Dio. I'll dye a dog first.
Now I am reconcil'd, I will enjoy her
In spight of all thy spirits, and thy witchcrafts.
Del. Thou shalt not, fool.
Dio. I will, old doting Devil;
And wert thou any thing but air and spirit,
My Sword should tell thee.
Del. I contemn thy threatnings,
And thou shalt know I hold a power above thee.
We must remove Aurelia; Come, farewel, fool,
When thou shalt see me next, thou shalt bow to me.
Dio. Look thou appear no more to cross my pleasures. [Exeunt.
Actus Quartus. Scena Prima.
Enter CHORUS.
So full of matter is our Historie,
Yet mixt I hope with sweet varietie,
The accidents not vulgar too, but rare,
And fit to be presented, that there wants
Room in this narrow Stage, and time to express
In Action to the life, our Dioclesian
In his full lustre: Yet (as the Statuary,
That by the large size of Alcides's foot,
Guess'd at his whole proportion) so we hope
Your apprehensive judgments will conceive
Out of the shadow we can only shew,
How fair the Body was; and will be pleas'd,
Out of your wonted goodness, to behold
As in a silent Mirrour, what we cannot
With fit conveniency of time, allow'd
For such Presentments, cloath in vocal sounds.
Yet with such Art the Subject is conveigh'd,
That every Scene and passage shall be clear
Even to the grossest Understander here.
[Loud Musick.