 | Polyeuctes, or the Martyr |  |
13
Actus Secundus.
Scena Prima.
Severus, Fabianus.Severus.
Whilst Felix giveth order for the sacrifice,
May not I take a time to see Paulina,
And render to her fair eyes that high homage
Is due unto the Gods? I have not kept
From thee, that it is this which brings me hither;
For the rest I'm not troubled much, I come
To sacrifice, but tis unto your beauties,
Whereto I dedicate all my devotions.
Fab.
Sir, you shall see her.
Sev.
What joyes do I feel!
Doth this adorable object give consent
That I shall see her? have I any power
Upon her soul yet? hast thou seen in speaking
To her of me, that she was troubled,
Or what transport my comming causeth her?
May I hope all things from this happy sight?
For I would rather perish then abuse her
With Letters recommendatory, which
I have to marry her, they are for Felix,
Not to triumph of her, my heart was never
Rebellious unto her desires, and if
My evill fortune should have changed hers,
I would vanquish my self and pretend nothing.
Fab.
Sir, you shall see her. I can say no more.
Sev.
How comes it that thou tremblest and sigh'st?
Doth she no longer love me? clear this point.
Fab.
Sir, I could wish you not to see her more,
Carry unto some higher place the honour
Of your Caresses, you shall find at Rome
Ladies enough that will be proud to be
Your Mistresses, and in this high degree
Of power and glory wherein now you are,
The greatest will esteem your love a happiness.
Sev.
What should my soul stoop to such humble thoughts?
14
Unto my fortune? she hath better used it,
I ought to imitate her, I love not
My happiness but for to merit her.
See, Fabian, thy discourse doth trouble me:
Come, let us go to cast this haughty fortune
Even at her feet, I found it happily
In fights seeking a death worthy her Lover,
So then this rank is hers, this favours hers,
And I have nothing that I hould not off her.
Fab.
No, Sir, but once again pray do not see her.
Sev.
Oh! 'tis too much, at last cleer me this point;
Hast thou seen coldness when thou prayd'st access?
Fab.
I tremble to declare t'ee, she is—
Sev.
What?
Fab.
Married.
Sev.
Sustain me, Fabian, this thunder-clap
Is very great, and strikes so much the more,
As more it doth suprise me.
Fab.
What's become, Sir,
Of that brave generous courage?
Sev.
Constancy
Is here of little use, when such displeasures
Burthen a great heart, the most masculine vertue
Soon loseth all its vigour, and when souls
Are taken with so glittering a fire,
Death troubles them far less then such surprises.
I can scarce yet believe thy sad discourse.
Fab.
Paulina's married; fifteen days have pass'd
Since Hymen did appear in saffron robes
To solemnize the nuptials; Polyeuctes,
One of the chiefest of th'Armenian Lords
Doth taste the infinite sweetness of her bed.
Sev.
I cannot blame her of an evill choice,
The name of Polyeuctes is esteem'd,
As being descended from the bloud of Kings.
Weak comfort for a cureless misery!
Paulina, I shall see thee by another
Possess'd! Oh Heaven! that spight of me didst send me
Unto the light again! Oh fate! that gav'st me
A new hope of my love, take back the favours
Which you have lent me, and restore me death
15
And in this sad place make an end to die
In bidding her adiew, that my heart carrying
Her Image to the dead, where I do go,
With its last sigh to her may homage do.
Fab.
Consider, Sir.
Sev.
All is considered.
What inconvenience fears a desperate heart?
Consents she not?
Fab.
Yes, Sir, but—
Sev.
'Tis no matter.
Fab.
This lively grief will thereby become stronger.
Sev.
'Tis not an evil I intend to cure,
I only will but see her, sigh, and dye.
Fab.
You will break forth without doubt in her presence;
A Lover that doth lose all hath no more
Complacence, but in such despaire he follows
His passion which doth thrust him on to injury,
And imprecation.
Sev.
Judge otherwise
Of me, my respect doth continue yet;
My despair, violent as 'tis, adores her;
What reason have I to reproach this Lady?
Wherewith can I accuse her who hath promised
Me nothing; she's not perjur'd, she's not light;
Her duty hath betrayd me, her Father,
And my misfortune; but her duty was
Just, and her Fathers reason guided him;
I impute all the treason unto my
Misfortune; somewhat less of prosperous hap,
And arriv'd sooner, would have gained one
By th'other, and conserved me; too happy,
But too late, I could not have gain'd her, I,
Leave me to see her, then to sigh and dye.
Fab.
Yes, I will go t'assure her that you are
In this extream misfortune strong enough
To overcome your selfe, she fears like me
Those first provoked motions which a sudden
And unexpected loss raiseth in Lovers,
The violence whereof excites much trouble
Without the presence of the object to
Redouble it.
16
I see her, Fabian.
Fab.
Remember, Sir—
Sev.
Another is her Husband,
Alas, my sad fate! she doth love another;
It is impossible my grief to smother.
Scena Secunda.
Severus, Paulina, Stratonica, Fabian.Paulina.
Tis true, Severus, I do love another,
And plead not here for't, every one
Except my self do flatter and abuse you;
Paulina hath a noble soul, and speaks
With open heart, the report of your death
Is not that which destroys you, if just heaven
Had put my marriage to my choice, I should
To your sole vertues, Sir, have given my self,
And all the rigour of our former fate
Against your merit had made vain attempts;
I saw in you Illustrious marks enough
To give you worthy preferrence even before
The happiest Monarchs; but since other Laws
My duty did impose, what ever Lover
My Father had assign'd me, though your valour
Had added to this greatness which it gave you,
The splendor of a Crown, though I lov'd you
And hated him, I should have sighed at it,
But yet I should obey, and o're my passions,
My reason being Soveraign, should have blam'd
My sighs, and dissipated all my hatred.
Sev.
How happie are you that a sigh or two
Can easily acquit you of your troubles!
So always absolute Queen of your desires,
The greatest changes find you still resolv'd;
Your spirit is carried in the strongest love
Unto indifference, and perhaps to scorn,
And your stout firmness without trouble makes
Favour succeed contempt, and love disdain.
Oh how a little of your humour, or
17
Of this dejected heart! a sigh, a tear
Shed with regret, would have already cur'd me
Of losing you, my reason would prevail
Upon enfeebled love, and from indifference
Would go even to oblivion, and my fire
Henceforth commanding over yours, I should
Esteem me happy in anothers arms.
O too too lovely object, that hast charm'd me!
Must we thus love? is't so that you have lov'd me?
Paul.
I loved thee Severus, and if I
Could smother in my soul the flame remains there,
What rigorous torments, Gods, should I avoid!
'Tis true, my reason tames my passions,
But whatsoe're Authority she hath taken
Upon them, she raigns not, but tyrannizeth;
And though the outside be without commotion,
The inside is but trouble and sedition.
A certain charm, I know not what, inclines me
Towards you yet, your merit sure is great,
Although my reason's strong, I see it still,
Such as it lights my fires, so much more strongly
To work on my affections, as it is
Environed with puissance and glory;
I see that in all places after yon
It draws triumphant victory, that I
Best know the price on't, and that it hath not
Deceiv'd the generous hope I conceiv'd of it.
But that same duty which in Rome subdu'd it,
And makes me subject to the Law of Man here,
Repulseth still so strongly the assault
Of so many allurements, that it tears
My soul, but doth not shake it; 'tis that vertue
Even cruel to our own desires, which you
Should praise when you blaspheam it; if you please
You may complain on't, but yet praise its rigour
That triumpheth o're you and or'e my heart
At one time, lower thoughts could not have merited
That perfect love which you have born unto me.
Sev.
O sweet Paulina, pardon a blind grief,
Which knoweth nothing but excess of misery.
I named it inconstancy, and took
18
I do beseech you shew less to my senses
The greatness of my Loss, and of your worth,
And so through pitty hiding this rare vertue,
That feeds my fires even when she separates us,
Make some defects appear that may successively
Weaken my grief together with my love.
Paul.
Alas! this vertue, though invincible still,
Makes but appear a soul too sensible,
These tears are witnesses thereof, and these
Effeminate sighs which stir up the remembrance
Of our first fires, too rigorous effects
Of a beloved presence, against which
My duty hath too little of defence.
But if you do esteem this vertuous duty,
keep me the glory on't, and cease to see me,
Spare me those tears that trickle to my shame,
Spare me those tears that with grief I or'ecome,
Lastly spare me those sad discourses which
Do but stir up your torments and mine own.
Sev.
So shall I rob my self of the sole good
That remains to me.
Paul.
Save you from a sight
Fatall unto us both.
Sev.
What recompense
Of all my love? what fruit of my devotions?
Paul.
That's the sole remedy that can cure our evils.
Sev.
I'le die of mine, Oh love my memory.
Paul.
I'le cure mine, they would sully my fair glory.
Sev.
Oh! since your glory doth pronounce the sentence,
My griefe must yield unto its interest,
From such a heart as mine what is't that it
Cannot obtain? you do awake the cares
Which I owe to my glory; farewell, Madam,
I go to seek in honourable combats
That immortality which a fair death
Doth give, if I after this mortall stroak
Of fate, have life enough to seek a death.
Paul.
And I, whose punishment your sight increases,
Intend to avoid it even in Sacrifice,
And alone in my Chamber shutting up
My sorrows, I will make my secret Orisons
19
Sev.
May righteous Heaven
Contented with my ruine heap up happiness
On Polyeuctes and Paulina's heads.
Paul.
May brave Severus find after so much
Disaster, a felicity that may be
Worthy his valour.
Sev.
In you he could find it.
Paul.
I depend of a Father and a Husband.
Sev.
Oh duty that destroys, and makes me desperate!
Adiew too vertuous and too charming object.
Paul.
Adiew, adiew, thou too unfortunate
And faithfull lover.
Scena Tertia.
Paulina, Stratonica.Stratonica.
I have bewail'd you both, and cannot chuse
But shed tears, yet your spirit, I do believe,
Is free of fear now, for you plainly see
Your dream is vain, Severus commeth not
With revenge in his hand.
Paul.
Leave me to breath,
At least if thou hast (as thou sayst) lamented me,
Thou call'st again my fear unto the Fort
Of all my grief, suffer my troubled spirits
To take a little rest, and lead me not
By those redoubled evils.
Strat.
What! fear you yet?
Paul.
Stratonica, I tremble,
And though I am a paid with little justice,
This unjust fear continually produceth
The Image of the sad misfortunes which
I saw last night.
Strat.
Severus is most generous.
Paul.
Notwithstanding
His staydness, Polyeuctes all in bloud
Strikes still my sight.
Strat.
You are your self a witness
Of his devotions for him.
Paul.
I believe
20
But whether this belief be false or true,
His abode in this place doth make me fear,
To whatsoe're his vertue may dispose him,
He's strong, he loves, and comes here to espouse me.
Scena Quarta.
Polyeuctes, Nearchus, Paulina, Stratonica.Polyeuctes.
You shed too many tears, 'tis time to dry them,
Let your grief cease, and your vain fears fly hence,
You see me living, Madam, in despight
Of the false intimation of your gods.
Paul.
The day is long yet, and what most affrights me
Is, that the half of the Advertisement
Is found already true, I did believe
Severus dead, but he was here just now.
Pol.
I know it, and am nothing troubled at it;
I am in Militene, and let Severus
Be what he will, your Father doth command here,
And I'm considerable. Besides I'm confident
That from a heart so generous as his
A Treason cannot spring, I was inform'd
He gave a visit to you, and I'm come
To render him an honour he deserves.
Paul.
He is gone very sad, and much confounded,
But I've prevailed with him that he will
See me no more.
Pol.
How! Madam, d'ee suspect me
Of jealousie already?
Paul.
I should do
Unto all three too sensible an injury,
I assure my repose which his looks trouble;
The firmest vertue still avoideth hazards
Wo doth expose himself to danger, would
Meet with his ruine, and to speak to you
With open soul of him, since a true merit
Could have inflamed us, his presence alwaies
Hath right to charm us. Besides that one must
21
To be surpris'd, one suffers to resist,
One suffers to defend, and although vertue
Triumpheth o're these fires, the victory
Is painfull and the fight dishonourable.
Pol.
Oh Vertue, if 'twere possible, too perfect,
And duty too sincere! what sad regrets
'Cost you Severus! how at the expence
Of a fair fire you render me most happy!
And to my Amorous heart how sweet are you!
The more I see mine own defects, and do
Contemplate your perfections, the more
I do admire.—
Polyeuctes, Paulina, Nearchus, Stratonica, Cleon.
Cle.
My Lord and Master Felix
Hath sent me to desire you to make hast
Unto the Temple, for the Victime's chosen,
And all the People on their knees; there wants
But you, Sir, to begin the Sacrifice.
Pol.
Go, we will follow thee, will you along, Madam?
Paul.
Severus fears my sight, it stirs his flame,
I'le keep my word with him, and will not see him;
Adiew, you'l find him there, think of his power,
And the great favour that he hath.
Pol.
I fear not
His credit nor his power, and as I know
His generosity, we shall encounter
Each other onely in civility.
Polyeuctes, Nearchus.
Nearc.
Where do you think to go?
Pol.
Unto the Temple,
Where I am called.
Nearc.
What, to joyn your self
To the Devotions of a company
Of Infidels, have you forgot already
That you are Christian?
22
You by whom I am so,
Do you remember it.
Nearc:
I hate false Gods.
Pol.
And I detest them.
Nearc.
I do hold their worship
Most impious.
Pol.
And I take it for abominable.
Nearc.
Fly then their Altars.
Pol.
I will overthrow them,
And in their Temple die, or drive them thence.
My dear Nearchus, come, lets brave Idolatry
Before the eys of men, and shew us Christians;
Heaven doth expect it, and we must perform it:
For my part I do promise, and am going
T'accomplish it: I thank God that hath given me
This opportunity to express my zeal,
Wherein his goodness ready even to crown me,
Deigns to approve the faith that he will give me.
Nearc:
This zeal, Sir, is too ardent, moderate it.
Pol.
We cannot have too much on't for the God
Which we adore.
Nearc.
It will procure your death.
Pol.
I seek it for him.
Nearc.
If this heart should shake?
Pol.
He will be my support.
Nearc.
Tis not his pleasure,
We should precipitate our selves therein.
Pol.
If we die willingly, the more's our merit.
Nearc.
To wait and suffer is sufficient,
We need not seek out danger.
Pol.
We suffer with regret when we dare not
Offer our selves.
Nearc.
But in this Temple Death
Is most assured.
Pol.
But in Heaven the Palme
Already is prepar'd.
Nearc.
A holy life
Must merit it.
Pol.
Living, perhaps, my crimes
May take it from me, wherefore should we hazzard
What death assures us? When she opens heaven,
Can she seem hard? I am a Christian,
23
The pure faith which I have receiv'd, aspires
To its effect; who flies believeth faintly,
And hath but a dead faith.
Nearc.
Know that your life
Importeth God himself, live to protect
The Christians in this place.
Pol.
Th'example of my death will better fortifie them.
Nearc.
You will die then?
Pol.
And you desire to live?
Nearc.
To tell you truly, I've no mind to follow you.
I fear to fall under the horrour of
The Torments which they will inflict upon us.
Pol.
Who goes on boldly needs not fear to fall,
God doth impart at need his infinite force;
Who thinks he shall denie him, in his soul
He doth deny him, he believs to do't,
And doubteth of his faith.
Nearc.
Who feareth nothing
Presumes too much upon himself.
Pol.
I expect all things from his grace and mercy,
And nothing from my weakness; but in stead
Of pressing me, t'is fit that I press you,
Whence doth proceed this coldness?
Nearc.
God himself
Hath feared death.
Pol.
He offered himself;
Let's follow this divine instinct, and raise
Altars unto him on the heaps of Idols;
We must not (I do remember yet your words)
Neglect to please him; wife, and wealth, and rank,
We must not stick t'expose our selves to dangers,
Yea even to death, to pour our blood forth for him;
Alas! where is that perfect love which you
Wished to me, and which I now wish you?
If it remains yet with you, are you not
Jealous that I scarce Christian yet, should shew it
Stronger then you?
Nearc.
You come immediatly
From baptism, and the thing that animates you,
It is his grace, which yet no crime in you,
Hath weakened, yet it acteth fully in you.
24
But this same grace in me diminished,
And by a thousand sins continually
Extenuated acteth with such faintness
In hazardous attempts, that all things seem
Impossible unto its little vigour;
This base effeminacy, and cowardly
Evasions are the punishments which my
Offences do draw on me, but our God,
Whom we must ne'r distrust, gives your Example
To fortifie me; Come, dear Polyeuctes,
Let us go 'fore the eyes of men to brave
Idolatry, and to shew who we are;
May I to suffer give you the Example,
As you have given me that of offering you?
Pol.
By this most happy transport which Heaven sends you,
Again I know Nearchus, and I weep
For joy on't, come, let us not lose more time,
The Sacrifice is ready, let's uphold
Th'interest of the true God, lets tread
Under our feet this feigned Thunderbolt,
With which th'abused and credulous people
Arm a corrupted piece of wood; let's go
To make this fatall blindness manifest,
Those gods of stone and mettall, let us break
In pieces, and lets dedicate our days
To this cœlestiall heat, and so let's offer
A triumph unto God; let him dispose
The rest.
Nearc.
Come let us make his glory to break forth
Unto the eyes of all, and for him dye,
Who for us suffer'd death and infamy.
The End of the second Act.
| Polyeuctes, or the Martyr | |