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Show 1 lax. And doft thou think Tiiis lame Account tit for a ^ " ^ On - from the other W orld a better bring. W h e n in m y Breaft two mighty Pafhons ftrove, Thou hadft err'd better in obeying Love. Tis true tiiat way thy Death had follow d too B iSd then been lefs dUpleas'dLltan now. N o w I muft live unquiet for thy fake- ( Kills him, then fets hk foot \ on him, and fpeaks. Mow i muu uvs uw^-- -- - y - [ Spsuprnusr tnhse rBmo dny.o ay. And this P - J ^ g g ^ j S ^"Berenice,* * Sc^ikGnrishkr, \Br J S w Porphyrius W Albinus, 0fc M ^ , « all the Guards are. 1 pt^fJ^Jm^ Emperour whilft Porphyrins M - P,r From &re»/Ve I cannot go away , Rnt like a Ghoft, muft near m y Treafure ftay.# % ^ N k h t and this fhape fecure us from their Eyes. Por Have Courage then for our bold Enterprize. Duty and Faith no tie on me can have Sine? I renoune'd thofe Honours v^idihe^ave. . Afcx. The time is come we did fo long attend, I Which muft thefe difcords of our Marriage end. Yet, Berenice, remember you have been An Emprefs, and the Wife of Maximin. Ber. I well remember I have been your Wife, And therefore. Dying, beg from Heav n your Lite. Be all the Difcords of our Bed forgot W'hich, Virtue witnefs, 1 did never {pot. < What Errors I have made, though while I Live You cannot Pardon, to the Dead forgive. Max. How much She is to Piety incline! ! Behead her, while She's in fo good a Mind. Por. Stand firm, Albinus, now the time is come To free the Emprefs. Alb. - And deliver Rome. Por. Within I feel m y hot Blood fwell m y Heart, And generous tremblings in each outward part. 'Tis done Tyrant, this is thy lateft Hour. f Porphyrius and Albinus draw, L and are making at the Emperor. Ber. Look to your felf, m y Lord the Emperor: Treafon, help, help, m y Lord ! j Maximin turns and defends himfelf, thc \ Guards fet on Porphyrius and Albinus. Max. Difarm 'em, but their Lives I charge you fpare. [After they aredifarm'd. Unmask 'em, and difcover who they are. Good Gods \ Is it Porphyrins w h o m I fee ? Placid. I wonder how he gain'd his Liberty. Max. Traytor! Por. •- Know, Tyrant, I can hear that name, Rather than Son, and bear it with lefs fhame. Traytor's a Name, which, were m y Arm yet free, The Roman Senate would beftow on thee. To Ber. Ah, Madam, you have ruin'd m y Defign, And loft your Life, for I regard not mine. Too ill a Miftrifs, and too good a Wife. Ber. It was m y Duty to preferve his Life. Max. N o w I perceive. In what clofe Walk your Mind fo long did move: You fcornd m y Throne, afpiring to her Love. Ber. In Death I'll own a Love to him fo pure, As will the Teft of Heav'n it felf endure. A Love fo Chafte, as Confcience could not chide, But cherifh it, and kept it by its tide. A Love which never knew a hot Defiie, flam'd as harmlefs as a lambent Pre. A Love [ To Porphyrius. II 7be Royal Martyr. A Love which pure from Soul to Soul might pafs As Light tranfmittcd through a Chryftal Glafs Which gave Porphyrius all without a Sin • Yet kept entire the Right of Maximin. Max. The beft Return that I to both can make Shall be to fuffer for each others fake. Por. Barbarian, do net dare her BJood to fhed W h o from m y Vengeance fav'd thy curfed Head.' A Flight no Honour ever reach'd before, And which fucceeding Ages will Adore. Ber. Porphyrins, I muft Die ! That common Debt to Nature paid muft be • But I have left a Debt unpaid to thee. To Maximin--- I have perform'd the Duty of a Wife, But, faving his, I caft away thy Life.' Ah, W h a t ill Stars upon our Loves did fhine, That I a m more thy Murd'rer than he mine. Max. Make hafte. Por. So hafty none in execution are, But they allow the dying time for Pray'r. Farewel, fweet Saint, m y Prayer fhall be to you : M y Love has been unappy, but 'twas true. Remember me i Alas, W h a t have I fed ? You muft Die too ! But yet remember m e when you are Dead. Ber. If I Die firft, I will Stop fhort of Heav'n, and wait you in a Cloud, For fear we lofe each other in the Crowd. Por. Love is the only Coin in Heav'n will go. Then take ail with you, and leave none below. Ber. 'Tis want of Know ledge, not of Love, I fear, Left w e miftake when Bodies are not there, O as a mark that I could wear a Scroul, With this Infcription, Berenice's Soul. Por. That needs not, fure, for none will be fo Bright, So Pure, or with fo fmall allays of Light. Max. From m y full Eyes fond Tears begin to ftart, Difpatch, they practife Treafon on m y Heart. Por. Adieu, this farewel Sigh I as m y laft bequeath, Catch it, 'tis Love expiring in a Breath. Ber. This Sigh of mine fhall meet it half the way, As Pledges given that each for other ftay. Enter Valeria and Cydon. Val. W h a t difmal Scene of Death is here prepar'd I Max. N o w ftrike. Val. They fhall not ftrike till I am heard. Max. From whence does this new Impudence proceed, That you dare alter that which I Decreed ? Val. Ah, Sir, to what ftrange courfes do you fly, To make your felf abhorr'd for Cruely! The Empire groans under your bloody Reign, And its vaft Body bleeds in every Vein. Gafping and Pale, and fearing more, it lies, And n o w you ftab it in the very Eyes: Your Cafiir, and the Partner of your Bed, Ah, W h o can wifh to Live when they are Dead ? If ever gentle Pity touch'd your Breaft • -- - I cannot fpeak-my Tears fhall fpeak the reft. Por. She adds new Grief to what I felt before, And Fate has now no room to put in more. Max. A way, thou Shame and Slander of m y Blood. W h o taught thee to be Pitiful or Good ? 575 ft I am [ Weeping awl Sobbing, [ To Val Vat. |
