 | The Prophetesse |  |
Scæna quarta.
Enter Cosroe, Cassana, Persians; and Charinus, Maximinian, Aurelia (bound) with Souldiers.Cos.
Now by the Persian gods, most truly welcom,
encompass'd thus with tributary kings,
I entertain you. Lend your helping hands
to seat her by me: and thus rais'd, bow all,
to do her honour: O, my best Cassana,
Sister, and partner of my life and Empire,
wee'll teach thee to forget with present pleasures
thy late captivitie: and this proud Roman,
that us'd thee as a slave, and did disdain
a Princely Ransom, shall (if she repine)
be forc'd by various Tortures, to adore
what she of late contemn'd.
Cas.
All greatnesse ever
attend Cosroe: though Persia be stil'd
the nurse of pomp and pride; wee'll leave to Rome
her native crueltie. For know Aurelia,
a Roman Princesse, and a Cesars Sister,
though now, like thee captiv'd, I can forget.
thy barbarous usage: and though thou to me
(when I was in thy power) didst shew thy self
a most insulting Tyrannesse, I to thee
may prove a gentle Mistris.
Aur.
O my Stars,
a Mistris? can I love and owe that name
to flesh and bloud? I was borne to command,
train'd up in Soveraigntie; and I, in death
can quit the name of slave: She that scorns life,
may mock captivitie.
Char.
Rome will be Rome
when we are nothing: and her powr's the same
which you once quak'd at.
Max.
Dioclesian lives;
hear it, and tremble: Lives (thou King of Persia)
the Master of his fortune, and his honour:
and though by divelish Arts wee were surpriz'd,
and made the prey of Magick and of Theft,
and not won nobly, we shall be redeem'd,
and by a Roman war; and every wrong
we suffer here, with interest, be return'd
on the insulting doer.
1 Per.
Sure these Romanes
are more then men.
2 Per.
Their great hearts will not yeeld,
they cannot bend to any adverse Fate,
such is their confidence.
Cosr.
They then shall break.
Why, you rebellious wretches, dare you still
contend, when the least breath, or nod of mine
marks you out for the fire? or to be made
the prey of wolfs or vultures? The vain name
of Roman Legions, I slight thus, and scorn:
and for that boasted bug-bear, Dioclesian
(which you presume on) would he were the Master
but of the spirit, to meet me in the field,
hee soon should find, that our immortall Squadrons,
that with full numbers ever are supyli'd,
(could it be possible they should decay)
dare front his boldest Troops, and scatter 'em,
as an high towring Falcon on her Stretches,
severs the fearfull fowl. And by the Sun,
the Moon, the Winds, the nourishers of life,
and by this Sword, the instrument of death,
since that you fly not humbly to our Mercy,
but yet dare hope your libertie by force;
if Dioclesian dare not attempt
to free you with his sword, all slavery
that crueltie can find out to make you wretched,
falls heavie on you.
Max.
If the Sun keeps his course,
and the earth can bear his souldiers march, I fear not.
Aur.
Or libertie, or revenge.
Char.
On that I build too.
A Trumpet.
Aur.
A Roman Trumpet!
Max.
'Tis: Comes it not like
a pardon to a man condemn'd?
Cosr.
Admit him.
Enter Niger.
The purpose of thy coming?
Nig.
My great Master,
the Lord of Rome, (in that all Power is spoken)
hoping that thou wilt prove a noble Enemie,
and (in thy bold resistance) worth his conquest,
defies thee, Cosroe.
Max.
There is fire in this.
Nig.
And to encourage thy laborious powers
to tug for Empire, dares thee to the Field,
with this assurance, If thy sword can win him,
or force his Legions with thy barbed horse,
but to forsake their ground, that not alone
wing'd Victory shall take stand on thy Tent,
but all the Provinces, and Kingdomes held
by the Roman Garrisons in this Eastern world,
shall be delivered up, and hee himself
acknowledge thee his Soveraign. In return
of this large offer, he asks onely this,
That till the doubtfull Dye of War determine
who has most power, and should command the other,
thou wouldst intreat thy Prisoners like their births,
and not their present Fortune: and to bring 'em
(guarded) into thy Tent, with thy best Strengths,
thy ablest men of war, and thou thy self
sworn to make good the place. And if he fail
(maugre all opposition can be made)
in his own person to compell his way,
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and hee (like these) thy prisoner.
Cosr.
Though I receive this
but as a Roman brave, I doe imbrace it,
and love the sender. Tell him, I will bring
my Prisoners to the field, and without ods,
against his single force, alone defend 'em;
or else with equall numbers. Courage, noble Princes,
and let Posteritie record, that we
this memorable day restor'd to Persia,
that Empire of the world, great Philips son
ravish'd from us, and Greece gave up to Rome.
This our strong comfort, that we cannot fall
ingloriously, since we contend for all.
Exeunt.
Flourish, Alarms.
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