 | The Virgin Martir |  |
Actus primus.
Scene I.
Enter Theophilus, Harpax.Theoph.
Come to Cæsarea to night?
Harpax.
Most true Sir.
Theoph.
The Emperour in person?
Harpax.
Do I liue.
Theo.
Tis wondrous strange, the marches of great Princes
Like to the motions of prodigious Meteors.
Are step, by step obseru'd, and lowd tong'd Fame
The harbinger to prepare their entertainment:
And were it possible, so great an armie,
Though couer'd with the night, could be so neere:
The Gouernour cannot be so vnfriended
Among the many that attend his person,
But by some secret meanes he should haue notice
Of Cæsars purpose in this, then excuse me
If I appeare incredulous.
Harpax.
At your pleasure.
Theop.
Yet when I call to mind you neuer faild me
In things more difficult, but haue discouered
Deeds that were done thousand leagues distant from me,
When neither woods, nor caues, nor secret vaults,
No nor the power they serue, could keep these Christians,
Or from my reach or punishment, but thy magicke
Still layd them open: I begin againe
To be as confident as heretofore.
It is not possible thy powerfull art
Should meete a checke, or fayle.
Harp.
Looke on these vestals,
The holy pledges that the gods haue giu'n you,
Your chast faire daughters. Wer't not to vpbraid
A seruice to a maister not vnthankfull,
I could say this in spite of your preuention,
Seduc'd by an imagin'd faith, not reason,
(Which is the strength of Nature) quite forsaking
The Gentile gods, had yeelded vp themselues
To this new found religion. This I crosd,
Discouerd their intentions, taught you to vse
With gentle words and milde perswasions,
The power, and the authority of a father
Set of with cruell threats and so reclaimd em,
And whereas they with torments should haue dy'd,
(Hels furies to me had they vndergone it)
aside
They are now votaries in great Iupiters temple,
And by his Priest instructed, growne familiar
With all the Mysteries, nay the most abstruse ones
Belonging to his Dietie.
Theoph.
Twas a benefit
For which I euer owe you, Haile Ioues Flamen,
Haue these my daughters reconcilde themselues
(Abandoning for euer the Christian way)
To your opinion.
Priest.
And are constant in it,
They teach their teachers with their depth of iudgement,
And are with arguments able to conuert
The enemies to our gods and answer all
They can obiect against vs.
Theoph.
My deere daughters.
Caliste.
We are dispute against this new sprung sect
In priuate or publicke.
Harpax.
My best Lady.
Perseuerance.
Christeta.
And what we maintaine
We will seale with our bloods.
Harpax.
Braue resolution.
Theoph.
I yong againe to your deuotions.
Harpax.
Doe.
My prayers be present with you.
exeunt Priest and daughters
Theoph.
Oh my Harpax.
Thou engine of my wishes, thou that steeldst
My bloody resolutions, thou that armst
My eyes gainst womanish teares and soft compassion,
Instructing me without a sigh to looke on
Babes torne by violence from their mothers brests
To feed the fire and with them make one flame:
Old men as beasts, in beasts skins torne by dogs:
Virgins and matrons tire the executioners,
Yet I vnsatisfied thinke their torments easie.
Harpax.
And in that iust, not cruell.
Theoph.
Weare all scepters
That grace the hands of kings made into one,
And offerd me, all crownes layd at my feete,
I would contemne them all, thus spit at them,
So I to all posterities might be cald
The strongest champion of the Pagan gods
And rooter out of Christians.
Harpax.
Oh mine owne,
Mine owne deere Lord, to further this great worke
I euer liue thy slaue.
Enter Sapritius and Sempronius.
Theoph.
No more the Gouernour.
Sapr.
Keepe the ports close, and let the guards be doubl'd
Disarme the Christians, call it death in any
To weare a sword, or in his house to haue one.
Semp.
I shall be carefull Sir,
Sap.
It will well become you.
Such as refuse to offer sacrifice
To any of our gods, put to the torture.
Grub vp this growing mischiefe by the roots,
And know when we are mercifull to them,
We to our selues are cruell.
Semp.
You poure oyle
I know the Emperours Edict and my charge,
And they shall find no fauour.
Theoph.
My good Lord,
This care is timely, for the entertainment
Of our great maister, who this night in person
Comes here to thanke you.
Sapritius.
Who the Emperour?
Har.
To cleere your doubts, he does return in triumph,
Kings lackying by his triumphant Chariot,
And in this glorious victory my Lord,
You haue an ample share: for know your sonne,
The nere enough commended Antoninus,
So well hath fleshd his maiden sword, and died
His snowy plumes so deepe in enemies blood,
That besides publicke grace, beyond his hopes
There are rewards propounded.
Sap.
I would know
No meane in thine could this be true.
Harpax.
My head answer the forfeit.
Sapritius.
Of his victory
There was some rumor, but it was assurd
The army passd a full dayes iourney higher
Into the countrey.
Harpax.
It is so determin'd,
But for the further honor of your sonne,
And to obserue the gouernment of the citty,
And with what rigor, or remisse indulgence
The Christians are pursude he makes his stay here.
For proofe his trumpets speake his neere arriuall.
Trumpets a farre of.
Sap.
Haste good Sempronius, draw vp our guards,
And with all ceremonious pompe receiue
The conquering army. Let our garrison speake
Their welcome in lowd shouts, the citie shew
Her state and wealth.
Sempr.
I am gone.
exit Sempronius
Sapr.
O I am rauish'd
This knowing scholler, send your faire daughters
I will present them to the Emperour,
And in their sweet conuersion, as a mirror
Expresse your zeale and duty.
a lessen of Cornets.
Theoph.
Fetch them good Harpax.
A guard brought in by Sempronius, souldiers leading in three kings bound, Antoninus and Macrinus carrying the Emperors Egles, Dioclesian with a guilt laurell on his head, leading in Artemia, Sapritius kisses the Emperors hand, then embraces his sonne, Harpax brings in Caliste and Christeta, lowd showts.
Diocle.
So at all parts I finde Cæsarea
Compleatly gouernd, the licentious souldier
Confin'd in modest limits, and the people
Taught to obey, and not compeld with rigor;
The ancient Roman discipline reuiu'd,
(Which raysde Roome to her greatnes, and proclaimd her
The glorious mistresse of the conquerd world)
But aboue all the seruice of the gods
So zealously obseru'd, that (good Sapritius)
In words to thanke you for your care and duty
Were much vnworthy Dioclesians honor
Or his magnificence to his loyall seruants.
But I shall find a time with noble titles
To recompence your merits.
Sapr.
Mightiest Cæsar
Whose power vpon this globe of earth, is equall
To Ioues in heauen, whose victorious triumphs
On prowd rebellious Kings that stir against it
Are perfit figures of his immortall trophees
Wonne in the gyants war, whose conquering sword
Guided by his strong arme, as deadly kils
As did his thunder, all that I haue done,
Or if my strength were centupld could do,
Comes short of what my loyalty must challenge.
But if in any thing I haue deseru'd
Still to preserue the honour of those gods,
That make him what he is: my zeale to them
I euer haue expressd in my fell hate
Against the Christian sect, that with one blow
Ascribing all things to an vnknowne power,
Would strike downe all their temples, and allowes them
Nor sacrifice nor altars.
Diocle.
Thou in this
Walkest hand in hand with mee, my will and power
Shall not alone confirme, but honor all
That are in this most forward.
Sap.
Sacred Cæsar;
If your imperiall Maiestie stand pleasd
To showre your fauours vpon such as are
The boldest champions of our religion,
Looke on this reuerend man, to whom the power
Of serching out, and punishing such delinquents,
Was by your choyce committed, and for proofe
He hath deseru'd the grace imposd vpon him,
And with a fayre and euen hand proceeded
Partiall to none, not to himselfe, or those
Of equall neerenesse to himselfe, behold
This paire of Virgins.
Diocle.
What are these?
Sapr.
His daughters.
Arte.
Now by your sacred fortune they are faire ones,
Exceeding faire ones, would 'twere in my power
To make them mine.
Theo.
They are the gods, great Lady,
They were most happy in your seruice else,
On these when they fell from their fathers faith
I vsde judges power, entreaties failing
(They being seduc'd) to win them to adore
The holy powers we worship, I put on
The scarlet robe of bold authority,
And as they had bin strangers to my blood,
Presented them in the most horrid forme
With Roman constancy.
Arte.
And could you endure
Being a father, to behold their limbs
Extended on the racke?
Theo.
I did, but must
Confesse there was a strange contention in me,
Betweene the impartiall office of a Iudge,
And pitty of a father, to helpe Iustice
Religion stept in, vnder which ods
Compassion fell: yet still I was a father,
For euen then, when the flinty hangmans whips
Were worne with stripes spent on their tender limbs,
I kneeld, and wept, and begd them though they would
Be cruell to themselues, they would take pittie
On my gray haires. Now note a sodaine change,
Which I with ioy remember, those whom torture
Nor feare of death could terrifie, were orecome
By seeing of my suffrings, and so wonne,
Returning to the faith that they were borne in,
I gaue them to the gods, and be assurde
I that vsde iustice with a rigorons hand
Vpon such beauteous virgins, and mine owne,
Will vse no fauour where the cause commands me
To any other, but as rocks be deafe
To all intreaties.
Diocle.
Thou deseru'st thy place,
Still hold it and with honor, things thus orderd
Touching the gods tis lawfull to descend
To human cares, and exercise that power
Heauen has conferd vpon me, which that you
Rebels and traytors to the power of Rome
Should not with all extremities vndergoe,
What can you vrge to qualifie your crimes
Or mitigate my anger?
Epire.
We are now
Slaues to thy power, that yesterday were kings,
And had command ore others, we confesse
Our grandsires payd yours tribute, yet left vs
And if you Romans hold it glorious honor
Not onely to defend what is your owne,
But to enlarge your Empire, (though our fortune
Denies that happinesse) who can accuse
The famishd mouth if it attempt to feed,
Or such whose fetters eate into their freedomes,
If they desire to shake them off.
Pontus.
We stand
The last examples to proue how vncertaine
All humane happinesse is, and are prepard
To endure the worst.
Macedon.
That spoake which now is highest
In Fortunes wheele, must when she turns it next
Decline as low as we are. This consider'd
Taught the Egyptian Hercules Sesostris
(That had his chariot drawne by captiue kings)
To free them from that slauery, but to hope
Such mercy from a Roman, were meere madnesse.
We are familiar with what cruelty
Roome since her infant greatnesse, euer vsde
Such as she triumphd ouer, age nor sexe
Exempted from her tyranny: scepterd Princes
Kept in your common dungeons, and their children
In scorne traind vp in base Mechanicke arts
For publicke bondmen; in the catologue
Of those vnfortunate men, we exspect to haue
Our names remembred.
Diocle.
In all growing Empires
Eu'n cruelty is vsefull, some must suffer
And be set vp examples to strike terror
In others though far of but when a State
Is raysde to her perfection, and her Bases
Too firme, to shrinke, or yeeld, we may vse mercy
And do't with safety, but to whom? not cowards?
Or such whose basenesse shames the conqueror,
And robs him of his victorie, as weake Perseus
Did great Æmilius. Know therefore kings
That I with courtesie can vse my prisoners
As well as make them mine by force, prouided
That they are noble enemies: such I found you
Before I made you mine, and since you were so,
You haue not lost the courages of Princes,
Although the Fortune: had you borne your selues
Deiectedly, and base, no slauery
Had beene too easie for you, but such is
The power of noble valour, that we loue it
Eu'n in our enemies, and taken with it,
Desire to make them friends, as I will you.
Epire.
Mocke vs not Cæsar.
Diocle.
By the Gods I do not.
Vnloosse their bonds, I now as friends embrace you,
Giue them their Crownes againe.
Pon.
We are twice ouercome,
By courage and by courtesie.
Mace.
But this latter,
Shall teach vs to liue euer faithfull Vassals,
To Dioclesian and the power of Rome.
Epire.
All Kingdomes fall before her.
Pon.
And all Kings
Contend to honour Cesar.
Diocle.
I beleeue
Your tongues are the true Trumpets of your hearts,
And in it I most happy Queene of fate,
Imperious Fortune mixe some light disaster
With my so many ioyes to season em,
And giue them sweeter rellish, I am girt round
With true felicity, faithfull subiects here,
Here bold Commanders, heere with new made friends,
But what's the crowne of all in thee Artemia,
My only child whose loue to me and duty
Striue to exceede each other,
Ar.
I make payment
But of a debt which I stand bound to tender
As a daughter, and a subiect.
Diocle.
Which requires yet
Tyde by a fathers care how to bestow
A iewell of all things to me most pretious.
Not will I therefore longer keepe thee from
The chiefe ioyes of creation, mariage rites,
Which that thou mayst with greater pleasure tast of,
Thou shalt not like with mine eyes but thine owne
Amongst these kings forgetting they were captiues,
Or these remembring not they are my subiects,
Make choyce of any, by Ioues dreadfull thunder,
My will shall ranke with thine.
Arte.
It is a bounty
The daughters of great Princes seldome meete with,
For they, to make vp breaches in the state,
Or for some other politicke ends are forc'd
To match where they affect not, may my life
Deserue this fauour.
Diocle.
Speake, I long to know
The man thou wilt make happy.
Artem.
If that titles
Or the adored name of Queene could take me,
Here would I fixe mine eyes and looke no farther.
But these are baites to take a meane borne Lady,
Not her that boldly may call Cæsar father.
In that I can bring honor vnto any
But from no king that liues receiues addition
To raise desert and vertue by my fortune,
Though in a low estate were greater glory,
Then to mixe greatnesse with a Prince that owes
No worth but that name onely.
Diocle.
I commend thee,
Tis like thy selfe.
Artem.
If then of men beneath me
My choice is to be made, where shall I seeke
But among those that best deserue from you,
That haue seru'd you most faithfully, that in dangers
Haue stood next to you, that haue interposd
Their brests as shields of proofe to dull the swords
To crowne your browes with Lawrell.
Macrinus.
Citherea
Great Queene of loue be now propitious to me.
Harpax.
Now marke what I foretold.
Anton.
Her eyes on me,
Faire Uenus sonne draw forth a leaden dart,
And that she may hate me, transfixe her with it,
Or if thou needs wilt vse a golden one,
Shoote in the behalfe of any other,
Thou knowst I am thy votary else where.
Artem.
Sir.
Theoph.
How he blushes!
Sap.
Welcome, foole, thy fortune,
Stand like a blocke when such an Angell courts thee.
Artem.
I am no obiect to diuert your eye
From the beholding.
Anton.
Rather a bright Sun
Too glorious for him to gaze vpon
That tooke not first flight from the Egles aeiry.
As I looke on the temples, or the gods,
And with that reuerence Lady I behold you,
And shall do euer.
Arte.
And it will become you,
While thus we stand at distance, but if loue
(Loue borne out of th'assurance of your vertues)
Teach me to stoope so low.
Anton.
O rather take
A higher flight.
Artem.
Why feare you to be raisd?
Say I put off the dreadfull awe that waits
On Maiestie, or with you share my beames,
Nay make you to outshine me, change the name
Of subiect into Lord, rob you of seruice
Thats due from you to me, and in me make it
Duty to honor you, would you refuse me?
Anton.
Refuse you Madam, such a worme as I am,
Refuse, what kings vpon their knees would sue for?
An humble modesty that would not match
A Molehill with Olimpus.
Artem.
He that's famous
For honourable actions in the warre,
As you are Antoninus, a prou'd souldier
Is fellow to a king.
Anton.
If you loue valour,
As 'tis a kingly vertue, seeke it out,
And cherish it in a king, there it shines brightest,
And yeelds the brauest lustre. Looke on Epire,
A Prince, in whom it is incorporate,
And let it not disgrace him, that he was
Orecome by Cæsar, (it was a victory
To stand so long against him,) had you seene him,
How in one bloody scene he did discharge
The parts of a Commander, and a souldier,
Wise in direction, bold in execution;
You would haue sayd, great Cæsars selfe excepted,
The world yeelds not his equall.
Artem.
Yet I haue heard,
Encountring him alone in the head of his troope,
You tooke him prisoner.
Epire.
Tis a truth great Princesse.
Ile not detract from valour.
Anton.
Twas meere fortune,
Courage had no hand in it.
Theoph.
Did euer man
Striue so against his owne good.
Sap,
Spiritlesse villaine,
How I am tortur'd, by the immortall gods
I now could kill him.
Diocl.
Hold Sapritius hold,
On our displeasure hold.
Harpax.
Why, this would make
A father mad, tis not to be endur'd,
Your honours tainted in it.
Sapr.
By heauen it is,
Harpax.
Tis not to be forgotten.
Art.
Nay kneele not Sir, I am no rauisher,
Nor so farre gone in fond affection to you,
But that I can retire my honour safe.
Yet say hereafter that thou hast neglected
What but seene in possession of another
Will runne thee mad with enuy.
Anton.
In her lookes
Reuenge is written.
Mac.
As you loue your life study t'appease her.
An.
Gratious madame heare me.
Artem.
And be againe refusd?
Anton.
The tender of
My life, my seruice, not since you vouchsafe it,
My loue, my heart, my all, and pardon me:
Pardon dread Princesse that I made some scruple
To leaue a valley of securitie
To mount vp to the hill of Maiestie,
On which the neerer Ioue the neerer lightning.
What knew I but your grace made triall of me?
Durst I presume to embrace, where but to touch
With an vnmannerd hand was death? the Foxe
When he saw first the forrests king, the Lyon
Was almost drad with feare, the second view
Onely a little danted him, the third
He durst salute him boldly: pray you apply this,
And you shall find a little time will teach me
To looke with more familiar eyes vpon you
Then duty yet allowes me.
Sap.
Well excusde.
Artem.
You may redeeme all yet.
Diocl.
And that he may
Haue meanes and opportunity to do so,
Artemia I leaue you my substitute
In faire Cæsarea.
Sap.
And here as your selfe
We will obey and serue her.
Antoninus
So you proue hers I wish no other heire,
Thinke on't be carefull of your charge Theophilus,
Sepritius be you my daughters guardian.
Your company I wish confederate Princes
In our Dalmatian wars, which finished
With victorie I hope, and Maximinus
Our brother and copartner in the Empire
At my request wonne to confirme as much,
The kingdomes I tooke from you weele restore,
And make you greater then you were before.
Exeunt omnes, manent Antoninus & Macrinus.
Antoninus, Macrinus.
Anton.
Oh I am lost for euer, lost Macrinus,
The anchor of the wretched, hope forsakes me,
And with one blast of fortune all my light
Of happinesse is put out.
Macr.
You are like to those
That are ill onely, cause they are too well,
That surfetting in the excesse of blessings
Call their abundance want: what could you wish,
That is not falne vpon you? honour, greatnesse,
Respect, wealth, fauour, the whole world for a dowre,
And with a Princesse, whose excelling forme
Exccedes her fortune.
Anton.
Yet poyson still is poyson
Though drunke in gold, and all these flattring glories
To me, ready to starue, a painted banquet
And no essentiall foode: when I am scorchd
With fire, can flames in any other quench me?
What is her loue to me, greatnes, or Empire,
That am slaue to another, who alone
Can giue me ease or freedome?
Macr.
Sir you point at
Your dotage on the scornfull Dorothea,
Is she though faire the same day to be nam'd
Wisemen propose their ends: with sweete Artemia
There comes along pleasure, security,
Vsher'd by all that in this life is precious:
With Dorothea, though her birth be noble,
The Daughter to a Senator of Rome,
By him left rich (yet with a priuate wealth
And farre inferiour to yours) arriues
The Emperours frowne (which like a mortall plague
Speakes death is neere) the Princesse heauy scorne,
Vnder which you will shrinke, your fathers fury,
Which to resist euen piety forbids,
And but remember that she stands suspected
A fauourer of the Christian Sect, she brings
Not danger but assured destruction with her:
This truely wai'd, one smile of great Artemia
Is to be cherish't and prefer'd before
All ioyes in Dorothea, therefore leaue her.
An.
In what thou think'st thou art most wise, thou art
Grosely abus'd Macrinus, and most foolish.
For any man to match aboue his ranke,
Is but to sell his liberty; with Artemia
I still must liue a seruant, but enioying
Diuinest Dorothea, I shall rule,
Rule as becomes a husband, for the danger,
Or call it if you will assur'd destruction,
I sleight it thus. If then thou art my friend,
As I dare sweare thou art, and wilt not take
A Gouernors place vpon thee, be my helper.
Macri.
You know I dare and will doe any thing.
Put me vnto the test.
Anton.
Goe then Macrinus
To Dorothea, tell her I haue worne,
In all the battailes I haue fought her figure,
Her figure in my heart, which like a diety
Hath still protected me, thou canst speake well,
And of thy choysest language, spare a little
To make her vnderstand how much I loue her,
Sent in the way of sacrifice, not seruice,
As to my goddesse. All lets throwne behind me,
Or feares that may deter me: say this morning
I meane to visite her by the name of friendship,
No words to contradict this.
Macrinus.
I am yours,
And if my trauell this way be ill spent,
Iudge not, my reader will, by the euent.
exeunt
Finis actus primus.
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