University of Virginia Library

ACT. I.

SCEN. I.

Enter Sertorius and Sulpitius.
Sert.
Not speak to her, nor see her!

Sulp.
But for a few days.

Sert.
A minute is too much.

Sulp.
Be but patient.

Sert.
And tamely wait upon my Rival's triumph.

Sul.
You do mistake.

Sert.
So do you, to think a Roman Soul can be
So mean to stoop to his own Victory;
Submitting to a Princes empty Name,
And tamely yield unto a vanquish'd Fame.

Sulp.
Your Passion tells you wrong; 'tis not that Prince,
But 'tis Hersilia sends you these Commands.

Sert.
I care not whence they came, I like 'um not.

Sulp.
You throw away your fury now as wildly,
As Tempests waste their giddy violence.

Sert.
No matter, raging Storms grow loud and high
When they are most oppos'd, and so will I.

Sulp.
Am not I your Brother!

Sert.
Is not Prince Tiridates, as you call him,
Your bosom Friend?

Sulp.
You are not jealous, are you, that his Frienship
Makes me betray the trust you plac'd in me?

Sert.
You shou'd have scrupled then to bring a Brother
Such an unwelcom Message.

Sulp.
Consult a little with your prudence.

Sert.
Wisdom's too froward to let any find
Trust in himself, or pleasure in his mind;
She takes by what she gives, her help destroys;
She shakes our Courage, and disturbs our joys:
Rashness allows unto the sudden sense
All its own joys, and adds her Confidence.

Sulp.
You have not patience but to hear the Circumstance.

Sert.
Well, well, what is't? quickly then.

Sulp.
'Tis more than you deserve.

Sert.
Then keep it for your self.

Sulp.
They properly belong to you,
Since they were her commands; when she sent them
She mingled trouble with her seeming cruelty,
—Then sigh'd, and paus'd—then bid me tell you,
Her Father was so kind to Tiridates,
She cou'd no other way deny his Visits,
But by forbidding yours for some few days,
To give her self time to attempt some Friends,
To try their interest to perswade her Father
That she with freedom may be left to chuse
Where inclination guids her.

Sert.
Um'h.

Sulp.
Now Sir, is the Circumstance so trivial?

Sert.
But was this all she said?

Sulp.
Was not this enough?

Sert.
As it may prove—
You are sure Tiridates will be forbid too,—
—Are you not?—

Sulp.
As I suppose.

Sert.
I will be sure of that,—or else—

Sulp.
What need you question it? in a few hours
You will discover that you are abus'd,
If there be foul play meant on any side.

Sert.
That's true,—but—

Sulp.
Come, trouble your self no more, but strictly
Observe what she commands.
These starts are the Convulsions of weak Reason,
When fits of Passion grow too strong upon you.
We have all our haggard Passions, but none so wild
Or so unman'd as yours;—
They may be tam'd and brought from their excess,
And watch'd by Reason into gentleness.

Sert.
Without your Simile I will endeavour to endure it,
—But—

Sulp.
But what?

Sert.
I find a mutiny in all my Faculties,
That will not yield to this Cessation;
My Tongue seems to consent without Commission:
But I'le go wrangle with my self,
And will obey her—if I can—

[Exit Sertorius.
Sulp.
Where must my wild beginnings find an end?
Nature and Friendship; Brother too, and Friend!
Titles that grow in soils so rich and good,
Whose Roots are spread in Honour and in Blood:
Yet all those ties keep not their hold so fast,
As to oppose unshaken but one blast
Of Loves unruly storm; great Trees fall so,
Pulling up all about 'um where they grow.

Enter Tiridates, runs to Sulpitius, and embraces him.
Tir.
O my Sulpitius, thou that canst prove
Friend to the Rival of thy Brother's Love;
Have you yet spoke of me, and wou'd she hear?
'Tis not thy Friendship but her Love I fear.

Sulp.
I did not name you.

Tir.
—Perhaps you did not dare.
Methinks concern'd Physitians, in despair,
Gaze on their Patients as you stare on me,
And from their Skill sink to their Piety.

Sulp.
I wish Hersilia had not nam'd you.

Tir.
You are my Friend.

Sulp.
And therefore cou'd not like th'unwelcom office
That she has put upon me.

Tir.
Cou'd you dislike what she commands!

Sulp.
Yes, I do, or else I must repent
My Love to you, and grow indifferent.
Know, 'tis the cruel fair Hersilia's pleasure
You shou'd forbear to visit her, or if you meet her,
To speak to her for some few days.

[He looks down as sad.
Tir.
Why shou'd Hersilia cruelly contrive
Death for that passion which she keeps alive?
But 'tis a guilt to question or repine;
She acts like what she seems, somthing divine:
For when Mankind their frailer passions show,
Those Pow'rs above condemn that made them so.

Sulp.
I fear'd 'twou'd trouble you, for I can find
A measure of your sorrows by my mind.

Tir.
Did she not tell you why?

Sulp.
—That she refus'd,
Though I still prest it to finde out her end,
More then became one that was less your friend:
At last continuing still importunate,
She told me with a smile, 'twas not her hate,
Nor love unto another was the cause,
She seem'd to be so cruel in these Laws.

Tir.
When I lost my Brother—
Brave Artabaces whom I cou'd not call
More brother then a friend; for he was all;
I did not think a friendship cou'd express
It self so great, to make his loss the less:
But thine, my dear Sulpitius, is above
The Rules and Measures of the strictest love.
You might have hop't to see your Brothers joy,
Sprung from those harsh commands which mine destroy.

Sulp.
My love unto Sertorius is not less,
I wish his gratitude his happiness,
To pay great Marcellina all Love's scores,
Whom every Roman but himself adores:
Why do ye droop? fie, fie, do not give way
To your encroaching griefs; hope and obey:
In the mean time during your banishment,
In my best love and care rest confident.
I'le weary her with pray'rs, till I obtain
Leave from her lips to call you back again.

Ter.
My hopes are only rais'd by thy kinde charms,
O let me alwayes hold thee in my armes.

[Embrace.
Enter Sertorius.
Ser.
I must go back and tell him 'tis impossible.
—Ha—twisted.—

Sulp.
How, my Brother!—
I must say something quickly; but—what,
—Brother—perhaps you wonder—

Ser.
Yes, I do.

Sulp.
I mean, to see my kindeness at this time
So great to Tiridates: but as a friend,
I cou'd not be exempt from pitty.

Sert.
What pitty does he need?

Sulp.
It seems much more then you,
In the severe commands of fair Hersilia:
He is for ever banished; no time nor hopes
Allow'd to him: you are too generous
To swell upon his sinking.

Sert.
That I despise.

Sulp.
Pray give me leave at least to shew
That pitty which a friend ought to bestow:
Perhaps the reasons of a friend may prove
A balm to cure the wounds of hopeless Love.
[Goes to Tiridates.
—I cou'd not stay a minute Sir—
From telling you the happy news
Which you may finde writ in my Brothers looks.
The fair and just Hersilia has pronounc'd
His banishment for ever.—
Enter Hersilia and Marcellina.
Ha, Hersilia! what new confusions crowd upon me?
How near my my plots are to discovery!
I must out-face fortune and honesty.
[He steps to Sertorius hastily.
Brother, give not Tiridates the advantage
To seem more pleas'd then you in his obedience.
I'le instantly attempt to serve you.
[Goes to Hersilia.
—Madam, this unexpected happiness
Addes to the greatness of it.

Hers.
The coolness of the evening, and these Walks,
Invited out me and my Cousin,
Not thinking to have met so much good company
As you, Prince Tiridates, and Sertorius.
[She curt'sies to them, and they bow and stand still.
—Ha—Marcellina, a word.
[Speaks aside with Marcellina.
D'you not observe what an nnusual distance
Prince Tiridates, and Sertorius keep?

Marc.
I both observe and wonder.

Hers.
Peace, let's be gone—
We have almost tir'd our selves Sir,
And were just now returning home.

Sulp.
Permit me Madam to receive the honor
Of waiting on you; I have something to acquaint you with.

Enter Servant.
Ser.
Madam,
Your Sister the fair Verginia is just now
Brought from the Vestals, and begs to see you.

Hers.
I long as much to look on her:
They say she is much alter'd.—
—This is strange Marcellina.—

[Looks at Tiridates and Sertorius.
Sulp.
I will return presently; till then be silent;
[To Sertorius.
I wait upon you Madam.

[Exeunt.
Manet Tiridates and Sertorius; they stare at one another; at last Sertorius speaks.
Sert.
I hope you do not think that I forbore
To speak my love and thoughts unto Hersilia,
Because a Rival did look on.

Tir.
Nor did that hinder me to own my love.

Sert.
Your hopes upon her Fathers friendship move.

Tir.
The greatness of my love is its own aid.

Sert.
Some use of empty titles might be made:
There is a noise with names of Princes brought;
Yet though her Father is with nothing caught,
Those that have conquer'd Princes need not show
Respect to titles which they can bestow.

Tir.
Cou'd any Roman Sword finde victory,
As soon as you can with your vanity,
A Prince indeed might tremble then to hear,
But now he smiles at what you'd have him fear.

Sert.
O you shall see that I can keep my word,
And shew no Roman e're out-talk'd his Sword;
[They draw and fight.
To this a greater quarrel yet I joyn,
Hersilia's cause, they equally are mine.

Enter Sulpitius, runs in and parts them.
Sulp.
Hold, hold, hear me but speak:
From what hid cause does all this fury break?

Sert.
Love is our cause which we resolve to trust
To our own Swords, we're sure that they are just.

Tir.
'Tis mean to wait for one to be deny'd,
And to refer that which we may decide:
Death is the certain Umpire that makes friends;
With him that dyes Hersilia's trouble ends.

Sert.
Stand by, and since you wear the double tyes
Of Friend and Brother, look with equal eyes.

Sulp.
Must Hersilia thus
Be sav'd from trouble by the loss of Fame?
Your Swords will wound her yet unspotted name;
No drop of blood you shed but will remain
Upon her injur'd innocence, a stain;
She will be equally oblig'd to hate
The Victors life; the vanquish'd in his fate.

Sert.
She's cruel now; if she her hate shou'd show
When I am dead, 'tis more then I shall know.

Sulp.
Suppose she never wou'd your loves requite,
For what is't then you wou'd pretend to fight?
'Tis vain to strive for Empire that wou'd be
Not gain'd, but rather lost by victory.

Sert.
Yet without conquest she is gain'd by none,
And only can be overcome by one;
Both in Hersilia cannot happy prove,
The Government is Monarchy in love.

Tir.
Sulpitius now your troubles shall have end,
Left free to serve a brother or a friend:
He that first falls, (for one of us must dye)
Leaves you to to'ther as his legacy.

Sert.
All the disputes of love are judg'd by fate,
And death makes room when life is grown to strait.

[Offer to fight.
Sulp.
Hold, hear me a word!

Sert.
Pish.

Sulp.
Of you I ask it, Tiridates, stay,
And let your reason this rash action weigh.

Tir.
Love never waits on Reason but on chance;
But why shou'd you advise this temperance?
Bid me be cold, and bring the Fever too;
Hersilia sent the banishment by you.

Sert.
Ha,—
Did my careful brother bring you such news?

Tir.
Yes, and from Hersilia's cruel lips.

Sert.
I received just such another message.
Can you tell Brother which was the Copy and Original?

Sulp.
No.

Tir.
How!

Sert.
Whence came they then?

Sulp.
From me.

Sert.
And your invention.

Sulp.
Right.
D'you think Hersilia's lov'd by you alone?
Had I perceiv'd it easie to be done,
I wou'd have fool'd you both: Why d'you stare?
D'you wonder that I love, or that I dare
Avow a passion which both you proclaim?
I'le be as loud as you in Love or Fame.

Sert.
O Monster.

Sulp.
See I am chang'd, of your opinion grown,
[Draws.
Think life and love is useful but for one:
We shall but hinder one another still; agree
Which is my man, so Fate and Love for me.

Sert.
Brave Tiridates,
This villains baseness the first cause removes,
And makes the quarrel Natures, which was loves:
To me 'tis just the title to resign,
To let out his foul blood that will stain mine:
Nor will I on the score of Rivals fight.
And while I take my own injure your right:
But as his executioner I'le prove,
The Minister of Justice, not of Love.

Sulp.
Fight you by your own rules, I'le make the Laws
For my own Sword, and love shall be my Cause.

[Offers to fight.
Tir.
Hold, hold Sertorius,
No seeming cause can check or couzen Fame,
Every thing will at last bear its own name;
You may stand by with justice and look on,
Nature is your excuse, but I have none.

Sert.
Nature did never yet send an excuse
In her own whispers, for her own abuse.

Sulp.
Come come, we trifle; let some lots decide
Which of your Fates with mine shall first be try'd.

Sert.
Fortune has ever been too curst to me,
To trust her with my hopes of victory:
But Tiridates now methinks we shew
In our own cause too quick, in Loves too slow:
He that survives of us by love will be
Entitled to revenge thy Treachery.

Tir.
Thus I embrace the offer.

[Offer to fight.
Sulp.
Not so fast,
I will fight too, and will not fight the last:
That mighty rate which nicely you assign
Your love and honour, I have fixt on mine.

Sert.
My flesh trembles like shaking earth, when prest
By tempests that want room within her breast:
Through all my veins there runs a boiling flood,
And makes a thousand pulses in my blood.

Tir.
Stay, Sertorius, stay; methinks we grow
Too bold; Hersilia's sentence show'd bestow
Life, or give death: we but like rebels are,
While with our Swords Hersilia's pow'r we share.
Come let us go like friends in misery,
And from our Judges lips learn which shall dye.

Sert.
He does dissemble sure—'tis noble—
[Aside.
Brave Prince, with your fair temper I am brought
To reason, by a Rivals friendship taught:
Had you or I sunk under t'others hate,
The living wou'd have pittied his hard fate.
Though love condemns, our grief may be the same;
For death's all one brought by a Sword or Flame:
'Twere mean, if love had not the pow'r to shew
That gen'rous grief which honour can bestow.
[They put up.
Why shou'd the steps rais'd by our honour prove
Too hard to be ascended by our love.

Sulp.
Good, very good; d'ye think to couzen me?
You practise to dissemble scurvily.

Tir.
All treachery dwells only in thy breast.

Sulp.
Pish, none are truly by themselves exprest;
He that seems vertuous does but act a part,
And shews not his own Nature, but his Art.

Sert.
I can be tame no longer.

[Draws and offers to run at him.
Tir.
—Sertorius stay
Our friendship must not yet oblige this way.

Sulp.
O does the mask fall off!

Sert.
Let us together then dispatch the Traytor.

Sulp.
You dare not—
—Your honours as my guard will stand;
You both scorn odds, and I a single hand.

Sert.
Tortures seize thee.—Tiridates—

[Makes a sign to him.
Tir.
Enough.

Sulp.
I'le follow too: O you need say no more.

Ser.
How meanly we must part! never before
Honour and Love shew'd such strange properties,
To keep all safe by being enemies;
With their own niceness they themselves betray,
And while they both command they both obey.

[Exeunt at several doors.