight of impotent Desires Por. Thy threats don't touch me more than thy vain Love Empress Hear me O hear ye conscious Pow'rs above How oft he swore the Tyler's Streams shou'd go Back sooner to the Source from whence they flow That Sun and Moon shou'd sooner loose their Light And bury Mankind in Eternal Night Than he be false Then Tyber quickly turn And with inverted Volumes hast t' your Native Urn Rise Darkness rise and hide us all for he 's forsworn The dear Protester now is falser grown Than Wind or Ocean or the changefull Moon Pressing him in her Arms. Emperor I cannot will not love nay see you more Empress O! ye just Gods who heard him when he swore By Iuno Venus Vesta and by Iove To me and me alone Eternal Love Why ye tame Gods why don't ye strike him dead Why don 't your Bolts pierce his devoted Head Pauses Ah no! good Gods spare spare his precious Life Kneeling Transfix the Heart of his abandon'd Wife Emperor I 'll hear no more For such Contagion her soft Words impart I feel a Forraign Pity storm my Heart aside Empress O! you must hear me for Pity 's sake but hear To my Complaints you may afford your Ear Though your dear Heart be gone Emp. I must away I shall betray my weakness if I stay He struggles to get from her Empress Oh! stay and tell me tell me prithee do Why thou deserts thy wretched Empress so What Crimes your Anger and Aversion move But a too mighty tenderness and Love Emperor Stand off and loose me or Clapping his Hand on his Dagger Empress Draw not thy Dagger thy poor Wife to kill Thy Cruelty will do 't indeed it will Weeps Emperor There 's a Confusion fixes me in Ill Methinks it is unworthy me to yield No I will fly since I can't keep the Field Breaks from her and Exit Empress Oh! he is gon the cruel false one 's gon Por. Persue him Madam and the day 's your own Your Goodness bore his stubborn Vices down And for just Pity made a noble way You suffer them to rally if you stay Emp. O! I am weary of this fruitless Pain Gods must I wast my Charms and Youth in vain No I will arm me with severe Disdain A generous Pride my surest Guard will prove Against the Fury of my hopeless Love Pauses Ah! no it will not be my Heart rebels And all the Efforts of Pride my raging Love repels Well I will after him pursue him still And if he will not love me sure he 'll kill Oh! that he wou'd ev'n so but give me Rest I 'd clasp the dear Destroyer to my dying Breast Exit Por. Unhappy Princess may'st thou find Success For mine is twisted in thy Happiness If thy strong Virtue but Triumphant proves We both shall reap the Harvest of our Loves Exit SCENE III. Changes to the Street Enter Martian and Cleander Mart. CLeander prithee leave me with the rest Surpriz'd turn'd out to the inclement World Naked of Help I have no means to keep thee Banish'd proscrib'd a Price set on my Head My only Bosome Friend that shou'd have lent His Shoulder to support this sinking Atlas Flyes
from me with the common nasty Herd Of Knaves Sycophants Buffoons and Flaterers And with my Laurels decks his Faithless Brow All shun me like Infection therefore leave me Clean. Oh! Sir dismiss this Avarice of Woe And let your Servant share your wretched Fortune As he has done your Good I 'm no Summer Fly To love your Shine and fly your stormy Weather My Indastry has got some little Treasure Under you that may help you in your Exile Mar. Why shoâ—d'st thou love me so who by me Alone hast lost thy Freedom Cleâ—n Dear Sir I lost my Freedom in my Country's Cause And in amends Fate gave the best of Masters And may I on a Dunghill like a Dog Rot rot piece meal if eâ—er I forsake you Is it so hard to let your poor Slave starve with you Mar. Yes for 't wou'd be unjust and shock my Nature O false Aâ—eliâ—n O degenerate Rome Learn Faith and Virtue from this noble Slave Honest Cleander I have no business for thee I 'm at the end of Life's uneasie Journey And can reach Death's near Inn without thy help Cle. O Sir far be that Thought your Country calls Implores your Help to free it from Oppression Fly to the Army they will own your Cause And save lost Rome from black devou'ring Knaves Mar. 'T will be in vain for Knaves will still be uppermost They float aloft like Chaff upon the Water Which though by moving you a while disperse Soon as the ruffl'd Element is settl'd They gather all a top again Clean Think of your Portia then When you are gone where will be her Rescue Mar. Ay there Cleander thou hast touch'd the Note That breaks the drowsie Charm of lazy Death And makes my Soul exert its Native Fire What leave her to the Tyrant's Will and Pow'r For him to brood o're all her chaster Sweets Gods good Gods how that wild Thought distracts me No I will live for her thus curs'd will live And rouse the sleeping Soldier in my Bosome To win the Army to revenge her Wrongs Crush the black Tyrant and deliver Rome Force may be swifter than their distant Rescue Therefore I will secure my Portia first And she in safety I can't perish all It shall be so Cleander I 'll employ thee Clean. Blessings on you Sir let me embrace your Knees Kneeles and embraces ' em For this kind Word you shall see your Slave Fly through impervious Dangers ev'n to death Swift as Revenge or Jealousie to serve you Mar. You say the Guard takes you for Pâ—rtia's Slave Clean. I have been with her often since the Evening Went with her in the crowd too from the Temple Trusting my Faith she sent me oft to find you And beg you hasten to deliver her Mar. She shall be obey'd for I 'le now to her Clean. Sir Mar. With her consult of means for her escape Clean. The Army Sir is the only means she hopes Mar. Th' Army 's uncertain for they are Romans too Romans and once my Friends therefore must be false Clo. This way you perish known to all the Court. Mar. No I will take thy Habit and so pass Cle. Consider Sir Mar. No more I am resolv'd thou 'lt find me in the Porch of Vestaâ— Clean. I must obey may all the Gods protect you Thunders Mar. A sudden clap of Thunder without Clouds A waving Sword i' th' Air 't is wondrous strange pauses Avaunt be gone ye dreadful boding Omens For I will on since Love will have it so If I have err'd ye ruling Powers above 'T is by the force of a resistless Love Spare her for I alone am Criminal And on my head let all your vengeance fall Give me relentless Gods this one relief With this Encrease enrich my Barren Grief Then shall I have the Cordial Joy to see My Pâ—rtia happy by my Misery In that vast pleasure loose my wretched state And smile at the vain Impotence of Fate Exit The End of the Second Act. ACT III. SCENE I. Portia's Apartment in the Pallace Enter Portia at one Door and Martian in Cleander Habit at the other Por. WEll good Cleander hast thou seen my Lord And will he haste to rescue his lost Portia Mar. With all the speed of longing eager Love Runs to her and embraces her Port. Unhand me Slave What means this Insolence She starts from him Mar. What does not then my charming Portia know me And can a thin disguise conceal her Martian He pulls off his Beard Methinks her Heart should beat at my Approach And by its Sympathetick Throbs reveal me She looks earnestly at him while he speaks and after the first word runs into his Arms. Por. Martian ha My Lord my Love my Life Mar. Portia my Soul my Bliss my Heav'n They Embrace Oh! do I hold thee once more in my Arms The full Amends of all my Suff'rings past Port. Where hast been poor Wand'rer Where hast been What hast thou done How have the Gods dealt with thee Since thou wert ravish'd from me at the Altar Where is the Army Will they own thy Cause Are they come with thee Am I free from Bonds Answer me tell me all Oh! tell me quickly For I have yet a thousand things to ask And horrid strange prodigious things to tell thee Mar. Speak on I 'll answer thee with Kisses press thee Close to my Heart while on thy panting Bosome I breath the dear Distractions of my Fondness Loose all my Griefs all thoughts of pressing Fortune In this Abyss of Joy of beamy Heav'n Eternal Raptures of Almighty Love Dance round my Heart and make me grow Immortal Por. Oh! I am faint with Joy Convulsive Heavings Extend my Bosome and my throbing Heart Flutters about as if 't wou'd beat its last Mar. Gods good Gods give me Oh! give me Portia Give me but her and cast your Crowns and Glory Victory and Fame to the poor busie Slaves That wou'd be great with her I wou'd sit down In peaceful and unenvy'd Poverty Above the anxious Greatness of Renown Por. O! all ye Heav'nly Powers that fixt this World With the Cement of Universal Love Why is such tender Passion not your Care Such Virtue and such Truth by all forsaken Can you view Mortal Joys with envyous Eyes Or grudge the scanty Riv'lets of our Pleasures Amidst such â—orrents of surrounding Wo Ah! no 't is I 't is my contagious Fate 'T is cursed I have â—uin'd my poor Martian O! that I rather never had been born Or scalded o're with frightful Leprosies Wrinkl'd with Age and loath'd Deformities Mar. Accuse not Heav'n nor curse thy Beauteous Form My Crimes alone have made me thus unhappy Por. And can'st thou love me still after the Sufferings That I have cost thee Mar. Sure thou dost not doubt it Love thee still Yes by my dearest Hopes Thy very Name yields Joy thy Talk darts Raptures An oh thy self oh 't is not to be spoke 'T is mighty extasie beyond unfolding Heav'n is most just withholds
not name Vaâ—eria speak Per. Yes and though I disdain thy poor Reflections Yet since my Honour claims the Truth I 'll speak It was the Empress that betray'd me to him With the false Hopes of flying to my Love I knew no other than his Habit promis'd Through a blind Door she led me to this place And with dissembl'd Pity took her leave Per. O! horrid Treachery that she cou'd do so Emp. Valeria this low sordid Deed has stifl'd All kind Designs of growing pity for thee And Portia's mightier Beauties now resume And fix their Empire in my Heart for ever Per. O Sir relaps not from such just Designs Howe'er the Empress meant to ruin me 'T was but the bad effect of too much Love You have no cause of anger at her Fault Since 't was for you only for you she did it Emp. Excuse her not she knew you Innocent And therefore I must hate detest and loath her Per. What have I done now Curses on my Tongue 'T was forg'd and false on purpose to abuse you Emp. That cannot be you knew not this by Door Come plead not for her nor against my Passion For I 'm all Fire all Wild and furious Love And by a Witchery most strange and odd I love and burn for what obstructs my Hopes Perennius take my Portia to thy charge The Morning's Dawn shall make her Beauties mine Mean while I will divorce me from Valeria And drive her out of the Imperial Pallace Per. O hear me Sir I beg you on my Knees Kneels Emp. I will not hear one word upon that Subject But fly to punish thy ignoble Wrongs Exit Per. Punish 'em on thy self then brutal Tyrant I have no Enemies no Wrongs but thee Thou art the hatred Source of all my Wrongs O! ye great Gods we 're taught that you are just Why sleeps your Thunder then why are your Bolts Spent upon Trees Mountains and idle Deserts And never reach this Butcher of Mankind This old Oppressor of Innocence and Virtue Let 'em reach him or me I care not which Per. Go fetch a Gaurd To the Servant left with him Por. But Heav'n is deaf as him to all my Prayers I will not bear 't O! but for Poysons Daggers Any kind ready way to fly to Death Per. Madam you spend your balmy Breath in vain He hears you not or if he did can't pity That wou'd destroy the Fund of all his Hopes I own I pity you and if I durst Por. What wou'dst thou do for 't is impossible A Minister of his shou'd e're do good Per. You 're too severe to censure all for him 'T is true my Fortune tyes me to him fast Nay I in Gratitude must own do love him Yet I approve not all his cruel Deeds No by the Gods my Soul is made so tender Each mournful Object melts it ev'n to Tears What Pains Diseases Racks cou'd ne'er wrest from me Behold your Suff'rinngs Madam now extort Seems to weep Por. 'T is wondrous strange how cou'dst thou ever please him Per. Princes like Fortune often blindly raise The Objects of their Power without thinking Por. And canst thou pity and not resolve Redress Per. Were I a God for this I 'd prize my Godhead That I cou'd help the Wretched without Danger But as â— am a Man the Empâ—ror's Slave I forfeit Wealth and Life by such a Deed. Por. Can generous pity dwell within your Breast And yet not dare to do a dangerous Good O! if you e're have felt the Pangs of Love And all the Longings of oppos'd Desire I do conjure you by your Hopes to free me Per. That Conjuration quâ—te disarms my Fears And fills my Heart with a most noble Daring For I do love and in that very manner Enter Guards But see the Guards I now must say no more Here conduct her to m' Appartment They carry her off This was a dexterous turn of my Wit That like the friendly Hand of some kind God Snatch'd me from off the very brink of Ruin And here has thrown the Prize into my Bosom Fortune has yet but blest my Hopes by halves Held out the glittering Cup of Joys brim full Then dash'd it on the Ground ev'n at my Lips But now I 'll hold the fickle Goddess fast Grasp bright Occasion by the formost lock And use the lucky hours she hast lent me Portia shall win me to her hop'd escape Till I have train'd her to the lonely Grotto That will drown all her Crys and Woman's Skreams And when I have reveng'd me on her Beauties With my best Jewels I will fly from Rome 'T is but the Scene of Pleasure to remove No Exile can be worse than hopeless Love Exit The End of the Third ACT. ACT IV. SCENE I. Vnder the Pallace Garden Wall Enter Martian in his own Habit. Mar. IWaited the Extent of all my Patience At Vesta's Temple for her promis'd Coming And yet she came not Night now wears apace 'T is not two Hours to Morn O! scanty Time For the important Business of my Life O! Sun yet rest within thy Wavy Bed And stop the fiery Steeds of hastning Day And thou O Night yet spread thy dusky Wings To lull Mankind from their injurious Cares There will be time enough for busie Men To ruin and supplant each others Fortune But ah for me for Virtue in Distress This only Night of all Times gloomy rowâ— Is left mark'd out for Safety I sent Cleander too to learn the Cause Of Portia's Stay and told him he shou'd find 〈◊〉 Impatient here beneath this Garden Wall How tedious is Delay to Men in Pain Enter Cleander from the Garden O! Art thou come Where does my Portia stay Is she alive Is she well Is she safe Answer with speed for in thy drooping Looks I read Disorder that almost distracts me Cle. She was Sir intercepted in her Flight Perennius guards her till the Morning And then she is to wed the Emperor Not one is suffer'd to come near th'Appartment The Empress too 's divorc'd and driven with Shame From Court ev'n now the Cause I cou'd not learn Mar. The Cause the Cause is wondrous plain Cleander But by the Gods he shall not have his Will While I have Life No were he guarded round With Hydra's flaming Chymera's blasting Furies And all the Terrors of his Native Hell Yet I wou'd through 'em force my horrid waâ— And with this Sword revenge my Love and Rome Is going Clean. Stay Sir and think stopping of him to certain Death you go Mar. Death What is Death Is Death to be avoided Why shou'd I shun that Sâ—bbath to my Labours That Boundary of Fortune's stormy Pow'r Death is the honest Friend that I wou'd find That flatters none but with an equal Foot Enters the Cottage and the gilded Pallace Clean. I fear not Death shou'd joy to dye with You Yet when Chance offers fair for your Relief ' Twou'd be meer Frenzy to thro' Life from us Mar What dost thou mean
What Hopes or what Relief Hast thou in View for I alas see none Clean. The Lodgings of Perennius face the Garden And from his Windows Portia may escape With ease there are no Guards on that Side The Garden Doors are open too through which I will with speed convey a Ladder to you Mar. Fly then fly quickly with a Lovers Haste Beneath those Windows thou wilt find thy Master Impatient of thy least Delay Be gone Exeunt severally the Scene opens into a Garden the Pallace at a distance Martian goes in at the Garden Door Enter Portia alone Por. I wou'd not stay for my Deliverer Cou'd I tell how to get from out this place For tho' with gen'rous Care he let me down Yet sure so near a Favourite of a Tyrant That 's only sway'd by Cruelty and Lust Must move by more ignoble Springs than Pity His Words too bore a dark and doubtful Meaning His Eyes at mention of Trust in him Sparkled with Fire while his mantling Blood Flush'd o're his Face he grasp'd me too with Ardor As on the Window he set me in the Chair Good Gods direct me in this dangerous Course Betwixt this Scylla and that wild Chaâ—ibdys On both Sides worse than Death and in the midst All is uncertain horrid Darkness all Hark! a Noise and this way it approaches A Noise I tremble at each Tree and Bush for fear It shou'd be some Court Villain Yet must on Perhaps from hence some Outlet I may find By wandring round O! grant ye Pow'rs I do For here is nought but Death or foul Dishonour Ex. Enter from the other side the Emperor Attendance Lights Music. Emp. That is the Window place your selves beneath it And charm my Goddess with your humble Lays The Force of Music and the Pow'r of Numbers May break the Icy spell that chills her Heart Against the pressing Beams of warmer Love Music and Song 1. IF Caelia you had Youth at Will And long cou'd â—oard the fleeting Treasure You might be Coy and Cruel still And yet a-while delay your Pleasure But your Youth is swiftly flying And your Charms will soon be dying And then you'â—â— use inviting Arts in vain Your Love will give no Ioys your Scorn will give no pain 2. The faded Lustre of your Eyes Will then alass no more surprize us When every Charm in Ruin lies Your Face and not your Will denies us Vse your Time then use the Blessing Lose no Hour without possessing For when the first tumultuous Bliss is past If leaves a grateful Ioy that will for ever last Enter Servants forcing in Portia Por. O Gentlemen if your Minds know pitty If you had Mothers that had any Virtue Force me not to the hated Tyrants Presence 1. Nay Madam you shall to the Emperor 2. Finding this Lady flying her speed we thought betray'd some guilt And therefore we have brought her to your Majesty Emp. You have done well O where is the base Slave That durst betray this high importunate Trust For I will plunge him in abhor'd Disgrace Por. Unlucky Maid still to undo thy Friend Emp. What froward Maxims Madam make you fly From Empire Glory and pursuing Love Por. Ah! Strange Excess of thy inhumane Rage That when thou 'st left me nothing but my Woe Wilt not permit me to enjoy ev'n that But dash the wretched Pleasure with thy â—ove Emp. Why so averse to Joy so fond of Sorrow Life is a curious Web by Nature wrought Fine to the Eye but torn by e'ry Chance You burst its tender Threads with Pond'rous Grief And shun the downy Pleasures it will bear Por. Pleasure from thee Emp. From me Yes by the Gods Soft flowing Pleasures of brisk Wit and Love Ingrateful Fair I wou'd disperse those Clouds That gather round thy Morning Sun of Life And thou with a false Pride dost spurn me from thee Por. Wer 't thou Victorious Brave as the first Caesar I cou'd not love but as thou art I loath thee More than the vilest Slave in thy poor Empire Emp. When Pow'r submits to beg it shou'd be so But Love impoâ—'d false-Med'cines for my Cure Thy Insolence now frees me from the Cheat. I 've not forgot I am thy Emperor That thou art made the Subject of my Pleasure Yes I will rush into thy struggling Arms In all the Rage of my Tempestuous Love And sieze the Joys by Force Iask'd in vain Embraces her Por. Aside O Gods defend me from the Tyrant's Lust I must against the Dictates of my Heart Sooth him with Hope to gain some Time for Help The surest Means to gain a Womans Heart Is to convince her that you truly love her Which I must doubt if you attempt my Honour Force is th' Effect of Fondness of your Eaâ—e That shuns the Pain of surer Arts to please Beauty is bought by tender Vows and Sighs You rob if you deny to pay its Price Emp. Have I not sigh'd breath'd a thousand Vows Yet nought have gain'd by all my Fru'tless Pain But haughty Slights Diâ—dain and vile Affronts Por. Consider Sir my Soul 's too full of Grief Suffers too much by an unhappy Love To taste another Passion yet give Time For in a little Time I may be free To view your Love with a more equal Eye Emp. My Love 's too fierce to brook the least Delay I will consume thy anxious Love in Mine Whose â—eamy Sunshine ne're can be obscâ—â—'d With rising Clouds of Sadneâ—s or Misfortune Here thou wilt find no Tears no Sighs but sâ—ch As fan the Aâ— and gently heave the Breasts With struggling-Pleasure and Excess of Joy Whispering Murmurs and Eteâ—nal Billing Our Coo's shall be more piercing than the Turtles I 'll clasp thee to me and I 'll twine about thee Closer then Ivy or the curling Vine We 'll mix like Waters till we lose Distinction Por. If all my Suffâ—rings cannot move your Heart Think upon Hell the Wheel and Rowling Stone Unheard of Woe that Fancy cannot paint A Tyrant's Hell too is the dismal Centre Where all the Lines of Circling Tortures meet Emp. Mistaken Fair here is the Hell you threat No Tantalus dreads the loose impending Rock No Tytius lies extended o'er the Plain The Eternal Food of Birds in Hell But here Vain Biggots Fears the Cares of busie Men And Lovers Pangs create the uneasie Torments But I will burst the Chain that holds me down And with resistless Fury scale my Heaven Embraces and offers to kiss and ruffle her Enter Martian Mar. The gloomy Night has put new Darkness on And led by some strange Fate I wander round And cannot find the well known Lodgings out Por. Stand off unhand me thou first-born of Hell Thou Blot of Nature thou Crime of Providence Thou Sum and Extract of all that is most loathsome Mar. Ha! my Portiâ— in the Hands of Ravishers Villain forbear my Love Martian draws and runs at the Emperor is intercepted by the Guards Emp. What! is it thou thou art a daring Rebel
Noble Thought revives me And â—hoots a pleasing Horror thro' my â—â—ul Cris. Strange Agonies are lab'ring 〈…〉 Betwixt Ambition and defeated Love I hope my wholsome Câ—â—sels will prevail And turn the Scale for the surviving Lover I 'm sure I gain my Ends by that to rise And shine at Court among the foremost Beauties For mod'rate Charms will make a Figure there As well as mod'rate Honesty or Virtue Por. I must dissemble with this Servile Maid Aside Whose Eyes are dazled with approaching Grandâ—â—r To get the Means of my ador'd Revenge To her Crispinâ— you have said you lov'd me And seem to draw your Counsels from that Love Tell me then and tell me truly too Is it not better die with him I love Than live with him that loves but for a Day If he does love me Cris. Doubt not your Charms Madam For those will fix his wand'ring Heart for ever To dye oh 't is a dreadful thing to die The old themselves ev'n in that tastâ—ess Age That crawl upon the barren part of Life All on the horrid Precipice of Death Catch hold of ev'ry rootless seeming Stay That may defer awhile their certain Fall And shou'd Youth then amidst its blooming â—oys And all its lively force of Appetite Fly Life's full Feast for hungry starving Dâ—â—th It is unnatural to the last degree Besides the learn'd themselves I find can't tell What we are after Death or that we are If we are not then how can Mâ—â—tian 〈◊〉 you If his Love 's ceas'd why then shou'd yours survive In doubtful things the Wise the surer choose Th' Emperor lives in Glory and in Love And he will make you great aâ— you are fair Por. Greatness indeed I own has many Charms When built on solid not unfaithful Ground But 't is a fleeting Greatness he presents Valeria lost it in one Rapid Month. Cris. I 'm glad she will dispute it for when Woman Aside Once parleys with her Constancy 't is gon Aloud Valeria Madam is no Rule to you Th' event has shew'd yours are the stronger Charms Por. Till the next taking Face shall come in view No no Crispina I 'm not yet so vain To think I can secure my Greatness so Yet I do know a way But oh my Heart How I am sliding from the heights of Viâ—â—â—e Into the Abyss of the foul Tyrants Love Cris. Grant him a Tyrant and a vile 〈◊〉 O 't is a noble Task then for your Virtue To offer up your self to mold this Tyrant Into the generous Principles of Honour For your Countrys Good Por. That will prevail I fear against the Force of all my Vows Cris. It must it shall it does Por. Well may I trust thee Cris. My Life my Fortune and my Heart are yours Por. My Mother on her Death-bed did bequeath 〈◊〉 A noble Juice the lasting Seal of Love With that she fix'd my Father in his Faith Ev'n to his dying Hour Here take this Key In th'inmost Drawer of my own Cabinet Thou 'lt find it seal'd up in a gilded Viol Haste and fetch it that with the Magic Words Which I must use I may drink it to him For that 's required to its â—ure Operation Ev'n in the sacred time of our Nuptials Cris. I will be back before the Rites begin Por. Be so and now my lab'ring Soul 's at ease And like a willing Victim I will go To the bright Altar of Divine Revenge Heav'n for th' unhappy kindly took this Care To place th' Asyle of Friendly Death still near To that Retreat with eager Haste I 'll fly I 'm not entirely wretched who dare die The End of the Fourth ACT. ACT V. SCENE I. The Street near the Pallace Enter Martian alone Mar. 'T Was not well done to fly from my Preservers What tho' my Love and good Cleander's Care Dragg'd me away from out the lucky Fight That set me free I should have lost occasion And dy'd with such brave Friends Well I will back At least to know 'em if I can't assist them Enter Cleander Is going Clean. O which way Sir O whither are you going Mar. No more I will not thus desert my Friends Such noble Friends that snatcht me from Destruction In Rome almost within the Tyrants hearing Clean. Had I Sir known what since I have beheld I had not forc'd you from the doubtful Combate To pain your Soul with Tortures worse than Death Mar. What dost thou mean thy Words and frightful Looks Import some strange Event is Portia dead Has she outgon me in the Race of Love O wretched Mâ—rtian mean inglorious Martian To fly from Death while Portia sought it out Clean. O Sir she lives is too well pleased with Life Mar. Ha! Clean. This Minute Sir I saw her pass the Court Joy in her Face and Pleasure in her Eyes To her black Nuptials with the Emperor Mar. What Portia Clean. Portia Mar. My Portia Clean. Your Portia Sir Mar. The softest Dear protesting vowing Maid That ever sooth'd a Doating Lover's Passion Can she be false Clean. Ev'n she is false She h's caught the curst Cantagion from her Brother And in the very Moment of your Death With Smiles and fond Caresses weds your Butcher Mar. Impossible and false Clean. I 'd not abuse her Nor you I saw it with these Eyes I saw it Mar. Thy Eyes deceiv'd thee then for thou saw'st her Dragg'd to the impious Bridals all in Tears In struggling Agonies in the Pangs of Death If she would live ev'n to endure so much If thou saw'st Portia 't was thus that thou did'st see her Do I not know her strong Immortal Virtue Did she not swear that she would not outlive me And yet within an Hour wed my Murderer No more leâ—t thou provoke my lasting Hate Clean. I 've done Sir Mar. But art thou sure thou saw'st her Clean. I dare not Sir repeat it for I fear More than my Death you hate Mâ—r. Tell me I say Are sure that it was her that thou didst see Clean. The Hall's now full of most amaz'd Beholders And in the Throng disguis'd you may see all If I have urg'd â— falshood ever hate me Mar. If this be so O Friendship Love farewel If this be so where is the Wretch like me If this be so but I 'll not wrong her Virtue Nor Credit ought but my own Eyes against her Exeunt SCENE II. A Magnificent Hall the Emperor and Portia in their Bridal Habits Enter Martian and Cleandeâ— disguised Emp. LET every Trumpet Flute and Instrument Of Music sound aloud beat the big Druâ— And make the Eccho of my Joys rebound Up to the Vaulâ—ed Roof of Heav'n it self That all the Gods may Emulate my Pleasures While Portia drinks the Bridal Beveridge Portia drinks having first put something in the â—owl Emp. What did my Love mix in our Bridal Bowl Por. A Philtre Sir to â—ix your roving Heart Whose Magic Force will make you always mine Emp. Ha! give it me for greedily I 'll drink The Noble
there is marry'd to the Tyrant I saw the horrid Mystery perform'd While the Earth shook and Nature stood agast The yelling Furies held the Nuptial Torches And Hell was pleased with the Infernal Rites Por. If e'er unhappy Portia had your Heart If all your Vows and Oaths are not forgot O! by those tender Pledges I conjure you Hear me while I have Life to tell my Story May. Yes I will hear thee thus conjur'd must hear thee For how I lov'd nay I love thee still Witness these Pangs and Agonies I feel To find thee false Por. And O unequal Pow'rs That shed such baneful Influence on our Passion Bear witness â—o my Truth to my vast Love Witness how much I doat on Mâ—rtian still Spight of his hard Suspitions of my Virtue Witness how I have ever held him here Without a Rival Mar. Ha! can this be so Por. Oh! hear the fatal Story of my Love And see if ever Woman lov'd like me If ever Woman has been wrong'd like me If ever Woman has revengd like me Mar. Speak on uncommon Love Wrongs and Revenge There 's mighty Meaning in these fatal Sounds Por. Had I but known or cou'd have hop'd thy Life We had bin happy thinking you no more Resolv'd on Death a brave Revenge inspir'd me To sink the Tyrant in his height of Triumph And punish all his Wrongs to thee and Rome And in the Bridal Bowl I drank a Poison In which with thirsty Eagerness he pledg'd me Emp. Was that the Philtre then ingrateful Fair And yet it is so while it burns my Bowels For from thy Virtue tho' I draw my Death That very Deed does more encrease my Love Por. Oh! speak not to me I hate the jarring Sound Nothing but Love and Martian now can please me But oh I faint it tears each Vital Part Bursts all my Nerves into a thousand pieces And now assaults the last Retreats of Life O give me one kind word before I die Mar. Ten Thousand Thousand for I 'm Kindness all What fatal Story is it thou hast told us That joins th'Extreams of Joy and wild Despair O my Friends Aureiian and Cleander Why draw you not this Sword to pierce this Heart That has profan'd the best of all her Sex Blasphem'd this Goddesâ— doubted Truth her self Por. O my dear Martian â—ack not thy poor Mind It was the wayward working of our Fate Appearance bâ—il'd thy fâ—tious Love to Jealousie Bâ—t I forgive thee Mar. How canst thou forgive me Por. Yes Indeed I do And love thee Martian with so strange an Ardor That Words cannot express it Mar. Let me crawl Thus on the Earth to meet thy gen'rous Pardon But how shall I approach thee O my Love Thou art all fair all white without one Spot I All Contagion and dark guilty Foulness Por. O! my Love where art thou Faints Mar. Ha! see the pale Destroyer invades her Makes dismal Havock in this Field of Beauty And wasts the rosâ—e Honours of her Face O! Ruin Despair O Horror Hell and Furies Aur. Ah! my dear Sister Innocent and Dead Mar. Ay dead my Friend but see she breaths again Por. O tell me ye bright Beings where 's my Love For ye must know the Hero of Mankind His Eyes dart Fire and he perfumes Breaths Pleasing as dawn of Day and awful as a God Mar. O charming Madness when she raves on Love Por. Oh! have I found my Truant out come to my 〈◊〉 We will be lost in Joys the Tyrant's dead Plung'd in black Stix and burning Flegeton See how the Furies toss him with their Prongs Emp. Ha! Furies and Styx and burning Flegeton They 're here indeed and rend my tortur'd Body But any Pains for thee thou charming Tyrant Por. Ha! art thou gone mounted aloft O stay The Gods will wait a while we 'll soar together Wilt thou not stay I will pursue thee then Range all th' Ethereal Pallaces to find thee Accuse the Gods upbraid unequal Iove 'Till to appease me and reward my Faith He gives my Martian to my Arms for ever O! I have got thee now 't is Heav'n all beamy Joy Dies Mar. She 's gon Aurelian her bright Soul is fled And left the Beauteous Mansion of her Body O let me fix and gaze on thee for ever Will not my burning Kisses warm those Lips Fixes himself and gazes on her sometimes kissing her Nor thine convey their deadly Cold to mine Emp. Yes yes she 's gone I see her starry Soul Mount yonder see she makes a Galaxie Ha! the Gods are now my Rivals I come My Eagle bears me from this Burning Pile To all my Kindred Deities above So have I caught thee peevish Fair away 〈◊〉 mâ— to Pindus Shades the Muses there Shall sing aloud our Hymeneal Song To the soft Murmurs of fair Helicon While we upon the blest Castalian Shoar Consummate our unfinish'd Love See see Calliope Erato Clio Euterpe And all the rest of the lmmortal Nine O hear the Mystic Numbers of their Verse Full of thy Beauties and my â—aging Love Mar. Ah my poor Love is this thy Bridal Bed Death the cold Lover that must fill thy Arms Emp. Be gone fond Mâ—â—tian tell not me of Business There that 's your Man what 's the dull World to me Let the mad Heroes scramble for Crowns and Scepters Give me more Beauty young Balmy Boys and Girls Ha! still oppos'd in my soft Round of Pleasure Cut off that sawcy Virtue there that awes me Why am I Emperor but to have my Will Ha! Treason Assassins Daggers Poisons Aur. See how his Soul ev'n in its Agony Exerts it self and burns with the same Fires Emp. What all the Earth and Firmament on Fire Nay then I must burn too Ha! ha ha ha See that decrepit Stoic there he 'd fain Plunge in the Sea to save his Beard from Fire Look how the Blind the Lame haggard Poverty Loathsome Diseases all scamper from kind Death Why shou'd they shun Death that know no Pleasure See how that Priest too leaves his Gods in th' Lurch To save himself Ha! ha ha how that old Ladies paint Melts from her Face and leaves her Furrows empty Oh dreadful Sight what Kings and Emperors too Buâ—nt like common Chaff Ah poor Valeria Cannot this Heart dry up thy Tears No matter Steal down to Tâ—etis in her Corral Bed The Conâ—â—agration will not reach thee there Ha! True 't is a Funeral Pile that 's worthy me When all Mankind's the Fewel Age and Youth Beauty and Deformity Vice and Virtue How I rejoice that Pleasure dies with me Ha! Thunder Whirlwinds of tempestuous Fire See how the flaming Billows rowl this way How they consume me oh 't is soultry hot My Guards Romans clap Tyâ—er in betwixt me Euphrates Ganges Nile O 't will not do See they 're drank up all with one thirsty Blast O for whole Oceans see I burn I burn oh Ha! toss'd in a moment to these Lakes of Ice Gods now I frieze ah cold â—shivering cold oh
this Burst of sudden woe To have me snatch'd from his impatient Arms Ev'n in the brightest shine of his full hopes To lose me when he most did think me his Oh! 't is enough to make him talk and rave Emp. Rise Noble Portia I must not let you kneel Port. O! I will kneel as long as I have Life Till I can move your cruel Breast to Pity Think what it is to lose a thing you love Though but a Trifle and as he loves me For Oh! he loves me good Gods how he does love me His very Soâ—l is bound up in my Faith I 'm sure 't would kill him should I speak unkindly Indeed it wou'd and when you drag me from him You tear the very Strings of his poor Heart Think what the wild convulsive pangs of Love Of wondrous Love wou'd force your Tongue to speak Emp. Well Madam you 've Charms I find that will prevail His Life I give you ev'n against my Peace But see you learn Compassion from me Fair One I shall expect it Mar. Barbarian I dispise thee and thy Pity I charge thee do not dare to banish me For if thou dost Por. O! do not â—ouse his Wrath I 've lull'd asleep But with me kneel and own the generous Gift Mar. How Portia is this kind to thank the Tyrant For the extent and utmost stretch of 's Malice Life without thee is lingring on the Rack Por. Ha! without me forbid it ye just Pow'rs No I will wander with thee through the World Through the bad World to find out a Retreaâ— from Villany for Virtue and for Love Come let 's away for Exile's only here Emp. Go see him strait â—ithout the City Gates To the Guards Taking hold of her Hand Hold Mâ—dam you must stay and shine in Rome The leading Star of all her 〈◊〉 Host. Por. Stand off Snaâ—ching 〈◊〉 Hand away and flying to Martian catches hold of his Arm amidst the Guards â—or I 'll go with my Lord my Love Thus will I cling to him as long as I have Life Not Death it self shall loose my eager hold Emp. Dogs Hell and Furies am I not obey'd Cut off the Traytor 's Arm ev'n in her grasâ— And drag him â—ence and drive him out of Rome If he comes back he dyes Por. Oh! hurt not him for see my Hands are lâ—os'd The Guards struggle and offering to cut his Arm she lets go He 's born out Mar. Dogs barbarous Tyrant bloody Villains Por. Stay take one parting Kiss stay prithee do Stay but a Moment for I 've much to say Believe me constant think me thine for ever Not Racks nor Torture shall pervert my Faith Oh let me hear from thee each tedious Minute I 'll send thee back my restless Throws and Pangs My eager Longings and my raving Wishes Looking up and about Ha! he is gone torn from my panting Bosome Torn from me in the Temple at the Altar Revenge it Gods upon this bloody Tyrant Pour on his guilty Head Distress and Ruin Poverty Contempt Rebellion Slavery Knawing Diseases Leprosies Plagues and Famine Blast all his Hopes and Wishes in Enjoyment Seize him ye Furies sink him plunge him in profoundest Hell For my poor Martian for my injur'd Martian Aurel. Forgive me Friendship if I 'm silent now Aside Or seem to break thy holy Laws to keep 'em It is the only means of dear Revenge If I dissemble well I gain the Pow'r To crush the Tyrant and restore my Friend Emp. Wrong not thy Vertue thus for â— black Traytor But lift thy Eyes up to a Monarch's Love To Portia offering her his Hand Por. Ha! Love from thee blasted be thy Tongue That spoke the guilty word thy Mind that form'd it I ne'er shall fall from the auspicious Height Of Martian's Love to th' low Abyss of thine O! no! the vast Descent's too terrible And my Soul sickens at the dreadful View Avant be gone nor with one touch pollute me Starts away from him Aurel. Forbear my Sister before the awful Gods T' affront their Srâ—red Image in your Prince But know the generous Honour that he means you And let me give you to his Royal Arms. Por. Is it Aurelian spoke those guilty words Sure 't is impossible desert thy noble Friend On the first shock of his unequal Fortune Aur. No Friend can ballance with my Emperor's Will He and the Gods require our first Obedience Nor shall you fondly throw away their Blessing Por. O Martian Martian How wilt thou believe it A part of me is false to thee already Oh! Where is Virtue fled Apostate Wretch How I dispise thee and disclaim thy Blood pauses a little Oh! break my Heart this is too much to bear Stand off and give me Room that I may dye I will not stay in this contagious World O let me fly aloft to the great Gods And snatch their idle Thunder to destroy you Oh! Oh! Oh! Faints away Emp. Ha! by the Gods she faints go bear her gently To the Imperial Pallace Quiet and Musick May smooth and lull this Frenzy of her Mind Come to my Arms my Brother now and Friend to Aurel. Thy Zeal for me shall meet a just Reward The Prize thou giv'st deserves my Diadem For on her Love depends thy Emperor's Life bound with these Bonds my Empire thou shalt share Thine be the rugged Glories of the War And mine the boundless Joys of this soft yielding Fair. The End of the First ACT. ACT II. SCENE I. An Anti-Chamber in the Empresses Appartment in the Pallace Enter Perennius and Laetus Laetus HAve but a little Patience Peren. Patience Now Curses on thy Counsels they have ruin'd me And then thou thrusts me out to slavish Patience Patience the lazy Refuge of mean Souls That rather bear than struggle with their Fortune Gods how I despise it if I fall it shall Be in a manly grapple with my Fate While my large Ruins crush ye all to Atoms No more of thy dull Counsels Laet. You lik'd 'em once And by 'em have remov'd your pow'rful Rival Peren. But rais'd a greater set Portia farther off Beyond the bounds of my exteâ—sive hopes M' Ambition too 's defeated for her Brother Wears all the Plumes of his degraded Friend And fond as a Child of 's new gaudy Cloaths Already 's gone to take possession of ' em Had I but gain'd that point my love had thriv'd Spight of the changeful Emperors Will or Pow'r Laet. I know not what you think that look through Mists Through Clouds of Passion but to me I swear By the great Gods that all seems wondrous Well Why are we here else at this dead of Night And by the Empresses Order but with freedom To consult your mutual satisfaction Is she not raging with neglected Love Resents she not with more than equal Ardor Th' estrang'd Affections of the Emperor But you will lose this means of Happiness Rather than have Patience slavish Patience Per. Pardon me Friend my Soul is on the Rack I cannot
think of losing heav'nly Portia But wild distraction seizes on my Brain And like a Whirl-wind rends my very Heart up â—ut I am calm again now Hope appears Temperate as Age to hear thy Story out Laet. When I say I told her of it Per. Ay then What said she Laet. At first she silent stood as struck with Lightning Fixt were her Eyes and motionless each part The charming Red â—orsook her beauteous Face And left it bleak and wan then in a moment A fiery Blush o'er-spread it and from her Eyes A show'r of Tears burst with impetuous force As if they meant to quench the angry Flame That burnt her Cheeks And then you might have seen Pride Love Desire Despair Fear and Disdain Rowl clash and break like furious meeting Tydes Till in this mighty Hurrican of Passion The wretched Princess sunk into her Chair Per. Proceed this Story moves me Laet. It would be Tedious to repeat her various Agonies And all that past till her tempestuous Rage Had work'd it self into a calm of Thought How to redress if not prevent her Wrongs But having inform'd her of the share you took In her Suff'rings she appointed this Place And Time for our Consultation and I Have got I think the means of both your ease Per. As how my best Friend Laet You see the Empress comes You shall partake it with her Enter Empress Empr. Divorc'd thrown from him like a loath'd Embrace Am I grown old and ugly in one Month Gods I shall be the oâ—t-cast of the Court The Laughter or the Pity of the Vulgar Of ev'ry fawning Rascal Oh! my Heart May all the Plagues he has invok'd light on him For his base Perjuries Oh! but I love him Ev'n to Distraction Love th'ingrateâ—â— false one That blunts my Rage and quite disarâ—s Revenge Converts my Curses on my Tongue to Blessings I have no Refuge left but sad Complaints And those but fan the'fury of my Love Set all his Charms in my despairing Eyes Shew me the dear blissful heav'nly good I lose Oh! Death Confusion 't is not to be born Laet. I cannot see such Beauty in such Grief I will break off the anxious Scene Madam Empr. Ha Laetus are yeâ— here Perennius too 'T is much to find two Friends and in Disgrace Per. Madam such Beauty wrong'd can ne'er want Frieâ—ds Empr. Flatter me not for I 'm grown old and wither'd Laet. Fresh by the Gods and Beauteous as the Morning Empr. Oh! were I so how cou'd m' Emperor slight me Per. His Appetite 's too weak to taste so fierce a Joy Empr. Is Portia fair For yet I never mark'd her Per. Bright as Pondora made by all the Gods T' allure the stubborn Heart of the first Man Empr. Ah! me Per. But Madam to the means of your Relief Empr. Ay my good Friends proceed Laet. The Emperor's Passion is yet but young And by removing Portia wou'd soon dye Per. And then his Love for you in course revives Empr. But how how shall I compass this Design Laet. Madam I have a Friend among the Vestals Who will convey her safely to their Temple Per. Their Habit gives them passage where they please Nor will she scruple to venture with a Priestess Laet. Thence may she make her wish'd escape to Martian Empr. If she does love but half so well as I She will be swift to catch this blest occasion Laet. But she must haste to use this dead of Night The Priestess shall be here within an Hour Empr. Well I 'll away to free her and my self For while she 's here no hopes for me remain But a black Scene of dreadful Woe and Pain Per. Well but how wilt thou perâ—orm this lucky Thought Laet. Why I will be this holy Vestal Virgin And bear your Portia for you to your Arms. Per. Let me embrace thee thou Soul of brave design But finish this and all my Fortune 's thine Exeâ—nt SCENE II. Portia's Appartment Scene opens and discovers Portia lying in a Melancholly posture on a Couch Enter the Emperor Emp. SUCH was Europâ— such bright Danae was And such was Laeda thus transporting fair When with dilusive Arts great Iove compress'd ' em Oh! that I cou'd like him but change my Form T' assume that likeness that wou'd please you most Gods might unenvy'd keep their Joys above I 'd wish no other Heav'n but my Love She starts from her Couch on discovering the Emperor Por. Ha! is he here and at this dead of Night Oh! guard my Virtue Heav'n from the Tyrant Turâ—s aside Emp. Why d' ye start why turn those Eyes away That like Achilles Spear shou'd heal the Wounds they gave Por. O Sir for Virtues sake with speed retire I must not hear nor see you at this time Emp. Oh! name not Virtue with that charming Face â—eauty and Virtue are at Mortal odds And as irregular as Frosty Summers What has that melting form to do with Virtue That artful Dawb oâ— the Deform'd and Old To force from Men a faint regardless look Who else wou'd never mind'em Beauty and Youth abound with Love Charms And from their own bright source of Heav'â—ly Fires Difuse around soft Flames and warm Desires Por. Oh! name not Love that is a noble Passion Disdains the barren Soil of guilty Minds Aâ—d only sprouts in the warm Sun of Virtue Can'st thou that tamely bares insulting Nations Seest Tyrants burgeon on each fide each day Without one Check can that low groveling Soul Prâ—tend to reach the loâ—ty hights of Love Emp. Mistaken Notions lead your sense astray Love dwells not in the noisie busie Breast But in the sweet Retreat of Peace and Joy Now by the Gods the Trojan Shepherd chose With Judgment when for Beaty he refus'd The rugged Cares of Courage and of Kingdoms Let th' Ambitious take the busie World Thou shalt to me be Victory and Crowns Ambition will but give the half his Heart I 'll not with-hold ev'n the minutest part Por. Oh! how my Soul disdains thee Thou that hast held the Chariot of Romes Glory With such a seeble Rein that it is faln With vast Rapidity from its full Noon Down to the doubtful twylight of its Set. How canst thou think to move a Roman Mind Full of the injur'd Genius of her Country That groans beneath thy mean Tyrannick sway Emp. Well! I will draw the inspiration hence And from thy Lips suck that old Roman Virtue That for thy sake shall make pale War look lovely Goes to her Embraces her She struggles from him Por. Stand off imperial Villain touch me not Thy sooty Soul pollutes me from thy Mouth Cou'd I tell how I 'd stop thy guilty Breath Emp. How lovely is thy Rage Enter Empress What brings her hither to disturb my Bliss My Soul was flutt'ring with the very Kiss aside Por. Thanks to the Gods for this deliverance Empress Where is this Ttayteress Where those baneâ—ul Charms That hold my Emperor from my longing Arms Ha! he is here here at
thee from my Arms Because it sees I 've not deserv'd thee yet Por. Alas thy Love restores my tainted Blood Or sees not the black Crimes it has admitted Mar. What canst thou mean thy frightfâ—l Words and Gesture Cast a chill shivering Horror o're my Soul Por. Perhaps thou know'st it not the guilty Shame Confounds me I cannot utter it Mar. If it be ought that does concern my Love That threatens that delay not to inform me If not all other Ills are Forraign things And give no Pain Por. Must I then tell my Shame Mar. Ha! thy Shame what wou'd these dreadful Words Tainted Blood black Crimes and guilty Shame Nay thy Shame too ha Gods I shall grow wild With gastly doubts with strange with shocking Fears Art thou infected with thy Sexes Frailties False to thy Vows thy numerous Vows and Oaths Impossible Answer me Can this be This is too much too much relentless Pow'rs Makes me fall out with Providence and think That We 're abus'd with Maxims of your Goodness This is not Just I cannot will not bear it Por. O! have but Patience Mar. I 've all th' extent of patient Sufferance Can bear th' Insults of the tumultuous People The Savage Fury of a Tyrant's Will Not all the threatning Hurricane of Heav'n Nor the right Hand of dreadful thundering Iove Nor shou'd the Frame of Nature burst asunder And crush us all to Atoms wou'd it move me But this is worse than Poverty Disgrace Exile Diseases Rods Axes or Distruction O end me end me quickly Gods least I Blaspheme and doubt your Beings Ah! Blast me with Lightning throw me down Por But ah my Brother your loving Friend Aurelian Mar. What oâ— him Por. Ah! he is false could'st thou think it Urg'd me to falsehood too indeed he did Courted the Tyrant with most Servile Flattery To build his Fortune upon Martian's Ruins Calm this loud Tempest thy Mistake has rais'd Or see me perish in thy Sight this moment Mar. O! thou hast Pow'r to footh unruly Frenzy Yes I will hear you though you Damn me farther Por. Oh! that I love thee Martian with all the Force Of Purity and Truth be Witness Heav'n And ev'ry awful Pow'r bend down and hear While in the fond Abundance of my Heart I swear I love thee more than Health or Life Than Liberty or wish'd for Peace of Mind Next to my Countrys good and my own Honour Mar. O charming Words O extasie of Sound How it expands my Soul with mighty Joy So when the thundring Drum and Trâ—mpets Clangor The Horses Neighing and the Soldier 's Shouts Rouse me to Battle with a Godlike Rage The noble Fire extends my Heart and Bounds Through all my Veins and I am Ardor all Tumultuous Transport and Immortal Fury Pauses I have offended Portia by my Doubts But Oh! my Love I swear thou aâ— treveng'd Ixions's Wheel and old Prometheus Vulture And all the various Tortures of the Damn'd Are sure much less than mine was But my Fair Since thou art true no matter who is false What say'st thou now â—m not I infected Spotted all o're a part of me has wrong'd thee Mar. No thou art white and pure as Innocence He is no part of thee nor of thy Kin Born of some Slave and palm'd upon thy Parents The filthy product of some Courtier 's Lust And in Hypocrisie has outdone his Sire I knew his Treachery and had forgot it Name him no more the horrid Thought distracts me And quite inverts the Orders of my Soul For Oh! he 'd wound himself about my Heart With all the noble Bonds of â—acred Friendship That it has cost me strange stupendious Pangs To rend him from it but he 's gone and May all the Curses he invok'd light on him Por. Ha! I hear a noise fly my gentle Love A Noise at a distance Flye â—ar from Rome Oh! fly this Den of Thieves I charge you by your Love make hast away I had thus long in Joy forgot thy Danger You are not safe this is the Seat of Ruffians Informers Sycophants Here the Brother Trusts not the Brother nor the Son the Father Or if they do they 're certainly deceiv'd All Tyes of Trust and Confidence are ceas'd Mar. I must not leave thee then in such Contagion But thou must with me Por. More willingly than With a Guardian God but how is' t possible Mar. All 's possible To love like thine and mine I 'll force my way Thro' the thin Guard Por. That will but arm the Court against thy Life Mar. What is the Court the mean enervate Court There 's not the Soul of one brave Man among 'em They love themselves too well to seek out Danger I am thy Soldier and this Arm shall make ' em Keep awful distance while I bear thee through ' em Por. Thy Love and Courage will not see the Hazard But I alas yet I will with my Love To dye with thee is next to living with thee But oh my Fears I hear the Noise again Doors op'ning the steps Of some in hast ah clap on thy Disguise Or I shall dye with dreadful Apprehension He claps it on Mar. Fear not my Love thou must be Heaven's chief care And for thy Virtue they will spare thy Martian Por. See 't is the Empress Enter Empress Emp. Who have you here For I 've important Business with you Portia That near concerns your Happiness and mine Por. This Madam is an honest faithful Slave Whom I am sending to my exil'd Lord. Emp. Will you not go your self then Por. Did I know how Swift as the wind with all the â—peed of Fear Emp. That I design'd to tell you when I found My Emperor with you but then you know My Love Desire and Hope made me pursue him But since I cou'd not find him I 'm return'd To beg thee if thou h'st Pity Love or Virtue As much thou seem'st to have to fly him strait I cannot rest while you are here thus near him For ah his Wit his soft deluding Tongue Will melt thee else to an abhor'd Complyance Oh! he is perfect in betraying Wiles Knows every subtle passage to the Heart And all the wondrous force of pointed Looks Can thaw the Icy Bosome of a Vestal Though for the Sin she 's sure to suffer Death Oh! what cannot his cunning Arts perform Perswade the Miser from his hoarded Gold Active Ambition into languid Ease And ev'n the Priesthood into humble Honesty Fly therefore fly the dear Destruction fly For if you stay your Virtue surely dyes Por. Not that I doubt my Virtue I wou'd fly But my Soul still languishes to Martian With most impetuous Ardor Oh! shew me But how I shall get to him Emp. 'T is thus I have procur'd a pious Vestal Virgin Who will convey thee safe to Vesta's Temple And thence find Means to get you out of Rome She waits us now in a lone Gallery To which I will by secret Doors conduct you That come not near your
But I 'll deal with thee as thy Crimes deserve Go drag him hence to the Tâ—rpeian Rock Dash him to pieces shall I ne're have Rest For Traytors Mar. O Portia O farewel for ever Por. O dismal Sound for ever Maâ— For ever Por. Sure there are Joys above for suff'ring Virtue There we shall meet again my Soul will know thee It is so full of thee I 'll not stay long Indeed I won't but reach thee in thy Flight O Heaven O Earth and thou O Neptune hear me And six eternal Racks upon my Soul If I out live my Martiâ—n many Minutes Emp. Must I speak in vain drag him away Mar. Oh! my Love farewel Por. Ah this is worse than Death â—bey force him out she Faints While they 're employ'd about Portia Perennius enters at the upper end of the Walk Peren. Now curse on Business that must thus intrude When I shou'd feast my self with Portiâ—'s Beaâ—ties Yet this is of a Nature that new arms me Against the other Fears that check'd my Love Th' Army mutining and just entring Rome â—ed on by Aurelian Must be the Emperor's Downfall and mine with him Since that is sure I 'll make my Joys as sure Grasp first the Treasure of this charming Maid Then fly with Speed from the black gathering Storm Emp. So she revives Go bear her gently to Valeria's Lodgings And bid her Maids prepare her for my Love I 'll not defer my Marriage or Enjoyment They bear her off Per. Ha! What 's this do my Eyes and Ears deceive me Is Pâ—rtia snatch'd again from my Embrace Fate presses so from every side upon me I have no Time for Thought pauses I must excuse Her Flight nor yet inform him of his Danger Least his Despair shou'd but augment his Rage Beyond my Power to calm My Lord. Emp. Perennius Ingrateful Slave how durst thou tempt my Fury Ev'n in the guilty Moment Per. 'T is true my Sov'raign If by appearance we shou'd judge of things There is too just a Cause for your Dread Anger But my dear Master Emp. No more of thy false Wiles to blind my Eyes The Veil is off that hid the cunning Villain That cou'd betray me and let my Portia go Seize him if he resists you kill him To the Guardâ— Perennius draws runs at the Emperor is stabb'd by the Guards Per. Come on I 'll not fall tamely by the Tyrant O that in'enervate Arm shou'd miss thy Life Yes cursed Prince I own the brave Design I was thy Rival and bright Portia's Lover And let her go to riâ—â—e all her Sweets Surfeit on Joy for one immortal Moment But Fortune mock'd me with a hop'd Success O that she wou'd thee too nay well I know it Aurelian comes soon to revenge me on thee The more to blast thy fancy'd Pleasures know Valeria was imposed on by my Arts And knew not Laetus more than Portia did 〈◊〉 that Device I thought to bear her off Then slew fond 〈◊〉 to secure my Love For some more lucky Hour but in vain My Life is on the Wing so Curses on thee Thou wilt not be behind me long Oh! Dies Emp. D' ye thou Prophetie Dog Spurns him What can the dying Villain mean Revenge Aâ—relian 't is no matter what Faâ—e must fly swiftly to prevent my Joy And that once gain'd she can 〈◊〉 haâ—t destroy Exit Enter Empress alone Empress Ah! wretched me I 've drain'd my Eyes of Tears But not my Heart of Woe that 's still fixt here No Plaints can move it and no Sighs redress Tho' banish'd hence from my dear cruel Lord My Treacherous Feet will still pursue his Steps I 've fought the Garden round and cannot find him What can I do or whither can I turn Horror Despair on e'ry Side besiege me Death 't is Death that only can relieve me Pauses Yes I will die my Fondness does deserve it Pausâ—s To love beyond such Slights but shall I die Thus tamely yes What! thus thus unreveng'd Pauses Ah! yes that Death best suits my tender Love Ha! there he goes my Heart bounds at the sight And strikes a Transient Joy all o're my Soul I 'll follow him and die within his Arms He 'll pity sure his bleeding Victims Groans Perhaps may kiss my pale and breathless Lips May wish he 'd been more kind and I more happy Exitâ— Scene changes to Portia's Appartment Enter Portia and her Maid Crispina Cris. Why are you Madam obstinate in Woe And shun the Indulgence of a Smiling Fortune Foâ— a vain Love and Fruitless Câ—nstancy Rome courts you for her Empress and your Prince Dies at your Feet with most unfeigned Desires Por. No more I will not hear my Love blasphem'd Is this a time to urge the impious Cause For oh the Tyrants Ministers of Murder Perhaps this Minute butcher my poor Love Pauses and fixes her Looks on one place Ha! dreadful Image of my certain Woe What horrid Scene is this thou dost present me See where he lies 〈◊〉 ouâ— upon the Floor His noble Limbs hack'd by that Cut throat Villain See if that Coward does not pierce his Bosom Where his brave Heart dwells that abhorr'd a Coward See from the gaping Wounds the Purple Flood Rowls like a Torrent down his mangleâ— Body And in it his great Soul Ha! Paleness Death Oh! Horror Horror Horror Poisons Daggers Dispatch me quickly e're the Tyrant comes To dragg to 's polluted Nuptial Rites Ah! my dear Martian stay for thy dying Pâ—rtia Beat the Wing awhile and I 'll be with you Cris. How strange Imagination works upon her Por. Oh! oh groans Lo now I come faâ—nâ—â— away Cris. Help here quickly help the Empress faints Enter several Women and run to her endeavour to receive her So she recovers stand off and give her Air. Por. Be gone and let me die I will not live Why did you rouse me from this Golden Vision Of Martian triumphing Mâ—rtian and endless Love Cris. Let not the anxious Dreams of Fancy rack you What boot your Pangs your Fury or Laments They can't revoke his Suff'rings nor your Doom The Emperor loves too much to quit you ever You had better Madam seem to like the Fate You can't avoid Por. I will not answer thee But loose my self in kind distracting Thought Portia thy Name shou'd now inspire thy Love And make it struggle to some Godlike Act. pauses Brutus thy Portia set the great Example To Roman Wives which I a Bride will follow pauses Ha! sure some Heav'nly Beam informs my Mind Bears it above the common pitch of Glory To a brave Deed that'â— singularly great Oh! bright Ambition of aspiring Virtue To what amazing Heighâ—s thou dost transport me For distant Ages to behold with Wonder No my dear Lord Your Portia shan't surviâ—e you Nor will she tamely fall like helpless Woman 〈◊〉 as resolv'd and bold as Catâ—â—'s Daughter My Countrys GeÌ„nius with my Love conspires To â—orm the Vengeance for lost Rome and Mâ—rtian It shâ—ll be so the
Charm by which I grow Immortal For to love always thus is more than Godhead Drinks it all off Mar. Oh Triumphing Falshood O Excess of Woman Enter Empress with her Hair dishevell'd and her Bosom all bloody Empr. Where is the Emperor where is my false Prince â— cannot lâ—â—e nor die away from him Oh! let me clasp thee in my fainting Arms Be not uneasie at my dying Fondness â—adulge it now indulge it prithee do 'T is the last time it ever will offend thee Emp. Ha! Valeria What barbarous Hand has made this bloody Havock Empr. This this my Emperor tho'it was too weak To hold you there cou'd execute your Hate Yet when I 'm dead as soon I find I shall be Prithee remember how Valeria lov'd shee Bore all thy Slights ' thy Scorn and thy hard Usage Sought no Râ—venge but on her injuâ—'d self True I complain'd of thy Ingrateful Falshood But my Complaints arose from furious Love The more I did complain I lov'd thee more Pray'd to the Gods to guard the dear Destroyer And rather dy'd than you shou'd be uneasie Emp. 'T is sad O Portia this is wond'rous sad Empr. Think then oh think does not such tender Love Merit a kind place in your Remembrance Ah! no if it be kind it must torment thee Forget me rather O let be forgot Rather than give my Love one anxious Pang Emp. Ah my Valeria Empr. Ha! your Valeria did you not call me yours Emp. I did thou matchless Tenderness and Love Empr. And do you pitty me Emp. By Heav'n I do Empr. It is enough and now I die most happy O the fierce Joy so struggles in my Breast That all the Strings of Life now burst asunder O! I have lost you in surrounding Darkness O do not hate my Memory this Kiss And this last dear Embrace and now I 'm nothing dies Empr. She 's gon the tender Mourner is no more And like the Swans her dying Notes so sweet They charm my Soul and fix me here for ever Por. Ah! poor unhappy Princess art thou dead Throwing off his Robes and coming up to her Mar. Yes she is dead false Portia and thou living Slain by thy Guilt she 's dead Such Victims shou'd be offer'd at such Rites starting Ha! Martian Mar. Virtue and Truth fond Tenderness and Love Shou'd fall at Union of so foul a Pair Murder Perjury Oppression Falshood Hypocrisie Ingratitude and all All that can make ye both Supremely wicked Meet in ye But your Impious Joys are short For see this Sword shall end 'em in this Place Lays his Hand on his Sword Portia runs to Martian and stops him Por. Hold Martian hold touch not the Emperor He 's my Saâ—rifice Mar. Gods she loves him too This whets my Rage adds Fire to my Revenge The Emperor starts from the Empress Emp. Ha! bold Assassins in my very Pallace How came this Traytor to evade my Sentence Mar. That I don't know The Gods it seems decreed it To torture me afresh with sight of thee And that false Maid Por. I will be justify'd Mar. 'T is impossible not a vile Prostitute That for a Drachma sells her common Favours To the mean greasie Refuse of the Vulgar Cou'd have done worse O Portia Portia Por. O Martian Martian hear your Portia speak Mar. Stand off and touch me not Polluted Fair. Por. You shall not dash me from you till you hear me Emp. Ha! Portia is this well what means my Love Por. Begon no more the anxious Scene is over Enter a Messenger in haste Mess. O fly Sir quickly if you yet have Time To save your self from imminent Destruction Aurelian leads on the Pretorian Bands Who with united Fury seek you out Vowing Revenge for Martian's Injuries I only have escap'd to give you Notice Emp. No more Nor with thy Fears disturb my last Resolves Yes I will fall as Galienus shou'd Draws Mâ—â—es at Aurelian who reâ—â—ring draws the Soldiers come behind and seize the Emperor And do one piece of Justice e'r I die Upon that bold aspiring Traytor Enter Aurelian and Soldiers spoaks â—â—t'ring Aâ—â—iel Here cease the Vulgar Slaughter sieze the Tyrant My Fellow-soldiers this is he that Ground ye With Poverty for all your Toils and Batâ—les Fought in his vile Cause ravish'd your Mothers Daughters Sisters butcheâ—'d your Fathers And has unpeopled Rome and drove your General Your brave Martian from the Sacred Altar Seize too his Bride who tho' my Sister falls A Victim to my injur'd Friend and Honour Por. My Brother this noble Fury that shou'd Make thee dreadful to me is fresh Endearment Mar. What do I hear what strange new wonder 's this Emp. Aurelian this from thee ungrateful Man Have I for this advanced thee to these Honours Aur. Thy Native Thirst of Guilt advanc me to 'em To bribe my Virtue to betray my Friend Pervert my Sister and to taint my Blood With Villanies a Soldier 's Heart disdains To fix you safe in doing daily Wrongs I turn'd thy cunning Arts against thy self To gain a Pow'r to do my Country Right Revenge m'assaulted Honour and my Friend Por. O the malignant Influence of my Stars Martian alive and my lost Brother true And yet no Hopes of Happiness for me Mar. Art thou Aurelian that hast done all this Or has some God assum'd thy awful Form Aur. My noble Friend O fly to my Embrace My Heart has panted like a Virgin 's for thee E're since I saw thee lest my swift Relief Shou'd be out-run by Fate as it was ne're When my first Troops just snatch'd thee from Destruction Mar. When will the measure of my Woes be full If thou' rt Aurelian I am more unhappy Aur. What do I hear what was that fatal Sound O end me Gods destroy this wretched Being Since I have liv'd to make my Friend unhappy Mar. It is thy Goodness and thy Virtues wound me These call me Base Ingrateful and Injurious For I have wrong'd thee Doubted thy Faith believ'd thee false nay curs'd thee O turn those Curses on this guilty Head Good Gods and show'r your Blessings all on him Aur. No more my Friend I gave but too much Cause But rather chose to cut thee to the quick Than not effect the cure of thy sick fortune Mar. And canst thou then forgive thy guilty Friend Aur. O let me hold thee here and tell thee so they embrace Mar. O thou bright Beam of Comfort to my Soul That like the Morning Star dost promise Day To the black Stormy Night of Mâ—rtian's Sorrows Couldst thou but call a few past Minutes back I might be happy still But oh my Friend Behold that threatning Meteor that stands there She blasts my Hopes forbids all Thoughts of Joy Emp. Aside Ha! what strange shooting Fires have seiz'd my Blood I fear I 've drank some deadly Poison that breaks My Thoughts and disappoints my op'ning Hopes Of Empire and of Portia and of Revenge Mar. Canst thou believe it Friend the Virtuous Portia Thy Sister