University of Virginia Library

Field of Battle.
The Romans fly across the field.
Enter Anatolius, wounded.
ANATOLIUS.
Leave me, soldiers—leave me to die: my sands
Ebb quickly, and my sluggard pulse beats faint.
Leave me to die. (He falls)
To die! nay, stand not round me,
You keep my flitting soul in bondage—fly
To some more hopeful rescue.
(They leave him.
Treachery!
Oh, treachery, treachery! villainous treachery!

(Enter Maximus, leading a band of Persians, with Meranes.)
ANATOLIUS.
Behold the spotted viper! Maximus—ho!
Traitor!

MAXIMUS.
Who calls me with that voice of death
And contumelious taunting? Anatolius!
Ha, art thou scotched, thou snake? I toss thee back
Th' injurious epithet! Thou smil'dst to-day,
When Julian chid me in the midst of you—
It glutteth me to see thee dying.

ANATOLIUS.
Stay!
Yet ere I die. Oh, fate, a little strength!
And hear me curse thee—curse thee, Maximus!

(Dies.
(Enter Julian, chasing the Persians. Seizes Maximus and flings him down.
JULIAN.
(Lifting his sword and treading him down.
Thou complicated traitor! have I caught thee?
What! in the very crime, reeking with guilt,
All leprous in thy pestilent infamy?
Ha, hell-hound! not a word?

MAXIMUS.
Spare me, spare me!

JULIAN.
Blood-sucking parricide! with hands just dipped
In thy sold country's slaughter, nam'st thou mercy?
Thou Judas! purchased with the dross of earth!
Ay, twine thy trembling fingers round my blade
And pray to me with thy convulsed lips—
Stare with distended eye on certain death—
Writhe in thy pangs, they are my consolation.
By all the ghastly spectres of past crimes!
By all the broken hearts thou 'st made! By all
The dark mementos of this bosom, standing,
Demons of wrath, around us! I devote
One sacrifice to vengeance ere I die,
One victim more to direful Nemesis.
Bear witness Heaven and Hell—I dedicate
(Nay, look upon me, wretch, before I kill thee)
Thy reeking blood to the infernal Gods.
There—let me look on thee, poor dog! now die.

(Stabs him. Exit.