University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Enter Antonius and Eumillius.
Ant.
Farewel to all my Honours,
For I am fallen as low as Fate can throw me.
No more shall Fame, or Time's recorded Legends
Extend my Name to this, or future Ages:
Nor shall there be a mention of it made;
But with Derision and the last Contempt.
Even Hope, that Flatterer Hope,
(That calms the Brow of the most wretched Soul,
And makes Captivity and toylsom Life
To be supported with Content and Ease,)
Has quite abandon'd your unhappy Friend,
And banish'd hence the smallest glympse of Joy.
My Life's dispoil'd of all its blooming Glories,
And very soon by an untimely Death
Fate shall dispose me in my silent Tomb;
Where whosoever pass, shall scoffing say.
This is that Soldier's Tomb that died a Woman's Slave,
And blasted all his Honours for that Sex
Who scarce deserve a wise, or brave Man's Notice.
But oh! it must be so, it must be so,
Even as a Taper whose extinguished Light
Offends with Noisom Savour those about it;
So shall my Name and Fall eclipse thy Virtues,
And make thee Scorn'd and Curst, as I am now.

Eum.
My Lord, I think not so,
I can't conceal my Thoughts, though they may offend you.
You surfeiting in an Excess of Fortune
Call your Abundance Want;
What would you wish that is not fallen upon you,
Greatness, Wealth, Honour, and the World a Dowry
Offer'd with a Princess, whose excelling Form
Exceeds a Fortune so immensely Great.

Ant.
Poison is Poison, though in Gold we drink it,
And what are all those pompous Shows of Pleasure
To one whose Pains forbid him to possess?
A painted Banquet, no essential Food.
When I am scorch'd with a consuming Flame,
Can any other's Fire extinguish mine?
What is her Love, her Wealth, Empire and Greatness
To me, who die in an Excess of Passion
For one whose Smiles can only make me happy?

Eum.
I know you point at
Your Doatage on the scornful Dorothea.
Though she be fair and vertuous,
Yet you must not, cannot
Compare her with the Goddess of your Fortune.
In every Action, wise Men propose their Ends.
Consider, nay timely consider, then
With this there comes all Joy, Delight and Pleasure;
What would you more to form a happy Life?
With the other, though indeed her Birth is Noble,
As Daughter to a Senator of Rome,
By him left rich, yet 'tis a private Wealth,
Inferior to your own, with which she brings
The Curses of the Emperor and your Father;
Nay, and the Anger of our Roman Gods:
For, but consider that she stands suspected
Of favouring Christianity; nay, some
Will openly avow she is a Christian.
If so, you know it doubles Cæsar's Wrath,
And sharper points the Vengeance of the Gods.

Ant.
In that wherein you think your self most wise,
Most grosly you mistake, and judge amiss.
For me, or you to match above our Rank,
Is but to sell our Liberty for State,
And be at best confined in Golden Chains,
Prisoners for Life to all the Tols of Greatness.
What is a Crown? alas, it seems to me
But the uneasie galling tiresom Load
Of him that wears it.

Eum.
You have thought otherwise.

Ant.
I with Artimia still must live a Servant,
With Dorothea as a Husband rule.
As for the Danger,
Or call it if you please assur'd Destruction,
I slight it, and contemn it as a Folly,
For which my Childhood dreaded a Reproof.
If thou, Eumillius, yet wouldst be my Friend,
Let not his Fancy to perplex my Soul
Invent imaginary Ills and Dangers;
But rather lend his kind assisting Hand,
Where, or I want, or merit his Assistance.

Eum.
You know, my Lord, I ever was ambitious
To serve your Wants, and be esteem'd your Friend.

Ant.
Go then, Eumillius,
To Dorothea, tell her I have worn,
In all the Conflicts I have had in War,
Her Image in my Heart, which like a Deity
Has still protected and inspir'd my Fame.
Thou hast been us'd to speak, and let me beg,
This once to serve thy Friend, thy nicest Art.
Let soft Perswasion hang upon thy Tongue,
And in th'Expression of thy Thoughts and mine,
Use what thy Wit and Eloquence can invent.
For Wit and Eloquence will blast the Counsels
Of the Sagest Politician, will dress a horrid Tale
In such a form, that even the Gods themselves
Have oft mistaken and embraced a Falshood.
Thus make her understand how much I Love her.
All Fears that may deter me throw behind,
Say I this Morning in the Name of Friendship
Design to Visit her.

Eum.
You may depend on what
My utmost Service can perform.
[Exit Eum.

Ant.
Thus do the wretched raise Fantastick Projects,
On the least Basis their wild Fancy forms,
And bless themselves with the delightful Prospect,
'Till some unthought of sudden blast of Chance,
Destroys at once all their projecting Hopes.
Would the just Gods be once propitious here,
Nought have I else, either to hope or fear,
For what's beyond my Love, shall be beyond my Care.

[Exit.