way Eub. But were reversed by a more Powerful Gale Your Brother and your Son appear'd like Gods And stopt the Madmen in their full Career Ari. At close of day in Dark Cabals they met And in the Morning gave their Final Answer Lycinius who that Night was brought a Captive To grace the Triumph of your first appearance Was first propos'd to share th' Imperial Power Next they demand a general Persecution Of all the Christians and Silvesters head Const. Tell 'em their City shall be Ashes first Have I for this with hazard of my Life So oft Redeem'd em ' from their Tyrants Racks When all their Streets were but one Hideous Grave There Wives and Daughters Ravisht in their View When Age was drain'd of its last Ebbing drop When Babes were snatch'd their Earliest breath to give And dy'd ere knowing what it was to live Trumpets Enter Dalmatius More Treason Arius or do the Slaves Repent My Brother here Still to my Arms and heart Thou Nerve of all my Wars How fares my Friend And my beloved Dalm. Crispus our care is well And the late Tempest which must reach your Ear By Skilful Pilots Rockt into a Calm Believe me Sir your presence gains the Cause Therefore upon the Instant march to Rome Vanquisht Licinius waits to Grace your Triumph Bless me Is 't possible Arius with you Sir Arius the Traitor Const. Have you found him so Dalm. The Subtlest Snake the softest Civil Villain That ever warm'd himself in Princes Bosom Diseases Blasts Plagues Death and Hell are in him Whate're his outside seems This shameless Traitor Was the foul Spring of all these poison'd Waters That late had like to overflow the Empire Yet while his Emissaries Fired the People This Judas on my side appear'd an Angell For after the first Mutiny was quel'd Though he had Sworn to Justifie your Cause He warn'd the Slaves I have his hand to show Next day to make those Impudent demands Ari. Plots on my Innocence as I am a Christian If ere I set my hand to such a Treason May these rot off which thus I hold to Heaven As I am of Priestly Order Dalm. A Devil Ordain'd Sir if I do not prove him Const. I believe you I know him Heretick a Seditious Traitor But yet have Reasons to defer his Ruin Therefore no more at present Arius hence And let me hear no further of these Mischiefs I have pardon'd you be gone you Eubulus and tell the Rebels I come Embattel'd now for my Revenge My Standard and my Banners bear the Cross Tell 'em Lycinius whom once before I took to Grace and Marry'd to my Sister Their new Petition'd Caesar soon shall bleed Silv. Forgive your Enemies Const. But not my Friends Lycinius was my Friend and has betray'd me Therefore I 'le Execute him in their View Away and warn him for the Doom that 's given Ex. Arius Eubulus 'T is not by halfs that we will worship Heaven No my Dalmatius I have made a vow The Romans or their Emperour shall bow They 're Subjects and 't is fit Nay bow they shall Or Caesar in th' attempt their Victim fall Bow to the Man whom Heaven Ordain'd for Sway And in his great Vicegerent learn their Maker to Obey Exeunt Scene II. ROME Constantines Palace Enter Lycinius Labienas Labi The mischief 's Ripe and ready for our wish Confusion to the House of Constantine And Fortune points their Fate For mark the Method The Father sends the Son to see the Prisoner The Son not knowing of his Fathers Contract Appears a God to Fausta's Charming Eyes And Marry'd her Lycin. How came you by the Secret Lab. Arius told me he who Betrothed the Father Weds the Son And stands for ever bound to serve Lycinius Lycin. He 's Voted Heretick among the Christians Labie No matter what they Vote him Sir He 's yours And Foe too all Religion but his Friends Lycin. By Mars he falls the Righter to my purpose I was my self bred up in Blood and Wars Untaught and Scoft at by these Civil Cowards Wherefore I hate Religion Arts and Learning And if I ever Mount the Caesars Throne I 'le Raise another General Persecution Like Nero Bait these Christian Dogs to Death And Build the Temples of the Old Gods again Labie And be a God your Self In the mean time Let your Wives tears prevail upon your Temper Supple your Haughty Spirit bow your Body Low as the Earth before the Emperours Feet Lycin. I had rather dye If he thinks fit to save me 'T is well if not why let him take my Head Labie Yet for the sake of those whom you must Govern Rebate this Martial Fire and hear your Wife Hear what return our long'd for Arius brings Enter Crispus with Annibal But soft the Bridegroom Crispus and his Friend Constantia with impatience waits your coming Constantia who has Power to save your Head Though Caesar with an Oath had Doom'd you Dead Ex. Lycinius Labienus Crispus How Annibal What! out of temper now When Crowns are offer'd and the Caesars Purple What though not born in the immediate way Yet thou art Collaterally Great as I. And if I ever Heir this Spacious Empire By Heaven thou shalt not share but guide engross My hearts best Love and all the World beside Anni Your Heart Ay there you Eccho'd my desires Enrich me there and trowle your empty Globe To those Crown'd Slaves that know no other Greatness But tell me O my Crispus All Mens Joy Tell me and truly from thy Generous Soul Hast thou a Friend whom more thou Lov'st then me Crisp. Not more belov'd more Fonded then my self But more Anni Nay add not to that broken Truth There 's more in that no more then thou had'st Sworn Crisp. Wilt thou not hear me out Anni There needs no more Thou art no Friend that Lov'st another more Nay half so much But now I find that all The former Flatteries of thy Glozing Friendship Were Courtiers promises and Womens Vows But let me know his Name Crisp. Thy Father Annibal my Godlike Friend Dalmatius who before thou could'st Write Man Hugg'd Crispus to his Heart Like Lambs in Peace Together we lay down together rose In War like Lyons Coupled on a side Ere yet thy Infant Arms a Sword could Wield And drove like Herds the Nations from the Field Anni Why then we 're Friends agen more fast then ever Yet since we have happen'd into this disorder To make a Tryal of renew'd affection I 'le put thee to the Test. Crisp. Name the Danger Though Kin to Death my Arm Young-man shall Right thee Anni 'T is death indeed Most certain Death to me Unless thy Softning Charms have power to save me Crisp. Speak this close grief That wrings thee with the Anguish If I am not Eloquent in such a Cause Cut out my Tongue Annib. My life is in the hands Of one that hates me or what wounds me more Of one my Crispus that can never love me Crisp.
should I hide a secret from thee When I beheld him last He languished And wrung my hand at parting Crisp. But what said he Faust. I will not tell you Crispus till you answer What you would do with me my dearest Joy If it were true indeed your Father lov'd me Crisp. What at your parting ha Faust. Why if 't were true Would you forsake me Crisp. Be my own murderer I know not what but speak your parting Oh! Faust. Why are you so enrag'd I dare not tell you Crisp. If ought thou hid'st by Heav'n thou dost not love me Faust. By Heav'n I hope no other Heav'n but thee What if he talkt alittle Age will talk And think of it no more Trumpets ready for a Call Crisp. What was your talk I 'le know each syllable Faust. Why so you shall But then be calm What if he talk't of love And what Oh be not angry and I 'll tell you What if to save my life I promis'd him Crisp. Ha! promis'd Fausta Promise the Father and engage the Son But speak I stand upon a Precipice For if 't is true that e're so little past Of love before Faust. What then Crisp. And thou hast promis'd Faust. Suppose I have Sworn Crisp. Suppose then thy dishonour Suppose me never to behold thee more Suppose my death both Soul and Bodies ruin Faust. Suppose no more but what my Soul hath Sworn To love his Son none but the lovely Crispus O therefore clear thy brow and take me to thee Be still my love forgive this little fault And jealousie shall ne're offend thee more Crisp. O Charmer Beauty What! where was the need Why hast thou kept me on the Rack so long Tho taken down I feel the strains upon me And shall I fear too long But hark they call Trumpets And I must go Faust. But will you then return Crisp. Quick as thy wishes or my own desires But make no more such Tryal Hark again Trumpets again Faust. I cannot part with you tho for a moment Crisp. I 'll but enquire whether my Father 's come Faust. Swear to come back then Swean before you see him To give me one look more Crisp. What needs an Oath Before I speak with him Faust. You 'l speak with me For I have much to say of mighty moment Swear therefore to return Crisp. Swear on thy Lips Thus with my Heart I seal my Vows for ever Ex. Crispus Faust. Heart and the Holiest Vows deep writ in Blood Blood and dishonor Take then take my cause Thou that hast made me sin O mighty love And let thy Mother plead it with her Tears He sees his Father and my crime at once And then resolves never to see me more Enter Arius Call Dalmatius Crispus all Attendants Arius What then Faust. What then O Arius Dost thou know me And ask what then when he ne're sees me more I 'll tell the then I 'll never see the day Shades Night and Death Despair and Dungeons hold me When those dear Eyes shall never light me more Arius Since you enjoy'd him let the Tides of love Be swallow'd in the Ocean of Ambition Faust. Ambition Pomp and greatness of the World All empty sounds to love But thine 's a downward sense Thou hast no tast of these sublimer joys But haste look out Why comes he not again He swore he would but he has seen his Father Who stops him with my first unhappy Contract Arius I see him yonder Faust. Blessings on thy Tongue But I 'll run forth to meet him and no longer Conceal the Innocent deceit of Love Arius Hold Madam stay Dalmatius comes retire Faust. Dalmatius Let me see my self Arius They come Faust. Dalmatius Gods 't is He He tells him all Th' Emperor told it him Nay it must out I am lost undone But gentle Arius wait And watch and bring me word how Crispus beare it Oh that I were a Spirit to stand unseen To mark his passions how they rise and fall With every Glance of those dear dreadful Eyes But see they come and yet I cannot stir I grow distracted with my hope and fear Compell'd to go yet long to tarry here Ex. Fausta Enter Dalmatius and Crispus to Arius Dalm. I have much against you Crispus and you know it Therefore with all the freedom of a friend Tell me what is the cause you have not been So free as formerly Crisp. You know I am Dalm. I 'll press you Sir no more only remember There stands a Villain whom I have seen you whisper Ex. Arius Crisp. I 'll tell you all Dalm. You dare not Come there is a guilt at bottom You blush to own a Crime of such a nature As will admit no Pardon Thou hast sin'd Against the great Divinity of friendship Which my Soul takes to death Crisp. Can it be Ever too late to gain a Pardon here Dalm. I cannot tell Yet I can tell thee this There was a time not many days are past Since I preferr'd thy friendship to the World When I cou'd say Why yonder goes the Man Whom my Soul worships more then Constantine And Loves beyond my Son By Heav'n thy fault Is ominous and grinds my temper through Crisp. That Son you nam'd unhappily 's in Love Dalm. Then He 's a Fool. With whom Crisp. Maximians Daughter The younger Beauty Dalm. Ha! And you Love the Elder My life on 't some such masterly design This makes you shun the Camp to lurk beneath The Eeves of Palaces and droop in Corners But Sir your Pardon I almost forgot To urge your swiftest speed to wait your Father Crisp. I will but take my leave Dalm. I fear there is Too much already taken but no more If you have ought to say I 'll visit for you Crisp. Be all as you would have it Oh your hand Nay I will force my Entrance to your Heart By opening all my own and so farewell Ex. Crispus Dalm. I blame my friend for walking in the Dark Yet hide my self who when I seem most strange Am fondest of his Love So Sir What now Enter Anniball Annib. The fair Constantia with condemn'd Lycinius Drest in the saddest Glass of dying sorrow Was coming to entreat you for his Pardon But soon as she had heard from weeping Arius Her Husbands doom she in our Arms Expir'd Dalm. I mourn her Fate But for Lycinius I urg'd at first and still resolve his Death Is necessary to the Emperors life Nor should a few weak drops by Women shed Stop a Decree so Absolute and Royal. Annib. He comes attended with a mournful crowd To sue for life Dalm. I 'll have him Executed in their view Yes Anniball and shew thy Youth a pattern Of the old Romans for thy imitation Who hast but poorly Copy'd from thy Father Annib. Why Sir What Villain has traduc'd my Vertue Dalm. No Villain but thy Prince has own'd thy weakness And says thou Lov'st a Captive Foe of Rome Annib. The Virgin 's beautiful and greatly born Dalm.
decreed to marry her this Night And tast the sweets of long expected joys Crisp. By Heav'n I swear those sweets have poison in 'em Bane to your Soul your Empire Life and Glory Const. Take heed my Crispus that thou do not wrong her I know the hazard of Succession frights thee Crisp. No By your sacred life nothing but Honour Provokes me in the point She 's false forsworn And to my certain knowledg loves another Oh! Therefore touch her not and to convince you That Empire could not work me thus This night I 'll turn a Hermit and renounce the World Const. If she be false I know his temper well And nature cannot make such faults o' th' sudden If she be false By Heav'n thou hast moved me Crispus But speak the Traitors name who thus has wrong'd me Crisp. Pardon me Sir his name He could not wrong you Because he knew not Const. What Crisp. Your Love Const. His name There 's more in this His name again I charge thee Not only name him but produce his person Or I shall think all forgery thou hast sworn Crisp. O let me beg you wed her not to night And when I see you next I 'll tell you more Perhaps betray the Innocent to Death Const. Let that be prov'd I swear he shall not die Thou art it seems his friend as well as mine But look you calm the Tempest you have rais'd Or I will make thee stranger to my Soul Ex. Constantine Crisp. Solus I am content if that some pittying Power Would make make me too a stranger to my self But hold my Heart a while till I have found her Yet there 's a lucid joy in these distractions To know he has not bedded her then had follow'd Her death and mine and consequent Damnation Yet lest she should consent I 'll haste and warn her When warn'd I 'll watch and if she after Yield Through Love or Fear to his Incestuous charms I 'll rush through all and stabb her in his Arms. Exit End 2d Act. The Third Act Scene 1st Enter Annibal and Serena Annib. IS this your Answer then You cannot love me This the Reward for Offers of my Blood And braving a stern Father to preserve you This the Effect of Crispus Eloquence To make his Friend a most untimely Grave For bear it as you please or laugh or grieve I will not be a Trouble to you long Seren. What shall I say Alas I might delude you Annibal Like other faithless Beauties of the Age But the Gods fram'd me of so plain a Temper I cannot hide my Thoughts Though to my undoing But something more there is if you could bear it To turn your desp'rate Love for ever from me Annib. Produce it then for what can Nature shew me Than Death more dreadful wilder than Despair Which now are my Familiars Seren. Take it Sir The only Secret of my wounded Soul I love I languish and despair like you Annib. What do you lovo another Seren. Love him to death nor does he know I love him Or if he did he would not make Return Annib. Can this be possible But where where is he That I may rush with all my Rage upon him And bear him with me to the other World Seren. Not for a thousand Worlds you must not hate him Annib. Plagues Curses on his Head Rage and Despair Is this then the Return of all my Vows To make my setting yet more deep in Blood But give me quick his Quality and Name Seren. His Name what after such Resolves of Vengeance Your Fate and mine should not compell it now Annib. What not to save my Life Seren. No for what Life can stand in Competition When his is threaten'd Better you and I And all the rest of humane Kind should perish Than he the Master-piece of Nature suffer And should you know him spite of your Resolves Sir you would kneel and worship too like me Annib. Show me the God then if I must adore Seren. No since you have sworn I should do ill to trust you Yet for his Preservation I must tell you When e're he dies Serena too shall bleed From the same hand the same Dispatch I crave And if at last one Monument we have What Joys can Life compare with such a Grave Exit Enter Arius with Crispus Picture Annib. Death Hell and Furies if my Sword have Charms Which never fail'd me yet I 'll find him out This Rival God And drive him from the World Ari. Ha! Goes it there Then to my Task Annib. Arius in Contemplation 'T were worth my while to spy Crispus Picture Forgive me Arius if I rob your Hand Of what 's so deep ingraven in my Heart For whom this pretty Present Ari. Your Pardon The Mystery is one of Loves great Secrets Annib. Crispus in Love and hide it from his Friend From Annibal that open'd all to him 'T was much unkind Arius I am concern'd And you must tell me where his Heart 's engag'd E're I return the Picture Arius Sir I am in haste And dare not tell her Name therefore I beg you She waits my coming Good my Lord she loves To that degree each Moments Stay is Death Therefore let me conjure you Annib. Thou dost but raise my Admiration more Therefore your Business or farewel Arius Stay Stay My Lord you are his Friend yet 't is a Breach Of Trust but since there is no other help And the fair Mistress of his Heart may pine To death upon the loss restore the Picture And take the Secret Sir her Name 's Serena Annib. Traitor thou ly'st and but thy Robe protects thee Should'st feel even now th' Effects of my Revenge Ari. To clear th' Alpersion hear it Sir your self And to Serena's Face I 'll justifie The Secret of her Love tho Crispus kill me Annib. By Heav'n thou dost recall a dreadful Image Of late I met him e're I made my Visit To Her thou hast nam'd and ask'd him of my Love He seem'd in haste his Answers were abrupt His Count'nance sad and thus in short return'd Hunt not the Bubble Beauty like a Boy Fall like a Man and let your Rest be Fame And so it shall If what thou say'st be true I 'll level him with Earth Arius What said you Sir Annib. Yet I will have more Proof she shall her self Be witness to the Fall of this high Virtue Then Friendship to the Winds like meeting Tides We 'll fight the Tempest out nor give it o're Till one lies dash't and broken on the Shore Exit Ari. Thus far the Devil is the best mounted yet And Heresie at last shall win the Race Enter Labienus and Eubolus Ha! Labienus here And my Eubolus We shall shortly govern Labi I met the Emperour of late alone Who ask'd for you Ari. I 'll instantly attend him Where is his Son Eubol. I left him with Dalmatius Ari. Unloading his sick Heart upon his Friend Enter Dalmatius and Crispus But see the Master Enemy's at
Ex. Arius Const. By an entire surrender of thy self To me Faust. To Crispus Const. By all thy former Oaths I swear to me Faust. I told you 't was impossible before And now confirm it Const. How Faust. I am married Const. Curses and Vengeance Married say by whom Faust. To Crispus Const. When Thou false one When And where Faust. Here in your Palace on that happy night Before you made your dreadful triumph Const. Dreadful indeed For now the wretch shall die Tho Angels pleaded Sylv. Emperor you have sworn Const. I know it Sir to spare the innocent blood But I will prove him now Faust. White as the Saints By all the powers of Heav'n and Earth I swear 'T was I that push'd the marriage Conscious before What I had sworn to you nay cast the Veil Of Modesty aside to make him sure And after Marriage you may ghess the rest Const. Oh Curses Vengeance Curses yet unthought Such Curses as thou wilt let fly at me When thou shalt see his Head beneath the Ax Even Womans Curses on thee Sylv. How Sir the Ax Enter Arius with Crispus Const. Dost thou not find the Traitor But see he comes Oh thou dissembler answer Didst thou not tell me when thy life was stak'd This marriage was not yet consummate speak Crisp. 'T is true dread Sir Const. Mark all he has confess'd His own mouth has condemn'd him he shall die Crisp. I own'd Sir I was marry'd but confess'd no further Const. How Traitor Did I not force the Question often Crisp. True Which I as often wav'd with low submissions Const. Yet those thy low submissions all were lies For well thou know'st thy subtle working wrought me To a satisfaction that thou hadst not possest her Crisp. That was alas my Crime Const. That Crime was Treason Purpos'd abuse A Plot upon thy Father Nay the whole Cozenage shows thee rank in sin Or Ha! How know I yet she is enjoy'd I have but thy word and her's and both are Traitors But see my Brother comes to joyn my Justice Enter Dalmatius Dalm. What Crispus here Const. Stay my Dalmatius stay Dalm. Your pardon Sir There 's one among you whom I cannot suffer And Crispus knows the Cause Exit Dalm. Crisp. Come back and hear it then Hear thou unhappy Father hear me own The murder which this Cursed hand committed That hand that slew the wretched Annibal Const. Annibal slain O Traitor And by thee Is murder added to thy Treason too Crisp. It shall not stand me Sir instead to say Mistaken Annibal forc'd me to his ruin For see I lay my Body at your Feet And plead for Death as others begg for Life Const. Cleanthes take him Crispus thou shalt die Therefore be this our fatal last farewell One struggle more His Mother 's in his Eyes Faust. And where 's his Father but in all his form His every grace his smiles All but his frowns So exact in Body Qualities of Mind That if you kill your Son you kill your self Oh therefore listen to the call of Nature And once more view him with an Eye of Mercy Const. I have lookt my last and now am Judg agen Cleanthes Take 'em both They 're both your Prisoners Crispus and Fausta Arius look you to ' em Keep 'em apart and wait me in my Closet What yet agen 'T is the last tugg of Nature And yet another Why that sigh uncall'd And these wet Eyes On if I longer stay My vows of Justice will dissolve away Ex. with Sylvester Manent Crispus Fausta Arius Guard Faust. Ruin on ruin let destruction come With all the wings of the most violent death Yet arm'd with Innocence I 'll face the Gorgon And brave his bloodiest Terrors But thy death My Crispus death my spirit cannot bear Therefore I have resolv'd and think not Crispus Think not thy tears shall move me from my purpose Crisp. Speak Fausta speak how come these Earthquakes here And these o'reflowings Why do the sighs redouble Faust. Because my dearest life my all my Crispus Soul of my Soul that 's martyr'd for thy Love I am resolv'd rather then see thy death To wed thy Father Crisp. Ha! Do I hear thee truly But speak agen for I 'll not trust my senses Faust. To wed him Crispus Crisp. Sorrow sure distracts thee Faust. No t is th' effect of reason That makes me desp'rate in this last resolve Crisp. No more of this Haste cast the poison up T is Hell that tempts thee to Eternal ruin Therefore if thou desir'st my spirit shou'd part In peace and leave my Love and blessing with thee Repent this last result of thy despair Lest I conclude thee false Faust. How false my Crispus Crisp. False to thy Vows unconstant to thy Love And that thy Soul unable for a ruin Chose rather to sustain an infamous life Then die with honor Faust. Oh I cannot bear it Crisp. Not when I begg thee with my latest breath Faust. Thy death my Dear And I the hated Cause Crisp. Therefore I Love thee And wou'd die agen For such another proof of thy affection Faust. As wrought thy death Crisp. Thy purpose was to save me And die thy self Therefore let 's fall together Be not cast down my Fair But raise thy Eyes Those watry setting Suns shine forth my Fausta And make our Love look beautiful in ruin Enter Souldier Arius The Emperor sends agen to have you parted Faust. Oh Crispus Whither now Crisp. To our long name Where purer Spirits drink immortal Air And thin clad Souls in flying Chariots move And give and take an everlasting Love Faust. Such Love grant Heav'n our meeting Souls betide Which no inhumane Father may divide Where at first sight our minds enlarg'd may spread Thro' all the space and know the mighty Dead Such is my hope But Crispus What my fear If I should seek But never find you there Crisp. One last Embrace Oh Fausta do not stain Our bliss with fears we ne're shall meet again Through all the Heav'n in all their Mansions blest To ev'ry Saint my Prayers shall be addrest Nor shall the happy tast a moments rest Till some kind Angel guides my wandring Eyes And shews me where thy charming spirit flies Then Crown'd with joys we never knew before We 'l waste the stock of Loves immortal store And cruel fate shall never part us more Exeunt End 4th Act. The Fifth Act Scene 1st Enter Dalmatius and Serena Seren. NOw Sir you have it all the whole sad story Of your unhappy Son his Love and mine Serena's Guilt and Crispus Innocence Therefore if you ask blood and would revenge him Here waits his Murdress for the stroak of death But hate not Crispus Hate not the Innocent Much less proceed to the Murder of your friend Your faultless guiltless too deserving friend The gentlest best of all the Imperial Race Dalm. No more There needs no more my Son is dead Eternal peace attend him A few sad drops And now no more
Not love thee O ye Powers what heart is that Annib. Hast thou not seen the Beauteous Prisoners Crisp. Ha! What Fausta meanst thou Annib. Fausta and Serena Crisp. Say which of em ' Which Beauty has Inflam'd thee Annib. Which shou'd but the most soft and Artless melter The Languishing Crisp. The killing Beauteous Come Annib. Ha! Crispus thou art Concern'd Crisp. I am to help thee Her Name Annib. Why take it then the Fair Serena Crisp. O She 's the softest sweetest killing Fair By Heaven I am glad I 'm ravisht that 't is She By this Embrace I promise thee success I know her temper well No more but leave me I was upon the Instant when I met thee Going to their Appartment Nay look up And trust thy Friend Annib. Plead then for my Life I beg thee as a God to plead my Cause Thou canst not know o' th' sudden how 't is with me How Great how Mortal and how deep the wound May all the Saints and Powers that pitty Love Inspire thy Brest as if 't were possible That Annibals Soul cou'd actuate thy body So sigh weep languish and for Mercy sue As were I Crispus I my self wou'd do Ex. Annibal Crisp. The Youth is Haughty Martial Hot and Brave Right for the Field unhappy parts for Love Therefore perhaps the Virgin likes him not But thou hast luckier Stars No sooner seen But lik'd Lov'd Marry'd Ha! but where 's the Transport Without thy Fathers knowledge thou wert Marry'd 'T is the first Fault of my unhappy youth Yet 't is a Fault but 't is the fault of Love Had he not lov'd Crispus had not been here Away you Damps and darkning Images Be gone I say Behold she comes to meet me Enter Fausta Lag as I am in this great Race of Love O Fausta Fausta Faust. O my Constantine Crisp. Ha! Faust. A mistake my fear out-went my Love Crisp. My Constantine Thy fear by Heaven 't was Ominous What cause hast thou to fear Faust. Bondage and Death Are not those Reasons for a Virgins fear Crisp. Yes for another Fausta not for thine For Oh! when he has seen and heard like me The Abstracted Charms of all this Beauteous World Expect not death but offers of a Throne Faust. 'T is possible Yet by thy self I swear By dear lov'd thee my Crispus in a Cottage Shall be prefer'd to all the Thrones on Earth Crisp. And thou forgive me Heaven I had almost said To Heaven it self No Fausta that 's the Jar Religion makes this discord in my Soul I find it now Hence come my Starts and fears Even in the height of my expected joys But Time the Saints and Miracles must win thee Faust. No Time no Miracle no Saint but thou Why thou art all the Wonders of the Earth My Saint my hearts Religion and my Heaven With thee I am imbarkt to live or Perish Not only here but in the World hereafter Crisp. Oh Extacy Oh pattern for thy Sex Yet shalt thou Master me by this Subjection Give me thy hand Thy Lip the sweets are Richer The tast Enobled Oh! my ravisht Love Glows with the pointed Charms The Heavens are open'd And I behold thee Crown'd a Saint already But I will hold thee fast lest that the Angels snatch thee Ere we have mingled Souls Faust. Oh not to Night Crisp. Ha! not to night Not on this Lov'd Confession Not when thou hast set my Spirits all on fire Not now enjoy thee Thou mak'st my fears return Far more Extravagant then they were before Lest e're we join an Apoplex shou'd seize me The Palace fall and thousand other Chances That awe th' Imagination of my Love Oh Come Faust. I will and with these longing arms Hold thee till Morn And from that Morn till Evening From Evening to Mid-day From day to Night From Night to Death I 'le clap thee thus for ever Crisp. Let 's haste then while the beckoning Minute smiles Faust. But I must swear thee first Crisp. Take Oath on Oath I swear to obey thee without asking why Faust. Swear thou wilt never leave thy Wedded Fausta What ever dreadful Chance or strange Misfortune Shou'd start to undo me almost to a Crime Crisp. No Crime But want of Love Nor that by Heaven Shall make me hate thee though it bring me Death Oh thou soft Dear if ever I forsake thee At my last hour may I despair of Mercy And may those Saints that knew the wrong I did thee When at Heavens Gate I beg for Entrance answer Remember what thou did'st to Fausta swear Be gone for ever leave this happy Sphere For perjur'd Lovers have no Mansion here Ex. Ambo End 1st Act. The Second Act Scene ROME Enter Arius and Labienus Eubolus Arius WE have done our Work by halfs follow'd by the Scent Trac'd to our Holes Oh I could play the Mad-man Men of our Make so poorly hide a Murder That Dogs can Rake it up Spies Spies by Hell The Course of former Councils was too slow I am proclaim'd a Traitor Heretiok And Poniards must proclaim my Accuser nothing Labie Were it not better to comply Arius Impossible The Genius of the proud imperial Brothers And mine by Nature Mortally oppos'd Hate strongly at first sight which hate improv'd By the late flaw I found in their Religion They hear too how I tainted Infant Julian Yet being made the Emperours Confident In the late Contract all might have been retreiv'd And I at Helm had not his hated Brother Thus interpos'd to my eternal Ruine Poison and Ponyard Eubol. Is it come to that Ari. It is without dispatch we are all undone Oh for a Slave to mould some Malecontent His blood adust and blackned with the blows Of adverse Fortune yet of Soul elate And to be flush'd for Fame or hire To any kind of daring Lab. Why Ari. I would work the Melancholy brave To stab Dalmatius Eubol. Why not Constantine Ari. Because ten Constantines live at least in him The one 's not half so open to Destruction As t'other close and on the Guard to save him He has unravell'd our close Webb of Thought And from the bottom of our dark Design Drawn Treason forth perhaps to hang us all Lab. 'T is justly thought this Lett must be remov'd And who so fit to hew it into pieces As that ambitious brawny Fool Lycinius Ari. Thou hast hit the Man my busie Brain had lost The Emperour dooms him dead by whose Advice Tell me I hear the dull Lycinius cry That e're I fall the Victim of the War I may at once destroy his Life and Name Enter Lycinius Guards But see he comes I bring you News Lycin. Ha! of my Death I read it in thy Face Ari. The Emperour as at first I told your Story Ready Trumpets a March at distance Inclin'd to Mercy but fierce Dalmatius Call Serena Repeal'd the hint of your half granted Pardon And forc'd him to your Death Lycin. By Mars I 'll fight him Ari. 'T is not in your Power You
If thus he has transgress't not then my vows Not all the Conquests of his blooming Years With my whole Empires Knees and lifted Hands Not the remembrance of his Mothers Tears When on her death-bed she bequeathed his safety To my best Care and Love shall once redeem him Arius What shall be done to him that finds the truth Const. Reward and Honour He shall be my friend Arius I ask no more henceforth I 'm yours To search tho at the Peril of my life The bottom of this business Const. Say and do But send my Wardrobe now to Fausta's side Bear her the Diadem with stile of Empress And say this night I bed Her Arius That will prove her If she refuse You know Sir what to judge Nor would it be amiss to break discourse About your Son and sift her subtle Soul Const. I apprehend thee But as I commanded Away Oh Constantinel Yet e're this search Whatever comes Remember he 's thy Son Son of thy Love and once was next thy Soul But as the best are worst when once corrupted If he has sinn'd at all he has sinn'd to Death The Thought distracts me Heav'n remove this Trouble Or I shall run to my old Gods again But hush awhile I 'll bear my Passion cold I 'll curb it while the Reins of Reason hold But if they break then Nature where 's thy Call Be deaf to Reason Nature Judgment All The Precipice is Fate and if we roul The Fault is theirs that fool'd us with a Soul Exit Scene II. Enter Crispus with a Dagger and Fausta Faust. HOld hold thy hand Crisp. Think not I meant to kill Thee No thou seducer were thy Stains more deep Think not too Despair and Rage cou'd so unman me To hurt a Woman Yet thou shalt hear me Fausta And if the Story of thy Crimes can kill thee I 'll lay thy Wounds wide open to the Air Display the Perjuries of thy bleeding Heart And to thy Incest add at last a Murder Faust. Stab with thy Dagger then but let thy Tongue Destroy no more Crisp. Oh all ye Powers who that had known last Night The Joys which I have known could once have thought it Who that had heard her Vows when on my Breast Weary'd with Oaths and out of Breath with Kisses She panting swore And wish'd Destruction seize her If she were not content so one night more Her ravish'd Soul like that might entertain To live her Miseries and past Life again Faust. By all those Powers you name and by your own I wish so still Crisp. Yet at that very Minute When thus she swore to know she was forsworn Conscious her Faith was plighted to another And who that other pick'd from all Mankind To make her more abhor'd but my own Father Faust. What Load on Load Crisp. Her violated Hands Were plighted fast with his and Kisses past Faust. Hold hold and let my Tears atone my Lord Or sink upon the Earth Crisp. The Center Fausta The Center cannot hide thee from the Horrors Of thy own Conscience which are my Avengers And wheresoe're thou fly'st shall follow thee With inward Hells for the base Wrong thou hast done me Faust. O Crispus never never wilt thou end Crisp. By Heav'n I know thy damnable Design Thou hast this Night contriv'd to ruine Nature To make the Angels sick with such a Crime As equals hers that first betray'd the World Faust. I 'll stop thee with my Kisses Crisp. Off Crocodile Faust. Why use thy Ponyard then Crisp. Nor that nor this I had design'd 't is true to stab my self But second Thoughts instruct me thus to haunt thee Like an eternal Fiend to follow thee To hollow still Damnation in thy Ear And hinder thee from Incest with my Father Oh horrid Thought Faust. Oh horrid Thought indeed Crisp. Why does it not possess thee Thou fair insinuating Snake wouldst thou then guild thy Poison Swear on my Ponyard swear and damn thy self Thou hast not plotted as this Night to twist Thy incestuous Arms about my Father's Neck Faust. Yes I will swear But let me lean my Head Against thy Breast while I recover Breath For I am faint with Groans Crisp. Oh Heart Oh Love She grasps so hard and locks so with her Charms I cannot put her from me Fausta is 't possible Is it then possible Thou canst be good So good at least as being thus gone in Sin To go no further Faust. Let me swear For I will face the Gods in such a Cause And standing on the Guard of Innocence Swear all I 've done was but th' Effect of Love Crisp. Again thou' rt fallen for thou art guilty Fausta Of Impious Treasons and incestuous Love Faust. I am not Crispus Crisp. Ha! not guilty Fausta Then farewel all Faust. Hold hold not guilty to my Crispus Fall not to Rage again and I 'll confess I was compell'd to be contracted to him Not wedded nor possest Crisp. Why didst thou hide thy Contract Faust. Because 't was forc'd by Fear nor did I dare Reveal it to thee e're I had thee sure So much I lov'd thee Crispus Crisp. But what hadst thou decreed to do to night This fatal Night if that the Emperour Had sworn to enjoy thee Faust. Stop him with my Tears Or if they fail'd to dam his Passion thus And sheath this hidden Ponyard in my Heart Crisp. Is 't possible Thou should'st so greatly dare Faust. Yes Crispus Thou shalt see by what 's to come Oh! therefore take me to thy Breast and swear Crisp. Swear first thy self he never shall possess thee Faust. What needs an Oath after possessing Thee Crisp. Yet for the Satisfaction of my Soul And Cement of our everlasting Loves Swear thou wilt never Faust. Never Crispus never By Heav'n and Earth by all that 's great and holy I swear thy Father never shall embrace me Crisp. What never Oh yet closer Never Fausta Faust. By all this Dearness never Crispus never Enter Arius Arius What Faults are gone and past it matters not But you had best beware of what 's to come Haste Sir away See there the Beds prepar'd Scene draws The Diadem and Name of Empress given Your Father 's at my Heels hark you are warn'd Soft Musick I hear him come and wish you Sir away Ex. Arius Crisp. Oh Fausta Faust. Take no Thought Crisp. If he should charm thee Or scare thee to Compliance Faust. That distrust Again by Heav'n I 'll dye before he enters Crisp. Hold thee my Heart my Life my Love my Soul I 'll stay and hazard all but hark he comes I would advise Live if thou canst with Honour If not he 's here fall and I 'll follow thee Ex. Crispus Re-enter Arius with Constantine Const. Ha Arius see'st thou there Ari. Crispus I think Const. Did'st thou not see him Ari. Yes Const. Why dost thou then suppose it but thy Thought Ari. Because I do not like his being here Const. Nor I by Heav'n Withdraw and wait my Call
my Blessing never hope it Nor ever think of loving her again Crisp. Impossibilities Were you a God And doom'd me thus I could not Sir obey you For I have sworn to love her while I have Life And if I love her I must hope Enjoyment Const. Death then and Curses on thy Disobedience Off Villain Traitor grovel there on Earth What are you Plotters too nay then 't is time To haste his Ruine Ruine is thy doom And wing'd with all my Curses it shall come Ex. with Dalm. Sylvester Crisp. Dalmatius and Sylvester Call him back And I 'll renounce my Love Heav'n 't is too much But hark I hear a Voice cry Crispus come Come to the thoughtless Grave where all is still It shall be so up then and fall a Man Come forth thou Minister of others Fates And be thy Masters now Where art thou Fausta Where is my Love to close my dying Eyes Enter Annibal Annib. Ha Traitor Art thou then prepar'd for Death Crisp. Yes Annibal I will receive it calmly From any Hand but thine What have I done That he should call me Traitor Annib. Guard thy self Or else by Heav'n thou dy'st Crisp. Hold. Is 't possible so quickly Can the desire of Empire lose a Friend My Father I offended but not Thee Execute then the Ruine which he dooms Ungrateful Man I will not make Defence But spread my Arms t' embrace the Death he sends me Annib. What thou deserv'st from him I neither know Nor care resolv'd upon my own Revenge Not but I think the Man who did his Friend So horrible a Wrong as thou hast done Is fit for any Mischief Therefore guard thee Crisp. Never to fight with thee not tho my Father Should grant my Love Therefore I sheath my Sword Annib. Traytor Coward Crisp. Oh Annibal I know I am no Traytor And thou whose Life I have so oft preserv'd Know'st but too well I am no Coward Annib. Draw Draw then or perish By the Gods I 'll kill thee Strikes him with his Sword Be what thou wilt and take this to provoke thee Crisp. Well Annibal 'T is well Thou hast done well Yet thus much Villany am I content to bear No longer oh ungrateful for thy sake Who injur'st me yet will not tell the Cause But for thy noble Father I will spare thee Spare thee thus far so thou resolve to leave me Annib. Not yet Why then another Crisp. But the next Be mine Humanity can bear no further Annib. falls Annib. I have my Death and now my Heart relents Crisp. Cut off my Hand Annib. Crispus thou hast wrong'd me Crisp. Speak how and where Enter Serena Annib. See she comes to tell thee Serena Oh Serena Dies Crisp. Gone for ever Seren. Oh never to return and I alas Who could not love again the wretched Cause Crisp. The Cursed Cause Seren. Call me not Cursed Crispus Who think no Blessing equal to thy Love Crisp. Wert thou a Man by Heav'n such Love I bear thee I think that I should seek thee through the World To give thee Death Seren. Take then the Death you threaten Prepare to suffer by a Virgins hand Crisp. Kill me and I 'll forgive thee Annibal's Death But take this Sword yet reeking with his Blood And thrust it through my Heart Seren. Yet hold Serena What will become of him when thou art slain Kill himself last and that I would prevent Crisp. Why dost thou stay Enter Sylvester Silv. Crispus I come to tell thee Thy Futher will not hear us Seren. Take these Swords Sylvester bear 'em hence Without Reply or Crispus kills himself Away Sylv. Crispus Death I thank thee Heav'n that sent me to preserve him Exit Crisp. Why hast thou thus delay'd my Ruine Seren. To make thy Torments lasting Live that my Ghost and Annibal's may haunt thee Yet when I come believe for all my Threatnings My Soul shall seek thee in a gentle form Court thee to Cells and to the Garden shade And tell thee there what Love with us is made What Fires the Fiends for willfull Murder make And what my Spirit suffers for thy sake But hark I 'm call'd behold the Dead awake They wast me Crispus to the sleepy Shore And I shall never never see thee more Ex. Seren. Crisp. She 's gone and takes the means of Death too from me So what 's the next What have the Fates to add To my past Sufferings Lightning blast me Mountains fall on me gape to the Center Earth To hide me from my friend Enter Dalmatius Dalm. Why my dearest Crispus but alas In vain I urg'd thy Father deaf to all Our prayers remorsless rocky and unmov'd Yet think not but I press'd with all my Love Crisp. Therefore in great requital for thy Love Look there and let thy Blood congeal to Stone Behold thy Annibal butcher'd by this Hand Dalm. Cold cold my Boy Crispus Have I have I But I waste time by such unmanly wailing Take to thy Sword Crisp. Thou seest I 've none but strike Dalm. What could provoke thee to this horrid deed Crisp. His jealousie and Anger of the Heav'ns Jealous I robb'd him of Serena's Love He call'd me Traitor Coward strook me twice Before I drew than ran upon my Sword Dalm. Whatever happen'd I 'm a wretched Father And thou hast robb'd me of an only Child Therefore hereafter we no more are one Where e're I go I 'll ask before I enter If Crispus be not there that I may shun thee Therefore if thou hast any Gratitude For those kind offices which I have done thee Fly these sad Eyes as I will run from thine To moan my Son and howl my life away Ex. Dalmatius Crisp. Sol. And whither thou Thou heap of walking woe Thou that hast pull'd thy Father's Curse upon thee Kill'd thy best friend and ruin'd all that Lov'd thee Where will at last thy Cruel fortune drive thee Hence tear thy Robes And naked fly the World Unmantled to the Weather wander on To some dark wild where Sun-beam never shone Ex. Crispus Scene II. Enter Constantine Arius Fausta Sylvester Faust. COnsider Sir his Youth Const. I have consider'd all But find thy Love so rooted in my heart I must forgo my life or lose my Claim Yet mark how deep thy tears have wrought my temper If thou wilt swear to null my marriage with him By wedding me in publick and this night By making me thy Lord Faust. No Sir 't is impossible yet if you 'll swear To save your Son if I should prove him guiltless I 'll tell you wonders Sir which otherwise Not Racks shall e're compel Const. Forbid it Heav'n I should destroy the guiltless Tho strangers to my blood much less my Son Therefore I swear by Heav'n and all the Saints Prove Crispus innocent he shall not die Faust. Be witnesses Oh Arius and Sylvester What he has sworn Let Crispus strait be call'd And quitted of his Crime Run Arius haste That I may see the Royal friendship made
may as safely Launch their Emperor As wound his Son But Fausta must prepare There is no other way to reconcile us Crisp. Then hold me Sir at everlasting distance Cast me agen for ever from your sight Banish me Curse me as you did before But make not Fausta's death the Cursed cause To save this Villains life This hangman Traitor Nay Coward that can live and hear her threatned Faust. My Love my Lord Blame not thy noble Father Nor Curse thy self for this was all my seeking Crisp. Thy seeking Ha! And seekest thou my embraces After the base dishonor thou hast done me Hence from my Arms Faust. I will not I will hold thee To my last gasp and grasp thee after death Why push me yet agen Nay strike me Crispus I will not leave thy Bosom Crisp. See he 's going By my blest Mothers Soul let me come at him Const. Arius see it done All Prayers are vain some of you break his hold Crisp. Dalmatius and Sylvester will not sure And for the rest let me but see who dares Const. Their Emperor commands 'em help to force him I charge thee Crispus leave me And dare not by this willfulness provoke me Crisp. I have no willfulness But these stubborn Tears Hear my last sighs For groans quite choak my words My Fausta's life Or break my heart before you Faust. Sir do not hear him snatch your self away And leave us here I 'll hush him e're I die And send him weeping to you for his Pardón Const. He sees 't is vain And has let go his hold Withdraw yet Brother we 'll observe unseen I do not like this sudden fullenness Fausta farewel Arius dispatch No more Exeunt Crispus Arius Fausta Executioners Faust. Now Crispus Now my Dear wilt thou forgive me This glorious Conquest of Triumphing Love Crisp. No By my Soul and by my hopes of Heav'n Not at thy parting groan will I forgive thee But rather Curse the hour when first I saw thee Curse our first Kisses Marriage and Embraces Unless thou joyn me Ha come forwarder With Arius joyn me to provide some means That I may bear thee company in Death If this thou dost deny me by the Saints By all our Loves I swear thou never Lov'st me Arius By Heav'n my Lord I pitty you and if Faust. If Arius What Thou wilt not joyn his madness Crisp. Hark Arius By our friendship I conjure thee For I have sworn I will not eat nor drink Tho I survive this hour Arius I have the means Crisp. A Dagger Blessings on thee Give 't me I say Faust. Arius thou art a Villain Crisp. I 'll tell my Father that I forc'd it from thee Faust. Keep Keep it from him or I 'll tell the Emperor 'T was you that first betray'd him to my Love And Marry'd us Arius Hold Madam Let me begg you Crisp. Now Love I am for thee Faust. No! I 'll call the Emperor Oh that damn'd Villain Traitor Devil Arius Help there without Crispus is Murder'd Help Arius Nay then 't is time to fly Constatine meets him 〈…〉 est Const. Yes Fiend to Hell Where thou shalt make thy Damn'd account In with him Cast the unblooded Villain in the Bath Which he prepar'd for others Throw him in Arius Hold Sir the Bath's not Poison'd Const. How Arius Compassion for your Emprèss Made me contrive this only way to save her Const. Thou hast done well Yet in with him to try Arius Hold Sir And I 'll confess it is it is 'T is Poison'd Pardon Const. Down with him keep him down Till he be dead Then give him to his Slaves The Bath sinks with him O Crispus Why Why dost thou Eye me thus With snatch'd regards Why dost thou Eye thy Father Now looking on thy Dagger now on Fausta As if 't were possible to deny her still Crispus Deny her Why Sir Mean you then to give her Const. Or let me stand a Curse to after Ages It is the hand of Heav'n not mine that gives her The Treasons of the perjur'd Arius So turn my Soul and quite reduce my reason That I will give her thee without a Pang Take her my Son And with her all the blessings And all the Love my loaded Bosom bears The Dews of Heav'n and these thy Fathers Tears Crisp. Oh Joys Faust. Oh Heav'n Crisp. Fausta Faust. Crispus Caesar Crisp. Father But let us prostrate as a God approach him Thou glorious Image of the Deity What shall we answer Const. Crispus Fausta Nothing Nothing but rise and take me in your Arms. Thus brooding o're you with a fruitful Joy I prophecy by my example led Such Love and peace thro' all the World shall spread And Roman Arts that British Isle adorn Where Helena Deceas'd and I was Born While Crispus thus to Fausta's Love I give And both for ever in my Bosom live Ex. Omnes FINIS
Constantine THE GREAT A TRAGEDY ACTED at the Theatre-Royal By their Majesties Servants Written by NAT. LEE Gent. LONDON Printed by H. Hills Jun. for R. Bently in Russel-Street Covent-Garden and J. Tonson at the Judges-Head in Chancery-Lane near Fleet-street 1684. Dramatis Personae COnstantine Mr. Smith Dalmatius Mr. Griffin Crispus Mr. Betterton Annibal Mr. Goodman Lycinius Mr. Wiltshire Arius Mr. Gillo Labienus Mr. Perin Eubolus Mr. Saunders Sylvester Mr. Bowman WOMEN Fausta Mrs. Barrey Serena Mrs. Cook Angels Priests Guards and Attendants A Catalogue of PLAYS Printed for R. Bentley 1. TArtuff or the French Puritan 2. Forc'd Marriage or the Jealous Bridegroom 3. English Monsieur 4. All mistaken or the Mad Couple 5. Generous Enemies or the Ridiculous Lovers 6. The Plain-Dealer 7. Sertorius a Tragedy 8. Nero a Tragedy 9. Sophonisba or Hannibal's Overthrow 10. Gloriana or the Court of Augustus Caesar. 11. Alexander the Great 12. Mithridates King of Pontus 13. Oedipus King of Thebes 14. Caesar Borgia 15. Theodosius or the Force of Love 16. Madam Fickle or the Witty False One. 17. The Fond Husband or the Plotting Sisters 18. Esquire Old Sap or the Night Adventures 19. Fool turn'd Critick 20. Virtuous Wise or Good Luck at last 21. The Fatal Wager 22. Andromache 23. Country Wit 24. Calisto or the Chaste Nymph 25. Destruction of Jerusalem in two Parts 26. Ambitious Statesman or the Loyal Favourite 27. Misery of Civil War 28. The Murder of the Duke of Glocester 29. Thyestes a Tragedy 30. Hamlet Prince of Denmark a Tragedy 31. The Orphan or the Unhappy Marriage 32. The Souldiers Fortune 33. Tamerlain the Great 34. Mr. Limberham or the Kind Keeper 35. Mistaken Husband 36. Notes of Morocco by the Wits 37. Essex and Elizabeth or the Unhappy Favourite 38. Virtue Betray'd or Anna Bulleign 39. King Leare 40. Abdellazor or the Moors Revenge 41. Town-Fop or Sir Tim. Tawdery 42. Rare en tout a French Comedy 43. Moor of Venice 44. Country Wife 45. City Politicks 46. Duke of Guise 47. Rehearsal 48. King and no King 49. Philaster or Love lies a Bleeding 50. Maids Tragedy 51. Grateful Servant 52. Strange Discovery 53. Atheist or the Second Part of the Souldiers Fortune 54. Wit without Money 55. Little Thief 56. Valiant Scot. 57. Constantine 58. Valentinian 59. Amorous Prince 60. Dutch Lovers 61. Woman Rules 62. Reformation 63. Hero and Leander 64. Love Tricks 65. Julius Caesar. 66. Fatal Jealousie 67. Monsieur Ragou PROLOGUE Spoken by Mr. Goodman WHat think ye meant wise Providence when first Poets were made I 'd tell you if I durst That 't was in Contradiction to Heaven's Word That when its Spirit o're the Waters stir'd When it saw All and said That All was good The Creature Poet was not understood For were it worth the Pains of six long Days To mould Retailers of dull Third-Day-Plays That starve out threescore Years in hopes of Bays 'T is plain they ne're were of the first Creation But came by meer Equiv'cal Generation Like Rats in Ships without Coition bred As hated too as they are and unfed Nature their Species sure must needs disown Scarce knowing Poets less by Poets known Yet this poor Thing so scorn'd and set at nought Ye all pretend to and would fain be thought Disabl'd wasting Whore-Masters are not Prouder to own the Brats they never got Than Fumbling Itching Rhimers of the Town T' adopt some base-born Song that 's not their own Spite of his State My Lord sometimes descends To please the Importunity of Friends The dullest he thought most for Business fit 'T will venture his bought Place to aim at Wit And though he sinks with his Imploys of State Till Common Sense forsake him he 'll Translate The Poet and the Whore alike complains Of trading Quality that spoils their Gains The Lords will Write and Ladies will have Swains Therefore all you who have Male Issue born Under the Starving Sign of Capricorn Prevent the Malice of their Stars in time And warn them early from the Sin of Rhime Tell 'em how Spencer starv'd how Cowley mourn'd How Butler's Faith and Service was return'd And if such Warning they refuse to take This last Experiment O Parents make With Hands behind them see the Offender ty'd The Parish Whip and Beadle by his side Then lead him to some Stall that does expose The Authors he loves most there rub his Nose Till like a Spaniel lash'd to know Command He by the due Correction understand To keep his Brains clean and not foul the Land Till he against his Nature learn to strive And get the Knack of Dullness how to thrive EPILOGUE Spoken by Mrs. COOK OUr Hero's happy in the Plays Conclusion The holy Rogue at last has met Confusion Though Arius all along appear'd a Saint The last Act shew'd him a true Protestant Eusebius for you know I read Greek Authors Reports that after all these Plots and Slaughters The Court of Constantine was full of Glory And every Trimmer turn'd Addressing Tory They follow'd him in Herds as they were mad When Clause was King then all the World was glad Whiggs kept the Places they possest before And most were in a way of getting more Which was as much as saying Gentlemen Here 's Power and Money to be Rogues again Indeed there were a sort of peaking Tools Some call them Modest but I call 'em Fools Men much more Loyal tho not half so loud But these poor Devils were cast behind the Croud For bold Knaves thrive without one Grain of Sense But good Men starve for want of Impudence Besides all these there were a sort of Wights I think my Author calls them Teckelites Such hearty Rogues against the King and Laws They favour'd even a Foreign Rebel's Cause When their own damn'd Design was quash'd and aw'd At least they gave it their good Word abroad As many a Man who for a quiet Life Breeds out his Bastard not to nose his Wife Thus o're their Darling Plot these Trimmers cry And though they cannot keep it in their Eye They bind it Prentice to Count Teckely They believe not the last Plot may I be curst If I believe they e're believ'd the first No wonder their own Plot no Plot they think The Man that makes it never smells the Stink And now it comes into my Head I 'll tell Why these damn'd Trimmers lov'd the Turks so well The Original Trimmer though a Friend to no Man Yet in his Heart ador'd a pretty Woman He knew that Mahomet laid up for ever Kind Black-ey'd Rogues for every true Believer And which was more than mortal Man e're tasted One Pleasure that for threescore Twelve-months lasted To turn for this may surely be forgiven who 'd not be circumcis'd for such a Heav'n Miscellany Poems containing a new Translation of Virgil's Eclogues Ovid's Love-Elegies Odes of Horace and other Authors By several Hands Poems upon several Occasions with a Voyage to the Land of Love By Mrs. A. Behn Both printed
for J. Tonson at the Judge's-Head in Chancery-Lane near Fleet-street Constantine THE GREAT The First Act. Scene 1st Constantine sleeping in a Pavillion Silvester standing at distance two Angels descend with Banners in their hands This Motto In hoc signo vince Writ in Gold Sing 1. Ang. AWake O Constantine awake Or in thy sleep the Prospect take Here in this hallow'd streaming Gold The Prospect of thy Life behold This Emblem of a bleeding Love Shall both thy Cross and Triumph prove For alass 't is decreed by the Heavenly Doom To purge thy past Crimes there 's a Torment to come 2. Ang. Yet after the Storm believe in me No more disturb'd thy thoughts shall be But all Serene as a breathless Sea Chor. And still thy Handmaid Victory Where er'e thou go'st shall wait on thee And all shall end in Harmony 3. Ang. speaks Awake and ponder the Celestial Song Thy vow'd Conversion is delay'd too long Awake remember the Celestial Doom That threatned Torments and a Cross to come Yet after all the Menaces of Fate Be wash'd And Calms shall on those Tempests wait For true Repentance never comes too late Angels ascend Constantine awakes Const. Stay I adjure you by the Holy Name That bows your Airy Heads I charge you stay They 're gone Those Beauteous Legates of the Skies And left me puzling here to die in doubt Unless Silvester guide me with a Clew Through the dark Mazes of this folding Dream Silv. To purge your past Crimes there 's a Torment to come Ay there the Torment too repeated thrice Const. But say what Torment Silv. A dangerous Torment govern'd by ill Stars Which were I Emperour should be soon prevented Const. By Heaven it shall by me Silv. You must not Swear Lest you shou'd be forsworn Const. If Heaven require My Life as an Atonement for my Sins Lead to the Altar Saint and I will bleed Silv. I dare believe you would But this is more Const. More then my Life Why then 't is Reputation But I have learnt in Christian Schools to lay My Honour down And own my self a Worm To wash the Pilgrims Feet to bid the Saints Tread on this Earth This trash this heap of Sin Silv. But there 's a Bosom Foe to Conquer yet And there 's my fear Const. Your fear my Saint after what I have said Silv. My fear my Emperour though you had sworn Const. Had I a Race of Sons like Crispus dear Hope of my vows my Souldier and my Love Early Renown'd and Pious from the Womb Yet were my Bowels Foes to that Religion Whose Infant growth I water'd with my Blood I Swear by Heav'n they should be mine no more Silv. Your Son 's the Angels care and when he dies The foremost of the Quire shall meet him with a Crown But have you not a Wife Const. You know I had A dear one and by much my better part Silv. But have you not another Const. When she dy'd All Beauty-fled with her Silv. This Beauty lives Can you deny a Truth Const. Silvester why Why dost thou press me thus to my Confusion Silv. Because this Beauty Sir may bring confusion Const. Large as an Angels knowledg be your own And at one View receive whole Nature in Yet if you tax my Choice with least dishonour I must declare you wrong her Silv. Then you are at least contracted to Maximinus Daughter A Heathen born Const. But bred a Cherubin She has all the Beauties of her Sex below And equal Virtues with the blest above Silv. Dares Constantine the Christian so Renownd Say this to me Const. Dares any Saint deny 't Silv. That Fausta is not Guilty Const. Ha! of what Silv. Of all the ills that shall attend your Life Of all Const. Hold hold lest I fall out with Heaven Silv. Of all the Blots that shall in after times Stain your white Character and blast your Fame While weeping Readers shall lament your Story Therefore away with her Const. First let me die Penurious Heaven and Oh! thou Niggard Saint Did I not Offer you my Darling Son With all my Race as Victims to your Shrines If they were Guilty in a point of Faith To wash their Heresies with Royal Blood And do you grudge me one but one poor Pleasure For all the Pains of my Unwearied Wars Then take my Life take Empire Glory all Take all I offer'd this Ungrateful Priest Who in requital will allow me nothing Silv. Forgive me Heaven my too officious Care For interposing in thy dark Decrees In Christian patience he is yet but young Chastise him now And make the Tryal strong Const. What have I said that I am past forgiveness Your Silence argues me undone for ever Yet think me not so lost in desperate Love But while offending I can kneel for Pardon Silv. What I have offer'd to your Choice Was not Commission'd me to say from Heaven Therefore the pardon must be mutual All I have urg'd was but a thoughtful boding No more of that be happy in your Love Const. Oh! you have Charm'd me into Life agen And fear not but she shall become a Christian I must confess that yet she is a Heathen As such I Lov'd Her in Her Fathers Court Where first we Plighted vows in Arius hands But the dark Contract was so close Contriv'd I wonder how you reach'd the Truth so soon But Heaven reveal'd it or you cou'd not know it Since I may swear She is not yet enjoy'd Silv. By you Const. By me Your answer 's short and home Who shou'd possess her else Silv. Young and a Heathen Left in the Sensual Maximians Court Const. No Sir She 's Guarded and secure at Rome Crispus not yet acquainted with our Contract Is sent in show for I had other purpose To make his Judgment of my Fausta's Person Whether to be preserv'd or like Her Father To hinder Insurrections be destroy'd But hark What March is this Perhaps 't is he And these his Trumpets with the Legions Rais'd Trumpets without Enter Arius and Eubolus Both. Long live the Emperour Const. Is Crispus come With those Auxiliar Legions we requir'd And Money sent to pay the last Arrears Ari. Nothing obey'd When first your Orders came Which by your Brother were in the Forum Read I never saw so sudden a Revolt At once they Cry'd our Liberty's betray'd Our Courts of Justice Rob'd Old Rights Infring'd Our Gods must down our Shrines and Temples burn And all for a phantastick Old Wives Tale A Cross they Cry'd one of Silvesters Lies Which never yet was seen by waking Eyes But either feign'd or Dreamt of in the Skies Const. Is this their Answer to my strict Commands Ari. Crispus by this return'd to join your Brother When straight some Devil whisper'd in their Ears Your Son already had begun the Change The Statue of Apollo was pull'd down To make his Fathers Place Whereon they cry'd Your Image should be Burnt and with a breath The Cockle and the Corn bow'd all that
hand Sculk to your Posts and â—ive in Mists a way Ex. Ari. Lab. Eub. Crisp. Now my Dalmatius now thou hast my Heart And make good use on 't if I ne're see thee more By Heav'n my Friend I have not hid a Point Of that sad Story that must make my Ruine Dalm. Would thou hadst told me half of it before I might have sav'd thee many a Sigh and Tear Pray Heav'n no worse come on 't but 't is no time T' upbraid thee now What wou'dst thou have me do Crisp. Perswade my Father from enjoying her For if that be to night as once he vow'd Thou shalt behold thy Crispus dead to morrow Dalm. And what of Fausta Crisp. I know not what That subtle false one that has thus deceiv'd me And with her charms ensnar'd my innocent Soul But I will hence Dalm. For what Crisp. To execute The Vows I made Dalm. Go then and kill her Crisp. Ha! Dalm. Kill th' Adulteress This incestuous Charmer And have her born in Triumph to thy Father Then tell thy Tragick story like a Man And greatly thus Atone for both your Crimes Crisp. Farewell I 'll find another way to end her Dalm. Tongue kill her go or swear and be forsworn Thou ne're wilt see her more Heav'n That a Man Born to the Empire of the World should dote On such slight stuff as Woman Crisp. See my Father Look thou to Him as I 'll be guard on Her Incest Dishonour To all future Ages Think Think on that and push him from his ruine Ex. Crispus Enter Constantine Sylvester Dalmatius Const. What say the People to the rumour spred Of my new Contract Sylv. All the Christians mourn And sicken in their Souls as if Heav'n warn'd The Earth of some unheard Calamity The Heathens on the other side rejoice And cry a Persecution is at hand Const. No matter to the point Knowst thou the man Whom Fausta Loves Sylv. I told you Sir before I would be dumb for ever on this Theam Const. Yet this implies thou knowst but wilt not show him All know him all all but he that shou'd For Crispus has confess'd Yet hides the name But I 'll find out one Less meriting respect whom Racks shall force Dalm. If you intend your Empires safety Sir Cast Fausta from your Bosom Turn her out Away with her far let her be Exil'd With all her race For Death is in her Beauty Const. My Brother offer this Death in her Beauty Dalm. Violent sudden Death Death to your Health and Ruine to your Glory Const. Perhaps he is the man Her Lover Yes And thus conceals his flame with Covert rage For else what Cause could thus provoke his Passion What is the Publick Interest here concern'd Their murmurings or their joys which with a nod My Power can hush By Heav'n there 's more at bottom And I will find it out Their looks betray e'm Priest Princes all engag'd and for some great one Enter Arius But hold here comes my Man Brother I 've thought And will consider further what you urg'd Against my Wife Dalm. We leave you to Heav'ns care And wish you to beware that waiting Fiend Ex. Dalm. Sylv. Const. So now your business Arius Arius Sir Const. Your business The Coast is clear be your Confession so And speak what all the Court have sworn to hide Arius Sir Labienus gave me your Commands That I shou'd wait Const. Dost thou dally with me Thou knowst the least of thy Enormous Crimes Deserve a lengthen'd death Think on thy Treason Atheism Blasphemies against the Highest Think on the purpos'd murther of my Brother Wrought by thy Charms thou damn'd one after this Let thy affrighted Soul despise my wrath And if she dares be dumb to my demands Arius What must I Answer Const. Give me Truth for Truth Once more then And this warning be thy last Show me the robber of my hearts repose Friend to my Crispus but his Fathers Foe The Conquering Rival of my ravish't Love Arius What has your Son reveal'd Const. He says she 's false but tells me not to whom Swears she 's foresworn And when I see him next I shall know more Arius What if you never see him Const. Why dost thou start a Question so unlikely Arius I cannot think he will betray his Friend He who betrays his friend betrays himself And rather than do that I judge he 'll leave your sight The Empire and his Love for ever Const. Love Arius Ha! His Love What Love To whom Arius Why Love to you What other Love shou'd Crispus entertain He has no Mistress sure Const. Thou seem'st to hint As if he had Mark thy foregoing words He who betrays his friend betrays himself By Heav'n Thou hast set my anxious Soul a' work For when thou saidst he has no Mistress sure Thy meaning was to make me think he had And that this Mistress could be none but Fausta Arius I hope dread Sir you will not wrest my words And Innocent thoughts to any evil purpose Const. What! at your tricks agen Be quick my Traitor And spread at once thy double Heart before me Dost thou not judge my Son his Father's Rival Arius If you would know my Heart indeed I do Const. Why what a Devil wert thou then to deny 't So pittifully play the Hypocrite And scrue that lying Face into a show Of Innocence When nature stampt thee for a Villain Arius Forgive me Sir if I avow 't was fear Not Villany that made me hide my thought Const. All fear but fear of Heav'n betray 's a guilt And guilt is Villany But let thy fear Produce what past betwixt the wicked pair Show me th' Adulteress and Adulterer Where how and when this Incest was Committed Who was the Instrument and Cursed Bawd And damn'd contriver of their horrid joys Arius Oh Heav'n Const. O Hell For there shalt thou be hurl'd And rost in Sulphur if Thou not tell me all Thou who perhaps thy self wer 't the Contriver The Bawd I nam'd and Instrument of their lust Arius Hold Sir And I 'll confess I 've seen your Son Oftner then I have wish'd attend your Fausta And seen him late from her Apartment come I 've heard him praise her long and when the praise Was finish'd sigh that he durst praise no longer At least I thought so but my thought 's no proof Const. No Arius not enough for Crispus Death But there 's enough to turn my Spirit from him To make me loath his form When next we meet From Head to Foot to measure him with my Eye Both as an Object of my scorn and hate Arius That Love has past betwixt 'em is past doubt But for enjoying Const. Knowst thou ought of that Arius Not I by Heav'n Const. Why didst thou start it then Arius Sir to be satisfi'd what you wou'd do Upon the demonstration Const. Both shou'd bleed Both dye as sure as we are living Arius For him 't were sacriledge to think to save him
Ar. retires What now my Fausta Ha! in Tears my Fair What on thy Wedding Night Why dost thou fly me Am I a Ravisher Howe're reputed Bloody in Fields in Chambers I am gentle As thy own Thoughts Therefore let our Vows be scal'd and then to bed Faust. What said you Sir Const. Why to Bed my Love And hide thy Virgin Fears Thou wilt be bolder there Faust. Alas I dare not Const. Why Faust. I 've sworn my Lord. Const. What and to whom Faust. To Heav'n I 've sworn Howe're contracted that I will not wed you Const. When Faust. Not to night Const. When then Faust. Press me no further For I can only answer with my Tears Const. Speak for I 'll know th' Extremity to night Why then to morrow but by Heav'n no longer For now I 've sworn too Faust. But I vow'd first And swear again to keep that Vow till Death To morrow and to morrow add to those Ten Millions more You never shall embrace me Const. Is 't possible after thy Faith was given Faust. Not given but by a Conquerour compell'd Const. And hast thou rightly scan'd the Conquerour's Rage Ha! Fausta hast thou plac'd thy Fathers Fate Before thy Eyes And thought upon thy own Faust. Just to your purpose I 'm prepar'd for Death Rather than entertain you in my Bed Therefore if you set down t' enjoy me Sir Or doom me dead upon the Earth I beg you To speak your Will And Fausta shall revenge you This Ponyard strait shall act your vow'd Revenge And take her from the World Const. Rise Fausta rise By Heav'n I find 't is vain to strive against thee Take then what more thou valu'st than the World And what in spite of me the Fates ordain thee My Crispus for thy Love Faust. Ah Sir what mean you Const. Why would'st thou strive to hide what Nature shows Dalmatius Arius and Sylvester know it And over-wrought me for my Empires Safety To this great Act to yield thee to my Son Faust. Did Arius too No sure they rather wrought you To yield me to my Grave Const. No. To my Throne Already 't is decreed my Caesar weds thee Not but I own I came to work thee from him But since not Death it self can daunt thy Love Forbid it Heav'n that I should break such Union Haste Arius Call my Son I 'll give him now Now while my Reason lets me see my Dotage How ill such Autumn suits thy Beauties Spring But haste and bring him while the heat is on me For I will have you wedded in my presence And if thy Heart consent to make a Turn As strange as kind this Night he shall enjoy thee Faust. Oh Heav'n instruct my Frailty what to answer Can this be real Sir is 't possible Const. My Council know it and confirm the Order Faust. That I shall wed your Son Const. Why thus repeated Faust. And you approve it Const. Canst thou doubt me still Faust. No. I will own Sir since you approve it Own it to Death I love him more than Life Const. O Fausta Faust. Ha! what now He turns away He blushes Gods I 'm lost betray'd undone Undone for ever Crispus is betray'd The innocent Crispus Const. Guilty guilty Crispus And guilty Fausta Guilty both to death But most my Son who wrought thee to this ruin Faust. O say not so 'T was Fausta wrought your Son And over Lov'd him to his own destruction Therefore as you're powerful be just And let the stroak of Vengeance light on me But Sir for him Const. For him each Syllable Thou plead'st in his behalf but wings his death Faust. By the just Heav'ns And by the Saint that bore you By your Religion Sir I do conjure you Spair spair his Innocence Const. If thou consent That I this night shall wed thee Faust. Wed me Constantine Const. Fausta Why not Art thou enjoy'd already married Speak confess That I may pardon thee Faust. What you know you know You have betray'd me once but shall no more More There 's no more but that I Love your Son And whether he Loves me the Gods can tell I know the natural goodness of your temper How e're transported will not let you kill him Therefore I leave you Const. Stay and tell me when When I may hope Loves Consummation sure Faust. When you behold me Wedded to your Son As you engag'd and past your Royal word When after many rowling years I bring you A race of smiling Boys to bless your Age To play about your Throne and be your Caesars Then may your happiness compleated be Then may your Eyes the Consummation see But never hope for other joys from me Ex. Fausta Const. What Arius help and free me from this plunge Of Love and Nature She Loves She Loves to Death And tho she hides it is belov'd agen Arius What 's your resolve To give her to your Son Const. No Arius first I 'll give her to the Grave Resign my Empire All Arius Then Crispus dies Const. If he has not enjoy'd her he shall live For that I Lov'd him once is full as true As that tho now he has sin'd I cannot hate him But if enjoy'd How shall I find it out I 'll seise and Rack him Arius How Sir Rack your Son Const. By Heav'n 't was well remember'd by a Villain Therefore I swear thou shalt be Rack't thy self Arius Who I my Lord Const. Ay Villain Traitor Thou I 'll Rack the Racker till I find it out For my misgiving Heart says thou know'st more Therefore when next I see thee bring me proof She 's not enjoy'd her vows and vertue clear Do 't or thy Death shall teach succeeding Kings No more by false reports to be abus'd But strait confront th' Accuser with the Accus'd To prove the Treasons urg'd against the Throne Or show the Sycophants that set 'em on So shall the Soveraign pow'r unclouded sway When such Court Devils shun the glorious Ray And drive like Foggs before the rising Day Exeunt End 3d. Act. The Fourth Act Scene 1st Enter Annibal and Serena Annib. THEN you confess you did bespeak the Picture Gods and you own you Love him Love the Traitor Seren. Call him not Traitor Annibal he who spoke The kindest things of you Annib. Wondrous kind Accurst dissembler That could speak for me But acted for himself Seren. Just contrary For when by signs which passion could not hide I let him know my Love he turn'd away Shaking his head as loth to understand me Anger and pitty combating in his Face And with his blushes taught Serena shame Annib Shameless himself and Traitor to my friendship For all I have heard your Love has forg'd to save him Seren. Heav'n knows 't is true Nothing was left unsaid To his own disgrace and your Immortal Honour In the most melting Terms and sweetest words That Heart could think or Friendship could invent Therefore forgo my Lord this fruitless passion And speak for Crispus as he spoke
Serena I believe thee My Heart avows th' Innocence of my friend Which I had own'd before had not the wounds Of Annibal lain green upon my Soul But that I now forgive him be thou witness Be witness Heav'n and this last resolution I now put on to save my Crispus life Or lose my own Seren. O let me kneel to such exalted Virtue But Sir be quick to save him or this goodness Will come too late Dalm. Where is the Emperor Seren. Lockt in his Closet deaf to the Peoples cries Fly Sir I saw him pass in fury by With Arius in discourse Dalm. I fear that Traitor Seren. Your fears my Lord are mine I never lik'd him The Picture which he gave your Son has shown him He has all the marks we Virgins reckon Omenous A pale down look red Hair and leering Eyes Mischief is in him He 's with th' Emperor now Perhaps solliciting the fate we fear I met 'em Sir and interrupted Caesar Who first receiv'd me kindly but at the name Of Crispus frown'd and shook me from his arm Dalm. Fear not as thou hast counsel'd I will join Sylvester on the instant Seren. Force the door If he refuse to let you in do all That pity love and friendship can inspire Do all that I would do were I Dalmatius Ex. Severally Scene II. Enter Constantine and Arius The Scene a Bedchamber A Bowl and a Dagger on the Table Const. ARius Arius Sir Const. I am resolv'd to be at rest Thou art my friend Physician I am sick Sick even to death Reach me that goblet hither The Dagger too Arius Sir Const. What an easie matter It were for any man in any Case Tho Rack't with th' Gout Stone any kind of torture With one of these to sleep Arius For ever Sir Const. Right Arius Arius Then there is Poison in the Bowl Const. There is most deadly Arius May I Sir presume To ask for what Const. Arius thou art my friend I think too thou would'st venture life Why yes 'T is Poison and I 'll tell thee too for what To see how long a Dog will be a dying Or say what if we try'd it on a man Some Enemy that Laws will not take hold of Arius Sir I understand you Const. Look then you do How dost thou understand me Arius Why thus you past your Oath your Son shou'd live If Fausta prov'd him Innocent Const. 'T is true And spite of my revenge my Heart must clear him Arius Right Sir I find it you are grip'd in Conscience Now if a Friend should help you So or fate Not always answering most mens Expectations Should call your Son to Heav'n Const. To Heav'n Arius Arius To Heav'n or Hell it matters not for that So he be out o' th' way and you not know 't Const. And I not know 't Arius No Sir nor I. What then How then you never see him more And so farewell I 'll take this Poison with me Const. Stay stay Come back How strange a guilt is mine who dare not speak But indirectly what my Soul desires Directly done Why shou'd I hide my thoughts From thee Arius Why Sir indeed Const. When no Eye sees Arius None Const. None but the Eye of Heav'n But Walls they say have Ears Therefore we 'll whisper This Horrid Barbarous and Unnatural Murder Give him his Choice Tell him I cannot live Unless he dies Tell him I strove to save him And nature pleaded wonders in his Cause Arius I 'll stabb him first and tell him after Const. No Poison 's the gentler Fate Thou art too lowd O Conscience how it heaves within my bosom Arius Conscience The Souls rising of the Lights Drink Blood Const. Blood say'st thou What the Blood of Crispus Hark! Who 's there Run to the Door Say I am not well I 'll not be seen to night Arius Your fancy Sir Const. I thought I heard my Mothers Voice But she 's long dead 'T was as thou say'st my fancy My fear my guilt that haunts me But begone If he must fall there is no hiding it Call it no longer Murder but a Justice Survey him as a Thief that robb'd thy Soul Of all its wealth Arius how am I now Arius All Emperor And Sir I 'll haste to obey you Const. Thou shalt But go not Arius till I send thee All Emperor and Judge But where 's the Father Work me there Nature save him if thou canst Remember him as once thy bosom-love Arius I like not this Remembrance Const. Remember the whole Progress of his Life Obedient all ev'n in his Infant Years When every Morning to my Bed-side he came And as I blest him thank'd me with his Tears Serena knocking without Seren. My Lord the Emperour Const. Arius hark Who 's there Hark 't is my Wife Run to the door My Wife She 's risen from the dead to save my Son Seren. I will have Audience Ari. Madam you must not enter Const. Arius Let her in Enter Serena Seren. Caesar Save thy Son Save him in time the People are in Arms. Dalmatius with the Guards is gone to quell ' em Const. How mutiny And in my Sons behalf Is this the course to save him Arius hence And execute my Orders Seren. May I think it A Bowl of Poison Sir Is that your Order Const. There is no Mystery now to be conceal'd 'T is as you said And Crispus dies this Minute Arius away Seren. He sha'n't till you hear me Think Sir oh think Const. I 've thought too much already But with this last Revolt my Heart is steel'd Though as you enter'd I was fooling Time With Thoughts of Mercy Seren. And has this cursed Wretch prevented you Const. Dalmatius and Sylvester will be here To hinder Justice Break her Hold. Away Seren. Fall then Serena first And stay that fury Stabs her self Const. Arius come back What hast thou done Serena Seren. I 've paid the Debt of Nature e're my Time Const. 'T was a too honest Part. What was the Cause Seren. The Love of Crispus Love of him you hate But let this Victim to Despair suffice Enter Dalmatius and Sylvester Your Brother here Dalmatius pardon me Your Son is now reveng'd Restrain the Emperour And look to Arius Oh! She dies Dalm. The Joys of Heav'n And an eternal Requiem waste thy Soul Const. Brother How are the People Dalm. All hush'd again Why will you harbour Sir that Snake about you That puts you on these fatal Resolutions For else could it be possible a Prince So good so full of every Kingly Grace Should once conceive a Thought to put his Son His guiltless Son to an untimely Death Without the Instigation of a Devil Sylv. Consider Caesar you that have had the Glory By Miracles from Heav'n to be converted We know your Passion manacles your Reason But here are Hands to help you Const. Is that then the Result of all your Reason To hope for sober Actions from a Mad-man Dalm. Not till the Frenzy leaves him But
we know You are not so far gone to lose all Temper Your Hopes and Fears your broken Resolutions Are Symptoms all of a most noble Nature Where Judgment seems half sunk but not quite drown'd Const. Why this I can alledge as well as you I know the Lawrels which I 've worn so long Must wither If my Son should find a Grave My present Fame and Glory too hereafter Is all upon the hazard But what then I see the Storm before me threatning Wrack I see the Shelves but who can point the Shore Syl. Cast over-board the Casket of your Love I know 't is precious but 't will sink you Sir Divorce her Sir and give her to your Son Const. For go my Fausta 't is impossible Dalm. Nothing 's Impossible to a Mind resolv'd But pass beyond Sylvester's mild Remonstrance And ease your Love by Death by Fausta's Death When she is past Recall you 'll love no more Envy no more Const. If that could be resolv'd The Conquest were a great one Dalm. The more you think the more the Thought will strike you See but the difference of Counsellors What Colours good and bad can give to Reason Had Arius stay'd by this time you had doom'd Your Son to Death who now have gain'd the Conquest Const. Would half were gain'd yet since the Start was noble I 'll try to win in this Olympick Race Tho hilly all the way and at the Gole The Summit touches Heav'n Dalm. Urge the Necessity she or Crispus dies Th' innocent Crispus or the guilty Fausta That after all her Vows could thus deceive you Deceive you both Who if your Son were dead No doubt as quick would practise with another Const. By Heav'n why not She that could swear and was Forsworn may swear and be forsworn again Oh! I remember now with what a Look An Angel-look she vow'd Dalm. Yet with that Look This Angel like a Devil drew in your Son Methinks the very grossness of the Cheat Should make you loath her Const. Ha! Dalm. Detest and scorn her Const. Scorn on her Scorn and Death Disdain succeed By Majesty by Empire she shall bleed Silv. Banish her Caesar. Dalm. No Sir Death or nothing Banish her to day and she 'll be here to morrow Down with her down dwell on her perjur'd Vows When the same Breath that swore her yours for ever Dam'd her anothers Const. Arius bring her forth She dies I 'll sweat and bleed but I will conquer Call call my Son Henceforth but name a Woman 'T is Treason to my Ear Why what a Plague Might she have here engender'd Forc'd a Father To put his guiltless Son to horrid Death Dalm. Royally urg'd By Heav'n 't was ever thus Where Women had to do Therefore behold her As a Gangreen to the State Const. And cut her off Dalm. The Bane of Empire Const. And the Rott of Power Yet there I 'll stay and fix my Imagination On all their Mischiefs Murders Massacres And Seas of Blood they have spilt in former Ages Woman no more And when my Heart is going Sound but that Name the pow'rful spell shall bind Beyond Circean and Aegyptian Charms 'T will raise the lowest Devils up in swarms Unhinge the Globe and put the World in Arms. Woman that dooms us all to one sure Grave And faster damns than Providence can save Exit Enter Constantine and Fausta Const. Fausta thou art'false forsworn Faust. I say so too Const. Therefore shalt dye Faust. I have no other Wish Const. What not to live If I should pardon thee Faust. That were Life indeed To gain your Pardon and to live for Crispus Const. No Wretch remember as you swore to me I now return it is impossible Yet thou shalt dye for Crispus Faust. And not with him Sir Const. No I 've decreed That thou shalt dye to save him Faust. But have you Sir decreed to love him too On Fausta's Death Const. I have Faust. Oh! then the Gods Have heard my Pray'rs which next to living for him Was still to dye to save him Faust. Yet grant me Sir in Death One last Farewel Const. No thou hast look'd thy last Faust. Yet you may let 'em bear me by his Window If it be possible to snatch a Glance And not delay my Execution Sir Const. She weeps and there is Magick in her Tears I shall weep too Bring forth the Poison Haste She shall not stay the making of a Bath What Arius Ari. Sir Const. Give her the Poison Haste and see her dye Faust. Stay Sir come back I have no load upon me But what you all may know give me the Bowl I 'll drink it for my Love Alas my Lord Methinks one last farewel had not been much But since you judge it Sir unfit I 'll die Without complaining Therefore tell my Love That my last Pray'r was for his life and yours Const. Hold Fausta Arius take the Poison from her And bring the Bath My Son shall see her die Call Crispus hither since her Fates decreed 'T were just he shou'd be harden'd with the view She weeps agen And with the trick unmans me Spite of my vows she works my Lyon Heart And melts me into Love How fares my Fausta Faust. Sir Const. Thy hand before we part for ever Fausta I am lost I 'm vanquish't With a touch o'recome Dalm. Wake Sir Where are you Const. Ha! Dalm. Sylvester's here And Crispus waits Const. Why then she dies agen Haste Bring him in bring him to my relief The earning of a Father comes upon me And my Soul longs to meet him Fausta turn Turn thy bright Eyes on death And carry fires To scorch new Worlds but warm the old no more For here 's the rising Sun to eclipse thy beams Enter Crispus with Sylvester O Crispus Who that has beheld our distance That infinite space that passion cast betwixt us Would e're have thought we thus should meet agen Crisp. What can be added Heav'n to such a kindness Const. What Crispus What indeed to make it lasting See'st thou that fair one Crisp. Sir you give me hopes Tho dash't with fears But hold perhaps I have to death offended For sinning but in wish A dawning joy Shines in her Eyes and revels in her smiles Which seem to tell me we shall both be happy Const. Would'st thou be happy in thy Fathers Love Crisp. Judge me you Powers if that be not my thought The utmost reach of my extended Soul Which knows no other wish but Fausta's Love Const. And that 's the Love which you by my example Must learn to hate Crisp. To hate Sir What Const. Hate thy Love Or what 's all one to bear the effect of hate Her execution here before thy Eyes Crisp. My Fausta's death Scene draws Arius Labienus Eubolus with a Bath Const. Behold the Poison'd Bath Crisp. For me I am ready Sir Haste Launch my Veins You that are destin'd here for my Destruction Unrobe me haste Const. None touch him on your lives They