 | Valentinian |  |
SCENE I.
Æcius Solus. A Letter.Æcius.
Look down, ye equal Gods, and guide my heart,
Or it will throw upon my hands an act
Which after Ages shall record with horror:
As well may I kill my offended Friend,
As think to punish my offending Prince.
The Laws of Friendship we our selves create,
And 'tis but simple Villany to break 'em;
But Faith to Princes broke, is Sacriledge,
And injury to the Gods, And that lost Wretch
Whose Breast is poyson'd with so vile a Purpose,
Tears Thunder down from Heav'n on his own head,
And leaves a Curse to his Posterity:
Judge him your selves, ye mighty Gods, who know
Why you permit sometimes that Honour bleed,
That Faith be broke, and Innocence opprest.
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The great Account may rise 'twixt him and you,
Through all his Crimes I see your Image on him,
And must protect it no way then but this,
To draw far off the injur'd Maximus,
And keep him there fast Prisoner to my Friendship;
Revenge shall thus be flatter'd or destroy'd,
And my bad Master whom I blush to serve,
Shall by my means at least be safe. This Letter
Informs him I am gone to Ægypt, there
I shall live secure and innocent;
His sins shall ne're o'retake me, nor his fears,
Enter Proculus.
Here comes one for my Purpose, Proculus;
Well met, I have a Courtesie to ask of you.
Proc.
Of me, my Lord! Is there a House on fire?
Or is there some knotty Point now in debate
Betwixt your Lordship and the Scavengers?
For you have such a popular, and publick Spirit,
As in dull times of Peace will not disdain
The meanest opportunity to serve your Country.
Æcius.
You witty Fools are apt to get your Heads broke:
This is no season for Buffooning Sirrah;
Though heretofore I tamely have endur'd
Before th'Emperour your ridiculous Mirth,
Think not you have a Title to be sawcy;
When Monkey's grow mischievous, they are whipt,
Chain'd up and whipt. There has been mischief done,
And you (I hear) a wretched Instrument:
Look to't, when e're I draw this Sword to punish,
You and your grinning Crew will tremble, Slaves;
Nor shall the ruin'd world afford a Corner
To shelter you, nor that poor Princes Bosom,
You have invenom'd and polluted so;
As if the Gods were willing it should be
A Dungeon for such Toads to crawl and croak in.
Proc.
All this in earnest to your humblest Creature?
Nay, then my Lord, I must no more pretend
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Since my well-meaning Mirth is grown offensive.
Tho' Heav'n can tell,
There's not so low an Act of servile Duty,
I wou'd not with more Pride throw my self on,
For great Æcius's sake, than gain a Province,
Or share with Valentinian in his Empire.
Æcius.
Thou art so fawning and so mean a Villain,
That I disdain to hate, tho' I despise thee;
When e're thou art not fearful, thou art sawcy;
Be so again, my Pardon gives thee leave,
And to deserve it, carry this my Letter
To the Emperor: Tell him I am gone for Ægypt,
And with me, Maximus; 'twas scarce fit we two
Should take our leaves of him: Pray use your Interest
He may forgive us. 'Twill concern you much,
For when we are gone, to be base vicious Villains,
Will prove less dang'rous—
[Exit Æcius.
Proc.
What the Devil possesses
This rusty Back and Breast without a Head-Piece?
Villains and Vicious! Maximus and Ægypt!
This may be Treason, or I'le make it so:
The Emperor's apt enough to fears and jealousies;
Since his late Rape. I must blow up the fire,
And aggravate this doating Hero's Notions,
Till they such Terrors in the Prince have bred,
May cost the Fool his worst part, that's his Head.
[Exit.
| Valentinian | |