University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

SCENE the Palace.
Enter Sapritius and Theopilus.
SAPRITIUS.
What says my Friend?
The Emperor in Person here to Night?

Theo.
He reaches our Cæsaria to Night:
The Posting Messengers, who brought the News,
Delivered these for you.

[Gives him Letters.
Sap.
They do inform me,
This sudden March is for Dalmathia;
It had been better I had known it sooner.
How shall I make Provision to receive him,
As does become the Honour of Cæsaria?

Theo.
Methinks the March of the old Roman Legions
Should, like the Motions of prodigious Meteors,
Exactly be observ'd by wond'ring Mortals:
Ever, till now, when Dioclesian mov'd,
Fame has herself become his Harbinger,
Ecchoing his Motion through the trembling World,
And every where preparing his Reception.

Sap.
Tho' cover'd with the Night, and wing'd with Speed,
Yet it is strange they march so undiscover'd.

Theo.
I should have thought,
Among the many that attend your Person,
Some one or other, by his Correspondent,
Might have received the Advice.
But you, my Lord, were speaking of the Christians.

Sap.
True, and I must commend thy Conduct there;
When neither Woods, nor Caves, nor secret Vaults,
Could hide them from thy Diligence and Care:
Thy Executions have destroy'd 'em much,
Have almost rooted up this pois'nous Weed,
That over-runs the Worship of the Gods.

Theo.
I hope, my Lord, it has.

Sap.
The last eight Days, if I mistake not,
The Number mounted to six thousand Souls
That by your Justice fell.

Theo.
It was about that Number.

Sap.
Religious, honest Man.

Theo.
It was my Duty, Sir.

Sap.
Be thou my Engine still, to scatter, break,
And root out this pernicious Christian Sect
From off the Roman World:
But have your Daughters
Renounc'd their mad enthusiastick Folly,
Their late Contempt of Rome's immortal Gods?

Theo.
They have, or sure Destruction shall consume 'em.
See, they are here, and with 'em, from the Temple,
Jove's sacred Flamin comes.
Enter Priest, Calista, and Christeta.
Say, have my Daughters reconcil'd themselves
To the Almighty Gods? have they
Abandon'd quite this Christian Madness,
And piously resolv'd again to sacrifice
As their Fore-fathers did?

Priest.
They have, my Lord,
And are most constant in that Resolution.

Theo.
Why then again they are my dearest Children,
The Darlings of my Love, more dear than Life:
Welcome, my Children, welcome to my Arms.

Cal.
Transporting Joy already fills my Heart,
To meet such kind Reception from a Father,
That has been so much injur'd and displeas'd!

Christ.
Thus on our Knees we thank you, and resolve
[Both Kneel.
To be obedient to the Gods and you.

Theo.
Brave Resolution!

Priest.
Our Prayers be present with you.

[Ex. Priest, Calif. and Christ.
Sap.
Thou art, Theopilus,
The Partner of my Heart, my Joy of Life,
The very Blessing of my drooping Age;
Thou dar'st to execute my Resolutions,
Though to the World they seem bloody and cruel;
Thou makest my Heart ev'n as the hardest Steel,
And arm'st my Eyes, my Ears, my ev'ry Sense,
'Gainst Pity, Womanish Tears, and soft Compassion;
Instructing me, without a Sigh, to see
Babes torn by Violence from their Mother's Breasts,
To feed the Fire made to consume 'em both;
Old Men in Pieces torn by Dogs and Wolves;
Virgins hurl'd headlong from stupendious Heights,
And dasht to Pieces ere they're half way down;
While Crowds of Matrons cloy the Savage Tygers,
And tire the Hands of wearied Executioners:
My Soul delights in it, and gladly sees
Thy Service to the Gods and Dioclesian.

Theo.
Were all the Scepters,
That grace the Hands of Kings, made into one,
And all th'Imperial Diadems of the Earth
Laid at my Feet, I would despise them all,
View 'em as Objects of Contempt and Scorn;
So Fame, to late Posterity would call me,
The stoutest Champion of the Pagan Gods.

[Trumpets within
Sap.
Hark! Cæsar's near Approach!
Who waits without?
Enter Captain of the Guards.
Keep the Ports close,
And let the Guards be doubled,
Display the Roman Eagle from the Tower,
Draw up your Troops, and in their best Array
Let them with Shouts attend the Emp'ror's Passage.

Theo.
Send and disarm the Christians:
Proclaim it Death in any
To wear a Sword, or have one in his House.

Capt.
My Lords, I shall be careful.

Theo.
It well becomes you.
Such as refuse to offer Sacrifice
For Cæsar's Life, put to immediate Torture;
Pluck up this growing Mischief by the Roots,
And know when we are merciful to them,
We are cruel to our selves.

Capt.
I know the Emperor's Edict, and your Orders,
And gladly shall obey them.
[Exit Captain.

Theo.
'Tis well.

Sap.
Theopilus, let me advise,
Immediately send for your Daughters hither;
We shall present 'em to the Emperor;
And in their sweet Conversion, as a Mirror,
Express to him your Duty to his Name.

Theo.
I shall obey in all.

Enter Eumillius
Eum.
My Lord Sapritius.

Sap.
Say on.

Eum.
The Emperor has past the Fabian Gate;
Beneath his Chariot waits, in Captive Chains,
The King of Macedon, Epire, and Pontus,
And in the mighty Conquest of our Troops,
You have, my Lord, an ample Share; your Son,
The brave Antonius, has in Battel dy'd
His snowy Plumes with Blood of Enemies:
That, besides publick Grace, besides his Hopes,
There is Rewards propounded.

Sap.
What should be thy Reward, Eumillius,
Could I be certified all this is true?

Eum.
If it be not,
May my Head pay the Forfeit:

Theo.
There was some Rumour of this Victory,
Put 'twas advised that the main Army,
March'd a Day's Journey higher into the Country.

Eum.
The Emperor so decreed, but does return
To observe your Government of Cæsaria;
And for the farther Honour of your Son.
For Proof, his Trumpets speak his near Arrival.

[Trumpets within.
Sap.
Haste, good Theopilus,
Haste, and in Person head our Houshold Guards;
With all due ceremonious Pomp receive
The conquering Army; let our Garrison
Speak out their Welcome in yet louder Shouts,
And let the City show its Joy and Gladness.

Theo.
I am gone.
[Exit Theo.

Sap.
This worthy Man prevents my foremost Wishes, Eumillius.

[Exeunt.