University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Theodora
(alone.)
The eclipse is pass'd; and our imperial light
May shine at length unrivall'd. Heaven is just.
And pride laid low affords a spectacle,
On which the greatness it before insulted
Can look well pleased: e'en if religion join'd not
To give her plaudit to the final ruin
Of hated pagan foes.—They bore the sway—
Justinian and myself were but as toys,
Or secondary adventitious ornaments
To grace their diadem; the homagers,
And shadows of their power; the substance their's.
And do they claim my pity? It is well.

Enter Eumenes, Flavia, &c.
Eum.
Most gracious empress! Belisarius' wife,
His daughter, and the son of youthful Phorbas.

Theo.
Leave us; this tender interview requires
No prying eye.
[Exit. Eumenes.
Most welcome! nay believe me,
That thus as supplicants you come before us
Our heart feels no displeasure.

Ant.
O Theodora! prostrate at thy feet
[They kneel.
See that ill-fated wretch, who heretofore
Was honour'd with that dearest name, thy friend!

Theo.
Nay rise.—Our friend, and the illustrious daughter
Of our renowned General at our feet!
It shall not be.

Mar.
Bent lowly to the earth
By dire calamity, we rise no more,
Unless thou stretch thy hand benignant forth,
And raise us up to life.

Theo.
Name your request.

Ant.
And need I name it? Think O Theodora
What pangs we feel. The father and the husband,
Loyal and innocent, dragg'd from our arms
By their relentless foe; in chains; immured
Within yon hateful walls, the traitor's mansion.
O bleeding fame! O agony intolerable!
Of which ne'er may the faintest portion touch
Thy royal bosom!

Theo.
Wherefore kneel to me?
I am no deity.—Mistaken worshippers!
Go, offer up your prayers to thund'ring Baal;
To pale Astarte! or your houshold gods.
Where are your crouds of slaves? your robes of state?
This garb of mourning! Doth this suit an empress?
Her, who aspired to Theodora's station?
Named you my former friendship? This your pride
Long time has cancell'd. Now the crime, the guilt
Of those you plead for, sink you to a depth
Which mercy's peering eye in vain would fathom.

[Exit.
Marcella
(starting up.)
False woman! guilt! thine is the curse, the stain
Of spotted infamy.—Hah! Antonina!
And are we here! and have we knelt before her!
Guilt! guilt!—Oh! wherefore didst thou bring us hither!
My heart! my head!—Haste! let us hence with speed.
Here serpents dwell, ingratitude, deceit,
And every odious monster.—Let us hence.

Ant.
Cease my Marcella! dearest boy! weep not.

Mar.
And what is her religion! cruelty.
Proud too, she call'd us—But I now am calm;
This undeserved treatment hurts me not.
Yet am I proud; proud of my innocence;
Of thee my Junius, of thy father proud.
But pomp, and grandeur, wealth, and glittering toys,
Never for their intrinsic merit prized,
Now vanish into nothing.—Riches court
The hand of fools—the base may rise to power.
The humble and the innocent are here,
O'erwhelm'd with misery.—Away! Away!

[Exeunt.