My father's crimes hang heavy on my head,
And like a gloomy cloud about me spread.
I would in vain be pious; that's a grace,
Which heaven permits not to a tyrant's race.
Mar. Hence to her tent the foolish girl convey.
Val. Let me be just before I go away.-
Placidius, I have vowed to be your wife;
Take then my hand, 'tis yours while I have life.-
One moment here I must another's be;
But this, Porphyrius, gives me back to thee.
[Stabs herself twice, and then PLACIDIUS wrests
the Dagger from her.

Plac. Help, help the princess, help!

Max. What rage has urged this act, which thou

hast done?

Val. Thou, tyrant, and thy crimes, have pulled it

on.

Thou, who canst death with such a pleasure see,
Now take thy fill, and glut thy sight in me.
But I'll the occasion of my death forget;
Save him I love, and be my father yet:
I can no more-Porphyrius, my dear-

Cyd. Alas, she raves, and thinks Porphyrius here. Val. Have I not yet deserved thee, now I die? Is Berenice still more fair than I?

Porphyrius, do not swim before my sight;
Stand still, and let me, let me aim aright!
Stand still, but while thy poor Valeria dies,
And sighs her soul into her lover's eyes.

[Dies.

Plac. She's gone from carth, and with her went

away

All of the tyrant that deserved to stay:

I've lost in her all joys that life can give;

And only to revenge her death would live. [Aside. Cyd. The gods have claimed her, and we must re

sign.

Mar. What had the Gods to do with me or

mine?

Did I molest your heaven?

Why should you then make Maximin your foe
Who paid you tribute, which he need not do?
Your altars I with smoke of gums did crown,
For which you leaned your hungry nostrils down,
All daily gaping for my incense there,

More than your sun could draw you in a year.
And you for this these plagues on me have sent!
But by the Gods, (by Maximin, I meant,)
Henceforth I, and my world,

Hostility with you, and yours, declare. Look to it, Gods; for you the aggressors are. Keep you your rain and sun-shine in your skies, And I'll keep back my flame and sacrifice. Your trade of heaven shall soon be at a stand, And all your goods lie dead upon your hand. Plac. Thus, tyrant, since the Gods the aggressors [Stabbing him. Thus by this stroke they have begun the war. [MAXIMIN struggles with him, and gets the dagger from him.

are,

Max. Thus I return the strokes which they have given; [Stabbing PLACIDIUS. Thus, traitor, thus, and thus I would to heaven. [PLACIDIUS falls, and the Emperor staggers after him, and sits down upon him; the Guards come to help the Emperor.

Mar. Stand off, and let me, ere my strength be gone,

Take

my

last pleasure of revenge, alone.

Enter a Centurion.

Cent. Arm, arm, the camp is in a mutiny : For Rome and liberty the soldiers cry.

Porphyrius moved their pity, as he went
To rescue Berenice from punishment;

And now he heads their new attempted crime. Mar. Now I am down, the Gods have watch'd their time.

You think

To save your credit, feeble deities;

But I will give myself the strength to rise.

[He strives to get up, and, being up, staggers. It wonnot be My body has not power my mind to bear. I must return again-and conquer here.

[Sits down upon the body.

My coward body does my will controul;
Farewell, thou base deserter of my soul!
I'll shake this carcase off, and be obeyed;
Reign an imperial ghost wishout its aid.
Go, soldiers, take my ensigns with
you; fight,
And vanquish rebels in your sovereign's right:
Before I die-

Bring me Porphyrius and my empress dead:-
I would brave heaven, in my each hand a head.
Plac. Do not regard a dying tyrant's breath,
He can but look revenge on you in death.
[To the Soldiers.
Mar. Vanquished, and dar'st thou yet a rebel

be?

Thus, I can more than look revenge on thee.

Plac. Oh, I am gone!
Max. And after thee I go,

Revenging still, and following
world my blow;

[Stabs him again. [Dies.

ev'n to the other

[Stabs him again.

[Dies

And shoving back this earth on which I sit,
I'll mount, and scatter all the Gods I hit.

Enter PORPHYRIUS, BERENICE, ALBINUS, Soldiers. PORPHYRIUS looks on the Bodies entering, and speaks.

Por. 'Tis done before, (this mighty work of fate!) And I am glad your swords are come too late. He was my prince, and though a bloody one, I should have conquered, and have mercy shewn. Sheath all your swords, and cease your enmity; They are not foes, but Romans, whom you see. Ber. He was my tyrant, but my husband too; And therefore duty will some tears allow.

Por. Placidius here!

And fair Valeria, new deprived of breath!
Who can unriddle this dumb-show of death?

Cyd. When, sir, her father did your life deny,
She killed herself, that she with you might die.
Placidius made the emperor's death his crime
Who, dying, did revenge his death on him.

;

[PORPHYRIUS kneels, and takes VALERIA's hand. Por. For thy dear sake, I vow, each week I live, One day to fasting and just grief I'll give : And what hard fate did to thy life deny, My gratitude shall pay thy memory.

Cent. Meantime to you belongs the imperial power: We, with one voice, salute you emperor.

Sold. Long life, Porphyrius, emperor of the Romans! Por. Too much, my countrymen, your love you

shew,

That you have thought me worthy to be so;
But, to requite that love, I must take care,
Not to engage you in a civil war.

Two emperors at Rome the senate chose,

And whom they chuse, no Roman should oppose. In peace or war, let monarchs hope or fear;

All my ambition shall be bounded here.

VO L. III.

[Kissing BERENICE's hand.

2 E

Ber. I have too lately been a prince's wife, And fear the unlucky omen of the life. Like a rich vessel, beat by storms to shore, "Twere madness should I venture out once more. Of glorious trouble I will take no part, And in no empire reign, but of your heart. Por. Let to the winds your golden eagles fly; [To the Soldiers. Your trumpets sound a bloodless victory : Our arms no more let Aquileia fear, But to her gates our peaceful ensigns bear; While I mix cypress with my myrtle wreath,Joy for your life, and mourn Valeria's death.

[Exeunt.