University of Virginia Library

Scene. 1st.

Constantine sleeping in a Pavillion, Silvester standing at distance, two Angels descend with Banners in their hands.
This Motto, In hoc signo vince, Writ in Gold.
3. Ang.
speaks.
Awake, and ponder the Celestial Song;
Thy vow'd Conversion is delay'd too long.
Awake; remember the Celestial Doom,
That threatned Torments, and a Cross to come.
Yet after all the Menaces of Fate,
Be wash'd: And Calms shall on those Tempests wait,
For true Repentance never comes too late.

Angels ascend.
Constantine, awakes.
Const.
Stay! I adjure you, by the Holy Name,
That bows your Airy Heads; I charge you stay:
They're gone: Those Beauteous Legates of the Skies;
And left me puzling here to die in doubt,
Unless Silvester guide me with a Clew,
Through the dark Mazes of this folding Dream.

Silv.
To purge your past Crimes, there's a Torment to come.
Ay, there the Torment too repeated thrice.

Const.
But say, what Torment?

Silv.
A dangerous Torment, govern'd by ill Stars:
Which were I Emperour should be soon prevented.

Const.
By Heaven it shall by me.

Silv.
You must not Swear,
Lest you shou'd be forsworn.

Const.
If Heaven require
My Life as an Atonement for my Sins:
Lead to the Altar, Saint, and I will bleed.

Silv.
I dare believe you would: But this is more.

Const.
More then my Life: Why, then 'tis Reputation.
But I have learnt in Christian Schools to lay
My Honour down. And own my self a Worm.
To wash the Pilgrims Feet, to bid the Saints
Tread on this Earth: This trash, this heap of Sin.

Silv.
But there's a Bosom Foe to Conquer yet,
And there's my fear.

Const.
Your fear, my Saint, after what I have said?

Silv.
My fear, my Emperour, though you had sworn;

Const.
Had I a Race of Sons like Crispus dear,
Hope of my vows, my Souldier and my Love
Early Renown'd, and Pious from the Womb:
Yet were my Bowels Foes to that Religion,
Whose Infant growth I water'd with my Blood,
I Swear by Heav'n, they should be mine no more.

Silv.
Your Son's the Angels care, and when he dies,
The foremost of the Quire shall meet him with a Crown.
But have you not a Wife?

Const.
You know I had
A dear one, and by much my better part.

Silv.
But have you not another?

Const.
When she dy'd,
All Beauty fled with her.

Silv.
This Beauty lives:
Can you deny a Truth?

Const.
Silvester, why?
Why dost thou press me thus, to my Confusion?

Silv.
Because this Beauty, Sir, may bring confusion.

Const.
Large as an Angels knowledg, be your own,
And at one View, receive whole Nature in,
Yet if you tax my Choice, with least dishonour,
I must declare you wrong her.

Silv.
Then you are at least contracted to Maximinus Daughter
A Heathen born?

Const.
But bred a Cherubin,
She has all the Beauties, of her Sex below;
And equal Virtues, with the blest above.

Silv.
Dares Constantine, the Christian so Renownd,
Say this to me?

Const.
Dares any Saint deny't?

Silv.
That Fausta is not Guilty!

Const.
Ha! of what?

Silv.
Of all the ills, that shall attend your Life.
Of all—

Const.
Hold, hold—lest I fall out with Heaven.

Silv.
Of all the Blots, that shall in after times
Stain your white Character, and blast your Fame:
While weeping Readers shall lament your Story.
Therefore away with her.

Const.
First, let me die.
Penurious Heaven; and Oh! thou Niggard Saint,
Did I not Offer you my Darling Son,
With all my Race, as Victims to your Shrines
If they were Guilty in a point of Faith,
To wash their Heresies with Royal Blood?
And do you grudge me one, but one poor Pleasure,
For all the Pains of my Unwearied Wars?
Then take my Life, take Empire, Glory, all,
Take all I offer'd this Ungrateful Priest,
Who in requital, will allow me nothing.

Silv.
Forgive me Heaven! my too officious Care,
For interposing, in thy dark Decrees:
In Christian patience, he is yet but young.
Chastise him now: And make the Tryal strong.

Const.
What have I said, that I am past forgiveness?
Your Silence argues me undone for ever:
Yet think me not, so lost in desperate Love,
But while offending I can kneel for Pardon.

Silv.
What I have offer'd to your Choice,
Was not Commission'd me to say from Heaven;
Therefore the pardon must be mutual.
All I have urg'd was but a thoughtful boding:
No more of that; be happy in your Love.

Const.
Oh! you have Charm'd me into Life agen;
And fear not but she shall become a Christian;
I must confess, that yet she is a Heathen,
As such I Lov'd Her, in Her Fathers Court,
Where first we Plighted vows in Arius hands
But the dark Contract was so close Contriv'd,
I wonder how you reach'd the Truth so soon:
But Heaven reveal'd it, or you cou'd not know it;
Since I may swear, She is not yet enjoy'd.

Silv.
By you!

Const.
By me? Your answer's short and home:
Who shou'd possess her else?

Silv.
Young and a Heathen?
Left in the Sensual Maximians Court?

Const.
No, Sir; She's Guarded, and secure at Rome;
Crispus, not yet acquainted with our Contract,
Is sent in show, for I had other purpose,
To make his Judgment of my Fausta's Person,
Whether to be preserv'd, or like Her Father,
To hinder Insurrections, be destroy'd,
But hark! What March is this? Perhaps 'tis he!
And these his Trumpets, with the Legions Rais'd.

Trumpets without.
Enter Arius, and Eubolus.
Both.
Long live the Emperour.

Const.
Is Crispus come,
With those Auxiliar Legions we requir'd;
And Money sent to pay the last Arrears?

Ari.
Nothing obey'd: When first your Orders came,
Which by your Brother were in the Forum Read;
I never saw so sudden a Revolt.
At once they Cry'd, our Liberty's betray'd,
Our Courts of Justice Rob'd; Old Rights Infring'd;
Our Gods must down, our Shrines and Temples burn:
And all for a phantastick, Old Wives Tale;
A Cross they Cry'd, one of Silvesters Lies:
Which never yet was seen by waking Eyes;
But either feign'd, or Dreamt of in the Skies.

Const.
Is this their Answer to my strict Commands?

Ari.
Crispus by this return'd, to join your Brother;
When straight some Devil whisper'd in their Ears,
Your Son already had begun the Change,
The Statue of Apollo was pull'd down,
To make his Fathers Place: Whereon they cry'd
Your Image should be Burnt, and with a breath
The Cockle, and the Corn, bow'd all that way.

Eub.
But were reversed by a more Powerful Gale,
Your Brother and your Son, appear'd like Gods,
And stopt the Madmen in their full Career.

Ari.
At close of day, in Dark Cabals they met,
And in the Morning gave their Final Answer;
Lycinius, who that Night was brought a Captive,
To grace the Triumph of your first appearance,
Was first propos'd, to share th' Imperial Power:
Next they demand a general Persecution
Of all the Christians, and Silvesters head.

Const.
Tell 'em their City shall be Ashes first,
Have I for this, with hazard of my Life,
So oft Redeem'd em' from their Tyrants Racks,
When all their Streets, were but one Hideous Grave;
There Wives, and Daughters Ravisht in their View?
When Age was drain'd of its last Ebbing drop,
When Babes were snatch'd their Earliest breath to give,
And dy'd ere knowing what it was to live.
Trumpets—Enter Dalmatius.
More Treason—Arius, or do the Slaves Repent?
My Brother here. Still to my Arms, and heart,
Thou Nerve of all my Wars: How fares my Friend,
And my beloved?

Dalm.
Crispus, our care is well.
And the late Tempest which must reach your Ear,
By Skilful Pilots, Rockt into a Calm;
Believe me Sir, your presence gains the Cause.
Therefore upon the Instant march to Rome;
Vanquisht Licinius waits to Grace your Triumph.
Bless me! Is't possible? Arius with you Sir?
Arius the Traitor?

Const.
Have you found him so?

Dalm.
The Subtlest Snake, the softest Civil Villain
That ever warm'd himself in Princes—Bosom;
Diseases, Blasts, Plagues, Death and Hell are in him:
What e're his outside seems: This shameless Traitor
Was the foul Spring of all these poison'd Waters,
That late had like to overflow the Empire;
Yet while his Emissaries Fired the People;
This Judas on my side, appear'd an Angell:
For after the first Mutiny was quel'd;
Though he had Sworn to Justifie your Cause,
He warn'd the Slaves, I have his hand to show,
Next day to make those Impudent demands.

Ari.
Plots on my Innocence; as I am a Christian,
If ere I set my hand to such a Treason,
May these rot off, which thus I hold to Heaven:
As I am of Priestly Order.

Dalm.
A Devil Ordain'd—
Sir, if I do not prove him.

Const.
I believe you,
I know him Heretick, a Seditious Traitor,
But yet have Reasons to defer his Ruin,
Therefore no more at present. Arius hence;
And let me hear no further of these Mischiefs.
I have pardon'd you; be gone, you Eubulus, and tell the Rebels,
I come Embattel'd now for my Revenge;
My Standard, and my Banners, bear the Cross
Tell 'em Lycinius, whom once before
I took to Grace, and Marry'd to my Sister,
Their new Petition'd Cæsar soon shall bleed.

Silv.
Forgive your Enemies.

Const.
But not my Friends:
Lycinius was my Friend, and has betray'd me;
Therefore I'le Execute him in their View.
Away and warn him, for the Doom that's given.
Ex. Arius, Eubulus.
'Tis not by halfs, that we will worship Heaven:
No; my Dalmatius, I have made a vow,
The Romans, or their Emperour shall bow.
They're Subjects, and 'tis fit: Nay, bow they shall:
Or Cæsar in th' attempt, their Victim fall;
Bow to the Man, whom Heaven Ordain'd for Sway,
And in his great Vicegerent learn their Maker to Obey—

Exeunt.