Only distrustful of delays in fortune ; Delph. Now, my son Diocles, Are you not weary of your game to-day? Dio. Yes, mother, well and lusty; was not built in one day; Dio. But I'm no emperor. Dio. But you are cunning, mother; [you, As darkly still you nourish it; whilst I Yet I still poorer, further still- And tempt not the gods' dooms; stop not [then: They're ready to fix on you; you're a fool Chearful and grateful takers the gods love, And such as wait their pleasures with full hopes; The doubtful and distrustful man Heav'n Now holly, &c.] I read hallow ye.-Maximinian did not believe Delphia had any divinity about her, and therefore when designing to shoot at her, should seem to say, now hallow you, i. e. render yourself holy, or you howl for it. As to the old reading, I have no idea of it at all; and what I purpose will read in the verse as two syllables only. Seward. The whole conversation respecting Delphia turns upon the question, Whether she is really holy, or only pretends to be so: Maxininian's meaning, therefore, seems to us to be; 'Now [YOU MUST BE] holy, or you howl for't;' and then presents an arrow. Betterton's alteration gives the line thus: Now shew your holiness, or you how! for't, beldame!' And with that cannon.] The amendment in the text was made by Betterton, but is claimed by Sympsou. And so deliver'd; common and slight creatures, That have their ends as open as their actions, Easy and open fortunes follow. Maxi. [coming forward.] I shall try How deep your inspiration lies hid in you, And whether your brave spirit have a buckler To keep this arrow off; I'll make you smoke else. [punctually, Dio. Knowing my fortune so precisely, And that it must fall without contradiction, Being a stranger, of no tie unto you, Methinks you should be studied in your own; In your own destiny, methinks, most perfect: And every hour, and every minute, mother, (So great a care should Heav'n have of her ministers) Methinks your fortunes both ways should appear to you, Both to avoid, and take. Can the stars now, Delph. Ha? 'Pray you come hither. devil will cozen you; [you. And, stand as close as you can, I shall be with Delph. I find a present ill. Dio. How? Yet, I could poison him in a pot of perry; He loves that veng'ancely. But when I have done this, May I lie with the gentlewoman? Niger. Lie with her? what else, man? I have known a man married that never lay with his wife: Those dancing-days are done. Niger. These are old soldiers, And poor, it seems. I'll try their appetites. 'Save ye, brave soldiers! Mari. Sir, you talk'd of proscriptions? Against Volutius Aper. Now have you found the Boar? And, blessed mother Niger. He has scorn'd his master, And bloodily cut off by treachery The noble brother to him. Dio. He lives here, sir, Niger. Did you see him? Niger. He's murder'd; [peror, So you shall find it mention'd from the emAnd, honest faithful soldiers, but believe it; [virtue,For, by the Gods, you'll find it so; he's murder'd! And, from this hour, a deity I crown you. Delph. No more of that. Mari. Oh, let my prayers prevail too! Here like a tree I dwell else: Free me, mo ther, [thee! And, greater than great fortune, I'll adore Delph. Be free again, and have more pure thoughts in you. [stantly; to me Dio. Now I believe your words most conAnd when I have that power you've promis'd [niece Drusilla, Delph. Remember then your vow: My I mean, to marry her, and then you prosper. Dio. I shall forget my life else. Delph. I am a poor weak woman; to me no worship. [tion. The manner how, read in the large proscrip- Dio. I thank you, mother, Niger. Is as firm as faith, sir, Bring him alive or dead. Maxi. You took a fit time, The general being out o' th' town; for tho' we love him not, Yet, had he known this first, you had paid for't dearly. [Niger, Dio. 'Tis Niger; now I know him; honest A true sound man; and I believe him con[hurry stantly. Your business may be done, make no great For your own safety. ACT II. EAVE us, and not vouchsafe a To her, that in his hopes of greatness lives, Too mild a name! 'twas more than barbarous! Delph. I, Drusilla? Drus. Yes; you have blown his swoln As he believes the earth is in his fathom; To nourish such desires, when he's possess'd Delph. Were his intents Shall make him curse the hour he e'er was [rais'd, Drus. I had rather (So well I find he's worthy of all service). The object that it doats on ill affected! Delph. Pretty simplicity! I love thee for't, Are but lip-comforts) and but fancy aught Drus. You new-create me! To conceal My virgin fondness, were to hide my sickness Delph. Enjoy thy wishes: This is an easy boon, which, at thy years, For thieves and pick-locks! to pass thro' an of F If he prove true, and as his angel guard him: As if th' eternal night had seiz'd the sun, Drus. I will do Whate'er you shall command. Delph. Rest then assur'd, I am the mistress of my art, and fear not. [Soft musick. Exeunt, Aper. Your care of your sick emp'ror, fellow-soldiers, In colours to the life doth shew your love, And tho' I know you long to see and hear him, cover, Provided it prove constant. [Goes to the litter. 1 Guard. If he counterfeit, I will hereafter trust a prodigal heir, 2 Guard. Or a young widow, following a (After a three-years' groaning) to the fire. 3 Guard. Note his humility, and with what soft murmurs He does enquire his pleasures. 1 Guard. And how soon He is instructed. 2 Guard. How he bows again too. Aper. All your commands, dread Cæsar, To your most ready soldier, to obey them; [Turning from the litter to the Guards. Of mighty Cæsar (his thanks still remember'd For your long patience, which a donative, Fitting his state togive, shall quickly follow) That you continue a strict guard upon His sacred person, and admit no stranger Of any other legion to come near him; You being most trusted by him. I receive Your answer in your silence. Now, Camurius, Speak without fatt'ry: Hath thy Aper acted This passion to the life? Cam. I would applaud him, Were he saluted Cæsar: But I fear These long-protracted counsels will undo us; And 'tis beyond my reason, he being dead, You should conceal yourself, or hope it can Continue undiscover'd. Aper. That I've kill'd him, [lives, Yet feed these ignorant fools with hopes be Has a main end in't. The Pannonian cohorts (That are my own, and sure) are not come up; The German legions waver; and Charinus, Brother to this dead dog, (hell's plagues on Niger!) Is jealous of the murder, and, I hear, 7 Curious. i. e. cautious. Sympson. dper. That exacts my haste: When, but ev'n now, I feign'd obedience to As I had some great business to impart, The scent had almost choak'd me; be therefore curious 7, An enemy i' th' field, than stand thus nodding Enter Diocles, Maximinian, and Geta. This is a new device Cam. Stand! Dio. I am arm'd Mari. If I fear to follow, Cam. You are rude and saucy, Dio. What thou, nor any of thy faction are, Nor ever were; soldiers, and honest men. Com. So blunt? Geta. Nay, you shall find he's good at the Dio. No instruments of craft, engines of That serve the emperor only with oil'd tongues, Sooth and applaud his vices, play the bawds To all his appetites; and when you've wrought So far upon his weakness, that he's grown And can no further help your wicked ends, Cam. Treason! Dio. 'Tis truth, Cum. Lay hands upon 'em; Getu. I am out at that; I do not like the sport. Dio. What's he that is Owner of any virtue worth a Roman, Geta. The watch at noon?] The old books give this speech to Geta, whom we thought the most unlikely person on the stage to make the remark, before we consulted Betterton's edition, which we have followed, in giving it to Maximinian. Dio. Die thou, If thou advance an inch, thou'rt dead. Dio. Hear me, fellow-soldiers; Guard. True. If emperor's flesh have this savour, what will 1 Guard. Most unheard-of villainy! 3 Guard. Who is the murderer? Name Dio. Who but Aper? The barbarous and most ingrateful Aper? And tyrants seek no further: He, a subject, Guard. A Diocles, a Diocles! Dio. We'll force him from his guards.→ And now, my stars, If you have any good for me in store, SCENE III. Enter Delphia and Drusilla, in a throne drawn by dragons. Delph. Fix here, and rest awhile your sailstretch'd wings 9, [Heav'n That have out-stript the winds. The eye of Durst not behold your speed, but hid itself Behind the grossest clouds; and the pale moon Pluck'd in her silver horns, trembling for fear That ny strong spells should force her from her sphere: Such is the power of art. Drus. Good aunt, where are we! Delph. Look down, Drusilla, on these lofty towers, [house 9 Suit-stretch'd wings.] I cannot forbear transcribing a stanza out of our inimitable Spenser, which whether our poets had in their eye or no here, the reader must judge. B. i. C. xi. Stan. 10. His flaggy wings when forth he did display, Sympson |