The Virgin-Martyr
	By Thomas Dekker
	and Philip Massinger
	First Published 1622.
	DRAMATIS PERSONAE
	Dioclesian, Emperor of Rome.
	Artemia, daughter to Dioclesian.
	Maximinus, Emperor of Rome.
	Sapritius, Governor of Caesarea.
	Antoninus, son to Sapritius.
	Sempronius, captain of Sapritius' guards.
	Macrinus, friend to Antoninus.
	Theophilus, a zealous persecutor of the Christians.
	Calista, daughter to Theophilus.
	Christeta, daughter to Theophilus.
	Harpax, an evil spirit, following Theophilus in the
	shape of a Secretary.
	Julianus, servant of Theophilus.
	Geta, servant of Theophilus.
	Dorothea, the Virgin-Martyr.
	Angelo, a good spirit, serving Dorothea in the habit
	of a Page.
	Hircius, a whoremaster, servant of Dorothea.
	Spungius, a drunkard, servant of Dorothea.
	King of Pontus.
	King of Epire.
	King of Macedon.
	Priest of Jupiter.
	British slave.
	Officers and Executioners.
	SCENE: Caesarea in Palestine.
	Settings, Scene Breaks and Stage Directions.
	The original quartos do not provide settings for the play; all this edition's indicated settings are adopted from Gifford. The original quarto of The Virgin Martyr was divided into five Acts, but the Acts were not divided into Scenes; we have adopted the scene breaks employed by all the previous editors. Finally, as is our normal practice, some stage directions have been added, and some modified, for purposes of clarity. Most of these minor changes are adopted from Gifford.
	ACT I.
	SCENE I.
	The Governor's Palace.
	Enter Theophilus and Harpax.
1	Theo. Come to Caesarea to-night!
2
	Harp. Most true, sir.
4
	Theo. The emperor in person!
6
	Harp. Do I live?
8
	Theo. 'Tis wondrous strange! The marches of great princes,
10	Like to the motions of prodigious meteors,
	Are step by step observed; and loud-tongued Fame
12	The harbinger to prepare their entertainment:
	And, were it possible so great an army,
14	Though covered with the night, could be so near,
	The governor cannot be so unfriended
16	Among the many that attend his person,
	But, by some secret means, he should have notice
18	Of Caesar's purpose; − in this then excuse me,
	If I appear incredulous.
20
	Harp. At your pleasure.
22
	Theo. Yet, when I call to mind you never failed me
24	In things more difficult, but have discovered
	Deeds that were done thousand leagues distant from me,
26	When neither woods, nor caves, nor secret vaults,
	No, nor the Power they serve, could keep these Christians
28	Or from my reach or punishment, but thy magic
	Still laid them open; I begin again
30	To be as confident as heretofore,
	It is not possible thy powerful art
32	Should meet a check, or fail.
34	Enter the Priest of Jupiter, bearing the image of
	Jupiter, and followed by Calista and Christeta.
36
	Harp. Look on the Vestals,
38	The holy pledges that the gods have given you,
	Your chaste, fair daughters. Were't not to upbraid
40	A service to a master not unthankful,
	I could say these, in spite of your prevention,
42	Seduced by an imagined faith, not reason,
	(Which is the strength of nature), quite forsaking
44	The gentile gods, had yielded up themselves
	To this new-found religion. This I crossed,
46	Discovered their intents, taught you to use,
	With gentle words and mild persuasiöns,
48	The power and the authority of a father,
	Set off with cruël threats; and so reclaimed 'em:
50	And, whereas they with torments should have died,
	− [Aside] (Hell's furies to me, had they undergone it!) −
52	They are now votaries in great Jupiter's temple,
	And, by his priest instructed, grown familiar
54	With all the mysteries, nay, the most abstruse ones,
	Belonging to his deity.
56
	Theo. Twas a benefit,
58	For which I ever owe you. − Hail, Jove's flamen!
	Have these my daughters reconciled themselves,
60	Abandoning forever the Christian way,
	To your opinion?
62
	Priest. And are constant in it.
64	They teach their teachers with their depth of judgment,
	And are with arguments able to convert
66	The enemies to our gods, and answer all
	They can object against us.
68
	Theo. My dear daughters!
70
	Calis. We dare dispute against this new-sprung sect,
72	In private or in public.
74	Harp. My best lady,
	Perséver in it.
76
	Chris. And what we maintain,
78	We will seal with our bloods.
80	Harp. Brave resolution!
	I e'en grow fat to see my labours prosper.
82
	Theo. I young again. − To your devotions.
84
	Harp. Do −
86	My prayers be present with you.
88	[Exeunt Priest, Calista and Christeta.]
90	Theo. O my Harpax!
	Thou engine of my wishes, thou that steel'st
92	My bloody resolutions, thou that arm'st
	My eyes 'gainst womanish tears and soft compassion;
94	Instructing me, without a sigh, to look on
	Babes torn by violence from their mothers’ breasts
96	To feed the fire, and with them make one flame;
	Old men, as beasts, in beasts' skins torn by dogs;
98	Virgins and matrons tire the executioners;
	Yet I, unsatisfied, think their torments easy −
100
	Harp. And in that, just, not cruël.
102
	Theo. Were all sceptres
104	That grace the hands of kings made into one,
	And offered me, all crowns laid at my feet,
106	I would contemn them all, − thus spit at them;
	So I to all posterities might be called
108	The strongest champion of the Pagan gods,
	And rooter-out of Christians.
110
	Harp. Oh, mine own,
112	Mine own dear lord! to further this great work,
	I ever live thy slave.
114
	Enter Sapritius and Sempronius.
116
	Theo. No more − the governor.
118
	Sap. Keep the ports close, and let the guards be doubled;
120	Disarm the Christians; call it death in any
	To wear a sword, or in his house to have one.
122
	Semp. I shall be careful, sir.
124
	Sap. 'Twill well become you.
126	Such as refuse to offer sacrifice
	To any of our gods, put to the torture.
128	Grub up this growing mischief by the roots;
	And know, when we are merciful to them,
130	We to ourselves are cruël.
132	Semp. You pour oil
	On fire that burns already at the height:
134	I know the emperor's edict, and my charge,
	And they shall find no favour.
136
	Theo. My good lord,
138	This care is timely for the entertainment
	Of our great master, who this night in person
140	Comes here to thank you.
142	Sap. Who! the emperor?
144	Harp. To clear your doubts, he does return in triumph,
	Kings lackeyíng by his triumphant chariot;
146	And in this glorious victory, my lord,
	You have an ample share: for know, your son,
148	The ne'er-enough-commended Antoninus,
	So well hath fleshed his maiden sword, and dyed
150	His snowy plumes so deep in enemies' blood,
	That, besides public grace beyond his hopes,
152	There are rewards propounded.
154	Sap. I would know
	No mean in thine, could this be true.
156
	Harp. My head
158	Answer the forfeit.
160	Sap. Of his victory
	There was some rumour; but it was assured,
162	The army passed a full day's journey higher,
	Into the country.
164
	Harp. It was so determined;
166	But, for the further honour of your son,
	And to observe the government of the city,
168	And with what rigour, or remiss indulgence,
	The Christians are pursued, he makes his stay here:
170
	[Trumpets afar off.]
172
	For proof, his trumpets speak his near arrival.
174
	Sap. Haste, good Sempronius, draw up our guards,
176	And with all ceremonious pomp receive
	The conquering army. Let our garrison speak
178	Their welcome in loud shouts, the city show
	Her state and wealth.
180
	Semp. I'm gone.
182
	[Exit Sempronius.]
184
	Sap. O, I am ravished
186	With this great honour! cherish, good Theophilus,
	This knowing scholar. Send [for] your fair daughters;
188	I will present them to the emperor,
	And in their sweet conversion, as a mirror,
190	Express your zeal and duty.
192	Theo. Fetch them, good Harpax.
194	[Exit Harpax.]
196	Enter Sempronius, at the head of the guard,
	soldiers leading three kings bound;
198	Antoninus and Macrinus bearing the Emperor's
	eagles; Dioclesian with a gilt laurel on his head,
200	leading in Artemia: Sapritius kisses
	the Emperor's hand, then embraces his Son;
202	Harpax brings in Calista and Christeta.
	Loud shouts.
204
	Diocl. So: at all parts I find Caesarea
206	Completely governed; the licentious soldier
	Confined in modest limits, and the people
208	Taught to obey, and, not compelled with rigour:
	The ancient Roman discipline revived,
210	Which raised Rome to her greatness, and proclaimed her
	The glorious mistress of the conquered world;
212	But, above all, the service of the gods
	So zealously observed, that, good Sapritius,
214	In words to thank you for your care and duty,
	Were much unworthy Dioclesian's honour,
216	Or his magnificence to his loyal servants −
	But I shall find a time with noble titles
218	To recompense your merits.
220	Sap. Mightiest Caesar,
	Whose power upon this globe of earth is equal
222	To Jove's in heaven; whose victorious triumphs
	On proud rebellious kings that stir against it,
224	Are perfect figures of his immortal trophies
	Won in the Giants' war; whose conquering sword,
226	Guided by his strong arm, as deadly kills
	As did his thunder! all that I have done,
228	Or, if my strength were centupled, could do,
	Comes short of what my loyalty must challenge.
230	But, if in any thing I have deserved
	Great Caesar's smile, 'tis in my humble care
232	Still to preserve the honour of those gods,
	That make him what he is: my zeal to them
234	I ever have expressed in my fell hate
	Against the Christian sect that, with one blow,
236	(Ascribing all things to an unknown Power,)
	Would strike down all their temples, and allows them
238	Nor sacrifice nor altars.
240	Diocl. Thou, in this,
	Walk'st hand in hand with me: my will and power
242	Shall not alone confirm, but honour all
	That are in this most forward.
244
	Sap. Sacred Caesar,
246	If your imperial majesty stand pleased
	To shower your favours upon such as are
248	The boldest champions of our religion,
	Look on this reverend man,
250
	[Points to Theophilus.]
252
	to whom the power
254	Of searching out and punishing such delinquents
	Was by your choice committed: and, for proof,
256	He hath deserved the grace imposed upon him,
	And with a fair and even hand proceeded,
258	Partial to none, not to himself, or those
	Of equal nearness to himself, behold
260	This pair of virgins.
262	Diocl. What are these?
264	Sap. His daughters.
266	Artem. Now by your sacred fortune, they are fair ones,
	Exceeding fair ones: would 'twere in my power
268	To make them mine!
270	Theo. They are the gods', great lady.
	They were most happy in your service else:
272	On these, when they fell from their father's faith,
	I used a judge's power, entreaties failing
274	(They being seduced) to win them to adore
	The holy Powers we worship; I put on
276	The scarlet robe of bold authority,
	And, as they had been strangers to my blood,
278	Presented them, in the most horrid form,
	All kinds of tortures; part of which they suffered
280	With Roman constancy.
282	Artem. And could you endure,
	Being a father, to behold their limbs
284	Extended on the rack?
286	Theo. I did; but must
	Confess there was a strange contention in me,
288	Between the impartial office of a judge,
	And pity of a father; to help justice
290	Religiön stepped in, under which odds
	Compassion fell: − yet still I was a father;
292	For e'en then, when the flinty hangman's whips
	Were worn with stripes spent on their tender limbs,
294	I kneeled, and wept, and begged them, though they would
	Be cruël to themselves, they would take pity
296	On my grey hairs: now note a sudden change,
	Which I with joy remember; those, whom torture,
298	Nor fear of death could terrify, were o'ercome
	By seeing of my sufferings; and so won,
300	Returning to the faith that they were born in,
	I gave them to the gods: and be assured,
302	I that used justice with a rigorous hand,
	Upon such beauteous virgins, and mine own,
304	Will use no favour, where the cause commands me,
	To any other; but, as rocks, be deaf
306	To all entreaties.
308	Diocl. Thou deserv'st thy place;
	Still hold it, and with honour. Things thus ordered
310	Touching the gods, 'tis lawful to descend
	To human cares, and exercise that power
312	Heaven has conferred upon me; − which that you,
	Rebels and traitors to the power of Rome,
314	Should not with all extremities undergo,
	What can you urge to qualify your crimes,
316	Or mitigate my anger?
318	K. of Epire. We are now
	Slaves to thy power, that yesterday were kings,
320	And had command o'er others; we confess
	Our grandsires paid your tribute, yet left us,
322	As their forefathers had, desire of freedom.
	And, if you Romans hold it glorious honour
324	Not only to defend what is your own,
	But to enlarge your empire, (though our fortune
326	Denies that happiness,) who can accuse
	The famished mouth, if it attempt to feed?
328	Or such whose fetters eat into their freedoms,
	If they desire to shake them off?
330
	K. of Pontus. We stand
332	The last examples, to prove how uncertain
	All human happiness is; and are prepared
334	To endure the worst.
336	K. of Macedon. That spoke, which now is highest
	In Fortune's wheel, must, when she turns it next,
338	Decline as low as we are. This considered,
	Taught the Ægyptian Hercules, Sesostris,
340	That had his chariot drawn by captive kings,
	To free them from that slavery; − but to hope
342	Such mercy from a Roman were mere madness:
	We are familiar with what cruëlty
344	Rome, since her infant greatness, ever used
	Such as she triumphed over; age nor sex
346	Exempted from her tyranny; sceptered princes
	Kept in her common dungeons, and their children,
348	In scorn trained up in base mechanic arts,
	For public bondmen. In the catalogue
350	Of those unfortunate men, we expect to have
	Our names remembered.
352
	Diocl. In all growing empires,
354	Even cruëlty is useful; some must suffer,
	And be set up examples to strike terror
356	In others, though far off: but, when a state
	Is raised to her perfection, and her bases
358	Too firm to shrink or yield, we may use mercy,
	And do't with safety: but to whom? not cowards,
360	Or such whose baseness shames the conqueror,
	And robs him of his victory, as weak Perseus
362	Did great Æmilius. Know, therefore, kings
	Of Epire, Pontus, and of Macedon,
364	That I with courtesy can use my prisoners,
	As well as make them mine by force, provided
366	That they are noble enemies: such I found you,
	Before I made you mine: and, since you were so,
368	You have not lost the courages of princes,
	Although the fortune. Had you borne yourselves
370	Dejectedly, and base, no slavery
	Had been too easy for you: but such is
372	The power of noble valour, that we love it
	Even in our enemies, and, taken with it,
374	Desire to make them friends, as I will you.
376	K. of Epire. Mock us not, Caesar.
378	Diocl. By the gods, I do not.
	Unloose their bonds; − I now as friends embrace you.
380	Give them their crowns again.
382	K. of Pontus. We are twice o'ercome;
	By courage, and by courtesy.
384
	K. of Macedon. But this latter
386	Shall teach us to live ever faithful vassals
	To Dioclesian, and the power of Rome.
388
	K. of Epire. All kingdoms fall before her!
390
	K. of Pontus. And all kings
392	Contend to honour Caesar!
394	Diocl. I believe
	Your tongues are the true trumpets of your hearts,
396	And in it I most happy. Queen of fate,
	Imperious Fortune! mix some light disaster
398	With my so many joys, to season them,
	And give them sweeter relish: I'm girt round
400	With true felicity; faithful subjects here,
	Here bold commanders, here with new-made friends;
402	But, what's the crown of all, in thee, Artemia,
	My only child, whose love to me and duty
404	Strive to exceed each other!
406	Artem. I make payment
	But of a debt, which I stand bound to tender
408	As a daughter and a subject.
410	Diocl. Which requires yet
	A retributiön from me, Artemia,
412	Tied by a father's care, how to bestow
	A jewèl, of all things to me most precious:
414	Nor will I therefore longer keep thee from
	The chief joys of creation, marriage rites;
416	Which that thou mayst with greater pleasures taste of,
	Thou shalt not like with mine eyes, but thine own
418	Among these kings, forgetting they were captives;
	Or these, remembering not they are my subjects,
420	Make choice of any: By Jove's dreadful thunder,
	My will shall rank with thine.
422
	Artem. It is a bounty
424	The daughters of great princes seldom meet with;
	For they, to make up breaches in the state,
426	Or for some other public ends, are forced
	To match where they affect not. May my life
428	Deserve this favour!
430	Diocl. Speak; I long to know
	The man thou wilt make happy.
432
	Artem. If that titles,
434	Or the adorèd name of Queen could take me,
	Here would I fix mine eyes, and look no further;
436	But these are baits to take a mean-born lady,
	Not her that boldly may call Caesar father;
438	In that I can bring honour unto any,
	But from no king that lives receives addition:
440	To raise desert and virtue by my fortune,
	Though in a low estate, were greater glory
442	Than to mix greatness with a prince that owes
	No worth but that name only.
444
	Diocl. I commend thee,
446	'Tis like myself.
448	Artem. If, then, of men beneath me,
	My choice is to be made, where shall I seek,
450	But among those that best deserve from you?
	That have served you most faithfully; that in dangers
452	Have stood next to you; that have interposed
	Their breasts as shields of proof, to dull the swords
454	Aimed at your bosom; that have spent their blood
	To crown your brows with laurel?
456
	Mac. Cytherea,
458	Great Queen of Love, be now propitious to me!
460	Harp. [to Sapritius.]
	Now mark what I foretold.
462
	Anton. [Aside] Her eye's on me.
464	Fair Venus' son, draw forth a leaden dart,
	And, that she may hate me, transfix her with it;
466	Or, if thou needs wilt use a golden one,
	Shoot it in the behalf of any other:
468	Thou know'st I am thy votary elsewhere.
470	Artem. [Advances to Antoninus.]
	Sir.
472
	Theo. How he blushes!
474
	Sap. Welcome, fool, thy fortune.
476	Stand like a block when such an angel courts thee!
478	Artem. I am no object to divert your eye
	From the beholding.
480
	Anton. Rather a bright sun,
482	Too glorious for him to gaze upon,
	That took not first flight from the eagle’s aerie.
484	As I look on the temples, or the gods,
	And with that reverence, lady, I behold you,
486	And shall do ever.
488	Artem. And it will become you,
	While thus we stand at distance; but, if love,
490	Love born out of the assurance of your virtues,
	Teach me to stoop so low −
492
	Anton. O, rather take
494	A higher flight.
496	Artem. Why, fear you to be raised?
	Say I put off the dreadful awe that waits
498	On majesty, or with you share my beams,
	Nay, make you to outshine me; change the name
500	Of Subject into Lord, rob you of service
	That's due from you to me; and in me make it
502	Duty to honour you, would you refuse me?
504	Anton. Refuse you, madam! such a worm as I am,
	Refuse what kings upon their knees would sue for!
506	Call it, great lady, by another name;
	An humble modesty, that would not match
508	A molehill with Olympus.
510	Artem. He that's famous
	For honourable actions in the war,
512	As you are, Antoninus, a proved soldier,
	Is fellow to a king.
514
	Anton. If you love valour,
516	As 'tis a kingly virtue, seek it out,
	And cherish it in a king: there it shines brightest,
518	And yields the bravest luster. Look on Epire,
	A prince, in whom it is incorporate;
520	And let it not disgrace him that he was
	O'ercome by Caesar; it was victory,
522	To stand so long against him: had you seen him,
	How in one bloody scene he did discharge
524	The parts of a commander and a soldier,
	Wise in direction, bold in execution;
526	You would have said, great Caesar's self excepted,
	The world yields not his equal.
528
	Artem. Yet I have heard,
530	Encountering him alone in the head of his troop,
	You took him prisoner.
532
	K. of Epire. 'Tis a truth, great princess;
534	I'll not detract from valour.
536	Anton. 'Twas mere fortune;
	Courage had no hand in it.
538
	Theo. Did ever man
540	Strive so against his own good?
542	Sap. Spiritless villain!
	How I am tortured! By the immortal gods,
544	I now could kill him.
546	Diocl. Hold, Sapritius, hold,
	On our displeasure hold!
548
	Harp. Why, this would make
550	A father mad, 'tis not to be endured;
	Your honour's tainted in't.
552
	Sap. By heaven, it is;
554	I shall think of it.
556	Harp. 'Tis not to be forgotten.
558	Artem. Nay, kneel not, sir; I am no ravisher,
	Nor so far gone in fond affection to you,
560	But that I can retire, my honour safe: −
	Yet say, hereafter, that thou hast neglected
562	What, but seen in possession of another,
	Will make thee mad with envy.
564
	Anton. In her looks
566	Revenge is written.
568	Mac. As you love your life,
	Study to appease her.
570
	Anton. Gracious madam, hear me.
572
	Artem. And be again refused?
574
	Anton. The tender of
576	My life, my service, or, since you vouchsafe it,
	My love, my heart, my all: and pardon me,
578	Pardon, dread princess, that I made some scruple
	To leave a valley of security,
580	To mount up to the hill of majesty,
	On which, the nearer Jove, the nearer lightning.
582	What knew I, but your grace made trial of me;
	Durst I presume t' embrace, where but to touch
584	With an unmannered hand, was death? the fox,
	When he saw first the forest's king, the lion,
586	Was almost dead with fear; the second view
	Only a little daunted him; the third,
588	He durst salute him boldly: pray you, apply this;
	And you shall find a little time will teach me
590	To look with more familiar eyes upon you,
	Than duty yet allows me.
592
	Sap. Well excused.
594
	Artem. You may redeem all yet.
596
	Diocl. And, that he may
598	Have means and opportunity to do so,
	Artemia, I leave you my substitute
600	In fair Caesarea.
602	Sap. And here, as yourself,
	We will obey and serve her.
604
	Diocl. Antoninus,
606	So you prove hers, I wish no other heir;
	Think on't: − be careful of your charge, Theophilus;
608	Sapritius, be you my daughter's guardian.
	Your company I wish, confederate princes,
610	In our Dalmatian wars; which finished
	With victory I hope, and Maximinus,
612	Our brother and copartner in the empire,
	At my request won to confirm as much,
614	The kingdoms I took from you we'll restore,
	And make you greater than you were before.
616
	[Exeunt all but Antoninus and Macrinus.]
618
	Anton. Oh, I am lost forever! lost, Macrinus!
620	The anchor of the wretched, hope, forsakes me,
	And with one blast of Fortune all my light
622	Of happiness is put out.
624	Mac. You are like to those
	That are ill only 'cause they are too well;
626	That, surfeiting in the excess of blessings,
	Call their abundance want. What could you wish,
628	That is not fall'n upon you? honour, greatness,
	Respect, wealth, favour, the whole world for a dower;
630	And with a princess, whose excelling form
	Exceeds her fortune.
632
	Anton. Yet poison still is poison,
634	Though drunk in gold; and all these flattering glories
	To me, ready to starve, a painted banquet,
636	And no essential food. When I am scorched
	With fire, can flames in any other quench me?
638	What is her love to me, greatness, or empire,
	That am slave to another, who alone
640	Can give me ease or freedom?
642	Mac. Sir, you point at
	Your dotage on the scornful Dorothea:
644	Is she, though fair, the same day to be named
	With best Artemia? In all their courses,
646	Wise men propose their ends: with sweet Artemia,
	There comes along pleasure, security,
648	Ushered by all that in this life is precious:
	With Dorothea (though her birth be noble,
650	The daughter to a senator of Rome,
	By him left rich, yet with a private wealth,
652	And far inferior to yours) arrives
	The emperor's frown, which, like a mortal plague,
654	Speaks death is near; the princess' heavy scorn,
	Under which you will shrink; your father's fury,
656	Which to resist, even pity forbids: −
	And but remember that she stands suspected
658	A favourer of the Christian sect; she brings
	Not danger, but assured destruction with her.
660	This truly weighed, one smile of great Artemia
	Is to be cherished, and preferred before
662	All joys in Dorothea: therefore leave her.
664	Anton. In what thou think'st thou art most wise, thou art
	Grossly abused, Macrinus, and most foolish.
666	For any man to match above his rank,
	Is but to sell his liberty. With Artemia
668	I still must live a servant; but enjoying
	Divinest Dorothea, I shall rule,
670	Rule as becomes a husband: for the danger,
	Or call it, if you will, assured destruction,
672	I slight it thus. − If, then, thou art my friend,
	As I dare swear thou art, and wilt not take
674	A governor's place upon thee, be my helper.
676	Mac. You know I dare, and will do anything;
	Put me unto the test.
678
	Anton. Go then, Macrinus,
680	To Dorothea; tell her I have worn,
	In all the battailes I have fought, her figure,
682	Her figure in my heart, which, like a deity,
	Hath still protected me. Thou canst speak well;
684	And of thy choicest language spare a little,
	To make her understand how much I love her,
686	And how I languish for her. Bear these jewels,
	Sent in the way of sacrifice, not service,
688	As to my goddess: all lets thrown behind me,
	Or fears that may deter me, say, this morning
690	I mean to visit her by the name of friendship:
	− No words to contradict this.
692
	Mac. I am yours:
694	And, if my travail this way be ill spent,
	Judge not my readier will by the event.
696
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT II.
	SCENE I.
	A Room in Dorothea's House.
	Enter Spungius and Hircius.
1	Spun. Turn Christian! Would he that first tempted me
2	to have my shoes walk upon Christian soles, had turned
	me into a capon; for I am sure now, the stones of all
4	my pleasure, in this fleshly life, are cut off.
6	Hir. So then, if any coxcomb has a galloping desire to
	ride, here's a gelding, if he can but sit him.
8
	Spun. I kick, for all that, like a horse; − look else.
10
	Hir. But that is a kickish jade, fellow Spungius. Have
12	not I as much cause to complain as thou hast? When I
	was a pagan, there was an infidel punk of mine, would
14	have let me come upon trust for my corvetting: a pox
	of your Christian coxatrices! they cry, like poulterers'
16	wives, “No money, no coney.”
18	Spun. Bacchus, the god of brewed wine and sugar,
	grand patron of rob-pots, upsy-freesy tipplers, and
20	super-naculum takers; this Bacchus, who is head
	warden of Vintners’-hall, ale-conner, mayor of all
22	victualling-houses, the sole liquid benefactor to
	bawdy-houses; lanceprezado to red noses, and invincible
24	adelantado over the armado of pimpled, deep-scarleted,
	rubified, and carbuncled faces −
26
	Hir. What of all this?
28
	Spun. This boon Bacchanalian stinker, did I make legs
30	to.
32	Hir. Scurvy ones, when thou wert drunk.
34	Spun. There is no danger of losing a man's years by
	making these indentures; he that will not now and then
36	be Calabingo, is worse than a Calamoothe. When I was
	a pagan, and kneeled to this Bacchus, I durst outdrink a
38	lord; but your Christian lords out-bowl me. I was in
	hope to lead a sober life, when I was converted; but,
40	now amongst the Christians, I can no sooner stagger
	out of one alehouse, but I reel into another: they have
42	whole streets of nothing but drinking-rooms, and
	drabbing-chambers, jumbled together.
44
	Hir. Bawdy Priapus, the first schoolmaster that taught
46	butchers how to stick pricks in flesh, and make it swell,
	thou know'st, was the only ningle that I cared for under
48	the moon; but, since I left him to follow a scurvy lady,
	what with her praying and our fasting, if now I come to
50	a wench, and offer to use her anything hardly (telling
	her, being a Christian, she must endure,) she presently
52	handles me as if I were a clove, and cleaves me with
	disdain, as if I were a calves' head.
54
	Spun. I see no remedy, fellow Hircius, but that thou
56	and I must be half pagans, and half Christians; for we
	know very fools that are Christians.
58
	Hir. Right: the quarters of Christians are good for
60	nothing but to feed crows.
62	Spun. True: Christian brokers, thou know'st, are made
	up of the quarters of Christians; parboil one of these
64	rogues, and he is not meat for a dog: no, no, I am
	resolved to have an infidel's heart, though in show I
66	carry a Christian's face.
68	Hir. Thy last shall serve my foot: so will I.
70	Spun. Our whimpering lady and mistress sent me with
	two great baskets full of beef, mutton, veal, and goose,
72	fellow Hircius −
74	Hir. And woodcock, fellow Spungius.
76	Spun. Upon the poor lean ass-fellow, on which I ride,
	to all the almswomen: what think'st thou I have done
78	with all this good cheer?
80	Hir. Eat it; or be choked else.
82	Spun. Would my ass, basket and all, were in thy maw,
	if I did! No, as I am a demi-pagan, I sold the victuals,
84	and coined the money into pottle-pots of wine.
86	Hir. Therein thou showed'st thyself a perfect demi-
	Christian too, to let the poor beg, starve, and hang, or
88	die a the pip. Our puling, snotty-nose lady sent me out
	likewise with a purse of money, to relieve and release
90	prisoners: − Did I so, think you?
92	Spun. Would thy ribs were turned into grates of iron
	then.
94
	Hir. As I am a total pagan, I swore they should be
96	hanged first; for, sirrah Spungius, I lay at my old ward
	of lechery, and cried, “A pox in your two-penny wards!”
98	and so I took scurvy common flesh for the money.
100	Spun. And wisely done; for our lady, sending it to
	prisoners, had bestowed it out upon lousy knaves: and
102	thou, to save that labour, cast'st it away upon rotten
	whores.
104
	Hir. All my fear is of that pink-an-eye jack-an-apes
106	boy, her page.
108	Spun. As I am a pagan from my cod-piece downward,
	that white-faced monkey frights me too. I stole but a
110	dirty pudding, last day, out of an alms-basket, to give
	my dog when he was hungry, and the peaking chitface
112	page hit me in the teeth with it.
114	Hir. With the dirty pudding! so he did me once with a
	cow-turd, which in knavery I would have crumbed into
116	one's porridge, who was half a pagan too. The smug
	dandiprat smells us out, whatsoever we are doing.
118
	Spun. Does he? let him take heed I prove not his
120	back-friend: I'll make him curse his smelling what I do.
122	Hir. 'Tis my lady spoils the boy; for he is ever at her
	tail, and she is never well but in his company.
124
	Enter Angelo with a book, and a taper
126	lighted; seeing him, they counterfeit devotion.
128	Ang. O! now your hearts make ladders of your eyes,
	In show to climb to Heaven, when your devotion
130	Walks upon crutches. Where did you waste your time,
	When the religious man was on his knees,
132	Speaking the heavenly language?
134	Spun. Why, fellow Angelo, we were speaking in
	pedlar's French, I hope.
136
	Hir. We ha' not been idle, take it upon my word.
138
	Ang. Have you the baskets emptied, which your lady
140	Sent, from her charitable hands, to women
	That dwell upon her pity?
142
	Spun. Emptied them! yes; I’d be loth to have my belly
144	so empty; yet, I am sure, I munched not one bit of them
	neither.
146
	Ang. And went your money to the prisoners?
148
	Hir. Went! no; I carried it, and with these fingers paid
150	it away.
152	Ang. What way? the devil's way, the way of sin,
	The way of hot damnation, way of lust? −
154	And you, to wash away the poor man's bread
	In bowls of drunkenness?
156
	Spun. Drunkenness! yes, yes, I use to be drunk; our
158	next neighbour's man, called Christopher, hath often
	seen me drunk, hath he not?
160
	Hir. Or me given so to the flesh! my cheeks speak my
162	doings.
164	Ang. Avaunt, ye thieves and hollow hypocrites!
	Your hearts to me lie open like black books,
166	And there I read your doings.
168	Spun. And what do you read in my heart?
170	Hir. Or in mine? come, amiable Angelo, beat the flint
	of your brains.
172
	Spun. And let's see what sparks of wit fly out to kindle
174	your carebruns.
176	Ang. Your names even brand you; you are Spungius called
	And like a spunge, you suck up liquorous wines,
178	Till your soul reels to hell.
180	Spung. To hell! can any drunkard's legs carry him so far?
182	Ang. For blood of grapes you sold the widows' food,
	And, starving them, 'tis murder; what's this but hell? −
184	Hircius your name, and goatish is your nature:
	You snatch the meat out of the prisoner's mouth,
186	To fatten harlots: is not this hell too?
	No angel, but the devil, waits on you.
188
	Spun. Shall I cut his throat?
190
	Hir. No; better burn him, for I think he is a witch; but
192	soothe, soothe him.
194	Spun. Fellow Angelo, true it is, that falling into the
	company of wicked he-Christians, for my part −
196
	Hir. And she-ones, for mine, − we have them swim in
198	shoals hard by −
200	Spun. We must confess, I took too much out of the
	pot; and he of t'other hollow commodity.
202
	Hir. Yes, indeed, we laid Jill on both of us: we
204	cozened the poor; but 'tis a common thing: many a
	one, that counts himself a better Christian than we two,
206	has done it, by this light.
208	Spun. But pray, sweet Angelo, play not the tell-tale to
	my lady; and, if you take us creeping into any of these
210	mouse-holes of sin anymore, let cats flay off our skins.
212	Hir. And put nothing but the poisoned tails of rats into
	those skins.
214
	Ang. Will you dishonour her sweet charity,
216	Who saved you from the tree of death and shame?
218	Hir. Would I were hanged, rather than thus be told of
	my faults!
220
	Spun. She took us, 'tis true, from the gallows; yet I
222	hope she will not bar yeomen sprats to have their swinge.
224	Ang. She comes − beware and mend.
226	Hir. Let's break his neck, and bid him mend.
228	Enter Dorothea.
230	Dor. Have you my messages, sent to the poor,
	Delivered with good hands, not robbing them
232	Of any jot was theirs?
234	Spun. Rob them, lady! I hope neither my fellow nor I
	am thieves.
236
	Hir. Delivered with good hands, madam! else let me
238	never lick my fingers more when I eat buttered fish.
240	Dor. Who cheat the poor, and from them pluck their alms,
	Pilfer from Heaven; and there are thunderbolts,
242	From thence to beat them ever. Do not lie;
	Were you both faithful, true distributers?
244
	Spun. Lie, madam! what grief is it to see you turn
246	swaggerer, and give your poor-minded rascally servants
	the lie!
248
	Dor. I'm glad you do not; if those wretched people
250	Tell you they pine for want of anything,
	Whisper but to mine ear, and you shall furnish them.
252
	Hir. Whisper! nay, lady, for my part I'll cry whoop.
254
	Ang. Play no more, villains, with so good a lady;
256	For, if you do −
258	Spun. Are we Christians?
260	Hir. The foul fiend snap all pagans for me!
262	Ang. Away, and, once more, mend.
264	Spun. Takes us for botchers.
266	Hir. A patch, a patch!
268	[Exeunt Spungius and Hircius.]
270	Dor. My book and taper.
272	Ang. Here, most holy mistress.
274	Dor. Thy voice sends forth such music, that I never
	Was ravished with a more celestial sound.
276	Were every servant in the world like thee,
	So full of goodness, angels would come down
278	To dwell with us: thy name is Angelo,
	And like that name thou art; get thee to rest,
280	Thy youth with too much watching is oppressed.
282	Ang. No, my dear lady, I could weary stars,
	And force the wakeful moon to lose her eyes,
284	By my late watching, but to wait on you.
	When at your prayers you kneel before the altar,
286	Methinks I'm singing with some quire in Heaven,
	So blest I hold me in your company:
288	Therefore, my most loved mistress, do not bid
	Your boy, so serviceable, to get hence;
290	For then you break his heart.
292	Dor. Be nigh me still, then;
	In golden letters down I'll set that day
294	Which gave thee to me. Little did I hope
	To meet such worlds of comfort in thyself,
296	This little, pretty body; when I, coming
	Forth of the temple, heard my beggar-boy,
298	My sweet-faced, godly beggar-boy, crave an alms,
	Which with glad hand I gave, with lucky hand! −
300	And when I took thee home, my most chaste bosom,
	Methought, was filled with no hot wanton fire,
302	But with a holy flame, mounting since higher,
	On wings of cherubins, than it did before.
304
	Ang. Proud am I, that my lady's modest eye
306	So likes so poor a servant.
308	Dor. I have offered
	Handfuls of gold but to behold thy parents.
310	I would leave kingdoms, were I queen of some,
	To dwell with thy good father; for, the son
312	Bewitching me so deeply with his presence,
	He that begot him must do't ten times more.
314	I pray thee, my sweet boy, show me thy parents;
	Be not ashamed.
316
	Ang. I am not: I did never
318	Know who my mother was: but, by yon palace,
	Filled with bright heavenly courtiers, I dare assure you,
320	And pawn these eyes upon it, and this hand,
	My father is in Heaven: and, pretty mistress,
322	If your illustrious hour-glass spend his sand
	No worse than yet it does, upon my life,
324	You and I both shall meet my father there,
	And he shall bid you welcome.
326
	Dor. A blessed day!
328	We all long to be there, but lose the way.
330	[Exeunt.]
	ACT II, SCENE II.
	A Street, near Dorothea's House.
	Enter Macrinus, met by Theophilus and Harpax.
1	Theo. The Sun, god of the day, guide thee, Macrinus!
2
	Mac. And thee, Theophilus!
4
	Theo. Glad'st thou in such scorn?
6	I call my wish back.
8	Mac. I'm in haste.
10	Theo. One word,
	Take the least hand of time up: − stay.
12
	Mac. Be brief.
14
	Theo. As thought: I prithee tell me, good Macrinus,
16	How health and our fair princess lay together
	This night, for you can tell; courtiers have flies
18	That buzz all news unto them.
20	Mac. She slept but ill.
22	Theo. Double thy courtesy; how does Antoninus?
24	Mac. Ill, well, straight, crooked, − I know not how.
26	Theo. Once more; −
	Thy head is full of windmills: − when doth the princess
28	Fill a bed full of beauty, and bestow it
	On Antoninus, on the wedding-night?
30
	Mac. I know not.
32
	Theo. No! thou art the manuscript
34	Where Antoninus writes down all his secrets:
	Honest Macrinus, tell me.
36
	Mac. Fare you well, sir.
38
	[Exit Macrinus.]
40
	Harp. Honesty is some fiend, and frights him hence;
42	A many courtiers love it not.
44	Theo. What piece
	Of this state-wheel, which winds up Antoninus,
46	Is broke, it runs so jarringly? the man
	Is from himself divided. O thou, the eye
48	By which I wonders see, tell me, my Harpax,
	What gad-fly tickles this Macrinus so,
50	That, flinging up the tail, he breaks thus from me.
52	Harp. Oh, sir, his brain-pan is a bed of snakes,
	Whose stings shoot through his eye-balls, whose poisonous spawn
54	Ingenders such a fry of speckled villainies,
	That, unless charms more strong than adamant
56	Be used, the Roman angel's wings shall melt,
	And Caesar's diadem be from his head
58	Spurned by base feet; the laurel which he wears,
	Returning victor, be enforced to kiss
60	That which it hates, the fire. And can this ram,
	This Antoninus-engine, being made ready
62	To so much mischief, keep a steady motion? −
	His eyes and feet, you see, give strange assaults.
64
	Theo. I'm turned a marble statue at thy language,
66	Which printed is in such crabbed characters,
	It puzzles all my reading: what, in the name
68	Of Pluto, now is hatching?
70	Harp. This Macrinus,
	The line is, upon which love-errands run
72	'Twixt Antoninus and that ghost of women,
	The bloodless Dorothea, who in prayer
74	And meditation, mocking all your gods,
	Drinks up her ruby colour: yet Antoninus
76	Plays the Endymion to this pale-faced moon,
	Courts, seeks to catch her eyes −
78
	Theo. And what of this?
80
	Harp. These are but creeping billows,
82	Not got to shore yet: but if Dorothea
	Fall on his bosom, and be fired with love, −
84	Your coldest women do so, − had you ink
	Brewed from th' infernal Styx, not all that blackness
86	Can make a thing so foul as the dishonours,
	Disgraces, buffetings, and most base affronts
88	Upon the bright Artemia, star o' th’ court,
	Great Caesar's daughter.
90
	Theo. I now conster thee.
92
	Harp. Nay, more; a firmament of clouds, being filled
94	With Jove's artillery, shot down at once,
	To pash your gods in pieces, cannot give,
96	With all those thunderbolts, so deep a blow
	To the religion there, and pagan lore,
98	As this; for Dorothea hates your gods,
	And, if she once blast Antoninus' soul,
100	Making it foul like hers, oh! the example −
102	Theo. Eats through Caesarea's heart like liquid poison.
	Have I invented tortures to tear Christians,
104	To see but which, could all that feel hell's torments
	Have leave to stand aloof here on earth's stage,
106	They would be mad till they again descended,
	Holding the pains most horrid of such souls,
108	May-games to those of mine: has this my hand
	Set down a Christian's executiön
110	In such dire postures, that the very hangman
	Fell at my foot dead, hearing but their figures;
112	And shall Macrinus and his fellow-masquer
	Strangle me in a dance?
114
	Harp. No; − on; I hug thee,
116	For drilling thy quick brains in this rich plot
	Of tortures 'gainst these Christians: on; I hug thee!
118
	Theo. Both hug and holy me; to this Dorothea,
120	Fly thou and I in thunder.
122	Harp. Not for kingdoms
	Piled upon kingdoms: there's a villain page
124	Waits on her, whom I would not for the world
	Hold traffic with; I do so hate his sight,
126	That, should I look on him, I must sink down.
128	Theo. I will not lose thee then, her to confound;
	None but this head with glories shall be crowned.
130
	Harp. Oh! mine own as I would wish thee!
132
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT II, SCENE III.
	A Room in Dorothea's House.
	Enter Dorothea, Macrinus, and Angelo.
1	Dor. My trusty Angelo, with that curious eye
2	Of thine, which ever waits upon my business,
	I prithee watch those my still-negligent servants,
4	That they perform my will, in what's enjoined them
	To the good of others; else will you find them flies,
6	Not lying still, yet in them no good lies:
	Be careful, dear boy.
8
	Ang. Yes, my sweetest mistress.
10
	[Exit Angelo.]
12
	Dor. Now, sir, you may go on.
14
	Mac. I then must study
16	A new arithmetic, to sum up the virtues
	Which Antoninus gracefully become.
18	There is in him so much man, so much goodness,
	So much of honour, and of all things else,
20	Which make our being excellent, that from his store
	He can enough lend others; yet, much taken from him,
22	The want shall be as little as when seas
	Lend from their bounty, to fill up the poorness
24	Of needy rivers.
26	Dor. Sir, he is more indebted
	To you for praise, than you to him that owes it.
28
	Mac. If queens, viewing his presents paid to the whiteness
30	Of your chaste hand alone, should be ambitious
	But to be parted in their numerous shares;
32	This he counts nothing: could you see main armies
	Make battailes in the quarrel of his valour,
34	That 'tis the best, the truest; this were nothing;
	The greatness of his state, his father's voice
36	And arm, owing Caesarea, he ne'er boasts of;
	The sunbeams which the emperor throws upon him
38	Shine there but as in water, and gild him
	Not with one spot of pride; no, dearest beauty,
40	All these, heaped up together in one scale,
	Cannot weigh down the love he bears to you,
42	Being put into the other.
44	Dor. Could gold buy you
	To speak thus for a friend, you, sir, are worthy
46	Of more than I will number; and this your language
	Hath power to win upon another woman,
48	'Top of whose heart the feathers of this world
	Are gaily stuck: but all which first you named,
50	And now this last, his love, to me are nothing.
52	Enter Antoninus.
54	Mac. You make me a sad messenger; − but himself
	Being come in person, shall, I hope, hear from you
56	Music more pleasing.
58	Anton. Has your ear, Macrinus,
	Heard none, then?
60
	Mac. None I like.
62
	Anton. But can there be
64	In such a noble casket, wherein lie
	Beauty and chastity in their full perfections,
66	A rocky heart, killing with cruëlty
	A life that's prostrated beneath your feet?
68
	Dor. I am guilty of a shame I yet ne'er knew,
70	Thus to hold parley with you; − pray, sir, pardon.
72	[Going.]
74	Anton. Good sweetness, you now have it, and shall go:
	Be but so merciful, before your wounding me
76	With such a mortal weapon as “farewell”,
	To let me murmur to your virgin ear
78	What I was loth to lay on any tongue
	But this mine own.
80
	Dor. If one immodest accent
82	Fly out, I hate you everlastingly.
84	Anton. My true love dares not do it.
86	Mac. Hermes inspire thee!
88	Enter above, Artemia, Sapritius, Theophilus,
	Spungius, and Hircius.
90
	Spun. See you, do you see? − Our work is done; the
92	fish you angle for is nibbling at the hook, and therefore
	untruss the cod-piece-point of our reward, no matter if
94	the breeches of conscience fall about our heels.
96	Theo. The gold you earn is here; dam up your mouths,
	And no words of it.
98
	Hir. No; nor no words from you of too much damning
100	neither. I know women sell themselves daily, and are
	hackneyed out for silver: why may not we, then, betray
102	a scurvy mistress for gold?
104	Spun. She saved us from the gallows, and, only to keep
	one proverb from breaking his neck, we'll hang her.
106
	Theo. 'Tis well done; go, go, y'are my fine white boys.
108
	Spun. If your red boys, 'tis well known more ill-
110	favoured faces than ours are painted.
112	Sap. Those fellows trouble us.
114	Theo. Away, away!
116	Hir. I to my sweet placket.
118	Spun. And I to my full pot.
120	[Exeunt Hircius and Spungius.]
122	Anton. Come, let me tune you: − glaze not thus your eyes
	With self-love of a vowed virginity;
124	Make every man your glass; you see our sex
	Do never murder propagatiön;
126	We all desire your sweet society,
	And, if you bar me from it, you do kill me,
128	And of my blood are guilty.
130	Artem. O base villain!
132	Sap. Bridle your rage, sweet princess.
134	Anton. Could not my fortunes,
	Reared higher far than yours, be worthy of you,
136	Methinks my dear affection makes you mine.
138	Dor. Sir, for your fortunes, were they mines of gold,
	He that I love is richer; and for worth,
140	You are to him lower than any slave
	Is to a monarch.
142
	Sap. So insolent, base Christian!
144
	Dor. Can I, with wearing out my knees before him,
146	Get you but be his servant, you shall boast
	You're equal to a king.
148
	Sap. Confusion on thee,
150	For playing thus the lying sorceress!
152	Anton. Your mocks are great ones; none beneath the sun
	Will I be servant to. − On my knees I beg it,
154	Pity me, wondrous maid.
156	Sap. I curse thy baseness.
158	Theo. Listen to more.
160	Dor. O kneel not, sir, to me.
162	Anton. This knee is emblem of an humbled heart:
	That heart which tortured is with your disdain,
164	Justly for scorning others, even this heart,
	To which for pity such a princess sues,
166	As in her hand offers me all the world,
	Great Caesar's daughter.
168
	Artem. Slave, thou liest.
170
	Anton. Yet this
172	Is adamant to her, that melts to you
	In drops of blood.
174
	Theo. A very dog!
176
	Anton. Perhaps
178	Tis my religion makes you knit the brow;
	Yet be you mine, and ever be your own:
180	I ne'er will screw your conscience from that Power
	On which you Christians lean.
182
	Sap. I can no longer
184	Fret out my life with weeping at thee, villain.
	[Aloud.] Sirrah!
186	Would, when I got thee, the high Thunderer's hand
	Had struck thee in the womb!
188
	Mac. We are betrayed.
190
	Artem. Is that the idol, traitor, which thou kneel'st to,
192	Trampling upon my beauty?
194	Theo. Sirrah bandog!
	Wilt thou in pieces tear our Jupiter
196	For her? our Mars for her? our Sol for her? −
	A whore! a hell-hound! In this globe of brains,
198	Where a whole world of furies for such tortures
	Have fought, as in a chaos, which should exceed,
200	These nails shall grubbing lie from skull to skull,
	To find one horrider than all, for you,
202	You three!
204	Artem. Threaten not, but strike: quick vengeance flies
	Into my bosom! caitiff! here all love dies.
206
	[Exeunt above.]
208
	Anton. O! I am thunderstruck! We are both o'erwhelmed −
210
	Mac. With one high-raging billow.
212
	Dor. You a soldier,
214	And sink beneath the violence of a woman!
216	Anton. A woman! a wronged princess. From such a star,
	Blazing with fires of hate, what can be looked for,
218	But tragical events? my life is now
	The subject of her tyranny.
220
	Dor. That fear is base
222	Of death, when that death doth but life displace
	Out of her house of earth; you only dread
224	The stroke, and not what follows when you're dead;
	There's the great fear, indeed: come, let your eyes
226	Dwell where mine do, you'll scorn their tyrannies.
228	Re-enter below, Artemia, Sapritius, Theophilus, a
	guard; Angelo comes and stands close by Dorothea.
230
	Artem. My father's nerves put vigour in mine arm,
232	And I his strength must use. Because I once
	Shed beams of favour on thee, and, with the lion,
234	Played with thee gently, when thou struck'st my heart,
	I'll not insult on a base, humbled prey,
236	By lingering out thy terrors; but, with one frown,
	Kill thee: − hence with ‘em all to execution.
238	Seize him; but let even death itself be weary
	In torturing her. I'll change those smiles to shrieks;
240	Give the fool what she's proud of, martyrdom:
242	[Points to Macrinus.]
244	In pieces rack that bawd too.
246	Sap. Albeit the reverence
	I owe our gods and you, are, in my bosom,
248	Torrents so strong that pity quite lies drowned
	From saving this young man, yet, when I see
250	What face death gives him, and that a thing within me
	Says 'tis my son, I am forced to be a man,
252	And grow fond of his life, which thus I beg.
254	Artem. And I deny.
256	Anton. Sir, you dishonour me,
	To sue for that which I disclaim to have.
258	I shall more glory in my sufferings gain
	Than you in giving judgment, since I offer
260	My blood up to your anger; nor do I kneel
	To keep a wretched life of mine from ruin:
262	Preserve this temple, builded fair as yours is,
	And Caesar never went in greater triumph,
264	Than I shall to the scaffold.
266	Artem. Are you so brave, sir?
	Set forward to his triumph, and let those two
268	Go cursing along with him.
270	Dor. No, but pitying,
	For my part, I, that you lose ten times more
272	By torturing me, than I that dare your tortures:
	Through all the army of my sins, I have even
274	Laboured to break, and cope with death to th' face.
	The visage of a hangman frights not me;
276	The sight of whips, racks, gibbets, axes, fires,
	Are scaffoldings by which my soul climbs up
278	To an eternal habitatiön.
280	Theo. Caesar's imperial daughter! hear me speak.
	Let not this Christian thing, in this her pageantry
282	Of proud deriding both our gods and Caesar,
	Build to herself a kingdom in her death,
284	Going laughing from us: no; her bitterest torment
	Shall be to feel her constancy beaten down:
286	The bravery of her resolution lie
	Battered, by argument, into such pieces,
288	That she again shall, on her belly, creep
	To kiss the pavements of our paynim gods.
290
	Artem. How to be done?
292
	Theo. I'll send my daughters to her,
294	And they shall turn her rocky faith to wax;
	Else spit at me, let me be made your slave,
296	And meet no Roman's but a villain's grave.
298	Artem. Thy prisoner let her be, then; and, Sapritius,
	Your son and that, be yours: death shall be sent
300	To him that suffers them, by voice or letters,
	To greet each other. Rifle her estate;
302	Christians to beggary brought grow desperate.
304	Dor. Still on the bread of poverty let me feed.
306	Ang. O! my admired mistress, quench not out
	The holy fires within you, though temptations
308	Shower down upon you: clasp thine armour on,
	Fight well, and thou shalt see, after these wars,
310	Thy head wear sunbeams, and thy feet touch stars.
312	[Exeunt all but Angelo.]
314	Enter Hircius and Spungius.
316	Hir. How now, Angelo; how is it, how is it? What
	thread spins that whore Fortune upon her wheel now?
318
	Spun. Comesta, comesta, poor knave?
320
	Hir. Com a porte vous, com a porte vous, my petite
322	garsoon?
324	Spun. Me partha wee comrade, my half-inch of man's
	flesh, how run the dice of this cheating world, ha?
326
	Ang. Too well on your sides; you are hid in gold,
328	O'er head and ears.
330	Hir. We thank our fates, the sign of the gingle-boys
	hangs at the doors of our pockets.
332
	Spun. Who would think that we, coming forth of the
334	arse, as it were, or fag-end of the world, should yet
	see the golden age, when so little silver is stirring?
336
	Hir. Nay, who can say any citizen is an ass, for loading
338	his own back with money till his soul cracks again, only
	to leave his son like a gilded coxcomb behind him?
340	Will not any fool take me for a wise man now, seeing
	me draw out of the pit of my treasury this little god
342	with his belly full of gold?
344	Spun. And this, full of the same meat, out of my ambry.
346	Ang. That gold will melt to poison.
348	Spun. Poison! would it would! whole pints for healths
	should down my throat.
350
	Hir. Gold, poison! there is never a she-thrasher in
352	Caesarea, that lives on the flail of money, will call it so.
354	Ang. Like slaves you sold your souls for golden dross,
	Bewraying her to death, who stepped between
356	You and the gallows.
358	Spun. It was an easy matter to save us, she being so
	well backed.
360
	Hir. The gallows and we fell out: so she did but part us.
362
	Ang. The misery of that mistress is mine own;
364	She beggared, I left wretched.
366	Hir. I can but let my nose drop in sorrow, with wet
	eyes for her.
368
	Spun. The petticoat of her estate is unlaced, I confess.
370
	Hir. Yes, and the smock of her charity is now all to
372	pieces.
374	Ang. For love you bear to her, for some good turns
	Done you by me, give me one piece of silver.
376
	Hir. How! a piece of silver! if thou wert an angel of
378	gold, I would not put thee into white money unless I
	weighed thee; and I weigh thee not a rush.
380
	Spun. A piece of silver! I never had but two calves in
382	my life, and those my mother left me; I will rather part
	from the fat of them than from a mustard-token's worth
384	of argent.
386	Hir. And so, sweet nit, we crawl from thee.
388	Spun. Adieu, demi-dandiprat, adieu!
390	Ang. Stay, − one word yet; you now are full of gold.
392	Hir. I would be sorry my dog were so full of the pox.
394	Spun. Or any sow of mine of the meazles either.
396	Ang. Go, go! you're beggars both; you are not worth
	That leather on your feet.
398
	Hir. Away, away, boy!
400
	Spun. Page, you do nothing but set patches on the
402	soles of your jests.
404	Ang. I am glad I tried your love, which, see! I want not,
	So long as this is full.
406
	Both. And so long as this, so long as this.
408
	Hir. Spungius, you are a pickpocket.
410
	Spun. Hircius, thou hast nimmed: “So long as!” − not
412	so much money is left as will buy a louse.
414	Hir. Thou art a thief, and thou liest in that gut through
	which thy wine runs, if thou deniest it.
416
	Spun. Thou liest deeper than the bottom of mine
418	enraged pocket, if thou affrontest it.
420	Ang. No blows, no bitter language; − all your gold gone!
422	Spun. Can the devil creep into one's breeches?
424	Hir. Yes, if his horns once get into the cod-piece.
426	Ang. Come, sigh not; I so little am in love
	With that whose loss kills you, that, see! 'tis yours,
428	All yours: divide the heap in equal share,
	So you will go along with me to prison,
430	And in our mistress' sorrows bear a part:
	Say, will you?
432
	Both. Will we!
434
	Spun. If she were going to hanging, no gallows should
436	part us.
438	Hir. Let us both be turned into a rope of onions, if we
	do not.
440
	Ang. Follow me, then; repair your bad deeds past;
442	Happy are men, when their best days are last!
444	Spun. True, master Angelo; pray, sir, lead the way.
446	[Exit Angelo.]
448	Hir. Let him lead that way, but follow thou me this
	way.
450
	Spun. I live in a jail!
452
	Hir. Away, and shift for ourselves. She'll do we'll
454	enough there; for prisoners are more hungry after
	mutton than catchpoles after prisoners.
456
	Spun. Let her starve then, if a whole jail will not fill
458	her belly.
460	[Exeunt.]
	ACT III.
	SCENE I.
	A Room in Dorothea's House.
	Enter Sapritius, Theophilus, Priest,
	Calista, and Christeta.
1	Sap. Sick to the death, I fear.
2
	Theo. I meet your sorrow,
4	With my true feeling of it.
6	Sap. She's a witch,
	A sorceress, Theophilus; my son
8	Is charmed by her enchanting eyes; and, like
	An image made of wax, her beams of beauty
10	Melt him to nothing: all my hopes in him,
	And all his gotten honours, find their grave
12	In his strange dotage on her. Would, when first
	He saw and loved her, that the earth had opened,
14	And swallowed both alive!
16	Theo. There's hope left yet.
18	Sap. Not any: though the princess were appeased,
	All title in her love surrendered up;
20	Yet this coy Christiän is so transported
	With her religion, that unless my son
22	(But let him perish first!) drink the same potion,
	And be of her belief, she'll not vouchsafe
24	To be his lawful wife.
26	Priest. But, once removed
	From her opinion, as I rest assured
28	The reasons of these holy maids will win her,
	You'll find her tractable to anything,
30	For your content or his.
32	Theo. If she refuse it,
	The Stygian damps, breeding infectious airs,
34	The mandrake's shrieks, the basilisk's killing eye,
	The dreadful lightning that does crush the bones
36	And never singe the skin, shall not appear
	Less fatal to her than my zeal made hot
38	With love unto my gods. I have deferred it,
	In hopes to draw back this apostata,
40	Which will be greater honour than her death,
	Unto her father's faith; and, to that end,
42	Have brought my daughters hither.
44	Cat. And we doubt not
	To do what you desire.
46
	Sap. Let her be sent for.
48	Prosper in your good work; and were I not
	To attend the princess, I would see and hear
50	How you succeed.
52	Theo. I am commanded too,
	I'll bear you company.
54
	Sap. Give them your ring,
56	To lead her as in triumph, if they win her,
	Before her highness.
58
	[Exit Sapritius.]
60
	Theo. Spare no promises,
62	Persuasiöns, or threats, I do conjure you:
	If you prevail, 'tis the most glorious work
64	You ever undertook.
66	Enter Dorothea and Angelo.
68	Priest. She comes.
70	Theo. We leave you;
	Be constant, and be careful.
72
	[Exeunt Theophilus and Priest.]
74
	Calis. We are sorry
76	To meet you under guard.
78	Dor. But I more grieved
	You are at liberty. So well I love you,
80	That I could wish, for such a cause as mine,
	You were my fellow-prisoners. Prithee, Angelo,
82	Reach us some chairs. Please you sit −
84	Calis. We thank you:
	Our visit is for love, love to your safety.
86
	Christ. Our conference must be private; pray you, therefore,
88	Command your boy to leave us.
90	Dor. You may trust him
	With any secret that concerns my life;
92	Falsehood and he are strangers: had you, ladies,
	Been blessed with such a servant, you had never
94	Forsook that way, your journey even half ended,
	That lead to joys eternal. In the place
96	Of loose lascivious mirth, he would have stirred you
	To holy meditations; and so far
98	He is from flattery, that he would have told you,
	Your pride being at the height, how miserable
100	And wretched things you were, that, for an hour
	Of pleasure here, have made a desperate sale
102	Of all your right in happiness hereafter.
	He must not leave me; without him I fall:
104	In this life he's my servant, in the other
	A wished companion.
106
	Ang. 'Tis not in the devil,
108	Nor all his wicked arts, to shake such goodness.
110	Dor. But you were speaking, lady.
112	Calis. As a friend
	And lover of your safety, and I pray you
114	So to receive it; and, if you remember
	How near in love our parents were, that we,
116	Even from the cradle, were brought up together,
	Our amity increasing with our years,
118	We cannot stand suspected.
120	Dor. To the purpose.
122	Calis. We come, then, as good angels, Dorothea,
	To make you happy; and the means so easy
124	That, be not you an enemy to yourself,
	Already you enjoy it.
126
	Christ. Look on us,
128	Ruined as you are, once, and brought unto it,
	By your persuasion.
130
	Calis. But what followed, lady?
132	Leaving those blessings which our gods gave freely,
	And showered upon us with a prodigal hand, −
134	As to be noble born, youth, beauty, wealth,
	And the free use of these without control,
136	Check, curb, or stop, such is our law's indulgence! −
	All happiness forsook us; bonds and fetters,
138	For amorous twines; the rack and hangman's whips,
	In place of choice delights; our parents' curses
140	Instead of blessings; scorn, neglect, contempt,
	Fell thick upon us.
142
	Christ. This considered wisely,
144	We made a fair retreat; and reconciled
	To our forsaken gods, we live again
146	In all prosperity.
148	Calis. By our example,
	Bequeathing misery to such as love it,
150	Learn to be happy. The Christian yoke's too heavy
	For such a dainty neck; it was framed rather
152	To be the shrine of Venus, or a pillar,
	More preciöus than crystal, to support
154	Our Cupid's image: our religion, lady,
	Is but a varied pleasure; yours a toil
156	Slaves would shrink under.
158	Dor. Have you not cloven feet? are you not devils?
	Dare any say so much, or dare I hear it,
160	Without a virtuous or religious anger?
	Now to put on a virgin modesty,
162	Or maiden silence, when His power is questioned
	That is omnipotent, were a greater crime
164	Than in a bad cause to be impudent.
	Your gods! your temples! brothel-houses rather,
166	Or wicked actions of the worst of men,
	Pursued and practised. Your religious rites!
168	Oh! call them rather juggling mysteries,
	The baits and nets of hell: your souls the prey
170	For which the devil angles; your false pleasures
	A steep descent, by which you headlong fall
172	Into eternal torments.
174	Calis. Do not tempt
	Our powerful gods.
176
	Dor. Which of your powerful gods?
178	Your gold, your silver, brass, or wooden ones,
	That can nor do me hurt, nor protect you?
180	Most pitied women! will you sacrifice
	To such, − or call them gods or goddesses,
182	Your parents would disdain to be the same,
	Or you yourselves? O blinded ignorance!
184	Tell me, Calista, by the truth, I charge you,
	Or any thing you hold more dear, would you,
186	To have him deified to posterity,
	Desire your father an adulterer,
188	A ravisher, almost a parricide,
	A vile incestuous wretch?
190
	Calis. That, piety
192	And duty answer for me.
194	Dor. Or you, Christeta,
	To be hereafter registered a goddess,
196	Give your chaste body up to the embraces
	Of goatish lust? have it writ on your forehead,
198	“This is the common whore, the prostitute,
	The mistress in the art of wantonness,
200	Knows every trick and labyrinth of desires
	That are immodest?"
202
	Christ. You judge better of me,
204	Or my affection is ill placed on you;
	Shall I turn strumpet?
206
	Dor. No, I think you would not.
208	Yet Venus, whom you worship, was a whore;
	Flora, the foundress of the public stews,
210	And has, for that, her sacrifice; your great god,
	Your Jupiter, a loose adulterer,
212	Incestuous with his sister: read but those
	That have canónized them, you'll find them worse
214	Than, in chaste language, I can speak them to you.
	Are they immortal then, that did partake
216	Of human weakness, and had ample share
	In men's most base affections; subject to
218	Unchaste loves, anger, bondage, wounds, as men are?
	Here, Jupiter, to serve his lust, turned bull,
220	The ship, indeed, in which he stole Europa;
	Neptune, for gain, builds up the walls of Troy
222	As a day-labourer; Apollo keeps
	Admetus’ sheep for bread; the Lemnian smith
224	Sweats at the forge for hire; Prometheus here,
	With his still-growing liver, feeds the vulture;
226	Saturn bound fast in hell with adamant chains;
	And thousands more, on whom abusèd error
228	Bestows a deity. Will you then, dear sisters,
	For I would have you such, pay your devotions
230	To things of less power than yourselves?
232	Calis. We worship
	Their good deeds in their images.
234
	Dor. By whom fashioned?
236	By sinful men. I'll tell you a short tale,
	Nor can you but confess it is a true one:
238	A king of Egypt, being to erect
	The image of Osiris, whom they honour,
240	Took from the matrons' necks the richest jewels,
	And purest gold, as the materials,
242	To finish up his work; which perfected,
	With all solemnity he set it up,
244	To be adored, and served himself his idol,
	Desiring it to give him victory
246	Against his enemies: but, being overthrown,
	Enraged against his god (these are fine gods,
248	Subject to human fury!), he took down
	The senseless thing, and, melting it again,
250	He made a basing, in which eunuchs washed
	His concubine's feet; and for this sordid use
252	Some months it served: his mistress proving false, −
	As most indeed do so, − and grace concluded
254	Between him and the priests, of the same basing
	He made his god again! Think, think of this
256	And then consider, if all worldly honours,
	Or pleasures that do leave sharp stings behind them,
258	Have power to win such as have reasonable souls,
	To put their trust in dross.
260
	Calis. Oh, that I had been born
262	Without a father!
264	Christ. Piety to him
	Hath ruined us forever.
266
	Dor. Think not so;
268	You may repair all yet: the attribute
	That speaks His Godhead most, is merciful:
270	Revenge is proper to the fiends you worship,
	Yet cannot strike without His leave. − You weep, −
272	Oh, 'tis a heavenly shower! celestial balm
	To cure your wounded conscience! let it fall,
274	Fall thick upon it; and, when that is spent,
	I'll help it with another of my tears:
276	And may your true repentance prove the child
	Of my true sorrow, never mother had
278	A birth so happy!
280	Calis. We are caught ourselves,
	That came to take you; and, assured of conquest,
282	We are your captives.
284	Dor. And in that you triumph:
	Your victory had been eternal loss,
286	And this your loss immortal gain. Fix here,
	And you shall feel yourselves inwardly armed
288	'Gainst tortures, death, and hell: − but, take heed, sisters,
	That, or through weakness, threats, or mild persuasions,
290	Though of a father, you fall not into
	A second and a worse apostacy.
292
	Calis. Never, oh never! steeled by your example,
294	We dare the worst of tyranny.
296	Christ. Here's our warrant,
	You shall along and witness it.
298
	Dor. Be confirmed then;
300	And rest assured, the more you suffer here,
	The more your glory, you to Heaven more dear.
302
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT III, SCENE II.
	The Governor's Palace.
	Enter Artemia, Sapritius, Theophilus, and Harpax.
1	Artem. Sapritius, though your son deserves no pity,
2	We grieve his sickness: his contempt of us,
	We cast behind us, and look back upon
4	His service done to Caesar, that weighs down
	Our just displeasure. If his malady
6	Have growth from his restraint, or that you think
	His liberty can cure him, let him have it:
8	Say, we forgive him freely.
10	Sap. Your grace binds us,
	Ever your humblest vassals.
12
	Artem. Use all means
14	For his recovery; though yet I love him,
	I will not force affection. If the Christian,
16	Whose beauty hath out-rivalled mine, be won
	To be of our belief, let him enjoy her;
18	That all may know, when the cause wills, I can
	Command my own desires.
20
	Theo. Be happy then,
22	My lord Sapritius: I am confident,
	Such eloquence and sweet persuasion dwells
24	Upon my daughters' tongues, that they will work her
	To anything they please.
26
	Sap. I wish they may!
28	Yet 'tis no easy task to undertake,
	To alter a perverse and obstinate woman.
30
	[A shout within: loud music.]
32
	Artem. What means this shout?
34
	Sap. 'Tis seconded with music,
36	Triumphant music. − Ha!
38	Enter Sempronius.
40	Semp. My lord, your daughters,
	The pillars of our faith, having converted,
42	For so report gives out, the Christian lady,
	The image of great Jupiter borne before them,
44	Sue for accéss.
46	Theo. My soul divined as much.
	Blest be the time when first they saw this light!
48	Their mother, when she bore them to support
	My feeble age, filled not my longing heart
50	With so much joy as they in this good work
	Have thrown upon me.
52
	Enter Priest with the Image of Jupiter,
54	incense and censers; followed by
	Calista and Christeta, leading Dorothea.
56
	Welcome, oh, thrice welcome,
58	Daughters, both of my body and my mind!
	Let me embrace in you my bliss, my comfort;
60	And Dorothea, now more welcome too,
	Then if you never had fallen off! I am ravished
62	With the excess of joy: − speak, happy daughters,
	The blest event.
64
	Calis. We never gained so much
66	By any undertaking.
68	Theo. O my dear girl,
	Our gods reward thee!
70
	Dor. Nor was ever time,
72	On my part, better spent.
74	Christ. We are all now
	Of one opiniön.
76
	Theo. My best Christeta! −
78	Madam, if ever you did grace to worth,
	Vouchsafe your princely hands.
80
	Artem. Most willingly −
82	Do you refuse it!
84	Calis. Let us first deserve it.
86	Theo. My own child still! here set our god; prepare
	The incense quickly. Come, fair Dorothea,
88	I will myself support you; − now kneel down,
	And pay your vows to Jupiter.
90
	Dor. I shall do it
92	Better by their example.
94	Theo. They shall guide you;
	They are familiar with the sacrifice. −
96	Forward, my twins of comfort, and, to teach her,
	Make a joint offering.
98
	Christ. Thus −
100
	[They both spit at the image,
102	throw it down, and spurn it.]
104	Calis. And thus −
106	Harp. Profane,
	And impious! stand you now like a statue?
108	Are you the champion of the gods? where is
	Your holy zeal, your anger?
110
	Theo. I am blasted;
112	And, as my feet were rooted here, I find
	I have no motion; I would I had no sight too!
114	Or if my eyes can serve to any use,
	Give me, thou injured Power! a sea of tears,
116	To expiate this madness in my daughters;
	For, being themselves, they would have trembled at
118	So blasphemous a deed in any other: −
	For my sake, hold awhile thy dreadful thunder,
120	And give me patience to demand a reason
	For this accursèd act.
122
	Dor. 'Twas bravely done.
124
	Theo. Peace, damned enchantress, peace! − I should look on you
126	With eyes made red with fury, and my hand,
	That shakes with rage, should much outstrip my tongue,
128	And seal my vengeance on your hearts; − but nature,
	To you that have fallen once, bids me again
130	To be a father. Oh! how durst you tempt
	The anger of great Jove?
132
	Dor. Alack, poor Jove!
134	He is no swaggerer! how smug he stands!
	He'll take a kick, or anything.
136
	Sap. Stop her mouth.
138
	Dor. It is the patient'st godling; do not fear him;
140	He would not hurt the thief that stole away
	Two of his golden locks; indeed he could not:
142	And still 'tis the same quiet thing.
144	Theo. Blasphemer!
	Ingenious cruëlty shall punish this;
146	Thou art past hope: but for you yet, dear daughters,
	Again bewitched, the dew of mild forgiveness
148	May gently fall, provided you deserve it
	With true contrition: be yourselves again;
150	Sue to th’ offended deity.
152	Christ. Not to be
	The mistress of the earth.
154
	Calis. I will not offer
156	A grain of incense to it, much less kneel,
	Nor look on it but with contempt and scorn,
158	To have a thousand years conferred upon me
	Of worldly blessings. We profess ourselves
160	To be, like Dorothea, Christiäns;
	And owe her for that happiness.
162
	Theo. My ears
164	Receive, in hearing this, all deadly charms,
	Powerful to make man wretched.
166
	Artem. Are these they
168	You bragged could convert others!
170	Sap. That want strength
	To stand, themselves!
172
	Harp. Your honour is engaged,
174	The credit of your cause depends upon it;
	Something you must do suddenly.
176
	Theo. And I will.
178
	Harp. They merit death; but, falling by your hand,
180	'Twill be recorded for a just revenge,
	And holy fury in you.
182
	Theo. Do not blow
184	The furnace of a wrath thrice hot already;
	Ætna is in my breast, wildfire burns here,
186	Which only blood must quench. − Incensèd Power!
	Which from my infancy I have adored,
188	Look down with favourable beams upon
	The sacrifice, though not allowed thy priest,
190	Which I will offer to thee; and be pleased,
	My fiery zeal inciting me to act it,
192	To call that justice others may style murder. −
	Come, you accursed, thus by the hair I drag you
194	Before this holy altar; thus look on you,
	Less pitiful than tigers to their prey:
196	And thus, with mine own hand, I take that life
	Which I gave to you.
198
	[Kills them.]
200
	Dor. O, most cruël butcher!
202
	Theo. My anger ends not here: hell's dreadful porter,
204	Receive into thy ever-open gates
	Their damnèd souls, and let the Furies' whips
206	On them alone be wasted; and, when death
	Closes these eyes, 'twill be Elysium to me
208	To hear their shrieks and howlings. Make me, Pluto,
	Thy instrument to furnish thee with souls
210	Of that accursèd sect; nor let me fall,
	Till my fell vengeance hath consumed them all.
212
	[Exit, Harpax hugging him.]
214
	Artem. Tis a brave zeal.
216
	Enter Angelo, smiling.
218
	Dor. Oh, call him back again,
220	Call back your hangman! here's one prisoner left
	To be the subject of his knife.
222
	Artem. Not so;
224	We are not so near reconciled unto thee; −
	Thou shalt not perish such an easy way.
226	Be she your charge, Sapritius, now; and suffer
	None to come near her, till we have found out
228	Some torments worthy of her.
230	Ang. Courage, mistress,
	These martyrs but prepare your glorious fate;
232	You shall exceed them, and not imitate.
234	[Exeunt.]
	ACT III, SCENE III.
	A Room in Dorothea's House.
	Enter Spungius and Hircius, ragged,
	at opposite doors.
1	Hir. Spungius!
2
	Spun. My fine rogue, how is it? how goes this tottered
4	world?
6	Hir. Hast any money?
8	Spun. Money! no. The tavern ivy clings about my
	money, and kills it. Hast thou any money?
10
	Hir. No. My money is a mad bull; and finding any gap
12	opened, away it runs.
14	Spun. I see then a tavern and a bawdy-house have
	faces much alike; the one hath red grates next the door,
16	the other hath peeping-holes within doors: the tavern
	hath evermore a bush, the bawdy-house sometimes
18	neither hedge nor bush. From a tavern a man comes
	reeling; from a bawdy-house, not able to stand. In the
20	tavern you are cozened with paltry wine; in a bawdy-
	house by a painted whore: money may have wine, and
22	a whore will have money; but to neither can you cry,
	“Drawer, you rogue!” or, “Keep door, rotten bawd!”
24	without a silver whistle. We are justly plagued,
	therefore, for running from our mistress.
26
	Hir. Thou didst; I did not: yet I had run too, but that
28	one gave me turpentine pills, and that stayed my running.
30	Spun. Well! the thread of my life is drawn through the
	needle of necessity, whose eye, looking upon my lousy
32	breeches, cries out it cannot mend them; which so pricks
	the linings of my body (and those are, heart, lights,
34	lungs, guts, and midriff), that I beg on my knees to have
	Atropos, the tailor to the Destinies, to take her shears,
36	and cut my thread in two; or to heat the iron goose of
	mortality, and so press me to death.
38
	Hir. Sure thy father was some botcher, and thy hungry
40	tongue bit off these shreds of complaints, to patch up
	the elbows of thy nitty eloquence.
42
	Spun. And what was thy father?
44
	Hir. A low-minded cobbler, a cobbler whose zeal set
46	many a woman upright; the remembrance of whose awl
	(I now having nothing) thrusts such scurvy stitches into
48	my soul, that the heel of my happiness is gone awry.
50	Spun. Pity that e'er thou trod'st thy shoe awry.
52	Hir. Long I cannot last; for all sowterly wax of comfort
	melting away, and misery taking the length of my foot,
54	it boots not me to sue for life, when all my hopes are
	seam-rent, and go wet-shod.
56
	Spun. This shows thou art a cobbler 's son, by going
58	through-stitch: O Hircius, would thou and I were so
	happy to be cobblers!
60
	Hir. So would I; for both of us being weary of our
62	lives, should then be sure of shoemakers’ ends.
64	Spun. I see the beginning of my end, for I am almost
	starved.
66
	Hir. So am not I; but I am more than famished.
68
	Spun. All the members in my body are in a rebellion
70	one against another.
72	Hir. So are mine; and nothing but a cook, being a
	constable, can appease them, presenting to my nose,
74	instead of his painted staff, a spit full of roast meat.
76	Spun. But in this rebellion, what uproars do they make!
	my belly cries to my mouth, “Why dost not gape and
78	feed me?”
80	Hir. And my mouth sets out a throat to my hand, “Why
	dost thou not lift up meat, and cram my chops with it?”
82
	Spun. Then my hand hath a fling at mine eyes, because
84	they look not out, and shark for victuals.
86	Hir. Which mine eyes seeing, full of tears, cry aloud,
	and curse my feet, for not ambling up and down to feed
88	colon; sithence, if good meat be in any place, 'tis known
	my feet can smell.
90
	Spun. But then my feet, like lazy rogues, lie still, and
92	had rather do nothing than run to and fro to purchase
	anything.
94
	Hir. Why, among so many millions of people, should
96	thou and I only be miserable tatterdemallions,
	ragamuffins, and lousy desperates?
98
	Spun. Thou art a mere I-am-an-o, I-am-an-as: consider
100	the whole world, and 'tis as we are.
102	Hir. Lousy, beggarly! thou whoreson assafœtida!
104	Spun. Worse; all totterings, all out of frame, thou
	fooliamini!
106
	Hir. As how, arsenic? come, make the world smart.
108
	Spun. Old honour goes on crutches, beggary rides
110	caroched; honest men make feasts, knaves sit at tables,
	cowards are lapped in velvet, soldiers (as we) in rags;
112	beauty turns whore, whore, bawd, and both die of the
	pox: why, then, when all the world stumbles, should
114	thou and I walk upright?
116	Hir. Stop, look! who's yonder?
118	Enter Angelo.
120	Spun. Fellow Angelo! how does my little man, well?
122	Ang. Yes; And would you did so! Where are your clothes?
124	Hir. Clothes! You see every woman almost go in her
	loose gown, and why should not we have our clothes
126	loose?
128	Spun. Would they were loose!
130	Ang. Why, where are they?
132	Spun. Where many a velvet cloak, I warrant, at this
	hour, keeps them company; they are pawned to a
134	broker.
136	Ang. Why pawned? where's all the gold I left with you?
138	Hir. The gold! we put that into a scrivener's hands, and
	he hath cozened us.
140
	Spun. And therefore, I prithee, Angelo, if thou hast
142	another purse, let it be confiscate, and brought to
	devastation.
144
	Ang. Are you made all of lies? I know which way
146	Your gilt-winged pieces flew. I will no more
	Be mocked by you: be sorry for your riots,
148	Tame your wild flesh by labour; eat the bread
	Got with hard hands; let sorrow be your whip,
150	To draw drops of repentance from your heart:
	When I read this amendment in your eyes,
152	You shall not want; till then, my pity dies.
154	[Exit Angelo.]
156	Spun. Is it not a shame, that this scurvy puerilis should
	give us lessons.
158
	Hir. I have dwelt, thou know'st, a long time in the
160	suburbs of the conscience, and they are ever bawdy; but
	now my heart shall take a house within the walls of
162	honesty.
164	Enter Harpax aloof.
166	Spun. O you drawers of wine, draw me no more to the
	bar of beggary; the sound of “Score a pottle of sack” is
168	worse than the noise of a scolding oyster-wench, or two
	cats incorporating.
170
	Harp. This must not be. I do not like when conscience
172	Thaws; keep her frozen still.
174	[Comes forward.]
176	How now, my masters!
	Dejected? drooping? drowned in tears? clothes torn?
178	Lean, and ill-coloured? sighing? where's the whirlwind
	Which raises all these mischiefs? I have seen you
180	Drawn better on't. O! but a spirit told me
	You both would come to this, when in you thrust
182	Yourselves into the service of that lady,
	Who shortly now must die. Where's now her praying?
184	What good got you by wearing out your feet,
	To run on scurvy errands to the poor,
186	And to bear money to a sort of rogues
	And lousy prisoners?
188
	Hir. Pox on them! I never prospered since I did it.
190
	Spun. Had I been a pagan still, I should not have
192	spit white for want of drink; but come to any vintner
	now, and bid him trust me, because I turned Christian,
194	and he cries, Puh!
196	Harp. You're rightly served; before that peevish lady
	Had to do with you, women, wine and money
198	Flowed in abundance with you, did it not?
200	Hir. O, those days! those days!
202	Harp. Beat not your breasts, tear not your hair in madness;
	Those days shall come again, be ruled by me;
204	And better, mark me, better.
206	Spun. I have seen you, sir, as I take it, an attendant on
	the Lord Theophilus.
208
	Harp. Yes, yes; in show his servant; but − hark, hither! −
210	Take heed nobody listens.
212	Spun. Not a mouse stirs.
214	Harp. I am a prince disguised.
216	Hir. Disguised! how? drunk?
218	Harp. Yes, my fine boy! I'll drink too, and be drunk;
	I am a prince, and any man by me,
220	Let him but keep my rules, shall soon grow rich,
	Exceeding rich, most infinitely rich:
222	He that shall serve me is not starved from pleasures
	As other poor knaves are; no, take their fill.
224
	Spun. But that, sir, we're so ragged −
226
	Harp. You'll say, you’d serve me?
228
	Hir. Before any master under the zodiac.
230
	Harp. For clothes no matter; I've a mind to both.
232	And one thing I like in you; now that you see
	The bonfire of your lady's state burnt out,
234	You give it over, do you not?
236	Hir. Let her be hanged!
238	Spun. And poxed!
240	Harp. Why, now you're mine;
	Come, let my bosom touch you.
242
	Spun. We have bugs, sir.
244
	Harp. There's money, fetch your clothes home; there's for you.
246
	Hir. Avoid, vermin! give over our mistress − a man
248	cannot prosper worse, if he serve the devil.
250	Harp. How! the devil? I'll tell you what now of the devil,
	He's no such horrid creature: cloven-footed,
252	Black, saucer-eyed, his nostrils breathing fire, as
	These lying Christians make him.
254
	Both. No!
256
	Harp. He's more loving
258	To man, than man to man is.
260	Hir. Is he so? Would we two might come acquainted
	with him!
262
	Harp. You shall: he's a wondrous good fellow, loves
264	a cup of wine, a whore, anything. You have money; it's
	ten to one but I'll bring him to some tavern to you or
266	other.
268	Spun. I'll bespeak the best room in the house for him.
270	Harp. Some people he cannot endure.
272	Hir. We'll give him no such cause.
274	Harp. He hates a civil lawyer, as a soldier does peace.
276	Spun. How a commoner?
278	Harp. Loves him from the teeth outward.
280	Spun. Pray, my lord and prince, let me encounter you
	with one foolish question: does the devil eat any mace
282	in his broth?
284	Harp. Exceeding much, when his burning fever takes
	him; and then he has the knuckles of a bailiff boiled to
286	his breakfast.
288	Hir. Then, my lord, he loves a catchpole, does he not?
290	Harp. As a bearward doth a dog. A catchpole! he hath
	sworn, if ever he dies, to make a serjeant his heir, and a
292	yeoman his overseer.
294	Spun. How if he come to any great man's gate, will the
	porter let him come in, sir?
296
	Harp. Oh! he loves porters of great men's gates,
298	because they are ever so near the wicket.
300	Hir. Do not they whom he makes much on, for all his
	stroking their cheeks, lead hellish lives under him?
302
	Harp. No, no, no, no; he will be damned before he
304	hurts any man: do but you (when you are thoroughly
	acquainted with him) ask for anything, see if it does not
306	come.
308	Spun. Anything!
310	Harp. Call for a delicate rare whore, she is brought you.
312	Hir. Oh! my elbow itches. Will the devil keep the door?
314	Harp. Be drunk as a beggar, he helps you home.
316	Spun. O my fine devil! some watchman, I warrant; I
	wonder who is his constable.
318
	Harp. Will you swear, roar, swagger? he claps you −
320
	Hir. How? on the chops?
322
	Harp. No, on the shoulder; and cries, “O, my brave
324	boys!” Will any of you kill a man?
326	Spun. Yes, yes; I, I.
328	Harp. What is his word? “Hang! hang! 'tis nothing.” –
	Or stab a woman?
330
	Hir. Yes, yes; I, I.
332
	Harp. Here is the worst word he gives you: “A pox
334	on't, go on!”
336	Hir. O inveigling rascal! − I am ravished.
338	Harp. Go, get your clothes; turn up your glass of youth,
	And let the sands run merrily: nor do I care
340	From what a lavish hand your money flies,
	So you give none away to beggars −
342
	Hir. Hang them!
344
	Harp. And to the scrubbing poor.
346
	Hir. I'll see them hanged first.
348
	Harp. One service you must do me.
350
	Both. Anything;
352
	Harp. Your mistress, Dorothea, ere she suffers,
354	Is to be put to tortures: have you hearts
	To tear her into shrieks, to fetch her soul
356	Up in the pangs of death, yet not to die?
358	Hir. Suppose this she, and that I had no hands, here's
	my teeth.
360
	Spun. Suppose this she, and that I had no teeth, here's
362	my nails.
364	Hir. But will not you be there, sir?
366	Harp. No, not for hills of diamonds; the grand master,
	Who schools her in the Christian discipline,
368	Abhors my company: should I be there,
	You’d think all hell broke loose, we should so quarrel.
370	Ply you this business; he, her flesh who spares,
	Is lost, and in my love never more shares.
372
	[Exit Harpax.]
374
	Spun. Here's a master, you rogue!
376
	Hir. Sure he cannot choose but have a horrible number
378	of servants.
380	[Exeunt.]
	ACT IV.
	SCENE I.
	The Governor's Palace.
	Antoninus on a bed asleep, with Doctors
	about him; Sapritius and Macrinus.
1	Sap. O you, that are half gods, lengthen that life
2	Their deities lend us; turn o'er all the volumes
	Of your mysterious Æsculapian science,
4	T' increase the number of this young man's days:
	And, for each minute of his time prolonged,
6	Your fee shall be a piece of Roman gold
	With Caesar's stamp, such as he sends his captains
8	When in the wars they earn well: do but save him,
	And, as he's half myself, be you all mine.
10
	Doct. What art can do, we promise; physic's hand
12	As apt is to destroy as to preserve,
	If Heaven make not the med’cine: all this while,
14	Our skill hath combat held with his disease;
	But 'tis so armed, and a deep melancholy,
16	To be such in part with death, we are in fear
	The grave must mock our labours.
18
	Mac. I have been
20	His keeper in this sickness, with such eyes
	As I have seen my mother watch o'er me;
22	And, from that observation, sure I find
	It is a midwife must deliver him.
24
	Sap. Is he with child? a midwife!
26
	Mac. Yes, with child;
28	And will, I fear, lose life, if by a woman
	He is not brought to bed. Stand by his pillow
30	Some little while, and, in his broken slumbers,
	Him shall you hear cry out on Dorothea;
32	And, when his arms fly open to catch her,
	Closing together, he falls fast asleep,
34	Pleased with embracings of her airy form.
	Physicians but torment him, his disease
36	Laughs at their gibberish language; let him hear
	The voice of Dorothea, nay, but the name,
38	He starts up with high colour in his face:
	She, or none, cures him; and how that can be,
40	The princess' strict command, barring that happiness,
	To me impossible seems.
42
	Sap. To me it shall not;
44	I'll be no subject to the greatest Caesar
	Was ever crowned with laurel, rather than cease
46	To be a father.
48	[Exit Sapritius.]
50	Mac. Silence, sir, he wakes.
52	Anton. Thou kill'st me, Dorothea; oh, Dorothea!
54	Mac. She's here: − enjoy her.
56	Anton. Where? Why do you mock me?
	Age on my head hath stuck no white hairs yet,
58	Yet I’m an old man, a fond doting fool
	Upon a woman. I, to buy her beauty,
60	(In truth I am bewitched!) offer my life,
	And she, for my acquaintance, hazards hers:
62	Yet, for our equal sufferings, none holds out
	A hand of pity.
64
	Doct. Let him have some music.
66
	Anton. Hell on your fiddling!
68
	[Starts from his bed.]
70
	Doct. Take again your bed, sir;
72	Sleep is a sovereign physic.
74	Anton. Take an ass's head, sir:
	Confusion on your fooleries, your charms! −
76	Thou stinking glister-pipe, where's the god of rest,
	Thy pills and base apothecary drugs
78	Threatened to bring unto me? Out, you impostors!
	Quacksalving, cheating mountebanks! your skill
80	Is to make sound men sick, and sick men kill.
82	Mac. Oh, be yourself, dear friend.
84	Anton. Myself, Macrinus!
	How can I be myself, when I am mangled
86	Into a thousand pieces? here moves my head,
	But where's my heart? wherever − that lies dead.
88
	Re-enter Sapritius, dragging in Dorothea
90	by the hair, Angelo following.
92	Sap. Follow me, thou damned sorceress! Call up thy spirits,
	And, if they can, now let them from my hand
94	Untwine these witching hairs.
96	Anton. I am that spirit:
	Or, if I be not, were you not my father,
98	One made of iron should hew that hand in pieces,
	That so defaces this sweet monument
100	Of my love's beauty.
102	Sap. Art thou sick?
104	Anton. To death.
106	Sap. Wouldst thou recover?
108	Anton. Would I live in bliss!
110	Sap. And do thine eyes shoot daggers at that man
	That brings thee health?
112
	Anton. It is not in the world.
114
	Sap. It's here.
116
	Anton. To treasure, by enchantment locked
118	In caves as deep as hell, am I as near.
120	Sap. Break that enchanted cave: entér, and rifle
	The spoils thy lust hunts after; I descend
122	To a base office, and become thy pander,
	In bringing thee this proud thing: make her thy whore,
124	Thy health lies here; if she deny to give it,
	Force it: imagine thou assault'st a town's
126	Weak wall: to't, 'tis thine own, but beat this down. −
	Come, and, unseen, be witness to this battery,
128	How the coy strumpet yields.
130	Doct. Shall the boy stay, sir?
132	Sap. No matter for the boy: pages are used
	To these odd bawdy shufflings; and, indeed, are
134	Those little young snakes in a Fury's head,
	Will sting worse than the great ones. Let the pimp stay.
136
	[Exeunt Sapritius, Macrinus, and Doctors.]
138
	Dor. O, guard me, angels!
140	What tragedy must begin now?
142	Anton. When a tiger
	Leaps into a timorous herd, with ravenous jaws,
144	Being hunger-starved, what tragedy then begins?
146	Dor. Death: I am happy so; you, hitherto,
	Have still had goodness sphered within your eyes,
148	Let not that orb be broken.
150	Ang. Fear not, mistress;
	If he dare offer violence, we two
152	Are strong enough for such a sickly man.
154	Dor. What is your horrid purpose, sir? your eye
	Bears danger in it.
156
	Anton. I must −
158
	Dor. What?
160
	Sap. [Within.] Speak it out.
162
	Anton. Climb that sweet virgin tree.
164
	Sap. [Within.] Plague o' your trees!
166
	Anton. And pluck that fruit which none, I think, e'er tasted.
168
	Sap. [Within.]
170	A soldier, and stand fumbling so!
172	Dor. [Kneels.] Oh, kill me,
	And Heaven will take it as a sacrifice;
174	But, if you play the ravisher, there is
	A hell to swallow you.
176
	Sap. [Within.] Let her swallow thee!
178
	Anton. Rise: − for the Roman empire, Dorothea,
180	I would not wound thine honour. Pleasures forced
	Are unripe apples; sour, not worth the plucking:
182	Yet, let me tell you, 'tis my father's will,
	That I should seize upon you, as my prey;
184	Which I abhor, as much as the blackest sin
	The villainy of man did ever act.
186
	[Sapritius breaks in with Macrinus.]
188
	Dor. Die happy for this language!
190
	Sap. Die a slave,
192	A blockish idiot!
194	Mac. Dear sir, vex him not.
196	Sap. Yes, and vex thee too; both, I think, are geldings:
	Cold, phlegmatic bastard, thou'rt no brat of mine;
198	One spark of me, when I had heat like thine,
	By this had made a bonfire: a tempting whore,
200	For whom thou'rt mad, thrust e'en into thine arms,
	And stand'st thou puling! Had a tailor seen her
202	At this advantage, he, with his cross capers,
	Had ruffled her by this. But thou shalt curse
204	Thy dalliance, and here, before her eyes,
	Tear thy own flesh in pieces, when a slave
206	In hot lust bathes himself, and gluts those pleasures
	Thy niceness durst not touch. − Call out a slave;
208	You, captain of our guard, fetch a slave hither.
210	Anton. What will you do, dear sir?
212	Sap. Teach her a trade,
	Which many would learn in less than half an hour, −
214	To play the whore.
216	Enter a Slave.
218	Mac. A slave is come; what now?
220	Sap. Thou hast bones and flesh
	Enough to ply thy labour; from what country
222	Wert thou ta'en prisoner, here to be our slave?
224	Slave. From Britain.
226	Sap. In the west ocean?
228	Slave. Yes.
230	Sap. An island?
232	Slave. Yes.
234	Sap. I'm fitted: of all nations
	Our Roman swords e'er conquered, none comes near
236	The Briton for true whoring. Sirrah, fellow,
	What wouldst thou do to gain thy liberty?
238
	Slave. Do! liberty! fight naked with a lion,
240	Venture to pluck a standard from the heart
	Of an armed legion. Liberty! I’d thus
242	Bestride a rampire, and defiance spit
	I’ the face of death, then, when the battering ram
244	Was fetching his career backward, to pash
	Me with his horns in pieces. To shake my chains off,
246	And that I could not do't but by thy death,
	Stood'st thou on this dry shore, I on a rock
248	Ten pyramids high, down would I leap to kill thee,
	Or die myself: what is for man to do,
250	I'll venture on, to be no more a slave.
252	Sap. Thou shalt, then, be no slave, for I will set thee
	Upon a piece of work is fit for man,
254	Brave for a Briton: − drag that thing aside,
	And ravish her.
256
	Slave. And ravish her! is this your manly service?
258	A devil scorns to do't; 'tis for a beast,
	A villain, not a man: I am, as yet,
260	But half a slave; but, when that work is past,
	A damnèd whole one, a black ugly slave,
262	The slave of all base slaves: − do't thyself, Roman,
	'Tis drudgery fit for thee.
264
	Sap. He's bewitched too:
266	Bind him, and with a bastinado give him,
	Upon his naked belly, two hundred blows.
268
	Slave. Thou art more slave than I.
270
	[He is carried off.]
272
	Dor. That Power supernal, on whom waits my soul,
274	Is captain o’er my chastity.
276	Anton. Good sir, give o'er:
	The more you wrong her, yourself’s vexed the more.
278
	Sap. Plagues light on her and thee! − thus down I throw
280	Thy harlot, thus by th' hair nail her to earth.
	Call in ten slaves, let every one discover
282	What lust desires, and surfeit here his fill.
	Call in ten slaves.
284
	Enter Slaves.
286
	Mac. They are come, sir, at your call.
288
	Sap. Oh, oh!
290
	[Falls down.]
292
	Enter Theophilus.
294
	Theo. Where is the governor?
296
	Anton. There's my wretched father.
298
	Theo. My lord Sapritius − he's not dead! − my lord!
300	That witch there −
302	Anton. 'Tis no Roman gods can strike
	These fearful terrors. O, thou happy maid,
304	Forgive this wicked purpose of my father.
306	Dor. I do.
308	Theo. Gone, gone; he's peppered. It is thou
	Hast done this act infernal.
310
	Dor. Heaven pardon you!
312	And if my wrongs from thence pull vengeance down,
	(I can no miracles work), yet, from my soul,
314	Pray to those Powers I serve, he may recover.
316	Theo. He stirs – help, raise him up, − my lord!
318	Sap. Where am I?
320	Theo. One cheek is blasted.
322	Sap. Blasted! where's the lamia
	That tears my entrails? I'm bewitched; seize on her.
324
	Dor. I'm here; do what you please.
326
	Theo. Spurn her to th' bar.
328
	Dor. Come, boy, being there, more near to Heaven we are.
330
	Sap. Kick harder; go out, witch!
332
	[Exeunt all but Antoninus.]
334
	Anton. O bloody hangmen! Thine own gods give thee breath!
336	Each of thy tortures is my several death.
338	[Exit.]
	ACT IV, SCENE II.
	A Public Square.
	Enter Harpax, Hircius, and Spungius.
1	Harp. Do you like my service now? say, am not I
2	A master worth attendance?
4	Spun. Attendance! I had rather lick clean the soles
	of your dirty boots, than wear the richest suit of any
6	infected lord, whose rotten life hangs between the two
	poles.
8
	Hir. A lord's suit! I would not give up the cloak of
10	your service, to meet the splayfoot estate of any
	left-eyed knight above the antipodes; because they are
12	unlucky to meet.
14	Harp. This day I'll try your loves to me; 'tis only
	But well to use the agility of your arms.
16
	Spun. Or legs, I'm lusty at them.
18
	Hir. Or any other member that has no legs.
20
	Spun. Thou'lt run into some hole.
22
	Hir. If I meet one that's more than my match, and that
24	I cannot stand in their hands, I must and will creep on
	my knees.
26
	Harp. Hear me, my little team of villains, hear me;
28	I cannot teach you fencing with these cudgels,
	Yet you must use them; lay them on but soundly;
30	That's all.
32	Hir. Nay, if we come to mauling once, puh!
34	Spun. But what walnut-tree is it we must beat?
36	Harp. Your mistress.
38	Hir. How! my mistress? I begin to have a Christian
	heart made of sweet butter, I melt; I cannot strike a
40	woman.
42	Spun. Nor I, unless she scratch; − bum my mistress!
44	Harp. You're coxcombs, silly animals.
46	Hir. What's that?
48	Harp. Drones, asses, blinded moles, that dare not thrust
	Your arms out to catch fortune; say, you fall off,
50	It must be done. You are converted rascals,
	And, that once spread abroad, why, every slave
52	Will kick you, call you motley Christiäns,
	Arid half-faced Christians.
54
	Spun. The guts of my conscience begin to be of
56	whitleather.
58	Hir. I doubt me, I shall have no sweet butter in me.
60	Harp. Deny this, and each pagan whom you meet
	Shall forkèd fingers thrust into your eyes −
62
	Hir. If we be cuckolds.
64
	Harp. Do this, and every god the Gentiles bow to
66	Shall add a fadome to your line of years.
68	Spun. A hundred fadome, I desire no more.
70	Hir. I desire but one inch longer.
72	Harp. The senators will, as you pass along,
	Clap you upon your shoulders with this hand,
74	And with this give you gold: when you are dead,
	Happy that man shall be can get a nail,
76	The paring, − nay, the dirt under the nail,
	Of any of you both, to say, this dirt
78	Belonged to Spungius or Hircius.
80	Spun. They shall not want dirt under my nails, I will
	keep them long of purpose, for now my fingers itch to
82	be at her.
84	Hir. The first thing I do, I'll take her over the lips.
86	Spun. And I the hips, − we may strike anywhere?
88	Harp. Yes, anywhere.
90	Hir. Then I know where I'll hit her.
92	Harp. Prosper, and be mine own; stand by, I must not
	To see this done; great business calls me hence:
94	He's made can make her curse his violence.
96	[Exit Harpax.]
98	Spun. Fear it not, sir; her ribs shall be basted.
100	Hir. I'll come upon her with rounce, robble-hobble,
	and thwick-thwack-thirlery bouncing.
102
	Enter Dorothea, led prisoner, a Guard attending;
104	Sapritius, Theophilus, Angelo, and a Hangman,
	who sets up a pillar in the middle of the stage;
106	Sapritius and Theophilus sit; Angelo stands by Dorothea.
108	Sap. According to our Roman customs, bind
	That Christian to a pillar.
110
	Theo. Infernal Furies,
112	Could they into my hand thrust all their whips
	To tear thy flesh, thy soul, 'tis not a torture
114	Fit to the vengeance I should heap on thee,
	For wrongs done me − me! for flagitious facts,
116	By thee done to our gods; yet, so it stand,
	To great Caesarea's governor's high pleasure,
118	Bow but thy knee to Jupiter, and offer
	Any slight sacrifice; or do but swear
120	By Caesar's fortune, and be free.
122	Sap. Thou shalt.
124	Dor. Not for all Caesar's fortune, were it chained
	To more worlds than are kingdoms in the world,
126	And all those worlds drawn after him. I defy
	Your hangmen; you now show me whither to fly.
128
	Sap. Are her tormentors ready?
130
	Ang. Shrink not, dear mistress.
132
	Spun. and Hir. My lord, we are ready for the business.
134
	Dor. You two! whom I like fostered children fed,
136	And lengthened out your starvèd life with bread;
	You be my hangmen! whom, when up the ladder
138	Death haled you to be strangled, I fetched down,
	Clothed you, and warmed you, you two my tormentors!
140
	Both. Yes, we.
142
	Dor. Divine Powers pardon you!
144
	Sap. Strike.
146
	[They strike at her. Angelo kneeling holds her fast.]
148
	Theo. Beat out her brains.
150
	Dor. Receive me, you bright angels!
152
	Sap. Faster, slaves.
154
	Spun. Faster! I am out of breath, I am sure; if I were
156	to beat a buck, I can strike no harder.
158	Hir. O mine arms! I cannot lift 'em to my head.
160	Dor. Joy above joys! are my tormentors weary
	In torturing me, and, in my sufferings,
162	I fainting in no limb! tyrants, strike home,
	And feast your fury full.
164
	Theo. These dogs are curs,
166
	[Comes from his seat.]
168
	Which snarl, yet bite not. See, my lord, her face
170	Has more bewitching beauty than before:
	Proud whore, it smiles! cannot an eye start out,
172	With these?
174	Hir. No, sir, nor the bridge of her nose fall; 'tis full
	of iron-work.
176
	Sap. Let's view the cudgels, are they not counterfeit?
178
	Ang. There fix thine eye still; − thy glorious crown must come
180	Not from soft pleasure, but by martyrdom.
	There fix thine eye still; − when we next do meet,
182	Not thorns, but roses, shall bear up thy feet:
	There fix thine eye still.
184
	[Exit Angelo.]
186
	Dor. Ever, ever, ever!
188
	Enter Harpax, sneaking.
190
	Theo. We're mocked; these bats have power to fell down giants
192	Yet her skin is not scarred.
194	Sap. What rogues are these?
196	Theo. Cannot these force a shriek?
198	[Beats Spungius.]
200	Spun. Oh! a woman has one of my ribs, and now five
	more are broken.
202
	Theo. Cannot this make her roar?
204
	[Beats Hircius; he roars.]
206
	Sap. Who hired these slaves? what are they?
208
	Spun. We serve that noble gentleman, there; he enticed
210	us to this dry beating: oh! for one half pot!
212	Harp. My servants! two base rogues, and sometime servants
	To her, and for that cause forbear to hurt her.
214
	Sap. Unbind her; hang up these.
216
	Theo. Hang the two hounds on the next tree.
218
	Hir. Hang us! master Harpax, what a devil, shall we be
220	thus used?
222	Harp. What bandogs but you two would worry a woman?
	Your mistress? I but clapped you, you flew on.
224	Say I should get your lives, each rascal beggar
	Would, when he met you, cry out, “Hell-hounds! traitors!”
226	Spit at you, fling dirt at you; and no woman
	Ever endure your sight: 'tis your best course
228	Now, had you secret knives, to stab yourselves; −
	But, since you have not, go and be hanged.
230
	Hir. I thank you.
232
	Harp. 'Tis your best course.
234
	Theo. Why stay they trifling here?
236	To the gallows drag them by the heels; − away!
238	Spun. By the heels! no, sir, we have legs to do us that
	service.
240
	Hir. Ay, ay, if no woman can endure my sight, away
242	with me.
244	Harp. Dispatch them.
246	Spun. The devil dispatch thee!
248	[Exeunt Guard with Spungius and Hircius.]
250	Sap. Death this day rides in triumph, Theophilus.
	See this witch made away too.
252
	Theo. My soul thirsts for it.
254	Come, I myself the hangman's part could play.
256	Dor. O haste me to my coronation day!
258	[Exeunt]
	ACT IV, SCENE III.
	The Place of Execution.
	A scaffold, block, &c.
	Enter Antoninus, supported by Macrinus,
	and Servants.
1	Anton. Is this the place where virtue is to suffer,
2	And heavenly beauty, leaving this base earth,
	To make a glad return from whence it came?
4	Is it, Macrinus?
6	Mac. By this preparation,
	You well may rest assured that Dorothea
8	This hour is to die here.
10	Anton. Then with her dies
	The abstract of all sweetness that's in woman!
12	Set me down, friend, that, ere the iron hand
	Of death close up mine eyes, they may at once
14	Take my last leave both of this light and her:
	For, she being gone, the glorious sun himself
16	To me's Cimmerian darkness.
18	Mac. Strange affection!
	Cupid once more hath changed his shafts with Death,
20	And kills, instead of giving life.
22	Anton. Nay, weep not;
	Though tears of friendship be a sovereign balm,
24	On me they're cast away. It is decreed
	That I must die with her; our clew of life
26	Was spun together.
28	Mac. Yet, sir, 'tis my wonder,
	That you, who, hearing only what she suffers,
30	Partake of all her tortures, yet will be,
	To add to our calamity, an eyewitness
32	Of her last tragic scene, which must pierce deeper,
	And make the wound more desperate.
34
	Anton. Oh, Macrinus!
36	'Twould linger out my torments else, not kill me,
	Which is the end I aim at: being to die too,
38	What instrument more glorious can I wish for,
	Than what is made sharp by my constant love
40	And true affection? It may be, the duty
	And loyal service with which I pursued her,
42	And sealed it with my death, will be remembered
	Among her blessèd actions: and what honour
44	Can I desire beyond it?
46	Enter a Guard, bringing in Dorothea,
	a Headsman before her;
48	followed by Theophilus, Sapritius, and Harpax.
50	See, she comes;
	How sweet her innocence appears! more like
52	To Heaven itself than any sacrifice
	That can be offered to it. By my hopes
54	Of joys hereafter, the sight makes me doubtful
	In my belief; nor can I think our gods
56	Are good, or to be served, that take delight
	In offerings of this kind: that, to maintain
58	Their power, deface the master-piece of nature,
	Which they themselves come short of. She ascends,
60	And every step raises her nearer Heaven. −
	What god soe'er thou art, that must enjoy her,
62	Receive in her a boundless happiness!
64	Sap. You are to blame to let him come abroad.
66	Mac. It was his will;
	And we were left to serve him, not command him.
68
	Anton. Good sir, be not offended; nor deny
70	My last of pleasures in this happy object,
	That I shall e'er be blest with.
72
	Theo. Now, proud contemner
74	Of us, and of our gods, tremble to think
	It is not in the Power thou serv'st to save thee.
76	Not all the riches of the sea, increased
	By violent shipwrecks, nor the unsearched mines
78	(Mammon's unknown exchequer), shall redeem thee;
	And, therefore, having first with horror weighed
80	What 'tis to die, and to die young; to part with
	All pleasures and delights; lastly, to go
82	Where all antipathies to comfort dwell,
	Furies behind, about thee, and before thee;
84	And, to add to affliction, the remembrance
	Of the Elysian joys thou might'st have tasted,
86	Hadst thou not turned apostata to those gods
	That so reward their servants; let despair
88	Prevent the hangman's sword, and on this scaffold
	Make thy first entrance into hell.
90
	Anton. She smiles,
92	Unmoved, by Mars! as if she were assured
	Death, looking on her constancy, would forget
94	The use of his inevitable hand.
96	Theo. Derided too! dispatch, I say.
98	Dor. Thou fool!
	That gloriest in having power to ravish
100	A trifle from me I am weary of.
	What is this life to me? not worth a thought;
102	Or, if it be esteemed, 'tis that I lose it
	To win a better: even thy malice serves
104	To me but as a ladder to mount up
	To such a height of happiness, where I shall
106	Look down with scorn on thee, and on the world;
	Where, circled with true pleasures, placed above
108	The reach of death or time, 'twill be my glory
	To think at what an easy price I bought it.
110	There's a perpetual spring, perpetual youth:
	No joint-benumbing cold, nor scorching heat,
112	Famine, nor age, have any being there.
	Forget, for shame, your Tempe; bury in
114	Oblivion your feigned Hesperian orchards: −
	The golden fruit, kept by the watchful dragon,
116	Which did require Hercules to get it,
	Compared with what grows in all plenty there,
118	Deserves not to be named. The Power I serve
	Laughs at your happy Araby, or the
120	Elysian shades; for He hath made His bowers
	Better in deed, than you can fancy yours.
122
	Anton. O, take me thither with you!
124
	Dor. Trace my steps,
126	And be assured you shall.
128	Sap. With my own hands
	I'll rather stop that little breath is left thee,
130	And rob thy killing fever.
132	Theo. By no means:
	Let him go with her: do, seduced young man,
134	And wait upon thy saint in death; do, do:
	And, when you come to that imagined place,
136	That place of all delights − pray you, observe me, −
	And meet those cursèd things I once called daughters,
138	Whom I have sent as harbingers before you:
	If there be any truth in your religion,
140	In thankfulness to me, that with care hasten
	Your journey thither, pray you send me some
142	Small pittance of that curious fruit you boast of.
144	Anton. Grant that I may go with her, and I will.
146	Sap. Wilt thou in thy last minute damn thyself?
148	Theo. The gates to hell are open.
150	Dor. Know, thou tyrant,
	Thou agent for the devil, thy great master,
152	Though thou art most unworthy to taste of it,
	I can, and will.
154
	Enter Angelo, in the Angel's habit.
156
	Harp. Oh! mountains fall upon me,
158	Or hide me in the bottom of the deep,
	Where light may never find me!
160
	Theo. What's the matter?
162
	Sap. This is prodigious, and confirms her witchcraft.
164
	Theo. Harpax, my Harpax, speak!
166
	Harp. I dare not stay:
168	Should I but hear her once more, I were lost.
	Some whirlwind snatch me from this cursèd place,
170	To which compared (and with what now I suffer,)
	Hell's torments are sweet slumbers!
172
	[Exit Harpax.]
174
	Sap. Follow him.
176
	Theo. He is distracted, and I must not lose him. −
178	Thy charms upon my servant, cursèd witch,
	Give thee a short reprieve. Let her not die
180	Till my return.
182	[Exeunt Sapritius and Theophilus.]
184	Anton. She minds him not: what object
	Is her eye fixed on?
186
	Mac. I see nothing.
188
	Anton. Mark her.
190
	Dor. Thou glorious minister of the Power I serve!
192	(For thou art more than mortal,) is't for me,
	Poor sinner, thou art pleased awhile to leave
194	Thy heavenly habitation, and vouchsafest,
	Though glorified, to take my servant's habit? −
196	For, put off thy divinity, so looked
	My lovely Angelo.
198
	Ang. Know, I am the same;
200	And still the servant to your piety.
	Your zealous prayers and pious deeds first won me
202	(But 'twas by His command to whom you sent them)
	To guide your steps. I tried your charity,
204	When in a beggar's shape you took me up,
	And clothed my naked limbs, and after fed,
206	As you believed, my famished mouth. Learn all,
	By your example, to look on the poor
208	With gentle eyes! for in such habits, often,
	Angels desire an alms. I never left you,
210	Nor will I now; for I am sent to carry
	Your pure and innocent soul to joys eternal,
212	Your martyrdom once suffered: and before it,
	Ask any thing from me, and rest assured,
214	You shall obtain it.
216	Dor. I am largely paid
	For all my torments. Since I find such grace,
218	Grant that the love of this young man to me,
	In which he languisheth to death, may be
220	Changed to the love of Heaven.
222	Ang. I will perform it:
	And in that instant when the sword sets free
224	Your happy soul, his shall have liberty.
	Is there aught else?
226
	Dor. For proof that I forgive
228	My persecutor, who in scorn desired
	To taste of that most sacred fruit I go to,
230	After my death, as sent from me, be pleased
	To give him of it.
232
	Ang. Willingly, dear mistress.
234
	Mac. I am amazed.
236
	Anton. I feel a holy fire,
238	That yields a comfortable heat within me;
	I am quite altered from the thing I was.
240	See! I can stand, and go alone; thus kneel
	To heavenly Dorothea, touch her hand
242	With a religious kiss.
244	[Kneels.]
246	Re-enter Sapritius and Theophilus.
248	Sap. He is well now,
	But will not be drawn back.
250
	Theo. It matters not,
252	We can discharge this work without his help.
	But see your son.
254
	Sap. Villain!
256
	Anton. Sir, I beseech you,
258	Being so near our ends, divorce us not.
260	Theo. I'll quickly make a separation of them:
	Hast thou aught else to say?
262
	Dor. Nothing, but to blame
264	Thy tardiness in sending me to rest;
	My peace is made with Heaven, to which my soul
266	Begins to take her flight: strike, O! strike quickly;
	And, though you are unmoved to see my death,
268	Hereafter, when my story shall be read,
	As they were present now, the hearers shall
270	Say this of Dorothea, with wet eyes,
	“She lived a virgin, and a virgin dies.”
272
	[Her head is struck off.]
274
	Anton. O, take my soul along, to wait on thine!
276
	Mac. Your son sinks too.
278
	[Antoninus falls.]
280
	Sap. Already dead!
282
	Theo. Die all
284	That are, or favour this accursèd sect:
	I triumph in their ends, and will raise up
286	A hill of their dead carcasses, to o'erlook
	The Pyrenean hills, but I’ll root out
288	These superstitious fools, and leave the world
	No name of Christian.
290
	[Loud music: Exit Angelo, having first laid
292	his hand upon the mouths of Antoninus and
	Dorothea.]
294
	Sap. Ha! heavenly music!
296
	Mac. ‘Tis in the air.
298
	Theo. Illusions of the devil,
300	Wrought by some witch of her religion,
	That fain would make her death a miracle:
302	It frights not me. Because he is your son,
	Let him have burial; but let her body
304	Be cast forth with contempt in some highway,
	And be to vultures and to dogs a prey.
306
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT V.
	SCENE I.
	The study of Theophilus.
	Entere Theophilus in his Study: books about him.
1	Theo. Is’t holiday, O Caesar, that thy servant,
2	(Thy provost, to see execution done
	On these base Christians in Caesarea,)
4	Should now want work? Sleep these idolaters,
	That none are stirring? − As a curious painter,
6	When he has made some admirable piece,
	Stands off, and with a searching eye examines
8	Each colour, how 'tis sweetened; and then hugs
	Himself for his rare workmanship − so here,
10	Will I my drolleries, and bloody landscapes,
	Long past wrapped up, unfold, to make me merry
12	With shadows, now I want the substances,
	My muster-book of hell-hounds. Were the Christians,
14	Whose names stand here, alive and armed, not Rome
	Could move upon her hinges. What I've done,
16	Or shall hereafter, is not out of hate
	To poor tormented wretches; no, I'm carried
18	With violence of zeal, and streams of service
	I owe our Roman gods.
20	[Reads.] Great Britain, − what?
22	A thousand wives, with, brats sucking their breasts,
	Had hot irons pinch them off, and thrown to swine;
24	And then their fleshy back-parts, hewed with hatchets,
	Were minced, and baked in pies to feed the starvèd Christians.
26
	Ha! − ha!
28	Again, again, − East Anglas, − oh! East Angles:
30	Bandogs, kept three days hungry, worried
	A thousand British rascals, stied up fat
32	Of purpose, strippèd naked, and disarmed.
34	I could outstare a year of suns and moons,
	To sit at these sweet bull-baitings, so I
36	Could thereby but one Christian win to fall
	In adoration to my Jupiter.
38
	− Twelve hundred
40	Eyes bored with augers out − Oh! eleven thousand
	Torn by wild beasts: two hundred rammèd in the earth
42	To the armpits, and full platters round about them,
	But far enough for reaching:
44
	Eat, dogs, ha! ha! ha!
46
	[He rises.]
48
	Tush, all these tortures are but fillipings,
50	Fleabitings; I, before the Destinies
	My bottom did wind up, would flesh myself
52	Once more upon someone remarkable
	Above all these. This Christian slut was well,
54
	Consort.
56	Enter Angelo with a basket
	filled with fruit and flowers.
58
	A pretty one; but let such horror follow
60	The next I feed with torments, that when Rome
	Shall hear it, her foundation at the sound
62	May feel an earthquake. − How now?
64	[Music.]
66	Ang. Are you amazed, sir?
	So great a Roman spirit − and doth it tremble!
68
	Theo. How cam'st thou in? to whom thy business?
70
	Ang. To you;
72	I had a mistress, late sent hence by you
	Upon a bloody errand; you entreated,
74	That, when she came into that blessèd garden
	Whither she knew she went, and where, now happy,
76	She feeds upon all joy, she would send to you
	Some of that garden fruit and flowers; which here,
78	To have her promise saved, are brought by me.
80	Theo. Cannot I see this garden?
82	Ang. Yes, if the Master
	Will give you entrance.
84
	[He vanishes.]
86
	Theo. ‘Tis a tempting fruit,
88	And the most bright-cheeked child I ever viewed;
	Sweet smelling, goodly fruit. What flowers are these?
90	In Dioclesian's gardens; the most beauteous,
	Compared with these, are weeds: is it not February,
92	The second day she died? frost, ice, and snow
	Hang on the beard of winter: where's the sun
94	That gilds this summer? pretty, sweet boy, say,
	In what country shall a man find this garden? −
96	My delicate boy, − gone! vanished! within there,
	Julianus and Geta! −
98
	Enter Julianus and Geta.
100
	Both. My lord.
102
	Theo. Are my gates shut?
104
	Geta. And guarded.
106
	Theo. Saw you not
108	A boy?
110	Jul. Where?
112	Theo. Here he entered; a young lad;
	A thousand blessings danced upon his eyes;
114	A smoothfaced, glorious thing, that brought this basket.
116	Geta. No, sir!
118	Theo. Away − but be in reach, if my voice calls you.
120	[Exeunt Julianus and Geta.]
122	No! − vanished, and not seen! − be thou a spirit,
	Sent from that witch to mock me, I am sure
124	This is essential, and, howe'er it grows,
	Will taste it.
126
	[Eats of the fruit.]
128
	Harp. [within.] Ha, ha, ha, ha!
130
	Theo. So good! I'll have some more, sure.
132
	Harp. Ha, ha, ha, ha! great liquorish fool!
134
	Theo. What art thou?
136
	Harp. A fisherman.
138
	Theo. What dost thou catch?
140
	Harp. Souls, souls; a fish called souls.
142
	Theo. Geta!
144
	Enter Geta.
146
	Geta. My lord.
148
	Harp. [Within.] Ha, ha, ha, ha!
150
	Theo. What insolent slave is this, dares laugh at me?
152	Or what is’t the dog grins at so?
154	Geta. I neither know, my lord, at what, nor whom; for
	there is none without but my fellow Julianus, and he is
156	making a garland for Jupiter.
158	Theo. Jupiter! all within me is not well;
	And yet not sick.
160
	Harp. [Laughing louder, within.] Ha, ha, ha, ha!
162
	Theo. What's thy name, slave?
164
	Harp. [At one end.] Go look.
166
	Geta. Tis Harpax' voice.
168
	Theo. Harpax! go, drag the caitiff to my foot,
170	That I may stamp upon him.
172	Harp. [At the other end.] Fool, thou liest!
174	Geta. He's yonder, now, my lord.
176	Theo. Watch thou that end,
	Whilst I make good this.
178
	Harp. [In the middle.] Ha, ha, ha, ha ha!
180
	Theo. He is at barley-break, and the last couple
182	Are now in hell.
	Search for him.
184
	[Exit Geta.]
186
	All this ground, methink, is bloody,
188	And paved with thousands of those Christians' eyes
	Whom I have tortured; and they stare upon me.
190	What was this apparition? sure it had
	A shape angelical. Mine eyes, though dazzled
192	And daunted at first sight, tell me it wore
	A pair of glorious wings; yes, they were wings;
194	And hence he flew: − 'tis vanished! Jupiter,
	For all my sacrifices done to him,
196	Never once gave me smile. − How can stone smile,
	Or wooden image laugh?
198
	[Music.]
200
	Ha! I remember
202	Such music gave a welcome to my ear,
	When the fair youth came to me: − 'tis in the air,
204	Or from some better place; a Power divine,
	Though my dark ignorance on my soul does shine,
206	And makes me see a conscience all stained o'er,
	Nay, drowned and damned forever in Christian gore.
208
	Harp. [Within.] Ha, ha, ha!
210
	Theo. Again! − What dainty relish on my tongue
212	This fruit hath left! some angel hath me fed;
	If so toothful, I will be banqueted.
214
	[Eats again.]
216
	Enter Harpax in a fearful shape,
218	fire flashing out of the Study.
220	Harp. Hold!
222	Theo. Not for Caesar.
224	Harp. But for me thou shalt.
226	Theo. Thou art no twin to him that last was here.
	Ye Powers, whom my soul bids me reverence, guard me!
228	What art thou?
230	Harp. I am thy master.
232	Theo. Mine!
234	Harp. And thou my everlasting slave; that Harpax,
	Who hand in hand hath led thee to thy hell,
236	Am I.
238	Theo. Avaunt!
240	Harp. I will not; cast thou down
	That basket with the things in't, and fetch up
242	What thou hast swallowed, and then take a drink,
	Which I shall give thee, and I'm gone.
244
	Theo. My fruit?
246	Does this offend thee? see!
248	[Eats again.]
250	Harp. Spet it to the earth,
	And tread upon it, or I'll piecemeal tear thee.
252
	Theo. Art thou with this affrighted? see, here's more.
254
	[Pulls out a handful of flowers.]
256
	Harp. Fling them away. I'll take thee else, and hang thee
258	In a contorted chain of icicles,
	In the frigid zone: down with them!
260
	Theo. At the bottom
262	One thing I found not yet. See!
264	[Holds up a cross of flowers.]
266	Harp. Oh! I am tortured.
268	Theo. Can this do't? hence, thou fiend infernal, hence!
270	Harp. Clasp Jupiter's image, and away with that.
272	Theo. At thee I'll fling that Jupiter; for methinks,
	I serve a better master: he now checks me
274	For murdering my two daughters, put on by thee −
	By thy damned rhetoric did I hunt the life
276	Of Dorothea, the holy virgin-martyr.
	She is not angry with the axe, nor me,
278	But sends these presents to me; and I'll travel
	O'er worlds to find, and from her white hand
280	Beg a forgiveness.
282	Harp. No; I'll bind thee here.
284	Theo. I serve a strength above thine; this small weapon,
	Methinks, is armour hard enough.
286
	Harp. Keep from me.
288
	[Sinks a little.]
290
	Theo. Art posting to thy centre? down, hell-hound! down!
292	Me hast thou lost. That arm, which hurls thee hence,
294	[Harpax disappears.]
296	Save me, and set me up, the strong defence
	In the fair Christian's quarrel!
298
	Enter Angelo.
300
	Ang. Fix thy foot there,
302	Nor be thou shaken with a Caesar's voice,
	Though thousand deaths were in it; and I then
304	Will bring thee to a river, that shall wash
	Thy bloody hands clean and more white than snow;
306	And to that garden where these blest things grow,
	And to that martyred virgin, who hath sent
308	That heavenly token to thee: spread this brave wing,
	And serve, then Caesar, a far greater king.
310
	[Exit Angelo.]
312
	Theo. It is, it is, some angel. Vanished again!
314	Oh, come back, ravishing boy! bright messenger!
	Thou hast, by these mine eyes fixed on thy beauty,
316	Illumined all my soul. Now look I back
	On my black tyrannies, which, as they did
318	Outdare the bloodiest, thou, blest spirit, that lead'st me,
	Teach me what I must to do, and, to do well,
320	That my last act the best may parallel.
322	[Exit.]
	ACT V, SCENE II.
	Dioclesian's Palace.
	Enter Dioclesian, Maximinus,
	the Kings of Epire, Pontus, and Macedon,
	meeting Artemia; Attendants.
1	Artem. Glory and conquest still attend upon
2	Triumphant Caesar!
4	Diocl. Let thy wish, fair daughter,
	Be equally divided; and hereafter
6	Learn thou to know and reverence Maximinus,
	Whose power, with mine united, makes one Caesar.
8
	Max. But that I fear 'twould be held flattery,
10	The bonds considered in which we stand tied,
	As love and empire, I should say, till now
12	I ne'er had seen a lady I thought worthy
	To be my mistress.
14
	Artem. Sir, you shew yourself
16	Both courtier and soldier; but take heed,
	Take heed, my lord, though my dull-pointed beauty,
18	Stained by a harsh refusal in my servant
	Cannot dart forth such beams as may inflame you,
20	You may encounter such a powerful one,
	That with a pleasing heat will thaw your heart,
22	Though bound in ribs of ice. Love still is Love,
	His bow and arrows are the same: great Julius,
24	That to his successors left the name of Caesar,
	Whom war could never tame, that with dry eyes
26	Beheld the large plains of Pharsalia covered
	With the dead carcasses of senators
28	And citizens of Rome; when the world knew
	No other lord but him, struck deep in years too,
30	(And men gray-haired forget the lusts of youth,)
	After all this, meeting fair Cleopatra,
32	A suppliant too, the magic of her eye,
	Even in his pride of conquest, took him captive:
34	Nor are you more secure.
36	Max. Were you deformed,
	(But, by the gods, you are most excellent),
38	Your gravity and discretion would o'ercome me;
	And I should be more proud in being prisoner
40	To your fair virtues, than of all the honours,
	Wealth, title, empire, that my sword hath purchased.
42
	Diocl. This meets my wishes. Welcome it, Artemia,
44	With outstretched arms, and study to forget
	That Antoninus ever was: thy fate
46	Reserved thee for this better choice; embrace it.
48	K. of Epire. This happy match brings new nerves to give strength
	To our continued league.
50
	Diocl. Hymen himself
52	Will bless this marriage, which we'll solemnize
	In the presence of these kings.
54
	K. of Pontus. Who rest most happy,
56	To be eye-witnesses of a match that brings
	Peace to the empire.
58
	Diocl. We much thank your loves;
60	But where's Sapritius, our governor,
	And our most zealous provost, good Theophilus?
62	If ever prince were blest in a true servant,
	Or could the gods be debtors to a man,
64	Both they and we stand far engaged to cherish
	His piety and service.
66
	Artem. Sir, the governor
68	Brooks sadly his son's loss, although he turned
	Apostata in death; but bold Theophilus,
70	Who, for the same cause, in my presence sealed
	His holy anger on his daughters' hearts,
72	Having with tortures first tried to convert her,
	Dragged the bewitching Christian to the scaffold,
74	And saw her lose her head.
76	Diocl. He is all worthy:
	And from his own mouth I would gladly hear
78	The manner how she suffered.
80	Artem. 'Twill be delivered
	With such contempt and scorn (I know his nature,)
82	That rather 'twill beget your highness' laughter
	Than the least pity.
84
	Diocl. To that end I would hear it.
86
	Enter Theophilus, Sapritius, and Macrinus.
88
	Artem. He comes; with him the governor.
90
	Diocl. O, Sapritius,
92	I am to chide you for your tenderness;
	But yet, remembering that you are a father,
94	I will forget it. − Good Theophilus,
	I'll speak with you anon –
96
	[To Sapritius] Nearer, your ear.
98
	Theo. [Aside to Macrinus]
100	By Antoninus' soul, I do conjure you,
	And though not for religion, for his friendship,
102	Without demanding what's the cause that moves me,
	Receive my signet; − by the power of this,
104	Go to my prisons, and release all Christians
	That are in fetters there by my command.
106
	Mac. But what shall follow?
108
	Theo. Haste then to the port;
110	You there shall find two tall ships ready rigged,
	In which embark the poor distressèd souls,
112	And bear them from the reach of tyranny.
	Enquire not whither you are bound; the Deity
114	That they adore will give you prosperous winds,
	And make your voyage such, and largely pay for
116	Your hazard, and your travail. Leave me here;
	There is a scene that I must act alone:
118	Haste, good Macrinus; and the great God guide you!
120	Mac. I'll undertak’t, there's something prompts me to it;
	'Tis to save innocent blood, a saint-like act;
122	And to be merciful has never been
	By moral men themselves esteemed a sin.
124
	[Exit Macrinus.]
126
	Diocl. You know your charge?
128
	Sap. And will with care observe it.
130
	Diocl. For I profess he is not Caesar's friend
132	That sheds a tear for any torture that
	A Christian suffers. − Welcome, my best servant,
134	My careful, zealous provost! thou hast toiled
	To satisfy my will, though in extremes:
136	I love thee for't; thou art firm rock, no changeling.
	Prithee deliver, and for my sake do it,
138	Without excess of bitterness or scoffs,
	Before my brother and these kings, how took
140	The Christiän her death?
142	Theo. And such a presence,
	Though every private head in this large room
144	Were circled round with an imperial crown,
	Her story will deserve, it is so full
146	Of excellence and wonder.
148	Diocl. Ha! how is this?
150	Theo. O! mark it, therefore, and with that attention,
	As you would hear an embassy from Heaven
152	By a winged legate; for the truth delivered,
	Both how, and what, this blessèd virgin suffered,
154	And Dorothea but hereafter named,
	You will rise up with reverence, and no more,
156	As things unworthy of your thoughts, remember
	What the canónized Spartan ladies were,
158	Which lying Greece so boasts of. Your own matrons,
	Your Roman dames, whose figures you yet keep
160	As holy relics, in her history
	Will find a second urn: Gracchus' Cornelia,
162	Paulina, that in death desired to follow
	Her husband Seneca, nor Brutus' Portia,
164	That swallowed burning coals to overtake him,
	Though all their several worths were given to one,
166	With this is to be mentioned.
168	Max. Is he mad?
170	Diocl. Why, they did die, Theophilus, and boldly:
	This did no more.
172
	Theo. They, out of desperation,
174	Or for vain glory of an after-name,
	Parted with life: this had not mutinous sons,
176	As the rash Gracchi were; nor was this saint
	A doting mother, as Cornelia was.
178	This lost no husband, in whose overthrow
	Her wealth and honour sunk; no fear of want
180	Did make her being tedious; but, aiming
	At an immortal crown, and in His cause
182	Who only can bestow it; who sent down
	Legions of ministering angels to bear up
184	Her spotless soul to Heaven; who entertained it
	With choice celestial music, equal to
186	The motion of the spheres; she, uncompelled,
	Changed this life for a better. My lord Sapritius,
188	You were present at her death; did you e'er hear
	Such ravishing sounds?
190
	Sap. Yet you said then 'twas witchcraft,
192	And devilish illusions.
194	Theo. I then heard it
	With sinful ears, and belched out blasphemous words
196	Against His Deity, which then I knew not,
	Nor did believe in him.
198
	Diocl. Why, dost thou now?
200	Or dar'st thou, in our hearing −
202	Theo. Were my voice
	As loud as is His thunder, to be heard
204	Through all the world, all potentates on earth
	Ready to burst with rage, should they but hear it;
206	Though hell, to aid their malice, lent her furies,
	Yet I would speak, and speak again, and boldly,
208	I am a Christian, and the Powers you worship,
	But dreams of fools and madmen.
210
	Max. Lay hands on him.
212
	Diocl. Thou twice a child! for doting age so makes thee,
214	Thou couldst not else, thy pilgrimage of life
	Being almost past through, in this last moment
216	Destroy whate'er thou hast done good or great −
	Thy youth did promise much; and, grown a man,
218	Thou mad'st it good, and, with increase of years,
	Thy actiöns still bettered: as the sun,
220	Thou did'st rise gloriously, kept'st a constant course
	In all thy journey; and now, in the evening,
222	When thou should'st pass with honour to thy rest,
	Wilt thou fall like a meteor?
224
	Sap. Yet confess
226	That thou art mad, and that thy tongue and heart
	Had no agreement.
228
	Max. Do; no way is left, else,
230	To save thy life, Theophilus.
232	Diocl. But, refuse it,
	Destructiön as horrid, and as sudden,
234	Shall fall upon thee, as if hell stood open,
	And thou wert sinking thither.
236
	Theo. Hear me, yet;
238	Hear, for my service past.
240	Artem. What will he say?
242	Theo. As ever I deserved your favour, hear me,
	And grant one boon; 'tis not for life I sue for;
244	Nor is it fit that I, that ne'er knew pity
	To any Christian, being one myself,
246	Should look for any: no, I rather beg
	The utmost of your cruëlty. I stand
248	Accomptable for thousand Christians’ deaths;
	And, were it possible that I could die
250	A day for every one, then live again
	To be again tormented, 'twere to me
252	An easy penance, and I should pass through
	A gentle cleansing fire; but, that denied me,
254	It being beyond the strength of feeble nature,
	My suit is, you would have no pity on me.
256	In mine own house there are a thousand engines
	Of studied cruelty, which I did prepare
258	For miserable Christians; let me feel,
	As the Sicilian did his brazen bull,
260	The horrid'st you can find; and I will say,
	In death, that you are merciful.
262
	Diocl. Despair not;
264	In this thou shalt prevail. Go fetch them hither:
266	[Exit some of the Guard.]
268	Death shall put on a thousand shapes at once,
	And so appear before thee; racks, and whips! −
270	Thy flesh, with burning pincers torn, shall feed
	The fire that heats them; and what's wanting to
272	The torture of thy body, I'll supply
	In punishing thy mind. Fetch all the Christians
274	That are in hold; and here, before his face,
	Cut them in pieces.
276
	Theo. Tis not in thy power:
278	It was the first good deed I ever did.
	They are removed out of thy reach; howe'er,
280	I was determined for my sins to die,
	I first took order for their liberty,
282	And still I dare thy worst.
284	Re-enter Guard with racks
	and other instruments of torture.
286
	Diocl. Bind him, I say;
288	Make every artery and sinew crack:
	The slave that makes him give the loudest shriek
290	Shall have ten thousand drachmas: wretch! I'll force thee
	To curse the Power thou worship'st.
292
	Theo. Never, never;
294	No breath of mine shall e'er be spent on Him,
	But what shall speak His majesty or mercy.
296
	[They torment him.]
298
	I'm honoured in my sufferings. Weak tormentors,
300	More tortures, more: − alas! you are unskilful −
	For Heaven's sake more; my breast is yet untorn:
302	Here purchase the reward that was propounded.
	The irons cool, − here are arms yet, and thighs;
304	Spare no part of me.
306	Max. He endures beyond
	The sufferance of a man.
308
	Sap. No sigh nor groan,
310	To witness he hath feeling.
312	Diocl. Harder, villains!
314	Enter Harpax.
316	Harp. Unless that he blaspheme, he's lost forever.
	If torments ever could bring forth despair,
318	Let these compel him to it: − Oh me!
	My ancient enemies again!
320
	[Falls down.]
322
	Enter Dorothea in a white robe,
324	a crown upon her head, led in by Angelo;
	Antoninus, Calista, and Christeta following,
326	all in white, but less glorious;
	Angelo holds out a crown to Theophilus.
328
	Theo. Most glorious vision! −
330	Did e'er so hard a bed yield man a dream
	So heavenly as this? I am confirmed,
332	Confirmed, you blessèd spirits, and make haste
	To take that crown of immortality
334	You offer to me. Death, till this blest minute,
	I never thought thee slow-paced; nor would I
336	Hasten thee now, for any pain I suffer,
	But that thou keep'st me from a glorious wreath,
338	Which through this stormy way I would creep to,
	And, humbly kneeling, with humility wear it.
340	Oh! now I feel thee: − blessèd spirits! I come;
	And, witness for me all these wounds and scars,
342	I die a soldier in the Christian wars.
344	[Dies.]
346	Sap. I have seen thousands tortured, but ne'er yet
	A constancy like this.
348
	Harp. I am twice damned.
350
	Ang. Haste to thy place appointed, cursèd fiend!
352	In spite of hell, this soldier's not thy prey;
	'Tis I have won, thou that hast lost the day.
354
	[Harpax sinks with thunder and lightning.]
356
	[Exit with Dorothea, &c.]
358
	Diocl. I think the centre of the earth be cracked, −
360	Yet I stand still unmoved, and will go on:
	The persecution that is here begun,
362	Through all the world with violence shall run.
364	[Flourish. Exeunt.]
	FINIS