hand Sculk to your Posts and â—ive in Mists a way Ex. Ari. Lab. Eub. Crisp. Now my Dalmatius now thou hast my Heart And make good use on 't if I ne're see thee more By Heav'n my Friend I have not hid a Point Of that sad Story that must make my Ruine Dalm. Would thou hadst told me half of it before I might have sav'd thee many a Sigh and Tear Pray Heav'n no worse come on 't but 't is no time T' upbraid thee now What wou'dst thou have me do Crisp. Perswade my Father from enjoying her For if that be to night as once he vow'd Thou shalt behold thy Crispus dead to morrow Dalm. And what of Fausta Crisp. I know not what That subtle false one that has thus deceiv'd me And with her charms ensnar'd my innocent Soul But I will hence Dalm. For what Crisp. To execute The Vows I made Dalm. Go then and kill her Crisp. Ha! Dalm. Kill th' Adulteress This incestuous Charmer And have her born in Triumph to thy Father Then tell thy Tragick story like a Man And greatly thus Atone for both your Crimes Crisp. Farewell I 'll find another way to end her Dalm. Tongue kill her go or swear and be forsworn Thou ne're wilt see her more Heav'n That a Man Born to the Empire of the World should dote On such slight stuff as Woman Crisp. See my Father Look thou to Him as I 'll be guard on Her Incest Dishonour To all future Ages Think Think on that and push him from his ruine Ex. Crispus Enter Constantine Sylvester Dalmatius Const. What say the People to the rumour spred Of my new Contract Sylv. All the Christians mourn And sicken in their Souls as if Heav'n warn'd The Earth of some unheard Calamity The Heathens on the other side rejoice And cry a Persecution is at hand Const. No matter to the point Knowst thou the man Whom Fausta Loves Sylv. I told you Sir before I would be dumb for ever on this Theam Const. Yet this implies thou knowst but wilt not show him All know him all all but he that shou'd For Crispus has confess'd Yet hides the name But I 'll find out one Less meriting respect whom Racks shall force Dalm. If you intend your Empires safety Sir Cast Fausta from your Bosom Turn her out Away with her far let her be Exil'd With all her race For Death is in her Beauty Const. My Brother offer this Death in her Beauty Dalm. Violent sudden Death Death to your Health and Ruine to your Glory Const. Perhaps he is the man Her Lover Yes And thus conceals his flame with Covert rage For else what Cause could thus provoke his Passion What is the Publick Interest here concern'd Their murmurings or their joys which with a nod My Power can hush By Heav'n there 's more at bottom And I will find it out Their looks betray e'm Priest Princes all engag'd and for some great one Enter Arius But hold here comes my Man Brother I 've thought And will consider further what you urg'd Against my Wife Dalm. We leave you to Heav'ns care And wish you to beware that waiting Fiend Ex. Dalm. Sylv. Const. So now your business Arius Arius Sir Const. Your business The Coast is clear be your Confession so And speak what all the Court have sworn to hide Arius Sir Labienus gave me your Commands That I shou'd wait Const. Dost thou dally with me Thou knowst the least of thy Enormous Crimes Deserve a lengthen'd death Think on thy Treason Atheism Blasphemies against the Highest Think on the purpos'd murther of my Brother Wrought by thy Charms thou damn'd one after this Let thy affrighted Soul despise my wrath And if she dares be dumb to my demands Arius What must I Answer Const. Give me Truth for Truth Once more then And this warning be thy last Show me the robber of my hearts repose Friend to my Crispus but his Fathers Foe The Conquering Rival of my ravish't Love Arius What has your Son reveal'd Const. He says she 's false but tells me not to whom Swears she 's foresworn And when I see him next I shall know more Arius What if you never see him Const. Why dost thou start a Question so unlikely Arius I cannot think he will betray his Friend He who betrays his friend betrays himself And rather than do that I judge he 'll leave your sight The Empire and his Love for ever Const. Love Arius Ha! His Love What Love To whom Arius Why Love to you What other Love shou'd Crispus entertain He has no Mistress sure Const. Thou seem'st to hint As if he had Mark thy foregoing words He who betrays his friend betrays himself By Heav'n Thou hast set my anxious Soul a' work For when thou saidst he has no Mistress sure Thy meaning was to make me think he had And that this Mistress could be none but Fausta Arius I hope dread Sir you will not wrest my words And Innocent thoughts to any evil purpose Const. What! at your tricks agen Be quick my Traitor And spread at once thy double Heart before me Dost thou not judge my Son his Father's Rival Arius If you would know my Heart indeed I do Const. Why what a Devil wert thou then to deny 't So pittifully play the Hypocrite And scrue that lying Face into a show Of Innocence When nature stampt thee for a Villain Arius Forgive me Sir if I avow 't was fear Not Villany that made me hide my thought Const. All fear but fear of Heav'n betray 's a guilt And guilt is Villany But let thy fear Produce what past betwixt the wicked pair Show me th' Adulteress and Adulterer Where how and when this Incest was Committed Who was the Instrument and Cursed Bawd And damn'd contriver of their horrid joys Arius Oh Heav'n Const. O Hell For there shalt thou be hurl'd And rost in Sulphur if Thou not tell me all Thou who perhaps thy self wer 't the Contriver The Bawd I nam'd and Instrument of their lust Arius Hold Sir And I 'll confess I 've seen your Son Oftner then I have wish'd attend your Fausta And seen him late from her Apartment come I 've heard him praise her long and when the praise Was finish'd sigh that he durst praise no longer At least I thought so but my thought 's no proof Const. No Arius not enough for Crispus Death But there 's enough to turn my Spirit from him To make me loath his form When next we meet From Head to Foot to measure him with my Eye Both as an Object of my scorn and hate Arius That Love has past betwixt 'em is past doubt But for enjoying Const. Knowst thou ought of that Arius Not I by Heav'n Const. Why didst thou start it then Arius Sir to be satisfi'd what you wou'd do Upon the demonstration Const. Both shou'd bleed Both dye as sure as we are living Arius For him 't were sacriledge to think to save him
should I hide a secret from thee When I beheld him last He languished And wrung my hand at parting Crisp. But what said he Faust. I will not tell you Crispus till you answer What you would do with me my dearest Joy If it were true indeed your Father lov'd me Crisp. What at your parting ha Faust. Why if 't were true Would you forsake me Crisp. Be my own murderer I know not what but speak your parting Oh! Faust. Why are you so enrag'd I dare not tell you Crisp. If ought thou hid'st by Heav'n thou dost not love me Faust. By Heav'n I hope no other Heav'n but thee What if he talkt alittle Age will talk And think of it no more Trumpets ready for a Call Crisp. What was your talk I 'le know each syllable Faust. Why so you shall But then be calm What if he talk't of love And what Oh be not angry and I 'll tell you What if to save my life I promis'd him Crisp. Ha! promis'd Fausta Promise the Father and engage the Son But speak I stand upon a Precipice For if 't is true that e're so little past Of love before Faust. What then Crisp. And thou hast promis'd Faust. Suppose I have Sworn Crisp. Suppose then thy dishonour Suppose me never to behold thee more Suppose my death both Soul and Bodies ruin Faust. Suppose no more but what my Soul hath Sworn To love his Son none but the lovely Crispus O therefore clear thy brow and take me to thee Be still my love forgive this little fault And jealousie shall ne're offend thee more Crisp. O Charmer Beauty What! where was the need Why hast thou kept me on the Rack so long Tho taken down I feel the strains upon me And shall I fear too long But hark they call Trumpets And I must go Faust. But will you then return Crisp. Quick as thy wishes or my own desires But make no more such Tryal Hark again Trumpets again Faust. I cannot part with you tho for a moment Crisp. I 'll but enquire whether my Father 's come Faust. Swear to come back then Swean before you see him To give me one look more Crisp. What needs an Oath Before I speak with him Faust. You 'l speak with me For I have much to say of mighty moment Swear therefore to return Crisp. Swear on thy Lips Thus with my Heart I seal my Vows for ever Ex. Crispus Faust. Heart and the Holiest Vows deep writ in Blood Blood and dishonor Take then take my cause Thou that hast made me sin O mighty love And let thy Mother plead it with her Tears He sees his Father and my crime at once And then resolves never to see me more Enter Arius Call Dalmatius Crispus all Attendants Arius What then Faust. What then O Arius Dost thou know me And ask what then when he ne're sees me more I 'll tell the then I 'll never see the day Shades Night and Death Despair and Dungeons hold me When those dear Eyes shall never light me more Arius Since you enjoy'd him let the Tides of love Be swallow'd in the Ocean of Ambition Faust. Ambition Pomp and greatness of the World All empty sounds to love But thine 's a downward sense Thou hast no tast of these sublimer joys But haste look out Why comes he not again He swore he would but he has seen his Father Who stops him with my first unhappy Contract Arius I see him yonder Faust. Blessings on thy Tongue But I 'll run forth to meet him and no longer Conceal the Innocent deceit of Love Arius Hold Madam stay Dalmatius comes retire Faust. Dalmatius Let me see my self Arius They come Faust. Dalmatius Gods 't is He He tells him all Th' Emperor told it him Nay it must out I am lost undone But gentle Arius wait And watch and bring me word how Crispus beare it Oh that I were a Spirit to stand unseen To mark his passions how they rise and fall With every Glance of those dear dreadful Eyes But see they come and yet I cannot stir I grow distracted with my hope and fear Compell'd to go yet long to tarry here Ex. Fausta Enter Dalmatius and Crispus to Arius Dalm. I have much against you Crispus and you know it Therefore with all the freedom of a friend Tell me what is the cause you have not been So free as formerly Crisp. You know I am Dalm. I 'll press you Sir no more only remember There stands a Villain whom I have seen you whisper Ex. Arius Crisp. I 'll tell you all Dalm. You dare not Come there is a guilt at bottom You blush to own a Crime of such a nature As will admit no Pardon Thou hast sin'd Against the great Divinity of friendship Which my Soul takes to death Crisp. Can it be Ever too late to gain a Pardon here Dalm. I cannot tell Yet I can tell thee this There was a time not many days are past Since I preferr'd thy friendship to the World When I cou'd say Why yonder goes the Man Whom my Soul worships more then Constantine And Loves beyond my Son By Heav'n thy fault Is ominous and grinds my temper through Crisp. That Son you nam'd unhappily 's in Love Dalm. Then He 's a Fool. With whom Crisp. Maximians Daughter The younger Beauty Dalm. Ha! And you Love the Elder My life on 't some such masterly design This makes you shun the Camp to lurk beneath The Eeves of Palaces and droop in Corners But Sir your Pardon I almost forgot To urge your swiftest speed to wait your Father Crisp. I will but take my leave Dalm. I fear there is Too much already taken but no more If you have ought to say I 'll visit for you Crisp. Be all as you would have it Oh your hand Nay I will force my Entrance to your Heart By opening all my own and so farewell Ex. Crispus Dalm. I blame my friend for walking in the Dark Yet hide my self who when I seem most strange Am fondest of his Love So Sir What now Enter Anniball Annib. The fair Constantia with condemn'd Lycinius Drest in the saddest Glass of dying sorrow Was coming to entreat you for his Pardon But soon as she had heard from weeping Arius Her Husbands doom she in our Arms Expir'd Dalm. I mourn her Fate But for Lycinius I urg'd at first and still resolve his Death Is necessary to the Emperors life Nor should a few weak drops by Women shed Stop a Decree so Absolute and Royal. Annib. He comes attended with a mournful crowd To sue for life Dalm. I 'll have him Executed in their view Yes Anniball and shew thy Youth a pattern Of the old Romans for thy imitation Who hast but poorly Copy'd from thy Father Annib. Why Sir What Villain has traduc'd my Vertue Dalm. No Villain but thy Prince has own'd thy weakness And says thou Lov'st a Captive Foe of Rome Annib. The Virgin 's beautiful and greatly born Dalm.
're Pris'ner of War Lycin. Yet I may curse My Tongue is not their Prisoner therefore I 'll curse Bitterly curse Dalmatius curse 'em all Ari. Curse for the loss of Empire and of Life Bitterly curse Why Whores will there out-do you I blush to think the great Lycinius Should e're be brought in such Comparison Would it not seem more worthy your pact Honour To strike than say Strike if I may advise And e're you suffer Lycin. Kill Dalmatius Constantine Crispus Annibal nay all Quite root up all the Imperial Stock at once Ari. This Dagger then be yours the Legacy Of an old Prophetess who dying told me He that had Courage to employ it well And where it ought should make himself the Greatest Trumpet at distance Lycin. It shall be well employ'd and where it ought But hark th' Emperour comes Ari. Rather Dalmatius Perhaps commission'd for your Execution Lycin. Why then I 'll forth and meet him By the Fates If I must fall he shall not live to laugh And in remembrance of this solemn Oath I kiss the ominous Gift thou hast bequeath'd me I 'll treasure it next my Heart where it shall rest Till sheath'd by Vengeance in Dalmatius Brest Exit Ari. Or live or dye thou art contriv'd for Mischief Next I must mend the Heresies I 've broach'd And reconcile my self by some bold Offer With Constantine which while I undertake Be it your Care to spread the old poisonous Doctrine Sow it in all Habits Persons Forms and Places Grow with the Times and cultivate Sedition Enter Serena My fair Devotess but hence as I have order'd And meet me at the Tryal of Lycinius Ex. Labie Eubol. Seren. The Morning 's come and fain I would have rest Who all the Night have wak'd upon my Pillow And made it wet with Tears my solitary Groans That pierc'd Heav'ns Vaults tho Heav'n was deaf the while Deaf to redress have made my Brest so sore That I can sigh no longer Crispus and Fausta Oh you happy Lovers Not so with you the gladsome Minutes past For e're 't was day I left my tedious Bed And listen'd to your Joys Ari. Her Sorrows lull me And I grow good I know not how o' th' sudden Seren. Such soft Expressions flow'd from the charming Crispus As did but aggravate my Passion more Yet hide it O Serena though thou diest Tell it to none but to the midnight Groves The Flocks and Streams and those unhappy Stars Whose merciless Fires thus fated thy undoing Ari. What! not to Arius to thy Confessor To him who has a Priviledge from Heav'n Seren. Oh Arius would I had the Power to hide it But you have heard it all And will perhaps proclaim a Virgins Frailty But Sir I shall not long survive my shame And since 't is known confess it to the World Confess that Passion has dethron'd my Reason That unbelov'd I love the best of Men. And sigh unheard and without Witness mourn And dote to Death without the least Return Ari. 'T is said young Annibal is vow'd your Servant Seren. O Arius mark the malice of our Fates That Prince loves me as Crispus is belov'd And failing in his Suit employ'd his Friend To plead his Cause Oh had it been his own But all my Pray'rs alas are now in vain Ready Trumpets for a Call And wanting Crispus I must wed my Grave Therefore I beg you Sir procure his Picture To entertain my melancholy Thoughts Since him himself I ne're must see again Ari. That and all Helps which Arius can command Seren. I thank you Sir by the blest Saints I do I thank you for this Favour from my Heart But hark they come Crispus and Fausta come Oh Heart why dost thou leap against my Bosom Like a cag'd Bird and beat thy self to Death For an impossible Freedom Ari. Stay to salute ' em Seren. No Arius no I cannot dare not stand 'em But see they come wreath'd in each others Arms And mingling Kisses Has not then the Night Been long enough but you must love by Day Do Fausta do be stifled with the Joy Follow him from thy Chamber to the Grove To Garden haunts and clasp him in the Bowers Thence to your golden Beds again while I Sink to my Grave and there forgotten lye Exit Serena Ari. Crispus to court Serena for his Friend His Picture she shall have it Mischief Hell And if it be thy Will thy Slave obeys Crispus and Annibal that late were Friends Shall strait be foes But hush the Lovers come This Closet hides me to discover more Enter Crispus and Fausta This Closet be my School to learn their Language Fausta Your Fathers Trumpets call you Let 'em call You shall not go Oh are there any Sounds To charm more powerful than your Fausta's Cries Crisp. No not the Tongues of Angels O best Joy Of my abounding Soul What shall I call thee By Heav'n thou art all Heav'n all Paradise Talk not then of going from thee for I 'll stay till Age Has snow'd a hundred Winters on my Head Yet give and take Enjoyments then as now Faust. And oh for thee thou dearest of the World My Souls best Life and my Hearts grasp'd Desire Oh what Return The Mother on her throws After the Rack when hanging o're her Babe With bleeding Joys wild Looks and earning Smiles Loves not her Darling more than I love Crispus Thou shalt not leave me Crispus Crisp. Yes to meet again Our Love 's approv'd by him that gave me Being And then Faust. What then He dooms me to that place Where in his Shrowd the poor Maximian lies Where I shall lye as I had never been Nor think of Crispus more Crisp. Canst thou fear Death While I have Life Faust. Oh do not trust thy Father Trust not the Passions of a Conquerour For in his fatal Look when last he left me Something I saw that bid me fly his Presence Fly to the Verge of Earth and leap the bounds Rather than ever meet his Eyes again Crisp. Thy Father's Fate makes thee mistrust thy own Faust. No Crispus not Mistrust but certain Danger Which like a moulding Promontory hangs Bursting above our Heads and threatens Death Unless we House betimes and scape the fall Crisp. What danger Death What fall Faust. Thy Father Crisp. Ha! Faust. Thy Father Crispus Crisp. Knows not we are marry'd But shall and will I hope forgive my passion Faust. I dream't last night thy Father was in love In love with me my Crispus catch'd us clasp'd And with his Dagger stabb'd us in the fold Crisp. Is 't possible Faust. Most true Crisp. And catch't thee with me Faust. Catch't us in bed Crisp. There Faust. Here. Why dost thou wonder 'T was but a dream Crisp. Yet there is wonder in 't Because by Heav'n I dreamt the very same Is it not strange Faust. If it should happen true Crisp. That would be strange indeed Faust. Therefore let 's fear the worst and Arm against it For oh Why
decreed to marry her this Night And tast the sweets of long expected joys Crisp. By Heav'n I swear those sweets have poison in 'em Bane to your Soul your Empire Life and Glory Const. Take heed my Crispus that thou do not wrong her I know the hazard of Succession frights thee Crisp. No By your sacred life nothing but Honour Provokes me in the point She 's false forsworn And to my certain knowledg loves another Oh! Therefore touch her not and to convince you That Empire could not work me thus This night I 'll turn a Hermit and renounce the World Const. If she be false I know his temper well And nature cannot make such faults o' th' sudden If she be false By Heav'n thou hast moved me Crispus But speak the Traitors name who thus has wrong'd me Crisp. Pardon me Sir his name He could not wrong you Because he knew not Const. What Crisp. Your Love Const. His name There 's more in this His name again I charge thee Not only name him but produce his person Or I shall think all forgery thou hast sworn Crisp. O let me beg you wed her not to night And when I see you next I 'll tell you more Perhaps betray the Innocent to Death Const. Let that be prov'd I swear he shall not die Thou art it seems his friend as well as mine But look you calm the Tempest you have rais'd Or I will make thee stranger to my Soul Ex. Constantine Crisp. Solus I am content if that some pittying Power Would make make me too a stranger to my self But hold my Heart a while till I have found her Yet there 's a lucid joy in these distractions To know he has not bedded her then had follow'd Her death and mine and consequent Damnation Yet lest she should consent I 'll haste and warn her When warn'd I 'll watch and if she after Yield Through Love or Fear to his Incestuous charms I 'll rush through all and stabb her in his Arms. Exit End 2d Act. The Third Act Scene 1st Enter Annibal and Serena Annib. IS this your Answer then You cannot love me This the Reward for Offers of my Blood And braving a stern Father to preserve you This the Effect of Crispus Eloquence To make his Friend a most untimely Grave For bear it as you please or laugh or grieve I will not be a Trouble to you long Seren. What shall I say Alas I might delude you Annibal Like other faithless Beauties of the Age But the Gods fram'd me of so plain a Temper I cannot hide my Thoughts Though to my undoing But something more there is if you could bear it To turn your desp'rate Love for ever from me Annib. Produce it then for what can Nature shew me Than Death more dreadful wilder than Despair Which now are my Familiars Seren. Take it Sir The only Secret of my wounded Soul I love I languish and despair like you Annib. What do you lovo another Seren. Love him to death nor does he know I love him Or if he did he would not make Return Annib. Can this be possible But where where is he That I may rush with all my Rage upon him And bear him with me to the other World Seren. Not for a thousand Worlds you must not hate him Annib. Plagues Curses on his Head Rage and Despair Is this then the Return of all my Vows To make my setting yet more deep in Blood But give me quick his Quality and Name Seren. His Name what after such Resolves of Vengeance Your Fate and mine should not compell it now Annib. What not to save my Life Seren. No for what Life can stand in Competition When his is threaten'd Better you and I And all the rest of humane Kind should perish Than he the Master-piece of Nature suffer And should you know him spite of your Resolves Sir you would kneel and worship too like me Annib. Show me the God then if I must adore Seren. No since you have sworn I should do ill to trust you Yet for his Preservation I must tell you When e're he dies Serena too shall bleed From the same hand the same Dispatch I crave And if at last one Monument we have What Joys can Life compare with such a Grave Exit Enter Arius with Crispus Picture Annib. Death Hell and Furies if my Sword have Charms Which never fail'd me yet I 'll find him out This Rival God And drive him from the World Ari. Ha! Goes it there Then to my Task Annib. Arius in Contemplation 'T were worth my while to spy Crispus Picture Forgive me Arius if I rob your Hand Of what 's so deep ingraven in my Heart For whom this pretty Present Ari. Your Pardon The Mystery is one of Loves great Secrets Annib. Crispus in Love and hide it from his Friend From Annibal that open'd all to him 'T was much unkind Arius I am concern'd And you must tell me where his Heart 's engag'd E're I return the Picture Arius Sir I am in haste And dare not tell her Name therefore I beg you She waits my coming Good my Lord she loves To that degree each Moments Stay is Death Therefore let me conjure you Annib. Thou dost but raise my Admiration more Therefore your Business or farewel Arius Stay Stay My Lord you are his Friend yet 't is a Breach Of Trust but since there is no other help And the fair Mistress of his Heart may pine To death upon the loss restore the Picture And take the Secret Sir her Name 's Serena Annib. Traitor thou ly'st and but thy Robe protects thee Should'st feel even now th' Effects of my Revenge Ari. To clear th' Alpersion hear it Sir your self And to Serena's Face I 'll justifie The Secret of her Love tho Crispus kill me Annib. By Heav'n thou dost recall a dreadful Image Of late I met him e're I made my Visit To Her thou hast nam'd and ask'd him of my Love He seem'd in haste his Answers were abrupt His Count'nance sad and thus in short return'd Hunt not the Bubble Beauty like a Boy Fall like a Man and let your Rest be Fame And so it shall If what thou say'st be true I 'll level him with Earth Arius What said you Sir Annib. Yet I will have more Proof she shall her self Be witness to the Fall of this high Virtue Then Friendship to the Winds like meeting Tides We 'll fight the Tempest out nor give it o're Till one lies dash't and broken on the Shore Exit Ari. Thus far the Devil is the best mounted yet And Heresie at last shall win the Race Enter Labienus and Eubolus Ha! Labienus here And my Eubolus We shall shortly govern Labi I met the Emperour of late alone Who ask'd for you Ari. I 'll instantly attend him Where is his Son Eubol. I left him with Dalmatius Ari. Unloading his sick Heart upon his Friend Enter Dalmatius and Crispus But see the Master Enemy's at
Serena I believe thee My Heart avows th' Innocence of my friend Which I had own'd before had not the wounds Of Annibal lain green upon my Soul But that I now forgive him be thou witness Be witness Heav'n and this last resolution I now put on to save my Crispus life Or lose my own Seren. O let me kneel to such exalted Virtue But Sir be quick to save him or this goodness Will come too late Dalm. Where is the Emperor Seren. Lockt in his Closet deaf to the Peoples cries Fly Sir I saw him pass in fury by With Arius in discourse Dalm. I fear that Traitor Seren. Your fears my Lord are mine I never lik'd him The Picture which he gave your Son has shown him He has all the marks we Virgins reckon Omenous A pale down look red Hair and leering Eyes Mischief is in him He 's with th' Emperor now Perhaps solliciting the fate we fear I met 'em Sir and interrupted Caesar Who first receiv'd me kindly but at the name Of Crispus frown'd and shook me from his arm Dalm. Fear not as thou hast counsel'd I will join Sylvester on the instant Seren. Force the door If he refuse to let you in do all That pity love and friendship can inspire Do all that I would do were I Dalmatius Ex. Severally Scene II. Enter Constantine and Arius The Scene a Bedchamber A Bowl and a Dagger on the Table Const. ARius Arius Sir Const. I am resolv'd to be at rest Thou art my friend Physician I am sick Sick even to death Reach me that goblet hither The Dagger too Arius Sir Const. What an easie matter It were for any man in any Case Tho Rack't with th' Gout Stone any kind of torture With one of these to sleep Arius For ever Sir Const. Right Arius Arius Then there is Poison in the Bowl Const. There is most deadly Arius May I Sir presume To ask for what Const. Arius thou art my friend I think too thou would'st venture life Why yes 'T is Poison and I 'll tell thee too for what To see how long a Dog will be a dying Or say what if we try'd it on a man Some Enemy that Laws will not take hold of Arius Sir I understand you Const. Look then you do How dost thou understand me Arius Why thus you past your Oath your Son shou'd live If Fausta prov'd him Innocent Const. 'T is true And spite of my revenge my Heart must clear him Arius Right Sir I find it you are grip'd in Conscience Now if a Friend should help you So or fate Not always answering most mens Expectations Should call your Son to Heav'n Const. To Heav'n Arius Arius To Heav'n or Hell it matters not for that So he be out o' th' way and you not know 't Const. And I not know 't Arius No Sir nor I. What then How then you never see him more And so farewell I 'll take this Poison with me Const. Stay stay Come back How strange a guilt is mine who dare not speak But indirectly what my Soul desires Directly done Why shou'd I hide my thoughts From thee Arius Why Sir indeed Const. When no Eye sees Arius None Const. None but the Eye of Heav'n But Walls they say have Ears Therefore we 'll whisper This Horrid Barbarous and Unnatural Murder Give him his Choice Tell him I cannot live Unless he dies Tell him I strove to save him And nature pleaded wonders in his Cause Arius I 'll stabb him first and tell him after Const. No Poison 's the gentler Fate Thou art too lowd O Conscience how it heaves within my bosom Arius Conscience The Souls rising of the Lights Drink Blood Const. Blood say'st thou What the Blood of Crispus Hark! Who 's there Run to the Door Say I am not well I 'll not be seen to night Arius Your fancy Sir Const. I thought I heard my Mothers Voice But she 's long dead 'T was as thou say'st my fancy My fear my guilt that haunts me But begone If he must fall there is no hiding it Call it no longer Murder but a Justice Survey him as a Thief that robb'd thy Soul Of all its wealth Arius how am I now Arius All Emperor And Sir I 'll haste to obey you Const. Thou shalt But go not Arius till I send thee All Emperor and Judge But where 's the Father Work me there Nature save him if thou canst Remember him as once thy bosom-love Arius I like not this Remembrance Const. Remember the whole Progress of his Life Obedient all ev'n in his Infant Years When every Morning to my Bed-side he came And as I blest him thank'd me with his Tears Serena knocking without Seren. My Lord the Emperour Const. Arius hark Who 's there Hark 't is my Wife Run to the door My Wife She 's risen from the dead to save my Son Seren. I will have Audience Ari. Madam you must not enter Const. Arius Let her in Enter Serena Seren. Caesar Save thy Son Save him in time the People are in Arms. Dalmatius with the Guards is gone to quell ' em Const. How mutiny And in my Sons behalf Is this the course to save him Arius hence And execute my Orders Seren. May I think it A Bowl of Poison Sir Is that your Order Const. There is no Mystery now to be conceal'd 'T is as you said And Crispus dies this Minute Arius away Seren. He sha'n't till you hear me Think Sir oh think Const. I 've thought too much already But with this last Revolt my Heart is steel'd Though as you enter'd I was fooling Time With Thoughts of Mercy Seren. And has this cursed Wretch prevented you Const. Dalmatius and Sylvester will be here To hinder Justice Break her Hold. Away Seren. Fall then Serena first And stay that fury Stabs her self Const. Arius come back What hast thou done Serena Seren. I 've paid the Debt of Nature e're my Time Const. 'T was a too honest Part. What was the Cause Seren. The Love of Crispus Love of him you hate But let this Victim to Despair suffice Enter Dalmatius and Sylvester Your Brother here Dalmatius pardon me Your Son is now reveng'd Restrain the Emperour And look to Arius Oh! She dies Dalm. The Joys of Heav'n And an eternal Requiem waste thy Soul Const. Brother How are the People Dalm. All hush'd again Why will you harbour Sir that Snake about you That puts you on these fatal Resolutions For else could it be possible a Prince So good so full of every Kingly Grace Should once conceive a Thought to put his Son His guiltless Son to an untimely Death Without the Instigation of a Devil Sylv. Consider Caesar you that have had the Glory By Miracles from Heav'n to be converted We know your Passion manacles your Reason But here are Hands to help you Const. Is that then the Result of all your Reason To hope for sober Actions from a Mad-man Dalm. Not till the Frenzy leaves him But