University of Virginia Library

Scæn. 2.

Enter Maximus alone.
Max.
My way has taken: all the Court's in guard,
And businesse every where, and every corner
Full of strange whispers: I am least in rumour,
—Enter Aecius and Phidias.
And so Ile keep my selfe, Here comes Aecius
I see the bait is swallow'd: If he be lost
He is my Martyr, and my way stands open,
And honour on thy head, his bloud is reckond.

Aec.
Why how now friend, what make ye here unarmd:
Are ye turnd Merchant?

Max.
By your faire perswasions,
And such a Marchant trafficks without danger;
I have forgotten all Æcius,
And which is more, forgiven.

Aec.
Now I love ye,
Truly I doe, ye are a worthy Roman.

Max.
The faire repentance of my Prince to me
Is more then sacrifice of bloud and vengeance,
No eyes shall weep her ruins, but mine owne.

Aec.
Still ye take more love from me: vertuous friend
The gods make poore Æcius worthy of thee:

Max.
Only in me y'are poore Sir: and I worthy
Only in being yours:
But why your arme thus,
Have ye bin hurt Æcius?

Aec.
Bruisd a little:
My horse fell with me friend: which till this morning
I never knew him doe.

Max.
Pray gods it boade well;
And now I think on't better, ye shall back,
Let my perswasions rule ye.

Aec.
Back, why Maximus?
The Emperor commands me come.

Max.
I like not
At this time his command.

Aec.
I doe at all times,
And all times will obey it, why not now then?

Max.
Ile tell ye why, and as I have bin governd,
Be you so noble Friend: The Courts in Guard,
Armd strongly, for what purpose, let me feare;
I doe not like your going.

Aec.
Were it fire;
And that fire certain to consume this body,
If Cesar sent, I would goe; never feare man,
If he take me, he takes his armes away.
I am too plaine and true to be suspected.

Max.
Then I have dealt unwisely,

Aec.
If the Emperor,
Because he meerely may, will have my life,
That's all he has to worke on, and all shall have:
Let him, 'a loves me better: here I wither,
And happily may live, till ignorantly
I run into a fault worth death: nay more, dishonour.
Now all my sinnes, I dare say those of duty
Are printed here, and if I fall so happy,
I blesse the grave, I lye in, and the gods
Equall, as dying on the Enemy,
Must take me up a Sacrifice.

Max.
Goe on then,
And Ile goe with ye.

Æc.
No, ye may not friend.

Max.
He cannot be a friend, bars me Æcius,
Shall I forsake ye in my doubts?

Æc.
Ye must.

Max.
I must not, nor I will not; have I liv'd
Only to be a Carpet friend for pleasure?
I can endure a death as well as Cato.

Æc.
There is no death nor danger in my going,
Nor none must goe along.

Max.
I have a sword too,
And once I could have usd it for my friend.

Æc.
I need no sword, nor friend in this, pray leave me;
And as ye love me, do not overlove me;
I am commanded none shall come: At supper
Ile meet ye, and weele drink a cup or two,
Ye need good Wine, ye have bin sad: Farwell.

Max.
Farwell my noble Friend, let me embrace ye
Ere ye depart; it may be one of us
Shall never doe the like agen.

Æc.
Yes often:

Max.
Farwell good deer Æcius.

Æc.
Farwell Maximus
Till night: indeed you doubt too much.—

Exit.
Max.
I doe not:
Goe worthy innocent, and make the number
Of Cesars sinnes so great, heaven may want mercy:
Ile hover hereabout to know what passes:
And if he be so divelish to destroy thee,
In thy bloud shall begin his Tragedy.

—Exit.