University of Virginia Library

THE SECOND ACT.

PETER.
You Of-spring of bloud-thirsty Romulus,
Foes to sweet Peace, to our great God, and us,
And you prophaner Sacrificers, who
VVith subtil mischiefe guiltlesse bloud pursue;
Since you would not refuse to binde the hands
Of Innocence, on me impose your bands:
Seize on the guilty; he who hath refus'd
His Lord and Master, by himselfe accus'd.
The ills yet suffer'd, I deserve to beare
For looking on; what follows, for my feare.
You need no torches to subdue the Night's
Dark Shades to finde me; no sterne Satellites
Drawn from the Temple, nor with Romanes joyne
To act one Sin; nor spend your sacred Coine
In salary to such a Guide as may
VVith a perfidious kisse his Lord betray.
This Head I give you freely; hither hast:
No sudden hurl-windes shall your bodies cast
On trembling Earth. Behold; I with my hands
Behinde me bound, implore your dire Commands;
And run to meet your stripes. Are you now prone
To melting pitty? will you punish none
But with injustice? is your fury slow,
Vnlesse to those who no offences know?
We both alike have impiously transgrest:
You in not punishing a fault confest;
And I who have the living Lord deni'd.
Just Judges, of a life so sanctifi'd
To whom suborned Witnesses have sold
Their damned perjuries, a Wretch behold,
And heare his Crime: My Countrey Galile,
To follow Christ I left both Land and Sea:
Son to the Thunderer, his onely Heire;
From Heaven sent by his Father to repaire
And rule th'affairs of Mortals. This is He,
Whom you have bound, who must his Countrey free.
Rebellious Vassals, you have doom'd your King.
I know the impious Race from whence you spring,
Your savage manners, cruel Ancestors,
Whom Nature, as her greatest curse, abhors.
Such, when the trembling Boy his brethrens hands,
Their truculent aspects, and servill bands
Beheld; though privy to a better fate,
Whose providence was to reward their hate:
Soon after, cal'd to Niles seven chanel'd Flood,
He famin from both Lands expel'd with food.
So your seditious Fathers mutined
At Sina's rocks against their sacred Head:
And there the food of Angels loth'd, which fell
From Heaven in showres: besotted Israel
Ægypt and Servitude prefer'd above
The Tents of Moses, and their Countries love.
What numbers, with prophetick Raptures fill'd,
Have you, and yet not unrevenged, kill'd.
Memphis, devouring Deserts, Civill wars,
Oft forreign Yokes, Assyrian Conquerars,
Great Pompeys Eagles, sacred Rites profan'd,
Your Temple sackt, with slaughtered Levites stain'd;
Are all forgot? Yet worse attend your Hate.
O that I were the Minister of Fate!
I then would teare your guilty buildings down,
And in a crimson Sea their ruines drown.
Witnesse you Groves, late conscious of our cares,
Where Christ with tears pour'd forth his funeral praiers,
How I revenge pursu'd; and with their bloud
Would have augmented Cedrons murmuring Floud:
But he, for whom I struck, reproov'd the blow;
And following his own Precept, cur'd his foe.
For, Malchus, rushing on in front of all,
Perceiving part of his, with-out him, fall,
Searcht with his flaming brand: the bleeding eare
Seene on the earth, revenge subdu'd his feare;
Who lowdly roaring shook his threatned bands,
And streight incountred those all healing hands.
They to his Head that Ornament restor'd,
And benefits for injuries affor'd.
But O blinde Mischief! I, who gave the Wound,
Am left at large; and he, who heal'd it, bound.
O Peter, canst thou yet forbeare to throw
Thy body on the weapons of the Foe!
If thou would'st vindicate thy Lord, begin
First with thy selfe, and punish thy own Sin.
Thou that dar'st menace armies, thou that art
Fierce, as a Midian Tyger, of a heart
Invincible, nor knows what 'tis to dread;
VVith Fortune, at the first incounter, fled.
A Fugitive, a Rebel; one that hath
All crimes committed in this breach of faith.
VVho towring hopes on his own strength erects,
Nor the selfe-flattering Mindes deceit suspects,
But his vaine Vertue trust; let him in me
The sad example of his frailty see:
From slippery heights how pronely Mortals slide;
Their heady errors punishing their pride.
VVhat can I adde to these misdeeds of mine!
VVho have defil'd the water, bread, and wine,
VVith my abhor'd defection! O, could I
Those lips pollute with wilfull perjury,
But newly feasted with that sacred food,
Presenting his torne flesh, and powr'd-out blood!
O Piety! for this, thou Renegate,
Did Jesus wash thy flying feet of late!
Not Jordan with two Heads, whose waters roule
From snow-top Libanus, can cleanse thy Soule:
Not thou Callirhoë; nor that ample Lake,
From whose forsaken shore my birth I take.
Could'st thou blue Nereus, in whose troubled Deep
Niles seven large Mouthes their foming currents steep?
Or that red Sea, whose waves in Rampires stood
While our Fore-fathers past the parted Flood?
These purging streames from thy own Springs must flow.
Repentance, why are thy complaints so slow!
Raise stormes of sighes; let teares in torrents fall,
And on thy blushing cheekes deep furrows gall.
O so! run freely: beat thy stubborn breast:
Here spend thy rage; these blowes become thee best.
This, wretched Cephas, for thy crimes I owe:
What can I for my injur'd Lord bestow!
My deeds and sufferings disproportion'd are;
Nor must they in an equall sorrow share.
Should this Night ever last, to propagate
Increasing sorrowes, till subdu'd by Fate,
My penitent Soule this wasted flesh forsake;
Yet can my guilt no reparation make.
Swoln eyes, now weep you? then you should have wept
Besprinkled my devotion, and have kept
That holy Watch, when interdicted Sleep
Your drowsie lids did in his Lethe steep.
You should have dropt my brains into a Flood,
Before he at that dire Tribunall stood:
Ere thrice abjur'd, on me his looks he threw;
Or ere th'accusing Bird of Dawning crew.
Where shall I hide me! in what Dungeon may
My troubled Soul avoid the wofull Day!
Fly quickly to some melancholy Cave,
In whose dark entrails thou maist finde a grave
To bury thee alive: there waste thy yeares
In chearisht Sorrow, and unwitnest Tears.

PONTIVS PILAT. CAIAPHAS.
[PILAT.]
Tarpæan Jove; Mars, great Quirinus Sire;
You Houshold gods, snatcht from Troys funerall Fire,
With greater Zeal ador'd; when shall I pay
My Vows! my Offerings on your Altars lay!
And see those Roofs which top the Clouds! the Beams
With burnisht gold inchac'd, and blazing Gems.
Those Theaters; which ring with their applause
Who on the conquered World impose their Lawes!
And thee, the triple Earths imperious Guide,
Great-Soul'd Tiberius! whether thou reside
On Tibers banks, ador'd by gratefull Rome;
Ambitious of his residence, for whom
She gave the World; or Capræ, much renown'd
For soft delights, impoverish the Long-gown'd!
Farre from my friends, farre from my native Soyl
I here in honourable Exile toyl,
To curb a People whom the Gods disclaim:
Who cover under the unsurped Name
Of Piety, their hate to all Man-kinde;
Condemne the world; in their own vices blinde:
And with false grounded fear abjure for One,
All those Immortalls which the Heavens inthrone.
Their onely Law is to renounce all Laws:
Their Error, which from others hatred draws,
Fomenting their own discord, still provokes
Their Spirits to Rebellion, who their yokes
Have oft attempted to shake-off; though they
More eas'ly are subdu'd, then taught to obey.
Cleare Justice, sincere Faith, bear witnesse you
With how much grief our swords the Hebrews slew:
But such as stubborn and inhumane are,
Vnlesse they suffer, would inforce a War:
And Reason urgeth those who Scepters bear,
Against their Nature, oft to prove severe.
I go to question what these Prelates would:
Since they forbear to enter, lest they should
(Their Feast so neare) with my unhallowed Floore
Their feet pollute. Who's this, by such a power
In shackles led! How reverend his aspect!
How full of awe! these Looks no guilt detect.
Thou, Caiaphas, of Solyma the Prime,
And Prince of Priests, relate th'imputed Crime.

CAIAPHAS.
Great Guardian of the Romane Peace, whom we
Next Cæsar honour; to be doom'd by thee
Our Senate brings th'Infection of these Times:
Whom we accuse of no suggested crimes.
Those holy Rites which grave Antiquity
First introduced, since defended by
A long descent, this Innovator sought
To abolish, and a new Religion taught.
Nor fearing the Recesse of Gods own Seat,
The Temples ruine sings, and Roof repleat
With the full Deitie: disturbs the Feast
Of the seventh Day, design'd for sacred Rest.
Those lawes rejects which Moses pen reveal'd,
Even those by God with dreadfull thunder seal'd.
Nor so content; with Heaven his furie warres,
Aspires that Throne, and tramples on the Starres.
Who stiles himself, though of ignoble birth,
His onely sonne, who made both Heaven and Earth.
This, Death must expiate; he hath judg'd his Cause,
Who writ in leaves of Marble our ten Lawes.

PILAT.
When Wrath, the Nurse of War, and thirst of gold
Destructive Arts produc'd; the better Soul'd
No peace nor safety found, inforc't to bear:
Life, of it self infirme, through common fear
Into Societies the scattered drew,
Who by united forces potent grew:
Intrenched Cities with high walls immur'd;
But more by well-digested Lawes secur'd:
The Crime and Punishment proportion kept;
And Wrongs, like Wolves, on their first Authors leapt:
Justice from each Offence example took;
And his own weapon the Delinquent strook:
Spoil seaz'd on Rapine, Bloud drew bloud; deter'd
From doing that, which they to suffer fear'd.
But more then humane plagues attend on those
Who God provoke: he prosecutes his foes
With sure revenge. Why should those Hands which tear
The clouds with thunder, shake the World with fear;
Their wrath to Man resigne? The impious finde
Their scourge: the terror of th'astonish'd Minde
Affrights their peace: who feel what they deny;
And fear an unbeleeved Deity.
One Day no period to his torment gives:
To tremble at the Name of Death he lives;
Still apprehending what then death is worse;
Long life awarded to prolong his curse.
But if he have your laws infring'd, be you
Your selves the judges, and his guilt pursue.

CAIAPHAS.
Although those ancient Laws, which now remain
Among us, we acknowledge to retain
From Romes free bounty; yet to you 'tis knowne,
Our curbed Power can death inflict on none.
You, to whom Cæsars Fortunes recommend
His Rods and Axes, sacred Rule defend.
This guilty Wretch, whose practises we feare,
Of late his place of birth forsaking, where
The Sea is honour'd with Tiberius Name,
With troopes of Clients to this City came.
Who seeds of War among the Vulgar sowes:
With what injustice Romane Armes impose
Their Tribute on a Nation ever free.
With magick Charmes, and Stygian compact, he
Attracts beliefe: denies the dead their rest,
Of those un-envi'd Mansions dispossest
By wicked Spels. These prodigies delude
The novelty-affecting Multitude:
Whom for their Lord their loud Hosannas greet;
And strew the noble Palme beneath his feet.
Imboldned by these Arts; He, as his own
By birth, aspires to Davids ancient Throne.
When Rome, provok'd by his rebellion, shall
Arme her just Griefe; we by the sword must fall,
Our City sinke in flames, our Countrey lye
Depopulated. But since One must dye
To save the Generall; sentenc'd by thy breath,
Let him redeeme his Nation with his death.

PILAT.
Such doubtfull causes grave advice require:
Here, if you please, attend; while I retire.
The Pris'ner to the Souldiers care commit:
On whom this day we will in judgement sit.

CHORVS OF JEWISH WOMEN.
You lofty towers of Solyma,
Thou ancient Throne of Soveraign sway:
To thee the conquered Tribute pay'd,
From th'Isthmos, crown'd with Ebon shade,
To great Euphrates trembling Streames:
Arabians, scorch'd by Phœbus beames.
Th'admiring Queen, wing'd with thy Fame,
From her black-peopled Empire came.
Great Kings, ambitious of thy love,
To joyne with thee in friendship strove.
Those who Canopus Scepter bore;
Those Monarchs who the Sun adore,
And o're the wealthy Orient reigne:
Sarrana, Soveraigne of the Main.
Now, ah! a miserable Thrall!
O, nothing, but a prey to all!
This Land, t'one God once chastly wed,
How often hath she chang'd her Head,
Since they our Temples ruin'd pride
With bad presage reedifi'd!
Since those, in forrein bondage born,
Did with their servile Fates return!
On us Antiochus guilt reflects:
Our Fathers Sinnes sit on our necks.
What durst that wicked Age not do,
Which could those Altars naked view,
Oft flaming with celestiall Fire!
Provoking Heavens deserved ire
With their adult'rat Sacrifice!
For this did Ours so highly prize
Th'Ionian Gods, by mortals made,
And incense to those Idols pay'd?
Since when th'Accurst their brothers slew;
Wives, lesse malitious poyson brew;
Sons fall by Mothers: we have known
That, which will be beleev'd by none.
Twice vanquished by Romane Armes;
Twice have their Conquerours our harmes
Remov'd for greater: Fortunes change
To our proud Masters prov'd as strange.
Yet this no lesse our grief provokes,
Our kindred beare divided yokes:
One part by Romane bondage wrung;
The other two by Brothers, sprung
From Savage Idumæans, whom
Our Fathers have so oft ore-come.
O thou the Hope, the onely One
Of our distresse, and ruin'd Throne;
Of whom, with a prophetick tongue,
To Judah dying Jacob sung:
The crowned Muse on ivory Lyre,
His breast inflam'd with holy Fire,
This oft fore-told; That thou shouldst free
The People consecrate to thee;
That thou, triumphing, shouldst revoke
Sweet Peace, then never to be broke;
When free'd Judæa should obey
One Lord, and all affect his Sway.
O when shall we behold thy Face,
So often promis'd to our Race!
If Prophets, who have won belief
By our mishaps and flowing grief,
Of joyfull change as truely sung;
Thy absence should not now belong.
Thee, by thy Vertue, we intreat;
The Temples Vaile, the Mercies Seat;
That Name, by which our Fathers sware,
Which in our vulgar Speech we dare
Not utter, to compassionate
Thy Kindreds Teares, and ruin'd State.
Hast, to our great Redemption, hast,
O thou most Holy! and at last
Blesse with thy Presence; that we may
To thee our Vowes devoutly pay.