3 Guard. You have hands and swords,
Limbs to make up a well proportion'd Army,
That only want in you an Head to lead us.
Dio. The gods reward your goodness; and believe,
Howe'r (for some great sin) I am mark't out
The object of their hate, though Jove stood ready
To dart his three-fold thunder on this head,
It could not fright me from a fierce pursuit
Of my revenge; I will redeem my friends,
And with my friends mine honour; at least fall
Like to my self, a Souldier.
Nig. Now we hear
Great Dioclesian speak.
Dio. Draw up our Legions,
And let it be your care (my much lov'd Niger)
To hasten the remove; And, fellow Souldiers,
Your love to me will teach you to endure
Both long and tedious Marches.
1 Guard. Dye he accurs'd
That thinks of rest or sleep, before he sets
His foot on Persian-Earth.
Nig. We know our glory;
The dignity of Rome, and what's above
All can be urg'd, the quiet of your mind
Depends upon our haste.
Dio. Remove to night;
Five days shall bring me to you.
All. Happiness
To Cæsar, and glorious victory. [Exeunt.
Dio. The cheerfulness of my Souldiers gives assurance
Of good success abroad; if first I make
My peace at home here. There is something chides me,
And sharply tells me, that my breach of faith
To Delphia and Drusilla, is the ground
Of my misfortunes; And I must remember,
While I was lov'd, and in great Delphia's Grace,
She was as my good Angel, and bound Fortune
To prosper my designs; I must appease her;
Let others pay their Knees, their Vows, their Prayers
To weak imagin'd Powers; She is my All,
And thus I do invoke her. Knowing Delphia,
Thou more than Woman, and though thou vouchsafest
To grace the Earth with thy celestial Steps,
And taste this grosser air, thy heavenly Spirit
Hath free access to all the secret Counsels
Which a full Senate of the gods determine
When they consider man: The brass leav'd Book
Of Fate lies open to thee, where thou read'st,
And fashionest the destinies of men
At thy wish'd pleasures; Look upon thy creature,
And as thou twice hast pleased to appear
To reprehend my falshood, now vouchsafe
To see my low submission. [Delphia and Drusilla appear.
Del. What's thy Will?
False, and unthankful, (and in that deserving
All humane sorrows) darst thou hope from me
Relief or Comfort?