University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

An Apartment in the Palace.
Justinian, Theodora.
Theo.
We are not yet so lost; our guards are firm.
Fly, didst thou say! O word of abject shame!
Do I forget my station! Do I yield
To womanly despair? Is my cheek pale?
Feel I the cold and shivering fit upon me?
Let multiplying perils thicken round,
Tho Phorbas lives, and thus avows his treason,
Tho Caius and Eumenes march beside him,
Yet— (Enter a Messenger)
(shouts)
what portend those shouts?

Mess.
They are advanced
Near to the gate, which they prepare to storm,
On either side the mingled shouts arise.
Soon will begin the desperate shock; I fear
Lest Phorbas—

Theo.
Hah! is every breast appall'd?
Nothing but terror, and the dreaded name
Of Phorbas!—What tho he commands without?
Have we not Narbal? Claudius? have we not
Within, the valiant Decius? Add to these
The imperial name, an army in itself?
And right, and justice? Add our walls, these towers,
To force impregnable? Go, bear from hence
Courageous looks, warm hopes, by confidence
And fortitude of mind inspired; from me
Take thou the gift, impart it to thy fellows.
A short resistance will disperse this wild
Unthinking croud, or they will soon rebel
Against their leader. Let me not behold
Thy face again, unless with tidings fraught
Of our success, and their disgraceful flight.

[Exit Messenger.
Just.
Oh! how will rash-form'd judgment hurry on,
And lose itself in error! prompt to raise
The worst of evils, blind when they approach!
Such is thy state. While I pursuing still
The advice of others, diffident myself,
Am lost beneath thy guidance; in the morn
Lord of the best part of this ample globe,
And what to night!

Theo.
Haste! send submissive terms!
Crouch to these slaves, who long to spill my blood,
Then yield me up, and be content to reign
A mock and pageant emperor.—I will mount
This instant on the loftiest tower, from thence
Should I behold the daring hand of treason
Urged by success, roll the fierce tumult on,
And penetrate these inner walls; think not
I will survive; the honours of my life
Shall ne'er be wrested from me but by death.

(Exit.
Just.
Tempestuous woman! Ever violent!
Is there an act throughout my lengthened reign
Which I have wished undone, from thee it sprang.
Too late I rue my easiness of soul,
How oft hath fear assail'd my nighty pillow,
How oft hath danger cross'd my path by day
Of thy procuring!—Might this storm pass by,
Thy power is o'er.—This solemn vow to heaven!
If not! 'twere vain to strive.—I too can die
Resign'd to the awful mandate.

[Exit.

SCENE II.

Before the Prison.
(Confused noise of a skirmish at some distance.)
Narbal, Decius.
Nar.
They rush like gaunt and hungry wolves upon us,
While our's resist like deer.—All hope is fled.
Behind, dismay, and the keen sword of Phorbas,
Before us, horrid darkness, fierce remorse,
And death.—O pangs insufferable! fallen,
Sunk from the lofty sphere in which I sail'd,
And eagle-like gazed on the midday sun!
Brought level with the dust.

Dec.
Hence with complaints,
Absurd and weak!—Or shall we hide ourselves?
Creep into some vile nook? and perish there?
No; let us measure back our steps with speed,
Meet the victorious foe, rejoin the fight,
And dearly sell our lives.

Nar.
Hold—thro the clouds
A ray breaks forth.—Go thou and lend thine aid
To Claudius, who maintains the unequal contest,
The shatter'd remnant of our troops to bring
To the inner court.—Meanwhile this prison guards
Our only chance of safety. Belisarius
Still lives, tho blind; his family are our's.
Them, thro the subterraneous avenue,
To the same place will I convey. There urge
Thy swift retreat, and leave the rest to me.

Dec.
I go with speed.
[Exit Decius.

Nar.
Too eagerly my soul
The dictates of resentment hath pursued.
I should have spared his eyes—that deed may close
The mind of Phorbas, bar up each access,
And render him inexorable.—No—
To save their lives he cannot but relent.
And to preserve my own, tho shorn of honours,
Is worth each strenuous every desperate effort;
Yet they too may be mine.—But should I plan
A fruitless enterprize, and baffled fall,
Not mean and unadorn'd shall be my death,
The blood of glorious victims floating round.

(Enters the Prison with some of the Guards.)

SCENE III.

Before the Prison.
(shouts &c.)
Phorbas, Eumenes, Nicanor, &c.
Phor.
My brave associates hail! undoubted wreaths
Are our's.—The riven gates, the flying guards
Proclaim us conquerors.—Now haste my friends!
Within yon dreary walls your general lies,
Groaning beneath the weight of shameful chains;
Quick burst the door.

Eum.
(advancing)
'Tis open.

Phor.
Let us enter!

(scene draws)
Eum.
Darkness! and solitude!

Phor.
We seek in vain.
Distraction!—at the time of thy escape,
Was he not here? and Antonina? my son?

Eum.
They were.—Alas! I shudder at the thought.
When I had scaled the battlements, the gate
Just gain'd by thee; this way a party fled,
And, as I guess'd, by Narbal hurried on.
This is his work—perhaps—

Phor.
Perhaps e'en now
They breathe their last.—Thus frustrated! Ye gods!
Oh! interrupt not thus our glorious course,
By you protected! and by you inspired!

Eum.
I see it all; from yonder dark recess
An arched vault descending, winds along
To the inner court; doubtless by that they pass'd,
And bore the suffering hero.

Phor.
Thro the gloom
I'll penetrate, should it conduct my steps
Down to the very centre.

Nic.
I will follow.

Eum.
'Twere but a vain attempt. A slender guard
Not to be forced, may brave an army there.
And solid doors of brass too firmly closed,
Obstruct the way.

Enter Caius.
Caius.
Oh! horror! horror!

Phor.
Say,
What means my friend?

Caius.
Alas! thy father views
Yon glorious orb no more.

Phor.
Ye gods! not slain!

Caius.
Not slain, but rendered blind; a prisoner
Who saw the melancholy spectacle,
Affirms the fact.

Phor.
Most unexampled crime!
And do we lingering stand? not fly to punish
This odious monster?—Let the furies loose!
New-waken rage! again my friends assume
The front of terror! storm the inner gate!
Bring piles of wood! Light the destructive fire!
Havock and desolation be our plan!
And if we cannot save this first of men,
With all I love, all that my soul holds dear,
Let universal ruin stamp the day
With threefold horror!

Nic.
Generous youth proceed!
One spirit guides us; if we fail to rescue,
We amply will revenge thy fathers wrongs.
Death or success be our's.

Phor.
Death to his foes!
We, while indignant justice calls us on,
Rush to the goal of certain victory.

SCENE IV.

An Apartment in the Palace.
Belisarius, Antonina, Marcella, Junius.
Mar.
He comes, by honour, virtue, glory led,
Triumphant in his might!—Yet once before
He rescued me alas! from death my father;
From madness rescued me.—O Belisarius!
Thou dost not know what I have likewise suffer'd;
Wild-roving frenzy, and heart-piercing insult,
He will—he must—he cannot but prevail!

Bel.
Idle your words; your hopes ill-form'd and vain.
Are we not still within the power of Narbal?
Hath he relented? no—but do not think
My voice shall sanctify these deeds of Phorbas.
Should he advance e'en hither with success,
He, and his lawless crew, protend the spear,
And raise a barrier of incircling shields,
Think not I'll stain my soul; justice deceived,
Is justice still, and I will not resist it.

Mar.
Are not our wrongs?—

Bel.
Hah! to revenge our wrongs!
Is that the pretext of pernicious treason?
And who, when mad rebellion is on foot,
And ruffian licence bears down all before it,
Shall check them in their violent career?
Curb their dire rage? and bid them go no farther?

Mar.
O Belisarius! Thou art cruel now.
Surely thou lovest me not.

Bel.
Do I not love thee?
Thou art the best of daughters. No reproach,
No blame Marcella, do I cast on thee.
I am not yet so lost to what is manly,
But that I can forgive a woman's weakness,
And think it amiable.

Ant.
Self-interest now,
Should sway methinks e'en Narbal to preserve us.

Bel.
So should it ever. But our blood he thirsts for,
As thou hast seen.

Ant.
Most true.—Oh sight of woe!

Bel.
These arms—

Mar.
Perfidious, base, unmanly deed!

Bel.
I stretch these arms in vain.—No longer thus—
No longer at a distance—

Ant.
O most injured!
O greatly, greatly wretched!

Bel.
To my heart!
(Embracing them.)
There would I strain you, till the vital source
Were quite exhausted.—Oh! let this embrace
Emphatically speak my warmth of love;
All I now feel, all I have felt for you.
Most kind! most faithful! tenderest! loveliest! best!
Ruin'd for me! ye ever-living powers!
(Sinks on his knees supported by them.)
Give them, give me the fortitude we need!
Let us not murmur at your high disposal
Of mortal accidents!—O Jove supreme!
Great source of all! howe'er inscrutable
Thy universal laws, they must be right.
And in some point of the eternal round
Of circling years, the virtuous must be blest.
Whatever be the cause of evil here,
Benevolence must ultimately reign,
And all creation hail the bounteous god.

(shouts and tumult.)
Enter Narbal, Decius, Guards.
Nar.
Since our most generous offers are despised,
And Phorbas deigns no answer to bestow
But hostile threats, and fire and sword; away!
Bear all but Belisarius to the walls!
There placed conspicious, should he still persist,
And urge on fury to it's worst extremes,
Let the steel smite!—Him, as our last resource
Myself will guard.

Ant.
Ye shall not, shall not part us!

Mar.
Murtherers and slaves! Begone!

Jun.
Oh! save me! save me!

Mar.
(drawing a dagger, and breaking from those who hold her.)
This to thy heart!—and let a woman's hand—

Nar.
(wresting the dagger from her.)
Desperate and frantic! Hah! thy stroke hath sail'd—
Secure her—Bear them hence.—

Mar.
Heaven will not fail,
Howe'er this trembling arm—Oh torture!—

Ant.
Keen,
And exquisite distress!

(They are forced off)
[Exeunt with Decius and Guards.
Bel.
O bitterness
Of anguish, inexpressibly severe!—
Hold!—Hold!—sink not beneath the dreadful conflict.—
Return! return! thy wonted seat assume
Firm, patient resolution!—When the soul
Of villainy, can struggling bear the load
Which guilt accumulates; affliction's force
Integrity unshaken should sustain.

Nar.
Still soaring! thy stiff pride unbroken still!

Bel.
Nature which form'd the reptile, form'd the bird
Of strongest wing.

Nar.
Thro that affected scorn
Yet shall I pierce and sting thee to the heart.
Blind! and insensate! couldst thou not have guess'd
The chains for Narbal forged, might fit thee well?
When to Justinian thy officious tongue
Condemn'd my actions, couldst thou not have guess'd
That Narbal might revenge too?

Bel.
Heaven ordains
An antidote for every human ill.
I thank it's power, and am again myself.

Nar.
To try that heart— (Enter a Messenger)
what are thy tidings? say?

Mess.
Scarce from the wall had Decius bending down
Thy terms delivered, when an arrow flew
And pierced his brain.—The guards within exclaim'd
Tumultuous at thy orders, and required
To bear the family of Belisarius
From great Justinian's self to learn their doom;
A party for that purpose is detached.
Who likewise, at his own request, support
The steps of Claudius thither, wounded sore
In the late hard retreat, with loss of blood
Fainting, and as it seems, not far from death.
The rest defend the gate.
(noise of falling ruins, &c.)
Oh horror!
(going to the side of the stage.)
Lo!
The flame ascends! the massy beams give way!
Wide is the ruin scattered all around!
They drop their arms—they fly—who rushes in
Thro the thick smoke impetuous?—It is he—
Phorbas himself—they follow—on he moves
Direct with rapid fury—he is here!

Nar.
Draw all your swords! suspend them o'er his head—
And when you see me strike, make sure your work,
And emulate the blow.

(He stands by the side of Belisarius with his sword drawn; the guards behind with their's ready.)
Enter Phorbas, Eumenes, Nicanor, &c.
Phor.
Here is our destined mark, and this the place
To hunt a bloody tyger to the death.—
Hah! what do I behold! my feet are nail'd
To the mute earth, and terror shakes my frame.

Nar.
If thou, or one of that rebellious croud
Advance a step, he dies.

Phor.
Quick, bid them halt.

Nic.
Halt!

Nar.
We transmitted lately generous terms.
They still are thine.—We give the lives of all.—
Your honours, wealth, and liberty restore—
If thou the palace quit, disband thy troops,
Confusion soothe, and quell licentious outrage.

Phor.
Can'st thou again his visual lamp relume?
Accursed barbarian!—But should we retire
Where is the surety?

Nar.
On my word rely.

Phor.
Thy word!—

Nar.
Nay then, at once!

(raises his sword.)
Phor.
Oh! hold I charge thee!
Saidst thou thy word?—

Nar.
If thou demur a moment,
The stroke is given.

Bel.
Ye gods! I can no longer
Command my silence.—Thou degenerate boy!
Who taught thy rash right hand to violate
This hallowed place? thus carelessly to sport
With royal blood? and haply o'er the world
Spread desolation, rapine, savage strife,
And jarring anarchy?

Phor.
Oh! spare thy son!
Think what I feel! oh! spare these taunts my father!

Bel.
Why wouldst thou e'er deserve them?—shall an injury,
However great, done to a private man,
Cause him to rise in arms? to wield on high
The death-denouncing sword? and threaten ruin
To the universal state?—Justinian! heaven
Preserve his sacred life!—ye pass not here,
But o'er this mangled frame.—Couldst thou pretend
To guide each furious arm? and when upraised,
Direct it where to strike?—young Cæsar dead,
And no successor named, couldst thou controul
Ambition's sons? eager to claim the throne?
And tear their country's vitals? to destroy
The goodly structure of these hands? the realm
Which our joint labours had composed to peace?

Nic.
Why should our active swords be charm'd asleep
With incantations? Can we save his life
By our retreat? No; let us therefore rush
Upon the murtherers who engird him round!

Bel.
Oh! that my words could, like a pointed dart
Transfix that traitor!—Hah! and was it he?
The brave Nicanor? now, in civil broils
Wasting the glory earn'd in many a field
Where honour waved her ensigns?—But declare,
Speak all, your purpose!—Or have you been seized
With epidemic madness?—Say my friends,
What is my life, or death!—What just complaint
Stirs you against your prince?—I heed perchance
As little as yourselves the imperial title,
Or farce of royalty.—If e'er Justinian
Had play'd the tyrant wantonly, if orphans
Were plenty in our streets, and wailing widows,
If the whole realm harrast beneath his sway
Groan'd for redress, then 'twere a glorious cause
To bend against him the strong bow of vengeance,
Nor these old arms had fail'd to strain their nerves,
Till the points met together.

Nar.
Ye have heard
The voice oracular of truth and virtue,
Obey it's dictates; lay your weapons down;
And trust my intercession to obtain
A general pardon.

Phor.
Much would I perform
To save that valued life.

Bel.
Why every thought
Bent on an individual's happiness?
Consult the public welfare.—But not here
Lay down your arms; despise with me this wretch,
And his commands; laugh his vain threats to scorn;
His promises, his very oaths suspect,
For falshood hath possess'd his total frame,
And mingled with his essence.—Few my days
Of ebbing life, should nature take it's course:
By what his cruel hand hath ravish'd from me,
Still lower in their price, of no esteem,
Useless to others, useless to myself.—
Leave therefore him to me, and me to him.
The sword will fall on unsubstantial air,
The shadow of a man.—No; seek Justinian!
To him with low submission bend; intreat
Of him forgiveness; from his sovereign will
Expect your future fate.

Nar.
Nay then revenge,
And hopeless rage no longer shall postpone
Their destined task—

(going to strike.)
Phor.
Use the swift lightning's speed!
And on his head at least—

Enter Justinian and Guards.
(Narbal starts and drops his sword.)
Just.
Seize that detested traitor! bear him hence
To punishment! him and the treacherous slave,
His fit companion! [Exeunt Guards with Narbal.

Hah! do I behold
That venerable face despoiled and blind!
Vindictive malice! groveling cruelty!
And canst thou pardon! oh! I fondly thought
At least in some degree to recompence
Thy unexampled wrongs—but what can pay
This loss sustained!—Marcella! Antonina!

Enter Antonina, Marcella, Junius.
Ant.
And art thou given to our desires again?

Mar.
Do I then clasp my husband in my arms?
Thy boy my Phorbas.

Phor.
Blessings on his head!

Ant.
My son!

Mar.
My father?

Bel.
O my age's light!
(embracing Junius)
Young, lovely sun-beam! I could bear adversity,
This overwhelms me.—But my sovereign! hah!
I hear his grief, the emotions of his soul.

Just.
And needed I this sight to afflict my bosom
Fresh bleeding with another recent wound!
Thou know'st not Theodora's fate; alas!
When Phorbas had each obstacle o'ercome,
And hope appeared extinct, from the high tower
Where she was placed, in sudden frenzy, down
She threw herself.—Ill-destined, hapless woman!
Thou wert too nigh our heart.—Yet heaven is just.
Misguided by her zeal she thought thee false,
And lived not to be undeceived with me.
For the perfidious Claudius is no more,
Who in my presence all the plot disclosed,
And died, with keen remorse, imploring mercy.

Bel.
Am I then free from each imputed crime?
In thy opinion free? I have lost nothing.
Mine is all gain. To this an empire's wealth
Is cheap, is sordid. Dost thou know me guiltless?

Just.
I do, with joy I do.—No power on earth
Shall e'er with darkness cloud my mind again.
I heard thee as I entered, prime of men!
Heard thee with admiration.—Son! and friends
Of this illustrious hero! I approve
All you have done; yes, my warm heart approves it.
Phorbas, thy second self shall reap our bounties
Unmeasured as his worth.—While they who shook
The sceptre in my hand, shall from henceforth
Encompass me, my firm protecting bulwarks.—
Friend! guardian! reinstator of my throne!
Above all empire! Let me cast aside
Vain pomp, and mix myself with native greatness,
And strain to thee to my heart. (embraces Belisarius.)
Now all indulge
Your feelings unrestrained! Your mutual joy
Indulge! while I, a sharer in your bliss,
Taste truest happiness; with new-born smiles
Bedeck the face of innocence; reward
Fidelity and courage; and repair,
Far as my power extends, those injuries
Which from my rash credulity have sprung.

Bel.
Worthiest of princes!—O my son! be't thine
With zealous spirit to serve faithfully
This generous master. Ever to his ear
Prompt to receive, convey the tale of truth.
Ne'er may such goodness be abused by falshood!
Nor smooth-tongued sycophants approach his presence!
Thorny and rough is the nice path of empire;
And who can walk therein with foot unwounded?
Truly to search the hypocrite, and view
The villain's naked soul, is heaven's alone.
Man can but do his best, act from appearance,
And rectify the error which is known.