 | The Emperovr of the East |  |
Scæn. 2.
Lowd Musick. Showtes within: Heauen preserue the Emperour, Heauen blesse the Empresse. Then in State, Chrysapius, Patriarch. Paulinus. Theodosius. Athenais. Pulcheria. Her two young Sisters bearing vp Athenais trayne. Followed, by Philanax. Gratianus. Timantus. Suitors, presenting petitions. The Emperour sealing them. Pulcheria appeares troubled.Pul.
Sir by your owne rules of Philosophie
You know things violent last not, royall bounties
With moderation, but when their excesse
In giuing gyant-bulkes to others, take from
The Princes iust proportion, they loose
The names of vertues, and, their natures chang'd,
Grow the most dangerous vices
Theod.
In this, sister,
Your wisdome is not circular; they that sowe
In narrow boundes, cannot expect in reason
A croppe beyond their ventures, what I doe
Disperse, I lend, and will with vsury
Returne vnto my heape: I only then
Am rich, and happy, (though my coffers sound
With emptinesse) when my glad subiects feele,
Their plenty and felicitie is my gifte;
And they will finde, when they with cheerefulnesse
Supplie not my defectes, I being the stomacke
To the politick body of the State, the limbes
Grow suddainely faint, and feeble; I could vrge
Proofes of more finenesse in their shape and language,
But none of greater strength: dissuade mee not,
What wee will, we will doe; yet to assure you,
Your care does not offend vs, for an houre,
Bee happy in the conuerse of my best
And deerest comfort; may you please to licence
My priuacie some few minutes?
Athenais.
Licence Sir,
I haue no will, but is deriu'd from yours,
And that still waites vpon you, nor can I
Bee left with such security with any,
As with the gratious Princesse, who receiues
Addition, though shee bee all excellence,
In being stilde your sister.
Theod.
O sweete creature!
Let mee bee censur'd fond, and too indulgent,
Nay though they say vxorious, I care not,
Her loue, and sweete humility exact
Her matchlesse goodnesse, Forward.
Exeunt, Theodosius and the traine.
Pulch.
Now you finde
Your dying fathers prophecie that foretolde
Your present greatnesse, to the full accomplish'd.
For the poore aides, and furtherance I lent you,
I willingly forget.
Ath.
Eu'n that bindes me
To a more strict remembrance of the fauor,
Nor shall you from my foule ingratitude,
In any circumstance euer finde cause
T'upbraid me with your benefit,
Pul.
I beleeue so.
Pray you giue vs leaue: what now I must deliuer
Vnder the deepest scale of secrecy,
Though it be for you good, will giue assurance
Of what is look'd for, if you not alone
Heare, but obey my counsels.
Ath.
They must be
Of a strange nature, if with zealous speed
I put 'em not in practice.
Pul.
'Twere impertinence
To dwell on circumstances, since the wound
Requires a suddain cure, especially
Since you that are the happy instrument
Elected to it, though yong in your iudgement
Write far aboue your yeeres, and may instruct
Such as are more experienc'd.
Ath.
Good madam,
In this I must oppose you, I am well
Acquainted with my weaknesse, and it will not
Become your wisdome, by which I am rais'd
To this titulary height, that should correct
The pride, and ouerweening of my fortune,
That merit to me, vnto which I can
Pretend no interest; pray you excuse
My bold simplicity, and to my waight
Designe me where you please, and you shall finde
In my obedience, I am still your creature.
Pul.
'Tis nobly answer'd, and I glory in
The building I haue rais'd; go on, sweet Lady,
In this your vertuous progresse but to the point,
You know, nor do I enuy it, you haue
Acquir'd that power, which, not long since, was mine,
In gouerning the Emperor, and must vse
The strength you hold in the heart of his affections,
For his priuate, as the publique preseruation,
To which there is no greater enemy,
Then his exorbitant prodigality,
How ere his sycophants, and flatterers call it.
Royall magnificence, and though you may
Vrge what's done for your honor, must not be
Curb'd, or be controul'd by you, you cannot in
Your wisdome but conceiue, if that the torrent
Of his violent bounties be not stopp'd, or lessen'd,
It will proue most pernitious. Therefore, Madam,
Since 'tis your duty, as you are his wife,
To giue him sauing counsells, and in being
Almost his idoll, may command him to
Take any shape you please, with a powerfull hand,
To stop him in his precipice to ruine.
Ath.
Auert it heauen.
Pul.
Heauen is most gratious to you, madam,
In choosing you to be the instrument
Of such a pious work. You see he signes
What suit soeuer is preferr'd, not once
Inquiring what it is, yeelding himselfe
A prey to all; I would therefore haue you, Lady,
As I know you will to aduise him, or command him,
As he would reap the plenty of your fauours,
And that before he giues, he would consider,
The what, to whom, and wherefore.
Ath.
Do yo think
Such arrogance, or vsurpation, rather,
Of what is proper, and peculiar
To euery priuate husband, and much more
To him an Emperor, can ranck with th'obedience
And duty of a wife? are we appointed
In our creation (let me reason with you)
To rule, or to obey? or 'cause he loues me
With a kinde impotence, must I tyrannize
Ouer his weaknesse? or abuse the strength
With which he armes me to his wrong? or, like
A prostituted creature, merchandize
Our mutuall delight for hire? or to
Serue mine owne sordid ends? in vulgar nuptials
Priority is exploded, though there be
A difference in the parties, and shall I,
His vassall from obscurity rais'd by him
To this so eminent light, presume to appoint him
To do, or not to do this, or that: when wiues
Are well aocommodated by their husbands
With all things both for vse, and ornament,
Let them fix there, and neuer dare to question
Their wils or actions. For my selfe, I vow,
Though now my Lord would rashly giue away
His Scepter, and imperiall Diadem,
Or if there could be any thing more pretious,
I would not crosse it; but I know this is
But a triall of my temper, and as such
I do receiue it, or if't be otherwise,
You are so subtill in your arguments,
I dare not stay to heare them.
Pulcher.
Is't eu'n so?
I haue power ore these yet, and command their stay,
To hearken nearer to me.
We are charg'd
By the Emperor, our brother, to attend
The Empresse seruice.
2 Sister.
You are too mortifi'd sister,
(With reuerence I speak it) for yong Ladies
To keepe you company. I am so tir'd
With your tedious exhortations, doctrines, vses,
Of your religious morality,
That for my health sake, I must take the freedome
To enioy a little of those pretty pleasures
That I was borne to.
1 Sister.
When I come to your yeeres,
Ile do as you do, but till then, with your pardon,
Ile lose no more time. I haue not learn't to dance yet,
Nor sing, but holy hymnes, and those to vile tunes too;
Nor to discourse, but of Schoolemens opinions.
How shall I answer my sutors? since, I hope,
Ere long I shall haue many, without practice
To write, and speake somthing that's not deriu'd
From the fathers of Philosophy.
2 Sister.
We shall shame
Our breeding Sister, if we should go on thus.
1 Sister.
'Tis for your credit, that we study
How to conuerse with men; women with women
Yeelds but a harren argument.
2 Sister.
She frownes,
But you'll protect vs Madam?
Ath.
Yes, and loue
Your sweet simplicity.
1 Sister.
All yong gyrles are so,
Till they know the way of't.
2 Sister.
But when we are enter'd,
We shall on a good round pace,
Ath.
Ile leaue you Madam.
1 Sister.
And we our duties with you.
Exeunt Athenais and the yong Ladyes.
On all hands
Thus slighted? no way left? am I growne stupid
In my inuention? can I make no vse
Of the Emperors bounties? now 'tis thought: within there.
Seruant.
Madam.
Enter a Seruant.
Pul.
It shall be so; neerer; your eare
Draw a petition to this end.
Seru.
Besides
The danger to prefer it, I beleeue
Twill nere be granted.
Pul.
How's this? are you growne,
From a seruant, my director? let me heare
No more of this. Dispatch, Ile master him
At his owne weapon.
Exit Seruant.
Enter Theodosius, Favorinus, Philanax, Timantus, Gratianus.
Theod.
Let me vnderstand it,
If yet there be ought wanting that may perfect
A generall happinesse.
Fauor.
The peoples ioy
In seas of acclamations flow in
To wait on yours.
Philanax.
Their loue with bounty leuied,
Is a sure guard. Obedience forc'd from feare,
Paper fortification, which in danger
Will yeeld to the impression of a reed,
Or of it selfe fall off.
Theod.
True, Philanax.
And by that certain compasse we resolue
To steere our Barque of gouernment.
Enter Seruant with the petition.
Pul.
'Tis well.
The.
My deerest, and my all-deseruing Sister,
Pray you, rise, although your suite were halfe my Empire,
'Tis freely granted.
Pulch.
Your alacritie
To giue hath made a begger; yet before
My suite is by your sacred hand and seale
Confirm'd, 'tis necessary you peruse
The summe of my request.
Theod.
Wee will not wrong
Your iudgement, in conceiuing what 'tis fit
For you to aske, and vs to grant, so much,
As to proceede with caution, giue mee my signet,
With confidence I signe it, and heere vow.
By my fathers soule, but with your free consent
It is irreuocable.
Timantus.
What if shee now
Calling to memorie, how often wee
Haue cross'd her gouernment, in reuenge hath made
Petition for our heads?
Gratianus.
They must euen off then,
No ransone can redeeme vs.
Theod.
Let those iewells
So highly rated by the Persian merchants
Bee bought, and as a sacrifice from vs
Presented to Eudoxa. Shee being only
Worthy to weare 'em, I am angrie with
The vnresistable necessitie.
Of my occasions, and important cares
That so long keepe mee from her.
Exeunt Theodosius and the trayne.
Pulcher.
Goe to the Empresse,
And tell her on the suddaine, I am sicke,
And doe desire, the comfort of a visit,
If shee please to vouchsafe it. From me vse
Your humblest language: But when once I haue her
In a higher straine, say it raise stormes, no matter.
Fooles iudge by the euent, my endes are honest.
Exeunt.
| The Emperovr of the East | |