University of Virginia Library

SCENE 2.

Enter King, and some Attendants.
King.
Have you performed my Orders?

Attend.
Yes, if Tortures,
Wracks, Blood and Death in Thousand various Forms
Be the performing 'em, we have performed 'em.

King.
Oh what a Barren Toyl, and fruitless Labour
Has my mistaken Vengeance undertook!
The Extirpation of this Christian Race;
A work wou'd baffle Hercules. His Hydra
With all her springing Heads, alas was nothing
To this more Growing Monster—Death,
They Seed by Graves and Multiply by Destruction.
Gods! even the very Dead Convert the Living.
Lovely and Charming even in Ghastly Wounds!
Almighty Rhetorick, in each dying Gasp,
And every Groan an Orator!—Oh Zeal!
Oh Faith! How unaccountable's thy Power?

Enter Theodosius.
Theod.
Forgive, dread Monarch, an aspiring Gazer
Whose soaring Eyes have dar'd t'uplift a Heart,
A Bold Oblation to Imperial Beauty.
But Orundana's all Commanding Charms
Have that Resistless Power! and oh great Sir,
[Kneels.
If Kneeling Love, and all my Suppliant Sighs—

King.
Rise kind Petitioner, I understand
Thy Pleading Suit, and grant thy Prayers unheard:
And since, Dear Prince, thou art adopted mine,
Be nearer so;—My Daughter is thy own.

Theod.
Oh my Immortal Joys! Let me Embrace
Your Royal Knees!

King.
No more my Son: The Debt
You owe in Gratitude to Isdigerdes,
Reserve and pay in Love to Orundana.

Theod.
Blessing like this!—

King.
To seal the Gift I make,
I'll instantly dispatch Embassadours
To Constantinople, to the great Arcadius
For his assenting Hand to tye the Gordian.

Theod.
My Fathers binding hand; Yes Generous Monarch
His Pride will soar with mine; A Love so high
Will more than Crown my Youth,
And bless his Age.
[Exeunt Omnes præter Theod.
But oh in all my Bliss I mount too late,
Poor lost Hormidas to avert thy Fate.
I fear Thou'rt set, set in so thick a Night
As my Meridian Glory cannot light.

[Exit.