She comes; and now, methinks, I could obey; Her form glides through me, and my heart gives way: This iron heart, which no impression took From wars, melts down, and runs, if she but look. [_Exit_ MAXIMIN. _Plac._ Madam, I from the emperor am come, To applaud your virtue, and reverse your doom. He thinks, whatever your religion be, This palm is owing to your constancy. _S. Cath._ My constancy from him seeks no renown; Heaven, that proposed the course, will give the crown. _Plac._ But monarchs are the gods' vicegerents here; Heaven gives rewards; but what it gives they bear: From heaven to you the Egyptian crown is sent, Yet 'tis a prince who does the gift present. _S. Cath._ The deity I serve, had he thought fit, Could have preserved my crown unconquered yet: But when his secret Providence designed To level that, he levelled too my mind; Which, by contracting its desires, is taught The humble quiet of possessing nought. _Plac._ To stoicks leave a happiness so mean: Your virtue does deserve a nobler scene. You are not for obscurity designed, But, like the sun, must cheer all human kind. _S. Cath._ No happiness can be, where is no rest: Th' unknown, untalked of man is only blest. He, as in some safe cliff, his cell does keep, From whence he views the labours of the deep: The gold-fraught vessel, which mad tempests beat, He sees now vainly make to his retreat; And when, from far, the tenth wave does appear, Shrinks up in silent joy, that he's not there. _Plac._ You have a pilot who your ship secures; The monarch both of earth and seas is yours; He, who so freely gives a crown away, Yet asks no tribute but what you may pay. One smile on him a greater wealth bestows, Than Egypt yields, when Nilus overflows. _S. Cath._ I cannot wholly innocent appear, Since I have lived such words as these to hear. O heaven, which dost of chastity take care-- _Plac._ Why do you lose an unregarded prayer? If happiness, as you believe, be rest, That quiet sure is by the gods possest:-- 'Tis greatness to neglect, or not to know, The little business of the world below. _S. Cath._ This doctrine well befitted him, who thought A casual world was from wild atoms wrought: But such an order in each chance we see, (Chained to its cause, as that to its decree,) That none can think a workmanship so rare Was built, or kept, without a workman's care. _To them_ MAXIMIN, _Attendants, and Guards_. _Max._ Madam, you from Placidius may have heard Some news, which will your happiness regard; For what a greater happiness can be, Than to be courted and be loved by me? The Egyptian crown I to your hands remit; And, with it, take his heart, who offers it. [_She turns aside._ Do you my person and my gift contemn?