DIOCLETIAN

So at all parts I find Caesarea Completely governed, the licentious soldier Confined in modest limits, and the people Taught to obey, and not compelled with rigor; The ancient Roman discipline reuin'd, (Which raised Room to her greatness, and proclaimed her The glorious mistress of the conquered world) But above all the service of the gods So zealously observed, that (good Sapritius ) In words to thank you for your care and duty Were much unworthy Dioclesian's honour Or his magnificence to his loyal servants. But I shall find a time with noble titles To recompense your merits. Thou in this Walkest hend in hand with me, my will and power Shall not alone confirm, but honour all That are in this most forward. Thou deservest thy place, Still hold it and with honour, things thus ordered Touching the gods 'tis lawful to descend To human cares, and exercise that power Heaven has conferred upon me, which that you Rebels and traitors to the power of Room Should not with all extremities undergo, What can you urge to qualify your crimes Or mitigate my anger? In all growing Empires Even cruelty is useful, some must suffer And be set up examples to strike terror In others though far of but when a State Is raised to her perfection, and her Bases Too firm, to shrink, or yield, we may use mercy And do't with safety, but to whom? not cowards? Or such whose baseness shames the conqueror, And robs him of his victory, as weak Perseus Did great Aemilius. Know therefore kings Of Epire, Pontus, and of Macedon, That I with courtesy can use my prisoners As well as make them mine by force, provided That they are noble enemies: such I found you Before I made you mine, and since you were so, You have not lost the courages of Princes, Although the Fortune: had you born your selves Deiectedly, and base, no slavery Had been too easy for you, but such is The power of noble valour, that we love it Even in our enemies, and taken with it, Desire to make them friends, as I will you. By the Gods I do not. Unloose their bonds, I now as friends embrace you, Give them their Crowns again. I believe Your tongues are the true Trumpets of your hearts, And in it I most happy Queen of fate, Imperious Fortune mix some light disaster With my so many joys to season em, And give them sweeter relish, I am girded round With true felicity, faithful subjects here, Here bold Commanders, here with new made friends. But what's the crown of all in thee Artemia, My only child whose love to me and duty Strive to exceed each other, Which requires yet A retribution from me Artemia Tide by a father's care how to bestow Aye well of all things to me most precious. Nor will I therefore longer keep thee from The chief joys of creation, marriage rites, Which that thou mayest with greater pleasure taste of, Thou shalt not Like with mine eyes but thine own Amongst these kings forgetting they were captives, Or these remembering not they are my subjects, Make choice of any, by Jove's dreadful thunder, My will shall rank with thine. Speak, I long to know The man thou wilt make happy. Would! how's this? Dined him I say, Make every artery and sinew crack, The slave that makes him give the loudest shriek Shall have ten thousand Drachmas, wretch isle force thee To curse the power thou worshippest. Let thy wish fair Daughter Be equally divided, and hereafter Learn thou to know and reverence Maximinus, Whose power with mine united makes one Caesar. This meets my wishes, welcome it Artemia With outstretched arms, and study to forget That Antoninus ever was thy fate Reserved thee for this better choice, embrace it. He is all worthy, And from his own mouth I would gladly hear The manner how she suffered. To that end I would hear it. Oh Sapritius, I am to chide you for your tenderness, But yet remembering that you are a father, I will forget it, good Theophilus He speak with you anon: nearer your care, to Sapritius. For I profess he is not Casars friend That sheds a tear for any torture that A Christians suffers. Welcome my best servant My careful, zealous Provost, thou hast toiled To satisfy my will though in extremes, I love thee for't, thou art firm rock, no changeling: Prithee deliver, and for my sake do it Without excess of bitterness or seosses Before my brother and these kings, how took The Christian her death. Thou twice a child (for doting age so makes thee) Thou could it not else thy pilgrimage of life, Being almost passed through in the last moment, Destroy what ere thou hast done good or great, Thy youth did promise much, and grown a man Thou madest it good, and with increase of years Thy actions still bettered as the Sun Thou did rise gloriously, keptest a constant course In all thy journey, and now in the cuening When thou shouldst pass with honour to thy rest, Wilt thou fallen Like a Metcor? Harder Villains. Hold Sapritius hold, On our displeasure hold. And that he may Have means and opportunity to do so, Artemia I leave you my substitute In fair Casarea. Antoninus So you prove hers I wish no other heir, Think on't, be careful of your charge Theophilus, Sapritius be you my daughters guardian. Your company I wish confederate Princes In our Dismatian wars, which finished With victory I hope, and Maximinus Our brother and copartner in the Empire At my request won to confirm as much, The kingdoms I took from you weel restore, And make you greater then you were before. Why they did die Theophilus, and boldly. This did no more. Why dost thou now? or darest thou in our hearing? But refule it Destruction as horrid and as sudden Shall fallen upon thee, as if hell stood open And thou Wertenberg sinking thither. Despair not In this thou shalt prevail, go fetch they hither, some go for the racks. Death shall put on a thousand shapes at once And so appear before thee, racks, and whips, Thy flesh with burning pinsorstorne, shall feed The fire that heats them, and whats wanting to The torture of thy body, I'll supply In punishing thy mind: fetch all the Christians That are in hold, and here before his face Cut'cm in pieces. We much thank your loves, But where's Sapritius our Governor, And our most zealous provost good Theophilus? If ever Prince were blessed in a true servant, Or could the gods be debtors to a man, Both they and we stand far engaged to cherish His pietic and service. I think the centre of the earth be cracks, Yet I still stand unmoved, and will go on, The persecution that is here begun, Through all the world with violence shall run. What are these? I commend thee, 'Tis Like thy self. You know your charge.