POLYEUCTES, OR THE MARTYR.  
A TRAGEDY:  
BY S R. WILLIAM LOWER.  
LONDON, Printed by Tho. Roycroft for G. Bedell and T. Collins, and are to be sold at their Shop at the Middle-Temple Gate in Fleetstreet, 1655.   

THE ARGUMENT:  
POlyeuctus and Nearchus were two Cavaleirs straightly tied together in Amity; they lived in the year 250. under the Empire of Decius; their abode was in Melitene, Capital City of Armenia, their Religion different, Nearchus was a Christian, and Polyeuctus following yet the Sect of the Gentiles; but having all the qualities worthy of a Christian, and a great inclination to become so: The Emperor having caused an Edict to be published very rigorous against the Christians, this Publication gave a great trouble to Nearchus; not for fear of the punishments wherewith he was threatened, but for the apprehension which he had, that their Amity might fuffer some separation or coldness by this Edict, seeing the punishments that were proposed therein to those of the Religion, and the Honours promised to those of the contrary party; He conceived thereat so great a displeasure, that his Friend perceived it, and having obliged him to tell him the cause thereof, he took the occasion to open his heart unto him. Fear not, said he, that the Emperor's Edict should disunite us: I saw this night the CHRIST which you adore, he took from me a filthy Robe, to apparel me with a Luminous one, and made me mount upon a winged Horse to follow him. This Vision hath resolved me wholly to do that which I long time meditated: the name of a CHRISTIAN is only wanting to me, and you yourself as often as you have spoken unto me of your great Messiah, might have observed that I always harkened unto you with respect, and when you read unto me his Life and Doctrine, I always admired the Sanctity of his Actions and Discourses. O Nearchus if I thought not myself unworthy to come unto him without being initiated with his Mysteries, and to have received the Grace of his Sacraments, how you should behold the ardour break forth, which I have to die for his Glory and the support of his eternal Truths! Nearchus' having cleared him of the scruple wherein he was, by the example of the good Thief, who in a moment merited Heaven, though he had not received baptism; presently our Martyr full of a holy Fervour, took the Emperor's Edict, spit upon't, and tore it in pieces, which he cast unto the Wind, and seeing the Idols which the people carried upon the Altars to adore them, he snatched them away from those that bore them, broke them against the ground, and trod them under his feet, astonishing all the World, and his friend likewise, by the heat of that Zeal, which he expected not.  
His Father-in-Law Felix, who had the Emperor's Commission to persecute the Christians, having seen himself what his Son-in-law had done, seized with grief to see the hope and prop of his Family lost, endeavoured to shake his constancy, first by fair words, then by threaten, last by strokes, which he made his Executioners to give him on the face: But not able to prevail herewith, for a last attempt he sent unto him his Daughter Paulina, to see if her tears had not more power upon the Spirit of a Husband, than the Artifices and Rigours had had: He gained nothing by that, on the contrary, seeing that his firmness had converted many Pagans, he condemned him to lose his head; this Sentence was executed presently, and the holy Martyr without other baptism then of his blood, went to take possession of the Glory which God hath promised to those that renounce themselves for the love of him.  
See in few words the true story of polyeuctes' Martyrdom; the dream of Paulina, the love of Severus, the effectual baptism of Polyeuctes, the Sacrifice for the Emperor's Victory, the dignity of Felix, whom I make governor of Armenia, the death of Nearchus, the conversion of Felix, and of Paulina, are the Inventions and Embellishments of the Stage, only the Victory of the Emperor against the Persians hath some foundation in the History, and without seeking for other Authors, it is reported by Monsieur Coëffoteau in his Roman History; but he says not, neither that he imposed tribute on them, nor that he sent to make Sacrifices of thanks in Armenia.  
If I have added these Incidents and Particularities according to Art, or no, the Judicious shall censure it; but my aim is not to justify them, but only to advertise the Reader of that which he may believe.   

ACTORS.  

FElix, Roman Senator, governor of Armenia.  
Polyeuctes, Lord of Armenia, Son-in-law to Felix.  
Severus, Roman Knight, Favourite of the Emperor.  
Nearchus, Armenian Lord, Friend to Polyeuctes.  
Paulina, Daughter to Felix, and Wife to Polyeuctes.  
Stratonica, a Lady, friend to Paulina.  
Albin, Friend to Felix.  
Fabian, domestic Servant to Severus.  
Cleon, domestic Servant to Felix.   
Three Guards:  
The Scene is Miletene, capital City of Armenia in the Palace of Felix.   

POLYEUCTES, OR, THE MARTYR. A CHRISTIAN TRAGEDY.  

ACTUS primus,  

SCENA prima.  Polyeuctes, Nearchus. Nearchus. 
AND what! you stick upon a woman's Dreams?  
Can such weak Subjects trouble this great Soul?  
And this heart so approved in War, can it  
Receive alarm from an idle fantasy?  Pol. 
I know what a Dream is, and what belief  
We ought to give to its extravagance,  
That a confused mass of nocturnal Vapours  
Formeth vain Objects, which at waking vanish;  
But you know not, Sir, what a woman is,  
Nor the just power she takes upon a Soul,  
When having long time found the art to charm us,  
Bright Hymen's Torches flame about our Beds.  
Paulina without reason plunged in grief,  Pol. 
Fears and belieus already that she sees  
My death, which she hath dreamed; she doth oppose  
Her tears to my design, and laboureth  
To hinder me from going forth the palace;  
I slight her fears, but yield unto her tears;  
And my heart tender, but not terrified.  
Dares not displease the eyes have conquered it:  
Nearchus, is th' occasion so pressing  
That it may not a little be deferred  
Upon a lover's sighs? let us a while  
Wave this design which burdens her with grief,  
To morrow we can do't a swels to day.  Nearc: 
Yes, if you were assured to live so long,  
And to persever in your faith; that God  
Which holds our soul, and numbereth our days,  
Hath not engaged himself that you shall see  
The morning break; he is all just and good,  
But his effectual grace descends not always  
With the same efficacy; after certain moments  
Which we lose by delays, she quits those darts  
Which penetrate our souls, the arm that freely  
Dispensed her unto us, stops his bounty;  
As being offended, our dull heart is hardened;  
That holy heat which carrieth us to good,  
Falls on a Rock, and operates no more.  
That zeal which pressed you to have recourse  
To sacred baptism, languishing already,  
Ceases to be the same; and for some sighs  
Which you have heard, its flame doth dissipate  
Itself; and is upon the point to vanish.  Pol. 
You know me ill, the self same heat still burns me,  
And the desire increaseth when th' effect  
Recoils; those tears which with a husband's Eye  
I look upon, leave me as good a Christian  
In heart as you; but to receive the seal  
And sacred character thereof, which washes  
Our sins in saving water, and in opening  
Our Eyes with a divine Ray, doth restore us  
Unto the first right which we had to Heaven,  
Though I prefer it before all the greatness  
Of Empires as the supreme good, and that  
Which I alone aspire to, I believe  
I may, to satisfy a lawful love,  
Defer this sacred baptism for a day.  Nearc: 
Thus the malicious enemy of man  
Abuseth you, what he can't do by force,  
He doth attempt by policy, still jealous  
Of good designs, which he endeavoureth  
To shake; when he can't break them, he on on  
With all the power he can to stop their course.  
With obstacle upon obstacle he is coming  
To trouble yours, to day by tears, to morrow  
By something else; this dream so full of horror  
Is but the slourish of his first illusions,  Pol. 
He sets all things a work, both prayer and threatening,  
He assaults always, and is never weary,  
He thinks to do at last what yet he cannot,  
And what we do defer, concludes half broken.  
Destroy his first strokes, let Paulina weep:  
God would not have a heart that the world rules;  
Who looks upon him when his voice doth call him  
At distance, and as doubtful in his choice,  
Hearkens unto another voice then his,  Pol. 
To give our selus to him, must we love no body?  Nearc: 
We may love all, he suffers, he ordains it;  
But this great King of Kings, this Lord of Lords  
Will have the first love and the chiefest honours.  
As nothing's equal to his supreme greatness,  
So nothing must be loved but after him,  
And in him; we to please him must neglect  
Wife and wealth, friends and fortunes; for his glory  
We must not stick t'expose ourselves to dangers,  
Yea, even to death, to pour our blood forth for him;  
But how far are you from this perfect love  
Which I could wish you as so necessary  
To your salvation, and eternal good?  
I cannot speak unto you, Polyeuctes,  
But with tears in mine eyes; now that we are  
Hated in every place, that all believe  
They serve the State well when they persecute us,  
Now that a Christian is exposed a butt  
Unto the sharpest torments, how can you  
Overcome the grief on't, if you can't resist  
A woman's tears?  Pol. 
You don't astonish me;  
The pity that doth wound me doth proceed  
From a great courage rather than from weakness;  
Nearchus, on my equals a fair eye  
Hath had much force, he feareth to offend it,  
That dreads not death; and if we must affront  
The cruelest punishments, to find delights  
And pleasures there, your God whom I dare not  
Yet to call mine, in making me a Christian,  
Will give me strength enough to undergo them.  Nearc. 
Haste then to be one.  Pol. 
Yes, I fly, Nearchus,  
I long to bear the glorious mark of it,  
But my Paulina doth afflict herself,  
And can't consent, so much this dream doth trouble her,  
To leave me to go forth.  Nearc. 
Your safe return  
Will be more pleasing to her; in an hour,  
Or little more you shall wipe off her tears,  
The happiness will seem again to see you  
More sweet, by how much more she hath lamented  
So dear a Husband. Come, we are expected.  Pol. 
Appease her fear, and calm her sorrow then,  
She comes again.  Nearc. 
Fly, fly.  Pol. 
Alas! I cannot.  Nearc. 
You must, Sir, to be safe; Oh fly an Enemy  
That knows your weakness, that doth find it easily,  
That woundeth with the eyes, whose stroke doth kill  
And please, because received not against your will.   

Scena Secunda.  Polyeuctes, Nearchus, Paulina, Stratonica. Polyeuctes. 
LEt's fly then, since we must, adieu, Paulina,  
Adieu, within an hour, or little more  
I will return again here.  Paul. 
What occasion  
So pressing doth invite you to go forth?  
Doth it concern your honour, or your life?  Pol. 
Much more then either.  Paul. 
What's the secret then?  Pol: 
You shall know one day, I am loath to leave you,  
But yet I must.  Paul. 
D'ye love me?  Pol. 
Witness Heaven  
A thousand times more than myself I love you,  
But—  Paul. 
But you care not for my discontent;  
Should you have Secrets that I may not know?  
What proof of love is this; i'th' name of Hymen,  
Give only to my tears this fatal journey.  Pol. 
A dream makes you afraid!  Paul. 
I know those presages  
Are vain, but I do love you, and I fear.  Pol. 
For an hours absence fear no hurt; adieu,  
Your tears prevail too much upon me, and  
I feel my heart even ready to revolt,  
There's no resisting her but in my flight.—  Exit.  

Scena Tertia.  Paulina, Stratonica. Paulina. 
GO, and neglect my tears, hast to precipitate thee  
Before the death, which the Gods have predicted  
Unto me, follow that same fatal Agent  
Of thy ill destinies, who, perhaps may give thee  
Into the hands of murderers. See, Stratonica  
In this sad age wherein we live, what Empire▪  
We have upon the stubborn Spirits of men;  
See what is left us, and the ordinary  
Effect of that love which they offer us,  
And of the vows they make us; whilst they are  
But Lovers, we are sovereigns; and until  
They've gained the conquest, we are used as Queens,  
But after Marriage they are Kings by turn.  Strat. 
Sure Polyeuctes, wants no love for you;  
Though with full confidence he treat you not.  
In this affair, though he depart in spite  
Of all your tears: it is a part of prudence;  
Without afflicting you presume with me,  
That it is fit he should conceal the cause,  
Assure yourself he hath just reason for it:  
A Husband must not tell us every thing,  
Let him be sometimes free, and not abase him  
To render us account still of his steps.  
We both have but one heart, which feels the same  
Traverses, but this heart hath notwithstanding  
Its divers functions; and the Law of marriage  
Which holdeth you together, ordains not  
That he should tremble when you tremble, Madam,  
What maketh you afraid, troubles not him,  
He's an Armenian, and you are a Roman,  
And you may please to understand that our  
Two Nations han't the same impressions  
Upon this subject. A dream passeth with us  
For a ridiculous fancy, it doth leave us,  
Nor hope, nor fear, nor scruple; but it carries  
Authority in Rome, and passeth for  
A faithful mirror of fatality.  Paul. 
Mine's very strange, and though Armenian,  
I believe that thy fear would equal mine,  
If by my bare recital such like horrors  
Had struck thy Spirit.  Strat. 
To recount our evils,  
We ease them oftentimes.  Paul. 
Attend me then;  
But I must tell thee more, and that thou mayst  
The better comprehend this sad discourse,  
I will discover unto thee my weakness  
In the relation of my first amours;  
A woman that loves honour may confess  
Without shame those surprises of the senses  
Which reason doth overcome, chief it is  
In these assaults that virtue doth break forth,  
We doubt that heart that hath not combated.  
In Rome where I was born this wretched face  
Captived the courage of a Roman knight  
Called Severus. Pray excuse the sighs  
Which yet a name too dear to my desires,  
Snatches out of my bosom.  Strat: 
Was it he  
That not long since at th'expense of his life  
Saved th'emperor Decius from his enemies;  
Who dying drew the victory from the Persians  
And turned the chance upon the Roman Eagles?  
He that amongst so many bodies sacrificed  
Unto his Master, could not be found out,  
Or at least known, to whom Decius at last  
Made sumptuous monuments to be raised in vain?  Paul. 
Alas! it was the same, and never did  
Our Rome produce a greater heart, nor saw  
A braver man since thou hast understood him,  
I'll speak no more of him; Statonica,  
I loved him, he deserved well; but whereto  
Serves merit where blind fortune is defective?  
The one is great in him, the other weak  
And common, too invincible obstacle,  
O'er which a virtuous Lover very seldom  
Triumpheth with a father.  Strat. 
Fair occasion,  
And worthy a rare constancy!  Paul. 
Rather say  
An overnice, foolish and base resistance;  
What ever fruit one might receive from thence,  
'tis not a virtue but for who would fail:  
In this great love which I had for Severus,  
I still expected from my father's hand  
A Husband, and my reason never owned  
The amiable Treason of mine eyes.  
He did possess my heart, my thought, my wishes,  
I hide not from him how much I was wounded,  
We sighed together and wept our misfortunes,  
But he in stead of hope had nought but tears,  
And notwithstanding his sweet sighs and prayers  
My Father and my duty were inexorable.  
Lastly I left Rome, and this perfect lover,  
To follow here my father in his government,  
And he, even desperate, went unto the Army  
To seek th' illustrious fame of a fair death.  
Thou knowst the rest; my coming to this place  
Made me see Polyeuctes, and I pleased  
His eyes; My Father finding that he was  
The chief of the Nobility, was ravished  
With joy that he should take me for his Mistress,  
And he believed himself by his alliance  
Sure to be more redoubted and considerable.  
He liked his love, and did conclude the marriage.  
And I seeing me destined to his bed  
Gave unto his affection through duty  
All what the other had through inclination;  
If thou canst doubt thereof, judge by the fear  
Wherewith for him thou seest my soul is troubled.  Strat. 
You love him, I believe, as well as one  
Can love, but after all what dream could have  
Disturbed you?  Paul. 
This last night me thought I saw  
Th' unfortunate Severus with revenge,  
In hand, and with an Eye flaming with anger;  
He was not covered with those sorry rags,  
A desolate shade doth bring with it from graves,  
He was not pierced with those glorious strokes  
Which cutting off his life assure his memory;  
He seemed triumphant like unto our Caesar  
When on his chariot he victoriously  
Doth enter Rome; after a little fear  
Which his sight gave me, carry unto whom  
Thou wilt the favour that is due to me,  
Ingrateful, (said he) and this day expired,  
Lament at leisure him thou hast preferred  
Before me. At these words I trembled,  
My soul was troubled; afterward an impious  
Assembly of the Christians to advance  
Th' effect of this fatal and sad discourse.  
Threw Polyeuctes at his Rivals feet;  
Forthwith I called my Father to his aid.  
Alas! 'tis this that most doth trouble me,  
I saw my Father enter with a poniard  
In hand, and his arm raised to pierce his bosom▪  
There my grief too strong hath conceived those Images,  
The blood of Polyeuctes hath contented  
Their furies, I know neither how, nor when  
They killed him, but I know that to his death  
All have contributed. Behold my dream.  Strat. 
'Tis true, 'tis sad, but your soul must resist  
Those fears, the vision of itself may give  
Some horror, but no just fear unto you.  
Should you a death fear from a Father, who  
Doth love your Husband, and doth honour him.  
And whose just choice hath given you unto him,  
To make himself thereby here in this country  
A sure and firm support?  Paul. 
He hath himself  
Told me as much, and laughed at my alarms,  
But I do fear the Christians plots and charms,  
And that upon my Husband they'll revenge  
The blood my Father hath so freely shed.  Strat. 
Their Sect is mad, impious, and sacrilegious,  
And in their Sacrifice use sorcery;  
But this their fury goes no further than  
To break our Altars, its pursues the Gods,  
But reacheth not to mortals, whatsoever  
Severity our anger doth display  
Upon them, they do suffer without murmur,  
And die with joy, and since the time they were  
Treated as criminals of State, one cannot  
Charge them with any murder.  Paul. 
Peace, my Father.   

Scena Quarta.  Felix, Albin, Paulina, Stratonica. Felix. 
DAughter, thy dream hath plunged me in strange fears  
Since yesterday, I doubt th' effects thereof,  
Which seem t'approach.  Paul. 
I do beseech you, tell me  
What is't you feel?  Felix. 
Severus is not dead.  Paul. 
What evil doth his life do unto us?  Felix. 
He is the Favourite  
Of th' Emperor Decius.  Paul. 
After having saved him  
From the hands of his Enemies the hope  
Of such a rank justly might be allowed him,  
Thus Fortune to great hearts so often cruel,  
Resolus herself sometimes to do them justice.  Felix. 
He's coming here himself.  Paul. 
What? is he coming?  Felix. 
Thou shalt receive his Visit.  Paul: 
That's too much;  
But how do you know this? Sir.  Felix. 
Albin met  
In the adjacent field, a troup of Courtiers  
Attending him in crowds which shown plainly  
His rank and credit, but Albinus tell her  
That which his People told thee.  Albin. 
You know, Madam,  
What that great Expedition was, which made us  
So fortunate by his loss, where th' Emperor  
A Prisoner, disengaged by his hand,  
Confirmed again his almost conquered party;  
Whilst that his virtue fell amongst the number,  
You know the honours that he caused to be  
Done to his shadow, when his body could not  
Be found amongst the dead. The King of Persia  
Witness of his high acts, though to his damage,  
Caused him to be carried off, and brought  
Into his Tent, he did desire to know  
His face though dead, every one did lament him,  
Covered with wounds, though jealous of his glory.  
Within a while he showed some sign of life:  
This generous Monarch was o'er joyed therewith,  
And though o'ercome, thought not of his misfortune;  
To honour virtue in its very author,  
He caused that special care should be ta'en of him;  
His cure was secret, and at a Months end  
His health was perfect, when the King, to gain him,  
Offered him dignities, alliance, treasures,  
And used a thousand means: when all things failed,  
After high praise bestowed on his refusal,  
He sent to Decius to propose exchange,  
And presently the Emperor transported  
With pleasure, offered to the Persian  
His Brother and a hundred chiefs to choose.  
So came unto the Camp the valorous  
And brave Severus, to receive the recompense  
Of his high virtue: Decius favour was  
The worthy price thereof: we fought again,  
And were surprised, yet this misfortune served  
T'increase his glory, he alone reestablished  
The order, and recovered the victory,  
So fair and plain, and by such glorious feats,  
That our stout Enemies offered us tribute,  
And made us peace; The Emperor expressed  
An infinite love unto him, and being ravished  
With the success, sent him into Armenia;  
He comes to bring the news into this country,  
And by a sacrifice to render thanks  
Unto the Gods,  Felix 
O heaven! to what estate  
My fortune is reduced!  Albin. 
I learned this  
From one that doth belong unto his train,  
And hasted here, Sir, to acquaint you with it.  Felix. 
Oh without doubt he comes to marry thee,  
Daughter, the order of a sacrifice  
Is a small thing to him, not worth his presence,  
It is a false pretence, whose cause is love.  Paul. 
It may well be, he loved me very dearly.  Felix. 
What will not he allow to his resentment?  
And to what point will not his anger carry  
A just revenge with so much power to prop it?  
He will destroy us, daughter.  Paul. 
He's too generous.  Felix. 
Thou wilt in vain flatter a wretched Father;  
He will destroy us, daughter. Oh regret  
That kills me now, in that I loved not  
The naked virtue. Oh Paulina really  
Thou hast too much obeyed me, thy courage  
Was good, but thy nice duty hath betrayed thee.  
How thy rebellion had been favourable  
Unto me, how it would have privileged me  
From a deplorable condition!  
If any hope rests with me, it is now  
No more but in the absolute power which he  
Gives thee upon him: Husband in my favour  
The love that doth possess him, and from whence  
My evil doth proceed, produce the remedy.  Paul. 
Shall I, Shall I see such a Puissant Conqueror?  
And expose me unto those eyes that pierce  
My heart? Father, I am a Woman, and  
I know my weakness, I perceive my heart  
Already to be interested for him,  
And will without doubt in spite of my faith  
Thrust forth some sigh unworthy both of you  
And me, I will not see him.  Felix. 
Re-assure  
Thy soul a little.  Paul. 
He is always lovely,  
And I am always firm, in the power which  
His looks have had upon me, I can't answer  
With all my virtue, therefore I'll not see him.  Felix. 
Daughter you must, or you'll betray your Father▪  
And all your Family.  Paul. 
It is my duty  
T'obey since you command, but see the perils  
Wherein you hazard me.  Felix. 
I know thy virtue.  Paul. 
Without doubt it will vanquish, the success  
Is not the thing that my soul doubts, I fear  
This stubborn combat, and puissant troubles  
That makes my senses to revolt already;  
But since I must combat an Enemy  
I love, permit me t'arm against myself,  
And give me some time to prepare to see him.  Felix. 
Without the Ports I'm going to receive him,  
In the mean time call home your straggling force,  
And think that in thy hands thou hold'st our destinies,  Paul. 
True, I am born to sacrifice me still▪  
In serving as a victim to your will.   
The End of the first Act.   

Actus Secundus.  

Scena Prima.  Severus, Fabianus. Severus. 
WHilst Felix giveth order for the sacrifice,  
May not I take a time to see Paulina,  
And render to her fair eyes that high homage  
Is due unto the Gods? I have not kept  
From thee, that it is this which brings me hither;  
For the rest I'm not troubled much, I come  
To sacrifice, but 'tis unto your beauties,  
Whereto I dedicate all my devotions.  Fab. 
Sir, you shall see her.  Seu. 
What joys do I feel!  
Doth this adorable object give consent  
That I shall see her? have I any power  
Upon her soul yet? hast thou seen in speaking  
To her of me, that she was troubled,  
Or what transport my coming causeth her?  
May I hope all things from this happy sight?  
For I would rather perish then abuse her  
With Letters recommendatory, which  
I have to marry her, they are for Felix,  
Not to triumph of her, my heart was never  
Rebellious unto her desires, and if  
My evil fortune should have changed hers,  
I would vanquish myself and pretend nothing.  Fab. 
Sir, you shall see her, I can say no more.  Seu. 
How comes it that thou tremblest and sighest?  
Doth she no longer love me? clear this point.  Fab. 
Sir, I could wish you not to see her more,  
Carry unto some higher place the honour  
Of your Caresses, you shall find at Rome  
Ladies enough that will be proud to be  
Your Mistresses, and in this high degree  
Of power and glory wherein now you are,  
The greatest will esteem your love a happiness.  Seu. 
What should my soul stoop to such humble thoughts?  
Should I esteem Paulina as inferior  
Unto my fortune? she hath better used it,  
I ought to imitate her, I love not  
My happiness but for to merit her.  
See, Fabian, thy discourse doth trouble me:  
Come, let us go to cast this haughty fortune  
Even at her feet, I found it happily  
In fights seeking a death worthy her Lover,  
So then this rank is hers, this favours hers,  
And I have nothing that I hold not off her.  Fab. 
No, Sir, but once again pray do not see her.  Seu. 
Oh! 'tis too much, at last clear me this point;  
Hast thou seen coldness when thou prayd'st access?  Fab. 
I tremble to declare t'ee, she is—  Seu. 
What?  Fab. 
Married.  Seu. 
Sustain me, Fabian, this thunderclap  
Is very great, and strikes so much the more,  
As more it doth surprise me.  Fab. 
What's become, Sir,  
Of that brave generous courage?  Seu. 
Constancy  
Is here of little use, when such displeasures  
Burden a great heart, the most masculine virtue  
Soon loseth all its vigour, and when souls  
Are taken with so glittering a fire,  
Death troubles them far less than such surprises.  
I can scarce yet believe thy sad discourse.  Fab. 
Paulina's married; fifteen days have passed  
Since Hymen did appear in saffron robes  
To solemnize the nuptials; Polyeuctes,  
One of the chiefest of th' Armenian Lords  
Doth taste the infinite sweetness of her bed.  Seu. 
I cannot blame her of an evil choice,  
The name of Polyeuctes is esteemed,  
As being descended from the blood of Kings.  
Weak comfort for a cureless misery!  
Paulina, I shall see thee by another  
Possessed! Oh Heaven! that spite of me didst send me  
Unto the light again! Oh fate! that gav'st me  
A new hope of my love, take back the favours  
Which you have lent me, and restore me death  
Which you have taken from me; yet let's see her,  
And in this sad place make an end to die  
In bidding her adieu, that my heart carrying  
Her Image to the dead, where I do go,  
With its last sigh to her may homage do.  Fab. 
Consider, Sir.  Seu. 
All is considered.  
What inconvenience fears a desperate heart?  
Consents she not?  Fab. 
Yes, Sir, but——  Seu. 
'Tis no matter.  Fab. 
This lively grief will thereby become stronger.  Seu. 
'Tis not an evil I intent to cure,  
I only will but see her, sigh, and die.  Fab. 
You will break forth without doubt in her presence;  
A Lover that doth lose all hath no more  
Complacence, but in such despair he follows  
His passion which doth thrust him on to injury,  
And imprecation.  Seu. 
Judge otherwise  
Of me, my respect doth continue yet;  
My despair, violent as 'tis, adores her;.  
What reason have I to reproach this Lady?  
Wherewith can I accuse her who hath promised  
Me nothing; she's not perjured, she's not light;  
Her duty hath betrayed me, her Father,  
And my misfortune; but her duty was  
Just, and her father's reason guided him;  
I impute all the treason unto my  
Misfortune; somewhat less of prosperous hap,  
And arrived sooner, would have gained one  
By th'other, and conserved me; too happy,  
But too late, I could not have gained her, I,  
Leave me to see her, then to sigh and die.  Fab. 
Yes, I will go t'assure her that you are  
In this extreme misfortune strong enough  
To overcome yourself, she fears like me  
Those first provoked motions which a sudden  
And unexpected loss raiseth in Lovers,  
The violence whereof excites much trouble  
Without the presence of the object to▪  
Redouble it.  Seu. 
I see her, Fabian.  Fab. 
Remember, Sir—  Seu. 
Another is her Husband,  
Alas, my sad fate! she doth love another;  
It is impossible my grief to smother.   

Scena Secunda.  Severus, Paulina, Stratonica, Fabian. Paulina. 
'tIs true, Severus, I do love another,  
And plead not here for't, every one  
Except myself do flatter and abuse you;  
Paulina hath a noble soul, and speaks  
With open heart, the report of your death  
Is not that which destroys you, if just heaven  
Had put my marriage to my choice, I should  
To your sole virtues, Sir, have given myself,  
And all the rigour of our former fate  
Against your merit had made vain attempts;  
I saw in you Illustrious marks enough  
To give you worthy preferrence even before  
The happiest monarches; but since other Laws  
My duty did impose, what ever Lover  
My Father had assigned me, though your valour  
Had added to this greatness which it gave you,  
The splendour of a Crown, though I loved you  
And hated him, I should have sighed at it,  
But yet I should obey, and o'er my passions,  
My reason being sovereign, should have blamed  
My sighs, and dissipated all my hatred.  Seu. 
How happy are you that a sigh or two  
Can easily acquit you of your troubles!  
So always absolute Queen of your desires,  
The greatest changes find you still resolved;  
Your spirit is carried in the strongest love  
Unto indifference, and perhaps to scorn,  
And your stout firmness without trouble makes  
Favour succeed contempt, and love disdain.  
Oh how a little of your humour, or  
Rather your virtue would comfort the evils  
Of this dejected heart! a sigh, a tear  
Shed with regret, would have already cured me  
Of losing you, my reason would prevail  
Upon enfeebled love, and from indifference  
Would go even to oblivion, and my fire  
Henceforth commanding over yours, I should  
Esteem me happy in another's arms.  
O too too lovely object, that hast charmed me!  
Must we thus love? is't so that you have loved me?  Paul. 
I loved thee Severus, and if I  
Can smother in my soul the flame remains there,  
What rigorous torments, Gods, should I avoid!  
'Tis true, my reason tames my passions,  
But whatsoever Authority she hath taken  
Upon them, she reigns not, but tyrannizeth;  
And though the outside be without commotion,  
The inside is but trouble and sedition.  
A certain charm, I know not what, inclines me  
Towards you yet, your merit sure is great,  
Although my reason's strong, I see it still,  
Such as it lights my fires, so much more strongly  
To work on my affections, as it is  
Environed with puissance and glory;  
I see that in all places after you  
It draws triumphant victory, that I  
Best know the price on't, and that it hath not  
Deceived the generous hope I conceived of it.  
But that same duty which in Rome subdued it,  
And makes me subject to the Law of Man here,  
Repulseth still so strongly the assault  
Of so many allurements, that it tears  
My soul, but doth not shake it; 'tis that virtue  
Even cruel to our own desires, which you  
Should praise when you blaspheam it; if you please  
You may complain on't, but yet praise its rigour  
That triumpheth o'er you and o'er my heart  
At one time, lower thoughts could not have merited  
That perfect love which you have born unto me.  Seu. 
O sweet Paulina, pardon a blind grief,  
Which knoweth nothing but excess of misery.  
I named it inconstancy, and took  
For crimes th'endeavours of a virtuous duty.  
I do beseech you show less to my senses  
The greatness of my Loss, and of your worth,  
And so through pity hiding this rare virtue,  
That feeds my fires even when she separates us,  
Make some defects appear that may successively  
Weaken my grief together with my love.  Paul. 
Alas! this virtue, though invincible still,  
Makes but appear a soul too sensible,  
These tears are witnesses thereof, and these  
Effeminate sighs which stir up the remembrance  
Of our first fires, too rigorous effects  
Of a beloved presence, against which  
My duty hath too little of defence.  
But if you do esteem this virtuous duty,  
keep me the glory on't, and cease to see me,  
Spare me those tears that trickle to my shame,  
Spare me those tears that with grief I overcome,  
Lastly spare me those sad discourses which  
Do but stir up your torments and mine own.  Seu. 
So shall I rob myself of the sole good  
That remains to me.  Paul. 
Save you from a sight  
Fatal unto us both.  Seu. 
What recompense  
Of all my love? what fruit of my devotions?  Paul. 
That's the sole remedy that can cure our evils.  Seu. 
I'll die of mine, Oh love my memory.  Paul. 
I'll cure mine, they would sully my fair glory.  Seu. 
Oh! since your glory doth pronounce the sentence,  
My grief must yield unto its interest,  
From such a heart as mine what is't that it  
Cannot obtain? you do awake the cares  
Which I own to my glory; farewell, Madam,  
I go to seek in honourable combats  
That immortality which a fair death  
Doth give, if I after this mortal stroke  
Of fate, have life enough to seek a death.  Paul. 
And I, whose punishment your sight increases,  
Intent to avoid it even in Sacrifice,  
And alone in my Chamber shutting up  
My sorrows, I will make my secret Orisons  
Unto the Gods for you.  Seu. 
May righteous Heaven  
Contented with my ruin heap up happiness  
On Polyeuctes and Paulina's heads.  Paul. 
May brave Severus find after so much  
Disaster, a felicity that may be  
Worthy his valour.  Seu. 
In you he could find it.  Paul. 
I depend of a Father and a Husband.  Seu. 
Oh duty that destroys, and makes me desperate!  
Adieu too virtuous and too charming object.  Paul. 
Adieu, adieu, thou too unfortunate  
And faithful lover.   

Scena Tertia.  Paulina, Stratonica. Stratonica. 
I Have bewailed you both, and cannot choose  
But shed tears, yet your spirit, I do believe,  
Is free of fear now, for you plainly see  
Your dream is vain, Severus cometh not  
With revenge in his hand.  Paul. 
Leave me to breath,  
At least if thou hast (as thou sayest) lamented me,  
Thou call'st again my fear unto the Fort  
Of all my grief, suffer my troubled spirits  
To take a little rest, and lead me not  
By those redoubled evils.  Strat. 
What! fear you yet?  Paul. 
Stratonica, I tremble,  
And though I am paid with little justice,  
This unjust fear continually produceth  
The Image of the sad misfortunes which  
I saw last night.  Strat. 
Severus is most generous.  Paul. 
Notwithstanding  
His staydness, Polyeuctes all in blood  
Strikes still my sight.  Strat. 
You are yourself a witness  
Of his devotions for him.  Paul. 
I believe  
He would be his support upon occasion,  
But whether this belief be false or true,  
His abode in this place doth make me fear,  
To whatsoever his virtue may dispose him,  
He's strong, he loves, and comes here to espouse me.   

Scena Quarta.  Polyeuctes, Nearchus, Paulina, Stratonica. Polyeuctes. 
YOu shed too many tears, 'tis time to dry them,  
Let your grief cease, and your vain fears fly hence,  
You see me living. Madam, in despite  
Of the false intimation of your gods.  Paul. 
The day is long yet, and what most affrights me  
Is, that the half of the Advertisement  
Is found already true, I did believe  
Severus dead, but he was here just now.  Pol. 
I know it, and am nothing troubled at it;  
I am in Militene, and let Severus  
Be what he will, your Father doth command here,  
And I'm considerable. Besides I'm confident  
That from a heart so generous as his  
A Treason cannot spring, I was informed  
He gave a visit to you, and I'm come  
To render him an honour he deserves.  Paul. 
He is gone very sad, and much confounded,  
But I've prevailed with him that he will  
See me no more.  Pol. 
How! Madam, d'ye suspect me  
Of jealousy already?  Paul. 
I should do  
Unto all three too sensible an injury,  
I assure my repose which his looks trouble;  
The firmest virtue still avoideth hazards  
Woe doth expose himself to danger, would  
Meet with his ruin, and to speak to you  
With open soul of him, since a true merit  
Can have inflamed us, his presence always  
Hath right to charm us. Besides that one must▪  
Be out of countenance to leave one's self  
To be surprised, one suffers to resist,  
One suffers to defend, and although virtue  
Triumpheth o'er these fires, the victory  
Is painful and the fight dishonourable.  Pol. 
Oh virtue, if 'twere possible, too perfect,  
And duty too sincere! what sad regrets  
‛ Cost you Severus! how at the expense  
Of a fair fire you render me most happy!  
And to my Amorous heart how sweet are you!  
The more I see mine own defects, and do  
Contemplate your perfections, the more  
I do admire.—  Polyeuctes, Paulina, Nearchus, Stratonica, Cleon. Cle. 
My Lord and Master Felix  
Hath sent me to desire you to make haste  
Unto the Temple, for the Victime's chosen,  
And all the People on their knees; there wants  
But you, Sir, to begin the Sacrifice.  Pol. 
Go, we will follow thee, will you along, Madam?  Paul. 
Severus fears my sight, it stirs his flame,  
I'll keep my word with him, and will not see him;  
Adieu, you'll find him there, think of his power,  
And the great favour that he hath.  Pol. 
I fear not  
His credit nor his power, and as I know  
His generosity, we shall encounter  
Each other only in civility.  Polyeuctes, Nearchus. Nearc. 
Where do you think to go?  Pol. 
Unto the Temple,  
Where I am called.  Nearc. 
What, to join yourself  
To the Devotions of a company  
Of Infidels, have you forgot already  
That you are Christian?  Pol. 
You by whom I am so,  
Do you remember it.  Nearc: 
I hate false Gods.  Pol. 
And I detest them.  Nearc. 
I do hold their worship  
Most impious.  Pol. 
And I take it for abominable.  Nearc. 
Fly then their Altars.  Pol. 
I will overthrow them,  
And in their Temple die, or drive them thence.  
My dear Nearchus, come, let's brave Idolatry  
Before the eyes of men, and show us Christians;  
Heaven doth expect it, and we must perform it:  
For my part I do promise, and am going  
T'accomplish it: I thank God that hath given me  
This opportunity to express my zeal,  
Wherein his goodness ready even to crown me,  
Deigns to approve the faith that he will give me.  Nearc: 
This zeal, Sir, is too ardent, moderate it.  Pol. 
We cannot have too much on't for the God  
Which we adore.  Nearc. 
It will procure your death.  Pol. 
I seek it for him.  Nearc. 
If this heart should shake?  Pol. 
He will be my support.  Nearc. 
'tis not his pleasure,  
We should precipitate ourselves therein.  Pol. 
If we die willingly, the more's our merit.  Nearc. 
To wait and suffer is sufficient,  
We need not seek out danger.  Pol. 
We suffer with regret when we dare not  
Offer ourselves.  Nearc. 
But in this Temple Death  
Is most assured.  Pol. 
But in Heaven the palm  
Already is prepared.  Nearc. 
A holy life  
Must merit it.  Pol. 
Living, perhaps, my crimes  
May take it from me, wherefore should we hazard  
What death assures us? When she opens heaven,  
Can she seem hard? I am a Christian,  
Nearchus, and I am so altogether;  
The pure faith which I have received, aspires  
To its effect; who flies believeth faintly,  
And hath but a dead faith.  Nearc. 
Know that your life  
Importeth God himself, live to protect  
The Christians in this place.  Pol. 
Th' example of my death will better fortify them.  Nearc. 
You will die then?  Pol. 
And you desire to live?  Nearc. 
To tell you truly, I've no mind to follow you.  
I fear to fall under the horror of  
The Torments which they will inflict upon us.  Pol. 
Who goes on boldly needs not fear to shall,  
God doth impart at need his infinite force;  
Who thinks he shall deny him, in his soul  
He doth deny him, he belieus to do't,  
And doubteth of his faith.  Nearc. 
Who feareth nothing  
Presumes too much upon himself.  Pol. 
I expect all things from his grace and mercy,  
And nothing from my weakness; but in stead  
Of pressing me, 'tis fit that I press you,  
Whence doth proceed this coldness?  Nearc. 
God himself  
Hath feared death.  Pol. 
He offered himself;  
Let's follow this divine instinct, and raise  
Altars unto him on the heaps of Idols;  
We must not (I do remember yet your words)  
Neglect to please him; wife, and wealth, and rank,  
We must not stick t' expose ourselves to dangers,  
Yea even to death, to pour our blood forth for him;  
Alas! where is that perfect love which you  
Wished to me, and which I now wish you?  
If it remains yet with you, are you not  
Jealous that I scarce Christian yet, should show it  
Stronger than you?  Nearc. 
You come immediately  
From baptism, and the thing that animates you,  
It is his grace, which yet no crime in you,  
Hath weakened, yet it acteth fully in you.  
And to its vehement fire all things seem possible;  
But this same grace in me diminished,  
And by a thousand sins continually  
Extenuated acteth with such faintness  
In hazardous attempts, that all things seem  
Impossible unto its little vigour;  
This base effeminacy, and cowardly  
Evasions are the punishments which my  
Offences do draw on me, but our God,  
Whom we must ne'er distrust, gives your Example  
To fortify me; Come, dear Polyeuctes,  
Let us go 'fore the eyes of men to brave  
Idolatry, and to show who we are;  
May I to suffer give you the Example,  
As you have given me that of offering you?  Pol. 
By this most happy transport which Heaven sends you,  
Again I know Nearchus, and I weep  
For joy on't, come, let us not lose more time,  
The Sacrifice is ready, let's uphold  
Th' interest of the true God, let's tread  
Under our feet this feigned Thunderbolt,  
With which th'abused and too credulous people  
Arm a corrupted piece of wood; let's go  
To make this fatal blindness manifest,  
Those gods of stone and mettle, let us break  
In pieces, and let's dedicate our days  
To this celestial heat, and so let's offer  
A triumph unto God; let him dispose  
The rest.  Nearc. 
Come let us make his glory to break forth  
Unto the eyes of all, and for him die,  
Who for us suffered death and infamy.   
The End of the second Act.   

Actus Tertius.  

Scena Prima.  Paulina alone. 
WHat floating cares! what confused clouds  
Present inconstant images to mine eyes!  
Sweet rest, which I dare not so much as hope,  
Send thy divine Ray speedily to clear them;  
A thousand divers thoughts which my sad troubles  
Produce in my uncertain heart, are lost  
In wishes; no hope flatters me, not where  
I dare persist, no fear affrights me not  
Where I dare fix myself, my spirit embracing  
All what it doth imagine, would sometimes  
My happiness, and sometimes my destruction;  
Both one and t'other strike it with so little  
Effect, that it can neither hope nor fear.  
Continually Severus troubleth  
My fantasy, my hope is in his virtue,  
I fear his jealousy; and I cannot think  
That Polyeuctes with an equal eye  
Can see his rival here; as between such  
The hate is natural, the interview  
Soon endeth in a quarrel; the one sees  
In the hands of the other what he thinks  
He meriteth, the other sees a desperate  
Would take it from him; whatsoever high reason  
Raignsin their courage, th'one conceiveth envy,  
The other jealousy: the shame of an  
Affront, which each of them feareth to see,  
Either received of old, or at this present,  
Destroying all their patience from the first,  
Forms choler and distrust, and seizing on  
The Husband and the Lover both together,  
Whether they will or no delivers them  
Over to their resentment, and their passion:  
But what a strange Chimaera do I fancy  
Unto myself! and what an injury  
Do I to Polyeuctes and Severus?  
As if the virtue of these famous Rivals  
Can not triumph over those common evils.  
The minds of both, Mistresses to themselves  
Are of too high an order for such baseness;  
They shall see one another in the Temple  
Like generous men; but alas, still I fear:  
What is th'advantage that my Husband hath  
To be in Militene, if Severus arm  
The Roman Eagle against him, if my Father  
Command here, and doth fear this favourite,  
And doth repent already of his choice?  
The little hope I have is with constraint,  
And born it is abortive, and gives place  
To fear; what ought to fix it, doth but serve  
To dissipate it. Gods! grant that my fear  
Be false, and my sad fancy, a Chimere.   

Scena Secunda.  Paulina, Stratonica. Paulina. 
BUt let us understand the Issue on't.  
Now my Stratonica what's the conclusion  
Of this great Sacrifice.  Strat. 
Alas Paulina!  Paul. 
Have my Prayers and Devotions been frustrate:  
I see an ill sign of it in thy face,  
Have they unfortunately quarrelled?  Strat. 
Nearchus, Polyeuctes, and the Christians—  Paul. 
Speak then, the Christians.  Strat. 
I cannot speak.  Paul. 
Thou dost prepare my soul for strange afflictions.  Strat. 
You ne'er could have a juster cause of grief.  Paul. 
What have they murdered him?  Strat. 
That had been nothing  
Your dream is all true, Polyeuctes is  
No more.  Paul. 
What is he dead?  Strat. 
No, he lives, but  
(O fate to be lamented!) this great courage,  
This divine soul is no more worthy of  
The light, nor of Paulina, he is no more  
That Spouse so charming to your eyes, he is  
The common enemy of the gods, and State,  
An infamous, a Rebel, a perfidious,  
A traitor, Villain; a base Particide,  
An execrable plague to all good men,  
An impious and a sacrilegious Wretch,  
In a word, Madam, he's a Christian.  Paul. 
This word would have sufficed without that torrent  
Of Injuries.  Strat. 
Can there be any titles bad enough  
For Christians?  Paul. 
He is what thou sayest, if he  
Embrace their faith, but he's my Husband, and  
Thou speakest to me;  Strat. 
Consider him no more  
Than the God he adoreth.  Paul. 
I have loved him  
With duty, and this duty still continues.  Strat. 
At present he doth give you cause to hate him  
Who doth betray the gods, would make no scruple  
To betray you.  Paul. 
Although he should betray me,  
Yet I should love him. And if thou, Stratonica,  
Dost wonder at this love, know, that my duty  
Dependeth not of his, let him fall in it,  
(If he be so disposed) I will do mine.  
What if he loved elsewhere, should his example  
Persuade me to embrace unlawful heats?  
Let him be Christian, I'm not troubled at it.  
I love his Person, and I hate his error.  
But what resentment hath my Father of it?  Strat. 
A secret rage, and an excess of choler  
Possesseth him, though yet for Polyeuctes  
He shows some; he'll not let his justice  
Fall upon him before the punishment  
Of false Nearchus be presented to him  
To see how that will work upon his spirits.  Paul. 
What is Nearchus Christian too?  Strat. 
'Twas he  
Seduced him; see the unworthy fruit.  
Of their old amity; this perfidious  
Taking him lately from us against his will,  
Drew him to baptism: now you have the secret  
That seemed so mysterious, which your love  
Can not draw from him.  Paul. 
Thou didst blame me then  
For being too unfortunate.  Strat. 
I foresaw not  
Such a misfortune.  Paul. 
Ere I will give up  
My soul unto my griefs, I'll try the force  
Of my laments, in quality of Wife  
And Daughter, I hope to persuade a husband,  
And pacify a Father: if I fail  
With both of them, I'll take no other Counsel  
But what despair shall give me: tell me now  
What did they in the Temple?  Strat. 
The impiety  
They acted there was such as 'tis without  
Example, I can't think on't without trembling:  
And fear, I should commit a crime but in  
Relating it; in few words understand  
Their beastly insolence. Scarce had the Priest  
Obtained silence, and towards the East  
Settled his countenance, but their small respect  
Appeared plainly, both of them expressed  
Their madness at the ceremony, they mocked  
Aloud the sacred mysteries, and despised  
The gods that were invoked; all the people  
Murmured thereat, and Felix was offended;  
But both of them carrying themselves with more▪  
Irreverence, what, said Polyeuctes, raising  
His voice, adore you gods of stone or wood?  
Dispense me from recital of the blasphemies  
They vomited 'gainst jupiter himself.  
Adultery and Incest were the least  
Crimes they objected to him. Harken Felix.  
Pursued he, and hearken all ye people;  
The God of Polyeuctes and Nearchus  
Is absolute Monarch both of heaven and earth,  
Of Destiny sole Master, and the only  
Being that's independent, substance which  
Never receiveth change; it is the God  
The Christians adore that we must thank  
For victories he gave the Emperor Decius;  
He in his hands holds the success of battles,  
With him are (saith the sacred Text) the issues  
Of life and death, his power, his infinite goodness,  
His justice is immense, 'tis he alone  
That punisheth, alone that recompenseth;  
You vainly do adore inpuissant Monsters.  
Casting themselves at these words on the wine  
And Incense, after they had thrown against  
The earth the holy vessels without fear  
Of Felix, or of Thunder, with like fury  
They ran unto the Altar. Heavens! was ever  
The like seen? there you might behold the statue  
Of the chief god o'erthrown by impious hands▪  
Lie at their feet, the mysteries disturbed,  
The Temple sacrilegionsly profaned,  
The flight and clamours of a mutinous people,  
That fear ' the anger of offended heaven▪  
Felix.— but here he comes; the rest he'll tell you▪  Paul. 
How sullen is his countenance and full  
Of trouble! he expresseth much of sadness  
And indignation.   

Scena Tertia.  Felix, Paulina, Stratonica. Felix. 
DUrst such an insolence appear! in public too, and in my sight?  
He shall die for't, the traitor.  Paul. 
Suffer me  
T'embrace your knees.  Fel. 
I speak not of your Husband,  
But of Nearchus, Polyeuctes hath  
Too near relation to me, though his crime▪  
Deserves no favour, to be banished  
My love for ever.  Paul. 
I could not expect  
Less from a father's goodness.  Fel. 
I could sacrifice him▪  
To my just anger, for you are not ignorant  
To what a height of horror the blind fury  
Of his impiety hath boldly mounted,  
You might have understood it from Stratonica.  Paul. 
I know 'tis fit he see Nearchus punished.  Felix. 
Hereafter he shall better be instructed  
In taking counsel, when he shall behold  
Him punished that seduced him to this evil;  
The bloody spectacle of a friend, whom he  
Must follow, will so work upon his soul  
That he'll repent his wickedness, and renounce  
His new faith, an example more prevails  
Then threatening; this mad heat will suddenly  
Turn into ice, cheer up your drooping spirits.  Paul. 
You hope then that his courage will come down?  Felix. 
He should be wise, sure, at Nearchus' cost.  Paul. 
He should be so, but alas! I do fear  
There must be time to work it, may I hope  
T' obtain this favour from your goodness, Sir?  Felix. 
I do him too much favour in consenting  
That he shall lie upon a quick repentance:  
Like punishment is due to like offences,  
Yet I have put a difference between  
These two equally guilty, and thereby  
Betrayed Justice to paternal love,  
I've made myself a criminal for him,  
And did expect from you more thanks than plaints.  Paul. 
First give me, then I'll thank you; I know well  
The honour, and the spirit of a Christian;  
He doth continue obstinate to the end,  
He'll die before he will repent.  Felix. 
His pardon  
Is in his hand, let him consider on't.  Paul. 
Give it him fully.  Felix. 
He may finish it.  Paul. 
Give him not over to the furies of  
His sect.  Felix. 
I'll give him up unto the Laws,  
Which I ought to respect.  Paul. 
Is this all the support a Son-in-Law  
May hope for from the Father of his Wife?  Felix. 
Let him do for himself as much as I  
Have done for him.  Paul. 
Alas! Sir, he is blind.  Felix. 
It pleaseth him to be so, he that cherisheth  
His error never will acknowledge it.  Paul. 
In the name of the gods.—  Felix. 
Invoke them not.  
The interest of the gods requires his death.  Paul. 
They hear our prayers.  Felix. 
Well then, Petition them.  Paul. 
In the name of the Emperor whose place  
You hold.  Felix. 
'Tis true, his power is in my hand,  
But if he hath committed it unto me  
'Tis to display it against his enemies.  Paul. 
Is Polyeuctes so?  Felix. 
All Christians are  
Rebels.  Paul. 
Hear not these cruel maxims for him.  
In marrying Paulina he's become  
Part of your blood.  Felix. 
I look upon his fault,  
Not on his quality, where a crime against  
The State, is mingled with black sacrilege,  
Not amity nor blood have any privilege.  Paul. 
Excess of rigour!  Felix. 
Less than his offence.  Paul. 
Oh effect too true of my fearful dream!  
Know, that with him, Sir, you destroy your daughter.  Felix. 
My Family is not so dear to me  
As the gods and the Emperor, are honoured.  Paul. 
Cannot the ruin of us both arrest you?  Felix. 
I fear the gods add Decius both together;  
But we need doubt no sad thing yet; think you  
He will persist in his blind error? if  
He seemed to us to run to his misfortune,  
It was but the first heat of a new Christian.  Paul. 
If yet you love him, have not that opinion  
That he will change belief twice in a day:  
The Christians are more constant, you expect,  
I doubt too much Legerity from him;  
'Tis not an error sucked in with the milk,  
That his soul hath embraced without examining:  
No, Polyeuctes is a Christian,  
Because he would be so, and brought with him  
Unto the Temple a resolved spirit.  
You may presume of him as of the rest,  
Death's neither fatal to them, nor dishonourable.  
They seek for glory in despising of  
The gods, for earth blind, they aspire to heaven;  
And thinking that death opens them the gate,  
Torment, dismember, murder them, they care not;  
Tortures and racks are the same unto them  
That pleasures are to us, and bring them to  
The Butt where their desires and wishes tend;  
They call the cruelest and most infamous death  
Sweet martyrdom.  Felix. 
Well, Polyeuctes then  
Shall have what he desires, no more of him.  Paul. 
My Father.   

Scena Quarta.  Felix, Albin, Paulina, Stratonica. Felix. 
I sat done, Albin?  Alb. 
Yes Sir, and Nearchus  
Hath paid for his fault.  Fel. 
And Polyeuctes  
Hath seen him?  Alb. 
Yes, but with an envious eye;  
He was on fire to follow him, far from  
Retreating, and his heart was firmly fixed,  
In stead of being shaken.  Paul. 
Oh! my Father,  
I told you so; once more I do beseech you,  
If ever my respects gave you content  
If you esteemed them, if you ever loved them.—  Fel. 
Paulina, you love an unworthy husband  
Too much.  Paul. 
I had him from your hand, my love  
Is without crime, he was your worthy choice,  
And for him I have quenched the fairest fires  
That e'er were kindled in a heart; I beg  
In the name of that blind and quick obedience,  
Which I have always rendered to my duty,  
Since you had all power on me and my love,  
That I at my turn now may prevail with you.  
By this just power too much now to be feared,  
By those fair sentiments which I must smother,  
Take not your presents from me, they are dear  
Unto mine eyes, and have cost me too much  
Not to be precious to me.  Fel. 
You are troublesome.  Paul. 
Good gods! what do I hear!  Fel. 
I love not pity  
But at the rate I would receive thereof,  
To touch me with't whether I will or no  
By so many vain trials, is to lose  
Time and your tears, only to anger me:  
You gave it me, but you must understand  
I disavow it when you snatch it from me:  
Prepare to see this miserable Christian,  
And use your best endeavour to persuade him,  
When I have used mine; go, and no more  
Provoke a Father that doth love you tenderly:  
See if you can by your persuasions gain  
Your Husband to himself, presently  
I'll cause him to come hither, in the mean time  
Leave us, I'll try what my discourse can do.  Paul. 
Suffer, I do beseech you.—  Fel. 
Once again  
Leave me alone your grief offendeth me  
as much as it afflicts me, all your industry  
Must be applied to gain you Polyeuctes,  
The less you do importune me, the more  
You shall advance.   

Scena Quinta.  Felix, Albin. Felix. 
ALbin, how died he?  Alb. 
Like a Beast, like an impious desperate wretch  
In braving torments▪ in despising death,  
Without regret, astonishment, or murmur,  
In obstination, and insensibility;  
Lastly, he died like a Christian  
With blasphemy in's mouth.  Fel. 
What did the other?  Alb. 
I have told you already, nothing touched him,  
So far was he from being dejected at it,  
That his heart grew more lofty: they enforced him  
To quit the Scaffold: he is now in Prison.  
Where I saw him conducted; are you ready  
To entertain discourse with him a little?  Fel. 
Oh! how unfortunate am I?  Alb. 
You are  
Lamented every where.  Fel. 
None know the evils  
Wherewith my heart's oppressed, thoughts upon thoughts  
Trouble my soul, cares upon cares disturb it:  
I find that love and hate, that fear and hope,  
That joy and grief by turns, press and provoke it.  
I enter into sentiments that pass  
Belief, I have some that are violent,  
And others that are pitiful, some generous  
Which dare not act, and likewise some ignoble  
Which make me blush. I love that wretched man.  
Whom I chose for my Son-in-Law, I hate  
The blind and dangerous error he is in;  
I do deplore his loss, and being willing  
To save him, I must look too on the gods,  
Whose injured glory I must vindicate:  
I fear their thunderbolts and Decius wrath;  
It is my charge, my life depends upon it.  
Thus sometimes for him I expose myself  
To death, and other times I expose him  
To save myself.  Alb. 
Sure Decius will excuse  
A father's amity, besides Polyeuctes  
Is of a blood that should be reverenced.  Fel. 
His order for the punishment o' th' Christians  
Is very rigorous, and the more th' example  
Is great, the more 'tis dangerous and dreadful.  
There's no distinction when th' offence is public;  
When we connive at a domestic crime,  
By what authority, by what Law can we  
Punish that in another which we suffer  
Amongst ourselves?  Alb. 
If you dare not to have  
Regard unto his person, writ to Decius  
That he ordain his pardon.  Fel. 
Should I do so,  
Severus would destroy me, 'tis his hate  
And power that make my greatest care, if I  
Should but defer to punish such a crime,  
Though he be generous, though he be magnanimous▪  
He is a man, and sensible, and I  
Disdained him formerly, his spirit offended  
With those received contempts, and desperate  
Through th' unexpected marriage of Paulina,  
Will from the anger of the Emperor  
Obtain my ruin. Every thing seems lawful  
To revenge an affront, and opportunity  
Tempteth the most remiss, perhaps (and this  
Suspicion is not without some appearance)  
He in his heart conceives again some hope,  
And thinking to see Polyeuctes punished  
Recals a love with much pain banished:  
Judge if his anger in this case implacable  
Would hold me innocent to save a Criminal,  
And if he'd spare me, seeing his designs  
Twice made abortive by me. Shall I tell he  
A base, unworthy, and low spirited thought?  
I smother it, it springs up again, it flatters,  
And anger's me, ambition still presents it  
Unto me, and all that I can do is  
But to detest it; Polyeuctes here  
Is the prop of my Family, but if  
The other by his death espouse my daughter,  
I should acquire greater advantages,  
Which would raise me a thousand times more high  
Then now I am. My heart thereat by force  
Takes a malignant joy, but rather let  
Heaven strike me with a thunderbolt, then that  
I should consent unto so base a thought,  
Which hitherto my glory hath belied.  Alb. 
Your heart is too good, and your soul too high;  
But d'ye resolve to punish this offence?  Fel. 
I'll use all my endeavour to subdue  
His error by the fear of death, but if  
I can't prevail, than I will afterward  
Employ Paulina's power.  Alb. 
What will you do  
At last, if he continue obstinate?  Fel. 
Press me not on that point in such displeasure,  
I can't resolve, and know not what to choose.  Alb. 
Sir, like a faithful servant I am bound  
T' advertise you that the Town murmureth  
In his behalf already, and is even  
Upon the point to mutiny, if you  
Proceed against him further, I perceive  
Th' Inhabitants are all resolved t' oppose you,  
And will not see their last hope, and the blood  
Of their Kings pass the rigour oh the Laws:  
Besides his prison is not very safe.  
I left about it but a pitiful troop▪  
I fear they will be forced▪  Fel. 
Then take him thence,  
And bring him here, where we'll be sure of him.  Alb. 
Then take him thence yourself, and with a hope  
Of pardon, pacify the fury of  
The multitude.  Fel 
Come let us go, and if  
He still persist to remain Christian,  
We will dispose of him, and carry't so  
That what's resolved upon, they shall not know.   
The End of the third Act.   

Actus Quartus.  

Scena Prima.  Polyeuctes, Cleon▪ three other Guards. Polyeuctes. 
WHat would you with me, Guards?  Cle. 
Paulina, Sir,  
Would speak with you.  Pol. 
Oh how I dread her presence!  
This combat will be hard; Felix▪ o'er thee  
I triumphed in Prison, and despised  
Thy threatening, I beheld thee without fear,  
I see, that to revenge thyself thou tak'st  
Stronger a mes then thine own her tears do terrify  
More then thy Executioners; O Lord,  
Thou seest here the danger that I run,  
In this my pressing need double thy force;  
And thou my dear Nearchus, coming forth  
Lately from a Triumphant victory,  
Look on my travel, from thy glorious residence,  
Lend me thy hand from Heaven to overcome  
So strong an Enemy. Guards, dare you do me  
One civil office?  Cle. 
Sir, we have strict order  
To render you no service.  Pol 
You mistake me,  
I have no purpose to apply myself  
Unto you as a means for my escape,  
But I desire that one of you (three being  
Sufficient to guard me) would oblige me  
To seek Severus, and entreat him here;  
This might be done with safety, I presume.  
If I could tell him an important secret,  
He would enjoy more happiness, and I  
Should die content.  Cle. 
Since it is for Severus,  
I will dispense with all things.  Pol. 
He himself  
Will recompense thy pains, if I should fail.  
The sooner that thou go'st, the better 'tis,  
Dispatch.  Cle 
I fly, and you shall have me here  
In less time than a moment.—  Exit Cleon.  

Scena Secunda.  Polyeuctes alone, his Guards being retired to the corners of the Stage. 
DElicious Spring of love, yet fruitful still  
In misery, of me what is your will?  
Ye flattering pleasures, baits of flesh and blood,  
Why fly you not, since I esteem you mud?  
Vanish vain honours, worldly glory pass,  
Which shines, and is as brittle too as glass:  
Hope not that I'll sigh after you at all,  
It is in vain your weak charms to estall.  
Why show you me Gods enemies in state  
And flourishing? he doth reserve a fate  
That shall confound those great ones, and the sword  
Suspended o'er their heads, at his least word  
Shall fall on them, so much more heavily,  
As that they dreamt not of their misery.  
Thou cruel Tiger Decius that dost thirst  
For blood, thou shalt be glutted till thou burst:  
That God, which we adore, hath for a while  
Permitted thee, wild forest Boar, to spoil  
His lovely Vineyard, but thy fearful fate  
Draws near which will thy glory terminate.  
The Scythian comes like an impetuous flood,  
To revenge Christian and Persian blood:  
A little yet, and then thy hour is come,  
When thou shalt sleep until the day of doom  
In body, not in mind, out of the name  
Of Christian, that is fed still with a flame,  
Which never dies. Nothing can warrant thee,  
The thunder's ready in the cloud, I see;  
And will no longer hold in expectation  
Of thy repentance, wretch in obstination!  
In the mean time let Felix sacrifice  
Me to thy rage, my rival blind his eyes,  
And make himself his Son-in-Law, I yield  
Unto my loss, rather I win the field:  
Vain baits, I slight you and despise your art,  
For in this Christian and Regenerate heart,  
I feel a divine flame, whose Ray will dim  
Paulina's beauty in her brightest trim.  
I look upon her now but as a toy  
That would detain me from my heavenly joy.  
Adoreable ideas, sweets above  
You fill a heart that's capable to love;  
The souls Possessed with your sacred fire  
Fix there, and firmly settle their desire  
Never to change; you promise, and give more,  
Your benefits do still increase your store:  
The happy death which I expect, to me  
Is a sweet passage to eternity.  
'Tis you, O divine flame, which nothing can  
Extinguish, that make me more than a man  
Look on Paulina's face, and never fear;  
Her assaults and temptations I can hear;  
I see her, but my heart inflamed now  
With holy zeal, to her charms cannot how,  
And my eyes cleared with celestial light,  
Hers appear clouded in a vail of night.   

Scena Tertia.  Polyeuctes, Paulina, Guards. Polyeuctes. 
MAdam, what's the design that brings you hither?  
Is it to fight me, or to second me?  
And the fair proffer of this perfect love  
Comes it to aid me, or to overthrow me?  
Bring you here with you hate, or amity  
As enemy, or as my dearest moiety?  Paul. 
You have no enemy here, Sir, but yourself  
Every one loves you, none but Polyeuctes  
Hateth your virtue, it is he alone  
That executes my dream, do not destroy  
Yourself, and you are safe; how great soe'er  
Your crime be, you are innocent, if you grant  
A pardon to yourself; deign to consider  
The blood from whence you're sprung, your noble actions,  
Your rare endowments; think, Sir, that you are  
Beloved by all the people, favoured of  
The Prince, and Son-in-law unto the governor  
Of the whole Province, the name of my Husband.  
I reckon t'ee as nothing, that's a happiness  
Only for me, which is not great for you;  
But after your exploits, after your birth,  
After your power, look upon our hope,  
And give not up unto the hangman's hand▪  
What to our just desires so fair a fortune  
Doth promise.  Pol. 
I consider more, and know  
My advantages, and the hope which on them  
Great courages do frame, they aspire not  
But unto transitory good, which cares  
Disurb, which dangers follow, and which death  
Take from us, fortune makes her sport with them,  
To day i'th' throne, to morrow in the dirt.  
Their greatest glory never is without  
Some discontent, few of our Caesars have  
Enjoyed it long, this greatness perisheth;  
I have ambition too, but mine's more fair  
And noble, for I seek immortal glory,  
A happiness assured that hath no end  
Nor measure, far above the reach of envy,  
Or destiny; and is a sorry life  
Too dear a purchase for it which immediately  
May be ta'en from me, which makes me enjoy  
But even the flying instant, end's not able  
T'assure me that which follows?  Paul. 
See the dotage,  
And the ridiculous dreams of you fond Christians;  
Behold how their lies have seduced you!  
You think that all your blood is not enough  
For a felicity so sweet; but, Sir,  
This blood is not yours to dispose of it;  
You have not life as an inheritance,  
The day that gives it you at the same time  
Engageth it, you own it to the Prince,  
Unto the public, to the State.  Pol. 
I would  
Lose it for them in honourable fight,  
I know what is the happiness thereof,  
And what's the glory, you do boast the memory  
Of Decius Ancestors, and this name yet precious  
Unto you Romans, put into his hands  
At the end of six hundred years the Empire.  
I own my life unto the people's good,  
To the Prince and his crown, but I do own it  
Much more unto the God that gave it me:  
If to die for ones Prince be held to be  
A glorious fate, when one dies for his God  
How shall his death be crowned?  Paul. 
What God?  Pol. 
Peace, Paulina,  
He hears your words, for he is not a God  
Like your false gods, insensible and deaf,  
Weak, made of wood, of marble, or of gold,  
Even as you please: he is the God o'th' Christians,  
He is mine, he is yours, the heaven and earth  
Acknowledge him, who made both them and us.  Paul. 
Adore him then in mind, and outwardly  
Express it not.  Pol. 
Oh no! I should be then  
Idolater, and Christian both together.  Paul. 
Dissemble for a moment till Severus  
Be gone, and let my father's goodness work.  Pol. 
The goodness of my God is to be cherished  
Much more, he doth remove me from the dangers  
I would have run into, and without suffering  
Me to look back, his Favour crowneth me  
Entering in the career, with the first wind  
He brings me to the Port, and coming forth  
From baptism, he doth send me unto death.  
If you could comprehend the little worth  
Of this frail life, and the eternal sweets  
That follow after death— But to what end  
Is it to speak of those concealed treasures  
To souls whom God hath not inspired yet:  Paul. 
Cruel! for it is time my grief break forth,  
And that a just reproach oppress a soul  
Ingrateful; Is this that fair fire thou boasts of?  
Are these thy oaths? expressest thou for me  
The smallest sentiments? I speak not to thee  
Of that deplorable estate, wherein  
Thy death will leave thy poor disconsolate Wife,  
I think that love should speak enough of that:  
But that love so firm and so well deserved  
Which thou didst promise me, and I bore thee,  
When thou wilt leave me, when thou makest me die,  
Can it not draw one sigh, one tear from thee?  
Ingrateful, thou dost quit me, yea, with joy,  
Thou hidest it not, but will't that I should see it,  
And thy hard heart insensible to my sad  
Attractions, figureth unto itself,  
A happiness that I shall never see;  
Is it then the disgust that Marriage brings?  
Am I grown odious after having given  
Myself unto you?  Pol. 
Alas!  Paul. 
How that alas came hardly forth!  
Yet if it happily showed any sign  
Of a repentance, Oh how charming were it  
Although enforced! but courage, he is moved,  
I see he sheds tears.  Pol. 
True, I weep, Paulina,  
And would to God that therewith this heard heart  
Might happily be pierced, the sad estate  
Wherein I leave you doth deserve the plaints  
My love doth give me, and if one can carry  
Griefs unto Heaven, I carry them to see  
The excess of your misfortunes; but if in  
This luminous abode of highest glory,  
This God all just and good, allow my Prayer,  
If He vouchsafe to lend an ear unto  
Conjugal love, He will display his light  
Upon your blindness; Lord, I do beseech thee  
Let me obtain this of thy goodness, she  
Hath too much virtue not to be a Christian,  
It pleased thee to give her too much merit,  
Not to know Thee, and to adhere unto Thee,  
To live still an unfortunate Slave of hell,  
And to die as she's born under that yoke.  Paul. 
What sayest thou, miserable, what darest thou wish?  Pol. 
That which with all my blood I fain would purchase.  Paul. 
That rather.—  Pol. 
'tis in vain to make resistance,  
This God toucheth the heart when least we think on't;  
That happy moment is not yet arrived,  
It will come, but the time's not known unto me.  Paul. 
Leave this chimaera, come and love me still.  Pol. 
I love you much more than myself, but, pardon me,  
Less than my God.  Paul. 
In the name of that love,  
Forsake me not.  Pol. 
In the name of that love,  
Fellow my steps.  Paul. 
Dost thou not ear to quit me, wilt thou then  
Seduce me?  Pol. 
Carest thou not to go to Heaven?  
I will conduct you there.  Paul. 
Imaginations!  Pol. 
Celestial truths.  Paul. 
Strange blindness.  Pol. 
Rather everlasting lights.  Paul. 
Thou preferrest death before Paulina's love.  Pol. 
You the base world before the divine goodness.  Paul. 
Go, cruel, go and die, thou never lov'dst me.  Pol. 
Live happy in the World, and suffer me  
To die in peace.  Paul. 
Yes, I will leave thee, trouble not thyself,  
I go—   

Scena Quarta.  Polyeuctes, Paulina, Severus, Fabian, Guards. Paulina. 
BUt what design Severus brings you here?  
Is this done like a generous cavalier  
To come to brave here one in misery?  Pol. 
Paulina, you treat ill so rare a merit,  
At my sole prayer he renders me this visit.  
I have committed incivility,  
Noble Severus, which I know you'll pardon,  
And impute to my want of liberty.  
Being possessor of a Treasure which  
I was not worthy of, before I die  
Suffer me to resign it unto you,  
And to leave the rarest virtue that a Woman  
Can e'er receive from heaven unto the hands  
Of the most valiant and accomplished man  
The earth hath honoured, or Rome hath produced.  
You're worthy of her, she is worthy you:  
Refuse her not, Sir, from a husband's hand;  
If he hath disunited you, his death  
Will make amends, and join you both again:  
Let not a fire which sometimes was so fair,  
Become less now, give her your heart, and take  
Her faith to you, live happily together,  
And die like me, it is the glorious good  
Which Polyeuctes wisheth to you both:  
Guards, lead me to my death, I've nothing more  
To say; come, all is finished.   

Scena Quinta.  Severus, Paulina, Fabian. Severus. 
I Am confounded  
In my astonishment to see his blindness;  
His resolution's so unparalleled,  
That scarce can I believe mine ears; a heart  
That holds you dear, (but what heart is so low  
That could have known you, and not cherished you?)  
A man beloved by you, assoon as lie  
Possesseth you, without regret he leaves you,  
Nay he doth more, he doth resign you over;  
And as if your fires were a fatal present,  
He himself makes a gift on't to his rival:  
Surely the Christians either have strange whimsies,  
Or their felicities must be infinite,  
Since to pretend thereto they dare reject  
What one should purchase at an empire's price.  
For my part, if my destiny a little  
Sooner propitious, had been pleased to honour me  
With your fair Nuptials, I should have adored  
No glory but the lustre of your eyes;  
I would have made of them my Kings and gods.  
They should have first reduced me to dust,  
Before that—  Paul. 
Sir, no more of this discourse,  
I fear I've heard too much, and that this heat▪  
Should thrust forth some unseemly consequence  
Unworthy of us both. Severus, know  
My Polyeuctes wholly doth take up  
Paulina's thoughts, he hath but a short moment▪  
To live, you are the innocent cause thereof:  
I know not if your soul might have presumed  
To frame some hope to your desires upon  
His ruin, but assure yourself, there is▪  
No death so cruel whereunto I would not  
With fearless steps address, nor in Hell horrors  
So dreadful which I would not rather suffer,  
Then fully my fame to espouse a man,  
After his sad fate, who in any kind  
Might cause his death, and if you should believe me  
Of so unsound a mind, the Love I bear you  
Would turn all into hatred; you are generous,  
Be so unto the end; My Father is  
In a condition to deny you nothing;  
He fears you, and I will be bold to add  
This word, that if he doth destroy my Husband,  
It is to you he sacrificeth him;  
Save this unfortunate, use your interest for him,  
Endeavour, pray, to serve him as a Prop;  
I know 'tis much what I demand of you,  
But how much greater the endeavour is,  
So much more is the glory on't, preserve  
A rival that you're jealous of, it is  
A tract of virtue which belongeth not  
But unto you; if this be not sufficient  
Renown unto you, 'tis much that a woman  
Sometimes beloved, and yet perhaps whose love  
May touch you, should owe that to your great heart  
Which she esteems most dear. Lastly, remember  
You are Severus, after this Petition  
I'll go without an Answer, and if you  
Be not the same which I'll presume to vaunt,  
To prise you still, I will be ignorant.—  Exit.  

Scena Sexta.  Severus, Fabian. Severus. 
FAbian, What feel I? what new clap of Thunder  
Falls on my fortune, and reduceth it  
To dust? the more I do esteem it near  
The farther 'tis, I find all lost, when I  
Think all is gained, and envious Destiny  
Resolved to hurt me still, cuts off my hope▪  
As soon as it is born. Before I offer  
My fair devotions, I receive refusals,  
Sad always and ashamed to see that basely  
It durst spring up again, that yet more basely  
It durst appear, and lastly that a Woman  
In an afflicted state should give me lessons  
Of generosity. Your fair soul, Paulina,  
Is as high as it is unfortunate,  
But 'tis as cruel too as generous,  
And your griefs tyrann ze with too much rigour  
Upon a lover's heart that's wholly yours.  
'tis not enough to lose you then, unless  
I give you, I must serve a rival when  
He doth abandon you, and by a cruel  
And generous trial, to give you unto him,  
Must snatch him from his death.  Fab. 
Leave this ingrateful family to their fate,  
Let it accord the father with the Daughter,  
The Husband with the Wife, and Polyeuctes,  
With Felix; What reward hope you to have  
For such a cruel trial?  Seu. 
Only Fabian,  
The glory to show to this beauteous soul,  
Severus equal her, and doth deserve her,  
That she was due unto me, and that Heaven,  
In taking her from me was too injurious.  Fab. 
Without accusing Heaven, or Destiny  
Think on the danger you draw on upon you  
By such an Act, you hazard very much;  
Consider well, you enterprise to save  
A Christian, you cannot be ignorant  
What is, and always was the hate of Decius  
Unto that impious Sect; 'tis unto him  
A crime so great, so capital, that even  
To you his only Favourite may be fatal.  Seu. 
This were good counsel for some common soul,  
Though he hold in his hand my life and fortune,  
I am Severus still, and all this great  
And mighty power can nothing on my glory,  
Nothing upon my duty; honour here  
Obligeth me and I will satisfy it;  
Let fortune afterward show herself kind  
Or cruel, as her nature's still inconstant,  
Dying in glory I shall die content:  
I'll tell thee more, but with some confidence,  
The Christian Sect is not the same we take it,  
We hate them, and the reason for't I know not,  
And I can see Decius unjust in nothing  
But in this point; for curiosity  
I fain would know them; they are held for Sorcerers,  
Whose Master Hell is, and on this belief  
The secret mysteries, which we are not able  
To understand, are punished with death:  
But Ceres, Eleusina, and the goddess  
Bonna at Rome, and in Greece have their secrets  
Like them; we suffer likewise in all places  
All kind of gods, their God only excepted:  
All the Egyptian Monsters have their Temple  
In Rome; our predecessors, as they liked,  
Made a god of a man, and their blood with us  
Retaining still their errors, we fill Heaven  
With all our Emperors; but to speak truly  
Of so much Apothaesis, the effect  
Is very doubtful of these Metamorphoses:  
The Christians have but one God, absolute Master  
Of all, whose only will doth execute  
What he resolves, but if I durst to speak  
Between us what I think, ours very often,  
Me thinks, agree together very ill,  
And should their anger crush me 'fore thine eyes,  
I must speak this, we have too many of them  
To be true gods. Perhaps these public faiths  
Are but inventions of wise Polyticks,  
To keep the People under, and to awe them,  
And to establish their power on their weakness.  
Lastly the manners of the Christians  
Are innocent, virtues do flourish with them,  
Vices appear not; never an Adulterer,  
A traitor, Drunkard, murderer, or Thief  
Is seen amongst them, there is nothing else  
But love and charity, they live together  
Like Brothers, they pray for us that do persecute them;  
And have we ever since the time we first  
Tormented them, seen them in mutiny?  
Have we seen them rebellious! have our Princes  
Had soldiers more faithful; fierce in war  
They suffer our tormentors patiently;  
Lions in fight, they die as meek as Lambs.  
I've too much pity for them not to help them:  
Come, let us find out Felix presently,  
And so by one sole action satisfy  
Paulina, my compassion, and my glory.   
The End of the fourth Act.   

Actus Quintus.  

Scena Prima.  Felix, Albin, Cleon. Felix. 
ALbin, perceivest thou Severus plot?  
Seest thou his hate, and my sad misery?  Alb. 
I see nought in him but a generous rival,  
And in you nothing but a rigorous Father.  Fel. 
How ill thou knowst him? all he doths but show,  
In heart he hates me, and disdains Paulina,  
And though he sometime loved her he esteems now  
A rival's relic too unworthy of him.  
He speaks in his behalf, prays, threatens me,  
And says he will destroy me, if I grant not  
Pardon unto him, passing from generous  
He thinks to fear me, but the Artifice  
Is too gross not to be discovered:  
I know the Court, and all its subtle wind  
Before him, I'm acquainted with its plots,  
And all its practices, it is in vain  
For him to storm, and feign to be in fury,  
I see what he intendeth to the Emperor,  
Of that which he requests me, he'd accuse me,  
Sparing his rival, I should be his victim;  
And if he had to do with some young Novice,  
The plot is well laid, without doubt he would  
Destroy him easily, but an old Courtier  
Is not so credulous, he seethe well  
When one's in jest, and when he is in earnest;  
And for my part, I've seen so many of them  
Of all kinds, that if need were, I could give  
Lessons even unto him.  Alb. 
Gods! how you torture  
Yourself by this distrust?  Fel. 
To stand in Court  
It is the highest skill; when once a man  
Hath cause to hate us, we ought to presume  
That he seeks all the ways he can to ruin us;  
Then all his friendship is to be suspected;  
If Polyeuctes forsakes not his Sect,  
What ever his Protector intends for him  
I'll boldly follow th' order is prescribed me.  Alb. 
Pardon, Sir, pardon, let Paulina's prayers  
And tears obtain it.  Fel. 
Th' Emperor's pardon, Albin,  
Shall not come after mine, and so far am I  
From drawing him out of this perilous pass,  
As not to do what will destroy us both.  Alb. 
But Sir, Severus promiseth—  Fel. 
I mistrust him,  
And know better than he the hate of Decius,  
In favour of the Christians if he should  
Oppose his anger without doubt he would  
Ruin himself with us, I will try yet  
Another way.— Bring Polyeuctes here,——  to Cleon. 
And if I send him back again, if he  
Remain insensible of this last attempt,—  Cleon returns. 
At his departure hence he surely dies.  Alb. 
Your order is too rigorous.  Fel. 
I must follow it,  
If I'll prevent disorder which may happen;  
I see the People moved to take his part,  
And thou thyself lately advertised me;  
In the zeal which they do express for him,  
I know not how long he may be within  
My power; perhaps this evening to night,  
To morrow I may see th' effects I fear;  
And suddenly Severus flying to  
His vengeance, may go to calumniate me  
With some intelligence, I must break this stroke,  
That would be fatal to me.  Alb. 
What a strange evil is this diffidence?  
Every thing hurts and ruins you, gives you shadows,  
But see you not, Sir, that his death will put  
This people into rage? 'tis a wrong way  
To cure them, for to make them desperate.  Fel. 
After his death it is in vain to murmur,  
And if they dare proceed to any violence,  
'tis but to give way for a day or two  
Unto the insolence, I shall have done  
My duty whatsoever may arrive;  
But Polyeuctes comes, let us endeavour  
To save him, retire soldiers, and guard  
The port well.—  Polyeuctes comes with the Guards, who retire suddenly.  

Scena Secunda.  Felix, Polyeuctes, Albin. Felix. 
HAst thou then such a hate to life, unfortunate  
And wretched Polyeuctes, and the Law  
Of Christians? doth it thus enjoin thee to  
Forsake thy friends?  Pol. 
I hate not life, and love  
The lawful use of it, but without dotage,  
Which savoureth of slavery, always ready  
To render it to God▪ from whom I hold it,  
Reason ordains it and the Christian Law,  
And thereby I instruct you how to live,  
If you have but the heart to follow me.  Fel. 
To follow thee into the gulf, where thou  
Wilt cast thyself?  Pol. 
Rather unto the glory  
Where I am going to ascend.  Fel. 
At least  
Let me have time to know't, to make me Christian,  
Be thou my guide, and be not scrupulous  
T'instruct me in thy faith, if thou refusest,  
'tis thou shalt answered to thy God for me.  Pol. 
Felix, jest not, 'tis he shall be your Judge,  
There is no flying from him, Kings and shepherds  
Are of one rank with him, he will revenge  
The blood of his upon you.  Fel. 
I'll shed no more,  
And come what will on't, in the Christian faith  
I'll suffer them to live and will protect them.  Pol. 
No, no, proceed to persecute, and be  
The Instrument of our felicities;  
A Christian is at best, when he doth suffer;  
The cruelest torments are but recompenses  
Unto us; God that rendereth the Centuple  
Unto good actions giveth persecutions  
To make up the full measure, but these Secrets  
Are very hard for you to comprehend,  
'tis but to his Elect that God reveals them.  Fel. 
I speak to thee unfaignedly, and would  
Be a true Christian.  Pol. 
Who can then retard  
Th'effect of such a great and signal happiness?  Fel. 
The presence—  Pol. 
Of whom? of Severus?  Fel. 
Only  
For him I've feigned so much anger against thee.  
Dissemble for a while, till he be gone.  Pol. 
Is it thus, Felix, that you speak unfeignedly?  
Bear to your Pagans, carry to your Idols  
The empoisoned honey which your words power forth:  
A Christian feareth nothing, knoweth not  
How to dissemble, to the eyes of all  
The world, he's still a Christian.  Fel. 
This zeal  
Of thy faith serveth thee but to seduce thee,  
If thou run to thy death before thou dost  
Instruct me.  Pol. 
I should speak unto you here  
Unseasonably, it is a gift of Heaven,  
And not of reason, there it is that I  
Seeing God face to face shall obtain for you  
This Grace more easily.  Fel. 
In the mean time  
Thy loss will make me desperate.  Pol. 
You can  
Repair it; free of one Son, you may have  
Another when you please, whose quality  
Answereth yours better; my loss, Sir, would be  
But a change advantageous unto you.  Fel. 
For bear to injure me with this discourse,  
I have esteemed thee more than thou deserv'st,  
Bt in spite of my goodness which increaseth  
When thou provokest it, in the end this insolence  
Would make thee odious and revenge me on thee  
Aswell as our gods.  Pol. 
How? d'ye change so soon  
Honour and Language? doth the zeal of your gods  
Enter again into you? and to be  
A Christian vanisheth? was it by chance  
That you said you would speak unfeignedly?  Fel. 
Go to, presume not, whatsoever I swear  
Unto thee, that I'll follow the imposture  
Of thy new Doctors, I but flattered  
Thy madness, to the end to snatch thee from  
The fearful precipice whereinto thou art  
Ready to fall, I would gain time to Husband  
Thy life after that Decius Favourite  
Were with-drawn hence, but I have done too great  
An injury to our omnipotent gods.  
Choose whether thou wilt give thy blood unto them.  
Or incense?  Pol. 
I'm not doubtful in my choice,  
But, O heaven! see Paulina.   

Scena Tertia.  Felix, Polyeuctes, Paulina, Albin, Paulina. 
WHich of you two do murder me to day?  
Is't both together, or each at his turn?  
What? can I neither bend nature, nor love?  
And shall I obtain nothing either from  
A Husband, or a Father?  Fel. 
Speak to your husband,  Paul. 
Live with Severus.  Paul. 
Tiger, murder me  
Without this injury.  Pol. 
My pity seeks  
As much as possible it may, to comfort you.  
Our love doth carry you to such true griefs,  
That nothing but another love can cure  
Those wounds; since then so great a merit could  
Inflame you, his fair presence hath a right  
To charm you, you did love him, he doth love you,  
And his augmented glory.—  Paul. 
Cruel, What have I done unto thee that  
Thou treat'st me thus, as to reproach me with,  
In contempt of my faith, so great a love  
Which I've subdued for thee? see now, to make thee  
Vanquish so strong an adversary, what attempts  
I was to make against myself, what combats  
I had to give to thee a heart, so justly  
Due to its first subduer; if ingratitude  
Sway not my heart, make some attempt upon thee  
To give thee to Paulina; learn of her  
To force thy proper sentiment, take her virtue  
For guide unto thy blindness, suffer her  
T'obtain thy life from thee thyself, to live  
Still subject to thy laws; but if thou canst  
Reject such just desires, at least regard  
Her tears, attend her sighs, and make not desperate  
A soul that doth adore thee.  Pol. 
I've said to you already, and Paulina,  
I say again to you, live with Severus,  
Or die with me, I despise not your tears,  
Nor yet your faith, but henceforth I must have  
No commerce with you, nor know you no more  
Unless you be a Christian. Felix, 'tis  
Enough on't, take again your anger to you,  
And on this insolent revenge your gods  
And you.  Paul. 
Oh Father! I confess, his crime's  
Scarce pardonable, but if he distracted,  
You, Sir, are reasonable; nature is too strong,  
And its fair characters imprinted in  
The blood are ne'er defaced, a Father is  
Always a Father, and on this assurance  
I dare hauled up some small remains of hope:  
Cast a paternal look upon your daughter,  
It is decreed my death shall forthwith follow  
The death or this dear criminal, and the gods  
Will find her punishment unlawful, since  
She'll mingle innocence and crime together,  
And so by this redoublement will change  
Into an unjust rigour, a just chastisement.  
Our destinies made by your hands inseparable,  
We ought to make happy or miserable  
Together, and you should be cruel even  
Unto the extremest point to disunite  
What you have joined, one heart to another  
United once, never retires itself,  
You cannot separate them unless you tear them;  
But you are sensible of my just griefs,  
And with a father's eye behold my tears.  Fel. 
Yes, Daughter, it is true, a Father is  
Always a Father, nothing can raze out  
The sacred character thereof, I carry  
A sensible heart, and you have pierced it,  
I join me with you against this distracted.  
Unfortunate, and wretched Polyeuctes,  
Art thou alone insensible, and wilt  
Thou only make thy crime unpardonable?  
Canst thou hear so many heart-breaking sighs  
From such a tender breast? canst thou behold  
So much love, and be nothing touched with it?  
Acknowledgest thou neither Father-in-Law  
Nor Wife, without amity for the one,  
Or love for th' other? to resume the names  
Of Son and Husband, wilt thou see us both  
Fall at thy feet, and so embrace thy knees?  Pol. 
Oh! how unhandsome is this artifice,  
After twice having tried threatening,  
After making me see Nearchus dying,  
After employing love, and its effort,  
After declaring to me that great thirst  
Of baptism to oppose to God the interest  
Of God himself. You join yourselves together?  
Oh policy of Hell! must we o'ercome  
So many times before we triumph? sure  
Your resolutions are so slow, take yours  
At last, since, I've already taken mine.  
I adore but one God, the Master of  
The Universe, under whose feet, the Heaven,  
The Earth, and Hell doth tremble, one God which  
Loving us with an infinite love, died for us  
With ignominy, and which by an excess  
Of that same love will every day be offered  
As Victim for us; But I am too blame  
To speak of this to those can't understand me:  
See the blind error that you dare defend;  
You defile all your gods with foulest crimes,  
You punish not one sin whose Master's not  
I'th' heaven by your account,  
Adultery, Incest, Prostitution,  
Theft, murder, and what ever we detest,  
It is the example which your Deities  
Give you to follow; I've profaned their Temple,  
And broken down their Altars, I would do it  
Again, if I could reach them, even before  
The eyes of Felix, yea, before Severus,  
And more, even in the presence of the Senate,  
Or of the Emperor himself.  Fel. 
At last  
My goodness giveth place to my just fury,  
Adore them, or thou diest.  Pol. 
I am a Christian.  Fel. 
Thou impious wretch, I say again, adore them,  
Or renounce life.  Pol. 
I am a Christian.  Fel. 
Art thou? O heart too obstinate! Soldiers, execute  
The order that I gave,—  Cleon and the other Guards take Polyeuctes away, Paulina follows him. Paul. 
Where lead you him?  Fel. 
To death.  Pol. 
To glory.  
Adieu my dear Paulina, love my memory.  Paul. 
I'll follow thee throughout, and even to death.  Pol. 
Forsake your error, or not follow me.  Fel. 
Take him away, and see I be obeyed,  
Since he desires to die, 'tis fit he perish.   

Scena Quarta.  Felix, Albin. Felix. 
ALbin, I do me violence, but I must,  
My gentle nature would have easily  
Dost oyed me, let the people's rage at present  
Display itself, and let Severus thunder,  
And feet with fury having performed this  
I am secure; but art not thou surprised  
With this unshaken constancy? Seethe thou  
Impenetrable hearts like his, or such  
Horrid impieties? I have satisfied  
My grieved heart, and have neglected nothing  
To make his soft and yielding; I have feigned  
Before thy eyes base wickedness, and surely  
Had it not been for his last blasphemies,  
Which filled me suddenly with fear and anger,  
I should have scarce triumphed o'er myself.  Alb. 
You'll one day curse perhaps this victory,  
Which savoureth of I know not what an action  
Too black, unworthy Felix, and a Roman,  
Shedding your blood thus by your proper hand.  Fel. 
So sometime Brutus, and stout Manlius shed it,  
Which added to their glory, far from lessening it;  
Never have our old Hero's had ill blood,  
But they have opened their proper bowels  
To let it out.  Alb. 
Your head seduceth you;  
But whatsoever it tell you, when you once  
Shall find it cold, when you shall see Paulina,  
And that her sad despair expressed by  
Her cries and wail shall come forth to move you.—  Fel. 
Thou makest me to remember that she followed  
That traitor, This despair which she will show,  
May interrupt the effect of my command;  
Go therefore, and give order it be done,  
See what he doth, break any obstacle  
Her griefs may give unto it, and withdraw her  
From that sad spectacle, if thou canst endeavour  
To comfort her; go then, who holdeth thee?  Alb. 
There is no need, Sir, she returns herself.   

Scena Quinta.  Felix, Paulina, Albin. Paulina. 
BArbarous Father, finish thy black work,  
This second sacrifice is worth thy rage,  
Join thy sad Daughter to thy Son-in-Law,  
Why tarry'st thou? thou seest here the same crime,  
Or the same virtue; thy barbarity  
In her hath the same matter; my dear Husband  
Left me his lights in dying, his just blood,  
With which his Executioners are coming  
To cover me, hath opened mine eyes:  
I see, I know, I do believe, and am  
Free of mine error, I am undeceived,  
Thou seest me baptised with that blessed blood;  
Lastly, I am a Christian, have I not  
Spoken enough? keep in destroying me,  
Thy rank and credit, fear the Emperor.  
And doubt Severus, if thou wilt not perish,  
My death is necessary, Polyeuctes calls me  
Unto his happy death, I see Nearchus  
And he both stretching forth their hands unto me:  
Bring me to see thy gods which I detest,  
They broke but one, I will break all the rest,  
There you shall see me brave all that you fear,  
Those silly thunderbolts which you depaint  
Within their hands, and holily rebellious  
Unto the Laws of birth, thou once shalt see me  
Fail in obedience to thee; it is not  
My grief that I do make appear therein,  
'tis grace within me speaks, and not despair.  
May I say it again? Felix, I am  
A Christian, settle by my death thy fortune  
And mine, the stroke to both on's will be precious,  
Since it assureth the one earth, and lifts me  
Unto the Heavens.   

Scena Ultima.  Felix, Severus, Paulina, Albin, Fabian. Severus. 
Unnatural Father, wretched politician,  
Ambitious slave to a Chymerick fear,  
Is Polyeuctes dead then by your cruelties,  
And think you to conserve your sorry dignities?  
The favour which for him I offered you,  
Instead of saving him, hasted his death;  
I prayed, threatened, but I could not move you;  
You thought me false, or but of little power,  
But you shall know at your cost that Severus  
Boasts not of any thing but what he can  
Perform and by your ruin he will make you  
To judge that he who can destroy you, could  
Have protected you; continue to  
The gods this faithful service▪ by such horrors  
Show them your zeal, adieu, but when the storm  
Shall break upon you, doubt not of the arm  
From whence the strokes shall come.  Fel. 
Severus, stay,  
And with a quiet mind suffer that I  
Give you an easy vengeance, by my cruelties  
Cease to reproach me more, I do endeavour  
To keep my sorry dignities, I dispose  
Their false deceitful lustre to your feet;  
That glory whereunto I dare t'aspire  
Is a rank more Illustrious, I do find  
Myself forced to it by a secret bait,  
I yield to those transports I do not know,  
And by a working which I understand not,  
I from my fury pass unto the zeal  
Of my blessed Son-in-law; 'tis he not doubt,  
Whose innocent blood prays an Almighty God  
For me his Persecutor, his love spread  
On all the Family, draws after him  
As well the Father as the Daughter, I  
Have made a Martyr of him, and his death  
Hath made me Christian, I procured his bliss,  
He will work mine, so is it that a Christian  
Is angry and revengeth, happy cruelty  
Whose event is so sweet! Paulina, give me  
Thy hand, bring fetters here, and sacrifice  
Unto your gods these two new Christians  
I am one, She is so, observe your anger.  Paul. 
How happily at last I find my Father!  
This blessed change maketh my joy complete.  Fel. 
Daughter, it doth belong but to the hand  
That doth it.  Seu. 
Who would not be touched with  
A spectacle so tender? I believe  
Such changes come not without miracle,  
Your Christians without doubt, which we in vain  
Do persecute, have something in them which  
Surpasseth humane, they do lead a life  
With so much innocence, that Heaven doth owe them  
Some great acknowledgement; to show themselves  
More strong the more they are oppressed, is not  
Th' effect of common virtues; I still loved them,  
What ever might be said on't, I ne'er saw them  
To die, but this heart sighed for't, and perhaps,  
I shall one day be better known unto them:  
In the mean time I like that every one  
Should have his own gods, and that he should serve them  
After his own way without fear of punishment,  
If you are Christians, fear no more my hate,  
I love them, Felix, and from their Protector,  
I will not make a Persecutor of them  
In you: guard well your power, take it again,  
Serve your God, serve your Monarch, I will lose  
My credit with his Majesty, or he  
Shall shake off this severity, by his  
Unjust hate he doth too much wrong himself.  Fel. 
Deign gracious Heaven to end his work in you,  
And one day to give you what you deserve,  
T'inspire into you all his sacred Truths:  
For us we bless this fortunate adventure,  
Come, let us go to give our martyr's burial,  
To kiss their precious bodies, and to put them  
In holy place, in consecrated ground,  
Then let us make the name of God resound.    
FINIS.