 | The Grove, or, Love's Paradice |  |
35
ACT V.
The Palace.Scene an Apartment near the Emperor's.
Parmenio solus.
Par.
Oh Guilt! Oh curst Remorse, the bane of rest,
Which swims above my fairest hopes by day,
And with black Visions haunts my dreams by night.
But what is guilt, or what remorse to me?
The Cowards terrour, and the Preachers hell.
Words made to frighten fools, who dread the wheel:
Conscience ne're meddles with successful crimes.
The Conq'ror o're a thousand Murders sleeps,
The Miser steals with pleasure to his wealth,
Torn from the poor, and smiles with inward joy
While he who wants those riches, views his sins
With partial Eyes, and fancies then he feels
The Fury's whip, when hunger only stings.
Enter an Officer:
Offi.
Our Master's danger will excuse my haste,
The Province is in arms, the foremost Guards
Discover by the light of flaming Spears,
Ten thousand men in martial order move,
And tow'rds the Palace seem to bend their course.
Par.
I thank thee fate, this minute then is mine,
It smiles propitious on my great designs.
Their folly will dispose the world to think
My Counsels just, and Heaven rewards my zeal.
What strength can you oppose to theirs?
Offi.
At most
Five hundred; but of these, the better half
Are Friends and Neighbours, and require to know
For whom they fight, and talk but ill of you.
Par.
No more—You speak as if you lik't their talk.
Your Master soon will have it in his pow'r
To punish such as question his commands
Enter Eud.
There are whose ears wou'd burn at such reports,
This Souldier here shall teach 'em to obey,
36
Nic.
The Prince of Thrace, my Lord, demands to see
The Emp'ror, and has something to impart
Of high concern.
Par.
No, Nicias, 'tis in vain,
The Emperor sleeps, and must not be disturb'd.
Had he confest when favour took his part,
His and his Friends dishonour had been sav'd.
Amyntor's Subjects are, it seems, in arms,
The Roman Guard in mutiny, and thou
Canst only bring 'em to obedience Both.
Go Leave the Thracian Prince to me.
Nic.
Knows not the Emp'ror of this strange revolt?
Par.
Scarce if he did, would he believe it true,
His mercy finds excuses for his Foes.
Oft, in his changing humour, he resolv'd,
To free Adrastus, and perhaps my self
Had for my care been sent to wear his bonds.
Oh horror! that such goodness shou'd be wrong'd,
By those his bounty had so lately rais'd.
That in these shades, where virtue seems to dwell,
The Vice of Fiends, Ingratitude, should reign.
Go, Nicias, and be early in the War,
Nor stay their Charge, the Rebels may disperse.
And then we lose our moment of revenge.
Fall on the rout, the victory's secure,
Scarce worthy of thy Sword; but know that much
Depends on this, and great is thy reward.
Nic.
I fly where most my Masters safety calls,
And by the Empires Guardian Angel swear,
The Traitors shall not scape, tho near the Throne.
Ex. Nic. and Officer.
Par.
I like not that, this man was always brave,
But honest always, and has known too much.
No matter—He's remov'd, and now if Hell
To glorious mischief ever was a Friend,
Too morrow's Sun shall see me first in pow'r,
And first in bliss of all the race of man.
Enter Eud.
What brings Amintor here? my Genius starts,
Whene're we meet, his presence bodes me ill.
Eud.
I've business with the Emp'ror.
Par.
You're too late.
Eud.
'Tis of importance to his Life and Fame.
Par.
To you, we know his Life and Fame are dear,
You might have told him when you saw him last.
Eud.
Twas with a person I despise, and thought
37
Par.
Him you mean
Has Slaves, who scorn a Traytors odious name,
And of your secrets is too well inform'd.
Eud.
Ha! Have a care how thou insultst me here.
Thou know'st thy Fate is in the Secret lodg'd.
Be wise. My patience will not suffer long.
Tempt me no more. Behold me yet at large,
Lord of this place, and Soveraign here.
Par.
You talk indeed as if the World was yours:
But men are ever fond of what is new.
A Scepter looks but awkard in your hands,
So lately sully'd with a Crook. This House
Is yours, and this discourse becomes it well.
Eud.
I have no leisure to dispute, I came
To see Arcadius.
Par.
I ne're ask'd for what.
You might have spar'd this visit; 'tis a time
For rest.
Eud.
I shall not see him?
Par.
No. Hoa, Guards.
Enter Guards.
Thro these and me you first shall force your way.
Eud.
By heav'n thou durst not trust his ears with truth!
Par.
I durst not trust him with the man whose Slaves,
A numerous Host, declare against his life.
Eud.
Those Slaves shall quickly tear him from thy arms:
Of thee the mischiefs of this hour are born,
And thou severely shall account for all.
Enter Alcander.
Par.
Convince the Senate whence these mischiefs rose.
Hence! to your post, and watch with double care.
[To the Guards
Nor fear their numbers in so just a cause.
Nations and Kings will in our quarrel rise,
They've nothing to assist 'em but Despair.
Exit with Guards.
Eud.
That portion e're the morning shall be thine:
Hell ne're receiv'd a blacker Soul, nor Earth
A more malicious Villain ever bred.
Night wastes apace, and e're the day returns,
There must be mighty changes in our Fates,
For he or I no more shall see it dawn.
What of Dametas, speaks Parmenio true?
Alc.
I left him in the Vale, ten thousand strong,
Lycon attends you in the Citron Grove,
With fifty chosen youth: The foe without
Forget, or never knew that pass; within
But five are posted at the Gate, and those
We soon shall master, and with Lycon joyn.
38
Thy news transports me, haste, secure the Guards,
Be careful of their Lives, receive our Friends,
Bar all the Palace Gates, and leave at each
Sufficient strengrh, with charge to suffer none
To enter or to pass, let Lycon know
I wait his entrance in the Inner Court.
Ex. Alcander.
I'll meet the Emp'ror like an Emp'rors Son;
Nor on his Pity, or his Daughters Tears,
Depend for pardon when I most am wrong'd.
Oh, my Adrastus, thou shalt see I still
Am worthy of the Heroes of our race.
I fly to bring thee Freedom.
Ha, my Wife!
Enter Aur. Phyl. Sylvia.
Aur.
Am I unwelcome to my Lord? Not thus
He wou'd have met me when our Loves were young.
Why sits such thoughtful sorrow on thy brow?
My eyes were wont to kindle joy in thine.
Am I the cause of these distracting cares?
Am I more happy that my heart can find
Relief in Love, and only think of thee?
Have you not seen my Father?
Eud.
No, nor you.
Nor must I see him, till Parmenio's pleas'd.
So far I prest it, that the Guards were call'd
To stop my passage—Where are now your hopes?
The Traytor proudly told me 'twas too late,
And bad me prove my innocence in Rome.
Dametas with an Army is at hand,
I will be heard, and will have Justice done.
Aur.
Dametas is at hand, you will be heard,
This stile with thirty Legions would agree,
We dream of dangers which our fears create;
And reason yielding to those fears, the ills
At last prove real that our fancies form'd
Eud.
Blame not a passion, which I learnt with love,
Fear was till then a stranger to my Soul.
I thought of losing you, and then I fear'd.
'Twas then I trembled first, forgot my Sex,
And felt a woman's softness in my heart.
Aur.
Oh wou'd that softness argue with me now,
For ever you must lose me, if you go.
Against you Greece will send forth all her pow'rs,
And Rome, her Sister, turn her force on you.
Where will your Army fly for refuge then?
Their Flocks and Herds, their Virgins and their Wives,
Their Woods, their Groves, will be the Soldiers spoil,
39
While I abandon'd to my Father's rage,
Expos'd to Death, or what is worse, am left,
By all unpity'd, and by all forsook.
Eud.
Say, wou'd you have me led in chains to Rome,
Shewn for a Monster to the gaping crowd,
And with my Brother, on a Scaffold fall
The Victim of a jealous Minions lust?
The Emp'ror leaves us with the Rising day,
My Foe is conscious of his guilt, and far
Will keep me from his Master's Ear, till Rome
Has seen my shame, and we can ne're be friends.
Oh no, Aurelia, things must ne're be thus,
Adrastus must be safe,
Arcadius undeceiv'd.
His honour's equally concern'd with mine,
Both by a perjur'd Villain are abus'd,
And by this Sword we will have justice both.
Farewel—To please thee wou'd be ruin,
But not to please thee I must hear no more.
Aur.
Stay, my Eudosius, stay, he's gone, he's gone
To certain Death, nor gave a parting kiss,
Nor close embrace, but tore him from my arms,
My longing arms, that ne're must clasp him more.
What, am I grown a burden to his Heart,
Have I for this endur'd a Parents curse?
For this the Kingdoms of the world refus'd,
For this to Menial Offices comply'd,
And been as much his Servant as his Wife.
Oh man, oh false ungrateful man! Oh thou
Of all thy Sex most false, and most ingrate,
Where hast thou left me? but no matter where,
Since to be left for ever is a fate,
No circumstance of Woe can render worse.
My Father soon will seek me in his wrath,
And when his hard reproaches wound my ear,
Hadst thou been near me to relieve my shame,
And in thy bosom hide me from his frown,
His awful Brow had shot its darts in vain.
But now, thus destitute of help from thee,
My crimes appear so black, my Judge so fierce,
I dye with terrour, e're my doom is read.
Phy.
When by our griefs, our reason is opprest,
How weak are all our arguments, how vain,
Has he not suffer'd equally with you,
And I who have no interest but yours,
40
When most I suffer, I repent it least:
Was nothing to his Brothers Injuries due,
Must poor Adrastus still remain in chains,
Or for his freedom wait his Rivals Nod?
Aur.
Too morrow I had past thro Swords and Spears,
Thro pointed Deaths, and at my Fathers feet
Implor'd his pity, clung about his knees,
And of my Mothers beauteous Image full,
Hung on his neck, and bath'd it with my tears,
Till to our wish I had inclin'd his Soul.
But oh my Husbands useless Fury adds
New Fuel to his Flame, when Peace was nigh.
Phy.
Cease, cease, these mournings, all things will be well.
The War is with Parmenio, not his Lord.
The Emp'ror will himself applaud his Son,
And when he sees his Favorite's curst designs,
Throw him with horrour from his arms.
Par.
(within)
Oh my Philante!
Phy.
Heard you not a voice?
Aur.
I did, it nam'd you, and the sound came thence.
Phy.
Th'apartment where Adrastus is confin'd.
Sure 'rwas his Genius, or my own, that call'd,
To warn me of our danger. Oh my heart!
Why sinks it in my breast, why shake my limbs?
Why these ill Bodings, if my Prince is safe?
Oh no, I see the bloody hand advanc'd,
The Dagger lifted high, his heart its aim.
Stop, stop, inhuman Butcher, strike it here,
The wound is mine, my Breast shall be his Shield.
Sylv.
How well we counsel others, and how ill,
When our greifs disturb us, act our selves?
Aur.
Where e're we turn, we meet with new distress.
New Scenes of woe, new Images of death.
Fly, Sylvia, from this most unhappy wretch,
This out-cast, this forsaken woman, fly,
My Friendship ruins what it holds most dear.
Syl.
Madam, Retire, you're here too much exposd:
Rous'd by the noise and perils of the night,
The Emp'ror arm'd with Thunder will appear,
And if he sees you in the first alarm,
How fatal may the meeting be to both.
Aur.
Yes! here this Jove, this Thund'rer I'll expect,
I'll stand between my Lord and him, and bear
The dreadful weight of his resentment here.
On me the Tempest first shall break, on me
41
Shall fall, till thus it strikes me to the Earth.
falls.
Thus low I'll bless him with my latest sighs,
And pray that his revenge may end with me.
Enter Emp. and Nic.
Sylv.
Oh save us, ye immortal powers, he comes.
Arc.
Is he not dead?
Nic.
No.
Arc.
Bring him forth.
Nic.
My Lord!
The poison's in his brain, his Fancies rove
On things extravagant, the Fever past,
He may e're death be sensible and calm.
What dropt from him before was only this,
Parmenio left the Cristal Bowl with him,
Commanding when you call'd to give it you.
Arc.
Parmenio?
Nic.
Yes, Parmenio.
Arc.
Have a care,
To name him thus is death,
Nic.
I'll mark the man.
Then call him what you please, my Lord, 'twas he
That from a Soldier rais'd me to command:
To this high post, and plac'd me near the Throne.
'Twas he, that from as vile Conditions rose,
By Cæsar's favour next to Cæsar's rank.
'Twas he that counsell'd you to break the league,
And seize Adrastus in profoundest peace.
'Twas he that charg'd me when the truth was known,
To fix this Dagger in his Rival's heart,
Then swear to you he gave the blow himself.
'Twas he that bid me lead your Guards, and waste
This Land with unexpected War. 'Twas he
That left you to the service of his Slaves:
For I in disobedience to his will,
Unknown to him within the Palace stay'd,
To watch your sleep, which else had been your last.
When Hell and darkness tempted him abroad,
To execute the Treasons he had form'd.
'Twas he, that when Amintor would have shewn,
How foul, how false, the charge against him was,
Withstood his entrance, and by open force
Compell'd the Prince by force to make his way.
But oh! Great Emp'ror, what need I more,
'Twas he by whom that high-born Princess dies,
In whose fresh youth divine Pulcheria lives.
Sylv.
Help! help! the Princess faints.
42
Oh Heav'n! oh Joy!
Swoons
Tis she, I know 'tis she, I feel her here,
Nature speaks loud, and points me to my Child.
Oh Daughter! oh Aurelia! oh my Tongue
Is lost with rapture, but with this, and this,
Embrace.
Once more I'll give thee life—she lives, she lives,
Thus lookt Pulcheria when she lookt her last,
That dying glance restores her to my Heart,
Which weaken'd with excess of joy, grows sick.
Faints.
Nic.
My Lord, my Emp'ror!
Aur.
Where am I? Is not this the Land of Peace,
Where all things are forgiv'n, all are blest,
Did not my Father call me Child?
Syl.
He did.
Behold him in your arms with transport lost.
Aur.
Oh Father, Father.
Arc.
Art thou then awake?
Aur.
Forgive my heart, 'tis yet so busie, Sir,
My sins are banisht thence, and I can spare
No time to beg your pardon.
Arc.
Name no more
What I shou'd ask, for all that's past was mine;
I speak not of thy Husband, he's my friend,
A thousand things to my remembrance bring
Both him and thee: The Signet, this retreat,
The flying rumours that Eudosius liv'd,
His Brothers Friendship, and the Princes Love,
Confirm these wonders.
Go Nicias, go my Souldier, seek my Son,
Go tell him how my arms are fill'd, and say
While they want him I think 'em empty still.
Ex. Nic.
Oh had we met before! But then, my Child.
The great discovery we have made to night
Had still been distant, and Parmenio lov'd.
I bred and nurst a Serpent in my breast,
Whose venom'd sting against my life was aim'd.
Aur.
We knew you wou'd not always hate us, Sir;
Nor drive your Children from you, and e're morn
Had told the secret with a kind surprize,
Had not his jealousie contriv'd these ills,
And fill'd this house with sorrow and despair.
Enter Officer.
Offic.
My Lord, I waited on Parmenio's Slave,
Catcht his last words, and thus he dying said,
My Master put the Potion in the Cup,
I, curious of its richness, tasted, drank,
Fell down, when Nicias entring broke the Bowl.
43
See that he scapes not: Bear him to the Rack.
I cou'd almost forgive him his offence
Ex. Offic.
To me: But what he meant my Children rhrows
Him far from mercy.
A Shout. Enter Eudosius, throws down his Sword, and kneels at the Emperors feet.
Oh my Son.
Eud.
My Emp'ror, my Father, can you hear
That word from me, and still preserve your smile?
Arc.
Oh talk of nothing but of bliss to come,
Let dark oblivion bury what is past,
And perfect as our blessing be our joy,
The world has nam'd your Vertues with applause,
More to your merit than your birth you owe.
Take, take your Wife, and be for ever blest.
Eud.
Oh my Aurelia! have we liv'd to see
This hour, and must we live another still.
Forgive me, Sir, all Extasy is rude;
'Tis new, we ne're cou'd thus embrace before,
Nor hope a blessing on the Nuptial Bed.
Nic.
within.
Bear down the Doors, the Pillars and the Walls,
Aur.
Oh 'tis Phylante's voice.
A Woman shrieks.
Arc.
The kind companion of your youth.
Aur.
Tis her's,
The Traytor loves her, and I dread his lust.
Shriek.
Within.
Help, help, the Prince, Phylante.
Eud.
Ha, I'm wing'd
To rescue thee, and pray it be'nt too late.
Arc.
How near destruction have I blindly walkt.
Exit.
Aur.
Phylante, oh my Sister.
Eud.
within.
Seize on the Traytor, and unbind the Prince,
Throw wide the doors, and let the Fiend be seen.
Scene opens, Adrastus appears (unbinding) Phlyante in disorder, Parmenio (held by Soldiers) disfigur'd as by a woman, Nicias, Officer and all come forward.
Eud.
My Brother!
Adr.
My Deliverer!
Phyl.
My Preserver!
Eud.
See,
Your Duty to the Emp'ror first.
Arc.
Come to my arms, if you can think that one
Who much has wrong'd you, can deserve your love:
And thou, my other Daughter, welcome here.
To Torture with that Villain, Whips and Death,
Slow lazy Deaths, away—
Guards carry off Par.
44
Words are not black enough to paint his Crimes.
When in this place we parted last, I went
[To Aur.
And found, alas! the Voice I heard was his.
He seiz'd me, caught me to his arms, and said,
He knew me when I visited the Prince.
He told me if I'd yield to be his Wife,
The morn should find me Mistress of the world:
For, as he swore, the Emp'ror was no more.
If not, he wou'd by force enjoy his wish,
When for my honour, and the Princes life,
To Eud.
Your timely succour came.
Arc.
No tears, Phylante! now, no sighs but such
As Lovers when th' expected minute comes
Can spare. To you, Adrastus, I am sure,
This present will be welcome. Take her, Prince,
Our self will witness to your Nuptial Vows;
Thou, Nicias, to whose Loyalty we owe
Life, Children, Empire, all, thou next to these
In favour and in Friendship shalt be first.
Thrace shall again behold her darling Lord,
Whose Crown shall hence be regal, and the bounds
Of this fair Province, which I gave my Son,
Far as the Adriatick shall extend.
This to Adrastus, with his Bride I give.
Renew the sports these tumults have disturb'd,
With double Lustre gild the face of night,
That day approaching, may with wonder see
Alight Superiour to his own.
Eud. & Aur.
Hear us, Oh Father! grant our last request,
(kneeling.)
Suffer no limits to your goodness, long
This Garden has been ours, and sweet its walks;
To leave these Shades, and launch into the world,
Looks frightful to our Natures, fond of rest.
Oh let Adrastus wear the Crown of Thrace,
This people and this Valley only ours,
Where hand in hand, we may frequent its Groves,
Talk of past changes, and rejoice in this.
There with the morning and the Evening Sun,
With pray'rs for you and Greece we'll visit Heav'n:
Nor will we here be negligent of fame;
For Love and Glory shall divide our care.
And thus like persons who have reacht the shoar,
With pleasure we'll look back upon the Waves,
And hear the Billows roar, and see 'em foam,
While we securely tread the solid Main.
45
Of this hereafter we'll resolve.
Eud.
And now
Let all our Military Train disperse,
Let only those who wait upon our sports
Attend, let Love and Mirth succeed our Cares,
And Arms and Battles yield to softer Wars.
End of the Fifth Act.
| The Grove, or, Love's Paradice | |