 | The Emperovr of the East |  |
Actus 4.
Scæn. 1.
Athenais. Chrysapius.Ath.
Make mee her propertie?
Chrys.
Your maiestie
Hath iust cause of distant, and your resentment
Of the affront in the point of honor cannot
But meete a faire construction.
Ath.
I haue only
The title of an Empresse, but the power
Is, by her, rauish'd from me, shee suruayes
My actions as a gouernesse, and calls
My not obseruing all that shee directs
Folly, and disobedience.
Chrys.
Vnder correction,
With griefe I haue long obseru'd it, and if you
Stand pleas'd to signe my warrant Ile deliuer
In my vnfainde zeale, and desire to serue you,
(Howere I run the hazard of my head fort
Should it arriue at the knowledge of the Princesse,)
Not alone, the reasons why things are thus carried,
But giue into your hands the power to clippe
The wings of her command.
Ath.
Your seruice this way
Cannot offend mee.
Chrys.
Bee you pleas'd to know then
But still with pardon, if I am too bold,
Which carie her to this proude height, in which
Shee with securitie, soares, and still towres ore you,
But if you would imploy the strengths you hold
In the Emperours affections, and remember
The orbe you moue in should admit no star els,
You neuer would confesse the managing
Of state affaires to her alone are proper,
And you sit by a looker on,
Athenais.
I would not,
If it were possible I could attempt,
Her diminution, without a taint
Of foule ingratitude in my selfe.
Chrysapius.
In this
The sweetenesse of your temper does abuse you,
And you call that a benefit to your selfe
Which shee for her owne endes conferr'd vpon you.
'Tis yeelded shee gaue way to your aduancement:
But for what cause? that shee might still continue
Her absolute sway, and swing ore the whole state,
And that shee might to her admirers vaunt,
The Empresse was her creature, and the giuer
To bee preferr'd before the gift.
Athenais.
It may bee.
Chrys.
Nay 'tis most certaine: whereas would you please
In a true glasse to looke vpon your selfe,
And view without detraction your owne merits
Which all men wonder at; you would find that fate,
Without a second cause, appointed you
To the supremest honor. For the Princesse,
Shee hath raign'd long enough, and her remoue
Will make your entrance free to the possession
Of what you were borne to, & but once resolue
To build vpon her ruines, leaue the engines
That must bee vs'd to vndermine her greatenes
To my prouision.
Ath.
I thanke your care,
Rashly determin'd of, it will exact
A long and serious consultation from mee.
In the meane time Chrysapius rest assur'd
I liue your thankefull Mistrisse.
Exit Ath.
Chrys.
Is this all?
Will the Physick that I minister'd worke no further?
I haue playd the foole, and leauing a calme port
Embarqu'd my selfe on a rough sea of danger.
In her silence lies my safetie, which how can I
Hope from a woman? but the die is throwne,
And I must stand the hazard.
Enter Theodosius. Philanax. Timantus. Gratianus. Huntsmen.
Theod.
Is Paulinus
So tortur'd with his gowte?
Phil.
Most miserablie,
And it ads much to his affliction, that
The payne denies him power to waite vpon
Your Maiestie.
Theod.
I pittie him: hee is
A wondrous honest man, and what he suffers,
I know will grieue my Empresse.
Tim.
Hee indeed is
Much bound to her gratious fauour.
Theod.
Hee deserues it,
Shee cannot finde a subiect vpon whom
Shee better may confer it: is the stagge
Safe lodg'd?
Gratian.
Yes Sir, and the houndes and huntsmen ready.
Philan.
Hee will make you royall sport. Hee is a deere
Of ten at the least.
Enter Countrieman with the apple.
Gratianus.
Whither will this clowne?
Stand backe.
Countrym.
I would zee the Emperour, why should you Courtiers
Scorne a poore Countryman! wee zweat at the Plough
To vill your mouths, you and you curs might starue els.
Wee prune the orchards, and you cranch the fruite;
Yet still you are snarling at vs.
Theod.
What's the matter?
Count.
I would looke on thy sweete face.
Timantus.
Vnmannerly swaine.
Count.
Zwaine, though I am a zwaine, I haue a heart yet,
As ready to doe seruice for my leege,
As any Princox Peacock of you all.
Zookers had I one of you zingle with this twigge,
I would so veeze you.
Timant.
Will your Maiestie
Heare his rude language?
Theod.
Yes, and hold it as
An ornament, not a blendish. O Timantus!
Since that drad power by whom we are, disdaines not
With an open eare to heare petitions from vs,
Easie accesse in vs his deputies,
To the meanest of our subiects, is a debt,
Which we stand bound to pay.
Count.
By my granams ghost
'Tis a holsome zaying, our vicar could not mend it
In the pulpit on a Zunday.
Theod.
What's they suite friend?
Count.
Zute? I would laugh at that. Let the court begge from thee.
What the poore countrie giues: I bring a present
To thy good grace, which I can call mine owne,
And looke not like these gay folke for a returne,
Of what they venture. Haue I giuent you? ha,
Chrys.
A perillous knaue.
Count.
Zee heere a dainty Apple,
Presents the Apple.
Of mine owne graffing, zweete, and zownde I assure thee.
It is the fairest fruite I euer saw.
Those golden apples in the Hesperian orchardes
So strangely guarded by the watchfull Dragon,
As they requir'd greate Hercules to get 'em,
Nor those with which Hippemenes deceiu'd,
Swift footed Atalanta, when I looke
On this, deserue no wonder. You behold
The pooreman, and his present with contempt
I to their value prize both; he that could
So ayde weake nature, by his care, and labour,
As to compell a crabtree stocke to beare
A pretious fruite of this large size, and beauty,
Would by his industrie change a pettie village
Into a populous Citry, and from that
Erecte a flourishing Kingdome. Giue the fellow
For an encouragement to his future labours,
Ten Attick talents.
Countrym.
I will wearie heauen
With my prayers for your Maiestie.
Exit Count.
Theod.
Philanax,
From mee present this raritie to the rarest
And best of women, when I th'nk vpon
The boundlesse happinesse that from her flow to me
In my imagination I am rap'd
Beyond my selfe; but I forget our hunting,
To the forrest for the exercise of my body,
But for my mind, 'tis wholly taken vp,
In the comtemplation of her matchlesse vertues.
Exeunt.
Scæna 2.
Athenais. Pulcheria. Arcadia. Flaccilla.Ath.
Yov shall know ther's a difference betweene vs.
Pulch.
There was I am certain not long since, when you
To bee neere my feete, and doe you hold it now
As a disparagement that I side you Lady.
Ath.
Since you respect mee only as I was,
What I am shall be remembered.
Pul.
Does the meanes,
I practis'd to giue good, and sauing counsail's
To the Emperour, and your new stamp'd maiestie
Still sticke in your stomach?
Ath.
'Tis not yet digested,
In troth it is not, why good gouernesse,
Though you are held for a grand Madam, and your selfe,
The first that ouerprize it, I nere tooke
Your words for Delphian oracles, nor your actions
For such wonders as you make 'em, there is one
When shee shall see her time, as fit and able
To be made partner of the Emperours cares,
As your wise selfe, and may with iustice challenge
A neerer interest. You haue done your visit,
So when you please, you may leaue me.
Pul.
Ile not bandye
Words with your mightinesse, prow'd one, only this,
You carrie to much saile for your small barke,
And that when you least think vpon't may sincke you.
Exit Pulch.
Flacc.
I am glad shee is gone.
Arcadia.
I feard shee would haue read
A tedious lecture to vs.
Enter Phil. with the apple.
Philanax.
From the Emperour,
This rare fruite to the rarest.
Ath.
How my Lord?
Philanax.
I vse his language Madame, and that trust,
Which hee impos'd on mee, discharg'd, his pleasure
Commands my present seruice.
Exit Philan.
Ath.
Haue you seene
So faire an Apple?
Flacc.
Neuer.
If the taste
Answer the beauty.
Ath.
Prettily beg'd, you should haue it,
But that you eate too much cold fruite, and that
Changes the fresh red in your cheekes to palenesse.
Enter Seruant.
I haue other danities for you; you come from
Paulinus, how is't with that truely noble,
And honest Lord? my witnesse at the fount;
In a word the man to whose bless'd charity
I owe my greatnesse. How is't with him?
Seruant.
Spiritely,
In his minde, but by the raging of his goute
In his body much distemper'd, that you pleas'd
To inquire his health, tooke off much from his paine,
His glad lookes did confirme it.
Ath.
Doe his Doctors
Giue him no hope?
Seru.
Little, they rather feare,
By his continuall burning, that hee stands
In danger of a feuer.
Ath.
To him againe,
And tell him that I heartely wish it lay
In mee to ease him, and from me deliuer
This choice fruite to him, you may say to that,
I hope it will proue Physicall.
Serv.
The good Lord
Will be oreioyde with the fauour.
Ath.
Hee deseru's more,
Exeunt.
Scæna 3.
Paulinus brought in a chaire. Chirurgion.Chirurg.
I haue done as much as art can doe, to stoppe
The violent course of your fit, and I hope you feele it,
How does your honor?
Paul.
At some ease, I thanke you,
I would you could assure continuance of it,
For the moyetie of my fortune.
Chir.
If I could cure,
The gout my Lord, without the Philosophers stone
I should soone purchase, it being a disease,
In poore men very rare, and in the rich
The cure impossible, your many bounties;
Bid mee prepare you for a certaine truth,
And to flatter you were dishonest.
Paul.
Your plaine dealing
Deserues a fee. Would there were many more such
Of your profession. Happy are pooremen,
If sicke with the excesse of heate or cold,
Caus'd by necessitous labour, not loose surfets
They, when spare dyet, or kind nature faile,
To perfit their recouery, soone arriue at
Their rest in death, but on the contrarie
The greate, and noble are expos'd as preyes
To the rapine of Physitians, and they
In lingring out what is remedilesse,
Aime at their profit, not the patients health,
A thousand trialls and experiments
Haue bene put vpon mee, and I forc'd to pay deere
For my vexation, but I am resolu'd,
(I thanke your honest freedome) to be made
What haue you there?
Enter Cleon with a parchement role.
Cleon.
The triumphes of an artsman
O're all infirmities, made authenticall
With the names of Princes, Kings and Emperours
That were his patients.
Paul.
Some Empericke.
Cleon.
It may be so, but he sweares within three dayes
He will grub vp your goute by the rootes, and make you able
To march ten leagues a day in compleate armor,
Paul.
Impossible,
Cleon.
Or if you like not him
Chirurg.
Heare him, my Lord, for your mirth; I will take order,
They shall not wrong you.
Paul.
Vsher in your monster.
Cleon.
He is at hand, march vp: now speak for your self?
Enter Emperick.
Emper.
I come not (right honorable) to your presence,
with any base and for did end of reward; the immortality of
my fame is the white I shoote at, the charge of my most curious,
and costly ingredients fraide, amounting to some seaventeene
thousand crownes, a trifle in respect of health,
writing your noble name in my Catalogue, I shall acknowledge
my selfe amply satisfi'd.
Chir.
I beleeue so.
Emper.
For your owne sake I most heartily wish, that
you had now all the diseases, maladies and infirmities vpon
you, that were euer remembered by old Galen, Hippocrates, or
the later, and more admitted Paracelsus.
Paul.
For your good wish, I thanke you.
Take mee with you, I beseech your good Lordship,
I vrg'd it that your ioy in being certainely: and suddainly
freed from them, may be the greater, and my not to bee
paralleld skill the more remarkable: the cure of the goute a
toy, without boast bee it said, my cradle practise, the camer,
the Fistula, the Dropsie, consumption of Lunges, and Kidnyes,
hurts in the braine, heart, or liuer, are things worthy
my opposition, but in the recouerie of my patients I euer
ouercome them, but to your goute,
Paul.
I marry Sir, that cur'd I shall be apter
To giue credit to the rest
Emp.
Suppose it done Sir,
Chir.
And the meanes, you vse I beseech you.
Emper.
I will doe it in the plainest language, and discouer
my ingredients. First my boteni Terebinthina, of Cypris, my
Manna, ros cœlo, coagulated with vetulos ouorum, vulgarly
yelkes of Egges, with a little Cyath, or quantitie of my potable
Elixir, with some few scruples of sassa-fras and Guacum,
so taken euery morning and euening, in the space of
three dayes, purgeth, clenseth, and dissipateth the inward causes
of the virulent tumor.
Paul.
Why doe you smile?
Chir.
When hee hath done I will resolue you.
Emper.
For my exterior applications I haue these balsumunguentulums
extracted from hearbes plants, rootes, seeds,
gummes, and a million of other vegetables, the principall of
which are Vlissipona, or Serpentaria, Sophia, or Herba consolidarum,
Parthenium or commanilla Romana, Mumia
transmarina, mixed with my plumbum Philosophorum, and
mater metallorum, cum ossa paraleli, est vniuersale medicamentum
in podagra.
Cleon.
A coniuring balsamum,
Emp.
This applied warme vpon the pained place, with a
fether of Struthio cameli, or a bird of Paradise which is euery
where to bee had, shall expulse this tartarous, viscous, anatheos,
and malignant dolor.
Char.
An excellent receipt, but does your Lordship
Paul.
I would be instructed,
Chir.
For the gonorrhea, or if you will heare it
In a plainer phrase, the pox.
Emper.
If it cure his Lordship
Of that by the way, I hope Sir 'tis the better;
My medicine serues for all things, and the pox Sir,
Though falsely nam'd the Sciatica, or goute,
Is the more Catholick sicknesse.
Paul.
Hence with the rascall.
Yet hurt him not, he makes mee smile, and that
Frees him from punishment.
They thrust off the Emper.
Chir.
Such slaues as this
Render our art contemptible,
Enter Seruant
Seru.
My good Lord,
Paul.
So soone return'd?
Seru.
And with this present from
Your greate, and gratious Mistrisse, with her wishes
It may proue Physicall to you.
Paul.
In my heart
I kneele, and thanke her bounty. deere friend Cleon
Giue him the cupboorde of Plate in the next roome.
For a reward.
Exeunt Cleon and the Seruant.
Most glorious fruite, but made
More pretious by her grace, and loue that sent it.
To touch it only comming from her hand
Makes mee forget all paine. A Diamond
Of this large size, though it would buy a Kingdome,
Hew'd from the rocke, and lay'd downe at my seete,
Nay though a Monarchs gift, will hold no value,
Compar'd with this, and yet ere I presume
To tast it, though sans question it is
Stand bound to waigh my owne vnworthinesse:
Ambrosia is foode only for the Gods;
And not by humane lips to be prophan'd:
I may adore it as some holy Relick,
Deriu'de from thence, but impious to keepe it,
In my possession; the Emperour only,
Is worthy to inioy it goe good Cleon,
Enter Cleon.
(And cease this admiration at this obiect;)
From mee present this to my royall master,
I know it will amaze him, and excuse me
That I am not my selfe the bearer of it.
That I should bee lame now, when with wings of duty
I should flye to the seruice of this Empresse,
Nay no delayes good Cleon.
Cleon.
I am gone Sir.
Exeunt.
Scæne 4.
Theodosius. Chrysapius. Timantus. Gratianus.Chrys.
Are you not tir'd Sir?
Theod.
Tir'd? I must not say so
Howeuer, though I rode hard; to a huntsman,
His toyle is his delight, and to complaine
Of wearinesse, would shew as poorely in him,
As if a Generall should greiue for a wound,
Receau'd vpon his forhead, or his brest,
After a glorious victorie, lay by
These accoutrements for the chase.
Enter Pulch.
Pulch.
You are well return'd Sir,
From your Princely exercise.
Theod.
Sister, to you
I owe the freedome, and the vse of all
The pleasures I enioy; your care prouides
I should alone sustaine, you vndergoe,
And by your painefull watchings, yeeld my sleepes
Both sound, and sure. How happie am I in
Your knowledge of the art of gouernement!
And credit mee, I glorie to behold you
Dispose of great designes, as if you were
A partner, and no subiect of my Empire.
Pulch.
My vigilance, since it hath well succeeded.
I am confident, you allow of, yet it is not
Approu'd by all.
Theod.
Who dares repine at that,
Which hath our suffrage?
Pulch.
One that too well knowes,
The strength of her abilities can better
My weake endeuours.
Theod.
In this you reflect
Vpon my Empresse?
Pul.
True, for as shee is
The consort of your bed, 'tis fit shee share in
Your cares, and absolute power.
Theod.
You touch a string
That sowndes but harshely to mee, and I must
In a brothers loue aduise you that heereafter
You would forbeare to moue it. Since shee is
In her pure selfe a harmonie of such sweetenesse,
Compos'd of dutie, chaste desires, her beautie
(Though it might tempt a Hermit from his beades)
The least of her endowments. I am sorrie
Her holding the first place, since that the second
Is proper to your selfe, calls on your enuie.
Shee erre? it is impossible in a thought,
And much more speake, or doe what may offend mee.
In other things, I would beleeue you sister:
But though the tongues of Saints, and Angells tax'd her
Of any imperfection, I should be
Incredulous.
Shee is yet a woman Sir.
Theod.
The abstract of what's excellent in the sex:
But to their mulcts, and frayleties a meere stranger;
Ile dye in this beleefe.
Enter Cleon with the apple.
Cleon.
Your humblest seruant,
The Lord Paulinus, as a witnesse of
His zeale, and dutie to your Maiestie,
Presents you with this iewell.
Theod.
Ha!
Cleon.
It is
Preferr'd by him.
Theod.
Aboue his honor?
Cleon.
No Sir,
I would haue said his patrimonie,
Theod.
'Tis the same.
Cleon.
And he intreates, since lamenesse may excuse
His not presenting it himselfe, from mee
(Though far vnworthy to supplie his place)
You would vouchsafe to accept it.
Theod.
Farther off,
You haue told your tale. Stay you for a reward?
Take that.
Strikes him.
Pulch.
How's this?
Chrys.
I neuer saw him mou'd thus.
Theo.
Wee must not part so Sir, a guarde vpon him.
Enter Garde. they all goe a side.
Theod.
May I not vent my sorrowes in the aire,
Without discouerie? forbeare the roome,
Yet be within call, what an earth-quake I feele in mee?
And on the suddaine my whole fabrick totters.
My blood within mee turnes, and through my vaines
Parting with naturall rednesse I discerne it,
Chang'd to a fatall yellow: what an army
Of hellish furies in the horrid shapes
Of doubts, and feares, charge on mee! rise to my rescue,
Thou stout maintainer of a chaste wifes honor,
The confidence of her vertues; bee not shaken
With the wind of vaine surmises, much lesse suffer
My curious obseruation of that
I must no more remember. Will it not bee?
Thou vninuited ghest, ill mannerd monster,
I charge thee leaue mee, wilt thou force mee to
Giue fuell to that fire I would put out?
The goodnesse of my memorie proues my mischiefe,
And I would sell my Empire, could it purchase
The dull art of forgetfulnesse. Who waites there?
Timantus.
Most sacred Sir.
Theod.
Sacred, as 'tis accurs'd
Is proper to mee. Sirra, vpon your life,
Without a word concerning this, command
Exit Tim.
Eudoxia to come to mee; would I had
Nere knowne her by that name, my mothers name,
Or that for her owne sake shee had continued
Poore Athenais still.—No intermission?
Wilt thou so soone torment mee? must I reade
Writ in the table of my memorie,
To warrant my suspition, how Paulinus
(Though euer thought a man auerse to women)
First gaue her entertainement? made her way
For audience to my sister; then I did
My selfe obserue how hee was rauish'd with
The gratious deliuerie of her storie,
(Which was I grant the bait that first took me too)
Shee was his conuert, what the rethorick was
Hee vs'd I know not, and since shee was mine,
In priuate, as in publick, what a masse
Of grace and fauours hath shee heap'd vpon him!
And but to day this fatall fruite, Shee's come.
Enter Timantus. Athenais. Flaccilla. Arcadia.
Can shee bee guiltie?
Ath.
You seeme troubl'd Sir,
My innocence makes mee bold to aske the cause
After foure long houres absence?
Theod.
Prethee forgiue mee.
Kisses her.
Mee thanks I finde Paulinus on her lips,
And the fresh Nectar that I drew from thence
Is on the suddaine pal'd, how haue you spent
Your hours since I last saw you?
Ath.
In the conuerse,
Of your sweete sisters.
Theod.
Did not Philanax
From mee deliuer you an apple?
Ath.
Yes Sir;
Heauen! how you frowne! pray you talke of something els,
Thinke not of such a trifle.
Theod.
How! a trifle?
Does any toy from mee presented to you,
Deserue to be so sleighted? doe you valewe
What's sent, and not the sender? from a peasant
It had deseru'd your thanks.
Ath.
And meetes from you Sir
All possible respect.
Theod.
I priz'd it Lady
At a higher rate then you beleeue, and would not
Haue parted with it, but to one I did
Prefer before my selfe.
Ath.
It was indeed
The fairest that I euer saw.
Theod.
It was?
And it had vertues in it, my Eudoxia
Not visible to the eye.
Ath.
It may be so Sir,
Theod.
What did you with it, tell mee punctually;
I looke for a strict accompt.
Ath.
What shall I answer?
Theod.
Doe you stagger? ha?
Ath.
No Sir, I haue eaten it.
It had the pleasantest tast. I wonder that
Theod.
I faith I did not,
And it was wondrous strange.
Ath:
Pray you try againe.
Theo.
I find no scent of't heere. You play with me
You haue it still?
Ath.
By your sacred life, and fortune,
An oth I dare not breake, I haue eaten it.
Theod.
Doe you know how this oth binds?
Ath.
Too well, to breake it.
Theod.
That euer man to please his brutish sense
Should slaue his vnderstanding to his passions,
And taken with soone fading white and red
Deliuer vp his credulous eares to heare
The magick of a Siren, and from these
Beleeue there euer was, is, or can bee
More then a seeming honestie in bad woman
Ath.
This is strange language Sir.
Theod.
Who waites? come all.
Nay sister not so neere, being of the sex,
I feare you are infected to.
Pulch.
What meane you?
Theod.
To show you a miracle, a prodigie
Which Affrick neuer: equall'd can you think
This master peece of heauen, this pretious vellam,
Of such a puritie, and virgin whitenesse,
Could be design'd to haue periurie, and whoredome
In capitall letters writ vpon't?
Pulch.
Deere Sir,
Theod.
Nay adde to this in impudence beyond
All prostituted boldnesse. Art not dead yet?
Will not the tempests in thy conscience rende thee
As small as Atomes? that there may no signe
Be left, thou euer wert so! wilt thou liue
Till thou art blasted with the dreadfull lightning
Of pregnant, and vnanswerable prooses,
Of thy adulterous twines? dye yet that I
Ath:
Would long since,
The Gorgon of your rage had turn'd mee marble,
Or if I haue offended?
Theod.
If! good Angels!
But I am tame: looke on this dombe accuser.
Ath.
O I am lost!
Theod.
Did euer cormorant
Swollow his pray and then digest it whole
As shee hath done this apple? Philanax,
As 'tis, from me presented it. The good Lady
Swore shee had eaten it; yet I know not how
It came intire vnto Paulinus hands,
And I from him receau'd it, sent in scorne
Vpon my life to giue me a close touch,
That he was wearie of thee. Was there nothing
Left thee to see him, to giue satisfaction
To thy infatiate lust, but what was sent
As a deere fauour from mee? how haue I find
In my dotage on this creature? but to her
I haue liu'd, as I was borne, a perfit virgin.
Nay more I thought it not enough to be
True to her bed, but that I must feede high,
To strengthen my abilities to cloye
Her rauenous appetite, little suspecting
Shee would desire a change.
Ath.
I neuer did Sir.
Theod.
Be dumbe, I will not waste my breath in taxing
Thy base ingratitude. How I haue rais'd thee,
Will by the world be to thy shame spoke often.
But for that ribawd, who held in my Empire
The next place to my selfe, so bound vnto me
By all the tyes of duty, and allegeance
Hee shall pay deere for't, and feele what it is
In a wrong of such high consequence to pull downe,
His Lords slow anger on him. Philanax,
Hee's troubl'd with the goute, let him be cur'd
Thanke his Physitian.
Philanax.
His cause vnheard Sir?
Pulch.
Take heede of rashnesse.
Theod.
Is what I command,
To bee disputed?
Philan.
Your will shall bee done Sir:
But that I am the instrument—
Theod.
Doe you murmur?
Exit Phil with the gard:
What couldst thou say if that my licence should,
Giue liberty to this tongue? thou would'st dye? I am not
Athen. kneeling, points to Theod. sword.
So to bee reconcil'd, See mee no more.
The sting of conscience euer gnawing on thee,
A long life bee thy punishment.
Exit Theod.
Flacc.
O sweete Lady
How I could weepe for her!
Arcad.
Speake deare Madam, speake.
Your tongue as you are a Woman, while you liue,
Should bee euer mouing, at the least the last part
That stirrs about you.
Pul.
Though I should sad Lady
In pollicie reioyce, you as a riuall
Of my greatenesse are remou'd, compassion,
Since I beleeue you innocent, commands mee
To mourne your fortune, credit mee I will vrge
All arguments I can alleage that may
Appease the Emperours furie.
Arc.
I will grow too,
Vpon my knees, vnlesse hee bid mee rise,
And sweare hee will forgiue you.
Flacc.
And repent too
All this pother for an apple?
Exeunt Pulcheria. Arcadia. Flaccilla.
Chrys.
Hope deare Madam,
And neuer will forsake you; though a while
You leaue the court, and city, and giue way
To the violent passions of the Emperour.
Repentance in his want of you will soone finde him.
In the meane time Ile dispose of you, and omit
No opportunity that may inuite him
To see his error.
Athen.
Oh!
Wrangling her hands.
Chrys.
Forbeare for heau'ns sake:
The ende of the fourth act.
| The Emperovr of the East | |