The Sack of Rome/Act IV

by Mercy Otis Warren

ACT IV

Scene I

(Maximus, solus)

Now what am I? ---an emperor---

------ a splendid wretch---

Perch'd on the blood stain'd summit of the world.

Search through each horrid wild of dreary woe,

From Tyber's stream to Danube's frozen banks,

From fair Hetruria to the Hvrcanian wood,

Or blacker forests of Carpathian gloom,

There's not a culprit so completely curs'd---

Tortur'd in pomp---in tenfold misery plung'd,

And torn with guilty greatness, as myself.

Happy Damocles---only envy'd king,

Whose reign began and ended in a day!

My vengeance now's complete; but where's my peace?

Oh! could I leave the world of Roman slaves,

Exil'd to Italy's most distant bounds,

Resume that life of innocence and ease

Which bless'd the noontide of my happier days,

When my Ardelia's smile crown'd all my bliss!

But ah! her name---

Wakes all the baleful passions of my soul.

If Valentinian's grim and ghastly shade

Still wanders here, and can be more accurs'd,

Let mad Alecto's furious sisters join

To make his woes complete---and doubly damn'd,

Let him look through the dank and dismal shades,

Of night and death---in anguish let him see

His rival riot in Edoxia's arms.

(Enter Leo)

My friend---my faithful Leo.

Leo

I am the friend of Rome, and of Petronius---

Of law---of justice---and the rights of man---

The senators of Rome---and of Edoxia.

Maximus

Is the imperial family secure?

Let not the smallest disrespect be shewn

Or to the empress, or her royal house.

Leo

Edoxia sits like some majestick oak,

Or fairer cedar, that o'ertops the hills,

Strip'd of its leafy robes---shook to the root,

By the rude tempest, or autumnal blasts;

The storm subsides, the naked branches hush'd,

Silent and still, demand a pitying tear

From ev'ry way worn traveller's weeping eye,

Who us'd to rest beneath its friendly shade.

Maximus

The wheel of fortune, rapid in its flight,

Lags not for man, when on its swift routine;

Nor does the goddess ponder unresolv'd:

She wafts at once, and on her lofty car,

Lifts up her puppet---mounts him to the skies,

Or from the pinnacle, hurls headlong down,

The steep abyss of disappointed hope.

Thus the first stroke successful---

A beardless Goth huzza'd, "Petronius reigns!"

The factious legions caught the feeble sound;

And the same moment saw the imperial robes

Torn from one emperor, and another made,

Without a murmur from the servile throng:

Borne through the crowd---till to the palace brought,

I've not yet heard Heraclius's fate.

Leo

The faithful minion caught a thousand wounds,

Aim'd at his master by Traulista's band,

He curs'd alternate, heaven, himself and thee,

And di'd an hero, though he'd liv'd a slave.

Maximus

Then bid a truce to slaughter;

Let not a drop of Roman blood be spilt:

And now, I have another game to play;

Edoxia must be mine---her hand I'll seize---

Her heart I leave till time may do its work.

By a long line of ancestry, a queen,

Her regal title to the imperial crown

Must bind it fast on Maximus's brow.

Leo

She stands superiour to life's roughen'd storms;

Looks calmly down, and bids the waves roll on

Till the last surge ingulphs her weary head.

Yet this new scene may shake her firm resolve,

And raise a tempest in her tranquil breast.

Maximus

Repair to her---if possible persuade---

Yet fix'd as fate is Maximus's will;

Though keen resentment agitates her breast,

Or her indignant soul should burst with rage,

Yet ere tomorrow's sun descends the vale,

And hides behind yon western burnish'd hill,

Our hands are join'd by wedlock's sacred tie;

It must be so, or I'm but half aveng'd.

(Exit Leo)

'Tis done---the envy'd master of the world conceals

A thousand pangs beneath a purple robe;

Yet furies lurk, and vipers gnaw within.

And give the lie to splendid pomp without.

(Exit)

Scene II

(Edoxia, solus)

Where shall I fly?---to what sequester'd shade

Where the world's distant din no more alarms,

Or warring passions burst through nature's tie

And make mankind creation's foulest stain.

Horror and guilt stare wild in every eye;

Freedom extinguish'd in the fumes of lust

Bleeds fresh beside Rome's long expiring fame;

Virtue's become the rude barbarian's jest,

Barter'd for gold, and floating down the tide

Of foreign vice, stain'd with domestick guilt:

Oh! could I hide in some dark hermitage,

Beneath some hollow, dismal, broken cliff,

I'd weep forlorn the miseries of Rome,

Till time's last billow broke, and left me quiet

On the naked strand.---

(Enter Leo)

---Ah! Leo,

Durst thou be still the friend of sad Edoxia?

Hast thou the courage yet to visit grief.

And sooth a wretch by sympathetick tears;

And reconcile me to the name of man?

Can'st shew me one less cruel than the tyger

Nurs'd in the wilds, and feasting on the flesh

Of all but his own species?

This predilection's left to man alone,

To drink and riot on his brother's blood.

Leo

Fate has ordain'd---'tis thou must give us peace;

Thy lenient hand alone.

Edoxia

Mock not my woe.

Leo

'Tis thou my empress, who must stop the tide

That threats the deluge of the Roman world;

The jarring factions that tear up the state

Thyself must quell, and reconcile---

Edoxia

Insult not my distress.

Leo

The emperor Maximus---

Edoxia

Whose name strikes daggers through my shivering soul!

Leo

Demands an audience.

Edoxia

Speak not a word my soul disdains to hear.

Leo

The Roman people---

Edoxia

Ah! what is Rome to me?

Leo

All wish a union in the royal pair;

And Maximus adores Edoxia's virtues.

Edoxia

What is the sanction that emboldens thee,

Thus to affront thy queen?

Leo

Oh! pity Rome---the empire---and thy country---

Save thy noble house.

Edoxia

I have no country.

What's life, or empire, or the world to me?

Leo

Yet hear---oh! hear---for Maximus resolves.

Edoxia

And art thou come to sue for Maximus,

Whose blacken'd soul, blown up by fierce ambition,

Assumes the reins, and drives the courser on,

With furious passion and unbridled lust?

Leo

The emperor admits of no delay,

When once resolv'd.

Edoxia

Remember, Leo,

The blood that flow'd from Poplicola's veins,

From breast to breast through the Horatian line,

And thence to me convey'd---a gen'rous stream

That animates and warms Edoxia's heart,

Shall ne'er be tainted by a base submission.

Leo

Impatiently, he waits thy last reply.

Edoxia

Tell him I'm not the coward fool he thinks,

That guilty greatness has no charms for grief;

I scorn his impious passion---detest his name.

Leo

Yet save thyself---thus on my bended knee,

(Kneels)

Let me beseech from thee a mild reply.

Edoxia

Tell him, a traitor's heart, though swell'd

By adulation's base perfume, has not a hand

To wield the imperial sceptre.

Leo

And therefore needs thy aid,

Both to secure and dignify the throne.

Edoxia

This insolence from thee!---the pious Leo---

My former friend---the guardian of my youth;

I thought thy soul cast in a purer mould---

Above the servile line---not thus to court

And meanly grovel, for a tyrant's smile.

Leave me, base wretch---go fawn on thy new master;

Tell him at once, Edoxia dares to die.

Leo

Forgive this boldness!---Alas! could I but save,

Or serve thy noble house, there's not a task

Edoxia could impose, this aged arm

Unnerv'd by time and grief, would not attempt.

Yet might as well the breath of wisdom strive

To reason down the tempest of the north,

Or lull the maddening hurricane to rest,

As to persuade when Maximus resolves.

Oh! would kind Heaven, which sav'd thee from the sword,

Still find some way to bless and make thee happy.

(Weeps)

Edoxia

Thy venerable grief, my aged friend,

Softens resentment, which thy zeal inflam'd:

In that kind tear the soul of Leo shines;

Yet say, is Rome so poor and abject grown---

So far debas'd, that when a ruffian dares

To stab his prince, and boldly challenge

To his impious bed, the wife of his

Assassinated lord---none dare oppose?

Has Rome for this so often fought and conquer'd?

Has the best blood the Roman name can boast,

Redden'd the Tyber with its purple streams,

To purchase freedom by the swift perdition

Of every bold invader, from Tarquin's reign,

To the more fatal day, when guilty Maximus

Assum'd the purple?---May thunders roll,

And streams irruptive, blast a wretch like him---

Or sheets of livid flame enwrap Edoxia

From his hated sight.

Go on and bear this answer to thy lord.

(Exit Leo)

Thou great first cause, who bids the tempest rage,

And rends with mighty peals, the darken'd air,

Light up the skies and blaze from north to south,

Thy vengeance pour on complicated guilt.

(Exit)

Scene III

(Maximus and Leo moving to the Apartment of the Empress)

Maximus

Hah !---does the empress haughtily reject

My proffer'd vows, and spurn me from her arms?

Leo

Lost in the tender agonies of woe,

She wept, regardless of thy ardent prayer;

'Till grown outrageous by my urgent suit,

She started wild, as if despair awoke,

And rav'd, and sob'd, and imprecated death:

At last, collected in majestick pride,

She drew a poignard from beneath her robe,

And solemn swore, in most indignant strains,

If you presum'd to speak to her of love,

Its point transfix'd should send her to the grave,

More welcome far than thy abhor'd embrace.

(Scene opens and discovers Edoxia)

(Enter Maximus and Leo)

Maximus

I ask thy hand, and claim thee as my queen---

Jointly to govern and reform the state.

Edoxia

And must an empress bear this bold outrage---

These stings of insult?---Shall a villain's hand

Drag to the altar---sacrifice my fame,

To each black passion that deforms the soul?

Oh! Heaven look down---his bold ambition curse---

Destruction send on him and all his race.

Maximus

Did lust of empire, or of fame alone.

Thus bid me urge the fair Edoxia's hand---

Ambition, that proud source of human woe,

Thou might'st suspect had push'd my purpose on:

But though the lustre of a crown allures,

And sanction gives to deeds of boldest hue.

Justice alone, and love of virtue warms,

My ardent heart, and animates my arm.

Edoxia

Durst thou profane the sacred name of virtue?

A sacrilegious murd'rer talk of virtue!

Thou know'st not what it means---an heart like thine

Ne'er felt its sacred warmth---not an idea

Of the heavenly flame could e'er exist

In thy corrupted brain---blown up by lust---

Revenge---ambition---death---

Thy dagger reeking with thy sovereign's blood,

Thou still would'st heighten thy detested crime

And make his wife a partner in thy guilt.

Maximus

Thou wrong'st me much---to plead my cause

Would wound so chaste an ear;---false to his vows,

And faithless to thy bed, he wrong'd at once

The empress and myself.

Edoxia

Him, I forgive---

But not the assassin of my injur'd lord;

Oh! let me fly from thee, and from perdition.

Maximus

My destiny impell'd against my will,

My evil genius and my fate combin'd;

Nor will I now recede and yield a throne.

Thy wisdom, grace, and dignity of soul,

Command respect, and bend me to thy charms;

I ask thy aid to extirpate from Rome

Injustice---vice---with anarchy and crimes.

My gracious princess, sovereign, queen and wife,

Reign still in Rome, and grace the imperial throne.

Edoxia

Thy perfidy thou think'st is made secure

By plunging Ætius in the general wreck;

His valorous hand would from thine impious grasp

Have pluck'd the sceptre, stained by thy touch:

Yes, if through Rome there was a Roman left.

As brave as Ætius, the diadem

Would of itself drop off,

From thine imperious brow.

Maximus

Does not the empress know who murder'd Ætius?---

(To Leo)

And that Petronius would avenge his death?

Leo

The bloody deed had not yet reach'd her ear,

When Valentinian fell.

Edoxia

It is enough, she knows the miscreant---

The proud usurper of the vacant throne,

Who dares aspire to Valentinian's bed;

But witness, all ye powers of earth and heaven,

Ere my soul bends to sanctify the deed,

Or yields a victim to this bold offence,

The horrid void beneath the Tarpeian rock

Shall first be fed by all the Anician race.

Maximus

Prepare the rites---Edoxia must be mine---

(To Leo)

Before the wood lark hails the morning dawn,

Or early matins call the virgins forth

To chant their lays---the empress is my bride---

Then time and love shall soften by degrees,

'Till Lethè lends forgetfulness to grief.

(Exit Maximus and Leo)

Edoxia

Ye gods!---where am I?---

Shall I be aw'd by Maximus's frown

To stain the glory of the Horatian name?

Alas!---ye patriots of ancient fame---

Where are the youth, whose glorious fathers di'd

To save the commonwealth?

Arise! ye ancient, venerable shades,

Who bravely fought for liberty and Rome:

Assist my powers---my single arm shall dare

Some dreadful deed of horrid desperation.

I swear by all the deities of Rome,

By him who thunders in the vaulted skies,

And downward points the artillery of Heaven,

'Till worlds dissolve beneath his dreaded frown,

The most distinguish'd vengeance shall befall

The Roman world, for Maximus's sake.

(Exit)

Scene IV

(Gaudentius and Eudocia)

Gaudentius

Though nature frowns, and monsters howl around

And threat the bands of each domestick joy,

Yet innocence and truth should cease to weep;

'Tis guilt alone should tremble in the storm.

Eudocia

My native land distain'd with Roman blood

Warm from the veins of patriots and kings---

A father slain---a mother's tender woe---

Her virgin daughters weeping by her side,

Add stings to pain, and poignancy to grief.

Gaudentius

Let Angels guard and calm thy ruffled breast,

Let love and virtue cheer thy drooping soul;

And let thy peace reanimate again

A prince that lives but in Eudocia's smile.

Eudocia

Talk not of peace to the imperial house;

The hand, the dark assassinating hand,

That pierc'd th' unguarded heart of Valentinian,

Has murder'd all his race---hah! Gaudentius!

(Gaudentius trembles, and turns pale)

Why trembles thus Gaudentius, at Valentinian's name?

A name he once rever'd, and call'd his friend---

Is it a probe that touch'd a secret wound?

Gaudentius

My love---my grief---my fears---

A sudden illness that will soon subside.

Eudocia

Thy fears---why should Gaudentius fear?

Gaudentius

For all my soul holds dear beneath the stars---

Thy peace---thy health---thy happiness and love.

Eudocia

Is there a latent cause, this moment wak'd,

To doubt Eudocia's love?

Gaudentius

Thy deep dejection---thy too curious eye---

A brow o'ercast with something like a frown,

Ne'er seen before, where sweetness sits enthron'd,

And soft complacence has been us'd to smile,

Amidst the grief that wrung the aching heart.

Eudocia

Does thine own conscience smile, and whisper peace;

And art thou sure that all's secure within?

I much suspect, thy friend, Traulista,

Is a secret foe---and that his hostile hand,

Oft steep'd in blood---fierce as the vulture's fang,

Was not inactive on that fatal day,

When the remorseless sword mow'd down as grass

The faithful friends to Valentinian's house.

But Heaven forbid, that e'er the brave Gaudentius,

A good, a generous, noble minded prince,

Should join a murderous band---impossible!

I will not wrong thee thus---yet some strange horror

Seizes all my frame---as if my father's ghost

Stood bleeding by, and chid this parley

With a parricide.

(Eudocia turns abruptly to withdraw)

Gaudentius

Oh! leave me not, my princess, thus suspected.

Eudocia

If thou art guilty, own thy crime at once;

A poor defence will make thee doubly so.

If the least guilt contaminates thy soul,

My own would share by hearing thy excuse;

I see thee not till time restore thy fame;

And yet I fear---Oh! death to name---I fear,

Thy infamy is fix'd---forever fix'd,

Beyond redemption's call.

(Eudocia exits hastily)

Scene V

(Traulista and Gaudentius)

Traulista

Why does my friend wear that soft April eye?

What is it poisons thy heroick soul,

And damps the vigour of thy martial arm?

Brace up thy nerves, and fence about thy breast,

And scorn the boon of pity from a girl---

A haughty---stubborn---solemn Roman maid.

Gaudentius

A heart like thine---insensible to love---

Dead to the soft sensations of the soul---

Only to fierce Bellona's voice awake---

Though all the sex were offer'd to thy choice,

Knows not the joy, nor feels the tender pang,

Fear may excite, or expectation raise.

Traulista

What hast thou got by all thy love sick dreams?

Go shew the mighty Goths thy baby face,

And see if one would know it was Gaudentius,

Who fought and conquer'd on the Danube's banks;

Tell them you've whin'd for more than twenty moons---

Crest fallen, sigh'd before a puling chit,

The daughter of thy most inveterate foe---

The murderer of thy sire.

Gaudentius

But he's aveng'd---

And, like the frighted hare, she fled my sight---

Suspects me an accomplice, charg'd me home,

With treason, murder, perfidy and blood

Traulista

Come, be thyself again; nor longer bask

Upon the silken, downy lap of hope;

Leave her to sigh, and whisper to the winds---

Else snatch by force, and bear her o'er the wilds,

Through growling forests---hideous, broken cliffs,

And frozen seas---to Scythia's icy banks,

Where rugged winds pour from the brindled north

Adown the mountain's brow---a blast may cool

The transports of thy love.

Gaudentius

Heaven blast a wretch, whose fierce barbarick heart

Would violate in thought so chaste a fame---

A purity allied to heaven itself.

Alas! the charms that have subdu'd my heart

Have something more than human in their birth.

Traulista

Then why profanely sigh for charms divine?

Think thee of Bleda's hospitable dames,

Won without wooing---thine without a sigh;

But if ye choose to wanton in the west,

And hang upon the dimpled smile of love,

A day, perhaps, or less, brings on the scenes

That level all the bars round birth and beauty,

Or innocence and elevated worth.

Thou may'st be safe e'en in the imperial court,

'Till surfeited with those Italian smiles:

The blue ey'd mountain maids of Caucasus,

(Who, once allur'd by native, artless charms,)

Call back thy sighs to nature's utmost bounds,

The bolder beauties of the northern world.

Gaudentius

Forbear, Traulista---nor sport thus with my pain.

Traulista

Come then, erect the scymitar of Mars,

And twang the bow string at the trumpet's sound.

Gaudentius

Go, clear my wounded fame---assure the princess

That I did not strike---that her fair image,

Hovering round his head, held back my hand---

Repell'd the pointed sword---for aught I did,

Her father might have liv'd.

Traulista

I know ye acted as a coward would---

But half resolv'd, and trembling at thyself:

Yes, I will see Eudocia is inform'd,

She's made a poltroon of a noble prince.

Gaudentius

Hah!---this from thee?---yet know he has a sword,

That will not fail to reach a villain's heart,

And let the venom out that rankles there.

(Lays his hand on his sword)

Traulista

For this I love thee---come on and try its mettle---

I fear'd thou had'st forgot who was thy sire,

And that the lustre of his burnish'd blade,

Wielded by him in many a hardy field,

Had hurt the opticks of the gentler son

Of noble Ætius

Gaudentius

Draw and defend thyself.---

(Draws)

Traulista

What shall I tell Eudocia, when she chides,

If I should scratch, or let out Roman blood?

(Insultingly)

Gaudentius

The empress comes---forbear---I, on the morrow,

Meet thee in the Circus.

Traulista

Come on, my boy---

The morrow may have other work to do;

This day shall tilt thee swiftly out of time,

If thou art weary of thy silken chain.

(Exit Traulista)

(Enter EDOXIA)

Edoxia

My son---my friend---my injur'd friend Gaudentius,

Canst thou forgive the noble Ætius' death?

Thou lov'st Eudocia with the purest flame:

Remember Valentinian was her sire,

Then vindicate the honour of her house.

Gaudentius

While life glows warm in this my faithful breast,

Eudocia holds my fortune and my fate.

Edoxia

I know thou'rt noble, generous and just,

And not less brave than Ætius thy sire;

He wore a sword, he dar'd to draw

In injur'd virtue's cause---nor fear'd the frowns

Of tyrants or of kings---it is thy birthright,

Durst thou grasp it hard, and boldly venture,

For Eudocia's sake, to extricate

Her mother from the arms---the hated bed

Of an usurper of her father's throne?

Gaudentius

There's nought, true courage prompts the brave to do,

Or virtue justifies, or honour calls,

But what I dare attempt.

But if it mars the peace of Rome---

Edoxia

The peace of Rome is an ideal thing;

Lost in the tide of every shameful vice,

Rapine and blood; and violence and lust

But mock the story of her ancient fame.

Canst thou a moment balance in the scale

The tranquil scenes of harmony and peace,

With all the lustre that adorns a crown?

Eudocia gives an empire with her hand.

Gaudentius

My sword---my services---my life are thine---

Ambition burns, and love and glory join---

Yet name no task that more distracts my country.

Edoxia

Then thou canst see the empress bath'd in tears,

Drag'd by Petronius to the sacred altar---

Compell'd to be his bride---the fair Eudocia,

But a moment lent, to dry the filial tear,

Ere she's compell'd to wed his worthless heir?

Gaudentius

Not all the powers of earth, or hell combin'd,

Shall rob me of my wife, my lov'd Eudocia.

Edoxia

Wilt thou apply to Genseric---my friend?

Gaudentius

A dangerous expedient indeed---

A faithless friend---a treacherous ally.

Edoxia

The time forbids evasion, or excuse---

Admits of no delay---my purpose is

Irrevocably fix'd.---Say, wilt thou,

At the port of Ostia, meet Genseric---

Bear him my signet---bring him on to Rome?

Gaudentius

Not for the golden treasures of the east,

Or all the wealth the tempting world bestows;

No, though Eudocia were the bright reward,

Could I betray the capitol of Rome,

And sell my country to the Vandal king?

Edoxia

Wilt thou betray the mother of Eudocia,

And blast my hopes of most severe revenge?

Gaudentius

Though great thy wrongs, much greater must thou fear,

If Genseric's rapacious brutal hosts

Should enter Italy---my sovereign forbear,

And like the gods, benignantly forgive;

Nor let resentment kindle up anew

The flames of war; nor introduce in Rome,

Those savage, hostile guests to riot there,

To subjugate the state---subvert thy house,

To extirpate thy name, and rudely reign

And triumph o'er the West.

Edoxia

'Tis done---I fear'd thy tardy spirit---

The last remains of patriotick virtue,

So like a glow worm in a stormy night,

It twinkles but to shew the sable hue

By nature worn through all the midnight gloom.

A trusty messenger, I therefore sent---

The winds have sped, and brought him back to Rome;

And ere Petronius dreams of danger nigh,

Genseric's thunder shakes the capitol,

Gaudentius

Thou hast struck deep---a sure and deadly blow.

Edoxia

The tangled lion can't escape the toils.

Gaudentius

Nor thou---nor Rome---nor all thy house, perdition.

Edoxia

Secure thyself, and leave the rest to me.

(Trumpets without)

Gaudentius

Hark! the shrill trump!---Genseric's herald

Cannot yet be nigh.---

Edoxia

Like a brave friend, he instantly prepar'd

To plant his banners round the towers of Rome.

Gaudentius

The senate---people---all the royal house,

For slaughter ripe, in its most dreadful form---

Proud Rome the seat of arms, and arts, and fame,

Stands tottering on the verge of mighty ruin.

A soldier's duty calls; I haste away;

Fate may do much before we meet again;

She has a busy hand, and swiftly rides

On revolution's wheel---Rome may be sack'd,

And crowns and sceptres toss'd from shore to shore,

Transplanted, or despoil'd.

(Exeunt)