 | The Emperovr of the East |  |
Act 1.
The Scæne Constantinople.Scæne 1.
Paulinus. Cleon.Paul.
In your six yeeres trauaile, friend, no doubt you haue met with
Many, and rare aduentures, and obseru'd
The wonders of each climate, varying in
The manners, and the men, and so returne,
For the future seruice of your prince and country,
In your vnderstanding betterd.
Cleon.
Sir, I haue made oft
The best vse in my power, and hope my gleanings,
After the full crop others reapd before me,
Shall not when I am call'd on, altogether
Appeare vnprofitable: yet I left
The miracle of miracles in our age
At home behind me; euery where abroad
Fame with a true, though prodigall voyce, deliuer'd
Such wonders of Pulcheria the Princesse,
To the amazement, nay astonishment rather
Of such as heard it, that I found not one
In all the States and Kingdomes that I pass'd through,
Worthy to be her second.
Paul.
She indeed is
A perfect Phœnix, and disdaynes a riuall.
Her infant yeeres, as you know, promis'd much
Credulitie her debtor. I will tell you
In my blunt way, to entertaine the time,
Vntill you haue the happinesse to see her,
How in your absence shee hath borne her selfe,
And with all possible breuitie, though the subiect
Is such a spatious field, as would require
An abstract of the purest eloquence
(Deriu'de from the most famous Orators
The nurse of learning, Athens, shew'd the world)
In that man, that should vndertake to bee
Her true Historian.
Cleon.
In this you shall doe mee
A speciall sauour.
Paulinus.
Since Arcadius death,
Our late great Master, the protection of
The Prince his Sonne, the second Theodosius,
By a generall vote and suffrage of the people;
Was to her charge assigned, with the disposure
Of his so many Kingdomes. For his person
Shee hath so train'd him vp in all those arts
That are both great and good, and to be wished
In an Imperiall Monarch, that the Mother
Of the Gracchi, graue Cornelia (Rome still boasts of)
The wise Pulcheria but nam'd, must be
No more remembred. She by her example
Hath made the court a kinde of Academy,
In which true honour is both learnd, and practisd,
Her priuate lodging's a chaste Nunnery,
In which her sisters as probationers heare
From her their soueraigne Abbesse, all the precepts
Read in the schoole of vertue.
Cleon.
You amaze me.
Paulinus.
I shall ere I conclude. For heere the wonder
Begins, not ends. Her soule is so immense,
And her strong faculties so apprehensiue,
To search into the depth of deepe designes,
To many men were insupportable,
To her is but a gentle exercise,
Made by the frequent vse familiar to her:
Cleon.
With your good fauour let me interrupt you.
Being as she is in euery part so perfect,
Me thinkes that all kings of our Easterne world
Should become riualls for her.
Paulinus.
So they haue,
But to no purpose. She that knowes her strength
To rule, and gouerne Monarchs, scornes to weare
On her free necke the seruile yoke of marriage.
And for one loose desire, enuie it selfe
Dares not presume to taint her. Venus sonne
Is blinde indeed, when he but gazes on her.
Her chastity being a rocke of Diamonds,
With which encountred his shafts flie in splinters,
His flaming torches in the liuing spring
Of her perfections, quench'd: and to crowne all;
Shee's so impartiall when she sits vpon
The high tribunall, neither swayd with piety,
Nor awd by feare beyond her equall scale,
That 'tis not superstition to beleeue
Astrea once more liues vpon the earth,
Pulcheriaes brest her temple.
Cleon.
You haue giuen her
An admirable character.
Paulinus.
She deserues it,
And such is the commanding power of vertue,
That from her vitious enemies it compells
Pæans of prayse as a due tribute to her.
Solemne lowd musick:
Cleon.
What meanes this solemne musicke?
Paulinus.
It vshers
The Emperours morning meditation,
In which Pulcheria is more then assistant.
Tis worth your obseruation, and you may
Collect from her expence of time this day,
Cleon.
I am all eyes and eares.
Enter after a strayne of musicke, Philanax, Timantus, Patriarch, Theodosius, Pulcheria, Flaccilla, Arcadia, followed by Chrysapius and Gratianus, Informer, Seruants, Officers.
Pulcheria,
Your patience Sir.
Let those corrupted ministers of the court,
Which you complayne of, our deuotions ended,
Be cited to appeare. For the Embassadours
Who are importunate to haue audience,
From me you may assure them, that to morrow
They shall in publike kisse the Emperours robe,
And we in priuate with our soonest leasure
Will giue 'em hearing. Haue you especiall care too
That free accesse be granted vnto all
Petitioners. The morning weares. Pray you on Sir;
Time lost is ne're recouerd.
Exeunt Theodosius, Pulcheria, and the trayne.
Paulinus.
Did you note
The maiesty she appeares in?
Cleon.
Yes my good Lord,
I was rauish'd with it.
Paulinus.
And then with what speede
Shee orders her dispatches, not one daring
To interpose; the Emperour himselfe
Without replie putting in act what euer
Shee pleas'd to impose vpon him.
Cleon.
Yet there were some
That in their sullen lookes rather confessed
A forc'd constraint to serue her, then a will
To bee at her deuotion, what are they?
Paulin.
Eunuchs of the Emperours chamber, that repine,
Vnto the distaffe, for as such they whisper
A womans gouernment, but dare not yet
Expresse themselues.
Cleon.
From whence are the Embassadours
To whom she promisde audience?
Paulinus.
They are
Imployd by diuers Princes, who desire
Alliance with our Emperour, whose yeeres now
As you see, write him man. One would aduance
A daughter to the honour of his bed,
A second, his fayre sister: to instruct you
In the particulars would aske longer time
Then my owne designes giue way to. I haue letters
From speciall friends of mine, that to my care
Commend a stranger virgin, whom this morning
I purpose to present before the Princesse,
If you please, you may accompany me.
Cleon.
Ile wait on you.
Exeunt.
Scene 2.
Informer, Officers bringing in the Proiector, the Suburbs Mignion, the Master of the habit and maners.Informer.
Why should you droope, or hang your working heads?
No danger is meant to you, pray beare vp,
For ought I know you are cited to receiue
Preferment due to your merits.
Proiector.
Very likely,
In all the proiects I haue read and practisd
I neuer found one man compeld to come
Before the seat of iustice vnder guarde
To receiue honour.
Informer.
No; it may be you are
As I haue deliuer'd you to the protectresse,
Who knows how to aduance them, cannot conceiue
A fitter place to haue their vertues publish'de,
Then in open Court: could you hope that the Princesse
Knowing your pretious merits, will reward 'em
In a priuate corner? no, you know not yet
How you may be exalted.
Suburbs Minion.
To the gallowes.
Informer.
Fy,
Nor yet depressde to the Gallies; in your names
You carry no such crimes: your specious titles
Cannot but take her: President of the Proiectors!
What a noyse it makes? The master of the habit,
How proud would some one country be that I know
To be your first pupill? Minion of the suburbs,
And now and then admitted to the Court,
And honor'd with the stile of Squire of Dames,
What hurt is in it? One thing I must tell you,
As I am the State scout, you may think me an informer.
Master of the habit.
They are Synonima.
Informer.
Conceale nothing from her
Of your good parts, 'twill be the better for you,
Or if you should, it matters not, she can coniure,
And I am her vbiquitary spirit,
Bound to obey her, you haue my instructions,
Stand by, heeres better company.
Enter Paulinus, Cleon, Athenais, with a Petition.
Athenais.
Can I hope, Sir,
Oppressed innocence shall finde protection,
And iustice among strangers, when my brothers,
Brothers of one wombe, by one Sire begotten,
Trample on my afflictions?
Paulinus.
Forget them,
Remembering those may helpe you.
They haue robde mee
Of all meanes to prefer my iust complaint
With any promising hope to gaine a hearing,
Much lesse redresse: petitions not sweetened
With golde, are but vnsauorie, oft refused,
Or if receau'd, are pocketted, not read.
A suitors swelling teares by the glowing beames
Of Cholerick authority are dri'd vp,
Before they fall, or if seene neuer pittled,
What will become of a forsaken maide?
My flattering hopes are too weake to encounter
With my stronge enemy, despaire, and 'tis
In vaine to oppose her.
Cleon.
Cheere her vp, shee saints, Sir.
Paulin.
This argues weakenesse, thogh your brothers were
Cruell beyond expression, and the iudges
That sentenc'd you, corrupt, you shall finde heere
One of your owne faine sexe to doe you right,
Whose beames of iustice like the Sun extend
Their light, and heate to strangers, and are not
Municipall, or confinde.
Athenais.
Pray you doe not feede mee
With aerie hopes, vnlesse you can assure mee
The greate Pulcheria will descende to heare
My miserable storie, it were better
I died without her trouble.
Paulinus.
Shee is bound to it
By the surest chaine, her naturall inclination
To helpe th'afflicted, nor shall long delayes
(More terrible to miserable suitors
Then quicke denialls) grieue you; Drie your faire eyes,
This roome will instantly bee sanctifi'd
With her bless'd presence; to her ready hand
Present your grieuances, and rest assur'd
You shall depart contented.
Athenais.
You breath in mee
A second life.
Will your Lordship please to heare
Your seruant a few words?
Paulinus.
Away you rascall,
Did I euer keepe such seruants?
Informer.
If your honestie
Would giue you leaue, it would bee for your profit.
Paul.
To make vse of an Informer? tell mee in what
Can you aduantage mee?
Informer.
In the first tender
Of a fresh suite neuer begd yet,
Paulinus.
Whats your suite Sir?
Informer.
'Tis feasible, heere are three arrant knaues
Discouerd by my Art:
Paulinus.
And thou the arch knaue,
The greate deuoure the lesse:
Informer.
And with good reason,
I must eate one a month, I cannot liue els.
Paulinus.
A notable canniball? but should I heare thee,
In what doe your knaues concerne mee?
Informer.
In the begging
Of their estates.
Paulinus.
Before they are condemned?
Inf.
Yes or arraigned, your Lordship may speake too late els.
They are your owne, and I will bee content
With the fift part of a share.
Paulinus.
Hence Rogue,
Informer.
Such Rogues
In this kinde will be heard, and cherish'd too.
Foole that I was to offer such a bargaine,
To a spic'd conscience chapman, but I care not
What hee disdaines to taste others will swallow.
Lowde Mus.
Enter Theodosius, Pulcheria, and the traine.
Cleon.
They are returned from the Temple.
Paul.
See, shee appeares,
What thinke you now?
A cunning Painter thus
Her vaile tane off and awfull sword and ballance
Lay'd by woulde picture iustice.
Pulcheria.
When you please,
You may intend those royall exercises
Suiting your birth, and greatenesse: I will beare
The burthen of your cares, and hauing purged
The body of your empire of ill humors,
Vpon my knees surrender it.
Chrysapius.
Will you euer
Bee awde thus like a Boy?
Gratianus.
And kisse the rod
Of a proude Mistrisse?
Timantus.
Bee what you were borne Sir.
Philanax.
Obedience and Maiestie neuer lodg'd
In the same Inne.
Theodosius.
No more; hee neuer learned
The right way to command, that stopp'd his eares
To wise directions.
Pulcheria.
Reade ore the Papers
I left vpon my cabinet, two hours hence
I will examine you.
Flaccilla.
Wee spende our time well.
Nothing but praying, and poring on a booke,
It ill agrees with my constitution, sister.
Arcadia.
Would I had beene borne some masquing Ladies woman,
Only to see strange sights, rather then liue thus.
Flaccilla.
We are gone forsooth, there is no remedy, sister:
Exeunt Arcadia and Flaccilla.
Gratianus.
What hath his eye found out?
Timantus.
'Tis fix'd vpon
That stranger Lady.
Chrysapius.
I am glad yet, that
Hee dares looke on a Woman.
Theodos.
Philanax,
What is that comely stranger?
Philanax.
A Petitioner.
Chrys.
Will you heare her case, and dispatch her in your Chamber?
Ile vndertake to bring her.
Theod.
Bring mee to
Some place where I may looke on her demeaner
'Tis a louely creature?
Exeunt Theodosius, Patriarck and the trayne.
Chrys.
Ther's some hope in this yet.
Pulch.
No you haue done your parts:
Paul.
Now opportunity courts you,
Prefer your suite,
Athenais.
As low as miserie
Can fall, for proofe of my humilitie,
A poore distressed Virgin bowes her head,
And layes hold on your goodnesse, the last altar
Calamitie can flie to for protection.
Great mindes erect their neuer falling trophees
On the firme base of mercie; but to triumphe
Ouer a suppliant by proud fortune captiued,
Argues a Bastard conquest: 'tis to you
I speake, to you the faire, and iust Pulcheria,
The wonder of the age, your sexes honor,
And as such daine to heare mee. As you haue
A soule moulded from heauen, and doe desire
To haue it made a star there, make the meanes
Of your ascent to that celestiall height
Vertue wing'd with braue action: they draw neer
The nature, and the essence of the Gods,
Fulcher.
If you were
A subiect of the Empire, which your habit
In euery part denies.
Athenais.
O flie not to
Such an euasion; what ere I am,
Being a Woman, in humanitie
You are bound to right mee, though the difference)
Of my religion may seeme to exclude mee
From your defence (which you would haue confinde)
The morall vertue, which is generall,
Must know no limits; by these blessed feete
That pace the paths of equity, and tread boldly
On the stiffe necke of tyrannous oppression,
By these teares by which I bath 'em, I coniure you
With pitty to looke on mee.
Pulch.
Pray your rise.
And as you rise receiue this comfort from mee.
Beauty set off with such sweete language neuer
Can want an Aduocate, and you must bring
More then a guiltie cause if you preuaile not.
Some businesse long since thought vpon dispatched,
You shall haue hearing, and as far as iustice
Will warrant mee, my best aydes.
Athen.
I doe desire,
No stronger garde, my equitie needs no fauour.
Pulch.
Are these the men?
Proiector.
Wee were, an't like your highnesse,
The men, the men of eminence, and marke,
And may continue so, if it please your grace.
Master.
This speech was well proiected.
Pul.
Does your conscience
(I will begin with you) whisper vnto you
What heere you stand accused of? are you named
The President of Proiectors?
Inform.
Iustifie it man,
And tell her in what thou art vsefull.
That is apparent,
And if you please, aske some about the court,
And they will tell you too my rare inuentions,
They owe their brauerie, perhaps meanes to purchase,
And cannot liue without mee. I alas
Lende out my labouring braines to vse, and sometimes
For a drachma in the pound, the more the pitty.
I am all patience, and indure the curses
Of many, for the profit of one patron.
Pulcher.
I do conceiue the rest. What is the second?
Informer.
The mignion of the suburbs.
Pulcheria.
What hath he
To doe in Constantinople?
Mign.
I steale in now and then,
As I am thought vsefull, marry there I am calde
The Squire of Dames, or seruant of the sex,
And by the allowance of some sportfull Ladies
Honor'd with that title.
Pulch.
Spare your Character,
You are heere desciphered; stand by with your compere.
What is the third? a creature I ne're heard of;
The master of the manners, and the habit,
You haue a double office.
Master.
In my actions
I make both good, for by my theoremes
Which your polite, and terser gallants practise,
I rerefine the court, and ciuilize
Their barbarous natures: I haue in a table
With curious punctualitie set downe
To a haires breadth, how low a new stamp'd courtier
May vaile to a country Gentleman, and by
Gradation, to his marchant, mercer, draper,
His linnen man, and taylor.
Pulch.
Pray you discouer
This hidden mysterie.
Master.
If the foresayde courtier
(As it may chance somtimes) find not his name
He may salute 'em after three dayes wayting:
But if he owe them money, that he may
Preserue his credit, let him, in policy, neuer
Appoint a day of payment, so they may hope still:
But if he be to take vp more, his page
May attend 'em at the gate, and vsher 'em
Into his Cellar, and when they are warm'd with wine,
Conduct 'em to his bedchamber, and though then
He be vnder his Barbers hands, assoone as seene,
He must start vp to embrace 'em, vayle thus low,
Nay though he call'tm cosins, 'tis the better,
His Dignity no way wrong'd in't.
Paulinus.
Here's a fire knaue.
Pulch.
Does this rule hold without exception sirrha
For Courtiers in generall?
Mast.
No, deare madam,
For one of the last edition, and for him
I haue composde a Dictionary, in which
He is instructed, how, when, and to whom
To be proud or humble; at what times of the yeare
He may do a good deed for it selfe, and that is
Writ in Dominicall letters, all dayes else
Are his owne, and of those dayes the seuerall houres
Markt out, and to what vse.
Pulch.
Shew vs your method,
I am strangely taken with it.
Mast.
Twill deserue
A pension, I hope. First a strong cullise
In his bed to heighten appetite: Shuttle-cock
To keepe him in breath when he rises; Tennis Courts
Are chargeable, and the riding of great horses
Too boystrous for my yong Courtier, let the old ones
I thinke not of, vse it; next his meditation
How to court his Mistresse, and that he may seeme witty,
Let him be furnish'd with confederate iests
Between him and his friend, that on occasion
Must be in the presence, then the length of his sword,
The fashion of the hilt, what the blade is
It matters not, 'twere barbarisme to vse it,
Vnlesse to shew his strength vpon an andiron,
So the sooner broke, the better.
Pulch.
How I abuse
This pretious time! Proiector, I treat first
Of you and your disciples; you roare out,
All is the Kings, his will aboue his lawes:
And that fit tributes are too gentle yokes
For his poore subiects; whispering in his eare,
If he would haue them feare, no man should dare
To bring a sallad from his country garden,
Without the paying gubell; kill a hen,
Without excise: and that if he desire
To haue his children, or his seruants weare
Their heads vpon their shoulders, you affirme,
In policy, tis fit the owner should
Pay for'em by the pole; or if the Prince want
A present summe, he may command a city
Impossibilities, and for non-performance
Compell it to submit to any fine
His Officers shall impose: is this the way
To make our Emperor happy? can the groanes
Of his subiects yeeld him musick? must his thresholds
Be wash'd with widdowes and wrong'd orphans teares,
Or his power grow contemptible?
Proiect.
I begin
To feele my selfe a rogue againe.
Pulch.
But you are
The Squire of Dames, deuoted to the seruice
Of gamesome Ladies, the hidden mystery
Discouer'd, their close bawde; thy slauish breath
Fanning the fires of lust, the Goe-between
This female, and that wanton Sir, your art
Can blinde a iealous husband, and disguisde
A letter in a pantophle or gloue
Without suspition, nay at his table
In a case of picketo othes; you instruct 'em how
To parley with their eyes, and make the temple
A mart of loosenesse: to discouer all
The subtile brokages, were to teach in publick,
Those priuate practises which are, in iustice,
Seuerely to bee punish'd.
Mignion.
I am cast,
A iurie of my patronesses cannot quit mee.
Pulcheria.
You are master of the manners, and the habit,
Rather the scorne of such as would liue men,
And not like Apes with seruile imitation,
Studie prodigious fashions. You keepe
Intelligence abroad that may instruct,
Our giddie youth at home what new found fashion
Is now in vse, swearing hees most compleate
That first turnes monster. Know villaines, I can thrust
This arme into your hearts, strip off the flesh
That couers your deformities, and shew you
In your owne nakednesse. Now though the law
Call not your follies death, you are for euer
Banish'd my brothers court. Away with 'em.
I will heare no reply.
Exeunt Informer, Officers, Prisoners, the curtaines drawne aboue, Eunuches discouer'd.
Paulinus.
What thincke you now?
Cleon.
That I am in a dreame, or that I see
A seconde Pallas.
Pulch.
These remou'd, to you
I cleare my browe, speake without care sweete mayde,
Since with a milde aspect and ready eare,
I sit prepar'd to heare you.
Athen.
Know great Princesse,
For his deepe serch into those hidden studies,
Whose knowledge is deni'd to common men:
The motion, with the diuers operations
Of the superior bodies, by his long
And carefull obseruation were made
Familiar to him, all the secret virtues
Of plants, and simples, and in what degree
They were vsefull to mankinde, hee could discourse of.
In a word conceiue him as a Prophet honourd
In his owne countrie. But being borne a man,
It lay not in him to defer the hower
Of his approching death, though long foretold:
In this so fatall hower hee call'd before him
His two sonnes, and my selfe, the deerest pledges
Lent him by nature, and with his right hand
Blessing our seuerall heades, hee thus began;
Chrys.
Marke his attention.
Phyl.
Giue mee leaue to marke too.
Athen.
If I could leaue my vnderstanding to you,
It were superfluous to make diuision
Of whatsoeuer els I can bequeath you,
But to auoide contention, I allot
An equall portion of my possessions
To you my sonnes: but vnto thee my daughter,
My ioy, my darling (pardon mee though I
Repeate his words) if my prophetick soule
Ready to take her flight, can truely ghesse at
Thy future fate, I leaue the strange assurance
Of the greatenesse thou art borne to, vnto which
Thy brothers shall be proud to pay their seruice,
Paulinus.
And all men els that honour beauty
Theod.
Nimph.
Ath.
Yet to prepare thee for that certaine fortune,
And that I may from present wants defend thee,
I leaue ten thousand crownes, which sayd, being call'd
To the fellowship of our Deities, he expird,
Concerning me, left by him to my brothers.
Pulch.
Did they deteyne your legacy?
Athenais.
And still do.
His ashes were scarce quiet in his vrne,
When in derision of my future greatnesse,
They thrust me out of doores, denying me
One short nights harbor.
Pulch.
Weepe not.
Ath.
I desire
By your perswasion, or commanding power,
The restitution of mine owne, or that
To keepe my frailty from temptation,
In your compassion of me, you would please
I as a handmaid may be entertaind
To do the meanest offices to all such
As are honor'd in your seruice.
Pulch.
Thou art welcome. What is thy name?
Ath.
The forlorne Athenais.
Takes her vp and kisses her.
Pulch.
The sweetnes of thy innocence strangely takes me
Forget thy brothers wrongs, for I will be
In my care a mother, in my loue a sister to thee;
And were it possible thou could'st be wooned
To be of our beleefe.
Paulinus.
May it please your excellence,
That is an easie taske, I, though no schollar,
Dare vndertake it; cleere truth cannot want
Rhetoricall perswasions.
Pulch.
Tis a work,
My Lord, will well become you; break vp the Court,
May your endeuors prosper.
Paulinus.
Come my faire one,
I hope my conuert.
Ath.
Neuer, I will die
As I was borne.
Better you nere had beene.
Philanax.
What does your maiesty think of? the maid's gone.
Theod.
She's wondrous faire, and in her speech appear'd
Peeces of schollarship.
Chrysap.
Make vse of her learning
And beauty together, on my life she will be proud
To be so conuerted.
Theod:
From foule lust heauen guard me.
Exeunt:
| The Emperovr of the East | |