_Emp._ My right, and my authority, exceeds. Suppose (what I'll not grant) injustice done; Is judging me the duty of a son? _Mor._ Not of a son, but of an emperor: You cancelled duty when you gave me power. If your own actions on your will you ground, Mine shall hereafter know no other bound. What meant you when you called me to a throne? Was it to please me with a name alone? _Emp._ 'Twas that I thought your gratitude would know What to my partial kindness you did owe; That what your birth did to your claim deny, Your merit of obedience might supply. _Mor._ To your own thoughts such hope you might propose; But I took empire not on terms like those. Of business you complained; now take your ease; Enjoy whate'er decrepid age can please; Eat, sleep, and tell long tales of what you were In flower of youth,--if any one will hear. _Emp._ Power, like new wine, does your weak brain surprise, And its mad fumes, in hot discourses, rise: But time these giddy vapours will remove; Meanwhile, I'll taste the sober joys of love. _Mor._ You cannot love nor pleasures take, or give; But life begin, when 'tis too late to live. On a tired courser you pursue delight, Let slip your morning, and set out at night. If you have lived, take thankfully the past; Make, as you can, the sweet remembrance last. If you have not enjoyed what youth could give, But life sunk through you, like a leaky sieve, Accuse yourself, you lived not while you might; But, in the captive queen resign your right. I've now resolved to fill your useless place; I'll take that post, to cover your disgrace, And love her, for the honour of my race. _Emp._ Thou dost but try how far I can forbear, Nor art that monster, which thou wouldst appear; But do not wantonly my passion move; I pardon nothing that relates to love. My fury does, like jealous forts, pursue With death, even strangers who but come to view. _Mor._ I did not only view, but will invade. Could you shed venom from your reverend shade, Like trees, beneath whose arms 'tis death to sleep; Did rolling thunder your fenced fortress keep, Thence would I snatch my Semele, like Jove, And 'midst the dreadful wrack enjoy my love. _Emp._ Have I for this, ungrateful as thou art! When right, when nature, struggled in my heart; When heaven called on me for thy brother's claim, Broke all, and sullied my unspotted fame? Wert thou to empire, by my baseness, brought, And wouldst thou ravish what so dear I bought? Dear! for my conscience and its peace I gave;-- Why was my reason made my passion's slave? I see heaven's justice; thus the powers divine Pay crimes with crimes, and punish mine by thine. _Mor._ Crimes let them pay, and punish as they please; What power makes mine, by power I mean to seize. Since 'tis to that they their own greatness owe Above, why should they question mine below? [_Exit._