of my worship to Th' immortal Gods as due to those high powers Not for reward or punishment me thoughts That was like Merchants to conditionate Irreverently with those celestial powers So I preserv'd my constancy of mind Dejected never by superstitious fears Nor pust up and exalted by false hopes But still in even balance To them Fulvia and Aurelia Ar. How importunly here These women enter to disturb us in Our passage to eternal happiness Th' Inheritance of noble souls Ful. Aurelia These men deserted of their former valor Have now recourse to false opinions of Philosophers and Pedants and would fain Perswade themselves that death 's no miserie But know it is of all the last and greatest Horrid and terrible in her own nature As contrary to the enjoyment of This pleasant light of which He now deprive you Hon. Impure creatures be gone The earth doth many monsters generate So does the sea yet nothing can produce So mischievous in nature as a woman Pursuing her revenge and scorning honor Mankind should have been propagated from Some other origine and not from this The fatal source the occasion and cause Of all his miseries and servitude Au. Thou base reviler of that sex which gave Thee life with hazard of her own hast here Extinguisht quite all sense of that compassion Which I methoughts felt moving in my brest Ful. Aurelia what pleasure 't is to see Them thus tormented in their rage if there Were any peace in death 't will make their death Less peaceable But you great Generals Deep Polititians and prime leaders in Affairs of War and State who fill'd the world With so much noise tumult and bloud with what Thoughts can you now reflect upon your selves Arm'd yesterday with numerous legions now Thus circumvented by the stratagem Of us poor silly simple virtuous women Flo. It is my glory not a reproach to me To have such impious creatures seek my death Ful. Which thou wilt undergo with high regret I know thy soul enamour'd on thy body Th ' object once of my love as now of hatred Cannot but with great indignation quit Her lovely pleasant and delightful mansion Flo. Not when she sees the neighborhood infested With such infectious pestilent diseases Ful. She must when she no benefit can find In death accompany'd with infamy Which if she have a being will torment her If not then nothing will remain of thee Hereafter but an odious memory Hon. Let us as it becomes us go and die Flo. Death 's our admission into liberty Ful. Th' entrance into confusion and darkness Out of which no man ever found his way Ar. The ease of troubled minds Ful. Their only horror Flo. The safe port of the virtuous Ful. Th' only rock Which human nature ever apprehends Flo. None but such impious creatures as thou art Who nor in life nor death can have repose Hon. Come let us die th' examples of true virtue Ful. The sacrifices of my furious rage Ar. We 'll freely meet our death Ful. Your execution Where you shall fall the trophies of my triumph Flo. The types of honor how happier 't is to die So then like you to live in infamie Ful. All after death incertain is in life No such felicity as our revenge ACT. V. Aurelia disguis'd Aur. O Thou bright glorious morning Thou oriental spring-spring-time of the day Who with thy mixt vermillion colors paintest The Skies these Hils and Plains thou dost return In thy accustom'd manner but with thee Shall ne'r return my wonted happiness Here thou reducest back with thee the early Light and the golden Planet of the day To revive and illustrate with his presence The troubled world thou chasing noisome darkness And clouds of discontent illuminat'st All hearts with joy and chearfulness but mine From thy approche all things receive below New face and restoration The usurping Seas which devour the innocent become Calm in their channels the rebellious winds Publick disturbers of the peace of nature Find and give rest to the other elements All beasts of rapin Lions Wolves and Tygers Have their repose Only a guilty mind No cure no peace no rest shall ever find Here in my brest as in her loathed cell Eternal horror will for ever dwell To her Sophonia disguis'd like an Eunuch An. O Sophonia Since last night parting we our habits chang'd In this disguise these eyes have known no sleep Soph. Nor will not Madam if you keep them open Thus to your tears mine are long since dried up Unless they 'r such which have so many years Continually distill'd within my heart Au. O I shall ne'r sleep more The cleer sun-shine of my serener dayes In a short moment vanishing is here Succeeded by a fearful night of horror Which will ne'r know a setting but in death Soph. Thy tender years Aurelia know not The nature yet of death it is so lately From me thou learnst to live Au. And have not the Curst fruits of this last passage of my life Most rarely answer'd the blossoms of thy hopes Of me e're that my virgin honor Were lost thus to contaminate my self With so detestable a parricide Soph. Desire of revenge transported you Au. Which the immortal Gods Permit us never to execute our selves O what infernal torments equal mine Hating to live I am afraid to die Yet ne'r can hope ease to my miserie Now since I hear my Brother Lucius fell Only by the unlucky chance of war O the most cruel nature of my Father Thus to abuse my credulous ignorance Soph. Madam did he inform you otherwise Ar. Yes and perswaded me that Florus kill'd him With his own hands in cold bloud after battel And thus deluded gave me the curst employment Of cutting of this General in his Camp The only person which I lov'd of whom I had the fortune to be lov'd again Soph. It was unjustly done thus to deceive you Au. 'T was his insatiate thirst of human bloud Which since I find increasing with his age I have thought of the effusion of some Which if not satisfying will delight Perchance his strange capricious appetite Soph. I scarce know what this language signifies I hope you think not by some greater sin To wash away the lesser Madam Your virgin tears will best perform this office Au. No my offence is of a deeper stain And must be washt in bloud I have alreayd Thought of the way and fixt my resolution In this disguis'd habit I 'le tel my Father That I the fatal executioner Have been of his Aurelia on pretence Valentius had discover'd my designe Now streight I know his rage will prompt him to Kill me with his own hands so that I shall Immediately the proper trophy fall Of the most injur'd Florus funeral And if the bloud of an usurping Tyrant Be ever the most grateful sacrifice To the immortal Gods as certainly It is I hope that mine deriv'd from him Will prove an acceptable offering The man whom I lov'd best he made me
oft would say In other things let justice be observ'd Val. O ye immortal Gods why has your care Given us a touchstone to distinguish our Adulterate gold and no mark to discern The treacherous hearts of false perfidious men If this be true Confound him with your sharpest thunderbolt But 't is too true and if I further stay To question it I fear I shall become Procurour of those dire events upon me Portended in my last nights dreams to happen Within so short a time Antonia retire I 'le have a care To vindicate my honor his proud Laurels Which from Joves thunder are secure I 'le blast But let this secret make no further progress Ant My prudent care shall not fail to correct This fault to which our sex is incident Val. A Prince who tolerates a known disgrace Becomes the subject of the vulgar scorn Ant. Honor once sought to be betray'd is never Secure so long as the Offendor lives Val. Gelosie entred in a Prince no other Assistant needs to hasten his revenge Ant. Which when it is of a slow pace we find 'T is signe of weakness in a Princes mind Let him th' effects Sir of your anger prove Who thus hath undervalued your love In prudent Monarques like your self t' appear Not to be fear'd should be your only fear Exit Car. You Majesty's perplext Val. But why should I So low thoughts of my self have and so high Of his bold insolent temeritie Good Carbo have the patience to repeat Thy story over though in it ev'ry passage Creates new wounds and ulcers in my soul Thou saidst the Master of my light Cavalrie Macrinus was not Father of this Florus But that Arsenius the sworn enemy of My person and my dignitie has made The world the present of this dissembling Monster Can this be so Car. Your Majestie may rest Can this be so Car. Your Majestie may rest Assur'd I heard it from his own relation And how besides he has in a disguise Converst here with him in our Camp where he Assur'd him of the consent of Hostilius For his obtaining of the fair Aurelia The Idol of his soul With the rich dowrie of the Roman Empire Val. Which his pernicious hopes securely streight Devour'd with consentment to my ruine Car. Yes and with invitation to my self Joyning with him to take part with Hostilius See where the Empress comes I take my leave Exit Valentius Fulvia Antonia Ful. Now if Antonia as thy promise was aside Thou hast distill'd the poison in his ears I shall perceive streight by the operation Val. My dearest Fulvia since all griefs and sorrows Divided are betwixt the Wife and Husband Th' occasions also should be so if then Antonia's care without your intimation Has let me know the cause of your distemper I must obtain her pardon let then thy Former serenity of looks dispel Those clouds of sorrow from that brow to mine Where they hang thick already but I 'le have Them washt away in bloud of the offendors Ful. With whose let mine be joyn'd Sir 't is the only Favor I beg here on my knees by all kneels The former merits with which the constant duty Of an obedient Wife has e're been able T' oblige a Husband by the rising hopes Of young Valentius and the other pledges And fruits of our so constant loves till now By this accursed accident disturb'd Val. They are not rise then O let me not see takes her up My idol thus bow and encline to me Ful. Sure you look on me with false eyes or else You see me chang'd into a loathsome creature Suspicion of guilt in an Empress makes her Seem foul and guiltie to her felf and others So I am in effect a Viper though He casts no poison forth his very touches Are venemous th' offring to embrace me In Florus has methinks with leprosie Infected all my parts Good Sir have mercie kneels again On your poor Fulvia here and let me die When life is now my greatest miserie Val. His bloud shall rather satisfie th' offence Who trespast on thy spotless innocence And though he seemeth at too cheap a rate By single death his crime to expiate 'T is recompenc't at once to see him die And live in a perpetual infamie Whilst thou the best of women glorie of embraces her The present age and honor of thy sex Shalt like a star of the first magnitude Shine glorious in the firmament of honor However yet my dearest Fulvia The heavens in their happiness delay Thy presence though so much desired there T' instruct the age is necessary here Ful. My noble Lord my dutie So hitherto obsequious to your will Shall strive then to obey your last commands Val. O now thou speakst like Fulvia and thy self Thy passions can never long transforme thee Come let us go to my Pavilion and Consult upon the manner how to put In speedy execution our revenge The just effects of which shall never cease Till in the Traitors bloud I find my peace Exeunt Florus Honorius Flo. 'T is strange methinks Honorius that you An Epicurean by Sect should be An enemy of love the greatest pleasure When once obtain'd in the enjoyment of What we call perfect beauty a happiness So frequently desir'd so seldom found Hon. The nature of true pleasure can't consist In the delights of love which leave the soul Not satisfi'd when the most satiated Whilst in her interchangeably there fight Restless disgust and restless appetite True pleasures no remorse but leave behind Them still a grateful odor in the mind Flo. They ill discourse of love who are no lovers Hon. It troubles me to see the royal fort Of noble Florus heart thus yielded up Flo. 'T is given up to him who conquers all things And will in time the brave Honorius brest Where virtue keeps so strong a garrison Hon. It must be weak if so contemptible An Adversary can his entrance force Flo. Neglect of the Enemy destroys the valiant Hon. The fear of him dejecteth noble spirits Flo. Who apprehends his Adversary may Preserve his honor though he lose the day Hon. Esteem of him is distrust in our selves Flo. A prudent fear companion is of valor Hon. 'T is rather of an irresolved mind To them Aurelia Flo. But stay behold here breaks the beauteous light Which will these difficulties cleer Honorius stand firm what means this change Honorius surpriz'd at her beauty Let not thy actions contradict thy words Hon. My hearts unmov'd but the external sense In such surprisals has no sure defence exit Au. Yonder he comes his eyes are fixt on mine Those false lights which will lead him to his ruine Love and Disdain two raging firebrands Are of the mind their common residence Is in the heart but raise a general Disturbance in the soul confounding all Her faculties They are of equal force Contending for the prize with emulation But in effect and nature contrary The one producing hatred and the other Gentle affection
if you doubt your own trust mine who saw And had her head within these hands you know To me alone you did impart this secret Val. 'T is true but why deferre I thus to read This short memorial which may pacifie Perchance these thoughts and troubles in my mind Sta. Securely read it Val. My hand shakes and my heart trembles at The opening of it and a suddain horror Congeals within me all my vital spirits What horrid spectacle is this My eyes deceive me when they should preserve My honor not when they should make me happy These are Palladia's true Characters Sta. Sir you 'l find the conceptions different Valentius reads Val. Valentius Thy inclination to cruelty has made thee guilty of two strange errors the first in the injust condemnation of Palladia upon a false suspicion who yet escap't the execution of thy barbarous designe the last not only in the mistake of the crime but the criminal The true name of Florus was Vespasius whose Father was Valentius and not Arsenius or Macrinus Palladia was his Mother whose loss not being able to sustain for he was falsely accus'd she made choice of a violent death If thou desir'st in thy self a fruitless remorse Macrinus will give thee an account of her inviolate integrity and of other occurrents sufficient to make thee miserable Sta. What can a soul believe when thus deluded By senses which are thought her true informers Val. O my suspicions equally fatal to me When they are just or false O my sad visions So fear'd and apprehended without profit And verified in me with my ruine Useless advises of the heavens that They only might reproach me with imprudence When I securely thought them vain or past I found my ignorance exposer of them O thou black dismal day arising only To see my honor blasted with thy light And confound me in an eternal night Sta. Let not your Majestie 's misfortunes triumph In the dejecting your high noble spirit Perchance your complaints are not rational Why should you credit to your senses give Only when they would make you miserable Refusing when they satisfie your wishes But see here happily Macrinus comes To dissipate the clouds which here involve us To them Macrinus Val. O thou Protector of mine enemies And Traitor of the honor of my Empress And of my Son why hast thou thus abus'd me Mac. Sir if it is to be compassionate An error I cannot excuse my self Val. No Traitor all circumstances accuse thee Thy very silence speaks aloud against thee Th' accursed silence which has thus ruin'd me If Florus was my Son or if Palladia Were innocent why didst thou not tell me Was I So great a hater of religious truth Mac. In Princes with new Wives and their Attendants Surrounded and with passions prepossest Truth finds her entrance doubly barricadoed This rather then to justifie with hazard Made me chuse to secure the innocent Val. Tell me how can Palladia be absolv'd From her lasciviousness when I saw my self Her Lovers Letter where in amorous language He promises to temperate those heats Which so consum'd him in his absence from her Can any thing appear more evident Mac. Not in a form so near resembling truth Which I unveil'd will expose to your view Calantha a Pannonian Lady Cousin Of th' Empress loving a Roman Knight Call'd Plancus then of her domestique Train Procur'd her consent that in Pages habit She might repair to Court and so discover The ardency of her affection to him She changing then her person and her name Into Lucrinus writ that Letter which so Subscrib'd th' occasion was of your mistake And gelosie Sta. Sir which was grounded on Such probabilities which will exempt you From being censur'd rash Val. Ah let him proceed To tell me how he sav'd Palladia from My furious rage Mac. When that you had enjoyn'd me The private execution of her in My village where Calantha waited on her And where we all lamented our ill fortunes Secure of each ones innocencie but Could find no remedie at last Calantha Having some respite with her tears comes to me Affirming that she had found out the way To lead us out of this dark labyrinth She bid me only find her in her Closet Within two hours where I should in writing See her designe and as she knew approve it The time arriv'd I went to see her whom I newly found expired with a bloudy Dagger in her right hand and in the left This Paper which will clear part of the story Val. Statilius read it Sta. Macrinus thy only respect of vertue and innocence has made thee inform us of thy odious commission to make a present this night of my Cousin Palladia's head to the Emperor In whose stead I beseech thee to take mine divided from my body 'T is the only and last request which I dying intreat of thee Our age complexions and features were so alike that they will remain undistinguisht in death With this happy delusion thou wilt incur no suspicion of neglecting the Emperour's severe Commands And the life of the Empress will be hereby preserv'd Together with my reputation in thus declaring I have not betray'd so incomparable a Princess Calantha or the Counterfeit Lucrinus Sta. O memorable act where shall we find Roman or Grecian Pens to celebrate Sufficiently the worth of this brave woman Val. How strangely fortune has industrious been In this my ruine What became of Palladia Mac. Having perform'd what this Letter desir'd From her with difficultie I obtain'd Patience to live concealed in my Village Till she brrought forth a Son infortunate No less in birth then death named Vespasius Who yesterday expir'd you know the manner Under the name of Florus After that I plac't her in the family of Hostilius Where she was Nurse and Governess of his Aurelia and her great vertues the Delight and admiration of his Court Till now impatient for the loss of her Vespasius she us'd violence on her self Th' unhappy Mother of an unhappy Son Sta. These are events t'astonish minds at once With grief and wonder horror and amazement Val. O ye Gods was there so much artifice Required to make one man miserable With what contrivance you have wrought my ruin O my Palladia equally to me Infortunate in the suspicion of Thy loyaltie and clearing of thy fame Unhappy Son discover'd now my Son When I unworthy am to be thy Father Ah Florus now thy innocence is prov'd When I thy Father am guiltie of thy murder Sta. Great persons when they 're injur'd in their honor Pursue th' offence with death you thought you were so Val. O interrupt us not thou hast not yet Related how thou didst deceive the world Making Vespasius appear for thy Son Nor by what error poor Arsenius thought Him his which false belief cost him his life Ev'ry one sought the glory to be his Father but I the Monster who begot him Mac. Some few dayes after this your Son saw light Arsenius had a Son nam'd Florus whom When he was banisht the whole Roman Empire He to my care committed but he prov'd Of small survivance which I conceal'd from him Making Vespasius pass for his Son Florus Not willing to add to th' affliction of His exile this new loss In the mean space Whilst Arsenius commanded Persian Armies Tespasius growing up in years and hopes I told him he was Son of this great Gen'ral Though the world thought him mine which troubled him To think he should his first relation have Sir to your greatest enemie and whom Hostilius raising tumults in the Empire Restor'd and made his General to oppose you What for their benefit I contriv'd in th' end Has prov'd the fatal ruine of them both Val. O the convulsions of my distracted soul Desiring though not yet deserving death O my eyes giv'n me only for my torment What will ye first lament the desperation Of a Wife or the murder of a Son Or my lost honor And I yet alive Am I still call'd a Prince or Emperor Are these my eyes thought worthy of the light Yes and perchance 't is to betray me with More fatal errors then my former were Is there no curteous hand will arm it self Against me but with what with that Ponyard So cruelly stain'd in the bowels of My Son or else that which is infamous And wreaking yet distills with the chast bloud Of my so injur'd Empress Have I left No friend nor enemie But why demand I Goes to stab himself That aid which I can give my self Sta. Nay hold Sir You may die with Statilius not without him Here they hold him Mac. Sir 't is the greatest of miseries to think Your heart not capable of enduring greater Val. Then let me die to free me of this torment Sta. Sir a great Prince like you though life he hate Should stand in opposition to his fate Mac. And being as fearless to live as die He should at once both life and death defie Val. From slaves we life take not the power of dying Must my condition then be worse then theirs For heavens sake let me die Statilius Sta. O Sir preserve that life on which depends The happiness of all your Friends and Subjects Val. 'T is vain to teach him pitie who has been So cruel to his Son and Wife and thee The brave Honorius glory of the age Mac. Your Majestie shall live as long as I Have force t' oppose your death Val. Ah Traitor hast thou not Confer'd sufficient miseries upon me Unless thou dost prolong them Here this dagger Shall be the instrument of my revenge on thee Sta. I cannot hold him O Macrinus flie Here he gets out of their hands and pursues Macrinus who kills himself Mac. No like a Roman by these hands I 'le die Val. He has escapt me However I will not escape my self So now I shall die Oh But not my name or lasting memorie Stabs himself Of my rash and inhumane crueltie Statilius Thy Prince bids thee farewel and goes to know Since here is none if there be rest below dyes Sta. Valentius thy brave soul is fled that soul Which did not only animate thy body But the whole fabrick of the Roman Empire Which now lyes bury'd in thy Funeral Such is the sequel of so great a fall FINIS
his true Prince who all must sway Ar. Mans first and greatest duty from the tye Of nature comes not human policy Hon. Nature must yield to reason which thinks fit Privat to publick int'rest should submit Ar. Go to thy Son Arsenius and try If he be cruel like thy Enemy Hon. Go to thy Son Arsenius there 's his Tent A Fathers ignominy there lament points to the Tents of the Camp And a Sons glory as thy punishment ACT. II. Fulvia Antonia Attendants Ful. ALl but Antonia leave the place Excessive griefs Antonia receive No mitigation from advice of friends And such are mine so that if I implore Assistance I exasperate them more Ant. Madam what causes this strange alteration So many nights your eyes have seen no sleep Which chang'd of late have lost their usual lustre Your looks and speech are not accompany'd With their accustom'd graces as some sick Persons in cold languishing all the night With feavors burning at th' approach of light Just so your Majesty the Sun offends When he his course begins or when he ends Th' arrival of the night gives you no ease That of the day your torments does increase To me your servant why d' you thus affect To hide the cause who tell you the effect Ful. What shall I do confessions of our crimes In Princes are worse crimes then they themselves And which if I strive longer to conceal aside This forced silence will at last reveal Let then my will Which in an Empress should be sole Commander The voluntary first eruption make Antonia thou shalt now know my disease But let compassion mollifie thy heart Conformable to the grief which I suffer Who the distress'd relieve must first resent And feel the torment of the Patient Florus that name so grateful to Antonia But more to me Florus I say to thee so acceptable Ant. Madam 't is true 't was he Who first to my Servilius me united Ful. And me has disunited from my self My Prince the world and all things but himself Florus more fair more beautiful than is Morning or midnight star more lovely then The pleasant Sun himself when he shines through The golden Fleece of the coelestial Ram. O how I am With love transported Ant. True But 't is I hope of your Valentius Ful. No 't is not yes it is I mean of him Not what he is but what he was in Florus Me thinks I see Valentius reviv'd And my old flames Love has Retrac'd the same imaginations in My fancy which kindled my first desires Nature gave the same features to their faces And to their minds and bodies the same graces Such sprightliness was in Valentius looks When first he courted me Such was his comely gesture when on horseback The stately courser proud was of his burden Thus smil'd he thus he frown'd and in his anger Became more lovely from the change of passions Marvel not then that so great a Commander So soon has conquer'd and inflam'd the breast Alas of a poor Lady Ant. These heats should be supprest in their beginning Ful. And so they might did they like other fires Grow by succession but they masterless Like lightning found expansion in an instant Through all my veins inflaming all my spirits Ant. Cast off these vain surmises and be sure the thought you may be cur'd is half the cure Let not your Majesty herein persever We safely sin sometimes securely never Strangle these vile thoughts in their infancy Ful. This I have oft endeavour'd but in vain So whilst that I Am thus consum'd by an internal fire Scarce daring to let it evaporate In words in sighs in tears like other lovers The heat increasing multiplies within My breast and will I fear at last for want Of vent destroy me Ant. Madam these thoughts should have no vent but find At once their birth and burial in your mind Ful. My vital heat and this more vital of My love are substances inseparable Nay if the nature of my soul shall not prove Mortal I fear that will not of my love So that to save my honor if I die I am not sure to end my miserie Wilt thou not then afford me thy compassion Ant. To her who voluntary casts her self In miserie what pity can be due Ful. O 't is against my will love like a Tyrant has Reduc't my soul and all her faculties In vassalage Virtue le ts fall her arms As weak and useless ' against such pow'rful charms Ant. Think on the violation of your faith Ful. I have and find that constancy is only A force imaginary in us women I find it by my self Ant. But not by others Ful. Canst see me perish and afford no succour Ant. Want of assistance in this kind preserves you My succor in this case would make you perish Ful. Thy Empress submissively intreats And wilt thou not obey Ant. learn to command And first your self and then I shall obey I am your servant not slave of your vice Ful. Canst thou a Lover be and yet so cruel Ant. My love I keep confin'd within due limits Ful. Contrivers of crimes secretly committed In Courts securely still advance themselves Without the loss of fame or reputation Ant. We doubly erre if erring we procure Th' opinion that we have conserv'd our honor Ful. If we approve in Princes Actions unjust for private int'rest why not Those more excusable for private pleasure A hidden fault was never entire crime Ant. That which is voluntary is entire Ful. But not in Princes who being publick persons Their vices if not publick are not vices Nor private virtues esteem'd Princely virtues 'T is cruelty not to assist th' afflicted Ant. Not when contrivers of their own misfortunes Ful. O thou art obstinat Ant. 'T is constancy Ful. 'T is cruelty Ant. 'T is generosity Ful. Ingratitude in the most high degree Ant. Greatest beneficence Ful. Thy Princes hater Ant. A lover of her honor and my own Ful. No more Antonia shall I live or die Ant. Then loss of honor death's less miserie Ful. What shall I do my reason having lost Whiles fury guides me I rove strangely tost I know not where but certainly astray Where honor suffers mad love to lead the way Exeunt Arsenius Honorius Florus putting up his sword Flo. No no I can't believe it 't is almost Impossible that he should be my Father Who seeks thus to deprive me of my honor In forfeiting my duty to my Prince Acknowledge in pure gift Thy life from my unlucky ignorance Of him who is my Father Hon. Brave Florus this new field maintain Which virtue has laid open with intention To signalize thy valor in all kinds Nature her self thou here subduest not words Of human art or hand and which is most None in this conquest but thy self can boast Ar. My Son Fl. My Enemy Ar. My only Son Flor. My greatest Enemy Ar. Thou know'st I seek Thy happiness and canst thou injure me Flo. Is this an injury to defend
of imperial Majestie Or lose the hopes else of an ardent lover Rebellious passions of my distracted soul Fear love desire envy why d'ye thus Torment my mind with separated factions Though thou art here a most unjust Usurper Love I 'le my self rather submit to thee Divided power is greater tyranny Speak then and hope happy success may make Our impious actions pass for honorable Much more the faults of love which in all brests Find their Apologies for no man shall Seeing Florus not absolve the Criminal And Ladies which have known him cannot chuse But say the cause brings with it the excuse To her Florus O here he comes As I expected Florus I hope you have Confronted the Original with the Pourtraict I gave you and are pleas'd with both Flo. Your Majesty was not deceiv'd I shall Declare my self an enemie to those Who shall their treacherie practise on that beauty Ful. Now I am happy I perceive he loves me aside Let no suspicious gelosie torment you You only then need fear a Rival when Another Florus should be like your self Flo. In brests where love has no admission found Gelosie can find none he need not fear A Rival who no lover is Ful. Not you A lover can I be so much deceiv'd Flo. Yes when my reason shall direct the passion Ful. Love joyn'd with reason Is a monster and not that noble ghest Which should command all in a Princes brest Fear counsel reason either chasing thence Or else reducing to his obedience Flo. My honor then must regulate my actions Ful. Which never should inspire a noble heart With cruelty but rather with compassion Of a distressed Lady Florus you Knew that to be Fulvia's Picture I gave you Flo. 'T is true and as I think by some mistake Unluckily convey'd into these hands Ful. No Sir be not deceiv'd the present was Made by mature election Flo. I reverence it as your gift and as The Pourtrait of my Soveraign adore it Ful. The name of Soveraign is unsuitable To my affection or my present state Call me your servant that familiar tearm Becoms him who predominats o're all The powers of my soul Disdain not one who ever hath preserv'd Her reputation unstain'd her faith Inviolated and to you alone Commits them both one action of my life Should not reproach me with inconstancie Compassionate an Empress who entreateth That used to command O Florus put A period to my life or to my torment Flo. O ye immortal Gods aside Can you see this offence and suffer it I hope your Majestie will harbor thoughts Which more become your royal dignitie And of your own dishonor and my shame In hearing mention'd this licentious flame Ful. If it be lawless 't will the more aspire Resistance will prove vain to my desire Flo. O Madam let reason triumph above This passion and honor over your love Think how I am the Subject of Valentius Ful. Sufficient curb to this repulse should be The thought how a great Empress loves you and Loves you alone and the Commandress of The world submits her self to your commands Flo. I can't conceive your Majestie as Empress But at that time Wife also of my Soveraign Ful. If you desire happiness think only Of my Imperial dignitie and power Flo. Who by their passions thus enslav'd have lost Their libertie cannot of power boast Ful. If thou despisest an obsequious lover Thou shalt the rage fear of an incenst Lady Flo. I apprehend more danger from the love Then anger of her who despises honor Ful. If thy audacious insolence contemns My threatnings their effects shall make thee tremble Flo. No violence no hidden treacherie Can affright him who never fear'd to die Ful. If that which I intend An ignominious death cannot thee move Thou hast less sense of honor then of love Flo. Which cannot be when the occasion only Springs from the hatred of an immodest woman Ful. Thou shalt feel miserie Flo. I can conquer it Ful. Thou shalt repent Flo. No I am ever constant Ful. I le be reveng'd Flo. I can defend my self Ful. To slight a Lady never was unpunisht Flo. Offence of honor can't be tollerated Ful. My hatred now shall equalize my love Flo. And my contempt my former reverence Ful. O thou unhappy Fulvia what does it Avail thee to be Empress of the world And canst not make thy self belov'd or fear'd Flo. O miserable Florus to what purpose Can serve thy innocence if thou becom'st The odious object of anothers crime Exit Ful. Ah cruel creature he is gone if ever Any had cause to murmur against nature 'T is I in giving him so like Valentius A form and shape fatal to my repose I cherisht the first heat enter'd my brest Insensibly as an acquainted ghest But seeking after how it did aspire I found my nuptial torch lighted this fire So that I can't reproach my self with shame My first and lawful love kindling this flame Then all the fault 's in him who thus rejects me O thou disdain the conquerour of love Which conquers all things else enter my brest There till revenge expel thee take no rest Incenst by thee let all my spirits aspire Mixing in combat with this tyrannique fire For victorie A Princess thus incenst With love and rage thus more is to be fear'd Then cruel fires fierce plagues devouring seas Or what most terrifies our human nature To her Aurelia Au. You Majestie is much perplext that passion Is alwaies great which can't contain it self Ful. I must conceal to her th' unlucky motive aside Of my disturbance Alas Aurelia My miseries are ever fruitful in Producing others scarce my tears are dry'd For the late losses of our Family But I must new supplies find to lament The fresh disgrace now falling on my issue Au. Who can be so unjust to injure you Or who can be so arrogant t' offend That pow'r which is so armed for revenge Ful. Valentius enemie of his own children Because I think they 're mine or else because They' are Nephews of Hostilius your Father Intends that Florus shall be now advanc't To the Imperial dignitie to their And my perpetual reproach that Florus Th' oppressor of my Father and who seeks The ruin now of yours Au. A happy occasion Opens a field to the triumphant passage Of my revenge I can my self disclose Now to so great an enemie of Florus aside O let that beauteous serenitie Madam return which us'd t' adorn your looks Y'have open'd your disease To the Physitian who alone can cure you Ful. Who you become of late an enemie To your own father interessed in The quarrel of Valentius against him Au. Your Majestie 's deceiv'd I only act A counterfeited part I have defam'd My Father as attemptor Upon my virgin modestie that I The better might secure his tott'ring power I fain my self in love with Florus and My flight here to Valentius as my refuge That I more safely may procure their ruin Ful. Aurelia we are
then in the same int'rest Will and affection more conjoin'd then bloud Au. Arsenius has let me know Of late a secret which will raise your wonder How Florus is his Son and how he is In love with me seeking a mutual love Which understanding with notice of my Father I fill'd the old mans head with hopes and joy Of my affection for his Son to whom he has shews her a letter A letter writ here on that very subject Apt either to make him desert his Prince In hope of gaining me or else t' accuse him Of treason in his correspondence with Arsenius enemie of Valentius Who thus abus'd shall see himself depriv'd Of this his Gen'ral our great Adversary Ful. My Brothers present danger and my Sons Disgrace whose fame Florus eclipses makes Him subject of my hatred and the mem'ry Of my poor Father murderd by Valentius Makes him alike Au. Madam then let us strive To be reveng'd of both And with an emulation who shall put Her malice into speediest execution Not doubting of success 'T is great assurance To those who seek revenge to have so faithful Companions in the stratagems as you have Ful. 'T is true my dear Aurelia let me embrace thee For this thy brav'ry though I envy it So far advancing thy unriper years Au. This day shall shew here what the furious rage Of an ambitious Lady can produce And the interest and gelosie of State And emulation Madam of your glory Ful. Expect from me all that can be expected From a contriving subtle wit and cunning Hypocrisie joyn'd with a perfect malice Au. Let Florus let Valentius perceive Th' entrance of Aurelia in their Camp Let fear and modesty companions of Our sex so much enclin'd to virtue be Now cast off by the thoughts of our revenge Ful. My passion shall esteem no sin unlisenc'd In me let one crime still beget another And let it not be thought a crime which does Not multiply it self in many others And ever with increase the latter greatest Au. Madam mistake not and let nothing pass With us for criminal but what is virtuous Ful. 'T is the delightful fruit of vice to think That no vice which is caus'd by interest Au. True of our selves better then that of state Which no great Prince values at any rate Ful. They never else in Court or Camp would find With all their pomp tranquility of mind Au. 'T is on this ground that I 'le prepare to act Those things I cannot think unless enrag'd Posteritie shall ever curse though scarce Believe that which I 'le put in execution Ful. Compar'd with me thou shalt as innocent Appear and did the state but know how high The provocation is of my disdain It would with trembling fear the consequence Au. Who injur'd me the favor shall not have To die unless that I accompanie That death with an eternal infamie Ful. That merits not the title of revenge When we destroy and enemie and give Leave to his reputation still to live Exeunt Valentius Florus Statilius Honorus with Court-Attendants Val. Since not as yet possest of Rome we cannot Express our joy with usual festivals For this adoption of Florus in the Empire Le ts see what sports and what divertisements Our Camp affords us in our slaves and captives Here very conveniently may be brought in some divertisements of the Stage Val. I never lik't the fancie of Augustus Nor of some other Princes who have from The vices imperfections of successors Sometimes their Sons Brothers nearest Allies Sought to illustrate to posteritie Their shameful glory so injurious to them And to the present age A solid virtue Needs no such foyl or shadow to set off Her beauteous lustre and this is the reason Why I omitting my own issue joyn'd To me in bloud not virtue Florus have Destin'd thee for my successor and to morrow Companion and Collegue in my great Empire Sta. Your Majesty declares in this Election No passion has an influence o're your judgement Val. Since 't is not in my power to create him Heir of my bloud I 'le make him of my glorie But Florus why amaz'd thy merit should Prevent thy marvel at thy high advancement Honor should ne'r surprize a noble brest But enter as a long expected ghest Flo. My silence was th' effect of grief and wonder The last occasion'd thus to see a Father Devest himself of natural affections To represent a Prince more absolute My sorrow from the sense of envy springs Which will pursue so great prosperitie Val. Your grief were juster if your exploits had not Deserved envy and your wonder if Your merit had not forced this Election Hon. he need not envie fear who by his actions Worthy of envie has secur'd himself In a safe station above the reach of envie Flo. The title of Caesarean Majestie Is too illustrious for my extraction The charge too weighty for these shoulders which I fear will faint under their glorious burden Sta. Who first knows how to rule himself like you Seems destin'd by the providence of heavens For the command of Scepters and of Empires Val. Fear nothing Florus chearfully assume This greatness as thy valors recompence A purchase which with loss of bloud life honor So often is sought after by ambition For the proud man finds that the boistrous floud Which rowls him to this Port still runs in bloud Exeunt ACT. IV. Valentius Carbo Antonia Val. NOw I perceive as thou hast told me that This my erroneous pursuing of The customs of Princes my Ancestors Which makes me as I write and speak with pens And Tongues of other men just so I hear My informations with the ears of others Has led me in a labyrinth of errors Where truth could never find me out had you Not been her trusty guides For thou O Carbo Must be content to have this noble Lady Companion in thy glory Car. I am proud of it Val. 'T was she who first made known to me from whence Arose the clouds which have of late eclipst The mirth and beautie of my dearest Consort I say 't was she prepare thy faith to hear Far greater wonders than thou hast related This Traytor Florus in the presence of This noble Lady has solicited My Empress O horror to betray My honor nay startle not that 's my part Whom the world falsely calls the great Valentius Car. I was surpriz'd but thinking how the greatest Of vices is ingratitude there 's none Of which I think he cannot be found guilty Val. This I confess but alass here his utmost Cruelty should have spar'd his Prince I am The soul diffus'd through the vast body of The Empire thus expos'd in all parts to His wounds and injuries at least herein He should have had compassion of his friend His Benefactor Father by adoption Which merits more then if I were by nature Car. Sir he has told me he esteem'd all things Lawful to gain an Empire or a Mistress And in a scorning manner
kill Her bloud whom he loves best I 'le make him spill Ye Gods look down then with propitious eyes On him the Priest and me the Sacrifice Soph. I am at present in an ill condition To give or take advice having resolv'd Not to outlive the setting of this Sun Au. Sophonia it is not fit that you Perform the pennance of anothers crime Is mine so great or are the Gods so cruel That nor my tears nor bloud can washt away Soph. No you more white will after this offence Rise and appear then in your innocence Au. O my Sophonia must we now depart Soph. Yes never more to meet again Au. I am not So sorry to forsake the light as thee Soph. 'T is long since thou the only light hast been Of these mine eyes Au. And thou ev'n of my soul Which never felt eclipse but in thy absence Farewel Soph. Farewel Au. Farewel my dear Sophonia Shall I once more and this the last time joyn These treacherous and perfidious lips to thine Exeunt Hostilius I wonder I have no intelligence From my Aurelia my too forward fears Would fain perswade me that she has miscarri'd In my last enterprise I must confess Th' employment was of a strange nature to Make her conspire and act against the person Whom above all mankind she lov'd thee most To him a Messenger and Aurelia disguis'd Mess Sir here 's a person from the enemy's Camp Desires speedy admittance Hos Let him enter Some happy news I hope now from my daughter Sir your business Au. It is of such importance That 't will require privacie to hear it Hos Leave us alone first tell me who you are Au. My name is Oppius and I am the Son Of a Captain of the Praetorian Cohorts My Message to your Majesty is concerning Aurelia the Princess Hos O let me Embrace thee not a messenger from heaven Could be so welcome Au. But I fear my news Will not be so In short the horrid plot Which you design'd against our General Has been discover'd and Aurelia Not like a lawful enemy but like A Traitor has receiv'd her punishment Hos How pray tell me then what is become of her Au. Sir I by order of Valentius Have been her Executioner and here Behold the fatal Instrument as yet Remaining stain'd with her most guilty bloud Hos Stay let me see 't take this reward for thy So civil message civilly deliver'd Stabs her Au. Enought enough Hostilius I have What I expected I am thy Aurelia Hos Aurelia ah my Aurelia what has made thee draw This punishment upon thy self and me Au. Sir I methoughts had left no other way To wash away your horrid guilt and mine In the effusion of the bloud of Florus O thou his noble soul which hover'st here About me though invisible and canst not Repair to thy celestial origine So soon not being by thy fate but my Perfidious treacherie divorced from Thy lovely body look down on my complaint See how thy injury is vindicated Why cannot my soul follow thee she shall And mounted on the wings of love shall flie To that part of the pure celestial skie Where thou shalt O Florus Florus Florus dies Hos Ah how I have at once wounded two brests And in thy death depriv'd my self of life That bloud of thine is mine the torments which Afflict thy body I feel in my soul Who waits there To him some Attendants Though this young Gentleman I have discover'd My enemy and as a Spie dispatcht him Yet since he was of high Patritian bloud See that his body privately you burn And close the ashes in a marble Urn. Exeunt Valentius Statilius Sta. Sir the Camp is full of the news already Who say their General was sacrific'd To satisfie some factions of the Court. Val. Were not all testimonies cleer against him Sta. No Sir 't is thought you were uxoriously Subject to the ill government of women Whose practises should ever be suspected Their vows nor oathes their frowns nor pleasant looks Their smiles nor tears should conclude nothing in us Mans heart is seldom known a womans never Val. O good Statilius compassionate Me and my years so far distant from dotage Which otherwise might plead in my behalf Sta. It neither can become your Majesty Nor my condition longer to delude you With idle entertainments of false hopes You are betray'd Aurelia is retir'd Into her Fathers Court whom Fulvia follow'd Servilius has deliver'd up the Bridge Committed to his custodie where he And Carbo with their legions have past To fight under the colors of Hostilius Sir these the fruits are of the entercourse Betwixt the Empress and her beauteous Niece Val. How long have I this viper in my bosom Never suspected for a poisonous creature O the vain hopes of my approaching triumph In the air vanisht O my reputation Betrayd by those in whose hands 't was committed As in the safest custodie Exeunt Sophonia disguis'd Soph. So now methinks the stormie weathers past Of my tempestuous life and if a fair Ev'ning will crown the day sure I shall set Now red and gloriously here in my bloud Which with these daring hands I 'le now let forth To vindicate my honor and my worth To her Valentius as it were speaking to some in the Tents Soph. But see yonder he comes the cruel author Of all thy miseries the murderer Of thy fair reputation and thy Son And as he thought of thee Valentius Here thou shalt see in this Paper the motives Gives him a Paper Of thy repentance the defence of such Whom most injustly thou hast put to death Rash man in thy suspicion cruel in Thy execution from this very moment Begin to be unhappy yesterday Thou lost thy Son and now thy Wife the true Empress here fals before thee Stabs her self Val. Come in and take this body forth What strange Phantasms are these which scorn my power and Torment my sight with dismal objects and My soul with these reproaches O Statilius To him Statilius The friend and the Companion of thy Prince Thou opportunely comst to my assistance If there were any in this memorial By her presented who is now a Carkase Included is the ful malignity Of my misfortune Yesterday she said I lost my Son and now my Wife but how Can that be if the Empress Palladia So many years are past dy'd without issue Sta. This is some person who at the approach And horror of her death distracted spoke She knew not what Val. Ah how I fear this was the true Palladia Sta. How can that be that from the dead one should Arise is more then a Poetique fiction Val. If this were false I could not be so troubled Sta. Sir recollect your former mind too much Dejected with a falsifi'd appearance Val. Sure 't was the head divided from her body Which by Macrinus was expos'd before These eyes yet I suspect their faith unless Where they as here shall make me miserable Sta. Sir