of his own life T were well he had some Issue by a Wife And none I think could so secure your state As fair Pulcheria Pho. True but my hard fate Denies that happiness my great design That marriage would divided factions join And fix the Empire in our Royal line CRISPVS You dally with her let her know she must The Empires happiness makes all force just PHOCAS She scorns the Empire and the Emp'ror too CRISPVS And will do still whilst you appear to sue Though ne're so great your power makes her your slave Pho. She must be free Crisp How Sir PHOCAS To wed my Son or else to wed a grave ACT I. SCEN. II. Enter Phocas Crispus Pulcheria her Women Guards and Attendants MAdam at last 't is time that you should yield To what your greatness will more firmly build A Caesar got betwixt you and my Son Would add more blessing than a Kingdom won I ask no great acknowledgment in this For my past care but offer you all bliss The Crown my Son I cannot give you more The gift were less could I the dead restore Accept 'em then do not my patience tire Let not scorn force me hate what I admire With or against your will it must be done For know already your last Glass doth run Think well he sues that doth a Scepter sway Whom though you will not love you must obey PVLC I hitherto have shew'd you some respect Now find in you and me no small defect Mine that I paid you what you not deserv'd Yours now to boast that you my life preserv'd Yet threaten still to take that life away Unless I do your unjust will obey PHO. Is it unjust to offer you my Son Whose merit all hearts but your own hath won PVLC It were unjust his merits to deny Yet since your Son I 'le rather chuse to die Than by my marriage to secure your State That 's justly mine unless a more kind Fate Would make your death the first step to my Throne Till purg'd with bloud I scarce dare claim my own PHO. I have constrain'd my self and given you way To hear what Pride and Malice make you say And it is just that you should not refuse To hear that love that would you disabuse The Empire is not tied unto your race Mauritius raign'd the Army gave his place And by that Title I the Empire sway The sword made his the Sword now makes my way Who hath or ever durst dispute my power That twenty years have raign'd an Emperour I have but little need of your support T is love I offer you should thank me for 't I was not Author of your Fathers fate But griev'd his loss forc'd to obey the State PVLC T is fit this offer'd love then to requite I disabuse thee Phocas know me right I am descended of th' Imperial line In four descents from famous Constantine Thou a poor Captain of the Mysian band Who first that bloudy Treason took'st in hand Dar'st to my face pretend a right to Raign Having thy Master the just Emp'rour slain And all this ill for good unto the State What 's thy Reward the peoples deadly hate Which is the cause that I am courted now Yet threatned to be broke unless I bow Thus Tyrants when they fear are ever kinde The danger past for love we hatred finde But know Pulcheria's not degenerate For doubtful love to change her ancient hate PHO. Well Say I should the Empire back restore Placing you there whom justly all adore That I repent these things you say I 've done Could you yet have a quarrel to my Son He in his Cradle then with milk was fed And did not suck the bloud your Father bled He laid no plots to hasten on his fate Now full of Vertue why feels he your hate PVLC Go Tyrant th' art not fit to speak his praise What 's spoke by thee doth yet suspition raise Seeming to do him right thou dost him wrong Thy heart 's so false there 's none will trust thy tongue I know him better and his worth is such That all that can be said is not too much PHO. Why then refus'd since you his worth allow PVLC Only because he takes his birth from you For should I grant to marry with your Son I justifie the murthers you have done Settles the Empire in a Traytors line Lose my just vengeance perfect your design PHO. Designs to make you great deserve your love PVLC Not if that greatness his protection prove That kill'd my Father Brothers all my Kin And that black Roll too I my self am in I 'm kept alive but 't is to serve your ends For Tyrants only to themselves are Friends PHO. I not deny all this that you have said For you shall bleed if I be not obey'd Wisely prevent it marry with my Son Be safe in him for man and wife are one Think well what blessings may attend your throne Sure Heaven it self inspires this union PVLC Your Son yet with this Crown I could deny Though I did love him above Monarchy But 't is not yours to hold much less to give If I were dead a brother yet might live Divide your presents then and let me chuse Single I like but join'd I both refuse PHO What shall I to a Womans hand commit My Scepter when thy Fathers prov'd unfit PVLC Traytor that Father yet might leave a Son Shall bravely take what thou most basely won PHO. T is that vain hope then makes you now so bold Sure you have feign'd what is by others told But see the weakness of their foolish lie To make him live must make your title die PVLC Since you upbraid me with this new Report Which I believe not yet must thank 'em for 't I 'le add unto it all that 's in my power And whosoe're wish him an Emperour He must be worthy that assumes our Name And do such Actions as may raise his Fame Thou hast no title his must be as good And will be better if he shed thy bloud Thou a false Traitor didst usurp the throne He comes perhaps to yield to each their own Prevent him then resign the Crown to me By one just Act wipe off thy Tyranny PHO. Yes I shall soon do justice in thy death That dar'st abuse the Mercy gives thee breath All my kind offers thou hast still refus'd My patience mock'd and dignity abus'd PVLC Thy dignity an idol of thy own creation That from no good man yet found veneration PHO Well please thy self with what thy fancy gives That there 's a brother or some other lives To take my life to right pretended wrong But know your fate depends upon your tongue Which though thus bold must say I 'le be his Wife Or the denial ends your scornful life Smile you Now by my Crown I 'le have it done And you this day shall marry with my Son PVLC I may live long yet you not perjur'd be You swear by nothing
and gratitude is blest To Leontina The secret's yours and I should be ingrate Without your leave to claim my Father's state No 't were in vain whate're I undertake Even truth it self you can imposture make I may say more the Empire 's yours not mine Which from you I 'le receive and here resign Her title at least as mine must prove as good Since it was purchas'd with her Brothers blood Exit ACT II. SCEN. III. Leontina Eudoxia LEON MY Plot now ripe I must no more conceal My deep design but all to thee reveal For you may help to perfect my intent Phocas by Martian must to death be sent T was for that cause I gave him a reprieve And that Act done he should no longer live But for Pulcheria's sake whom he doth love A Mistress with a Throne must strongly move EVD To kill his Father Madam 's an offence With which nor Love or Empire can dispence LEON His kill'd the common Father of us all T is just that he by his own Son should fall EVD T is just to him but unjust to his Son LEON He shall not know he 's such till it be done But pass still for Leontius son to me And so by both their deaths Heraclius free EVD I know the guiltie Father merits death But that so brave a Son should stop his breath To me looks horrid though he know it not His so great fame will have a lasting blot LEON It is not fit a bloudie Tyrants son Should wear that Glorie he as mine hath won Enter Page Exuperius comes to kiss your hand LEON Exuperius I am at a stand That name surprizes me what makes he here How this new Visitant revives my fear He hates the Tyrant for his Fathers bloud Of tattling still I tell you comes no good ACT II. SCENE IV. Exuperius Leontina Eudoxia EXVP MAdam Heraclius is discover'd Leontina to Eudoxia Now Eud If I Leontina to Eudoxia Peace But since when or where or how to Exup EXVP By me just now Leont And he is doom'd to die EXVP The Tyrant yet knows not the Mystery LEONT Mystery Exup Madam he comes you need not fear LEONT None but my Son Leontius does appear ACT II. SCEN. V. Martian taken for Leontius Exuperius Leontina Eudoxia EXVP MAdam you need no more put on disguise We by a Paper now are all made wise MARTIAN taken for Leontius Madam you know and best can understand If this be feigned or Mauritius hand Whether it disabuse or more delude Pray clear what yet hath great incertitude I cannot be your Son and yet his too If any know the Caracter you do Gives her a Paper She reads LEONTINA hath deceived PHOCAS and by delivering one of her Sons to death preserved mine to inherit the Empire You that remain faithfull Subjects honour and assist so great Vertue HERACLIVS lives under the Name of LEONTIVS LEON He tels you true Sir you were in my hands When Phocas entred with his Rebel bands Seiz'd on the Emp'rour let him only live To see his children die more grief to give I past all hope you longer to conceal To save your life I did my self reveal Offer'd my Son to Phocas in your stead Gave you the name of him that now is dead For whom these tears he was your sacrifice And from his death your life and greatness rise Nature though then struck dead by duties force Does now revive and cause this briny source Weeps a while Phocas thus ravish'd with deluding joy Heaps favoure on me and on you a Boy favours so great some said my Son and I Did seem with him to share his Tyranny This Sir I thought not fit for to declare Till you had got so great a name in war That all might judge your birth must needs be great Since so much merit claim'd the highest seat And this great news that makes the Tyrant fear Must prove a truth when you your self appear MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius But Madam that you have conceal'd all this Though it seem well I feel what is amiss LEON I did not know all that the Emp'ror knew Things done long since men may suspect not true My testimony rests on your strong arm Else what design'd ' gainst him may prove our harm EXVP The Emp'ror forc'd to see his own Child die To Leontina Became a witness of your Policy And did design to hinder your intent But th' Executioner did that prevent After a little pleas'd to think his Son Might right the wrongs to him and his then done He told it Felix and this Paper gave Who gave it me that put him in his grave Call'd it a Legacy that might dethrone The Tyrant under whom the world did groan Arm'd with this secret I desir'd to know Who would with me the danger undergo The People now are up our friends assemble The Tyrant from his fears and guilt doth tremble Shew but your self do but our forces lead As he my Fathers I 'le take off his head I secretly gave out that you yet live But where or how did no suspicion give All that are honest love Mauritius ' Name Those that are not yet having miss'd their aim Seek in their discontent to bring you in What they call'd just before they now call sin MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius Surpriz'd with a discourse so new and strange Wonder not that you see my passions change I know how great a debt to you I owe That to Mauritius ' Heir such love did show I ow'd you as your Son my life before And if not yours my obligation 's more But how can I my gratitude declare When this strange story breeds a Civil-war You know I love your story makes my flame Which was my glorie now appear my shame Incest to love a sister what 's a Throne When she that can command all hearts is gone My love thus murmurs and my heart must break Pardon distraction how or what to speak to Exuperius Dutie and Honour yet doth me command To give a Chief ' to your illustrious Band. Justice requires that one thing must be done Though Phocas perish yet preserve his Son He has no guilt but that he 's of his bloud The Fathers ill cannot out-weigh his good EXVP To your commands we shall obedience pay Hast Sir to those that with impatience stay Exit EXVP ACT II. SCEN. VI. Martian taking himself for Heraclius Leontina Eudoxia MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius MAdam though you have made a strange discourse That both my faith and reason seems to force Yet since 't is you my faculties submit To credit any thing that you think fit Though others this reserve might jealous make You did of Martian's love advantage take To raise your dear Eudoxia to the Throne And that the cause this secret's so late known Or that you thought it was enough for me That I from you derive my Pedigree But 't were in me a crime this to believe Yet have you done what
ACT III. SCEN. IV. Phocas Exuperius Amintas Guards and Attendants PHO. WIth what delight such menaces I hear Small danger in vain words there does appear But I have power to make my threatnings good Punish her scorns in her dear brothers blood You my true friends that thus have eas'd my pain I fear'd your hate but now your love 's made plain Rest not till you make perfect your design For to your judgments I my will resign Shall we in secret give Heraclius death Or on a publick seaffold stop his breath EXVP What is the fittest is the best for you In publick Traitors still should have their due A private death would politick appear Not just and we more Hydra's heads might fear The Mutineers may say he is not dead And raise some other Traitor in his stead PHO. Then in the Palace-yard 't is best he die Our Guards about us for securitie EXVP Not in your own Court Sir Should it be done But in the face of all before the Sun Where justice us'd to be and so declare That publick Acts should not be mixt with fear PHO Then at the time that he gives up his breath We 'l shew his Note the just cause of his death EXVP That Sir avails not after twenty years Mauritius ' hand unknown to all appears But if the storm now you will lay indeed When publickly this Pageant-Prince shall bleed Make him acknowledge who he is and cry It is HERACLIVS People you see die PHO I am resolv'd it shall be as you say And Leontina shall the same debt pay I 've made her great her plots I now mistrust Who make their Prince fear make their own death just But Mutineers may force 'em from our hands EXVP What are those People to your well-arm'd bands None Sir will dare the least resistance show Who 's in disgrace there 's but few friends will know A little pitty as he goes along Oft curiosity does make a throng Rare sights the people love but none will be So mad to stir if so he dies by me Yet what you do should soon be put in act Let them not meet to talk about his fact Seize all convenient places through the Town And place such Guards as you know are your own For us we are ingag'd to see him die Lest if he live we lose our lives thereby Since 't is our dutie brings him to the block Our courage shall sustain the fiercest shock PHO It is enough I on your zeal relie And this may help to quell all mutiny I go to perfect this so great affair And leave your friends assembling to your care The work once done look you for such reward As so great Faith and courage hath deserv'd Exit Phocas and Attendants ACT III. SCE. V. Exuperius Amintas EXVP WE are in favour friend and all command AMINT. Why so great joy I scarce can understand Falshood and Treason are not things to boast What is our greatness when our honour 's lost EXVP True to the Generous it is not great Why we engag'd I need not now repeat We shall find waies yet to recover all And raise our honour by this present fall Come let us go this pain we must endure If honour bleeds blood may our honour cure Exeunt ACT IV. SCEN. I. Enter Heraclius Eudoxia HERAC WIth reason you her dangers apprehend Now she appears but a mistaken Friend If she flie not no hope but she must die T will justice seem in him not crueltie Eudoxia not for her I grieve but thee She justly is betray'd that betray'd me EVD Can you believe her hate to you was such When her Sons life for yours was not too much HERACLIVS To her imposture I must give that name She stayd those actings that might raise my fame And by her cunning and a false report My Name and Right to Martian doth transport Approves that Letter in my Fathers Name Entitles him to th' Empire which I claim In this there was no love no policie Since he must reign or else must die for me EVD Had she decry'd that Letter as a lie Your secret then had been reveal'd thereby She doubted Sir as by the issue now Her just suspicion you may well allow Arm'd then with something yet to make you reign More than is known or that Note could contain Had she not turn'd the blow on Martian's head You that mistake her service had been dead HERAC No matter which I Martian too much owe If one must die to suffer him to go Though none discover me my self I must To my brave friend and honour be so just This only difference Martian can I see Betray'd I wretch'd die glorious for thee EVD Ah! Sir will you so rash an action do Betray your self and give me my death too What hast the Tyrant yet doth nothing know Will you the object of his furie show HERACL Your love to what 's my dutie makes you blind Who doth not love my honour is unkind He by my Name is sure to suffer death And shall I by his Name preserve my breath If by the errour he might live and reign It might be born he by my loss might gain T were a low baseness longer to conceal Such a mistake as honour bids reveal EVD Oh Sir it is not that which I desire Your honor 's mine mean thoughts would quench my fire Arm arm your self Sir to preserve his life Make Phocas die his death will end all strife Rekindle what my Mother quencht before And from my love and courage make it more Take to the Empire now a Soldiers way If you meet Death tell him I for him stay HERAC Th' Occasion 's lost Martian now goes for me And by his pris'n our friends dispersed be Since all do take him for Heraclius They 'l think it a foul Parricide in us Some few that love my person well may rise But spight of them and us still Martian dies And when his death gives Phocas victorie What force can I expect should join with me Then speak no more your love must not retard His life my honour are of more regard Whether I reign or whether I must die I 'le trust my vertue for a Victorie ACT IV. SCENE II. Phocas Heraclius taken for Martian Eudoxia Exuperius Guards and Attendants PHOC shewing Eudoxia to his Guards TO prison with her till her Mother appear HERAC Has she a share PHO. That will be found ne'r fear T is fit that we do seiz her she may peach And help to draw the Mother within reach EVDOXIA to Phocas going off Believe not any thing that he shall tell PHOCAS to Eudoxia Follow your counsel yes 't were very well Exit Eud. with a Guard To Heraclius Her tears thy pity no way do deserve Wouldst thou thy greatest Enemies preserve No no I 'm sure when all their guilt is known Thou neither wilt their love nor persons own Bring in the Pris'ner tortures we not need To his Guard To find the crime
HERAC She 's my Sister Sir PHO. You no more my Son And all I 've labour'd for again undone PVL What if he were Tyrant art thou so vain To think his grant could alter my disdain Could I love any thing should but seem thine And from thy blood less than my own decline Cease then to hope the least pretence in me Whilst death hath power from that to set me free ACT V. SCEN. IV. Phocas Heraclius Martian taking himself for Heraclius Pulcheria her Women Crispus Guards and Attendants CRISPVS TO Exuperius Sir the debt you owe He and his friends have born the business so That he the Mutineers hath overcome And Pris'ners brings their chiefs to hear your doom PHO Command that in the Court for me he stay Where them their due my thanks to him I 'le pay Ingrateful wilt thou be my Son or no The Mutineers o're come I need not show Or fear or love more than I have indeed Use well the time while I make others bleed And thou Pulcheria if thou wouldst not see Both their bloods shed to end the Tragedie Find or make choice of one of them for mine And with the usual forms your right hands join At my return I swear this shall be done Who scorns my blood and Throne is not my Son PVLC Threat not they dead I gladly death imbrace PHO I know thou wouldst but I 'le not grant that grace That were a mercie I must punish thee Which as the highest thou shalt marry me PVLC Ha! What Plague PHO. If it be great from me 't is justly due But I shall make it yet more strange and new I 'le bath this in their blouds when so take thine One way or other compass my design She will not kill her self whilst yet they live To himself They error me and I 'le them terror give Exit Pho. Crisp c. ACT V. SCENE V. Heraclius Martian taking himself for Heraclius Pulcheria PVLCHERIA O The sly Wolf his fear made him seem mild The danger past how bloudy and how wild Threatning our hearts in pieces he will tear If only mine it were not worth my fear But when you both must die whose worth is such The world ne're knew nor shall again so much Since we to death must all together go Which is indeed my Brother let me know That aptly I may pay the debt I owe. MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius Rather resolve your danger drawing near He may come back and act what you so fear The marriage with the Son then celebrate To shun the Father you so justly hate PVL Who is' t will show me if I could consent And so assure me incest to prevent MART. taking himself for Herac. I see too much of fear for us and you Yet a faign'd marriage you may yield unto Deceive the Tyrant vertue not destroy All live and yet not Hymen's rights enjoy PVL So to dissemble would look poor and low HERAC A Tyrant to outreach makes it not so 'T would place in trust a Brother which he gives We having power he at our mercy lives And so we may when ever we think good Sue a divorce and seal it with his blood PVL Well to preserve your lives avoyd my shame I am content whose wife must I seem name Which of you is it offers me his hand 'T is not a real since no legal band HERAC You Sir who did at first the motion make MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius You Prince who for his Son Phocas will take HERAC You who these four years have her lover him MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius You who have greater worth her heart to win PVL Ah Princes By this so brave retreat your worth is shown But I mistrusted still judg'd by my own For great hearts which the Heavens for Empire make Even at the shadow of a crime must shake Let us leave all to Heaven and nothing do But what bright honour fairly guides us to HERACL Was ever fate more cruel than is mine The doubtful truth which with my blood I sign Leaves me unworthy still of that great Name I suffer for in death I lose my aim Saving not him for whom I choose to die MART. taking himself for Herac. That nothing is to my strange destiny Who in the compass of one day appear Leontius Martian and Heraclius here A Tribun's Tyrant's a just Emp'ror's Son And die I know not who e're it be done PVLC How small your griefs are yet compar'd to mine Though I confess you justly may repine For death which may ease you I must not try They that give life that help to me deny We are born Servants and our Lord's design We must not question but our wills resign It is determin'd by great Nature's Laws That all effects depend upon their cause ACT V. SCEN. VI. Heraclius Martian taking himself for Heraclius Pulcheria Amintas HERAC WHat does this Traytor 's coming mean speak slave AMIN I am not so since I no Master have The name of Traytor I can less endure Washt in the Tyrants blood I now am pure HERAC Ha! What saies he AMIN. That I am free from stain By Exupere and me Phocas is slain MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius He that betray'd me AMIN. You mistaken were We Traytors seem'd to find our Emperor PVL Were not both sent the Mutineers to quell AMIN. Yes but each others minds we knew so well That when time fitted we did soon agree To punish Phocas for his Tyranny For he secur'd by our deceit from fear Quickly his wonted fierceness did appear For pride and crueltie do greater grow When one believes he has subdu'd a foe The seeming Pris'ners kneeling on the ground Implor'd his mercie but this threatning found You are all Traytors to whom death as due T is just cries Exupere most just to you He strikes we second him the Tyrant dies Long live HERACLIVS Exuperius cries The standers by struck with amazement were To see one stroke destroy their hope and fear Thus for self-ends who call'd this Tyrant good Soon read his ills once written in his blood The last Scene Heraclius Martian taking himself for Heraclius Pulcheria her Women Leontina Eudoxia Exuperius Amintas Guards and Attendants HERACLIVS SAy Madam is it true is there a change Amintas tells us news though good yet strange LEON Sir the success though great you may believe Nor is there any blood shed we should grieve HERAC False to be generous I thee embrace To Exuperius If I have power expect the highest grace EXVP I must beg pardon from one of you two If I have injur'd him I have serv'd you MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius Either of both may easily forgive His death who was resolv'd we should not live Yet at the mention something touches me HERAC It may the great effects of nature be If so you have no great cause to complain If I the Empire you my sister gain Nor can my dear Pulcheria now refuse The Father dead how can
that belongs to me PHO By my right hand that doth to me belong PVL Thou hast no right since all thou hast is wrong PHO I 'm sure th' art proud and by this pride I swear PVL Your pride makes mine and so no death I fear But canst thou dread an Oath it cannot be Thy whole life's one continued perjury PHO to himself Her Genius masters mine I must submit To her great spirit heighten'd by her wit Madam let 's end this Combate of the tongue Women at their own weapons are too strong But urge me not lest I make use of swords And they can cut as deep as bitter words ACT I. SCEN. III. Phocas Heraclius taken for Martian Martian taken for Leontius Crispus Pulcheria her women Guards and Attendants MArtian thou knowst with what Paternal cares I 've bred this Serpent who ungrateful dares Spit her bold venom in her Sovereign's face My Person and my Government disgrace Lay plots partake with Traytors to my Crown And cares not who she raise to pull me down Her death is just so to prevent all harms She hath no Sanctuary but thy Arms. HERAC taken for Martian And why should I an Enemy protect No Sir I so your dignity respect That I must tell you you do shew mistrust In your own Right declare her Title just By pressing this What need I marry her Since I 'm your son that title I prefer He wears a Crown with slav'ry all his life Who hath no better title than a Wife Mine is a double right as may be said That now descends of which you conquest made PVLC They speak the Father not the Son these words Was ever conquest made with civil swords Abhor'd Rebellion all good men do call A Traitors rise by a just Princes fall PHO I am thy Prince and justly thou shalt die PVL Such justice well becomes thy tyranny Th' hast kept me like a Lamb suffer'd to feed The Wolf wants meat and innocence must bleed Nor speak I this that I repine at death I scorn a life depends upon thy breath HERAC taken fer Martian She must not die be carefull of your self Lest when you ship-wrack her you meet a shelf The winds blow high take heed Sir how you steer The storm that rose far off increases here The Peoples discontents would grow more bold Desperate if once to them her death were told On her great merit they have fixt their eies And in her safety Sir our safety lies PHO Why then are you so careless of her love HERAC taken for Martian I want that worth that her great heart should move PHO Who hath it then or who durst so aspire HERAC taken for Martian It is not such if done by my desire True friendship Sir is such a powerful charm That e'n to marry her shall do no harm PHO When dead Mauritius does such vigor give To this supposed Son now said to live Dost thou not think a real Son-in-law Would claim the Crown and keep us still in awe But thou wilt say 't is trusted to a friend Crowns once in question there 's no tie can bind HERAC taken for Martian When married meanly that will bate her pride PHO She rather seeks how to be Deifi'd Scorns an Alliance would her fortune prove And her dead kindred only seems to love We 'l send her to them out of love not hate Who not supports may yet disturb our state Pulcheria though your pride would never yet Grant any thing to me that I thought fit But call me Tyrant yet so kind I 'le prove To send you quickly to your friends above Exit Phoc. Crisp c. ACT I. SCEN. IV. Heraclius taken for Martian Martian taken for Leontius Pulcheria her Women HERAC taken for Martian IN vain he promises himself that I With his injustice should so far comply To force affection justly you may chuse And should you grant I justly might refuse We never must our houses join in one Nor are we fitted for this union You in Leontius happier will be And in his Sister 's my felicity We all are happy in our equal love And Leontina doth our choice approve Whose Vertue and whose wisdom is so great That nothing can so just designs defeat PVLC Sir you at first Leontius gave to me And as your gift increas'd his dignity Which in the world's opinion was before So great that only you could make it more But 't is improper now to think of love To any other than to those above After a pause HERAC taken for Martian I am resolv'd it never shall be done Who dares since in your Glass my life doth run Which I 'le declare and let the Tyrant storm If he raise forces I can sooner arm And check his rage who innocence defends Must not mistrust either his Cause or Friends PVL You justly now Sir do excite a fear Which I had not though I knew death was near But now that I do find that danger 's yours I feel a coldness strike my vital powers Kind Heaven your Messenger is timely sent My single death may many now prevent she swoons MARTIAN taken for Leontius I never thought that any thing but love Could in a womans breast such passion move Sir she recovers seem to change your mind HERAC taken for Martian I will and yet do what I have design'd Pulcheria be not griev'd and I will do Only what your desire shall guide me to MARTIAN taken for Leontius Rather be rul'd by me whose life was spent To serve you both though now your punishment First you must seek Sir to secure her life Which cannot be preserv'd unless your wife If you your selves and me will this way bless I shall be happy in your happiness The Princes good to subjects still should be The highest pitch of their felicity HERAC taken for Martian Ah my Leontius you too high aspire For my sake to extinguish that bright fire Which we â—ave kindled glorious whilst it burns But if extinguisht you to ashes turns I know you cannot live without her love What is divine proceeds from those above Part of their Essence friendships here on earth Are more our choice and suit our humane birth I know you better than your self you know And I my life unto your friendship owe I doubly ty'd by love and friendship too Will court this new Pretender to serve you Exit ACT I. SCEN. V. Martian taken for Leontius Pulcheria her Women PVLC THou soul of Goodness and of Greatness both How I do love the Son the Father loath Thus they divide betwixt them love and hate For what I owe to thee he did create MARTIAN taken for Leontius All that proceeds from him is greater made This glorious Sun yields me a happy shade My heart long scorcht by your bright beauties beams He gain'd me from you sweet refreshing streams Since thus by both your favours then I live My life 's a debt I 'le pay and nothing give But you being still the Tyrant's Ostage
for which he now must bleed It is his boast his pride your self shall see to Heras Who scorns our mercie would not pitied be But what is that which I must not believe My apprehension begs thee to relieve The doubt I labour in of what she meant When faith unto thy words she would prevent Hast thou some new some greater crime disclos'd HERAC taken for Martian More than by any else can be depos'd points at Exup More than Mauritius saw more than he knows PHO. Perfidious wretch this day to death she goes Speak HERAC taken for Martian T is a secret of no common weight Before the Pris'ner I will all relate PHO He 's here but speak not for him I command ACT IV. SCEN. III. Phocas Heraclius taken for Martian Martian taking himself for Heraclius Exuperius and Guards HERAC taken for Martian THat Sir were vain for me to take in hand I rather beg that justice may be done Condemn Heraclius so preserve your Son Shall it be granted PHO T is what I desire Thy safety doth indeed his death require MART. taking himself for Herac. Without regret I saw approaching Fate But you to sentence me with so much hate I never knew you till my death I see HERAC taken for Martian I never less than now was known to thee Hear me blind Father and more blinded Prince My honour must your ignorance convince Thy Friends thy enemies Phocas sever thus He is thy Son and I Heraclius MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius My Lord what say ye HERAC I must not conceal What honour to preserve thee hids reveal Phocas by Leontina twice deceiv'd And she so cunningly her web hath weav'd By change of names she causeth their mistakes And a false Martian of Heraclius makes PHO. Mauritius Note the Contradiction gives Vnder LEONTIVS Name HERACLIVS lives HERAC I grant the Note true then now 't is not so I did Sir by Leontius name then go But though the Emp'rour what he saw did leave He could not what 's done since he ceas'd to breath Within short time began your Persian war Lasted three years you still from home so far And all that while your Wife too being dead Leontine as she pleas'd our child-hood bred To trace me out a way unto the Throne Made me your Son took Martian for her own And the resemblance Infants then may have Favour'd her so you took the Child she gave This known Compassion made me longer stay And not attempt my right a bloody way But seeing by this error he must die That sav'd my life it now were base if I Should not assume my name his only guilt My life and honour in his blood are spilt I beg not Sir that you make less your hate Behold an enemy expects his fate I ask but what you promis'd should be done Condemn Heraclius Preserve your Son MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius To Phocas Admire thou Father art of such a Son Admire the reputation he hath won He this invents from Generositie Would die himself in hopes to set me free To Heraclius T is true too much for what by me was done I sav'd your life by which I honour won Yet lost not mine but you to save my breath Do throw your self into the arms of death And if acknowledgments you owe to me Then let me Son unto the Emp'ror be Rob not my name which I count glorious Fearing to be ingrate be not injurious PHO. How many troubles breeds this strange dispute Neither themselves nor others they confute Which to believe now which is in a lie To Exup EXVPERIVS T is so perplext that only time must trie PHOCAS The Note if true the rest like truth doth show EXVP Who knows whether that rest be true or no. PHOCAS Leontine twice may have deceived me EXVP Chang'd them or chang'd them not either might be I am more Sir than you circled with doubt And cannot find which way I shall get out HERAC T is not to day that I learn'd who I am My actions witness I have known my Name These four years and have us'd my best address To gain Eudoxia shunning the Princess Which but I knew that I was not your Son You may imagine I would not have done This caution Leontina did impart MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius What Leontina HERAC Even she MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius Strange Art Martian loves Eudoxia she doth abuse Him by pretended horror to refuse The Match you aim at that your Daughter may Have to the Throne by that refusal way This error does assure her of his Vows Ambition all deceitful waies allows Nor had the truth to me been ever known Unless the Emp'rors Letter you had shown To Exup PHO She does abuse him too as well as me EXVP Which she abuses yet I cannot see PHO. Dost thou not see the Daughter 's in the plot EXVP T were better Sir for her that she were not PHO Are all things ready for their punishment EXVP Which is the guilty which the innocent HERAC Can you make doubt after what I have said MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius Will you by what is false be longer led HERAC Frind give me back my Name the favour 's small Since I would have it but to die withall With it I could to you my title give But that the owner must no longer live MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius And why would you my Tyrant's Victim be When your death laies a greater stain on me I did who e're I am his death design And different fate our names the plot assign What in Heraclius is a brave attempt From Parricide in Martian's not exempt Since I may guiltie or illustrious die Blast not your friend with so much infamy To right the world on Phocas I aspire And you my Fathers death make me conspire HERAC My Name is only faulty leave dispute Quit that to thee no guilt they can impute T is that conspires wirhout the help of friends Heraclius dying all the danger ends Be but his Son and live MART taking himself for Heracl Had I been such That Traitor in one word had said too much of Exup to Phocas When to kill you he had perswaded me From that Act Natures force had set me free HERAC Know then my heart's desire did thine fore-run By her kept back thy life had else been done To Pho. MARTIAN taking himself for Heraclius For Leontina could not then abide That Martian should become a Parricide HERAC Consider cooly what she mov'd you to To love Pulcheria and kill Phocas too Each Act each Name in you would horrid prove This a Parricide that incestuous love Could she then scruple at a crime of mine That either way in you did one design I was the object of her love and care Which by her words most plainly doth appear Why should you hazard wherefore undertake Since MARTIAN's danger shall you Emp'ror make These were her Reasons all she did or said Was to preserve me for