 | Injured Virtue : or The Virgin Martyr |  |
1
ACT I.
SCENE I.
SCENE the Palace.Enter Sapritius and Theopilus.
SAPRITIUS.
What says my Friend?
The Emperor in Person here to Night?
Theo.
He reaches our Cæsaria to Night:
The Posting Messengers, who brought the News,
Delivered these for you.
[Gives him Letters.
Sap.
They do inform me,
This sudden March is for Dalmathia;
It had been better I had known it sooner.
2
As does become the Honour of Cæsaria?
Theo.
Methinks the March of the old Roman Legions
Should, like the Motions of prodigious Meteors,
Exactly be observ'd by wond'ring Mortals:
Ever, till now, when Dioclesian mov'd,
Fame has herself become his Harbinger,
Ecchoing his Motion through the trembling World,
And every where preparing his Reception.
Sap.
Tho' cover'd with the Night, and wing'd with Speed,
Yet it is strange they march so undiscover'd.
Theo.
I should have thought,
Among the many that attend your Person,
Some one or other, by his Correspondent,
Might have received the Advice.
But you, my Lord, were speaking of the Christians.
Sap.
True, and I must commend thy Conduct there;
When neither Woods, nor Caves, nor secret Vaults,
Could hide them from thy Diligence and Care:
Thy Executions have destroy'd 'em much,
Have almost rooted up this pois'nous Weed,
That over-runs the Worship of the Gods.
Theo.
I hope, my Lord, it has.
Sap.
The last eight Days, if I mistake not,
The Number mounted to six thousand Souls
That by your Justice fell.
Theo.
It was about that Number.
Sap.
Religious, honest Man.
Theo.
It was my Duty, Sir.
Sap.
Be thou my Engine still, to scatter, break,
And root out this pernicious Christian Sect
From off the Roman World:
3
Renounc'd their mad enthusiastick Folly,
Their late Contempt of Rome's immortal Gods?
Theo.
They have, or sure Destruction shall consume 'em.
See, they are here, and with 'em, from the Temple,
Jove's sacred Flamin comes.
Enter Priest, Calista, and Christeta.
Say, have my Daughters reconcil'd themselves
To the Almighty Gods? have they
Abandon'd quite this Christian Madness,
And piously resolv'd again to sacrifice
As their Fore-fathers did?
Priest.
They have, my Lord,
And are most constant in that Resolution.
Theo.
Why then again they are my dearest Children,
The Darlings of my Love, more dear than Life:
Welcome, my Children, welcome to my Arms.
Cal.
Transporting Joy already fills my Heart,
To meet such kind Reception from a Father,
That has been so much injur'd and displeas'd!
Christ.
Thus on our Knees we thank you, and resolve
[Both Kneel.
To be obedient to the Gods and you.
Theo.
Brave Resolution!
Priest.
Our Prayers be present with you.
[Ex. Priest, Calif. and Christ.
Sap.
Thou art, Theopilus,
The Partner of my Heart, my Joy of Life,
The very Blessing of my drooping Age;
Thou dar'st to execute my Resolutions,
Though to the World they seem bloody and cruel;
Thou makest my Heart ev'n as the hardest Steel,
And arm'st my Eyes, my Ears, my ev'ry Sense,
4
Instructing me, without a Sigh, to see
Babes torn by Violence from their Mother's Breasts,
To feed the Fire made to consume 'em both;
Old Men in Pieces torn by Dogs and Wolves;
Virgins hurl'd headlong from stupendious Heights,
And dasht to Pieces ere they're half way down;
While Crowds of Matrons cloy the Savage Tygers,
And tire the Hands of wearied Executioners:
My Soul delights in it, and gladly sees
Thy Service to the Gods and Dioclesian.
Theo.
Were all the Scepters,
That grace the Hands of Kings, made into one,
And all th'Imperial Diadems of the Earth
Laid at my Feet, I would despise them all,
View 'em as Objects of Contempt and Scorn;
So Fame, to late Posterity would call me,
The stoutest Champion of the Pagan Gods.
[Trumpets within
Sap.
Hark! Cæsar's near Approach!
Who waits without?
Enter Captain of the Guards.
Keep the Ports close,
And let the Guards be doubled,
Display the Roman Eagle from the Tower,
Draw up your Troops, and in their best Array
Let them with Shouts attend the Emp'ror's Passage.
Theo.
Send and disarm the Christians:
Proclaim it Death in any
To wear a Sword, or have one in his House.
Capt.
My Lords, I shall be careful.
Theo.
It well becomes you.
Such as refuse to offer Sacrifice
5
Pluck up this growing Mischief by the Roots,
And know when we are merciful to them,
We are cruel to our selves.
Capt.
I know the Emperor's Edict, and your Orders,
And gladly shall obey them.
[Exit Captain.
Theo.
'Tis well.
Sap.
Theopilus, let me advise,
Immediately send for your Daughters hither;
We shall present 'em to the Emperor;
And in their sweet Conversion, as a Mirror,
Express to him your Duty to his Name.
Theo.
I shall obey in all.
Enter Eumillius
Eum.
My Lord Sapritius.
Sap.
Say on.
Eum.
The Emperor has past the Fabian Gate;
Beneath his Chariot waits, in Captive Chains,
The King of Macedon, Epire, and Pontus,
And in the mighty Conquest of our Troops,
You have, my Lord, an ample Share; your Son,
The brave Antonius, has in Battel dy'd
His snowy Plumes with Blood of Enemies:
That, besides publick Grace, besides his Hopes,
There is Rewards propounded.
Sap.
What should be thy Reward, Eumillius,
Could I be certified all this is true?
Eum.
If it be not,
May my Head pay the Forfeit:
Theo.
There was some Rumour of this Victory,
Put 'twas advised that the main Army,
March'd a Day's Journey higher into the Country.
6
The Emperor so decreed, but does return
To observe your Government of Cæsaria;
And for the farther Honour of your Son.
For Proof, his Trumpets speak his near Arrival.
[Trumpets within.
Sap.
Haste, good Theopilus,
Haste, and in Person head our Houshold Guards;
With all due ceremonious Pomp receive
The conquering Army; let our Garrison
Speak out their Welcome in yet louder Shouts,
And let the City show its Joy and Gladness.
Theo.
I am gone.
[Exit Theo.
Sap.
This worthy Man prevents my foremost Wishes, Eumillius.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
Enter behind, with two Trumpets and the Roman Standard display'd, first Antony and Eumilius, Dioclesian, and Artimia, Aurelius in Chains, Sapritius and Theopilus, Calista and Christeta, Captain of the Guards, &c. Sapritius Kneels.Dioc.
Why does Sapritius kneel? arise,
And let us hold thee near our Breast;
We find thee worthy to be Cæsar's Friend;
Let this Embrace evince it.
[Embrace.
Cæsaria is now so compleatly govern'd,
That the most stubborn and licentious Soldiers,
Are by your Laws confin'd to modest Limits;
The factious Multitude, that Hydrian Monster,
You teach t'obey without compulsive Rigor;
The wealthy rest in Safety, and enjoy,
What they desire in all things; the Nobles
7
You have reviv'd Rome's ancient Discipline,
Which rais'd her to that glorious height of Grandeur,
From whence she views the conquer'd World beneath her:
But above all, your Service to the Gods,
So zealously observed, that, my good Lords,
In Words alone, were we to express our Thanks,
'Twould be unworthy of our Honour,
And our Imperial Roman Dignity:
Know then, that we shall find a time
With just Rewards to recompence your Service.
Sap.
Mighty Emperor!
Your Power in this lower World
Does equal Jove's in Heav'n; your mighty Triumphs,
O'er proud rebellious Kings that rise against you,
Are perfect Figures of his Immortal Trophies
Won in the Giants War: Your conqu'ring Sword,
When guided by your Arm, as deadly kills
As his almighty Thunder; what this weak Arm
Has done, or e'er can do, comes short
Of what my Duty ought to challenge from it.
But if in any thing I have deserv'd
Great Cæsar's Smile, 'tis in my humble Care
Still to preserve the Honour of those Gods,
Those awful Gods, that guard his sacred Life;
My Zeal to them I ever have exprest,
In my fell Hatred of the Christian Sect.
They, who, ascribing all things to an unknown Pow'r,
Would level with the Earth our Gods and Temples,
Nor exercise, or Sacrifice, or Rights.
Dioc.
Thou dost in this, Sapritius,
Exactly follow Dioclesian's Will,
8
But Honour, and Reward, both thee and all Men,
That appear foremost in this pious Work.
Sap.
If your Imperial Majesty shall please
To shower your Favours upon such as are
The bravest Champions of our Religion,
Behold this worthy Man, to whom the Power
Was by your self committed; and for Proof
He has deserved the Grace you did bestow,
And with a fair and equal Hand proceeded,
Partial to none, not even to himself, nor those
Of equal Nearness to him; look then, Great Cæsar,
On these two blooming Virgins.
Dio.
Now thou command'st Respect.
Whose Daugthers are they?
Sap.
They are the Children of that worthy Man.
Art.
Now by your sacred Fortune, Sir, they are fair ones,
Of virtuous Aspect, and becoming Features.
I wou'd the Gods wou'd put it in my Power,
To make them my Companions, and my Friends.
Theo.
They are the Gods, great Lady,
Or else they were most happy in your Service.
On these, when they fell from their Father's Faith,
Entreaties failing, I us'd a Judge's Power,
To win them back again; make 'em adore
The mighty Gods we worship, I put on
The Scarlet Robe of Equity, and Justice;
And as they had been Strangers to my Blood,
I did inflict on them in horrid Form,
Whatever Tortures Cruelty could invent,
The which with Roman Constancy they suffer'd.
9
And how, Theopilus, could a Father's Eye
Behold so barbarous a Scene of Cruelty,
As on a Rack to see those Limbs extended,
And hear your Childrens horrid Shrieks and Cries?
Theo.
I did; but must confess,
There was a strange Contention in my Breast,
Between th'impartial Office of a Judge,
And Pity of a Father; but to help Justice,
Religion did assist, under which odds Compassion fell,
And even then I was a Father to 'em.
For when the Hangman's Iron-rods
Were worn with Stripes, upon their tender Limbs,
I kneel'd, and wept, and begg'd them; tho' they would
Be cruel to themselves, they would have Pity
On a sad Father so deprest with Sorrow.
At sight of which, more than thro' Sense of Pain,
Thanks to the Gods! they made a happy Change,
Embrac'd again the Faith I brought them up in,
And now are given the Gods, as holy Vestals.
Dio.
'Twas well and wisely done.
Thou dost, Theopilus, deserve thy Office,
Enjoy it still, and rest assur'd of Favours,
And just Rewards, both from the Gods and Cæsar
Now having in your careful Hands dispos'd,
What is relating to the awful Gods:
Next let's descend to our own human Cares,
And exercise that Power Heav'n has conferr'd
To punish those whom Justice cannot shield;
Nor our Imperial Roman Laws protect.
Those who delight in Rapine, and Injustice,
And in Rebellion 'gainst the State of Rome,
Dare scorn our Anger, and insult our Person.
10
Rebel and Traytor to our Roman State.
What can you urge to qualifie your Crimes,
And mitigate an injur'd Cæsar's Anger?
Aur.
True, Cæsar, I am now
Become a Slave; tho' Yesterday a King,
That had Command o'er many thousand Slaves.
I'll not deny my Father paid you Tribute;
But yet he left in me a daring Soul,
Of Liberty and Conquest both desirous.
And tell me. If as you Romans hold it Honour,
Not only to defend what is your own,
But to enlarge your Empire and your Power,
Why is Ambition then a Crime in me,
Unless it's Criminal when 'tis unfortunate?
Dio.
Proud King, are you so resolute?
Aur.
I stand regardless of Events to come,
For he that's fallen like me, can fall no lower;
By an experimental Proof I find,
The sad Uncertainty of human Grandeur;
But tho' by Fate in Chains and Slavery bound,
Yet I dare boldly meet even Cæsar's Doom.
Dio.
In growing Empires,
Oft Cruelty is useful; some must suffer,
And be expos'd, Examples for the rest;
But when a State is grown to its Perfection,
Its Basis fixt too firm to shake or yield;
Mercy may interpose; but not to those
Whose Baseness shames the Conqueror,
And robs him of his Victory, as once
The Coward Perseus did our Great Eumillius:
Therefore know, King of Macedon and Pontus,
11
As well as by our Arms we make 'em so;
And that you, Sir, are Brave, and truly Noble,
We have no Cause to doubt: Retain our Friendship,
And henceforth be assured of our Protection;
Tho' you have lost the Fortune,
You yet retain the Courage of a King;
But had you born your adverse Fortune basely,
You had remain'd unworthy our Esteem,
And forfeited what you deserve, our Love.
Unbind the King, and call him Cæsar's Friend.
Aur.
Make me not thus the Object of your Mockery.
What, tho' to Day, as I my self did Yesterday,
You stand aloft, upon th'extreamest Height
Of the inconstant Goddess Fortune's wheel,
When she again shall turn't, as sure she will,
You may fall headlong down at once like me:
For no Man is secure, how great soever.
This Truth consider'd, taught th'Egyptian Hercules,
That had his Chariot drawn by Captive Kings,
To free them from that Slavery and Shame;
But for my wretched self to expect, or hope,
Such Mercy from a Roman, were meer Madness.
I know too well, what tyrannous Cruelty,
Rome since her Infant Greatness ever us'd,
Towards those whom adverse Fate has made her Captives.
And in that Catalogue of wretched Men,
Unfortunate as I am, my Name's enrol'd,
By Ages yet to come to be remembred.
Dio.
Now by my Father's Urn, and sacred Ashes,
Aurelius is my Friend! Sapritius! Antony!
Why stand you thus, when Cæsar's Friend is bound?
12
Pontus, Epire; and let his Hand retain
The sacred and supreamest Power of Kings.
By Heaven: It shall be so:
[They unbind him.
We, Cæsar, say it, and who dares controul?
Stand off, and let me take him to my Bosom:
My Friend! O let me hold thee to my Breast.
[Embrace.
Yet nearer, to my Heart, and place thee there.
No longer may the Gods protect our Life,
Than we retain our Friendship for this King,
Whose Virtues make him rival the loud Fame
Of Scipio Julius, Pompey, or Augustus.
Aur.
By Courtesie and Courage twice o'ercome,
Doubly I am Cæsar's Slave;
But this shall teach me,
Ever to live in Amity with Rome,
And Dioclesian's Fame.
Dio.
We do believe your Tongue
Without Dissimulation speaks your Heart:
Now would imperions Fortune mix
Some slight Misfortune with my many Joys,
'Twould make me taste the Pleasure I possess,
And raise my Life to the extreamest top
Of human Happiness.
I am surrounded here with all I wish,
My faithful Subjects—
My most brave Commanders—
And here, my gallant Friend—
I am transported—
To that degree, I quite forget my self—
And the just distance due to Cæsar's Throne,
But shall recover: Come nearer me, Artimia,
13
Joy of my Youth, and Darling of my Age.
Art.
My Royal Father,
Let me on my Knees
[Kneels.
Make this Acknowledgment; I only pay
That Debt the Gods have laid upon us all,
But doubly upon me, first as a Subject,
And as a Daughter next.
Dio.
Rise, my Artimia.
Thy Virgin Sweetness
May justly claim the happy Crown of Love:
A Husband blest with Virtue, Youth, and Honour,
And such a Blessing ought to be esteem'd
The chief Area of a Virgin's Hope.
Speak—Let thy Inclinations form thy Choice,
These Persons here, whose Worth adorn our Crown,
Are, tho' our Subjects, worthy of our Daughter:
Or, if thy generous Soul aspires to Empire,
Behold this Monarch, and no more remember
That he was once our Captive,
But that he is now our Friend.
Why art thou silent? by Jove's sacred Thunder.
Thy Choice shall meet thy Father's Approbation.
Art.
This is a Bounty
The Daughters of great Persons seldom meet,
For they, to make up Breaches in the State,
Or for some other politick Ends, are oft
Oblig'd to marry where they want Affection.
O, that my Life may still deserve this Favour.
Dio.
Speak—let us know the Man.
Aur.
Fate has deprest me so, I cannot hope it;
O, that the God of Love wou'd be propitious.
[Aside.
14
If the so much admir'd Name of Queen,
Or gaudy Pomp of Titles, were my Wish,
Here shou'd I fix my Heart, and look no further:
But these are only the aspiring Hopes
Of Virgins, born in an obscure State.
Not she who is honour'd to call Cæsar Father,
No Honour can I gain by any Monarch,
I am your Daughter, and when that is said,
We have exprest th'extreamest top of Glory.
Dio.
Cæsar commends the Greatness of thy Mind.
Art.
If then of Men beneath me
My Choice is to be made, where shall I chuse,
But amongst those who best deserve from you;
Whose Care amidst the Dangers of the Wars
Have been for Cæsar's Life;
Whose valliant Breasts,
Oppos'd as Shields, the flying Javelins
Aim'd at my Father's Heart?
Ant.
Her Eye's on me.
O that the Gods wou'd fire her Breast
With Love for any other Man but me;
Heav'n knows I am a Votary elsewhere.
[Aside.
Art.
I wou'd accept Antonius—Sir—
Ant.
I am dead with wonder.
[Aside.
Sap.
Blast not thy Father's Hopes;
Welcome thy Fortune, and appear a Man.
Dio.
What, Sir, am I not worthy of your Love?
Ant.
You, Madam, are a Sun,
Too radiant for my dazled Eyes to gaze on,
O let me at an humble distance kneel,
[Kneels.
Least like Iccarius I madly soar,
Melt my soft Wings of Hope, and fall for ever.
15
Rise, Sir and be assur'd,
Tho' this Humility becomes you well,
'Tis distant far from the Design of Love.
Ant.
Why name you Love to such an abject Wretch,
That's born to Servitude and meaner Thoughts.
Let not the giddy Heights of wild Ambition,
Tempt me from homely, low Security;
But rather when old Age deprives me
Of Strength to serve my Country in her Wars;
May I be crown'd with Honour justly won,
And in an honest old Plebean's Grave,
Silently rest in Death.
Art.
Henceforth Artimia shall throw off the Awe
That waits on Majesty and Princely Birth,
Nay change the Name of Subject into Lord,
And make it all her Care to Honour you.
Why then is Antony so deaf and backward,
So fearful to accept a Princess Love?
Ant.
Accept—
Art.
What, shall I be refus'd?
Ant.
Refuse you, Madam—No—
Shall a poor Hind refuse what Kings would Court,
And kneel to with the lowest Reverence?
Call it not a Refusal, name it rather
An humble Modesty, a Fear, an Awe,
That dare not match a Mole hill with Olympus.
Art.
The Man whose Honour worthily atchiev'd,
Mounts him upon the Wings of spreading Fame,
Is equal, not inferior to a King.
Ant.
If you love Valour,
As 'tis a kingly Virtue, seek it out,
And cherish it there where it shines with Lustre.
Behold the King of Macedon and Pontus,
16
And let it not Disgrace him, that he was
Overcome by Cæsar's Fortune, and Rome's Power.
Sap.
Spiritless Villain!
Did ever Man with Eloquence endeavour
Thus damnably to blast his Prosperous Fortune!
Now by the Immortal Guardian of my House,
This Arm of mine, though he's my only Son,
Could at one Blow dispatch him hence to Pluto.
Dio.
Hold Sapritius,
On our Displeasure hold,
The Gods and Fate will be superior still.
Art.
Well, Sir, I am satisfied,
My Passion's not advanc'd to such a height;
But that I can with Honour still retire,
And scorn the Person that rejects my Love.
Ant.
See my Eumillius, on her Angry Brow
Revenge in Bloody Characters seems writ.
[To Eumillius.
Eum.
My Lord, you must endeavour
To appease this Storm, this Tempest of her Rage,
Or much I fear we both shall perish in it.
[To Antonius.
Ant.
O Sacred Lady, mittigate your Anger,
And hear me yet a Word.
Art.
Hear you again,
And be again refused?
Ant.
Pardon, dread Princess, that I made some Scruple
To leave the pleasant Prospect of Content,
For the more dangerous Heights of Splendid Greatness;
On which whoever yet could stand secure
And fearless say—I dare the Frowns of Fortune?
Your awful Distance from my humble State
Made me scarce Credit what assail'd my Ears.
Dare I presume to Embrace, where but to touch
17
When first the Fox beheld the King of Beasts,
He, amaz'd, and aw'd, retir'd half dead with Fear.
The second View he was less daunted at him,
And at the third with Boldness dar'd salute him:
Perhaps like him a little Time will teach me
To look with more familiar Eyes upon you,
Than low Humility allows me now.
Art.
You may command Respect,
All yet may be redeem'd, and you succeed.
Dio.
And that he may have Means
And Opportunity to do so,
My dear Artimia, in Cæsaria here
Our Substitute till our Return we leave you.
Sap.
Most gladly we Obey her.
Dio.
Sapritius, Thanks:
Your forward Zeal to serve us
Have placed you near our Heart;
Be you the Guardian of our Daughter's Sex.
And should the Gods decree your Son our Heir,
We shall most gladly take it as a Blessing:
Our Friend, if you will join your Power and Fortune
With us, and ours, in the Dalmathian War,
When Victory with Conquest crowns our Arms,
The fair Addition shall be to your Kingdoms.
Ant.
Thanks mighty Emperor, most gladly we comply.
Dio.
Now in my Lords, and let each Face in Smiles
Express the Joy and Gladness of the Heart.
Let us our Senses drown in soft Delight,
And dedicate to Mirth this Happy Night.
Forget the Toils of War, and Cares that wait
On Monarchs Crowns, and the Affairs of State.
[Exeunt, Trumpets sounding.
| Injured Virtue : or The Virgin Martyr | |