University of Virginia Library

SCENE LAST.
Enter Emirena and Pharnaspes.
Emir.
Pardon, Cæsar, pardon.

Phar.
O! pardon, sir.

Emir.
Restore to me a father.

Phar.
Preserve for me a king.

Emir.
Restore him to me;
And, if thou wilt, behold me then thy own.

Adr.
What do I hear?

Phar.
Augustus, yes, to thee
I here resign my empire o'er her heart.

Adr.
What says Pharnaspes?

Emir.
Yes, thou shalt be, Cæsar,
My guardian God: by that celestial ray
Majestic beaming from thy sacred brow;
By that victorious laurel, earn'd with toil;
By this unconquer'd hand, the world's support;
Which by this kiss—

[kneels.
Adr.
Ah! rise—no more—So weeps
A nymph or Goddess when she melts the heart.

[aside.
Sab.
[aside.]
Alas! what conflict now in yonder breast
Of love and honour.

Adr.
[aside.]
If I yield to justice,
I lose my Emirena; if to love,
I kill my best Sabina—O! my heart!
How cruel is thy trial!

Sab.
[aside.]
Though unfaithful,
He yet excites my pity.

Emir.
Cæsar, say:
Art thou not yet resolv'd?

Sab.
[to Adr.]
Augustus, hear;
At length—

Adr.
In pity torture me no further;
I know what thou would'st say, alas! Sabina,
I know it all.

Sab.
Thou little know'st Sabina:
Then hear—So fatal are our mutual wounds,
That one of us must fall. Sabina dies
In losing thee, and, Adrian, thou must die
In losing Emirena. Heaven forbid,
That to preserve a woman's worthless days,
A hero thus should perish. Live, my Adrian,
Live for thy fame, thy country, and the world;
If not for me: I freely here release thee
From every tye; forgive thee all my wrongs,
And with these lips will ever plead thy cause.

Adr.
Is't possible!

Sab.
Cæsar, farewell.

[going.
Adr.
O! stay:
O! noble mind! exalted dame! whose merits
Might claim a thousand empires. Must you all
Bring on my cheek the glow of conscious shame?
[to Phar.]
The loyal subject yields to me his mistress
In ransom for his king: [to Emir.]
The pious daughter
Does, for her father, sacrifice herself.
[to Sab.]
And thou, forsaken, injur'd as thou art,
Transcendent fair! think'st only of my peace!
And I, shall I alone, with such examples,
Be feeble as a girl, nor hide this face
From every living eye; yet press the throne,
And give to earth its laws? O! no—let all
Be happy. To the Parthian king I give
His crown and liberty; to thee, Pharnaspes,
Resign fair Emirena: I absolve
Aquilius of his guilt; to thee, Sabina,
More worthy of thy love, myself restore.

Phar.
Joy unexpected!

Sab.
This indeed is Adrian;
Now he appears himself.

Emir.
O! whilst I breathe,
This breast, Augustus, grateful for thy goodness—

Adr.
If thou wilt shew thy gratitude to Cæsar,
Leave, leave his heart in peace; scarce now in safety
When thou art near him. Let me then entreat thee
To quit me, Emirena. See thy spouse
Securely thine: thy father shalt thou find
In freedom to thy wish. Live and be happy,
And all in deep oblivion drown the memory
Of Adrian's errors.

Emir.
Yet, permit me, Cæsar—

[attempts to kiss his hand.
Adr.
O! Emirena—'tis enough—farewell.

[preventing her.
Chorus.
Augustus, while thy sacred praise
Ascends the starry way,
Our hands a snow-white stone shall raise
To mark this blissful day.