Have these my daughters reconcil'd themselves (Abandoning for ever the Chriftian way)

To your opinion?

Prieft. And are constant in it :

They teach their teachers with their depth of judge

ment;

And are with arguments able to convert

The enemies to our gods, and answer all

They can object against us.

Theoph. My dear daughters.

Califte. We dare dispute against this new sprung

fect

In private or in publick.

Har. My beft Lady,

Perfever in it.

Chrifteta. And what we maintain,

We will feal with our bloods.

Harp. Brave resolution:

I ev'n grow fat to see my labors profper.
Theoph. I young again: to your devotions.

Har. Do

My prayers be present with you.

Theoph. Oh my Harpax.

Exeunt Prieft and

daughters.

Thou engine of my wifhes, thou that steeld'st
My bloody refolutions, thou that arm'st

My eyes 'gainst womanish tears and foft compaffion,
Inftructing me without a figh to look on

Babes torn by violence from their mothers breasts
To feed the fire, and with them make one flame :
Old men as beasts, in beafts skins torn by dogs:
Virgins and matrons tire the executioners,
Yet I unfatisfied think their torments easie.
Har. And in that, juft, not cruell.
Theo. Were all scepters

That grace the hands of kings made into one,
And offered me, all Crowns laid at my feet,
I would contemn them all, thus fpit at them,
So I to all pofterities might be cal'd

The strongest champion of the Pagan gods,

Harpax. At your pleasure.

Theoph. Yet when I call to mind you never fail'd me

In things more difficult, but have discovered

Deeds that were done thousand leagues diftant from me,

When neither Woods, nor Caves, nor fecret Vaults,
No nor the power they ferve, could keep these
Chriftians

Or from my reach or punishment, but thy Magick
Still laid them open; I begin again

To be as confident as heretofore.
It is not poffible thy powerfull art
Should meet a check, or fail.

Enter a Prieft with the image of Tupiter, Califte, Christeta.

Harp. Look on these veftals,

The holy pledges that the Gods have giv'n you,
Your chaft fair daughters. Wer't not to upbraid
A fervice to Mafter not unthankfull,

I could fay this, in fpite of your prevention,
Seduc'd an imagin'd faith, not reason,
(Which the ftrength of Nature) quite forfaking
gods, had yielded up themselves
ew found Religion. This I crofs'd,
d their intentions, taught you to use
mild perfwafions,

afide.

the most abftrufe ones

Have these my daughters reconcil'd themselves (Abandoning for ever the Chriftian way)

To your opinion?

Prieft. And are conftant in it :

They teach their teachers with their depth of judge

ment;

And are with arguments able to convert

The enemies to our gods, and answer all

They can object against us.

Theoph. My dear daughters.

Califte. We dare dispute against this new sprung fect

In private or in publick.

Har. My best Lady,

Perfever in it.

Chrifteta. And what we maintain, We will feal with our bloods.

Harp. Brave resolution :

I ev'n grow fat to see my labors profper.
Theoph. I young again: to your devotions.

Har. Do

My prayers be present with you.

Theoph. Oh my Harpax.

Exeunt Prieft and

daughters.

Thou engine of my wifhes, thou that steeld'st
My bloody refolutions, thou that arm'st

My eyes 'gainst womanish tears and foft compaffion,
Inftructing me without a figh to look on

Babes torn by violence from their mothers breasts
To feed the fire, and with them make one flame;
Old men as beasts, in beasts skins torn by dogs:
Virgins and matrons tire the executioners,
Yet I unfatisfied think their torments easie.
Har. And in that, juft, not cruell.

Theo. Were all scepters

That grace the hands of kings made into one,
And offered me, all Crowns laid at my feet,
I would contemn them all, thus spit at them,
So I to all pofterities might be cal'd

The strongest champion of the Pagan gods,

And rooter out of Chriftians,

Har. Oh mine own,

Mine own dear Lord, to further this great work

I ever live thy flave.

Theo.

Enter Sapritius and Sempronius.

No more, the Governour,

Sapr. Keep the Ports clofe, and let the guards be doubl'd,

Difarm the Chriftians, call it death in any

To wear a fword, or in his house to have one.
Semp. I fhall be carefull Sir.

Sap. It will well become you.
Such as refuse to offer facrifice

To any of our gods, put to the torture,
Grub up this growing mischief by the roots;
And know, when we are mercifull to them,
We to our felves are cruell.

Semp. You pour oil

On fire that burns already at the height.

I know the Emperours Edict and my charge,
And they fhall find no favour.

Theop. My good Lord,

This care is timely, for the entertainment

Of our great master, who this night in person

Comes here to thank you.

Sap. Who, the Emperour?

Har. To clear your doubts, he does return in triumph,

Kings lackying by his triumphant Chariot ;
And in this glorious victory, my Lord,

You have an ample fhare: for know your fon,
The ne're enough commended Antoninus,
So well hath flefhd his maiden fword, and dy'd
His fnowy Plumes fo deep in enemies blood,
That befides publick grace beyond his hopes,
There are rewards propounded.

Sap. I would know

No mean in thine, could this be true.
Har. My head answer the forfeit.
Sap. Of his victory

There was fome rumour, but it was assured,
The army pafs'd a full dayes journey higher
Into the Country.

Har. It was fo determin'd;

But for the further honor of your fon,

And to obferve the government of the City,
And with what rigour, or remifs indulgence
The Christians are pursu'd, he makes his stay here:
For proof, his Trumpets speak his near arrivall.
Trumpets afar off.
Sap. Hafte good Sempronius, draw up our guards,

And with all ceremonious pomp receive

The conquering army. Let our garrifon speak

Their welcome in loud fhouts, the City shew

Her State and Wealth.

Semp. I am gone.

Sapritius. O I am ravish'd

Exit Sempronius.

With this great honour! cherish good Theophilus
This knowing fcholler, fend your fair daughters,

I will present them to the Emperour,

And in their sweet conversion, as a mirror,
Express your zeal and duty. A leffen of Cornets.
Theoph. Fetch them, good Harpax.

A guard brought in by Sempronius, fouldiers lead-
ing in three Kings bound, Antoninus, and Ma-
crinus carrying the Emperors Eagles, Dioclefian
with a guilt laurel on his head, leading in
Artemia, Sapritius kiffes the Emperors hand,
then embraces his fon, Harpax brings in Caliste
and Chrifteta, loud fhouts.

Diocle. So, at all parts I find Cæfarea Compleatly govern'd, the licentious fouldier Confin'd in modeft limits, and the people