University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

A gallery in the apartments of Adrian.
Emirena, Aquilius.
Aquil.
Who sooner than yourself can save Pharnaspes?
'Tis yours, at will, to rule the heart of Cæsar;
And every female but yourself would better
Employ a monarch's love.

Emir.
Of what avail
To me, who love not Cæsar, is the power?

Aquil.
And must he be belov'd to make him think
That he is so?

Emir.
Shall I proclaim a lie?

Aquil.
O! no—a lie is now an artifice
Held gross and insecure: true policy
Is so to work, that whom we would deceive
Should prove his own deceiver: let a sigh,
Half check'd with art, escape you; or a word
Of doubtful meaning; or a glance, that seems
As taken by surprise; a winning smile:
The smallest action: silence or a blush:
Nay, what you do not speak; all, all alike
Shall spread the snare; for lovers still are prone
To sooth their wishes. He will think you love him,
And yet yourself may still retain the power,
To say your lips had ne'er confess'd a passion.

Emir.
I know not where such art is to be found.

Aquil.
Woman has not to seek it: with her birth
It grew and flourish'd. From the languid eye
To drop the obedient tear; to dress the lip
In smiles that hold no commerce with the heart:
To chace, at will, the colour from the cheek:
To flush the changing features: these are all
The sex's privilege, on you bestow'd,
Heaven's voluntary gift: to man they cost
Labour and deep design.

Emir.
Thou, that art grown
Old in a court, canst ne'er have cause to envy
Talents like these. I deem thou art not found
Among the few, tenacious of the ties
Of ancient honour. When the time demands,
Thou know'st full well with open looks to allure
An unsuspecting foe; to place before him
The precipice, and then lament his fall:
To offer all thy service, but to serve
Thyself alone: to clothe an accusation
With treacherous praise, and aggravate a fault
In seeming to defend it: from the throne
To keep the good at distance; make the sovereign
Hated for punishments, and to thyself
Usurp the merit of rewards: beneath
Apparent zeal to hide an impious purpose,
And build thy fortune on another's ruin.

Aquil.
Thou, Emirena, wouldst revenge thy sex:
I thought not thus to touch thee, nor complain
Of what thou say'st: nay more, to be sincere,
It seems to me we both have spoken truth.
I meant but to advise.

Emir.
I ask'd for aid,
And not advice.

Aquil.
Aquilius ever thought,
That wholesome counsel gave no little aid.
Believe me, princess—but farewell, I hear
Some one approach—'tis Adrian sure at hand.

[Exit.

SCENE II.

Enter Sabina.
Sab.
[entering.]
O! Heavens! my rival here!

Emir.
Ye powers! Sabina!

Sab.
Thou art, indeed, most loyal in thy care,
Beyond my utmost thought: the conflagration
Is scarce extinguish'd, when we find thee here
In thy lov'd Cæsar's palace.

Emir.
Ah! Sabina,
How great is your injustice! Cæsar's love
Is not my crime, but punishment. The danger
Of poor Pharnaspes weighs upon my soul.
Behold the cause that brings me to these walls:
Can I, in silence, see him perish thus?
Pharnaspes is myself! to him I gave
My virgin heart, and time has travell'd long
Since first our loves began.

Sab.
Speak'st thou sincere,
Or dost thou feign?

Emir.
O! I should feign indeed,
If thus I did not speak.

Sab.
Yet see'st thou not
That pleading in his cause but angers Cæsar?

Emir.
I have no other way.

Sab.
Wouldst thou attend,
A better might be found. With thy Pharnaspes,
Fly from the palace. Lentulus, the leader,
Keeps him in charge: he to my parents owes
Whate'er he has; and from his grateful heart
I well may rest assur'd of stronger proofs
Than this which now I seek.

Emir.
O! might, indeed,
Your thoughts succeed.

Sab.
Go then; prepare securely
For thy departure: to the greater fountain
In Cæsar's gardens, I'll conduct thy spouse.
Expect me there before the sun attains
His mid-day height.

Emir.
Ah! princess, may I hope—
I am so us'd to bear the frowns of fate.

Sab.
Behold my hand; receive this certain pledge.

Emir.
My breast can scarce contain the mighty joy!
O! generous princess! happy Emirena!

[Exit.

SCENE III.

Sabina
alone.
When Emirena shall be hence remov'd,
Perchance my lover may again return
To all his former kindness. Every fire,
When fuel fails, must perish; and the stream,
Divided from the source that feeds it, dries.

SCENE IV.

Enter Adrian.
Adr.
[entering.]
My life! my Emirena! [sees her.]
Heavenly Powers!
What have I said?

[going.
Sab.
Why do you fly me, Adrian?
Ah! grudge me not your presence one short moment;
Then, if you will, return to her you love.

Adr.
What says Sabina? Does she then believe—
And who should Adrian love?

Sab.
Ah! hide not from me
That candid blush of shame; you know not, Adrian,
To me how grateful: conscience never dyes
The cheek of him who feels not he is guilty;
And he who feels his guilt will soon disclaim it.

Adr.
O! Heaven!

Sab.
You sigh—give me that sigh, my lord.
Immortal powers! Who once would have believ'd
A change like this? The glory of our Rome,
The hero's pattern, and my only hope,
Adrian inconstant! Is it possible?
It cannot be—Who has seduc'd your faith?
Give me to know it all.

Adr.
What shall I say?
How is my soul confus'd!—Ah! cease so gently
To chide my falsehood; call me base, betrayer;
Give, give thine anger vent. I own, Sabina,
Thou justly may'st reproach me: thy deserts,
Our mutual interchange of love; the vows
A thousand times repeated, all now rise
To my remembrance; but in vain, Sabina,
I'm not myself. I know, I prize, thy virtues,
Thy every charm—and yet—a single look—
I hate myself; I loath my own injustice.
Thy wrongs cry out for vengeance.—Dost thou wish
The death of Adrian? Take, O! take his life;
'Tis just, nor will I murmur.—Would'st thou tear
The sacred laurel from Augustus' brow,
He gives it to thy hand: the happy world
With joy will bend beneath thy virtuous sway.

Sab.
I ask your heart and not your empire, Adrian.

Adr.
This heart was thine, and, witness Heaven! I strove
To keep it all thy own. The Gods, Sabina,
Beheld my secret thoughts: all Asia's beauties
To me were nothing: long, ah! long I deem'd
The loveliest glances cold compar'd to thine.

Sab.
And yet—

Adr.
And yet—I know not how, secure
In conscious virtue I forgot defence,
And love surpris'd me. Flush'd with victory,
My passions warm'd with all the warrior's ardour
Was Emirena first conducted to me.
The soul in tumult oft imbibes with ease
A new affection. I beheld her chain'd
Implore my pity, felt her press my hand,
And bathe it with her tears, while on my face
She fix'd her suppliant eye with such a look—
—Ah! had Sabina seen her then, the sight
Had urg'd even her to pardon Adrian's weakness.

Sab.
It is too much—Not only to forsake me,
But dare avow it; to my face extol
The charms of her, my rival for thy heart!
And dost thou further hope Sabina, mov'd
To hear thy suffering, should excuse thy guilt?
Unheard-of tyranny! Have I deserv'd
A recompense like this? Barbarian! traitor!
Ungrateful Adrian!

[sinks on a seat and weeps.

SCENE V.

Enter Aquilius behind.
Aquil.
[apart.]
Ha! Sabina here!

Adr.
[aside.]
Her tears have touch'd my soul. [to her.]
Ah! fair Sabina,
Take comfort, Adrian will again return
To wear thy happy chains; again be thine.

Aquil.
[apart.]
Malicious stars!

Sab.
[tenderly.]
Indeed!

Adr.
I yield to pity;
Pity, the gentle harbinger of love.

Sab.
Scarce can I yet believe—

Aquil.
[apart.]
Now, policy
Once more assist me.

Sab.
Should'st thou yet again
See Emirena?

Adr.
Never, never more
Will I behold her.

Sab.
Canst thou, Adrian, trust
Thy bosom's firmness?

Adr.
'Tis resolv'd; and all
The will determines, soon the deed confirms.

Aquil.
[coming forward.]
The lovely captive princess has requested
To kneel before your feet: long has she sought,
But sought you, sir, in vain.

Sab.
[aside.]
Now comes the trial.

Adr.
Aquilius, no; I must no more behold her:
At length 'tis time remembrance should recall
My faithful, kind Sabina.

Sab.
[aside.]
Joyful sounds!

Aquil.
'Tis surely just; but little is the boon
Poor Emirena asks. Will you deny
To her alone what all obtain? 'Tis true
She is a captive, but was born a queen.

Adr.
'Tis fairly spoken. Surely, my Sabina,
'Twere cruel not to hear her.

Sab.
[aside.]
O! my heart!

Adr.
I'll hear her in thy presence: where is then
Thy fear? Yet stay and thou shalt see—

Sab.
[rising.]
O! no,
Thou hast enough deceiv'd my easy faith.

[Exit.

SCENE VI.

Adrian, Aquilius.
Aquil.
I fly to bring fair Emirena.

[going.
Adr.
No,
Forbear awhile.

Aquil.
Can you to her refuse
This justice, Cæsar?

Adr.
I refuse her not.
But at this moment—Didst thou hear Sabina?
Love goads me on, while reason checks the rein.
I would! but O! ye powers, what pain to think—

Aquil.
Speak, speak, my lord; unless I know your grief
How shall I give you comfort?

Adr.
Speak? alas!
Myself I know not what my thoughts intend.

[Exit.

SCENE VII.

Aquilius
alone.
Be firm, my heart: though victory be near
As yet 'tis not mature. The love of Cæsar,
The anger of Sabina, both alike
War on my side: the battle is at hand,
But let us not too rashly risk the field.

[Exit.

SCENE VIII.

The gardens belonging to the palace.
Emirena
alone.
Ah! why, my love, this long delay?
Each moment seems a tedious day.

SCENE IX.

Enter Sabina with Pharnaspes.
Sab.
[to Phar.]
Behold your spouse.

Phar.
My lovely Emirena.

Emir.
Art thou indeed my prince? I scarce believe
The bliss sincere.

Phar.
At length, my dearest princess—

Sab.
The time admits not now such fond exchange
Of mutual transports: think of speedy safety.
This unfrequented passage, veil'd in gloom,
Is open for your flight, by Lentulus
Reveal'd to me: not distant from the entrance
It branches in two straiter paths: the right
Leads to the river, and the left the palace.
Avoid the second. Go, my friends, secure;
May Fortune guide and Love protect your steps.

Emir.
O! generous empress!

Phar.
Most exalted fair-one!
What gratitude from us—

Sab.
I ask but little:
Ah! think of me sometimes, and if amidst
Your happiness you recollect Sabina,
Afford one pitying sigh to my misfortunes.

[Exit.

SCENE X.

Pharnaspes, Emirena.
Phar.
And art thou mine? Alas! I fear, and still
Some vision seems to mock me.

Emir.
Let us fly,
Unless we mean to find our bliss a vision.

[they go towards the passage.
Phar.
Stay, Emirena—

[stopping her.
Emir.
Wherefore?

Phar.
Hear'st thou not
The clash of arms?

Emir.
I heard indeed the sound;
But whence it came I know not.

Phar.
From the path
Where lies our destin'd way.

Emir.
Alas!—

Phar.
My love,
Be not dismay'd—conceal thyself, while I
Explore the cause of this ill-tim'd alarm.

Emir.
What can this mean?—Kind stars, betray me not.

[conceals herself.

SCENE XI.

Enter Osrhoes in a Roman habit, his sword drawn and bloody, from the passage pointed out by Sabina.
Osr.
[entering.]
Now let the tyrant to the infernal shades
Relate the trophies of his boasted Rome.

Phar.
And whither goes my sovereign thus disguis'd
With Roman vest and Roman arms?

Osr.
My friend,
We are reveng'd—the universe is freed
From its oppressor—Lo! the happy sword
That boasts of Adrian's death.

Phar.
What says my king?

Osr.
Know, prince, that oft our hated foe was wont
To tread this secret path, which late to me
One of his train disclos'd. The power of gold
Could find a traitor even in Tiber's heroes.
Thus dress'd I lurk'd in ambush, till Augustus
Drew near with one attendant, when this hand
Dispatch'd the tyrant.

Phar.
But deceiv'd in darkness,
Might not your erring hand have miss'd the foe
And slain his follower?

Osr.
This was well foreseen.
As he drew near, his treacherous servant feign'd
To fall as if by chance: this wile expos'd
The life of Cæsar and secur'd his own.

Emir.
[looking out.]
What is that Roman? In his hand a weapon
Seems stain'd with blood—Could I but view at least
His features now conceal'd—

Phar.
What course remains?
Should we pursue the path you trod but now
We may encounter numbers, whom the rumour
Has gather'd hither. Every way beside
Is watch'd by guards and menials.

Osr.
Let our swords
Then hew a passage through them.

Phar.
No—reserve
Such desperate hazard for the extreme of danger:
First let me prove what means may yet be found
For safer flight.

Emir.
[listening.]
My ears attempt in vain
To catch their cautious whispers.

Phar.
Midst these shades
Awhile remain conceal'd: with instant speed
I will return.

Osr.
Delay not; if thou dost
Osrhoes will hence and tempt his fate alone.

[conceals himself in the grove.
Phar.
This path will lead me—no—I am deceiv'd—
'Tis surely here—What if I take the way
Prescrib'd us by Sabina? Cæsar's fate
Perchance is yet unknown, and ere the alarm
Is spread, or guards arrive, we may escape—
—It shall be so.

[going he meets Adrian.

SCENE XII.

Enter Adrian with a drawn sword and guards.
Adr.
[meeting Phar.]
Stay, traitor.

Phar.
Mighty Gods!
What do I see!

Adr.
Ho! guards, stop every pass
That favours flight.

Phar.
I am motionless with wonder.

Emir.
[advancing to listen.]
Alas! we are discover'd.

Adr.
Dost thou gaze
To see me yet alive? Ungrateful man!
Who hop'd but now to pierce the breast of Adrian.
Thy barbarous insults, when the stroke was given
Reveal'd thy impious purpose.

Emir.
[listening.]
Yes, the error
Is now apparent; he who lurks conceal'd,
He is the traitor.

Adr.
Dost thou answer nothing?
Perfidious! wherefore cam'st thou? What design
Urg'd thee to this? Who loos'd thy fetters? Speak.

Phar.
I cannot speak.

Adr.
Not speak!—Let him be dragg'd
By force to prison—hence.

Emir.
[discovering herself.]
Hold! hold! and hear me—
O! he is innocent.

Phar.
Alas!

Emir.
Look there:
That grove conceals the traitor.

[goes towards Osrhoes.
Phar.
Heavens! forbear.

[to Emir.
Emir.
Behold him, Cæsar.

[pointing to Osrhoes, who comes forward.
Osr.
Yes—behold in me
The man you seek.

Emir.
[motionless.]
My father!

Adr.
Parthia's king
Cloth'd in a Roman garb! Are all alike
In treason leagu'd against me?

Osr.
I alone
Thirst for thy blood: 'tis true my sword has err'd,
But, if thou giv'st me life, this hand shall yet
Retrieve its first mistake.

Adr.
To assault me thus
With treacherous rage in darkness? Then to seize
The moment when I fell.

Osr.
Malicious fortune!
'Twas this deceiv'd me. Thy attendant's art
Had plann'd a fall with purpose to betray thee;
But by thy casual fall I miss'd the signal,
And slaughter'd him for thee.

Adr.
Is this, barbarian,
Is this my recompense? Depress'd and vanquish'd
I bade thee welcome to imperial Rome,
And offer'd thee her friendship—

Osr.
Impious Romans!
Such is your name indeed for tyranny:
Your friends are slaves, and over these you reign.

Adr.
We are but faithful guardians of the laws:
Who seek to league with us are not subjected
To us, but justice; though with you I know
Justice is tyranny.

Osr.
And who, proud Romans,
Made you her guardians and interpreters?
Do you partake with Gods their heavenly councils?
Or are you Gods yourselves?

Adr.
Though far, O! far
From us the name of Gods, at least their virtues
We seek to imitate; and he, whose mind
Is fram'd like theirs, to others is a God.

Osr.
Are these your marks of deity, to thirst
For plunder'd wealth? To desolate a kingdom?
To give a loose to lawless love? To oppress
A guiltless rival? To betray a woman—

Adr.
Thou dost too much abuse my clemency.
Ho! guards, to separate dungeons bear these traitors
To await their punishment.

Phar.
And Emirena?

Adr.
The ingrate shall suffer.

Phar.
O! unjust and cruel!
What crime in her can merit Cæsar's vengeance?

Adr.
You know on each my wrath should fall,
Since all are foes, with insults all
Against my peace combine.
Here jealous Rage and stern Disdain,
Remorse and Love unfeeling reign,
Here all their torments join.
[points to his breast.
The Furies on the dreary shore,
Where black Cocytus' waters roar,
Can add no pangs to mine.

[Exit.

SCENE XIII.

Osrhoes, Pharnaspes, Emirena, guards.
Emir.
My father! shall I dare to call thee father?
Have I not murder'd thee?—If yet thy love—

Osr.
Away,—nor shake my constancy.

Emir.
Alas!
Well may'st thou drive me from thee—O! forgive
Your Emirena—See me here, my father,
Low at your feet.

Osr.
Leave, leave me, O! my daughter;
I've no resentment kindled against thee:
In this embrace receive my love and pardon.
Farewell the dearest part of Osrhoes' being!

Emir.
O! fatal, last adieu!

Phar.
O! cruel parting!

Emir.
That kind embrace, that tender sigh,
That pardon given, that speaking eye,
But add to all my former pain,
And deeper dye the guilty stain!
What I have prov'd, what thou hast been
My conscious heart with anguish keen
Too late laments, and heavier mourns
The crime that thus thy love returns.

[Exit.

SCENE XIV.

Osrhoes, Pharnaspes.
Phar.
O! would to Heaven my blood could yet suffice
To free my king and save my Emirena!

Osr.
Enough, my friend, I was before unmann'd,
Why wilt thou too conspire against my virtue?
No; let the foe, to his confusion, see me
Superior to his threats; behold me fall
Unconquer'd still, and dread me even in death.

[Exit.

SCENE XV.

Pharnaspes
alone.
How is my soul still bound with mortal ties
To this unhappy frame! thus, thus to bear
Such load of wretchedness! Unpitying stars!
O! take me hence and let me rest for ever.

[Exit.