brand me thus with Infamy And everlasting shame Thou might'st have made Thy choice without this cruel act of Death I left thee to thy will and in requital Thou hast murder'd all my Fameâ•Œ Athen. O pardon me I lay my dying Body at your Feet And beg my Lord with my last sighs intreat you To impute the fault if 't is a fault to love And the ingratitude of Athenais To her too cruel Stars Remember too I begg'd you would not let me see the Prince Presaging what has happen'd yet my word As to our Nuptials was inviolable Theo. Ha! she is going see her languishing Eyes Draw in their Beams the sleep of death is on her Athen. Farewell my Lord alas alas Varanes To embrace thee now is not immodesty Or if it were I think my bleeding Heart Would make me criminal in Death to clasp thee Break all the tender niceties of Honour To fold thee thus and warm thee into Life For oh what Man like him cou'd Woman move O Prince belov'd O Spirit most divine Thus by my Death I give thee all my Love And seal my Soul and Body ever thineâ•Œ Dies Theo. O Marcian O Pulcheria did not the Power Whom we adore plant all his Thunder-bolts Against Self-murderers I would perish too But as I am I swear to leave the Empire To thee my Sister I bequeath the World And yet a gift more great the Gallant Marcian On then my Friend now shew thy Roman Spirit As to her Sex fair Athenais was Be thou to thine a Pattern of true Honour Thus we 'll atone for all the present Crimes That yet it may be said in after-times No Age with such Examples cou'd compare So Great so Good so Vertuous and so Fair Ex. Omnes FINIS Epilogue THrice happy they that never writ before How pleas'd and bold they quit the safer shore Like some new Captain of the City Bands That with big looks in Finsbury Commands Swell'd with huge Ale he cries beat beat a Drum Pox o' the French-King uds bud let him come Give me ten thousand Redcoats and alloo We 'll firk his Crâ—qui and his Conde too Thus the young Scriblers Mankinds sense disdain For ignorance is sure to make 'em vain But far from Vanity or dang'rous pride Our cautious Poet courts you to his side For why should you be scorn'd to whom are due All the good days that ever Authors knew If ever gay 't is you that make 'em fine The Pit and Boxes make the Poet dine And he scarce drinks but of the Criticks Wine Old Writers should not for vain glory strive But like old Mistresses think how to thrive Be fond of ev'ry thing their Keepers say At least till they can live without a Play Like one that knows the Trade and has been bit She doats and fawns upon her wealthy Cit And swears she loves him meerly for his Wit Another more untaught than a Walloon Antick and ugly like an old Baboon She swears is an accomplisht Beau-garson Turns with all winds and sails with all desires All hearts in City Town and Court she sires Young callow Lords lean Knights and driv'ling Squires She in resistless flattery finds her ends Gives thanks for Fools and makes ye all her Friends So should wise Poets sooth an awkard Age For they are Prostitutes upon the Stage To stand on points were foolish and ill-bred As for a Lady to be nice in Bed Your wills alone must their performance measure And you may turn 'em ev'ry way for pleasure FINIS A Catalogue of some Plays Printed for R. Bently and M. Magnes in Russel-Street near Covent-Garden TArtuff or the French Puritan Forc'd Marriage or the Jealous Bride English Monsieur All Mistaken or the mad Couple Generous Enemies Andromacha A Tragedy Calisto or the Masque at Court Country-Wit A Comedie Destruction of Jerusalem 2 parts Miseries of Civil-War Henry 6. with the Murder of the Duke of Glocester Nero a Tragedie Gloriana a Tragedie Sophonisba or Hanibals overthrow Alexander the Great or the Rival Queens Mithridates King of Pontus Caesar Borgia Son of Pope Alexander 6. Oedipus King of Thebes Theodosius or the Force of Love The Plain Dealer The Town Fop or Sir Timothy Taudry Abdellazar or the Moors Revenge Madam Fickle or the Witty False one The Fond Husband or the Plotting Sisters The Vertuous Wife or good luck at last The Fool turn'd Critick a Comedy Squire Oldsap or the Night Adventurers The Mistaken Husband a Comedy Mr. Limberham or the Kind-Keeper Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco The Orphan or Unhappy Marriage The Souldier of Fortune in the Press
patient hearing honest Marcian And as far as I can see into your Temper I speak my serious Judgment in cold Blood With strictest Consultation on the matter I think this seeming plain and honest Marcian An exquisite and most notorious Traytor Marc. Ha! Traytor Pulch. Yes a most notorious Traytor Marc. Your Grandfather whose Frown could awe the World Would not have call'd me so╌or if he had╌ Pulch. You would have taken it╌But to the Business Was 't not enough Oh Heaven Thou know'st too much At first to own your self an Infidel A bold Contemner even to Blasphemy Of that Religion which we all profess For which your Heart's best Blood can ne'er suffice But you must dare with a seditious Army Thus to conspire against the Emperour I mention not your Impudence to me Taxing the folly of my Government Ev'n to my Face Such an Irreverence As sure no barb'rous Vandal would have urg'd Beside your libelling all the Court as if You had engrost the whole World's honesty And Flatterers Fools Sycophants Knaves Such was your Language did inhabit here Marc. You wrest my honest meaning by the Gods You do and if you thus go on I feel My strugling Spirit will no longer bear it Pulch. I thought the meaning of all rational Men Should still be gather'd out of their Discourse Nor are you so imprudent without thinking To vent such words tho' now you fain would hide it You find the Guilt and bauk the Accusation But think not you shall scape so easily Once more I do confront you as a Traytor And as I am entrusted with full pow'r Divest you in the Name of Theodosius Of all your Offices Commissions Honours Command you leave the Court within three Days Loyal plain-dealing honest Marcian Marc. Gods Gods Pulch. What now ha does the Traytor murmur If in three days mark me 't is I that doom thee Rash inconsiderable Man a Wretch beneath The Torments I cou'd execute upon thee If after three days space thou' rt found in Court Thou dy'st thy head thy head shall pay the forfeit Farewell now rage now rail and curse the Court Saucily dare to abuse the best of Princes And let thy lawless Tongue lash all it can Do like a mad-man rave deplore thy Fortune While Pages laugh at thee Then haste to the Army Grow popular and lead the multitude Preach up thy Wrongs and drive the giddy Beast To kick at Caesar. Nay if thou weep'st I am gone O Julia if I stay I shall weep too Yet 't is but just that I the Heart should see Of him who once must Lord it over me Ex. Pulcheria c. Luc. Why do you droop Sir╌Come no more o' this You are and shall be still our General Say but the Word I 'll fill the Hippodrome With Squadrons that shall make the Emp'ror tremble We 'll fire the Court about his Ears Methinks like Junius Brutus I have watcht An Opportunity and now it comes Few words and I are Friends but noble Marcian If yet thou art not more than General E'er dead of Night say Lucius is a Coward Marc. I charge thee in the name of all the Gods Come back I charm thee by the name of Friend All 's well and I rejoyce I am no General But hush within three days we must be gone And then my Friend farewel to Ceremony We 'll fly to some far distant lonely Village Forget our former state and breed with Slaves Sweat in the Eye of Day and when Night comes With bodies coursely fill'd and vacant Souls Sleep like the laboured Hinds and never think For if I think again I shall go mad Enter Leontine and Athonais c. Therefore no thought But see we are interrupted O Court O Emperor yet let Death threaten I 'll find a time Till then be still my Soul╌ No General now A Member of thy Country But most corrupt therefore to be cut off Loyal plain-dealing honest Marcian A Slave a Traytor O ye Eternal Gods╌ Exeunt Leon. So Athenais now our complement To the young Persian Prince is at an end What then remains but that we take our leave And bid him everlastingly Farewell Athen. My Lord Leon. I say that decency requires We should be gone nor can you stay with Honour Athen. Most true my Lord. Leon. The Court is now at peace The Emperour's Sisters are retir'd for ever And he himself compos'd what hinders then But that we bid adieu to Prince Varanes Athen. Ah Sir why will you break my heart Leon. I would not Thou art the only Comfort of my Age Like an old Tree I stand among the storms Thou art the only limb that I have left me She kneels My dear green branch and how I prize thee Child Heaven only knows why dost thou kneel and weep Athen. Because you are so good and will I hope Forgive my fault who first occasion'd it Leon I charg'd thee to receive and hear the Prince Athen. You did and Oh my Lord I heard too much Too much I fear for my Eternal Quiet Leon. Rise Athenais Credit him who bears More years than thou Varanes ha deceiv'd thee Athen. How do we differ then You judge the Prince Impious and base while I take Heav'n to witness I think him the most Vertuous of men Therefore take heed my Lord how you accuse him Before on make the Tryal Alas Varanes If thou art false there 's no such thing on Earth As solid Goodness or substantial Honour A thousand times My Lord he has sworn to give me And I believe his Oaths his Crown and Empire That day I make him Master of my Heart Leon. That day he 'll make thee Mistress of his power Which carries a foul name among the Vulgar No Athenais let me see thee dead Born a pale Corps and gently laid in Earth So I may say she 's chaste and dy'd a Virgin Rather than view thee with these wounded Eyes Seated upon the Throne of Isdigerdes The blast of Common Tongues the Nobles scorn Thy Father's Curse that is the Prince's Whore Athen. O horrid supposition how I detest it Be witness Heav'n that sees my secret thoughts Have I for this my Lord been taught by you The nicest Justice and severest Vertue To fear no Death to know the end of Life And with a long search discern the highest good No Athenais when the Day beholds thee So scandalously rais'd Pride cast the down The scorn of Honour and the People's prey No cruel Leontine not to redeem That aged Head from the descending Axe Not tho' I saw thy trembling Body rackt Thy wrinckles about thee fill'd with Blood Would I for Empire to the Man I love Be made the object of unlawful Pleasure Leon. O greatly said and by the Blood which warms me Which runs as rich as any Athens holds It would improve the Vertue of the World If every Day a thousand Votaries And thousand Virgins came from far to hear thee Athen. Look down ye pow'rs take notice we obey
as he sleeps SONG Happy day ah happy day That Caesar's Beams did first display So peaceful was the happy day The Gods themselves did all look down The Royal Infant 's Birth to Crown So pleas'd they searce did on the guilty frown Happy day ah happy day And oh thrice happy hour That made such Goodness Master of such Pow'r For thus the Gods declare to Men No day like this shall ever come agen Enter Marcian with an Order Theo. Ha! what rash thing art thou who set'st so small A value on thy Life thus to presume Against the fatal Orders I have given Thus to entrench on Caesar's solitude And urge me to thy ruine Marc. Mighty Caesar I have transgrest and for my Pardon bow To thee as to the Gods when I offend Nor can I doubt your Mercy when you know The nature of my Crime I am Commission'd From all the Earth to give thee thanks and praises Thou Darling of Mankind whose Conqu'ring Arms Already drown the Glory of great Julius Whose deeper reach in Laws and Policy Makes wise Augustus envy thee in Heav'n What mean the Fates by such prodigious Vertue When scarce the manly Down yet shades thy Face With Conquest thus to over-run the World And make Barbarians tremble O ye Gods Should Destiny now end thee in the Bloom Methinks I see thee mourn'd above the loss Of lov'd Germanicus thy Funerals Like his are solemniz'd with Tears and Blood Theo. How Marcian Marc. Yes the raging Multitude Like Torrents set no bound to their mad grief Shave their Wives Heads and tear off their own Hair With wild Despair they bring their Infants out To brawl their Parents sorrow in the Streets Trade is no more all Courts of Justice stopt With Stones they dash the Windows of their Temples Pull down their Altars break their Houshold Gods And still the Universal Groan is this Constantinople's lost our Empire 's ruin'd Since he is gone that Father of his Country Since he is dead O Life where is thy Pleasure O Rome Oh conquer'd World where is thy Glory Theo. I know thee well thy Custom and thy Manners Thou dost upbraid me but no more of this Not for thy Life╌ Marc. What 's Life without my Honour Could you transform your self into a Gorgon Or make that beardless Face like Jupiter's I would be heard in spight of all your Thunder O pow'r of Guilt you fear to stand the Test Which Vertue brings like Sores your Vices shake Before this Roman-healer But by the Gods Before I go I 'll rip the Malady And let the Venom flow before your Eyes This is a Debt to the great Theodosius The Grand-father of your Illustrious Blood And then farewell for ever Theo. Presuming Marcian What canst thou urge against my Innocence Through the whole Course of all my harmless Youth Ev'n to this hour I cannot call to mind One wicked act which I have done to shame me Marc. This may be true yet if you give the sway To other Hands and your poor Subjects suffer Your negligence to them is as the Cause O Theodosius credit me who know The World and hear how Soldiers censure Kings In after-times if thus you should go on Your Memory by Warriers will be scorn'd As much as Nero or Caligula loath'd They will despise your sloth and backward case More than they hate the others Cruelty And what a thing ye Gods is scorn or pity Heap on me Heav'n the hate of all Mankind Load me with Malice Envy Detestation Let me be horrid to all apprehension And the World shun me so I escape but Scorn Theo. Prithee no more Marc. Nay when the Legions make Comparisons And say thus cruel Nero once resolv'd On Galba's Insurrection for Revenge To give all France as Plunder to the Arms To poison the whole Senate at a Feast To burn the City turn the wild Beasts out Bears Lions Tigers on the Multitude That so obstructing those that quench'd the Fire He might at once destroy Rebellious Rome Theo. O cruelty why tell'st thou me of this Am I of such a barbarous bloody temper Marc. Yet some will say this shew'd he had a spirit However fierce avenging and pernicious That savour'd of a Roman but for you What can your partial Sycophants invent To make you room among the Emperours Whose utmost is the smallest part of Nero A pretty Player one that can act a Heroe And never be one O ye immortal Gods Is this the old Caesarian Majesty Now in the name of our great Romulus Why sing you not and siddle too as he did Why have you not like Nero a Phenascus One to take care of your Coelestial Voice Lie on your Back my Lord and on your Stomach Lay a thin Plate of Lead abstain from Fruits And when the Business of the Stage is done Retire with your loose Friends to costly Banquets While the lean Army groans upon the Ground Theo. Leave me I say lest I chastise thee Hence be gone I say╌ Marc. Not till you have heard me out╌ Build too like him a Palace lin'd with Gold As long and large as that to the Esquiline Inclose a Pool too in it like the Sea And at the Empires cost let Navies meet Adorn your starry Chambers too with Gems Contrive the plated Ceilings to turn round With Pipes to cast Ambrosian Oils upon you Consume with his prodigious Vanity In meer Perfumes and Odorous Distillations Of Sisterces at once 400 Millions Let naked Virgins wait you at your Table And wanton Cupids dance and clap their Wings No matter what becomes of the poor Soldier So they perform the Drudgery they are sit for Why let 'em starve for want of their Arrears Drop as they go and lie like Dogs in Ditches Theo. Come you are a Traytor Marc. Go too you are a Boy╌ Or by the Gods╌ Theo. If Arrogance like this And to the Emperour's Face should 'scape unpunish'd I 'll write my self a Coward die then Villain A Death too glorious for so bad a Man By Theodosius's hand Marcian disarms him but is wounded Marc. Now Sir where are you What in the name of all our Roman Spirits Now charms my Hand from giving thee thy Fate Has he not cut me off from all my Honours Torn my Commissions sham'd me to the Earth Banisht the Court a Vagabond for ever Does not the Soldier hourly ask it from me Sigh their own wrongs and beg me to revenge ' em What hinders now but that I mount the Throne And make to that this purple Youth my Footstool The Armies court me and my Countries Cause The Injuries of Rome and Greece perswade me Shew but this Roman Blood which he has drawn They 'll make me Emperour whether I will or no Did not for less than this the latter Brutus Because he thought Rome wrong'd in Person head Against his Friend a black Conspiracy And stab the Majesty of all the World Theo. Act as you please I am within your Power Marc. Did not the
streets Thou chance to meet the cold Varanes there Born by his Friends to his Eternal home Stop then O Athenais and behold me Say as thou hang'st about the Emp'rour's Neck Alas my Lord this sight is worth our pity If to those pitying words thou add a Tear Or give one parting groan╌If possible If the good Gods will grant my Soul the freedom I 'll leave my Shrowd and wake from Death to thank thee Athen. He shakes my resolution from the Bottom My bleeding Heart too speaks in his behalf And says my Vertue has been too severe Vara. Farewell O Empress No Athenais now I will not call thee by that tender Name Since cold despair begins to freeze my Bosom And all my Pow'rs are now resolv'd on Death 'T is said that from my Youth I have been rash Cholerick and hot but let the Gods now judge By my last wish if ever patient Man Did calmly bear so great a loss as mine Since 't is so doom'd by Fate you must be wedded For your own Peace when I am laid in Earth Forget that e're Varanes had a Being Turn all your Soul to Theodosius Bosom Continue Gods their Days and make 'em long Lucina wait upon their fruitful Hymen And many Children beauteous as the Mother And pious as the Father make 'em smile Athen. O Heav'ns Vara. Farewell╌I'll trouble you no more The malady that 's lodg'd within grows stronger I feel the shock of my approaching Fate My heart too trembles at his distant march Nor can I utter more if you shoul'd ask me Thy arm Aranthes O farewell for ever╌╌ Athen. Varanes stay and ere you go for ever Let me unfold my heart Vara. O Athenais What further cruelty hast thou in store To add to what I suffer Athen. Since it is doom'd That we must part let 's part as Lovers shou'd As those that have lov'd long and lov'd well Vara. Art thou so good O Athenais oh Athen. First from my Soul I pity and forgive you I pardon you that hasty little Errour Which yet has been the cause of both our Ruins And let this sorrow witness for my Heart How eagerly I wish it had not been And since I cannot keep it take it all Take all the Love O Prince I ever bore you Or if 't is possible I 'll give you more Your noble Carriage forces this confession I rage I burn I bleed I die for Love I am distracted with this World of Passion Vara. Gods cruel Gods take notice I forgive you Athen. Alas my Lord my weaker tender Sex Has not your manly Patience cannot curb This Fury in therefore I let it loose Spite of my rigid Duty I will speak With all the dearness of a dying Lover Farewell most lovely and most lov'd of Men Why comes this dying paleness o'er thy Face Why wander thus thy Eyes Why dost thou bend As if the fatal weight of Death were on thee Vara. Speak yet a little more For by the Gods And as I prize those blessed happy moments I swear O Athenais all is well O never better Athen. I doubt thee dear Varanes Yet if thou dy'st I shall not long be from thee Once more farewell and take these last Embraces Oh! I could crush him to my Heart Farewel And as a dying pledge of my last Love Take this which all thy Pray'rs could never Charm What have I done oh lead me lead me Delia Ah Prince farewell Angels protect and guard thee Vara. Turn back O Athenais and behold me Hear my last words and then farewell for ever Thou hast undone me more by this confession You say you swear you love me more than ever Yet I must see you marry'd to another Can there be any Plague or Hell like this O Athenais Whither shall I turn me You have brought me back to life but oh what life SONG after the Fourth ACT. Ah Cru╌el Bloo╌dy Fate what canst thou now do more A╌las 't is now too late Philander to re-store Why should the Heav'nly Powers perswade poor Mortals to believe that they guard us here or re╌ward us there yet all our Joys deceive 2. Her Ponyard then she took And held it in her Hand And with a dying look Cry'd thus I Fate command Philander Ah my Love I come To meet thy Shade below Ah! I come she cry'd With a Wound so wide There needs no second blow 3. In Purple Waves her Blood Ran streaming down the Floor Unmov'd she saw the Flood And blest the Dying Hour Philander Ah Philander still The bleeding Phillis cry'd She wept a while And she forc'd a smile Then clos'd her Eyes and dy'd FINIS To a life more terrible than a thousand deaths Like one that had been buried in a Trance With racking starts he wakes and gazes round Forc'd by despair his whirling Limbs to wound And bellow like a Spirit under ground Still urg'd by Fate to turn to toss and rave Tormented dash'd and broken in the Grave Exeunt ACT V. SCENE I. Athenais drest in Imperial Robes and Crown'd A Table with a Bowl of Poison Athen. A Midnight Marriage must I to the Temple Thus at the Murderers hour 'T is wond'rous strange But so thou say'st my Father has commanded And that 's Almighty Reason Delia. Th' Emperour in compassion to the Prince Who would perhaps fly to extravagance If he in publick should resolve to espouse you Contriv'd by this close Marriage to deceive him Athen. Go fetch thy Lute and sing those Lines I gave thee So now I am alone yet my Soul shakes For where this dreadful Draught may carry me The Heav'ns can only tell yet I am resolv'd To drink it off in spite of Consequence Whisper him O some Angel what I am doing By sympathy of Soul let him too tremble To hear my wondrous Faith my wondrous Love Whose Spirit not content with an Ovation Of ling'ring Fate with Triumph thus resolv'd Thus in the rapid Chariot of the Soul To mount and dare as never Woman dar'd 'T is done haste Delia haste come bring thy Lute Drinks And sing my waftage to immortal Joys Methinks I cannot but smile at my own bravery Thus from my lowest Fortune rais'd to Empire Crown'd and adorn'd worshipt by half the Earth While a young Monarch dies for my Embraces Yet now to wave the Glories of the World O my Varanes tho' my Births unequal My Vertue sure has richly recompenc'd And quite out-gone Example SONG 1. Ab Cruel bloody Fate What oanst thou now do more Alas 't is all too late Philander to restore Why should the Heavenly Powers perswade Poor Mortals to believe That they guard us here And reward us there Yet all our Joys deceive 2. Her Ponyard then she took And held it in her Hand And with a dying look Cry'd thus I Fate commmand Philander ah my Love I come To meet thy shade below Ah I come she cry'd With a Wound so wide There needs no second Blow 3. In Purple Waves her Blood Ran streaming
has banisht me and I obey The Court and I shake Hands and now we part Never to see each other more the Court Where I was born and bred a Gentleman No more till your Illustrious Bounty rais'd me And drew the Earth-born Vapour to the Clouds But as the Gods ordain'd it I have lost I know not how through Ignorance your Grace And now the Exhalation of my Glory Is quite consum'd and vanisht into Air. Pulch. Proceed Sir╌╌ Marc. Yet let those Gods that doom'd me to displease you Be Witnesses how much I honour you╌ Thus worshipping I swear by your bright self I leave this infamous Court with more content Than Fools and Flatterers seek it But oh Heaven I cannot go if still your hate pursues me Yes I declare it is impossible To go to Banishment without your Pardon Pulch. You have it Marcian is there ought beside That you would speak for I am free to hear Marc. Since I shall never see you more what hinders But my last words should here protest the Truth Know then Imperial Princess matchless Woman Since first you cast your Eyes upon my meanness Ev'n till you rais'd me to my envy'd height I have in secret lov'd you╌ Pulch. Is this Marcian Marc. You frown but I am still prepar'd for all I say I lov'd you and I love you still More than my Life and equal to my Glory Methinks the warring Spirit that inspires This Frame the very Genius of old Rome That makes me talk without the fear of Death And drives my daring Soul to acts of Honour Flames in your Eyes our Thoughts too are a-kin Ambitious fierce and burn alike for Glory Now by the Gods I lov'd you in your Fury In all the Thunder that quite riv'd my hopes I lov'd you most ev'n when you did destroy me Madam I 've spoke my heart and cou'd say more But that I see it grieves you your high Blood Frets at the Arrogance and sawcy Pride Of this bold Vagabond may the Gods forgive me Farewell a worthier General may succeed me But none more faithful to the Emperour's Interest Than him you are pleas'd to call the Traytor Marcian Pulch. Come back you have subtilly play'd your part indeed For first th' Emperour whom you lately school'd Restores you your Commission next commands you As you 're a Subject not to leave the Court Next but oh Heav'n which way shall I express His cruel Pleasure he that is so mild In all things else yet obstinate in this Spite of my Tears my Birth and my Disdain Commands me as I dread his high Displeasure O Marcian to receive you as my Husband Marc. Ha Lucius what what does my Fate intend Luc. Pursue her Sir 't is as I said she yields And rages that you follow her no faster Pulch. Is then at last my great Authority And my intrusted Pow'r declin'd to this Yet oh my Fate what way can I avoid it He charg'd me streight to wait him to the Temple And there resolve oh Marcian on this Marriage Now generous Soldier as you 're truly noble O help me forth lost in this Labyrinth Help me to loose this more than Gordian Knot And make me and your self for ever happy Marc. Madam I 'll speak as briefly as I can And as a Soldier ought the only way To help this Knot is yet to tye it faster Since then the Emperor has resolv'd you mine For which I will for ever thank the Gods And make this Holy-day throughout my Life I take him at his word and claim his promise The Empire of the World shall not redeem you Nay weep not Madam though my out side 's rough Yet by those Eyes your Soldier has a Heart Compassionate and tender as a Virgins Ev'n now it bleeds to see those falling Sorrows Perhaps this Grief may move the Emperour To a Repentance Come then to the Tryal For by my Arms my Life and dearer Honour If you go back when given me by his Hand In distant Wars my Fate I will deplore And Marcian's Name shall ne'er be heard of more Exeunt SCENE the Temple Theodosius Athenais Atticus joyning their hands╌Marcian Pulcheria Lucius Julia Delia c. Leontine Attic. The more than Gordian knot is ty'd Which Death 's strong Arm shall ne'er divide For when to bliss ye wafted are Your Spirits shall be wedded there Waters are lost and Fires will die But Love alone can Fate defie Enter Aranthes with the Body of Varanes Arant Where is the Empress Where shall I find Eudosia By Fate I am sent to tell that cruel Beauty She has rob'd the World of Fame her Eyes have giv'n A blast to the big Blossom of the War Behold him there nipt in his flowry Morn Compell'd to break his promise of a Day A Day that Conquest would have made her Boast Behold her Lawrel wither'd to the Root Canker'd and kill'd by Athenais scorn Athen. Dead dead Varanes Theo. O ye Eternal Pow'rs That guide the World why do you shock our Reason With acts like these that lay our Thoughts in dust Forgive me Heav'n this start or elevate Imagination more and make it nothing Alas alas Varanes But speak Aranthes The manner of his Fate Groans choke my words But speak and we will answer thee with Tears Arant His Fever would no doubt by this have done What some few minutes past his Sword perform'd He heard from me your progress to the Temple How you design'd at midnight to deceive him By a Clandestine Marriage But my Lord Had you beheld his Racks at my Relation Or had your Empress seen him in those Torments When from his dying Eyes swoln to the Brim The big round drops rowl'd down his manly Face When from his hallowed Breast a murmuring Croud Of groans rush'd forth and echo'd All is well Then had you seen him O ye cruel Gods Rush on the Sword I held against his Breast And dye it to the Hilts with these last words╌ Bear me to Athenais╌ Athen. Give me way my Lord I have most strictly kept my promise with you I am your Bride and you can ask no more Or if you did I am past the power to give But here oh here on his cold bloody Breast Thus let me breath my last Theo. O Empress what what can this transport mean Are these our Nuptials these my promis'd Joys Athen Forgive me Sir this last respect I apy These sad remains╌And oh thou mighty Spiit If yet thou art not mingled with the Stars Look down and hear the wretched Athenais When thou shalt know before I gave consent To this indecent Marriage I had taken Into my Veins a cold and deadly Draught Which soon would render me alas unfit For the warm Joys of an Imperial Lover And make me ever thine yet keep my word With Theodosius Wilt thou not forgive me Theo. Poison'd to free thee from the Emperor Oh Athenais thou hast done a deed That tears my Heart what have I done against thee That thou should'st