University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

The Scene continues.
Enter Hermogenes and Macro.
Her.
Hast thou inform'd the Goth of my Desire

Mac.
You are obey'd. Expect him soon.

Her.
'Tis well.
Then, Belisarius, dread thy Fate. To be
Displac'd is not enough; a petty Ill.
Thy Vigour may cast off the Winter Slough,
And with fresh Beauty in the Spring appear.
I must pursue the Blow. Benum'd and cold
The Adder I will seize, and crush him dead.

Mac.
Now, my Hermogenes! now shew thy Love,
And make me bless'd. Justinian has declar'd
That Belisarius shall Valeria wed,
To thee no doubt well known. The News dilates
My Heart, and I partake the gen'ral Joy.

Her.
And whence thy Joy?

Mac.
Almira may be mine,
Woud'st thou confirm the Emperor's Resolves,
And influence Vitiges to give Consent.
How the Thought charms! then wert thou kind indeed.
Then Belisarius glut thy self with Pow'r;
Let Europe, Afric, Asia sound thy Fame,
No Envy stings my Breast, Almira mine.

Her.
'Tis strange, must Folly still adhere to Love!

Mac.
Let Folly, Madness, Want or Plagues attend,
Love I pursue, my Guide, my Aim, my Prize.

Her.
Away, go vent thy Rant in Woods and Wilds.
Such Rapture is offensive to my Ears.

Mac.
And can a Brother then refuse me Aid?

Her.
Thou art not of my Blood; allied to me,
Thou wou'dst reject all Passions, ev'ry Thought
Injurious to thy Int'rest; worship there,
Let that predominate, make that thy God.
What! sway'd by Love! why thou hast Friendships too!
Childish and ignorant! Women thou think'st
Have Constancy, and Men have Gratitude.
Vers'd in the World, thou, to thy Cost, wilt find
All are Betrayers and are all betray'd.

Mac.
These grave Refinements are not proper now.
Cost what it will, I must possess my Love.

Her.
What! at Expence of Pow'r? why Lucifer
Drew half the Host of Heav'n t'espouse his Cause,
So tempting is the Bait of sov'reign Pow'r:
They of Ætherial Mold. How then shou'd Man,
Gross Man resist? the Ape of Angels fall'n.

Mac.
There are no Joys but in Almira's Arms.

Her.
Why I love too; for 'tis my Interest
To love. I wou'd possess too her I love,
But 'tis to gratify my self. With Views
Like these, a wise Man may indulge the Flame.

Mac.
You seek another, yet obstruct my Love!

Her.
[Exit Macro.

Vit.
In Courts 'tis rare to meet such gen'rous Minds;
Fortune rules there, and guides their Love and Hate.

Her.
Fortune has thrown me in the bustling Court,
A Place ill suited to so calm a Mind,
And full of Snares to my incautious Steps.
Where base Ingratitude has Birth, and vile
Dissimulation reigns; where Sycophan's
Are only held for Friends; where Lyes prevail
And stifle Truth; where momentary Shifts
And Tricks for Wisdom pass, and Pride surmounts
And sweeps the Palace with her gorgeous Train.

Vit.
Princes behold their Errors in Distress,
And like me wou'd reform too late. To me
It matters not how Courts are fill'd; But this
I feel, whatever Cares attend the Prince,
If dispossess'd, he ne'er tastes Comfort more.

Her.
A helpless, unavailing Pity shews
Like Pride, and seldom is sincere. Methinks
Pity from my mean State, sounds insolent.
I wou'd be useful, I wou'd serve, assist
So excellent a Man, so good a Prince.

Vit.
Such I was once esteem'd. A Captive now,
A Slave; and with my Pow'r my Praise is lost.

Her.
And are the Appetites to rule destroy'd?
Have you forgot the Pleasure of Command?
Can you now beg, accustom'd to bestow?

Vit.
Why dost thou strive to rowze my drowzy Mind,
And bring back hated Objects to my Eyes?
Why paint the Pleasures I can only view,
And why improve the Pains I undergo?
I search Content in dull Forgetfulness,
My Mind seeks Peace, and Memory forbids.

Her.

Vit.
A State my Soul disdains; but what Redress?

Her.
The bold and daring Soul ne'er doubts Redress,
And rarely fails when Prudence is the Guide.
Base Treachery indeed may interpose
And frustrate both.—Perhaps I may be thought—

Vit.
No thou art honest; thou art sure too wise
To be a Knave, too gen'rous to betray.

Her.
To see a King in Triumph led, in Chains,
To feed his Conqu'ror's Insolence and Pride,
With Indignation swells my honest Breast.
And here your Misery is but begun.
Think what it is to drag, to wear out Life,
Meanly dependant on another's Smiles.
To court the Emp'ror, on his Fav'rites fawn,
Subservient to Buffoons and Parasites.

Vit.
It galls, it shocks;—Yet Cæsar has declar'd—

Her.
Alas! Justinian is not known. 'Tis true
His Justice and his Temperance are fam'd.
But subtile Ministers when they proclaim
The Prince's Wisdom, but extol their own.
His Virtues are but feign'd; inconstant, rash,
Severe and proud, to Flatterers a Slave.—
But I proceed too far—I am too free—
It is my Nature's honest Fault—too plain.

Vit.
You cannot please me more; I pray proceed.

Her.
I meditate a Way—wou'd you assist—

Vit.
I wou'd be foremost in the brave Design.

Her.
It may seem strange to scrupulous weak Minds.
But what is brave, what Wisdom but Success?
Rashness and Folly barter then their Names.
Freedom obtain'd no matter by what Means,
Empire in view, the Method is approv'd.

Vit.
To keen my Wishes to regain my Crown,
Too sensibly I feel my wretched State.
If thou art wise, describe the happy Means
To shake off Servitude, to mount my Throne.
If good, no longer hold me in Suspence.

Her.
Suppose the fair Almira were bestow'd
On Belisarius, he declar'd your Heir.

Vit.
I have approv'd, Almira will consent.

Her.
With Patience hear. Suppose the Army too,
Won by his Merits, or seduc'd with Bribes,
Espous'd their Darling's Cause; supported thus,
With Ease you may reject the Roman Yoak,
And Belisarius give Justinian Law.

Vit.
His Faith to Cæsar wou'd transcend his Love.

Her.
But put the Case. What Recompence were due,
Were such a deep Conspiracy reveal'd?
'Twere Justice to restore your conquer'd Realms,
And add Encrease. Justinian cou'd no less,
Nor shou'd I fail to urge his Gratitude.

Vit.
'Tis hazardous, 'tis base, beneath a King.

Her.
Nay, I advise not. It concerns not me.
I am contented with my humble Lot,
In Council to preside, and turn and guide
Justinian's Will. Howe'er judge of my Love,
Which points the way to Liberty and Pow'r.
And wou'd in tenderness to you prevent
Your being crush'd when Belisarius falls.

Vit.
You much amaze me; Belisarius fall!

Her.
At once he falls, to Want, to Scorn reduced
I bear the Emperor's severe Decree.
He vainly thinks, you credulous believe,
His Virtues, Services, not to be summ'd,
Have fix'd him ever in Justinian's Love.
Have you forgot, when Subjects grow too great,
Their Merits thought beyond all Recompence,
That Princes either must resign their Pow'r,
Or act with base Ingratitude. Sad Choice.
Such is Justinian's Case. He seeks Pretence
To justifie the Ruin he designs.

Vit.
Strange! Belisarius sink! his Shield! his Arm

Her.
It is resolv'd. See where he comes with Croud
Surrounded; false, degen'rate, servile Crew!
Mark how the rav'nous Herd, lowing for Food,
Will shun the Waste, and fly the barren Land,
And spurn the Pasture where they lately sed.
Retire and hear, then judge what Course to take.

[Exeunt.
Enter Belisarius, follow'd by several Officers.
Bel.
You need not, Fulvius, be at farther Pains.
Rely on me; this Fault shall be forgot;
I know you brave, but learn more Temperance.

Ful.
May I but live to shew my Gratitude.

Bel.
Decius! your Courage shewn at Rome besieg'd,
With Rome is recompens'd. You govern Rome.

Dec.
Beyond my Hopes! accept my humblest Thanks.

Bel.
You lost your Equipage in the late Storm,
Murellus! you love Show, it suits your Youth;
This Order will repay your Loss tenfold.

Mur.
My Gen'ral's Favour is my greatest Wealth.

1 Off.
Excellent Man!

[An Officer whispers Belis.
2 Off.
How nobly he bestows!

3 Off.
He stays not to be ask'd. The manner charms
Beyond the Gift.

4 Off.
How gracefully he moves!

1 Off.
Has he spoke to you yet?

2 Off.
No, but he look'd on me and smil'd.

3 Off.
You are a happy Man.
I shall catch his Eye presently.

Bel.
Virtuous and fair, you say, and nobly born?
And yet your Father will not give Consent?

Cot.
For, she is poor, a helpless Orphan left.

Bel.
I am her Father, I adopt her mine.
I saw thee Cotta, on Sicilian Plains
Do Wonders with thy Sword. She is my Care.
So tell thy Father; to endow the Maid,
What he demands, I charge my self to pay.

Cot.
You give me more than Life; not she I love
Can sway me from the Gratitude I owe.

1 Off.
Observe his Words, how elegant they flow.

[Another whispers Belisarius.
2 Off.
What Fancy in his Dress! worn with what Ease!

3 Off.
Hush! he observes—his Eyes were turn'd this way.

4 Off.
Happy the Man still present to his Sight!

1 Off.
Might I but live to shew my unfeign'd Zeal,
How I adore his Worth! I shou'd die pleas'd.

2 Off.
The Virtues of our boasted Ancestors
Are all compris'd in him. And when he dies
The Roman Glory is expir'd.

3 Off.
'Tis true.
To give him Life, we all wou'd die.

All.
All, All.

4 Off.
Silence, he speaks.

Bel.
And hast thou, Rufus, serv'd,
So many Years beneath my Banner fought,
And I no better known? Hast thou no way
To feed Ambition, or thy Avarice;
But to traduce, to carry Tales, inform,
And darkly wound the Man thou call'st thy Friend?
Away—such an Offence shou'd be chastis'd—
Yet, for thou hast complain'd of Poverty,
Lest that shou'd tempt thee to proceed in Ill,
This Order will enable thee to live.
Enter Hermogenes.
My Fellow-Soldiers! these are Cæsar's Gifts,
From our just Emperor these Bounties flow.
His Coffers when exhausted, what in mine
Remains, freely command. The solid Joy
Of Wealth and Pow'r is in Beneficence.

All.
Our grateful Tongues shall ever sound your Praise.

Her.
Short Praise; or I am much deceiv'd in Man.
[Aside.
Draw near my Friends! You warlike Men attend!
While I denounce the Emperor's Decree,
Aloud and publick. So he gives Command;
Not but it grieves my Soul I should be sent
To damp the Joys of this auspicious Day,
And clip the Victor's large aspiring Wings.
Harsh to my Tongue: Cæsar must be obey'd.

Bel.
If harsh to me, constrain thee not to grieve.
I know thy envious Thoughts, thy thankless Mind.
To me thou ow'st—but I reproach thee not.
Speak Cæsar's will.

Her.
Then know, thou art—undone.
The Emperor Justinian has declar'd
From all Command, all Pow'r thou art dismiss'd.

Bel.
May Cæsar live for ever!—yet 'tis strange.

Off.
How! what!

Bel.
What wou'd my gracious Master more?

Her.
What the Offence I know not, great no doubt,
Or this might well suffice. Sentence is pass'd,
Thy Lands, thy Goods, all that thou cou'dst this Morn
Call thine, are all confiscated, all seiz'd.

Bel.
What, stripp'd of all!

Her.
So Cæsar has ordain'd.
And if I can prevail, these worthy Men,
These gallant Soldiers, they shall the share the Spoil.

1 Off.
Most wise Hermogenes!

All.
Command our Lives.

Her.
I can but pity you, and humbly take my Leave.
[Exit Her.

Bel.
Insulting Man! all seiz'd! displac'd! disgrac'd!

1 Off.
Well, I always said it wou'd come to this.

2 Off.
I have foreseen it long, I knew it cou'd not last.

3 Off.
Last! how shou'd it? ever guided by Fools,
A Prey to Knaves, encompass'd with Flatterers,
An honest Man cou'd not approach him.

4 Off.
You know it was always my Opinion,
That there was something odd, something melancholick,
Something fatal in his Looks.

1 Off.
How poor a Figure now! how mean!

2 Off.
Did you not observe how handsomly
Hermogenes delivered his Message,
And how kind to us?

3 Off.
Oh there's no Comparison.
Well, I wish we knew who is to succeed him,
That we might be early in paying our Compliments.

4 Off.
Let us enquire. We have no Business here.

[Exeunt Officers.
Bel.

Enter Almira.
Alm.
How swift is Fame when she depreciates Worth,
Or scornful publishes injurious Truths!

Bel.
Almira here! now, now receive thy Fate!

Alm.
Who shou'd precede Almira to condole,
When Belisarius suffers for her sake?
Justinian loudly has declar'd his Wrath,
Neglected Love is punish'd with Disgrace.

Bel.
The Blow is sudden; unprepar'd the Mind,
Afflictions deeper sink; and yet I cou'd
Collect the Man, cou'd bear with Fortitude
All Ills which Malice can invent. But when
I think, how much the Distance is encreas'd
Between my abject Fortune and my Love,
How far beneath your Smiles, beneath your Scorn,
Then to be calm, then to remain unmov'd,
Term it not Patience, but the want of Love.

Alm.
Rouse then Ambition, quit this hapless Choice;
A fairer Love invites thee to her Arms,
And with an Empire will reward thy Flame.
A Train of smiling Hours invites thy Heart,
And thou shalt sleep in Peace and wake to Joy.

Bel.

Alm.
[Aside.

Bel.
Urge me no more, unless it be to die.

Alm.
Yet I must urge, yet dread to overcome.
[Aside.
Art thou resolv'd? let Empire, Glory, Pow'r—

Bel.
Vain, vain Temptations when compar'd with Love.

Alm.
Is Love so priz'd? take then thy just Reward;
Poor Recompence, yet all Almira has.
The Heart, which fled thee happy, wealthy, great,
To thee disgrac'd, abandon'd, friendless, yields.

Bel.
Oh sweetest Excellence! transporting Bliss!
Oh matchless Fair! inimitably good!
Wonder of Truth, Pattern of gen'rous Love!
Hence, the Remembrance of my injur'd Fame,
Of Foes triumphant, or of Friends ingrate!
To dark Oblivion all my Cares I drive.

Alm.
United Hearts, united be our Cares,
And be as fam'd for Misery as Love.

Bel.

[Exeunt.