Dumb Shew.
Enter, at one Door, Delphia, Ambassadours, They whisper together; they take an Oath upon her hand; She circles them (kneeling) with her Magick-rod; they rise and draw their Swords. Enter, at the other door, Dioclesian, Charinus, Maximinian, Niger, Aurelia, Cassana, Guard; Charinus and Niger perswading Aurelia; She offers to embrace Maximinian; Diocles draws his Sword, keeps off Maximinian, turns to Aurelia, kneels to her, lays his Sword at her feet, she scornfully turns away: Delphia gives a sign; the Ambassadours and Souldiers rush upon them, seize on Aurelia, Cassana, Charinus, and Maximinian; Dioclesian, and others offer to rescue them; Delphia raises a mist; Exeunt Ambassadours and Prisoners, and the rest discontented.
The skilful Delphia finding by sure proof
The presence of Aurelia dim'd the Beauty
Of her Drusilla; and in spight of Charms,
The Emperour her Brother, Great Charinus,
Still urg'd her to the love of Dioclesian,
Deals with the Persian Legats, that were bound
For the Ransom of Cassana, to remove
Aurelia, Maximinian, and Charinus
Out of the sight of Rome; but takes their Oaths
(In lieu of her assistance) that they shall not
On any terms, when they were in their power,
Presume to touch their lives; This yielded to,
They lye in ambush for 'em. Dioclesian
Still mad for fair Aurelia, that doted
As much on Maximinian, twice had kill'd him,
But that her frown restrain'd him: He pursues her
With all humility; but she continues
Proud and disdainful. The sign given by Delphia,
The Persians break thorow, and seize upon
Charinus and his Sister, with Maximinian,
And free Cassana. For their speedy rescue,
Enraged Dioclesian draws his Sword,
And bids his Guard assist him; Then too weak
Had been all opposition and resistance
The Persians could have made against their fury,
If Delphia by her Cunning had not raised
A foggy Mist, which, as a Cloud, conceal'd them,
Deceiving their Pursuers. Now be pleased,
That your imaginations may help you
To think them safe in Persia, and Dioclesian
For this disaster circled round with sorrow,
Yet mindful of the wrong. Their future fortunes
We will present in Action; and are bold,
In that which follows, that the most shall say,
'Twas well begun, but the End crown'd the Play. [Exit.
SCENE II.
Enter Diocles, Niger, Senators, Guard.
Dio. Talk not of comfort; I have broke my faith,
And the gods fight against me; and proud man,
However magnified, is but as dust
Before the raging whirl-wind of their justice.
What is it to be great? ador'd on Earth?
When the immortal Powers that are above us
Turn all our Blessings into horrid Curses,
And laugh at our resistance, or prevention
Of what they purpose? O the Furies that
I feel within me! whipt on, by their angers,
For my tormentors. Could it else have been
In Nature, that a few fugitive Persians,
Unfriended, and unarmed too, could have rob'd me
(In Rome, the World's Metropolis, and her glory;
In Rome, where I command, inviron'd round
With such invincible Troops that know no fear,
But want of noble Enemies) of those jewels
I priz'd above my life, and I want power
To free them, if those gods I have provok'd
Had not given spirit to the undertakers,
And in their deed protected 'em?
Nig. Great Cæsar,
Your safety does confirm you are their care,
And that howe'r their practices reach others,
You stand above their malice.
1 Sen. Rome in us
Offers (as means to further your revenge)
The lives of her best Citizens,
And all they stand possess'd of.
1 Guard. Do but lead us on
With that invincible and undaunted Courage
Which waited bravely on you, when you appear'd
The minion of Conquest; married rather
To glorious Victory, and we will drag
(Though all the Enemies of life conspire
Against our undertakings) the proud Persian,
Out of his strongest hold.
2 Guard. Be but your self,
And do not talk but do.