SCENE I. - The Governor's Palace.
Enter THEOPHILUS and HARPAX.

Theoph. Come to Cæsarea to-night!
Harp. Most true, sir.

Theoph. The emperor in person!
Harp. Do I live?

Theoph. 'Tis wondrous strange! The marches

of great princes,

Like to the motions of prodigious meteors,

Are step by step observ'd; and loud-tongued

Fame

The harbinger to prepare their entertainment :
And, were it possible so great an army,
Though cover'd with the night, could be so near,
The governor cannot be so unfriended
Among the many that attend his person,

But, by some secret means, he should have notice
Of Cæsar's purpose; -in this, then, excuse me,
If I appear incredulous.

Harp. At your pleasure.

Theoph. Yet, when I call to mind you never fail'd me

In things more difficult, but have discover'd
Deeds that were done thousand leagues distant

Enter the Priest of Jupiter, bearing an Image, and followed by CALISTA and CHRISTETA.

Harp. Look on the Vestals, The holy pledges that the gods have given you, Your chaste, fair daughters. Were't not to upA service to a master not unthankful, [braid I could say these, in spite of your prevention, Seduced by an imagined faith, not reason, (Which is the strength of nature,) quite forsaking The Gentile gods, had yielded up themselves To this new-found religion. This I cross'd, Discover'd their intents, taught you to use, With gentle words and mild persuasions, The power and the authority of a father,

Set off with cruel threats; and so reclaim'd them: And, whereas they with torment should have died, (Hell's furies to me, had they undergone it !)

They were most happy in your service else:

Such as she triumph'd over; age nor sex

I used a judge's power, entreaties failing

Kept in her common dungeons, and their children,

(They being seduced) to win them to adore

In scorn train'd up in base mechanic arts,

The holy Powers we worship; I put on

For public bondmen. In the catalogue

The scarlet robe of bold authority,

And, as they had been strangers to my blood, Presented them in the most horrid form,

Of those unfortunate men, we expect to have Our names remember'd.

All kind of tortures; part of which they suffer'd With Roman constancy.

Artem. And could you endure,

Being a father, to behold their limbs
Extended on the rack?

Theoph. I did; but must

Confess there was a strange contention in me,
Between the impartial office of a judge,
And pity of a father; to help justice
Religion stept in, under which odds

Compassion fell:-yet still I was a father.
For e'en then, when the flinty hangman's whips
Were worn with stripes spent on their tender limbs,
I kneel'd, and wept, and begg'd them, though they

would

Be cruel to themselves, they would take pity
On my gray hairs; now note a sudden change,
Which I with joy remember; those, whom torture,
Nor fear of death could terrify, were o'ercome
By seeing of my sufferings; and so won,
Returning to the faith that they were born in,
I gave them to the gods. And be assured,
I that used justice with a rigorous hand,

Upon such beauteous virgins, and mine own,
Will use no favour, where the cause commands me,
To any other; but, as rocks, be deaf

To all entreaties.

Diocle. Thou deserv'st thy place;

Diocle. In all growing empires,
Even cruelty is useful; some must suffer,
And be set up examples to strike terror
In others, though far off: but, when a state
Is raised to her perfection, and her bases
Too firm to shrink, or yield, we may use mercy,
And do't with safety: but to whom? not cowards,
Or such whose baseness shames the conqueror,
And robs him of his victory, as weak Perseus
Did great Æmilius. Know, therefore, kings
Of Epire, Pontus, and of Macedon,

That I with courtesy can use my prisoners,
As well as make them mine by force, provided
That they are noble enemies: such I found you,
Before I made you mine; and, since you were so,
You have not lost the courages of princes,
Although the fortune. Had you born yourselves
Dejectedly, and base, no slavery

Had been too easy for you: but such is
The power of noble valour, that we love it
Even in our enemies, and taken with it,
Desire to make them friends, as I will you.
K. of Epire. Mock us not, Cæsar.
Diocle. By the gods, I do not.

Unloose their bonds :- I now as friends embrace
Give them their crowns again.

K. of Pontus. We are twice o'ercome;

By courage, and by courtesy.

K. of Macedon. But this latter,

To Dioclesian, and the power of Rome.

K. of Epire. All kingdoms fall before her!

K. of Pontus. And all kings

Contend to honour Cæsar!

Diocle. I believe

[you.

Your tongues are the true trumpets of your hearts,
And in it I most happy. Queen of fate,
Imperious Fortune! mix some light disaster
With my so many joys, to season them,
And give them sweeter relish: I'm girt round
With true felicity; faithful subjects here,

Here bold commanders, here with new-made But, what's the crown of all, in thee, Artemia,

My only child, whose love to me and duty,
Strive to exceed each other!

Artem. I make payment

But of a debt, which I stand bound to tender

As a daughter and a subject.

Diocle. Which requires yet

A retribution from me, Artemia,

Tied by a father's care, how to bestow
A jewel, of all things to me most precious:
Nor will I therefore longer keep thee from
The chief joys of creation, marriage rites;

Which that thou may'st with greater pleasures taste of,

Thou shalt not like with mine eyes, but thine own. Among these kings, forgetting they were captives; Or those, remembering not they are my subjects, Make choice of any: By Jove's dreadful thunder, My will shall rank with thine.

Artem. It is a bounty

Or for some other public ends, are forced

To match where they affect not. May my life Deserve this favour!

Diocle. Speak; I long to know

The man thou wilt make happy.

Artem. If that titles,

Or the adored name of Queen could take me,
Here would I fix mine eyes, and look no further;
But these are baits to take a mean-born lady,
Not her, that boldly may call Cæsar father:

In that I can bring honour unto any,

But from no king that lives receive addition :
To raise desert and virtue by my fortune,
Though in a low estate, were greater glory,
Than to mix greatness with a prince that owes
No worth but that name only.

Diocle. I commend thee;

'Tis like myself.

Artem. If, then, of men beneath me, My choice is to be made, where shall I seek, But among those that best deserve from you? That have served you most faithfully; that in dan

As you are, Antoninus, a proved soldier,
Is fellow to a king.

Anton. If you love valour,

As 'tis a kingly virtue, seek it out,

And cherish it in a king; there it shines brightest,

And yields the bravest lustre. Look on Epire,

A prince, in whom it is incorporate :

And let it not disgrace him that he was

O'ercome by Cæsar; it was victory,

To stand so long against him: had you seen him,
How in one bloody scene he did discharge

The parts of a commander and a soldier,
Wise in direction, bold in execution;

You would have said, Great Cæsar's self excepted,
The world yields not his equal.

Artem. Yet I have heard,

Encountering him alone in the head of his troop, You took him prisoner.

K. of Epire. 'Tis a truth, great princess; I'll not detract from valour.

Anton. 'Twas mere fortune;

Courage had no hand in it.
Theoph. Did ever man
Strive so against his own good?

Sap. Spiritless villain !

How I am tortured! By the immortal gods,
I now could kill him.

Diocle. Hold, Sapritius, hold,

On our displeasure hold !

Harp. Why, this would make
A father mad; 'tis not to be endured;
Your honour's tainted in't.

Fair Venus' son, draw forth a leaden dart,

Sap. By heaven, it is :

And, that she may hate me, transfix her with it;

I shall think of it.

Or, if thou needs wilt use a golden one,

Harp. 'Tis not to be forgotten.

Shoot it in the behalf of any other:

Artem. Nay, kneel not, sir, I am no ravisher,

Artem. [advances to ANTON.] Sir.

But that I can retire, my honour safe :

Theoph. How he blushes!

Yet say, hereafter, that thou hast neglected

Sap. Welcome, fool, thy fortune.

What, but seen in possession of another,

From the beholding.

Artem. I am no object to divert your eye

Anton. Rather a bright sun,

Too glorious for him to gaze upon,
That took not first flight from the eagle's aerie.
As I look on the temples, or the gods,

And with that reverence, lady, I behold you,
And shall do ever.

My love, my heart, my all: and pardon me, Pardon, dread princess, that I made some scruple To leave a valley of security,

To mount up to the hill of majesty,

On which, the nearer Jove, the nearer lightning.
What knew I, but your grace made trial of me;
Durst I presume to embrace, where but to touch
With an unmanner'd hand, was death? The fox,
When he saw first the forest's king, the lion,
Was almost dead with fear; the second view

Only a little daunted him; the third,

That am slave to another, who alone
Can give me ease or freedom?

Mac. Sir, you point at

Your dotage on the scornful Dorothea:
Is she, though fair, the same day to be named
With best Artemia? In all their courses,

Wise men propose their ends: with sweet Artemia,
There comes along pleasure, security,
Usher'd by all that in this life is precious:
With Dorothea (though her birth be noble,
The daughter to a senator of Rome,

And far inferior to yours) arrives

To look with more familiar eyes upon you,

Than duty yet allows me.

Sap. Well excused.

Artem. You may redeem all yet.

Diocle. And, that he may

Have means and opportunity to do so,
Artemia, I leave you my substitute
In fair Cæsarea.

Sap. And here, as yourself,

We will obey and serve her.

Diocle. Antoninus,

So you prove hers, I wish no other heir;
Think on't be careful of your charge, Theophi-
Sapritius, be you my daughter's guardian. [lus;
Your company I wish, confederate princes,
In our Dalmatian wars; which finished
With victory I hope, and Maximinus,
Our brother and copartner in the empire,
At my request won to confirm as much,
The kingdoms I took from you we'll restore,
And make you greater than you were before.

[Exeunt all but ANTONINUS and MACRINUS.
Anton. Oh, I am lost for ever! lost, Macrinus!
The anchor of the wretched, hope, forsakes me,
And with one blast of Fortune all my light
Of happiness is put out.

Mac. You are like to those

That are ill only, 'cause they are too well;
That, surfeiting in the excess of blessings,
Call their abundance want. What could you wish,
That is not fall'n upon you? honour, greatness,
Respect, wealth, favour, the whole world for a dower;
And with a princess, whose excelling form
Exceeds her fortune.

Anton. Yet poison still is poison,
Though drunk in gold; and all these flattering
To me, ready to starve, a painted banquet, [glories
And no essential food. When I am scorch'd
With fire, can flames in any other quench me?
What is her love to me, greatness, or empire,

The emperor's frown, which, like a mortal plague,
Speaks death is near; the princess' heavy scorn,
Under which you will shrink; your father's fury,
Which to resist, even piety forbids :-

And but remember that she stands suspected
A favourer of the Christian sect; she brings
Not danger, but assured destruction with her.
This truly weigh'd, one smile of great Artemia
Is to be cherish'd, and preferr'd before
All joys in Dorothea: therefore leave her.

Anton. In what thou think'st thou art most

wise, thou art

Grossly abused, Macrinus, and most foolish.
For any man to match above his rank,
Is but to sell his liberty. With Artemia
I still must live a servant; but enjoying
Divinest Dorothea, I shall rule,
Rule as becomes a husband: for the danger,
Or call it, if you will, assured destruction,
I slight it thus. If, then, thou art my friend,
As I dare swear thou art, and wilt not take
A governor's place upon thee, be my helper.

Mac. You know I dare, and will do anything; Put me unto the test.

Anton. Go then, Macrinus,

To Dorothea; tell her I have worn,

In all the battles I have fought, her figure,
Her figure in my heart, which, like a deity,
Hath still protected me. Thou can'st speak well;
And of thy choicest language spare a little,
To make her understand how much I love her,
And how I languish for her. Bear these jewels,
Sent in the way of sacrifice, not service,

As to my goddess: all lets thrown behind me,
Or fears that may deter me, say, this morning
I mean to visit her by the name of friendship:
-No words to contradict this.

Mac. I am yours:

And, if my travail this way be ill spent,
Judge not my readier will by the event. [Exeunt.

SCENE I-A Room in DOROTHEA'S House. Enter SPUNGIUS and Hracius.

Spun. Turn Christian! Would he that first tempted me to have my shoes walk upon Christian soles, had turn'd me into a capon; for I am sure now, the stones of all my pleasure, in this fleshly life, are cut off.

Hir. So then, if any coxcomb has a galloping desire to ride, here's a gelding, if he can but sit him.

else.

Spun. I kick, for all that, like a horse ;-look Hir. But that is a kickish jade, fellow Spungius. Have not I as much cause to complain as thou hast? When I was a pagan, there was an infidel punk of mine, would have let me come upon trust for my curvetting: a pox on your Christian cockatrices! they cry, like poulterers' wives:-No money, no coney.

Spun. Bacchus, the god of brew'd wine and sugar, grand patron of rob-pots, upsy-freesy tip