University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

The Scene continues.
Enter Delphia, and Drusilla.
Dru.
Leave us, and not vouchsafe a parting kiss
To her, that in his hopes of Greatness lives,
And goes along with him in all his Dangers?

Del.
I grant 'twas most unkind.

Drus.
Oh you give it too mild a name;
'Twas more than barbarous! and you join'd in it.

Del.
I, my Drusilla?

Drus.
Yes, you have blown his Pride to such a vastness,
He thinks the Empire of the Earth too little.
This makes him quite forget his humble being;
And can I hope that he, who only fed
With the imagin'd Food of future Empire,
Disdaining those who gave him Means, and Life,
To nourish such Desires; when he's possest
Of his ambitious Ends (which must fall on him,
Or your Predictions false) will ever
Descend to look on me?

Del.
Were his intents,
Perfidious as the Seas, or Winds, his Heart
Compos'd of Falshood; yet the benefit,
The greatness of the Good he has from you,
(For what I have confer'd, is thine Drusilla)
Must make him firm, and thankful. But if all
Remembrance of the Debts he stands ingag'd for,
Find a quick Grave in his Ingratitude:
My powerful Art, that guides him to this height,
Shall make him Curse the Hour he 'ere was rais'd,
Or sink him to the Center.

Drus.
I had rather
Your Art could force him to return that Ardour,
To me, I bear to him; or give me Power
To moderate my Passions. Yet I know not,
I should repent your Grant, tho' you had sign'd it,
(So well I think him worthy of my Love)
But to believe that any check to him,
In his vast Hopes, could yield content to me,
Were Treason to my Love, that knows no pleasure,
The Object which it dotes on, being miserable.

Del.
Pretty simplicity, I love thee for't,
And will not sit an idle looker on,
And see it wrong'd. Dry thy innocent Eyes,
And cast off jealous Fears: (yet Promises
Are slender Comfort,) and but fancy ought
That's possible in Nature, or in Art,
That may advance thy Comfort, and be bold
To tell thy Soul, 'tis thine: therefore speak freely.

Drus.
You give me a new Life. To conceal from you
My Virgin Fondness, were to hide my Sickness
From my Physician. Oh dear Aunt, I languish
For want of Diocle's sight; he is the Sun
That keeps my Blood in a perpetual Spring;
But in his absence, cold benumming Winter
Seizes on all my Faculties. Would you bind me,
(Who am your Slave already) in more Fetters?
Oh bear me then (but 'tis impossible
I fear to be effected) where I may
See how my Diocles breaks thro' his Dangers,
And in what heaps his Honours fly upon him;
That I may meet him in the Height, and Pride
Of all his Glories; and there
Challenge him as my own.

Del.
Enjoy thy Wishes.
This is an easie Boon, which at thy Years
I could have given to any.
It shall be done, as fits my Skill, and Glory.
From Ceres, I will force her winged Dragons,
And in the Air, hung over the Tribunal;
(The Musick of the Spheres attending on us)
There, as his good Star thou shalt shine upon him,
If he prove true; and as his Angel, guard him:
But if he dare be false, I in a moment
Will put that Glorious Light out, with such horror,
As if eternal Night had seiz'd the Sun,
And all things were returnd to the first Chaos,
Or raise some Monster to devour him quick.

Dru.
I fear th'Event; but I will do
Whatever you command.

Del.
Rest then assur'd,
I am the Mistris of my Art, and fear not.

[Exeunt.
Scene a Forest.
Enter Aper, Camurius, and Guard, with a Close Litter, richly adorn'd with Figures of Gold, Trophies, and Plumes of White Feathers.
Aper.
Your Care of your sick Emperor, Fellow-Soldiers,
In Colours to the Life, does shew your Love,
And zealous Duty: O continue it.
And tho' I know you long to see and hear him,
Impute it not to Pride, or Melancholy,
That keeps you from your Wishes; such State-Vices
(Too too familiar with Great Princes) are
Strangers to all the Actions of the Life
Of good Numerianus. Let your Patience
Be the Physician to his wounded Eyes,
(Wounded with pious Sorrow for his Father)
Which Time and your long Patience will recover,
Provided it prove constant.

1 Gua.
If he counterfeit,
I will hereafter trust a prodigal Heir,
When he weeps at his Father's Funeral.

2 Gua.
Or a young Widow, following a Bed-rid Husband
(After a three-years Sickness) to the Fire.

1 Gua.
Note his Humility, with what soft Murmurs
He does inquire his Pleasures.

2 Gua.
And how soon he is instructed.

1 Gua.
See how low he bows.

Aper.
All your Commands (Dread Cæsar) I'll impart
To your most ready Soldier, to obey 'em;
So take your Rest in Peace. It is the Pleasure
Of mighty Cæsar, (his Thanks still remembred
For your long Patience, with a Donative
Fitting his State to give, shall quickly follow)
That you continue a strict Guard upon
His sacred Person, and admit no Stranger,
Of any other Legion, to come near him;
For none but you he'll trust. I receive
Your Answer in your Silence. Now, Camurius,
Speak without Flattery; has not Aper acted
This Passion to the Life?

Cam.
I would applaud him,
Were he saluted Cæsar: But I fear,
These long-protracted Counsels will undo us:
And 'tis beyond my Reason, he being dead,
You should conceal your self, or hope it can
Continue undiscover'd.

Aper.
That I have killd him,
Yet feed these ignorant Fools with Hopes he lives,
Has a great end in't: The Pannonian Cohorts
(That are my own, and sure) are not come up;
The German Legions waver, and Charinus
(Brother to this dead Dog) (Hells Plagues on Niger,)
Is jealous of the Murther, and I hear,
Is marching up against me, 'tis not safe,
Till I have Power to justifie the Act,
To shew my self the Author. Be careful, therefore,
For a small time, (till I have fully sounded
How the Tribunes and Centurions stand affected)
That none come near the Litter. If I find them
Firm to my Party, I'll dare disclose my self;
And then, live Aper's Equal.

Cam.
Does not the Body begin to putrifie?

Aper.
That exacts my Haste.
When but even now I feign'd Obedience to it,
As I had some great Business to impart,
The Scent had almost choak'd me. Be careful therefore
All keep at distance.

Cam.
I am taught my Part,
Haste you to perfect yours.

[Exit Aper.
1 Gua.
I had rather meet
An Enemy in the Field, than stand thus nodding,
Like a Rug-gown'd Watchman.

Enter Diocles, Maximinian, and Geta.
Max.
A Watch at Noon! This is a new Device.

Cam.
Stand.

Dio.
I am arm'd against all Danger.

Max.
If I do not second you,
A Coward's Name pursue me.

Dio.
Now my Fate guide and direct me.

Cam.
You are rude, and saucy,
With your forbidden Feet to touch this Ground,
Sacred to Cæsar only, and to these
That do attend his Person. Speak, what are you?

Dio.
What thou, nor any of thy Faction are,
Nor ever were; Soldiers, and honest Men.

Cam.
So blunt?

Dio.
No Instruments of Craft, Engines of Murther,
That serve the Emperor only with oyl'd Tongues,
Sooth and applaud his Vices; and when y'ave wrought
So far upon his Weakness, that he's grown
Odious to all the Subject, and himself,
You rid him out of the way.

Cam.
Treason.

Dio.
'Tis Truth, and I will make it good.

Cam.
Lay hands upon 'em, or kill 'em instantly.

Get.
I'll keep my Distance; I do not like the Sport.

Dio.
What's he that is
Owner of any Vertue worth a Roman,
Or does retain the Memory of the Oath
He made to Cæsar, that dares lift his Sword
Against that Man who (careless of his Life)
Comes to discover such a horrid Treason,
As when you hear't, and understand how long
Y'ave been abus'd, will make you mad with Fury.
I am no Stranger, but, like you, a Soldier,
Train'd up one from my Youth; and I see some
With whom I have serv'd; and (not to praise my self)
Must needs confess, they have seen Diocles,
In the late Britain Wars, both dare and do
Beyond a Common Man.

1 Gua.
Diocles!

2 Gua.
I know him; the bravest Soldier of the Empire.

Cam.
Stand; if thou advance an Inch, thou art dead.

Dio.
Die thou,
[Kills Cam.
That durst oppose thy self against a Truth,
That will break out, tho' Mountains cover it.

Get.
I fear this is a Sucking Pig, no Boar,
He falls so easie.

Dio.
Hear me, Soldiers;
And if I make it not apparent to you
This is an Act of Justice, and no Murther,
Cut me in pieces: I'll disperse the Cloud
That has so long obscur'd a bloody Act,
Ne'er equal'd yet. You all know with what Favours
The good Numerianus ever grac't
The Provost Aper.

1 Gua.
We all know it well.

Dio.
And that those Bounties
Should have contain'd him (if he e're had learn'd
The Elements of Honesty and Truth)
In Loyal Duty: But Ambition never
Looks backward on Desert, but with blind haste
Boldly runs on. But I lose time. You are here
Commanded by this Aper to attend
The Emperor's Person: No, my Friends, you are cozen'd,
The good Numerianus now is past
The sense of Wrong or Injury.

All Gua.
How? dead!

Dio.
Let your own Eyes inform you.

[Opens the Litter, and shews the Body of the murther'd Emperor.
Get.
Is this an Emperor's Cabinet?
Fough! I have known a Charnel-house smell sweeter.
If Emperors Flesh have this savour, what will mine do,
When I am rotten?

1 Gua.
Most unheard of Villany!

2 Gua.
And with all Cruelty to be reveng'd.

1 Gua.
Who is the Murtherer? Name him, that we may
Both punish it in him, and all his Family.

Dio.
Who but Aper?
That barbarous, and most ungrateful Aper,
His desperate Poniard printed on his Breast
This deadly wound.
Nay, weep not, let your Loves speak in your anger;
And to confirm you gave no suffrage to
This damned Plot, lend me your helping Hands
To punish the Paricide: And if you find
That there is worth in Diocles to deserve it,
Make him your Leader.

All.
A Diocles! A Diocles A Diocles.

Dio.
We'll force him from his Guards. Now my Stars,
If you have any good for me in store
Shew it, when I have slain this fatal Boar.

[Exeunt.
Delphia, and Drusilla, appear in the Air, in a Chariot drawn by Dragons.
Del.
Fix here, and rest a while your Sail-stretch'd Wings,
That have out-stript the Winds. The Eye of Heaven
Durst not behold our speed, but hid it self
Behind the grossest Clouds; and the pale Moon
Pluckt in her Silver Horns; trembling for fear
That my strong Spells should force her from her Sphere.
Such is the power of Art.

Drus.
Good Aunt, where are we?

Del.
Look down Drusilla. Yonder lofty Towers,
And spacious Streets, where every private House
Appears a Pallace to receive a King:
The Site, the Wealth, and Beauty of the Place
Will soon inform thee 'tis Imperial Rome:
Rome, the great Mistriss of the conquer'd World.

Dru.
But without Diocles, it is to me,
Like any Wilderness we have pass'd o're.
Shall I not see him?

Del.
Yes, and in full glory;
And glut thy eager Eyes with looking on
His prosperous success. Contain thy self:
For tho' all things beneath us are transparent,
The sharpest sighted, were he Eagle-Ey'd,
Cannot discover us. Nor will we hang
Idle Spectators to behold his Triumph.
Enter Diocles, Maximinian, Senators, Guard, with Aper Prisoner, Geta, and Officers.
But when occasion shall present it self,
Do something to add to it. See, he comes.

Drus.
How God-like he appears! with such a grace
(The Giants, that attempted to scale Heaven
When they lay dead on the Phlegrean Plain)
Mars did appear to Jove.

Del.
Forbear.

Dio.
Look on this,
And when with horror thou hast view'd thy deed,
(Thy most accursed deed) be thy own Judge,
And tell me if thou canst perswade thy self,
To Hope, or Plead for Mercy?

Ape.
No; I confess, my Life's a burthen to me.

Dio.
Thou art like thy name, a cruel Boar.
I long have hunted for thee; and since now
Thou art in the Toil, it is in vain to hope,
Thou ever shalt break out.
Yet since my future Fate depends upon thee,
Thus to fulfil great Delphia's Prophesie,
Aper (thou fatal Boar) receive the honour
[kills Aper.
To fall by Diocles Hand. Shine clear my Stars,
That met when I had entrance to the World,
And give Applause to this great Work.

Del.
Strike Musick from the Spheres.

Drus.
Oh now you honour me!

A Symphony of Musick in the Air.
Dio.
Ha! Musick in the Air!

All.
This is miraculous!

Max.
This shews the Gods approve the Person, and the Act.
But hark

First SONG.

Great Diocles the Boar has kill'd,
Which did infest the Land;
What Heart is not with Rapture fill'd?
Who can his Joys command?
Down, down the bloody Villain falls,
Hated, contemn'd of All;
And now the mighty Spirit calls,
For Rites of Funeral.

CHORUS.
Sing Io's! praise the Thundring Jove,
Pallas and Venus share;
Since the All-charming Queen of Love,
Inspires the God of War.

Second SONG, by a Woman.
Charon, the peaceful Shade invites,
He hastes to Waft him o're;
Give him all necessary Rites,
To land him on the Shore.
Sound all your Instruments of War,
Fifes, Trumpets, Timbrels play;
Let all Mankind the Pleasure share,
And bless this happy Day.

CHORUS.
Sound all your Instruments, &c.

Max.
Now if the Senate
(For in the Soldiers Eyes I read their Love)
Think Diocles worthy to supply the place,
Of dead Numerianus; as he stands
His Heir in his revenge; with one consent
Salute him Emperor.

1 Sen.
Long live Diocles,
Augustus, Pater Patriæ, and all Titles
That are peculiar only to the Cæsar's,
We gladly throw on him.

1 Gua.
We confirm it,
And will defend his honour with our Swords,
Against the World; raise him to the Tribunal.

1 Sen.
Fetch the Imperial Robes: And as a sign
We give him absolute power of Life, and Death,
Bind this Sword to his Side.

2 Sen.
Omit no Ceremony, that may be for his honour.

While they Invest him with the Imperial Robes, this Martial Song is sung: Trumpets and Ho-Boys joining with them.

Let the Soldiers rejoyce,
With a general Voice,
And the Senate new Honours decree 'em;
Who at his Armies Head,
Struck the fell Monster dead,
And so boldly, and bravely did free 'em.

CHORUS.
Rejoyce, Rejoyce, &c.


To Mars let 'em raise,
And their Emperors praise,
A Trophy of the Armies own making;
To Maximinian too,
Some honours are due,
Who joyn'd in the brave undertaking.

CHORUS.
Rejoyce, Rejoyce, &c.


With Flowers let 'em strow,
The way as they go,
Their Statues with Garlands adorning,
Who from Tyrannies Night
Drave the Mists in their Sight,
And gave 'em a glorious Morning.

CHORUS.
Rejoyce, Rejoyce, &c.

Then a Symphony of Flutes in the Air, and after this
SONG.


CHORUS.
Let the Priests with Processions the Hero attend,
And Statues erect to his Glory;
Let the Smoak from the Altars to Heaven ascend,
All sing Great Diocles Story.

Max.
Still the Gods
Express that they are pleas'd with the Election.

Get.
My Master is an Emperor, and I feel
A Senators Itch upon me. Would I could hire
These fine invisible Fidlers to play to me
At my Instalment.

Dio.
I embrace your Loves,
And hope the Honours which you heap on me
Shall be with Strength supported. I desire no Titles,
But as I shall deserve 'em. I will keep
My Name, but with this difference, I will add
To Diocles but two short Syllables,
And be call'd Dioclesianus.

Get.
This is fine.
I'll follow the Fashion, and when I am a Senator,
I'll be no more plain Geta, but be call'd
Lord Getianus.

Dru.
He ne'er thinks of me, nor of your Favour.

Enter Niger.
Del.
If he dares prove false,
These Glories shall be to him as a Dream,
Or an Inchanted Banquet.

Nig.
From Charinus,
From Great Charinus, who with joy has heard
Of your Proceedings, and confirms your Honours.
He, with his beauteous Sister, fair Aurelia,
Are come in Person, like themselves attended,
To gratulate your Fortune.

Dio.
For thy News,
Be thou in France Pro-Consul. Let us meet
The Emperor with all Respect and Honour.

Trumpets. Enter Charinus, Aurelia, Attendants.
Dru.
Oh Aunt! I see this Princess does eclipse
The lustre of my Beauty, tho' I were
My self to be the Judge.

Del.
Relie on me.

Cha.
'Tis Vertue, and not Birth, that makes us Noble.
Great Actions speak Great Minds, and such should govern;
And you are grac'd with both. Thus, as a Brother,
A Fellow, and Copartner in the Empire,
I do embrace you: May we live so far
From Difference, or emulous Competition,
That all the World may say, although two Bodies,
We have one Mind.

Aur.
When I behold this Object,
The dead Numerianus, I should wash
His Wounds with Tears, and pay a Sister's Sorrow
To his sad Fate: but since he lives again
In your most brave Revenge, I bow to you,
As to a Power which gave him second Life,
And will make good my Promise. If you find
That there is Worth in me that may deserve you,
Altho' my Youth and Fortune may require
Both to be su'd and sought to, here I yield
My self to be your Wife.

Dio.
Oh you Gods!
Teach me how to be thankful; you have pour'd
All Blessings on me, that ambitious Man
Could ever fancy. Till this happy minute
I ne'er saw Beauty, or believ'd there could be
Perfection in a Woman. On my Knees
I thus receive you; and, if you vouchsafe it,
This day I am doubly married, to the Empire,
And your fair self.

Del.
False and perfidious Villain—

Dru.
Let me fall headlong on him. Oh my Stars!
This I foresaw, and fear'd.

Cha.
Call in a Flamen; this Knot
Shall instantly be ty'd.

Del.
But it shall not,
If Art or Hell have any strength.

Enter a Flamen. Thunder and Lightning. The Stage ts darkned on a sudden. A dreadful Monster comes from the further end of the Scenes, and moves slowly forward.
Cha.
Prodigious!

Max.
How soon the Day's o're-cast!

Fla.
The Signs are fatal.
Juno smiles not upon this Match, and shews
She has her Thunder too. Defer the Marriage,
Or this fell Monster will devour you all.

Dio.
Can there be a Stop to all my Happiness?

Cha.
We were too violent,
And I repent my haste. First let us pay
All Rites of Funeral to my dead Brother;
Perhaps that may appease the angry Gods.

The Musick flourish. They who made the Monster separate in an instant, and fall into a Figure, ready to begin a Dance of Furies.
Cha.
'Tis wonderful. Here, take up the Body;
And when we have plac'd his Ashes in his Urn,
We'll try the Gods again.

[Exeunt Trumpets and Drums, sounding and beating a dead March.
Del.
So, 'tis deferr'd yet, in despite of Falshood.
Comfort, Drusilla; for he shall be thine.
Some Rites I must perform to Hecate,
To perfect my Designs; Which finish'd once,
He shall be made obedient to thy Call,
Or in his Ruine I will bury all.