_S. Cath._ No, heaven has shewn its power, and now thinks fit Thee to thy former fury to remit. Had providence my longer life decreed, Thou from thy passion hadst not yet been freed. But heaven, which suffered that, my faith to prove, Now to itself does vindicate my love. A power controuls thee, which thou dost not see; And that's a miracle it works in thee. _Max._ The truth of this new miracle we'll try; To prove it, you must take the pains to die. Bring me their heads. _Fel._ That mercy, tyrant, thou deny'st to me, At thy last breath may heaven refuse to thee! My fears are going, and I death can view: I see, I see him there thy steps pursue, And, with a lifted arm, and silent pace, Stalk after thee, just aiming in his chace. _S. Cath._ No more, dear mother; ill in death it shews Your peace of mind by rage to discompose: No streak of blood (the relics of the earth) Shall stain my soul in her immortal birth; But she shall mount all pure, a white and virgin mind, And full of all that peace, which there she goes to find. [_Exeunt St_ CATHARINE _and_ FELICIA, _with_ VALERIUS, _and guards. The scene shuts_. _Max._ She's gone, and pulled my heart-strings as she went. Were penitence no shame, I could repent. Yet, 'tis of bad example she should live; For I might get the ill habit to forgive. Thou soft seducer of my heart, away---- Who ling'ring would'st about its confines stay, To watch when some rebellion would begin, And ready at each sigh to enter in. In vain; for thou Dost on the outside of the body play, And, when drawn nearest, shalt be whirl'd away. What ails me, that I cannot lose thy thought!---- Command the empress hither to be brought; [_To_ PLAC. I in her death shall some diversion find, And rid my thoughts at once of womankind. _Plac._ 'Tis well he thinks not of Porphyrius yet. [_Aside, Exit._ _Max._ How hard it is this beauty to forget! My stormy rage has only shook my will: She crept down lower, but she sticks there still. Fool that I am to struggle thus with love! Why should I that, which pleases me, remove? True, she should die, were she concerned alone; But I love, not for her sake, but my own. Our Gods are Gods, 'cause they have power and will; Who can do all things, can do nothing ill. Ill is rebellion 'gainst some higher power: The world may sin, but not its emperor. My empress then shall die, my princess live; If this be sin, I do myself forgive. _To him_, VALERIUS. _Val._ Your will's obeyed; for, mighty emperor, The princess and her mother are no more. _Max._ She is not dead! _Val._ Great sir, your will was so. _Max._ That was my will of half an hour ago. But now 'tis altered; I have changed her fate, She shall not die.