University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

In the house of Hilarianus.
HILARIANUS.
To rise so scant of rest, with ugly dreams
That halve with truth in waking! I was weak
To let the signet go. Say, wine is strong,
And I submiss to an all-potent master;
Nay, call him weak who sharpens up the ears
But to devour a mouldy tale, to him
How profitless, how troublesome to me!
Now will the trash o' the suburbs come in swarms,
All buzzing of these twilight owls—thus wise,
They strive to keep their hooting to themselves.—
Who's the intruder? Keep all out, I say!
How, Camus, what's amiss? Last night, what was't?
Something I said,—beshrew this tongue of mine,—
Beshrew my memory, sulking at its back.
Pardon me, gods, whatever!

Enter Camus.
CAMUS.
Up betimes!

HILARIANUS.
No sleep for dreaming of my signet's loss;
All's safe, I see.

CAMUS.
Not so; the work not done.
We have secur'd some baser of the brood;
But in dividing, as they left their haunt,
The wealthier have 'scaped us.

HILARIANUS.
Said I not?
Ne'er frown; I know not what—already gone.
My recollection barely serves with this,—
A hairy face, a pair of greedy eyes;
I e'en forgot my signet was allow'd
To hands of trust.

CAMUS.
Or you or it must serve
To arrest Perpetua.

HILARIANUS.
How! on that sordid babble
Go with an armed force, and, all unwarn'd,
Drag forth a noble lady from her home?
The præfect dares not do it, and the man
Stands up against such outrage!

CAMUS.
Scrupulous?
You have good reasons, doubtless. Will you see
The messenger from Rome? He waits without.

HILARIANUS.
Ay, good; ho, Varro!—good; 'twill change the theme.
Enter Varro.
That Roman budget!

VARRO.
Ay, my lord.

[Exit.
CAMUS.
You dream'd
The signet lost, you say? Almighty Jove!

Enter Messenger.
HILARIANUS.
Your news!

MESSENGER.
'Tis here.

HILARIANUS.
Enough of it to serve
For twenty changes upon twenty themes!
Wait not, but quick convert your wants to pleasures.

CAMUS.
What moves you?

[Exit Messenger.
HILARIANUS.
Look you here; some meddling pest
Hath stirr'd the emperor 'bout these wretched Christians.

CAMUS.
Lo! how the gods attest their minister.
Lo! how their voices visit us in dreams.
How clearly seen the hand of Jove in this,
Pointing your duty ere it be too late;
Ere, for your slackness in their sacred cause,
The emperor doth depose you from your rule!

HILARIANUS.
Depose!

CAMUS.
By timely zeal you may escape.
The gods this signet trust with me, to hold
As surety for thine office,—by fit use
To steady up this slipping confidence.

HILARIANUS.
What should I do? My thoughts can't ope their eyes;
My wits are all a-yawn for want of sleep.

CAMUS.
Go, settle them, and dream your signet safe.
The scroll—

HILARIANUS.
There's more to read;—what is it?—see;
There! I commit the whole into your hands.

[Exit Hilarianus.
CAMUS.
What, ho! the lictors!