But I 'll deal with thee as thy Crimes deserve Go drag him hence to the Tâ—rpeian Rock Dash him to pieces shall I ne're have Rest For Traytors Mar. O Portia O farewel for ever Por. O dismal Sound for ever Maâ— For ever Por. Sure there are Joys above for suff'ring Virtue There we shall meet again my Soul will know thee It is so full of thee I 'll not stay long Indeed I won't but reach thee in thy Flight O Heaven O Earth and thou O Neptune hear me And six eternal Racks upon my Soul If I out live my Martiâ—n many Minutes Emp. Must I speak in vain drag him away Mar. Oh! my Love farewel Por. Ah this is worse than Death â—bey force him out she Faints While they 're employ'd about Portia Perennius enters at the upper end of the Walk Peren. Now curse on Business that must thus intrude When I shou'd feast my self with Portiâ—'s Beaâ—ties Yet this is of a Nature that new arms me Against the other Fears that check'd my Love Th' Army mutining and just entring Rome â—ed on by Aurelian Must be the Emperor's Downfall and mine with him Since that is sure I 'll make my Joys as sure Grasp first the Treasure of this charming Maid Then fly with Speed from the black gathering Storm Emp. So she revives Go bear her gently to Valeria's Lodgings And bid her Maids prepare her for my Love I 'll not defer my Marriage or Enjoyment They bear her off Per. Ha! What 's this do my Eyes and Ears deceive me Is Pâ—rtia snatch'd again from my Embrace Fate presses so from every side upon me I have no Time for Thought pauses I must excuse Her Flight nor yet inform him of his Danger Least his Despair shou'd but augment his Rage Beyond my Power to calm My Lord. Emp. Perennius Ingrateful Slave how durst thou tempt my Fury Ev'n in the guilty Moment Per. 'T is true my Sov'raign If by appearance we shou'd judge of things There is too just a Cause for your Dread Anger But my dear Master Emp. No more of thy false Wiles to blind my Eyes The Veil is off that hid the cunning Villain That cou'd betray me and let my Portia go Seize him if he resists you kill him To the Guardâ— Perennius draws runs at the Emperor is stabb'd by the Guards Per. Come on I 'll not fall tamely by the Tyrant O that in'enervate Arm shou'd miss thy Life Yes cursed Prince I own the brave Design I was thy Rival and bright Portia's Lover And let her go to riâ—â—e all her Sweets Surfeit on Joy for one immortal Moment But Fortune mock'd me with a hop'd Success O that she wou'd thee too nay well I know it Aurelian comes soon to revenge me on thee The more to blast thy fancy'd Pleasures know Valeria was imposed on by my Arts And knew not Laetus more than Portia did 〈◊〉 that Device I thought to bear her off Then slew fond 〈◊〉 to secure my Love For some more lucky Hour but in vain My Life is on the Wing so Curses on thee Thou wilt not be behind me long Oh! Dies Emp. D' ye thou Prophetie Dog Spurns him What can the dying Villain mean Revenge Aâ—relian 't is no matter what Faâ—e must fly swiftly to prevent my Joy And that once gain'd she can 〈◊〉 haâ—t destroy Exit Enter Empress alone Empress Ah! wretched me I 've drain'd my Eyes of Tears But not my Heart of Woe that 's still fixt here No Plaints can move it and no Sighs redress Tho' banish'd hence from my dear cruel Lord My Treacherous Feet will still pursue his Steps I 've fought the Garden round and cannot find him What can I do or whither can I turn Horror Despair on e'ry Side besiege me Death 't is Death that only can relieve me Pauses Yes I will die my Fondness does deserve it Pausâ—s To love beyond such Slights but shall I die Thus tamely yes What! thus thus unreveng'd Pauses Ah! yes that Death best suits my tender Love Ha! there he goes my Heart bounds at the sight And strikes a Transient Joy all o're my Soul I 'll follow him and die within his Arms He 'll pity sure his bleeding Victims Groans Perhaps may kiss my pale and breathless Lips May wish he 'd been more kind and I more happy Exitâ— Scene changes to Portia's Appartment Enter Portia and her Maid Crispina Cris. Why are you Madam obstinate in Woe And shun the Indulgence of a Smiling Fortune Foâ— a vain Love and Fruitless Câ—nstancy Rome courts you for her Empress and your Prince Dies at your Feet with most unfeigned Desires Por. No more I will not hear my Love blasphem'd Is this a time to urge the impious Cause For oh the Tyrants Ministers of Murder Perhaps this Minute butcher my poor Love Pauses and fixes her Looks on one place Ha! dreadful Image of my certain Woe What horrid Scene is this thou dost present me See where he lies 〈◊〉 ouâ— upon the Floor His noble Limbs hack'd by that Cut throat Villain See if that Coward does not pierce his Bosom Where his brave Heart dwells that abhorr'd a Coward See from the gaping Wounds the Purple Flood Rowls like a Torrent down his mangleâ— Body And in it his great Soul Ha! Paleness Death Oh! Horror Horror Horror Poisons Daggers Dispatch me quickly e're the Tyrant comes To dragg to 's polluted Nuptial Rites Ah! my dear Martian stay for thy dying Pâ—rtia Beat the Wing awhile and I 'll be with you Cris. How strange Imagination works upon her Por. Oh! oh groans Lo now I come faâ—nâ—â— away Cris. Help here quickly help the Empress faints Enter several Women and run to her endeavour to receive her So she recovers stand off and give her Air. Por. Be gone and let me die I will not live Why did you rouse me from this Golden Vision Of Martian triumphing Mâ—rtian and endless Love Cris. Let not the anxious Dreams of Fancy rack you What boot your Pangs your Fury or Laments They can't revoke his Suff'rings nor your Doom The Emperor loves too much to quit you ever You had better Madam seem to like the Fate You can't avoid Por. I will not answer thee But loose my self in kind distracting Thought Portia thy Name shou'd now inspire thy Love And make it struggle to some Godlike Act. pauses Brutus thy Portia set the great Example To Roman Wives which I a Bride will follow pauses Ha! sure some Heav'nly Beam informs my Mind Bears it above the common pitch of Glory To a brave Deed that'â— singularly great Oh! bright Ambition of aspiring Virtue To what amazing Heighâ—s thou dost transport me For distant Ages to behold with Wonder No my dear Lord Your Portia shan't surviâ—e you Nor will she tamely fall like helpless Woman 〈◊〉 as resolv'd and bold as Catâ—â—'s Daughter My Countrys GeÌ„nius with my Love conspires To â—orm the Vengeance for lost Rome and Mâ—rtian It shâ—ll be so the
Noble Thought revives me And â—hoots a pleasing Horror thro' my â—â—ul Cris. Strange Agonies are lab'ring 〈…〉 Betwixt Ambition and defeated Love I hope my wholsome Câ—â—sels will prevail And turn the Scale for the surviving Lover I 'm sure I gain my Ends by that to rise And shine at Court among the foremost Beauties For mod'rate Charms will make a Figure there As well as mod'rate Honesty or Virtue Por. I must dissemble with this Servile Maid Aside Whose Eyes are dazled with approaching Grandâ—â—r To get the Means of my ador'd Revenge To her Crispinâ— you have said you lov'd me And seem to draw your Counsels from that Love Tell me then and tell me truly too Is it not better die with him I love Than live with him that loves but for a Day If he does love me Cris. Doubt not your Charms Madam For those will fix his wand'ring Heart for ever To dye oh 't is a dreadful thing to die The old themselves ev'n in that tastâ—ess Age That crawl upon the barren part of Life All on the horrid Precipice of Death Catch hold of ev'ry rootless seeming Stay That may defer awhile their certain Fall And shou'd Youth then amidst its blooming â—oys And all its lively force of Appetite Fly Life's full Feast for hungry starving Dâ—â—th It is unnatural to the last degree Besides the learn'd themselves I find can't tell What we are after Death or that we are If we are not then how can Mâ—â—tian 〈◊〉 you If his Love 's ceas'd why then shou'd yours survive In doubtful things the Wise the surer choose Th' Emperor lives in Glory and in Love And he will make you great aâ— you are fair Por. Greatness indeed I own has many Charms When built on solid not unfaithful Ground But 't is a fleeting Greatness he presents Valeria lost it in one Rapid Month. Cris. I 'm glad she will dispute it for when Woman Aside Once parleys with her Constancy 't is gon Aloud Valeria Madam is no Rule to you Th' event has shew'd yours are the stronger Charms Por. Till the next taking Face shall come in view No no Crispina I 'm not yet so vain To think I can secure my Greatness so Yet I do know a way But oh my Heart How I am sliding from the heights of Viâ—â—â—e Into the Abyss of the foul Tyrants Love Cris. Grant him a Tyrant and a vile 〈◊〉 O 't is a noble Task then for your Virtue To offer up your self to mold this Tyrant Into the generous Principles of Honour For your Countrys Good Por. That will prevail I fear against the Force of all my Vows Cris. It must it shall it does Por. Well may I trust thee Cris. My Life my Fortune and my Heart are yours Por. My Mother on her Death-bed did bequeath 〈◊〉 A noble Juice the lasting Seal of Love With that she fix'd my Father in his Faith Ev'n to his dying Hour Here take this Key In th'inmost Drawer of my own Cabinet Thou 'lt find it seal'd up in a gilded Viol Haste and fetch it that with the Magic Words Which I must use I may drink it to him For that 's required to its â—ure Operation Ev'n in the sacred time of our Nuptials Cris. I will be back before the Rites begin Por. Be so and now my lab'ring Soul 's at ease And like a willing Victim I will go To the bright Altar of Divine Revenge Heav'n for th' unhappy kindly took this Care To place th' Asyle of Friendly Death still near To that Retreat with eager Haste I 'll fly I 'm not entirely wretched who dare die The End of the Fourth ACT. ACT V. SCENE I. The Street near the Pallace Enter Martian alone Mar. 'T Was not well done to fly from my Preservers What tho' my Love and good Cleander's Care Dragg'd me away from out the lucky Fight That set me free I should have lost occasion And dy'd with such brave Friends Well I will back At least to know 'em if I can't assist them Enter Cleander Is going Clean. O which way Sir O whither are you going Mar. No more I will not thus desert my Friends Such noble Friends that snatcht me from Destruction In Rome almost within the Tyrants hearing Clean. Had I Sir known what since I have beheld I had not forc'd you from the doubtful Combate To pain your Soul with Tortures worse than Death Mar. What dost thou mean thy Words and frightful Looks Import some strange Event is Portia dead Has she outgon me in the Race of Love O wretched Mâ—rtian mean inglorious Martian To fly from Death while Portia sought it out Clean. O Sir she lives is too well pleased with Life Mar. Ha! Clean. This Minute Sir I saw her pass the Court Joy in her Face and Pleasure in her Eyes To her black Nuptials with the Emperor Mar. What Portia Clean. Portia Mar. My Portia Clean. Your Portia Sir Mar. The softest Dear protesting vowing Maid That ever sooth'd a Doating Lover's Passion Can she be false Clean. Ev'n she is false She h's caught the curst Cantagion from her Brother And in the very Moment of your Death With Smiles and fond Caresses weds your Butcher Mar. Impossible and false Clean. I 'd not abuse her Nor you I saw it with these Eyes I saw it Mar. Thy Eyes deceiv'd thee then for thou saw'st her Dragg'd to the impious Bridals all in Tears In struggling Agonies in the Pangs of Death If she would live ev'n to endure so much If thou saw'st Portia 't was thus that thou did'st see her Do I not know her strong Immortal Virtue Did she not swear that she would not outlive me And yet within an Hour wed my Murderer No more leâ—t thou provoke my lasting Hate Clean. I 've done Sir Mar. But art thou sure thou saw'st her Clean. I dare not Sir repeat it for I fear More than my Death you hate Mâ—r. Tell me I say Are sure that it was her that thou didst see Clean. The Hall's now full of most amaz'd Beholders And in the Throng disguis'd you may see all If I have urg'd â— falshood ever hate me Mar. If this be so O Friendship Love farewel If this be so where is the Wretch like me If this be so but I 'll not wrong her Virtue Nor Credit ought but my own Eyes against her Exeunt SCENE II. A Magnificent Hall the Emperor and Portia in their Bridal Habits Enter Martian and Cleandeâ— disguised Emp. LET every Trumpet Flute and Instrument Of Music sound aloud beat the big Druâ— And make the Eccho of my Joys rebound Up to the Vaulâ—ed Roof of Heav'n it self That all the Gods may Emulate my Pleasures While Portia drinks the Bridal Beveridge Portia drinks having first put something in the â—owl Emp. What did my Love mix in our Bridal Bowl Por. A Philtre Sir to â—ix your roving Heart Whose Magic Force will make you always mine Emp. Ha! give it me for greedily I 'll drink The Noble
from me with the common nasty Herd Of Knaves Sycophants Buffoons and Flaterers And with my Laurels decks his Faithless Brow All shun me like Infection therefore leave me Clean. Oh! Sir dismiss this Avarice of Woe And let your Servant share your wretched Fortune As he has done your Good I 'm no Summer Fly To love your Shine and fly your stormy Weather My Indastry has got some little Treasure Under you that may help you in your Exile Mar. Why shoâ—d'st thou love me so who by me Alone hast lost thy Freedom Cleâ—n Dear Sir I lost my Freedom in my Country's Cause And in amends Fate gave the best of Masters And may I on a Dunghill like a Dog Rot rot piece meal if eâ—er I forsake you Is it so hard to let your poor Slave starve with you Mar. Yes for 't wou'd be unjust and shock my Nature O false Aâ—eliâ—n O degenerate Rome Learn Faith and Virtue from this noble Slave Honest Cleander I have no business for thee I 'm at the end of Life's uneasie Journey And can reach Death's near Inn without thy help Cle. O Sir far be that Thought your Country calls Implores your Help to free it from Oppression Fly to the Army they will own your Cause And save lost Rome from black devou'ring Knaves Mar. 'T will be in vain for Knaves will still be uppermost They float aloft like Chaff upon the Water Which though by moving you a while disperse Soon as the ruffl'd Element is settl'd They gather all a top again Clean Think of your Portia then When you are gone where will be her Rescue Mar. Ay there Cleander thou hast touch'd the Note That breaks the drowsie Charm of lazy Death And makes my Soul exert its Native Fire What leave her to the Tyrant's Will and Pow'r For him to brood o're all her chaster Sweets Gods good Gods how that wild Thought distracts me No I will live for her thus curs'd will live And rouse the sleeping Soldier in my Bosome To win the Army to revenge her Wrongs Crush the black Tyrant and deliver Rome Force may be swifter than their distant Rescue Therefore I will secure my Portia first And she in safety I can't perish all It shall be so Cleander I 'll employ thee Clean. Blessings on you Sir let me embrace your Knees Kneeles and embraces ' em For this kind Word you shall see your Slave Fly through impervious Dangers ev'n to death Swift as Revenge or Jealousie to serve you Mar. You say the Guard takes you for Pâ—rtia's Slave Clean. I have been with her often since the Evening Went with her in the crowd too from the Temple Trusting my Faith she sent me oft to find you And beg you hasten to deliver her Mar. She shall be obey'd for I 'le now to her Clean. Sir Mar. With her consult of means for her escape Clean. The Army Sir is the only means she hopes Mar. Th' Army 's uncertain for they are Romans too Romans and once my Friends therefore must be false Clo. This way you perish known to all the Court. Mar. No I will take thy Habit and so pass Cle. Consider Sir Mar. No more I am resolv'd thou 'lt find me in the Porch of Vestaâ— Clean. I must obey may all the Gods protect you Thunders Mar. A sudden clap of Thunder without Clouds A waving Sword i' th' Air 't is wondrous strange pauses Avaunt be gone ye dreadful boding Omens For I will on since Love will have it so If I have err'd ye ruling Powers above 'T is by the force of a resistless Love Spare her for I alone am Criminal And on my head let all your vengeance fall Give me relentless Gods this one relief With this Encrease enrich my Barren Grief Then shall I have the Cordial Joy to see My Pâ—rtia happy by my Misery In that vast pleasure loose my wretched state And smile at the vain Impotence of Fate Exit The End of the Second Act. ACT III. SCENE I. Portia's Apartment in the Pallace Enter Portia at one Door and Martian in Cleander Habit at the other Por. WEll good Cleander hast thou seen my Lord And will he haste to rescue his lost Portia Mar. With all the speed of longing eager Love Runs to her and embraces her Port. Unhand me Slave What means this Insolence She starts from him Mar. What does not then my charming Portia know me And can a thin disguise conceal her Martian He pulls off his Beard Methinks her Heart should beat at my Approach And by its Sympathetick Throbs reveal me She looks earnestly at him while he speaks and after the first word runs into his Arms. Por. Martian ha My Lord my Love my Life Mar. Portia my Soul my Bliss my Heav'n They Embrace Oh! do I hold thee once more in my Arms The full Amends of all my Suff'rings past Port. Where hast been poor Wand'rer Where hast been What hast thou done How have the Gods dealt with thee Since thou wert ravish'd from me at the Altar Where is the Army Will they own thy Cause Are they come with thee Am I free from Bonds Answer me tell me all Oh! tell me quickly For I have yet a thousand things to ask And horrid strange prodigious things to tell thee Mar. Speak on I 'll answer thee with Kisses press thee Close to my Heart while on thy panting Bosome I breath the dear Distractions of my Fondness Loose all my Griefs all thoughts of pressing Fortune In this Abyss of Joy of beamy Heav'n Eternal Raptures of Almighty Love Dance round my Heart and make me grow Immortal Por. Oh! I am faint with Joy Convulsive Heavings Extend my Bosome and my throbing Heart Flutters about as if 't wou'd beat its last Mar. Gods good Gods give me Oh! give me Portia Give me but her and cast your Crowns and Glory Victory and Fame to the poor busie Slaves That wou'd be great with her I wou'd sit down In peaceful and unenvy'd Poverty Above the anxious Greatness of Renown Por. O! all ye Heav'nly Powers that fixt this World With the Cement of Universal Love Why is such tender Passion not your Care Such Virtue and such Truth by all forsaken Can you view Mortal Joys with envyous Eyes Or grudge the scanty Riv'lets of our Pleasures Amidst such â—orrents of surrounding Wo Ah! no 't is I 't is my contagious Fate 'T is cursed I have â—uin'd my poor Martian O! that I rather never had been born Or scalded o're with frightful Leprosies Wrinkl'd with Age and loath'd Deformities Mar. Accuse not Heav'n nor curse thy Beauteous Form My Crimes alone have made me thus unhappy Por. And can'st thou love me still after the Sufferings That I have cost thee Mar. Sure thou dost not doubt it Love thee still Yes by my dearest Hopes Thy very Name yields Joy thy Talk darts Raptures An oh thy self oh 't is not to be spoke 'T is mighty extasie beyond unfolding Heav'n is most just withholds
Guards Por. You hear Cleander where you soon may find me Go to my Lord and let him know the Joy 'T will ease his throbbing Heart and cure his â—riefs He 'll bless the Gods that when no help was hop'd Sent kind Relief to Vertue in Distress Mar. Madam I will and may the Pow'rs above Crown all the Pious Empresses Desires Exit Emp. Come gentle Portia use the present Hour The next perhaps may not be in our Pow'r Exeunt Ambo SCENE II. A Gallery in the Pallace Enter Perennius and Laetus in a Vestal Virgins Habit. Peren. THIS is the place the Empress order'd us To wait her in But I must not be seen Is going Gods what sudden Trembling's this that shakes me My Nerves forsake their office my knees knock Faintness and Shiv'ring chills my Heart Laet. 'T is the surprize of near approaching Joy That like a Mid-night 'Larum in a Camp Starts all your Faculties into Confusion They 'll soon into their ancient order fall And bear you bravely to the noble Onset Per. I hope they will-Hark a Noise ' st 't is the Door I will before to give you timely Notice If ought approach bring her through the back Court 'T is most remote and safe Laet. Be gon I will Exit Peren. The Door opens the Empress and Portia enter with a Candle Laetus goes to ' em Empress O! Here 's the pious Priestess that conducts you To her and to the Gods I must commend you And if the Wishes of a Wretch like me Will ought avail may they convey you safe To him you love and make your Exile easie Por. Opinion is the God that makes us happy And where my Martian is I must be so Fâ—r he is Country Friends and all to me Laet. Madam this Light mâ—st out or back with you To the Empress Por. What in the Dark Laet. The Light will discoverâ—s The Moon 's kind Beams will do our business best Por. And will you gentle Virgin bring me safe Laet. To Vesta's Temple and from thence to Martiâ—â—u It is our Duty to assist th' unhappy Por. It were Impiety indeed to doubt The highest Holy Ministers of Heav'n Laet. Nothing but Fear and Noise and worse delay Can disappoint your Happiness Emp. Portia faâ—ewel may Heav'n reward thy Virtue Por. And yours the Emperor Exit with Laetus Emp. Oh! that he wou'd It is not in Heav'ns Pow'r to bless me more But I 'll go seek him out and with fresh Tears Melt his hard Heart dissolve it into Love And in the Flames that all my Bosome Fires Consume his wandring Wishes and Desires Exit at the Door and shuts it after her Enter Emperor with Attendants and Lights Emp It was not well to leave her in Despair I might have giv'n at least some doubtful Hope Pauses I swear her tender Love was strongly moving And she is fair by Heav'n yes wondrous fair And must be lov'd by all the World but me But I am doom'd to odd Fantastic Madness To doat on Pride and vain affected Virtue That spuâ—ns me from her and disdains my Love While I avoid the willing Charms that Court me But I will shake thy Chains off cruel Portia And in my Empress's downy Arms forget thee Why dost thou fix thy beauteous Hand upon me Tear out my Heart yet by the Gods I 'll leave thee Gentle Valeâ—ia in her Breast shall shield me From the imperious fury of thy Eyes Oh! Groans Like a poor Wretch upon his Feavourish Bed I toss and tumble turn from side to side And yet no easie posture can I find The raging Calenture still burns within Seems to muse Enter Perennius at a distance Por. Now Curses on ill Luck the Doors are fast Through which we shou'd have made our wish'd escape They must come this way back Ha! the Emperor Seeing him Studys Hell and Furys all 's lost what must be done Emp. Well I will to her dry her falling Tears Lock her within my burning Arms and swear Never to see her fatal Rival more Peren. It must be so this Laetus is unlucky His Head designs well but he has no Fortune And I still loose by vent'ring on his Bottom This Dagger as he enters shall secure me For yet this Secret is between us two And see they come Enter Laetus and Portia Laet. Dâ—spond not Madam all will yet be well Per. Ay when this Dagger has transfixt thy Heart Stabs him Laet. As he falls Ha! slain by thee Villain Dog but I deserve it Dyes Per. Aside Dye quickly then or else 't will do no good Hold Madam hold I must secure you For the Emperâ—r Lights there Portia Treason Portia is flying Aloud to Portia who shrieks at Laetus's fall and is running back Emp. Ha! what say'st thou That Sound has ruinâ—d all my best Resolves Runs to her Whither is she Flying whither and with whom Per. That Sir I can't yet tell but this will shew me Takes a Light and looks at Laetus Emp. Go instantly and seize the heedless Guards Per. O ye good Gods Sir if it ben't Religion That has conspir'd against your Happiness Seems to look moâ—e earnestly at Laetus with the Light kneeling down to the Body Emp. Throw her vile Body to the hungry Dogs Per. Ha! what is' t I see sure my Eyes must Err It is impossible it cannot be What Laetus my Friend Death to my Repose The honest Laetus slain by this curs'd Hand Was this the kind return of all thy Friendship This the best Gift Perennius cou'd bestow Emp. How 's this bemoan the Traytor in my hearing Per. Pardon me Emperor if I pay these Tears To one that lov'd me better than himself He was my Friend my faithful honest Friend At least I thought him so the best good Man The plainest open Virtue I e'er met with That and his zealous Love for you my Lord Won my Heart for I 've heard him swear He 'd dye a thousand Deaths for your least Pleasure But oh I find alas that he shou'd prove it The fairest Tongues oft hide the foulest Hearts And noisie Zeal conceals the Traytors ends Yet if he did dissemble Emp. If he did Why is' t not plain art not thou witness of it Per. 'T is true my Sov'raign and the Avenger too He from my Hand deserv'd to meet his Fate That durst impose upon my honest Nature And wrong the best of Masters and his Friend Per. Bless me Sâ—r a Man what is' t a Man Emp. A Man Madam yes a young handsom Man I find your boasted Virtue 's of a piece With that of all the rest of your frail Sex A cunning Blind to put off them you like not And to secure your sport with those you fancy Yet tell me foolish Fair how coud'st thou choose This groveling Vassal and refuse his Lord Per. O! base Valeria coud'st thou fall so low From all thy shining Virtue to Revenge So mean and so ungenerous as this Emp. Ha Valeria didst thou say the Empress Didst thou
dies Aur He 's dead the Plague of Rome is now no more My Friend what gazing still upon my Sister See here how well she has reveng'd thy Wrongs Mar. O do not roâ—ze me from this lovely Horror Let me run wild in gazing on my Portia She has not lost the Charms of her dear Eyes For tho' their Summer warming Sun be set These trembling Beauties of her winter'd Night Dart shivering Pleasures thro' my shaking Heart O let me look upon their chilling Brightness Till unperceiv'd it frieze away my Life Aur. You must not throw your useful Life away When Rome demands you for her Lord and claims Her Freedom from you Mar. O do not shock my Soul with Thoughts of Empire Am I a Prospect for my Countrys Hopes No no I am the last and worst of Men A wretched Outcast the meer Draff of Nature Bankrupt of Virtue what can Rome hope from me But greater Ills than what I 've done already For who destroy'd this Beauteous Maid But I Who rack'd her with Doubts ev'n in the Pangs of Death 'T was I who has abus'd thy Virtue too But I stand off touch not such foul Infection Never forgive me as thou' rt Friend to Justice Honour or Love but spurn me from thee Spurn me to my black Kindred Shades below Thus thus and thus Stabs himself and falls Aur. What has your Frenzy done but with that Blow Destroy'd us all Clean. O my dear Master see taking up his Master's Dagger I follow you Mar. I charge thee by thy Love Thy honest Love for thy unhappy Master I charge thee live thy Liberty I give thee Clean. O do not bind me to this Rack of Life What boots my Freedom when all Joy is lost Mar. I must bequeath thee as a valued Gift To my brave Friend therefore I charge thee live If thou wou'dst have thy Master die in Peace Aur. Talk not of Gifts to me ah cruel Martian Think not I love thee with so frail a Passion To quit my Friend in Death more than Distress No Martian I will copy out this Deed As I have strove to do your past Mar. Oh! Live Your Friend your Country and th' immortal Gods Impose your Life for Agonizing Rome The publick Good shou'd rule your private Will For tho' I lov'd the best of Womankind The perfect Image of the Gods themselves Yet since that private Passion lull'd the Crys And drown'd the Groans of m'expiring Country The Gods have snatch'd her from me by strange Means And took the Glory of deliv'ring Rome From out my Guilty Hands to give it thee Make Rome thy Mistress then Honour Renown Success and Joy will crown thy happy Life Aur. There 's something so Divine and Awful in you It fixes me in Life against my Will Makes me the Victim of the Public Good Mar. 'T is well resolv'd my Friend But oh I faint reward Cleander's Faith I can no more this one Embrace my Friend Embracs him And this for thee and â—ow farewel for ever Embraces Cleander Ah my dear Portia â—o thy Martian comes My Soul is restless from thee Put our Ashes Within one common Urn oh my Portiaâ— Dies Cl. He 's dead my Master 's dead Pauses O hard Command Yet here I 'll fix and sure this Sight will end me Without a Dagger O! break my stubborn Heart Aur. His dying Words shall be obey'd no more Methinks I see his â—ov'ring Soâ—l look down And with an awful Nod forbid our Sorrows Full of that Heav'n he has within his View And pointing to his Breathless Body there Methinks I hear him thunder out aloud To all the listning World this Godlike Maxim Learn from my Fate that Tyes of Lovâ— or Blood Are of no Force against the Public Good FINIS