I have to live I scorn to beg a life that 's thus betray'd Yet blush to be so Childishly destroy'd After such dangers and such Battles won To place so great a Devil on the Throne My Son 't is nobler much to die with me Than to live longer here with Infamy Basilis Living I made your Actions my Examples And boldly now in Death I 'le follow you Harmat. Thou art my Son I see that canst prefer Thy honour 'bove thy life to die with me Who boldly slew one Tyrant in the field And to this Tyrant do disdain to yield Zeno. Lead them all off to Execution Exeunt Prisoners Longi Captain make hast let one Ax serve them all Zeno. That pestilent tongue does much disturb me Longi A few minutes will ease you of that pain Zeno. 'T is well and so am I for now I live Sebastian publish you Harmatius Plot Let some cajole the credulous people Who ever joyn with those that first complain Urbitius take the gold that lies within With that and all your art appease the Souldiers Who for their General 's Death will be inrag'd Bid them be Loyal to the Crown and Me. I will reward their best fidelity Urbit. I shall loose no time to serve my Royal Master Exit Urbit. Zeno. Brother you shall with me ascend the Throne That when I die you then may Rule alone But we must first remove Pelagius Longi That I 'le soon do I have a trick for him He has forsaken Christ and worships Iove There shall be Witnesses to prove it true Though he be no more guilty of 't than you Zeno. But will it look like truth as you propose't Longi Leave that to me it is my great concern Zeno. If your design succeeds the Villain dies Be sure you trust safe Agents and dispatch Longi Oh! the Destruction of my Enemy Shall neither want dispatch nor vigilance Exeunt The Fourth Act. Enter Empress Patriarck Anastasius Urbitius and Doctor Empress I Have already done what does become A wife by such addresses as did shew His safety was indanger'd by his crimes And my concern for him exprest so high That he was startled at the tears I shed And seem'd as if he were admonished Patriarck Madam the zeal and duty you have pay'd Does more inrage than mitigate a man That Warrs with Heav'n 'T is treasure that we want And only you can that supply to win The discontented Army to protect Your life the Empire and our Nation save Ere Zeno all into confusion turn Empress Does our Religion wives impower to force Their Husbands will Though Zeno's sins cry loud Can I his Scepter sway Shall I controul What Heav'n alone to Monarchs doth allow Such a presumption may create in me A greater crime than Zeno can commit Religion bids me to my Fate submit Urbit. Religion binds your Majesty and us To save our selves and our posterity From ravening Woolves that do the world annoy And such as will in time mankind destroy Anast. We do not invite your Majesty To act with us but to impart a Loan Of so much money for the publick good As may stop the effusion of more blood If our designs go higher than to set You free from Death and all from slavery Then let the Evil which your Virtue dreads With all its weight be lay'd upon our heads Patriarck I am no man of blood 't is Piety To wish that our great Monarch may As Heav'n directs his Royal Scepter sway Empress My Lords what you allege concerning me Urges my safety by Impiety If Heav'n have by a Tyrants will decreed That I must die I am content to bleed Patriarck 'T is a kind of self-slaughter to comply With Murderers not Heaven's will so to die Now you are warn'd and may your death prevent Your yielding weds his crime by your consent Empress I value not my Treasure nor my Fate Above your lives and safety of the State But doubt the event of what you safety call And fear lest Zeno by my money fall Do but secure that doubt and all I have Shall be at your command For I dare trust Your Honours that your Actions will be just While I who cannot judge so great affairs Will guard my Innocence with timely prayers Doctor Madam you will do well to fain some pain Lest Zeno find his poyson does not work And so grow jealous of my subtlety Who do perswade him 't works invisibly Empress 'T is hard to counterfeit to save my life It looks so like a crime to own a lie My blushes will discover 't though I die Exeunt Urbitius and Anastasius stay Urbit. 'T is strange how Fortune favors our design I carry Zeno's money to the Camp And in your Name bestow his Donative Now say what Oratory I must use Anast. Go and be prosp'rous say Harmatius fell By the Emperial Brothers treachery Who envying his great Actions instead Of recompense for all his services Destroy'd him and his Son and do intend Speedily to reduce their Legions too For the same cause they slew their General Incense them all you can inrage their Spirits And by these Arts invite them to revenge Then profer all my fortune with my life To justifie their General and them Urbit. I soon shall have dispatch'd all these commands Make hast to be elected by the Army Anast. Go when Pelagius comes I le follow you And bring with me another shower of gold To quicken their resolves and fix them more Exit Urbit. Did ever gale blow prosperous like this In midst of such great storms to convey me Thus to my wish'd Port Is this Fortunes work Or my own act begotten in my soul Th' effect of that bright spark of living Air That sets bold men to struggle with theie Fate And so do our own Destinies create Thus I 'le go on and raise my vulgar earth Unto the skies there like the Sun I 'le shine And Rule the World below I have been here Tramp'led upon by Men as meanly born Tyrants who let none live but those they scorn Exit Enter Castor and Souldiers at one door Urbitius at the other Castor Urbitius Urbit. Oh the plague of Tyranny Castor Why against Tyranny do you exclaim Urbit. Can Princes thirst for their best servants blood Castor By Heav'n you rack me What sad news d' ye bring Urbit. It is too big to utter all at once Castor Pray let us know it If we must grief sustain This expectation is the greater pain Urbit. Harmatius Castor How I shake What of Harmatius Urbit. Iâ— by the cruel Brothers put to death Castor Harmatius the terrour of the East Our General slain for Conquering Caesar's Foes Sure such ingratitude was never known To one that plac'd a Caesar on his Throne Urbit. 'T is so he knew no crime but serving him Castor How came Harmatius into Zeno's power Urbit. The usual way with Tyrants trechery Zeno most kindly welcom'd him to Court To entertain him there prepar'd a Masque
no way to scape What is become of Zeno I know not Anastasius comes in Anast. Turn this way Monster 't is the Screech Owl calls The Blockhead you contemn brings now thy fate Longi Th' art a brave Enemy singly thus To hazard what thou hast so surely gain'd They fight Longinus is slain falls is carryed off Enter Officers and Souldiers with Urbitius wounded and Zeno Prisoner Urbit. The Heav'ns do fight for Anastasius Let Anastasius be our Emperor All. Let Anastasius be our Emperor Anast. Castor to you for great Harmatius sake I do commit that blood shedder take him And when he sleeps convey him to the Vault Where all the men he murd'red are inter'd And while he sleeps there cain him to the ground That when he wakes the terror of his Deeds May some remorse beger and make him pray They carry Zeno out Urbit. Great Prince when I am dead remember me And know there be two kinds of Tyranny To do injustice when 't is understood Is the next Tyranny to shedding blood I am now paid for my presumptous guils And find that Criminals unjustly brought To Judgment though by the same arts they rise Is not by Heav'n approv'd and therefore I For doing good by evil wayes must die And thus too late I find None may contend With Princes but the God whom they offend Dies Anast. He had good principles but ill imploy'd Though I have partly prosper'd by his Arts I do not in my heart approve such frauds They put the Robes and Crown brought for Longinus on Anastasius Castor This Crown and Robes will fit our Emperor All. Let Anastasius Rule the Universe Anast. My thanks to Castor and to all the rest Since Heav'n has our Proceedings thus far blest 'T is fit we see that wicked man interr'd Alive as his own Astrologer foretold That Ceremony done the next will be To set the Empress and Eirene free The Souldiers carry off Zeno drunk and asleep Anastasius and the rest follow Exeunt The Empress Chamber is seen in it the Empress and Eirene Empress 'T is strange we hear no more of this Alarm Eirene This tumult in the Campe makes Zeno fret And stout Longinus tread unsteedy steps Empress We are now driven to great Exigents Yet 't is much better to die Innocent Than live by wicked and foul practices I doubt by condescending to those Lords I have done ill when I did them supply Who gave their words that Zeno should not die Eirene Madam could you do better than to lend Your treasure which those Lords distributed To th' Army to preserve us and the Empire But if that Zeno in his cruelty Shall still persist what would you have them do Empress I would not save my own life by his death I am much readier to die than he Eirene Nor can my heart consent to shedding blood Though my own life in competition stood But when I know that Zeno has design'd By force to take what else he cannot gain I must prevent lest he my honor stain And hope your Majesty will give me leave That I this great Impostor may deceive What hope for me what surety can remain After my Father and my Brother slain Empress I must confess when I consider well How great Harmatius and your Brother fell The various stories which each party makes Of that sad night look like a dismal guilt On both sides yet their blood was justly spilt If Zeno were assur'd of their intent He by their ruins did his own prevent Eirene In the first Failer was the crime To share the Empire was my Brothers right And Zeno when he did depose the youth First taught the Treason and discourag'd truth So that if we will raise our own Concerns Upon the fate of those who stand or fall We must take time to see the end of all And then as Heaven can better judge than we Let us observe and yield to that Decree Empress Eirene thou art happy and art blest With virtue and with judgment 'bove the rest Of our weak Sex and art no doubt the Care Of Heav'n which will secure thee from disgrace And for thy sake preserve this wicked place Eirene Madam if I have ought wherein to boast It came from you and if I be not lost In this confusion unto your virtues I owe my preservation and success For those whom you take care of Heav'n will bless Enter to them Anastasius Crown'd and his Train Anast. Madam by Zeno's and Longinus deaths This Crown plac'd by the Army on my head Takes his Crown and offers it to her Is yours and I as much your Vassal now As heretofore with these who ready stand To obey what our Empress will command Empr. weeps No Anastasius all my thoughts of State Are vanish'd all involv'd in Zeno's fare But if your words do with your hearts agree I shall believe this Crown belongs to me She takes the Crown And as my gift this and Eirene take Who did refuse this glory for my sake When Zeno us'd his power and art to stain Her honor which his Empire could not gain Anast. Madam this mighty gift would weigh me down Unless Eirene did support the Crown He receives the Crown and Eirene Eirene My joys for Anastasius are too great Empress May you be blest and happy in your love While I to a retired life remove I have too much of this World's glory seen And too long been a chief Actor in it Anast. Madam this Crown and the Imperial Throne Is by your gift mine and is still your own All go off The Scene is chang'd into a dismal Vault set round with Coffins in each a dead corps in the remote part a small Lamp burning in the front next the Stage is Zeno sleeping his leggs chain'd to the ground at one corner on the outside a Guard stands Zeno wakes Zeno. Is 't not yet day This night seems very long That little Lamp does give so faint a Light I cannot well distinguish what I see Longinus Proclus do none give attendance Is Caesar by his Servants no more fear'd Ha! where am I In Fetters and alone Either I Dream or I do dimly see A dismal Vault surrounded with dead Corps Euphemian thy Prediction is too true Would I had stab'd my self when I slew thee This is the Tomb he fatally foretold I should alive be buried in Horror Dazels my eyes or else among the dead I see Longinus in that next Coffin He 's buried too but not alive like me How I came hither is beyond my guess What ho who guards this prison of the Dead 1 Sould. They need no guards we only wait on you Zeno. Then give me drink to quench my raging thirst 2 Sould. So we may keep you company in chains Zeno. By whose command do you starve me to death 1 Sould. By th' Emperors command He sent you hither Zeno. What have you any Emperor but Zeno 2 Sould. Yes Anastasius Reigns you are in your grave Zeno. Can these Changes be since yesterday And by him I least fear'd of all mankind When died my Empress 1 Sould. Sir she is very well Zeno. The Doctor said she would die yesterday 2 Sould. No Caesar no you were out-witted there To her the Doctor was more merciful Zeno. And in these changes what 's Eirene's fate 1 Sould. She Reigns with Anastasius Zeno. Curse on Curse Light on them both Does he injoy Eirene To be despis'd and laugh'd at in my Grave Is worse than Death and to be thus Dethron'd Tortures me more than Hell it self can do Were not you Souldiers of my Guard 2 Sould. We were Zeno. I 'le make you Princes if you 'l let me out 1 Sould. We dare not trust your Promise nor your Power We remember how you serv'd Harmatius And his young Son who set you on the Throne Zeno. You reproach me justly I was misled Longinus has destroy'd himself and me Good Souldiers be so kind to Murder me 2 Sould. We shall then forfeit our Allegeance Zeno. How durst you break the Oath you made to me 1 Sould. So long as you were Emperor we were Loyal Zeno. If Heav'n and Hell would let me Reign again I would not govern as I did before With Childish mercy to spare any Man Princes whose Pleasure is their Law Must let none live who dares dispute their Will Had Anastasius and Urbitius died Castor and Proclus had not now Rebell'd Had the old Patriarck and Eirene bled I had Reign'd long and not been thus destroy'd By those whom I through love and pitty spar'd 2 Sould. You should consider where you are going Zeno. Canst thou direct me whither I must go 1 Sould. Sir I can wish that you would try to pray Zeno. For what 2 Sould. Your soul Zeno. My soul prithee what is that 2 Sould. 'T is not our Trade to Preach Zeno. Nor mine to Pray Heav'ns gate is shut 'gainst all that I can say You will not kill me then not let me out 1 Sould. No we dare not Zeno. To fall from all the Glories of the Earth Is sad but to be buried quick to starve And in this horrid Vault to linger on Here to indure the terrors which my Crimes Do now present to my affrighted Soul Is Hell it self or worse than Hell can be Oh! that the world might sink with its own weight Death where art thou I will stay no longer But boldly charge thee and out-face thee thus Zeno thrusts his Mantle into his mouth and choaks himself Enter the first Ghost drest as at first Ghost So so now my Prediction is fulfil'd And all those Monarch killers are now kild I shall descend in Peace and there remain Unless you wish to see me here again Turns to the Pit To shew the World how Vengeance does persue Those who their hands in Princes blood imbrew FINIS * The Cell is discovered and Euphemian in it
THE Imperial Tragedy Taken out of a LATIN PLAY And very much Altered By a Gentleman for his own Diversion Who on the Importunity of Friends has consented to have it Published but without his Name because many do censure Plays according to their Opinions of the Author LONDON Printed for Will. Wells and Rob. Scott at the Prince's-Armes in Little Britain M.DC.LXIX The Names ZEno Emperor of Greece Longinus the Emperors Brother Old Basiliscus Ghost of the last Emperor Harmatius Zeno's General Young Basiliscus Harmatius Son Collegue with Zeno. The Patriarck Great Lord. Pelagius Great Lord. Sebastianus Great Lord. Urbitius Great Lord. Anastasius Great Lord. Proclus Great Lord. Phylargus Great Lord. Castor Lieutenant General Captains 10. Souldiers 30. Euphemian an Astrologer Gazeus an Orator Noble Mens Sons 6. Erastus Pelagius Son Mars the God of VVarr Musicians Dancers Spirits The Empress Eirene Daughter to Harmatius Ladies PROLOGUE MEthinks I hear some travel'd Gallant say When he was last at Rome he saw this Play That Zeno there was Acted we confess And hope that here he 'l have as good success But we are pester'd with so many Wits And some like Madmen have such judging fits That this great Tragedy they may condemn Though in a humor they have pardon'd them Who rob the French and Spanish of their Bayes And make a fashion of Translating Playes To own his pattern th' Author 's not asham'd That Model which in Italy was fram'd He has new Moulded for our English Stage Hoping 't will fit the temper of this Age And the learn'd Latin Author not offend For alt'ring what he dares not think to mend Though boldly it be here transformed so That Author cannot his own Issue know Like crafty Beggers when they Children steal Disguise them lest they should their Thefts reveal THE Emperial Tragedy The Scene at Constantinople The First Act. Scene I. Astrea appears in the Clouds with Musick That done the late slain Emperor old Basiliscus his Ghost rises from the Stage with an Imperial Crown on his head Two Tables are set on each the Imperial Ornaments Ghost TO Heav'n to Heav'n Astrea vainly here Thy Musick sounds this is no time nor place For harmony Hence fatal Monuments He overturns both the Tables Of unauspicious Empire Hence ye sad Remembrances of my unprosperous state I broke not through the dark dismal Chaos Of buried Night to view these gaieties This visit I unto my Empire make Where all those various sins and mischiefs raign That fancy ere could frame nay greater too Than bloody Nero durst attempt to do Longinus imitates him and we know Great Tragedies must first be Acted here To raise Longinus to the Diadem I now bring ruine on my Rebels heads In favor of all Monarchs that survive That no such Traitors may ere hope to thrive Let dismal blackness now the Scene obscure And empty Coffins round in order stand The Scene is fill'd with empty Coffins So so this sight doth please me and refresh Mine eyes this is the vsual colour these Th' ornaments which deck this Court when Caesars Take their Crowns Now Zeno favorite of Hell Come fill these vacant lodgings of the Dead Let Racks and Halters Poysons Daggers be Imploy'd to perpetrate thy Tyranny I swear by Acheron that ere the Sun Shall once about the Worlds great circle run The bodies by thy fury slaughter'd shall With equal numbers fill these empty Tombs Now cruel Zeno come and in disguise Thy Fate implore I to the shades return He descends Enter Zeno in disguise Zeno. A Monarch that unjustly gains his Crown May be allow'd to fear his tumbling down 'T is easier to climb a Precipice Than to stand firm when at the top arriv'd Nor can we from a private state discern The dazeling prospects which a Throne presents Till from that height we do the World survay And find more Thorns than Roses in our way Heav'n has decreed that ill got Crowns and fears Should still be link'd together fears from which No walls of brass nor Legions can defend This makes me now so watchful grown from hence My fears do prompt me under this disguise T' inquire my Dome and in this house here lives A learned Priest fam'd for Astrology I will consult his Art For he whom Heav'n Will not favor must try what Hell can do He cals Euphemian at whose Magick voice the Ghosts With all the people of the silent world Do tremble if either gold or favor Can thee move raise up a Genius from Hells Lowest depths a Page of Hecates Who may conduct me through the uncertain tracks And various tumults of my life to come Euphemian Thou demand'st a boon of high concern such The Spirits pass ore the Stage As th' Eastern Monarchs only have obtained Yet say with what indowments wouldst thou have Him stor'd Does Venus sports delight thee here 's The god of Lust This Rapes and Insests and All Gomorrahs horrid sins shall teach thee Wouldst thou with Pride above the starrs be rais'd And trample on the heads of men and Gods This shall with high swoln thoughts thee elevate Wouldst thou into the flaâ—â—s of fury turn And worse than Lions Bears and Tigers rage And make thy Houshold Gods in blood to swim This shall insence thee Here 's Merchandize Of all sorts vendible please thy fancy now Zeno. A greater Monster than all these I crave Thou hast but trivial things yet nam'd all this A youth I did Euphem How what Prodigy art Thou of Nature what Stygian Sister gave Thee birth all this a Youth stay I le appease Thy thirst Th' Infernal Iupiter knows not More Villanies than this can prompt thee to Within the closset of his pregnant brest A thousand dif'rent Arts for horrid deeds And bloody mischiefs dwell 't was he alone That tutor'd Nero and fitted him to be The ruin of his Age 't was He Zeno. Enough Offers to imbrace the Spirit I will adore him as my God! and guide Now since the secret Fates of Mortals are Lays down a piece of gold To thy deep Art reveal'd tell me what doth This Horoscope portend whose native soil Gives him a paper And hour of birth with other perquisites Of Art are here exprest Euphemian shews some wonder at reading the paper What is 't that stops thy speech Euphem Fear to relate what I discern Zeno. Speak or by Heav'n I will thy brains dissect And in them read what thou intend'st to hide Euphem Then look and read thy fortune there He points to a red glass in which is writ in white Letters Zeno. What 's this Zeno reads Burried before his death with in a Tombe He shall vomit out his damn'd soul Oh Heavens Did ere your vengeance such a death contrive What shall I the worlds Chief be thrown alive Into a grave alive and seeing too Oh barbarous Fates I swear by all the Powers below that ere into Hell's Center I descend I will distroy the worlds whole Fabrick and bring the ancient Chaos
Then Armed men when Zeno gave the word Rush'd in and put Harmatius to the Sword Castor Souldiers to Arms to Arms with Sword and Fire We will revenge our General and hurl Confusion on the Tyrant Traitor's head Beat up the Drums we 'l march immediately Urbit. Castor restrain revenge till we consult For you must know the Palace is secur'd The Guards are doubl'd and the Town in Arms All the Nobility adhere to Caesar. You know the great uncertainty of Warr And if we should prevail in storming Towns Who can distinguish Friends from Enemies Castor Shall Zeno then escape our just revenge Urbit. No but th 〈…〉 a readier way to do it We all know Anastasius for a Man of Honor Virtue and undaunted Courage A Souldier of great Conduct and much wealth If you will swear fidelity to him He 'l shew us the opportunest time to move For by those Murderers he 's fear'd and hated He gladly will imbrace Harmatius cause With your defense and pull those Tyrants down I to the Army bring this gold from him And if Heav'n prosper his and your resolves Thus bravely to revenge Harmatius death He will reward your merit to your wish Castor We chuse brave Anastasius Emperor Souldiers We chuse brave Anastasius Emperor Castor With Anastasius will you live and die Souldiers To Anastasius we will swear Allegiance Urbit. Farewel brave Sons of Mars I 'le now acquaint Great Anastasius our new Emperor With your Election and fidelity Exit Urbitius Castor Souldiers now trail your Colours and your pikes Let our Drums beat as at a Funeral And let the Trumpets like to Screech Owls shreek Harmatius fall'n the Wars have lost their pride And some must bleed ere we be satisfi'd Exeunt Enter Pelagius Pelag. Why does my mind misgive me to do well What fear is this recals and pulls me back My soul assures me my intent is good As great Why tremble then why thus dismaid My business is my Countries cause and I By Heav'n am chosen to this publick work And I will do it boldly though I die Zeno by me shall know his cruelty The Kings Chappel opens The Chappel opens 'T is a happy Omen No time is lost when we implore Heaven's Aid Here I shall take new courage raise my heart And cheerfully resign my self to Death To have Longinus glutted with my blood I shall not grudge it for my Countries good He takes a little Crucifix from the Altar in his hand and kneeling falls into a Trance Two Angels descend with a Choire of Angels behind them singing thus First Angel Great Champion of the Church your prayers are heard And for your head a glorious Crown 's prepar'd Go on fear not the rage of Tyrants words Nor tremble at the sight of naked Swords Second Angel Let not your virtue doubt Heav'n will assist Those minutes that you loose will not be mist. When you shall see the glory where you go You will rejoyce that you were Murder'd so Chorus For now you will as guilty be drawn hence And soon be slain in spight of Innocence Then a Choire of Angels shall to Heav'n bring Your soul and as you do ascend Shall sing Shall sing shall sing shall sing c. The Angels ascended Pelagius continues in his Trance Enter to him Longinus and Anastasius Anast. Oh admirable Piety Look Sir How prostrate at the Altar he implores Heav'n for a blessing on us all Rest has so seas'd upon his troubl'd soul He looks as pale as death and scarce does breath Longi You blockhead go and leave me to my thoughts Exit Anast. The Beast is freely come into my Toyles Thou wretched lump of Earth thou now shalt die Pray weep sigh and tire Heav'n with calling on 't Use all thy Eloquence here 's none to help None from my hand can now deliver thee Draws his Dagger Thou Instrument of my revenge so oft Drench'd in blood of Innocents thy point Must search this Villains heart and so ease mine He proffers to stab him but holds What trembling seases my undaunted soul He offers again but stops My troubl'd heart does shake I know not why And doubts to do this little petty sin Like Children who at first blush to do ill But I that since I suck'd my Mothers milk Have fed on Humane blood to startle now And have a Palsie in my hand is base My Enemy shall not escape me so He must not live that would not have me Reign Goes hastily to stab him and stumbles and rises quickly You Damn'd Infernal powers strengthen my Arm Or you will loose a Proselyte of me Assist my force or else my treachery The time the place his Trance does prompt me to 't To testifie my guilt here 's none looks on Nor any to excuse his Innocence Come Iupiter and Act in my design He takes the Image of Jove from his bosome puts a Letter in the Image Thou shalt contest with all the Powers Divine To make Pelagius guilty of the Treason Which dead Harmatius letter here inclos'd Will charge upon him I 'le now call Zeno. He takes away the Crucifix and puts the Image in Pelagius hand Enter Zeno Sebastianus and Anastasius with a Guard they meet Longinus going out Longi Caesar come this way Look my Lords pray look How prostrate he does worship mighty Iove Zeno. Can he adore a rotten Image thus Sebast. Is this the grand design of that grave face Anast. Heav'n Do I dream or see this impious man Pelagius Pelagius wake and rise Pelagius answers in his Trance Pelag. Mercy oh mercy on this shaken Empire Pitty us let not thy just Thunder fall Zeno. What do you so much fear the Thunderer Now we see why our Empire is so plagu'd This close Idolater does worship Iove Pelag. Restrain the fury of these cruel Brothers Longi You hear what prayers he makes and yet he lives Sebast. Why does he thus long breath infectious Air Zeno. The only happy and Religious Man The pattern of all Piety and Prudence The Idol of the Court scourge of the Times Try Souldiers to wake this zealous Saint That we may hear some news from Iupiter The Souldiers wake him Pelag. Who disturbs this my blest ecstasie How 's this What horrid treachery is here What Villain has bereav'd me of my God And put this cursed Idol in my hand Throws it down and kicks it Oh! are You here then my wonder 's over Zeno. Thou Heathen we have now discover'd thee Who under the presense of greatest zeal Adores in private a false Deity Pelag. I hate alike this wickedness and thee Nor at your Plot upon me do I tremble Though I am subject to your Tyranny My soul 's so strongly arm'd with Innocence That I can smile when you do threaten most Zeno. Souldiers take him into your custody This Confidence will not outface your Guilt The greatest Malefactors often do When their known Crime 's discover'd talk like you Pelag. Lay not rude handson me who boldly dare
Read that Which with his other crime will prove the Treason Proclus reads the Letter aloud Proclus reads Harmatius to Pelagius To what a sad condition the Empire is reduced I understand by yours What would you know more Tyrants are at the Helm I am almost overwhelm'd with grief my Family is utterly disgrac'd and I my self cannot be safe but by the Death of those that thus oppress us When you hear the Trumpet sound you will have a Leader You know the rest In the mean time look well about you Farewel The Ides of August from the Camp in the Suburbs Longi Thou hater of our God doest thou hear this What sayst thou Villain Shall the Trumpet sound Or shall Longinus Reign that dreadful Comet Alas what desolations will he make Oh thou infection of the Air is this What your grave face did agitate so long Is this your ridged superciliousness Your Heav'nly looks O thou dissembling wreth At length thy holy Cheats are come to light And thou detected for these crimes shalt die Pelag. I do believe it has been long design'd And 't is no wonder when two Tyrants Reign Who forge a guilt and then condemn me for 't I am accus'd to worship Iupiter This ugly Idol which I trample on He takes it and treads on it My honest and religious life declares My Faith unto one only Deity Who by his Word did Heav'n and Earth Create Sebast. Heathens have been good men as well as you Pelag. I do serve Him who can judge us by our hearts That God will manifest my truth and faith Sebast. How will he do it by a Miracle Pelag. Yes by this Image read what proof it makes He takes up the Idol and gives it to Proclus who reads the Inscription aloud Proclus This for Longinus was by Lawsus grav'd Longinus draws at Proclus Longi What falshood there dost thou pretend to read Proclus I read but what th'Ingraver has here writ Longi Thou liest Proclus Judge by the Character I 'le sit no more Exit Proclus Zeno. Stay Proclus Longi Let him go Pelag. Caesar the workman ought to be produc'd Longi Souldier immediately bring Lawsus hither Phylar 'T is said that he was poyson'd yesterday But not yet known by whom 't was done Zeno. By whom but by Pelagius can it be This subtlety must not our Justice sway He hop'd by this to hide his first great crime My Lords what think you â—s Pelagius guilty All. He 's guilty of Idolatry and Treason Zeno. Then take him off carry him to the Block Pelag. Virtue and Truth are over-reach'd by Fraud Longinus will this Treachery applaud That when my blood is spilt he may ascend The Throne and put the bloody purple on But Princes you that laugh men to their graves The God you scorn and daily thus provoke Will soon reward you with Eternal flames Zeno. Stop his railing tongue we will hear no more Longi His soul now struck with fear trembles at death And shakes his tongue to talk distractedly Come Brother let us go the Royal Robes Are ready and the Ceremony stays Pelag. Thou art mistaken miserable wretch I despise death and can laugh thee to scorn Who triumph'st in the vanity of hopes And dreamst of glories thou shalt never reach For thou shalt never be an Emperor And Zeno shall unsettle by my death This Empire which he governs now in Peace Longi He vomits plagues from Hell ere he comes thither Zeno. Lead him off to Execution Longi We loose time Exeunt All go off but Pelagius and Guards with an Officer the Scene opens and a Scaffold is seen they lead Pelagius up Officer Come Sir 't is time you should be on the Scaffold Pelag. 'T is what I wish for Oh accursed Times When Piety and Truth are counted Crimes Officer Dispatch we have no time for Homilies Pelag. Indeed such time would be mispent on you He puts up a false head which is cut off The Scene is shut enter an Officer a Souldier meets him with Pelagius head cover'd Officer Whither in such haste What hast thou hid there Sould. I am conducting this head to Council Officer Do heads consult after they are cut off Sould. Yes the rest of his Cabal attend him Officer But where I pray does this great Council meet Sould. Zeno has appointed them the high Tower Upon the Western wall thence to survey The Country which their wisdoms thought to sway Exit Sould. Officer These are horrid Jests wickedness so great I tremble at what they do make their mirth Each day does some new cruelty produce Barbarity makes custom and excuse Exit Officer Here passes o're the Stage by two and two several Mourners Men and Women sadly weeping to take up some time before the next Scene which else would follow too soon after the last Pelagius body is carryed and his son Erastus chief Mourner The Funeral gone Enter Zeno Longinus Sebastian Anastatius and Urbitius The Scene changes and there appears on poles upon the Town wall the Heads of Harmatius Basiliscus Pelagius Gazeus and the Eight Captains Sebast. Are not those heads well plac'd upon the walls Look what a pompous dismal shew they make Had but Harmatius head a Crown upon 't It would now in that posture aw the World Zeno. This gastly spectacle delights me much Longi Your eyes are not more highly pleas'd than mine Zeno. This is a joyful Coronation day Longi Now these are dumb who dares deny the Crown Which Caesar on his Brother has bestow'd Zeno. Let them frown now and threaten us from thence Longi Do thunder out your Judgments and insult Defie your Princes bid them be discreet When your great Wisdoms next in Council meet Lust and Ambition relish well but still Give me Revenge on all that cross my will Zeno walks proudly on the Stage looking on the Heads Longi So walks the Royal Lion when in 's rage He has chastiz'd his Rebellious Vassals Ha! Those heads are not fix'd upon the walls Pelagius nodded at me Sebast. 'T was your fancy Your Joy does work too much on your success Longi Thou tel'st me true My Joyes do swell too much My eyes could dwell upon Pelagius head For though his blood have satisfi'd my Rage It cannot yet my Anger disingage So does the valiant Cock triumph and crow O're the dead carcass of his conquer'd Foe Anast. aside So basest Cowards bragg and boldly boast When Enemies are slain at others cost Zeno. 'T was of great use that I consulted Hell Which caus'd me make so many Funerals Had not my Sword been glutted with their blood Where those Heads stand mine might have stood Come in my Lords this shall be Holiday My Brothers happy Coronation feast On which we 'l Revel out the Day and Night Nobel Sebastian you shall be my Guest And Anastasius you shall fill me Wine And be my Ganymede while this Feast lasts Anast. A very high perferment as it proves Zeno. And Urbitius to morrow you