SELF-LOVE, which, never rightly understood,
Makes poets still conclude their plays are good,
And malice, in all critics, reigns so high,
That for small errors, they whole plays decry;
So that to see this fondness, and that spite,
You'd think that none but madmen judge or write.
Therefore our poet, as he thinks not fit
T'impose upon you what he writes for wit;
So hopes, that, leaving you your censures free,
You equal judges of the whole will be:
They judge but half, who only faults will sec.
Poets, like lovers, should be bold and dare,
They spoil their business with an over-care;
And he, who servilely creeps after sense,
Is safe, but ne'er will reach an excellence.
Hence 'tis, our poet, in his conjuring,
Allowed his fancy the full scope and swing.
But when a tyrant for his theme he had,
He loosed the reins, and bid his muse run mad:
And though he stumbles in a full career,
Yet rashness is a better fault than fear.
He saw his way; but in so swift a pace,
To chuse the ground might be to lose the race.
They then, who of each trip the advantage take,
Find but those faults, which they want wit to make.
MAXIMIN, Tyrant of Rome.
PORPHYRIUS, Captain of the Prætorian Bands.
CHARINUS, the Emperor's son.
PLACIDIUS, a great officer.
VALERIUS, Tribunes of the army.
ALBINUS,
NIGRINUS, a Tribune and conjurer.
AMARIEL, guardian-angel to St CATHARINE.
APOLLONIUS, a Heathen philosopher.
BERENICE, wife to MAXIMIN.
VALERIA, daughter to MAXIMIN.
St CATHARINE, Princess of Alexandria.
FELICIA, her mother.
SCENE-The camp of Maximin, under the walls of
SCENE I-A Camp, or Pavilion Royal.
Enter MAXIMIN, CHARINUS, PLACIDIUS, ALBINUS, VALERIUS, APOLLONIUS, and Guards.
Max. Thus far my arms have with success been crowned,
And found no stop, or vanquished what they found.
'The German lakes my legions have o'erpast,
With all the bars which art or nature cast:
My foes, in watery fastnesses inclosed,
I fought alone, to their whole war exposed;
Did first the depth of trembling marshes sound,
And fixed my eagles in unfaithful ground;
By force submitted to the Roman sway
Fierce nations, and unknowing to obey;
And now, for my reward, ungrateful Rome,
For which I fought abroad, rebels at home.
Alb. Yet 'tis their fear which does this war main,
They cannot brook a martial monarch's reign:
Your valour would their sloth too much accuse;
And therefore, like themselves they princes chuse.
Plac. Two tame gown'd princes, who at ease de-
bate,
In lazy chairs, the business of the state;
Who reign but while the people they can please,
And only know the little arts of peace.
Char. In fields they dare not fight, where honour
But breathe a faint defiance from their walls.
The very noise of war their souls does wound;
They quake, but hearing their own trumpets sound.
Val. An easy summons but for form they wait,
And to your fame will open wide the gate.
Plac. I wish our fame that swift success may find;
But conquests, sir, are easily designed.
However soft within themselves they are,
To you they will be valiant by despair:
For, having once been guilty, well they know,
To a revengeful prince they still are so.
Alb. 'Tis true, that, since the senate's succours came,
They grow more bold.
Mar. That senate's but a name:
Or they are pageant princes which they make; That power they give away, they would partake. Two equal powers two different ways will draw, While each may check, and give the other law. True, they secure propriety and peace;
But are not fit an empire to increase.
When they should aid their prince, the slaves dispute;
And fear success should make him absolute.
They let foes conquer, to secure the state,
And lend a sword, whose edge themselves rebate. Char. When to increase the gods you late are
I'll swiftly chuse to die, or reign alone:
But these half kings our courage cannot fright;
The thrifty state will bargain ere they fight:
Give just so much for every victory,
And rather lose a fight than overbuy.
Mar. Since all delays are dangerous in war,
Your men, Albinus, for assault prepare;
Crispinus and Meniphilus, I hear,
Two consulars, these Aquileians cheer;
By whom they may, if we protract the time,
Be taught the courage to defend their crime.
Plac. Put off the assault but only for this day : No loss can come by such a small delay.
Char. We are not sure to-morrow will be ours: Wars have, like love, their favourable hours. Let us use all; for if we lose one day, That white one, in the crowd, may slip away.
Mar. Fate's dark recesses we can never find;
But fortune, at some hours, to all is kind:
The lucky have whole days, which still they chuse;
The unlucky have but hours, and those they lose.
Plac. I have consulted one, who reads heaven's
doom,
And sees, as present, things which are to come.
'Tis that Nigrinus, made by your command
A tribune in the new Pannonian band.
Him have I seen (on Ister's banks he stood,
Where last we wintered), bind the headlong flood
In sudden ice; and, where most swift it flows,
In crystal nets the wond'ring fishes close.
Then, with a moment's thaw, the streams enlarge,
And from the mesh the twinkling guests discharge.
In a deep vale, or near some ruined wall,
He would the ghosts of slaughtered soldiers call;
Who slow to wounded bodies did repair,
And, loth to enter, shivered in the air;
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