University of Virginia Library

Act. 5.

Scæne 1.

Philanac. Paulinus. Guard. Executioners.
Paul.
This is most barbarous! how haue you lost
All feeling of humanity, as honor;
In your consent alone to haue mee vs'd thus?
But to bee as you are a looker on,
Nay more a principall actor in't (the softnes
Of your former life consider'd) almost turnes mee
Into a senselesse statue.

Philanax.
Would long since
Death by some other meanes had made you one,
That you might bee lesse sensible of what
You haue, or are to suffer.

Paul.
Am to suffer?
Let such, whose happinesse, and heauen depend
Vpon their present being feare to part with
A fort they cannot long holde, mine to mee is
A charge that I am wearie of, all defences
By paine, and sickenesse batterd; Yet take heede,
Take heede Lord Philanax, that for priuate spleene
Or any false conceiued grudge against mee,
(Since in one thought of wrong to you, I am
Sincerely innocent) you doe not that
My royall Master must in iustice punish,
If you passe to your owne heart thorow mine
The murther as it will come out discouer'd.

Phil.
I murther you my Lord? heau'n witnesse for mee
With the restoring of your health, I wish you
Long life, and happinesse: for my selfe I am
Compell'd to put in execution that
Which I would flie from, 'tis the Emperour,
The high incensed Emperours will commands
What I must see perform'd.

Paul.
The Emperour!
Goodnesse, and innocence garde mee! wheeles, nor racks
Can force into my memorie, the remembrance
Of the least shadow of offence, with which
I euer did prouoke him, though belou'd
(And yet the peoples loue is short, and fatall)
I neuer courted popular applause;
Feasted the men of action, or labour'd
By prodigall giftes to draw the needy souldier,
The tribunes, or centurions to a faction,
Of which I would rise vp the head against him.
I hold no place of strength, fortresse, or castle
In my command, that can giue sanctuarie
To malecontents, or countenance rebellion.
I haue built no palaces to face the court,
Nor doe my followers brauerie shame his traine,
And though I cannot blame my fate for want,
My competent meanes of life deserues no enuie.
In what then am I dangerous?

Phil.
His displeasure
Reflects on none of those particulars,
Which you haue mention'd, though some iealous Princes
In a subiect cannot brooke 'em.

Paul.
None of these?
In what then am I worthy his suspition?
But it may, nay it must bee, some informer
To whom my innocence appear d a crime,
Hath poyson'd his late good opinion of mee.
Tis not to dye, but in the censure of
'So good a Master guilty, that afflictes mee.

Phil.
There is no remedy.

Paul.
No, I haue a friend yet,
Could the strictnesse of your warrant giue way to it,
To whom the state I stand in now deliuer'd,
That by faire intercession for mee would
So far preuaile, that my defence vnheard
I should not innocent, or guiltie suffer,
Without a fit distinction.

Phil.
These false hopes
My Lord abuse you. What man, when condemn'd,
Did euer find a friend? or who dares lend
An eye of pitty to that starcros'd subiect
On whom his soueraigne frownes.

Paul.
Shee that dares plead
For innocence without a fee, the Empresse,
My greate, and gratious Mistrisse!

Phil.
There's your error.
Her many fauours which you hop'd should make you,
Proue your vndoing. Shee poore Lady is
Bannish'd for euer from the Emperours presence,
And his confirm'd suspition, to his wrong,
That you haue bene ouer familiar with her,
Doomes you to death. I know you vnderstand mee.

Paul.
Ouer familiar?

Phil.
In sharing with him,
Those sweete and secret pleasures of his bed,
Which can admit no partner.

Paul.
And is that
The crime for which I am to dye? Of all
My numerous sinnes, was there not one of waight
Enough to sinke mee, if he borrow'd not
The colour of a guilt I neuer saw,
To paint my innocence, in a deform'd
And monstrous shape? but that it were prophane
To argue heauen of ignorance, or iniustice,
I now should tax it. Had the stars that raign'd
At my natiuity such cursed influence,
As not alone to make mee miserable,
But in the neighbourhood of her goodnesse to mee
To force contagion vpon a Lady,
Whose purer flames were not inferior,
To theirs, when they shine brightest? to dye for her
Compar'd with what shee suffers is a trifle.
By her example warn'd, let all greate women
Heereafter throw pride, and contempt on such
As truely serue 'em, since a retribution
In lawfull courtesies, is now stil'd lust,
And to be thankfull to a seruants merits
Is growne a vice, no vertue.

Phil.
These complaints
Are to no purpose: think on the long flight,
Your better part must make.

Paul.
Shee is prepar'd
Nor can the freeing of an innocent
From the Emperours furious iealousie hinder her.
It shall out, 'tis resolu'd, but to bee whisper'd
To you alone. What a solemne preparation
Is made heere to put forth an inch of taper
In it selfe almost extinguish'd? mortall poison?
The hangmans sword, the halter?

Phil.
Tis left to you,
To make choice of which you please.

Paulinus.
Any will serue,
To take away my goute, and life together.
I would not haue the Emperour imitate
Romes Monster, Nero, in that cruell mercie
Hee shew'd to Seneca; when you haue discharg'd
What you are trusted with, and I haue giu'n you
Reasons beyond all doubt, or disputation,
Of the Empresses and my innocence, when I am dead,
Since 'tis my Masters pleasure, and high treason
In you not to obey it, I coniure you,
By the hopes you haue of happinesse heereafter,
Since mine in this world are now parting from mee,
That you would win the young man to repentance
Of the wrong done to his chaste wise Eudoxia,
And if perchance hee shed a teare for what
In his rashenesse hee impos'd on his true seruant,
So it cure him of future iealousie,
'Twill proue a pretious balsamum, and finde mee
When I am in my graue. Now when you please,
For I am readie.

Philanax.
His words worke strangely on mee,
And I would doe, but I know not what to thinke on't.

Ex.

Scæne 2.

Pulcheria. Flaccilla. Arcadia. Timantus. Gratianus. Chrysapius.
Pulch.
Still in his sullen moo'd? no intermission
Of his melancholy fit?

Timantus.
It rather Madam
Increases, then grows lesse.

Gratianus.
In the next roome
To his bed-chamber, wee watch'd, for hee by signes
Gaue vs to vnderstand, hee would admit
Nor company, nor conference.

Pulch.
Did hee take
No rest as you could ghesse?

Chrys.
Not any Madam;
Like a Numidian Lyon, by the cunning
Of the desperate huntsman taken in a toyle,
And forc'd into a spatious cage, hee walkes
About his chamber, wee might heare him gnash
His teeth in rage, which opend, hollow grones
And murmurs issu'd from his lippes, like windes
Imprison'd in the cauernes of the earth
Striuing for liberty; and sometimes throwing
His body on his bed, then on the ground,
And with such violence, that wee more then fear'd
And still doe, if the tempest of his passions
By your wisdome bee not lay'd, hee will commit
Some outrage on himselfe.

Pulch.
His better Angell,
I hope will stay him from so foule a mischiefe,
Nor shall my care bee wanting.

Tim:
Twice I heard him,
Say false Eudoxia, how much art thou
Vnworthy of these teares? then sigh'd, and straight
Rores out Paulinus, was his goutie age
To bee preferr'd before my strength and youth?
Then groand againe, so many wayes expressing
Th'afflictions of a tortur'd soule, that wee
Who wept in vaine, for what wee could not helpe,
Were sharers in his iuffrings.

Pulch.
Though your sorrow
Is not to bee condemn'd, it takes not from
The burthen of his miseries, wee must practise
With some fresh obiect to diuert his thoughts
From that they are wholly fix'd on.

Chrys.
Could I gaine
The freedome of accesse, I would present him
With this petition. Will your highnes please,
A paper deliuer'd.
To looke vpon it. You will soone finde there
What my intents, and hopes are.

Enter Theod.
Gratianus.
Hal 'tis hee.

Pul.
Stand close,
And giue way to his passions, 'tis not safe
To stoppe them in their violent course, before
They haue spent themselues.

Theod.
I play the foole, and am
Vnequall to my selfe, delinquents are
To suffer, not the innocent. I haue done
Nothing, which will not hold waight in the scale
Of my impartiall iustice: neither feele
The worme of conscience, vpbraiding mee
For one blacke deed of tyranny; wherefore then
Should I torment my selfe? great Iulius would not
Rest satisfi'd that his wife was free from fact,
But only for suspition of a crime
S'ud a diuorce, nor was this Roman rigour
Censur'd as cruell, and still the wise Italian,
That knowes the honor of his family,
Depends vpon the purity of his bed
For a kisse, nay wanton looke, will plough vp mischiefe,
And sowe the seedes of his reuenge in blood.
And shall to whose power the law's a seruant,
That stand accomptable to none, for what
My will calls an offence, being compell'd,
And on such grounds to raise an Altar to
My anger, though I grant 'tis cemented
With a loose strumpets and adulterers gore,
Repent the iustice of my furie? no.
I should not: yet still my excesse of loue
Fed high in the remembrance of her choice
And sweete embraces, would perswade mee that
Conniuence, or remission of her fault,
Made warrantable by her true submission
For her offence, might bee excusable,
Did not the crueltie of my wounded honor
With an open mouth denie it.

Pulch.
I approue of
Your good intention, and I hope 'twill prosper.
Hee now seemes calme. Let vs vpon our knees
Encompasse him. Most royall Sir,

Flacc.
Sweet brother.

Arc.
As you are our Soueraigne, by the tyes of nature
You are bound to bee a Father in your care
To vs poore Orphans.

Timant.
Shew compassion Sir,
Vnto your selfe.

Grat.
The maiestie of your fortune
Should flie aboue the reach of griefe.

Chrys.
And 'tis
Impair'd, if you yeeld to it.

Theod.
Wherefore pay you
This adoration to a sinfull creature?
I am flesh, and blood as you are, sensible
Of heat, and cold, as much a slaue vnto
The tyrannie of my passions, as the meanest
Of my poore subiects the proud attributes
(By oil'd tongu'd flatterie impos'd vpon vs)
As sacred, glorious, high, inuincible,
The deputie of heauen, and in that
Omnipotent, with all false titles els
Coind to abuse our frailetie, though compounded,
And by the breath of Sycophants appli'd,
Cure not the least fit of an ague in vs.
Wee may giue poore men riches; confer honors
On vndeseruers; raise, or ruine such
As are beneath vs, and with this puff'd vp,
Ambition would perswade vs to forget
That wee are men: but hee that sits aboue vs,
And to whom, at our vtmost rate, wee are
But pageant properties, derides our weakenesse.
In mee to whom you kneele, 'tis most apparent.
Can I call backe yesterday, with all their aides
That bow vnto my scepter? or restore
My minde to that tranquillitie, and peace
It then inioy'd? can it make Eudoxia chaste?
Or vile Paulinus honest?

Pul.
If I might
Without offence, deliuer my opinion,

Theod.
What would you say?

Pul.
That on my soule the Empresse
Is innocent.

Chrys.
The good Paulinus guiltlesse.

Grat.
And this should yeeld you comfort.

Theod.
In being guiltie
Of an offence far, far transcending that
They stand condemn'd for. Call you this a comfort?
Suppose it could bee true? a corrasiue rather,
Not to eate out dead flesh, but putrifie
What yet is sown'd. was murther euer held
A cure for iealousie? or the crying blood
Of innocence, a balme to take away
Her festring anguish? as you doe desire
I should not doe a iustice on my selfe,
Adde to the proofes by which Paulinus fell,
And not take from 'em, in your charitie
Sooner beleeue that they were false, then I
Vnrighteous in my iudgement? subiects liues
Are not their Princes tennisballs to bee banded
In sport away, all that I can indure
For them, if they were guilty, is an atome
To the mountaine of affliction, I pull'd on mee,
Should they proue innocent.

Chrys.
For your Maiesties peace
I more then hope they were not; the false oth
Tooke by the Empresse, and for which shee can
Plead no excuse, conuicted her, and yeelds
A sure defence for your suspition of her.
And yet to be resolu'd, since strong doubts are
More grieuous for the most part, then to know
A certaine losse.

Theod.
'Tis true Chrysapius,
Were there a possible meanes.

Chrys.
'Tis offer'd to you,
If you please to embrace it. Some few minutes
Make truce with passion, and but read, and follow
What's there proiected, you shall finde a key,
Will make your entrance easie to discouer
Her secret thoughts, and then, as in your wisdome
You shall thinke fit, you may determine of her,
And rest confirm'd, whether Paulinus died
A villaine or a Martyr.

Theod.
It may doe,
Nay sure it must, yet howsoeuer it fall,
I am most wretched which way in my wishes,
I should fashion the euent, I am so distracted
I cannot yet resolue of follow mee;
Though in my name, all names are comprehended,
I must haue witnesses, in what degree
I haue done wrong, or suffer'd,

Pulch.
Hope the best Sir.

Exeunt.

Scæna 3.

A sad song. Athenais in sackecloth. Her loose haire.
Athen.

Enter Theodosius, like a frier, with Chrysapius.
Theod.
Noble Sir forbeare,
The place, the sacred office that I come for,
Commandes all priuacie. My penitent daughter,
Bee carefull, as you wish remission from mee,
That in confession of your sinnes, you hide not
One crime, whose ponderous waight, when you would make
Your flights aboue the firmament, that may sincke you:
A foolish modestie in concealing ought
Is now far worse then impudence to professe,
And iustifie your guilte, bee therefore free
So may the gates of mercie open to you.

Athenais.
First then, I aske a pardon, for my being
Ingratefull to heau'ns bountie.

Theod.
A good entrance.

Ath.
Greatenesse comes from aboue, and I rais'd to it
From a low condition, sinfully forgot
From whence it came, and looking on my selfe
In the false glasse of flatterie, I receiu'd it
As a debt due to my beautie, not a gift
Or fauour from the Emperour.

Theod.
'Twas not well.

Ath.
Pride wayted on vnthankfulnesse, and no more
Remembring the compassion of the Princesse,
And the meanes shee vs'd to make mee what I was,
Contested with her, and with sore eyes seing
Her greater light, as it dimm'd mine, I practis'd
To haue it quite put out.

Theod.
A greate offence,
But on repentance not vnpardonable.
Forward.

Athenais.
O Father, what I now must vtter,
I feare in the deliuerie will destroy mee,
Before you haue absolu'd mee.

Theod.
Heau'n is gratious.
Out with it.

Athenais.
Heau'n commands vs to tell truth.
Yet I most sinfull wretch, forswore my selfe.

Theod.
On what occasion?

Ath.
Quite forgetting that
An innocent truth can neuer stand in need
Of a guiltie lye, being on the suddaine ask'd
By the Emperour my husband, for an Apple
Presented by him, I swore I had eaten it,
When my grieu'd conscience too well knowes, I sent it
To comfort sicke Paulinus, being a man,
I truely lou'd and fauour'd.

Theod.
A cold sweate,
Like the iuice of Hemlocke bathes mee.

aside.
Ath.
And from this
A furious iealousie getting possession
Of the good Emperours heart, in his rage hee doom'd
The innocent Lord to dye, my periurie
The fatall cause of murther.

Theod.
Take heed daughter,
You niggle not with your conscience, and religion,
In stiling him an innocent from your feare,
And shame to accuse your selfe. The Emperour
Had many spies vpon you, saw such graces,
Which vertue could not warrant, showr'd vpon him;
Glances in publick, and more liberall fauours
In your priuate chamber meetings, making way
For foule adulterie; nor could hee bee
But sensible of the compact pass'd betweene you,
To the ruine of his honor.

Ath.
Heare mee Father,
I look'd for comfort, but in this you come
To adde to my afflictions.

Theod.
Cause not you
Your owne damnation, in concealing that
Which may in your discouerie finde forgiuenesse.
Open your eyes, set heauen, or hell before you.
In the reuealing of the truth, you shall
Prepare a palace for your soule to dwell in,
Stor'd with celestiall blessings; whereas if
You palliate your crime, and dare beyond
Playing with lightning, in concealing it,
Expect a dreadfull dungeon, fill'd with horror,
And neuer-ending torments.

Ath.
May they fall
Eternally vpon mee, and increase,
When that which wee call time hath lost its name;
May lightning cleaue the centre of the earth,
And I sinke quicke, before you haue absolu'd mee,
Into the bottomlesse Abysse, I feuer
In one vnchaste desire, nay in a thought
I wrong'd the honor of the Emperours bed.
I doe deserue, I grant, more then I suffer
In that my feruor, and desire to please him,
In my holy meditations press'd vpon me,
And would not bee kept out, now to dissemble
(When I shall suddainely bee insensible,
Of what the world speaks of mee) were meere madnesse:
And though you are incredulous, I presume,
If as I kneele now, my eyes swolne with teares,
My hands heaud vp thus, my stretch'd heartstrings ready
To breake a sunder, my incensed Lord
(His storme of iealousie blowne ore) should heare mee,
Hee would beleeue I lied not.

Theod.
Rise, and see him,
discouers himselfe.
On his knees with ioy affirme it.

Ath.
Can this bee?

Theod.
My sisters, and the rest there, all beare witnesse.
Enter Pulcheria, Arcadia. Flaccilla. Chrysapius. Gratianus. Timantus.
In freeing this incomparable Lady
From the suspition of guilt, I doe
Accuse my selfe, and willingly submit
To any penance, shee in iustice shall
Please to impose vpon mee.

Ath.
Royall Sir, your ill opinion of mee's soone forgiuen.

Pul.
But how you can make satisfaction to
The poore Paulinus, hee being dead, in reason
You must conclude impossible.

Theod.
And in that
I am most miserable; the Ocean
Of ioy, which in your innocence flow'd high to mee,
Ebb's in the thought of my vniust command,
By which hee died. O Philanax (as thy name
Interpreted speakes thee) thou hast euer bene
A louer of the King, and thy whole life
Can witnesse thy obedience to my will,
In putting that in execution, which
Was trusted to thee, say but yet this once
Thou hast not done what rashly I commanded,
And that Paulinus liues, and thy reward
For not performing that which I inioin'd thee,
Shall centuple what euer yet thy dutie,
Or merit challeng'd from mee.

Phil.
'Tis too late Sir.
Hee's dead, and when you know hee was vnable
To wrong you, in the way that you suspected,
You'll wish it had bene otherwise.

Theod.
Vnable?

Phil.
I am sure hee was an Eunuch, and might safely
Lye by a Virgins side, at foure yeares made one,
Though to hold grace with Ladies hee conceald it.
The circumstances, and the manner how
You may heare at better leasure.

Theod.
How! an Eunuch?
The more the proofes are, that are brought to cleare thee,
My best Eudoxia, the more my sorrowes.

Athen.
That I am innocent?

Theod.
That I am guiltie
Of murther, my Eudoxia. I will build
A glorious monument to his memorie,
And for my punishment liue, and dye vpon it,
And neuer more conuerse with men.

Enter Paulinus.
Paulin.
Liue long Sir,
May I doe so to serue you, and if that
I liue does not displease you, you owe for it
To this good Lord.

Theod.
My selfe, and all that's mine.

Philan.
Your pardon is a payment.

Theod.
I am rap'd
With ioy beyond my selfe. Now my Eudoxia
My iealousie puff'd away thus, in this breath
I scent the naturall sweetenesse.

Kisses her.
Arcad.
Sacred Sir,
I am happy to behold this, and presume,
Now you are pleas'd, to moue a sute, in which
My sister is ioyn'd with mee.

Theod.
Prethee speake it,
For I haue vow'd to heare before I grant,
I thanke your good instructions.

Arc.
'Tis but this Sir,
Wee haue obseru'd the falling out, and in,
Betweene the husband and the wife showes rarely,
Their iarres, and reconcilements strangely take vs.

Flac.
Anger and iealousie that conclude in kisses
Is a sweete war in sooth.

Arc.
Wee therefore, brother
Most humbly beg you would prouide vs husbands
That wee may tast the pleasure of't.

Flac.
And with speede Sir,
For so your fauour's doubl'd.

Theod.
Take my word,
I will with all conuenience; and not blush
Heereafter to bee guided by your counsailes.
I will deserue your pardon. Philanax
Shall bee remembred, and magnificent bounties
Fall on Chrysapius. My grace on all.
Let Cleon bee deliuer'd and rewarded,
My grace on all, which as I len'd to you,
Returne your vowes to heauen, that it may please
(As it is gratious) to quench in mee
All future sparkes of burning iealousie.