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 Dramatized from the Story of Placidus in the 
 ""Martyrs of the Coliseum ^ 
 
 By Rev. 'A. J. O'REIIxLY, D.D., 
 
 Missionaty Apostolic. 
 
 I). & j. SADLIER cS: CO., 31 BARCLAY ST. 
 Montreal : 275 Notre Dame Street. 
 
 ^^IS' 
 
V 
 
 THE 
 
 Double Triumph 
 
 DRAMA IN TWO ACTS. 
 
 Dramatized from the story of Placidus, hi the " Martyrs of 
 the Coliseum" 
 
 A. J. O'REILLY, Mis. Ap. 
 
 ^1 
 
 > 
 
 C ^^ 1- 
 
 New York : 
 D. & J. SADLIER & CO., 31 BARCLAY ST. 
 
 MONTREAL : 275 NOTRE DAME STREET. 
 1875. 
 

 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by 
 
 D. & J. SADLIER & CO., 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 
 
 I ^-3^1411 
 
CO 
 
 Placidus, Roman General. 
 
 Imogen, ) 
 
 Farfax, \ ^'"'^ 'f P^^^idu^^- 
 
 RuFUS, Captain of Banner-Guard. Most faithful friend 
 
 of Placidus. 
 Felix, Pope. 
 Adrias, Deacon. 
 Trajan, Emperor. 
 Adrian, E^nperor. 
 
 Calphurnius, High- Priest of the Capitol. 
 Proculus, Governor of Gaul. 
 Epicurus, Manager of Baths. 
 SiNTULUS, Military Tribune. 
 Hibernian. 
 Stella, Wife of Placidus. 
 
 Soldiers. Lictors, Couriers, Slaves, etc. 
 
THE DOUBLE TRIUMPH. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 Scene i. — Rome, second century, time of Trajan. 
 A room in a Roman villa. Matron is sitting at 
 a table working. Two children playing, one 
 about five, the other three years. A slave fan- 
 ning mistress. After a slight pause a bell is 
 struck outside. Matron calls slave. 
 
 Matron. Sylvia, what hour has struck? 
 
 Slave. 'Tis the night-watch, noble mistress. 
 
 [ Trainping of soldiers heard outside. 
 
 Matron. What sounds are these ? Has Placi- 
 dus come ? Run, Sylvia, and see has the Gene- 
 ral come. {Exit slave. 
 
 Matron \rising and looking anxiously in the 
 direction whence the sounds came']. Never has 
 Placidus acted thus. The moon is high in the 
 heavens, and night shrouds the empress city. I 
 see the glare of the vestal fires from the Capitol. 
 [Looks through lattice.] Can he be hunting still ? 
 This morning at daybreak he left me to greet the 
 rising sun on the Sabines, and chase the swift 
 
 3 
 
4 The Doitble Trmmph. 
 
 footed deer. His hour of return has long passed. 
 How my heart beats under an anxious pulse ! 
 Ye gods, so propitious to the brave, turn aside 
 the clouds of evil destiny that might cast a fatal 
 shadow on the pathway of the Roman ! \Enter 
 Sylvia /mrricdly.'] Say, Silvia, what tidings? 
 
 Slave. Noble mistress, 'tis but the tramp of 
 the guard changing the night-watch. But yon- 
 der comes Rufus : he surely brings tidings of the 
 General. 
 
 Enter RUFUS. Soldiers in armor, carrying Roman 
 banner. 
 
 Matron. Rufus, knowest thou aught of thy 
 brave commander? Thou wert ever a true sol- 
 dier, and kept by his side in the darkest hour. 
 How came you separated from him? Speak: I 
 fear thy silence. Ye gods, help me ! something 
 has happened. 
 
 Rufus. Noble lady, I am loath to fan thy fears 
 to darker anticipations of evil ; but — \she starts'] 
 — we fear for the safety of the General. 
 
 Matron. I conjure thee, Rufus, to tell me all — 
 let the worst come, and save me from this rack- 
 ing suspense. Have the enemies of the empire 
 waylaid him ? Has his trusty steed fallen ? Do 
 ravenous wolves feed on his mangled corpse ? 
 [She becomes weak, and is led to a chair by 
 a slave. 
 
The Double Triumph. 5 
 
 Riifiis. Noble lady, none of these calamities 
 has befallen thy lord. Although he separated 
 from us about noon, we believe he has but lost 
 his way in the mountains, and, now that the 
 moon is risen, she will lend her silvery light to 
 guide him to his home. 
 
 Matron. But how came you to lose him, Ru- 
 fus? What happened ? 
 
 Rufus. Early this morning I was by his side, 
 when a noble stag started from the copse at our 
 feet ; the dogs gave chase, and our neighing 
 steeds flew over the mountain-side. The stag 
 was the largest ever seen in those hills, and the 
 chase the fleetest ever run ; our jaded horses 
 soon lagged behind, but the General followed on 
 in all the ardor of the chase; we saw his bur- 
 nished helmet rolling like a globe of fire through 
 the olive-groves, and then appearing at intervals 
 like gleams of moonlight through the ravines of 
 Marino ; finally we lost sight of him. We halted 
 in the shade of a fig-tree, and hoped each moment 
 to see our gallant commander return with the 
 spoils of his brilliant chase. Four weary hours 
 passed, and not even a dog returned to tell by his 
 blood-stained mouth of the death of the stag. 
 We then searched the mountain-side, and called 
 aloud again and again for our General ; but the 
 echo of our hoarse voices broke the stillness of 
 the mountain-side, mingling with the moan of 
 
6 The Double Triumph. 
 
 the startled owls. The setting sun, falling in 
 clouds of golden splendor over the towers of 
 Ostia, made us tremble for his safety. We hur- 
 ried to head-quarters to seek a detachment of 
 horse to scour the mountain-side. Behold, noble 
 lady, how I am separated from the General I The 
 life-stream of my heart is not dearer than thy 
 lord. Rufus will not wield his battle-axe under 
 any other commander. Placidus must be found ! 
 Matron. Noble Rufus, haste to the Sabines 
 once more, bring back my Placidus, and my 
 gratitude shall dictate thy reward. 
 
 \Noise is heard outside. Soldiers cheer. SYL- 
 VIA runs out. All look in the direction. 
 
 Matron. What has happened ? 
 
 [Sylvia, rtimting in, cries out in loud voice. 
 Slave. 'Tis Placidus ! 'Tis Placidus ! 
 
 Enter PLACIDUS, a Rojna?i general, gorgeously 
 dressed, armor, plumes, etc. Embraces his ivife. 
 A pause. 
 
 Matron [emphatic ally\. I breathe again. My 
 troubled heart has leaped from despair to joy. 
 Placidus, art thou ill? . . . What has caused 
 this delay, and to thy Stella such long hours of 
 anxious suspense ? 
 
 [Placidus, relieving himself from her em- 
 brace, slowly passes to a seat ; places his 
 
The Double Triumph, 7 
 
 head in his hands ; seems in trojible. All 
 gather round. After a short pause he rises 
 slozvly^ waves his hand majestically^ mak- 
 ing sign for all to depart except matron. 
 RUFUS, Sylvia, soldiers, etc., retire R. C, 
 looking anxiously towards him. Again 
 Placidus becomes absorbed in thought. 
 At length matron draws near, and, kneeling 
 at his feet, speaks anxiously. 
 
 Matron. Placidus, speak to thy Stella. What 
 cloud hangs on thy cheerful spirit ? Never be- 
 fore hast thou come home in this mood ; we for 
 hours have watched and turned the hour-glass, 
 listening for thy well-known footsteps on the 
 threshold ; but Rufus told us how thou hadst lost 
 thy way in the mountain, and truly prophesied 
 the waning moon would bring thee home. 
 Speak, and let an anxious spouse share thy 
 trouble. 
 
 [Placidus, raising his head a7id taking his 
 zvife's hand, speaks slowly and majestically. 
 
 Placidus. Stella, I have a strange tale to tell 
 thee. Thou knowest the terrors of war and the 
 crash of empires have ever been my delight. I 
 feared no enemy, and knew no god but my sword. 
 Since last I sat beneath these ancestral towers a 
 change has come over the spirit of my dream. 
 Like sunshine bursting from clouds, a vision from 
 
8 The Double Triumph, 
 
 the realms beyond the grave has passed before 
 these eyes. A deity greater than the gods of 
 the empire has manifested himself to me. Stella, 
 I am this day a Christian ! 
 
 Matron. Placidus ! art mad ? — that hated sect 
 — persecuted by the emperors — the enemies of 
 the gods ! Think of thy wealth — thy fame — thy 
 children — 
 
 Placichis. Hold, Stella! thou must hear me 
 then thou too wilt be Christian. This morning I 
 went as usual to the chase. Never did a more 
 beautiful sun rise over the Campagna — never did 
 fresher breezes blow over the Sabine slopes. I 
 felt all the vigor of youth, and, whilst my steed 
 neighed with impatience, I cursed the gods we 
 could not find the game. Towards the eleventh 
 hour we heard a rustling in the brushwood ; out 
 sprang a magnificent stag ; we gave chase ; we 
 flew over the mountain-side with a speed that 
 would mock the eagle's flight ; torrents rolled 
 under the hoofs of the horses, and fearlessly we 
 rode along the edge of startling precipices; soon 
 my gallant steed outstripped my companions in 
 the chase. On we went, over hill and dale, and 
 penetrated far into the rocky Apennines. I lost 
 control of my foaming steed, but feared not, for 
 some destiny seemed to urge us on. Suddenly 
 the stag came to bay, made an immense bound, 
 and reached a ledge of rocks that hung over us : 
 
The Double Triitniph, 9 
 
 it turned towards me, and, behold, I saw a strange 
 sight ! In its branching horns there was a h"ght 
 brighter than the sun ; my dazzled eyes could 
 discern in this light the figure of a man nailed to 
 a cross, who spoke to me words of strange mys- 
 tery. At the same time a light shot through 
 my soul — I understood the mercy of the mighty 
 Being who is aJone the true God I {^Pauses, and 
 fixes his eyes in serious thought on heaveit. TJien, 
 starting^ suddenly eontinuesl] Stella, this night 
 we go to the Catacombs ; the pastor Felix, the 
 chief of the Christian sect, awaits us ; he will 
 explain all. Awaken thy infants, take them with 
 thee, for a messenger awaits outside to guide us; 
 ere the dawn of the morrow's sun, we shall be 
 Christians'. 
 
 Mat 7' on [excitedly']. But, Placid us! 
 
 Placidus. Hush ! 
 
 *' Procastination is the thief of time, 
 Year after year it steals until all is fled, 
 And to the mercies of a moment leaves 
 The vast concerns of an eternal scene." 
 
 \^Matron leaves L. C. PLACIDUS, moving slow- 
 ly after, is called by SiNTULUS, a military 
 tribune, zvho has entered by R. C. 
 
 Sintulus. Placidus, the Emperor expects you 
 this evening at the Baths of Titus, to meet the 
 
lo The Double Triumph, 
 
 Prefect of the Gaulish Provinces, who has arrived 
 in the city to-day. 
 
 Piacidiis. Sintulus, Placidus is called by a 
 higlier power, and will return anon. 
 
 {^Exit L. C. 
 
 Sintiihis \looking after hiui in zvonder\. What 
 mean these words? Called by a higher power 
 than the Emperor! He is plotting a conspiracy. 
 [RUFUS steals in from behind, unseen by SlNTU- 
 LUS, and listens^ What a splendid chance for 
 nie to seek promotion by revealing the plot to 
 the Emperor. I shall meet Trajan at the baths, 
 and rise to eminence on the blighted fame of 
 Rome's greatest man. \^Exit excitedly. 
 
 Rnfus [with hand in sivord']. Caitiff! thy first 
 word against Placidus shall be thy last ! 
 
 \_Remains in attitude of attack. Curtain 
 falls. 
 
 Scene 2. — Crypt in Catacombs. Table, large 
 cross, rude and black ; on the table, book, hour- 
 glass, etc. Sitting near the table, the PoPE 
 Felix, a venerable old man, long ivhite beard, 
 etc. 
 
 Felix. How wonderful are the ways of God ! 
 Too mysterious for the grasp of human reason. 
 All is now darkness and gloom, yet triumph is 
 certain. Wrapt in the womb of futurity, truth 
 
The Double Triumph. 1 1 
 
 will emerge like sunrise over the ancient hills on 
 the clcirkened plains. That Spirit which brooded 
 over the chaotic darkness and illumined creation 
 with the flood of daylight shall utter another 
 fiat over the moral night of paganism, and give 
 Christianity a cloudless sky for the salvation of 
 man. Seventy years have rolled their trying and 
 bloody vicissitudes over thy infant Church since 
 she first sought the shelter of these cr3^pts ; the 
 martyred heroes who sleep in those crimsoned 
 tombs cry to thee for that mercy which is the 
 revenge of a God. Steadily thy holy cause is 
 progressing against the tide of human passions ; 
 each drop of blood that purples Roman soil is 
 the fruitful germ of souls that spring to life 
 under the sword that gives death. Still thy 
 servants bleed in the amphitheatre; their mira 
 cles dazzle thousands Avithout bringing convic- 
 tion. The irrational brute sees thy image in the 
 Christian victim ; but man, thy loved creature, is 
 shrouded in voluntary darkness. \^Hc kneels.'] 
 " How long, O Lord, wilt thou not have mercy 
 on Jerusalem ! " Give one propitious glance on 
 this impious city, and let the voice of thy praise 
 ring through its habitations. 
 
 \_After a slight pause he stretches his arms in 
 surprise, and gazes on a vision made to appear 
 on the stage thus : In tJie eentre of the scene 
 there is a second smaller one, which is made to 
 
12 Th: Double Triumph, 
 
 rise slowly. Within is a scene in the Apen- 
 nines^ nioufitains made with cork. On a rock 
 a stags head, in its brand ling horns a cruci- 
 fix, on zvJiich a strong light is rejlected from 
 above by a mirror. Under the rock PlaCI- 
 DUS, dressed as in \st scene. A shozver of 
 golden snoiv, made by small slips of gold- 
 paper. Soft music all the time. Curtain 
 falls slowly again. Then a plaintive air is 
 sung without words by a female voice froin 
 zvithin, pianissimo. FELIX, zvith hands 
 folded in prayer, the moment the air is 
 sung, springs excitedly to his feet. 
 
 Felix. Have idle fancies been mocking my 
 eyes? What can mean this strange vision ? Is 
 it a wile of Satan to distract my thoughts ? Ah ! 
 thanks to the Eternal Giver of all good gifts, the 
 martyrs bleed not in vain I Behold, an apostle is 
 called, whose conversion shall bring a harvest of 
 souls as numerous as the flakes of golden snow 
 seen in my dream ! 
 
 Enter Adrias, a young deacon, bearing dalmatic, 
 as zvas the custom in those times. {N. B. The 
 dalmatic zvas originally a pagan costume^ 
 Kisses Pope's hand, kneels. 
 
 Felix. My child, what news from the outer 
 world ? 
 
The Double TiHuniph. 13 
 
 Adrias. Holy Father, I have just been to the 
 city, and administered the holy mysteries to the 
 poor family near the Arch of Dollabella ; but I 
 should have been here much sooner were it not 
 that I waited to witness a scene the most glori- 
 ous in these days of triumph for the Church of 
 God. 
 
 Felix. Say, Adrias, what has been thy happy 
 lot ? Has the storm of persecution ceased to 
 toss the bark of truth on the pagan world ? 
 Has man wearied to war with the Great Eternal, 
 and proclaimed the freedom of the unoffending 
 Christian ? 
 
 Adrias. Alas ! Holy Father, darker than ever 
 are the clouds that lower on our horizon ; the per- 
 secution has freshened to a gale ; the city rings 
 with blasphemy against the crucified God of the 
 Christians. When I crossed the Capitol and de- 
 scended the Way of Triumph into the Forum, I 
 saw crowds of people engaged in excited conversa- 
 tion. I listened, and learned the edicts against 
 the Christians were to be pushed forward with 
 greater vehemence than ever, and on the por- 
 tals of the Temple of Fortune I saw and read the 
 bronze plates that announced the crown for so 
 many soldiers of Christ. Suddenly turning 
 towards the Tullian keep, I saw a crowd oi 
 brutal men leading in bonds my little friend 
 Marinus. \_Sheds tcars.~] Groans, hisses, and 
 
14 The Double Triumph, 
 
 shouts burst from the crowd as they led him 
 towards the CoHseum ; but the brave child 
 looked tranquil and happy. ' At first impulse I 
 was about to rush to his side and claim com- 
 panionship in his happy lot. I knew he was 
 going to his crown, and, working my way through 
 the crowd, I whispered encouragement into his 
 ears. He smiled in joy, and bade me bring his 
 last farewell to you. Arrived at the Coliseum, I 
 found its mighty womb already filled with the 
 heartless mob w^ho gloat over the bloody games 
 of the circus; but, wishing to see the end of the 
 noble boy, I wrapped my cloak around me, and 
 took my place in the second tier. A murmur 
 rose through the assembled multitude that a 
 noble Christian youth was to be exposed to the 
 lions. After a moment's pause Marinus was led 
 into the arena ; he still bore his senatorial lati- 
 clave, and seemed a little seraph in human form. 
 There burst from the people a shout that rolled 
 like thunder through the vomitories of the mighty 
 amphitheatre, and shook the heavens with un- 
 utterable blasphemies against God. The trum- 
 pets were sounded, and an enormous lion bound- 
 ed into the arena; he crouched, prepared to 
 spring on the defenceless youth : the silence of 
 death hung over the crowd, when — all praise be 
 to our good Lord ! — the animal suddenly drew 
 up, as if some invisible being stayed his ravenous 
 
The Double Triumph, 15 
 
 nature; coming gently towards Marinus, the lion 
 commenced to lick the hands and feet of the 
 martyr boy. Cries of witchcraft, of death, and 
 of surprise again moved the crowd. Some 
 called for more animals, others for his liberty, 
 and from not a i^\N I heard the pleasing cry of 
 " Great is the God of the Christians ! " 
 
 Felix. What did they then ? Say on, Adrias : 
 was Marinus crowned ? 
 
 Adrias. Yes, Holy Father, the prefect was 
 fired with rage, and, fearing a tumult amongst 
 the people, ordered the noble youth to be be- 
 headed. I saw the axe falL Marinus slept 
 where Ignatius fell, smiling on his murderers 
 with angelic forgiveness; his body was cast into 
 the spoliarium. I bribed the keepers to give 
 it to me, and I have just committed the sacred 
 relics to the Fossores. 
 
 Felix. Poor Marinus ! lovely, angelic boy ; but 
 yesterday you told me how you longed for your 
 crown. Peerless lily of Eden ! transplanted from 
 the gardens of earth to bloom in everlasting fra- 
 grance in the blossoms of thy unfading merit. I 
 see thee hailed by millions of kindred spirits, 
 whose smiles of congratulation lendeth lustre to 
 thy well-earned crown. See, Adrias, to the Acts 
 of the noble youth ; let future generations know 
 the material on which the Church of God is 
 built. 
 
1 6 . The Double Triumph. 
 
 Adrias. I have yet another strange circum- 
 stance to tell your Holiness, if I may speak. 
 
 Felix. Go on, Adrias ; everything concerning 
 my persecuted flock must needs interest me. 
 "Who is scandalized and I not burn?" 
 
 Adrias. When I was coming along the Sala- 
 rian Way, bringing with me the relics of Mari- 
 nus, there suddenly came up a party consisting 
 of two men, a woman, and two children ; they 
 seemed beautifully dressed, and one of the men 
 was girded with armor and sword, and seemed to 
 be a military man of high rank. A youth of 
 heavenly appearance, who seemed to guide the 
 party, came towards me, and, saluting the re- 
 mains of Marinus, called me by my name, and 
 bade me guide the family to you, and instantly 
 disappeared. 
 
 Felix. How strange ! What did you with the 
 family, Adrias? Where are they now? 
 
 Adrias. May it please your Holiness, when I 
 arrived at these Catacombs, not wishing to aban- 
 don the body of Marinus till in the safe-keeping 
 of the Fossores, I prayed the priest Cyprian to 
 speak to them until I could acquaint you of the 
 circumstances. 
 
 Felix. Haste, Adrias, and bring them to this 
 crypt. \Exit Adrias.] *Tis the harvest of 
 blood : the sunshine of eternal truth, struggling 
 
The Dozible Triumph, 17 
 
 through clouds of human darkness, has fallen on 
 a few chosen souls. 
 
 Enter Placidus and family. All kneel. The 
 Pope stretches his hands over them in silence 
 for a moment^ then, advancing towards them, 
 
 says : 
 
 Felix. Rise, Placidus! thy name is written in 
 the Book of Life. 
 
 Placidus \sloivly and majestically']. He who 
 rules the destinies of man has deigned to illu- 
 mine my darkened senses. By divine command 
 I stand before thee, venerable Pastor of the 
 Christian Church, to receive the Sacrament of 
 regeneration. 
 
 Felix. My son, dost thou believe .^^ 
 
 Placidus. I believe. 
 
 Felix. Then hearken to the word that has been 
 spoken m vision to me, the unworthy servant of 
 the servants of God. Great things are destined 
 for thee, Placidus, but thou must first be hum- 
 bled and proved in the crucible of trial and puri- 
 fied, as dross is taken from the alloy. Go agaiti 
 with the morrov/'s sun to the spot in the Apen- 
 nines where the Divine Spirit has manifested 
 itself to thee, and thou wilt hear again the will 
 of him to whom thou pledgest fealty. Nerve 
 thy spirit for greater battles than those that have 
 
1 8 The Double Triu7npk. 
 
 g;irded thy name with terror to the enemies of 
 the Empire; thou must fight with enemies in- 
 visible, imperishable, and implacable ; but all 
 battles are triumphs under the banners of the 
 Son of God. \TJii chanting of psalms is heard in 
 hhe distance.'] But hither come our flock for 
 n^iorning prayer ; let us repair to the chapel for 
 instruction and baptism. 
 
 [_A procession is tJien made to pass. Christians 
 in ancient costnine, carrying lighted tapers, 
 singing some plaintive chant. A splendid 
 opportunity for a beautiful chorus, such as 
 from the cloister-scene of " / Puritani!'' 
 After procession, Stella, children, Pope, 
 and Placid US join and exeunt. Curtain 
 falls. 
 
 Scene 3. — Room, as in first scene. Placidus sit- 
 ting at table. Parchment, style, etc. CalphuR- 
 NIUS, the high-priest of the Capitol, stands before 
 him. 
 
 Placidus \scornfidly\. What brings you here to- 
 d;i\', Calphurnius ? 
 
 Calphurnius. A matter of the deepest impor- 
 tance ; but first I must tell of my pride in the 
 friendship of Rome's greatest General — the most 
 devout to the gods — 
 
 Placidus. There is some villanous scheme lurk- 
 
The Double Triumph, 19 
 
 ing under thy lying tongue, but I will hear thee, 
 priest. Thou choosest to be friends with the 
 great. Were I poor and nameless as a slave, 
 would this honor be conferred on me? 
 
 Calphurnins. Noble General I the high-priest of 
 the Capitol would not demean his dignity by 
 noticing slaves and serfs, except to trample them 
 under his heel as he w^ould the worm on his path ! 
 
 Placidiis. Enough, proud hypocrite, of thy time- 
 wasting self-stilting ! I would hear thy busi- 
 ness ! 
 
 Calphnruius. You are aware. General, the 
 whole empire is groaning under the weight of an 
 increasing misfortune — worse than the failure of 
 the harvest — worse than epidemic or decimating 
 plague — worse than defeat in battle and the sub- 
 jugation of the empire to a barbarous power — 
 'tis the spread of the Christian sect ! [PlaciduS,. 
 rising, scozvls, and places his hand on swoi'di] The 
 remedy to this evil. General, is in your hands. 
 Yesterday, when passing through the camp, we 
 lieard your name on every soldier's lips, and my 
 colleagues and myself, who are the next power 
 to the army, have agreed in council to get rid of 
 the imbecile emperor who tolerates this impious 
 sect, and place on his throne the chosen of tlie 
 army, the beloved of the gods — you, Placidus, 
 who will persecute to the death the worshippers 
 of the Jewish Prophet. 
 
20 The Double Triu^nph, 
 
 Placidus \slozvy and majestically]. " And leading 
 him up a hill, showed him all the kingdoms of the 
 earth ; and said, All these will I give thee, if, fall- 
 ing down, thou wilt adore me." Calphurnius ! I 
 would not shed one drop of innocent blood for 
 fifty empires. Would piety towards the gods 
 make me deluge Rome with its noblest blood, 
 and make Roman homes resound with the cry of 
 the widow and the orphan? The Christians are 
 an innocent people ; they have the right of citi- 
 zenship as well as you or your motley crew of 
 pampered hypocrites; but, proud priest, thou art 
 a spider strangled in thy own web ; thou hast 
 quaffed the cup thou hast poisoned for an inno- 
 cent victim ; you stand before me a convicted 
 criminal ; thou hast conspired against the life and 
 throne of the Emperor, and before sunset thy 
 guilty head shall roll from the public scaffold. Ho ! 
 there, guards ! {Enter soldiers, zvho seize him.'] 
 Calphurnius, I am a Christian ! 
 
 CalpJiurnius {falling on J lis knees, crying piteoiis- 
 ly for 7/iercy]. Mercy ! mercy ! great General ! I 
 only meant — 
 
 Placidus. Silence, hypocrite ! Calphurnius, thy 
 life is now in my hand ; but, as we Christians do 
 not trample on the worm in our path, I will let 
 thee live if thou wilt swear, and sign with thy 
 blood, a compact that thou wilt never again speak 
 against the Christians. 
 
T/ie Double Triumph, 21 
 
 Calpluirnius. I swear! I swear ! 
 
 Placidiis. Thou wilt sign, caitiff, thy own 
 death-warrant. [Placidus goes to table and 
 zvrites. After ivriting a moment, during whie/i 
 high-priest is zvringing his hands — ] Soldier, tie 
 his finger, and pierce it with this style. Let him 
 sign in blood an oath we will make him keep. 
 \_So/dier ties, etc. High-priest led to table. Re- 
 fuses. Vl.KClTi\]^drazvsszvord,and aloud.'\ Priest, 
 sign ! [Priest signs.'] Lead the caitiff to the 
 street, and set him free again on the world he con- 
 taminates. 
 
 Enter RUFUS. 
 
 Placidus. Ho, Rufus I we have had a merry time 
 of it just now. You know Calphurnius, the many- 
 colored hypocrite that pretends to wield the thun- 
 ders of Jupiter — he wanted to make me emperor; 
 the army would proclaim me, and he would se- 
 cure the consent of the Senate and people if I 
 would promise to persecute the Christians ! but 
 I made him swear and sign with his blood a pro- 
 mise never to speak again against the Chris- 
 tians — 
 
 Rufus. Better you should have roasted him at 
 his own fires; Calphurnius's oath, even signed 
 with blood, will break like a rotten reed at the 
 first pressure. Thou hast set free, General, a 
 
22 The Double Triumph, 
 
 wretch who will move heaven and earth to ruin 
 thee. 
 
 Placidus. The conscious heart that fears not 
 the light of day shall little brook the treachery 
 of a miscreant like Calphurnius! 
 
 Rnfus. Thou hast other enemies, General, more 
 powerful than Calphurnius. Was Sintulus here 
 this morning ? 
 
 Placidus. Yes, but I dismissed him summarily, 
 as urgent domestic affairs called me. 
 
 Rufiis. And I overheard him prepare a charge 
 of conspiracy against thee. 
 
 Placidus, What ! dishonor ! Is he in league with 
 the vile Calphurnius — would Trajan believe? 
 
 Enter lucssenger excitedly. 
 
 Messenger. General, your villa on the Nomen- 
 tan Way has been burnt ; horses, cattle, and some 
 of the slaves lost ! 
 
 Placidus \inajestieall)'\. When the tide of desti- 
 ny has returned to its rocky boundary, the billows 
 of misfortune flow in steadily, one by one, bear- 
 ing on their snowy crest the fragments of the 
 storm's wreck ! Rufus, my night of long, bitter 
 woe is gathering its sable darkness around me. 
 With shattered fortunes and blighted honor I 
 shall not wait to meet a traitor's doom. [^Enter 
 Adrias, the deacon, presenting letter to PLACIDUS. 
 Placidus opens and reads.'] 
 
The Double Tritmtph, 23; 
 
 *' We caution thee, our beloved son Placidus,, 
 of the pagan priest Calphurnius. He has laid a 
 plot to get you to acknowledge yourself a Chris- 
 tian, and then betray you to the Emperor. The 
 rumors of your conversion are passing through 
 Rome. We recommend you to secrete yourself 
 till the storm blow over. FELIX." 
 
 \A triLinpct is heard outside, A coiiriei' front- 
 the royal household enters. 
 
 Courier. The Emperor would have the General 
 Placidus to meet him at the Temple of Apollo, 
 on the Palatine, before sunset. \Exit.. 
 
 Placidus. The hour is not yet come in which I 
 must proclaim my faith to all the Roman people, 
 but the fire around the crucible into which my 
 sinful nature is to be cast is reaching a blaze. 
 Rufus, take this scroll, and, if avenging Heaven 
 place it in thy power to vindicate the sanctity 
 of an oath, let retributive justice mete that cai- 
 tiff's doom. Be heir of my horse and my faith- 
 ful dog — they may no more accompany their mas- 
 ter to the chase ; take my sword \_unbuckles belli ; 
 other weapons must be wielded against enemies 
 that are invisible, indestructible, and implacable. 
 Sjnoves towards lattice?^ Farewell, thou mighty 
 city, wnose monuments of a thousand victories 
 are the soldier's pride ! whose legions are the 
 terror of every nation ! whose dark idolatry is the 
 
24- The Double Triumph, 
 
 regret of every Christian ! Farewell, thou marble 
 walls of my ancestral home — thy softening memo- 
 ries shall haunt my exile and embitter the hard- 
 ships of my servitude. And to the veteran com- 
 panions of our arms, thou, Rufus, must tell them 
 their General \zveeps\ — struggles to say — farewell! 
 
 [Scene. — Agonies of far eivell by Placidus, 
 gradually receding. Sndden exit. Rufus in 
 grief. Curtain falls. Music plaintive and 
 pianissimo during the silent farewell of 
 Placidus. 
 
 Scene 4. — A hall in the Baths of Titus. Em- 
 peror on throne. Around, courtiers y gold cups 
 in their hands, all gorgeously dressed. {The 
 dress of Trajan, as taken from his statue in 
 Rome, given in GoldsniitJi s *' History of 
 Rome.'') Enter Epicurus, a red-faced noble, 
 who glories in the title of Bagnanius, or Mana- 
 ger of the Baths. EmperoR seeing him ap- 
 proach. 
 
 Trajan. Ha, Epi ! you have been lifting your 
 Falernian cups rather freely this afternoon. 
 I could hear your merry laugh the loudest in the 
 triclinium whilst we were swimming. 
 
 Epicurus. Most divine Emperor ! I — I am 
 the happiest man in this mighty realm I 
 
The Double Triu^nph, 25 
 
 Traja7t. What has happened, then, to make 
 you more so than usual ? 
 
 Epicurus, Plenty, by Jupiter ! Yesterday one- 
 of my saw-mill wiv^es had her threads cut and 
 slipped down to the infernal home of Pluto ; to- 
 day I had a meeting of creditors who agreed to 
 let me go free from what they knew they never 
 would get; and I have here \seizing a silver jug 
 placed on a table in the centre'] the finest ten-year- 
 old vintage, the taste of which would make old 
 Bacchus thirsty every time he would pass a 
 tavern. \_A II drink. 
 
 All. Remarkably good; very fine wine indeed! 
 
 Epicurus [aside]. Mighty fine judges indeed! 
 
 \_Makes gestures to sJiozv the pump had some- 
 thing to do zvith it. Whilst they are drink- 
 ing a trumpet is heard outside. 
 
 Epicurus. Here comes Proculus, the prefect of 
 the Gaulish Provinces ! [Enter, rapidly, PROCU- 
 LUS, a military commaitder. Sword, plumes, cloak, 
 etc. Kneels at Emperor s throne. ] 
 
 All. Hail to the conqueror of the Britons! 
 
 Proculus. Most Supreme Emperor, pardon my 
 late appearance at the imperial audience. 
 
 Trajan. Rise, Proculus, and relate at ease the 
 history of thy travels, thy battles, and thy con- 
 quests. Fill thy glass, Proculus, and drink some 
 of Epi's ten-year-old. 
 
26 The Double Triumph. 
 
 Epicin'iis \asidc\, 'Tis not mine now ; I'll never 
 see it again ! 
 
 [ Tkcy drink. A verse of some popular soi?^ 
 may be here introdiieed ; zve ivotild suggest 
 one of Proiif s adaptations in Lati?i to the 
 airs of ^' Moore s Me todies I' 
 
 Trajan. And now, Proculus, what think you 
 of the Bretons? 
 
 Proeulus. Most divine Emperor, I swear by my 
 sword a braver or nobler people never yet passed 
 under the Roman yoke.* We are victorious, but 
 our victory has cost us the flower uf our legions. 
 For several months we carried on an unequal war- 
 fare. The hardy race made impregnable fortresses 
 of their mountains, and forced us to loiter and 
 starve in uncultivated plains. At length we 
 called to our aid the stratagem that defeated the 
 invincible Troy of old. We feigned a retreat. The 
 hardy warriors rushed from the mountains, yelling 
 a victorious war-whoop, and followed us with fatal 
 indiscretion to the plains. We suddenly turned 
 our front and gave them battle, but the veterans 
 of thy armies were matches. For three 1-ong days 
 a bloody battle raged, and I feared at one time 
 the combat would end with nothing short of the 
 
 " The yoke was a species of wooden arch (sometimes square), 
 under which a conquered army was made to pass in token of 
 their defeat and degradation. 
 
The Double Triumph, 27 
 
 annihilation of both armies. At length I deter- 
 mined by a desperate blow to close the engage- 
 ment. Seeing their brave chieftain on a white 
 charger, leading on his comrades in the thick of 
 the fight, with all the ardor of my youthful days 
 I rushed for him, and engaged him at once in a 
 desperate struggle. The two armies by mutual 
 accord remained with uplifted swords to watch 
 the issue of our deadly combat. We fought and 
 struck and parried for an hour. Both our horses 
 were slain at the same moment, we grappled each 
 other, and fell in a pool of blood. I heard a faint 
 cry from my veterans, and with one desperate 
 effort I plunged this poniard into his heart i 
 S^SJioivs poniard still stained with British chief- 
 tain s blood. All present cheer. ProcuLUS con- 
 tinnes.'] The battle was now over, and whilst I 
 was carried to my tent, bleeding and faint, I 
 heard from the rejoicing veterans of my army the 
 well-known cry of their victory. Peace could be 
 had from this brave people only under one con- 
 dition — that their sons and daughters should not 
 be seized as the slaves of the Roman people. 
 Fearing the issue of a second engagement with a 
 maddened and despairing nation, and admiring 
 the nobility of character that placed our new al- 
 lies in a standard of honor equal only to Rome 
 itself, I signed, with a trembling hand, a treaty 
 the most glorious in the archives of war. Most 
 
28 The Dotcble Triumph. 
 
 noble Emperor ! it ill becomes me to laud the 
 importance of the conquest benign Fortune has 
 oiven for my boast ; but conviction bears me over 
 the gulf of centuries to behold in the march of 
 nations the future glory of Britannia. The tute- 
 hiry duties of our wealth, our civilization, and our 
 jjovver will meet the sweep of Boreas in their 
 progress to the North, and build up their celes- 
 tial thrones in that part of the firmament whence 
 they can smile on the land of the Briton. A peo- 
 ple so brave, so industrious, so noble, have a 
 power more lasting than an impregnable fortress, 
 or an empire that can guard her frontier with a 
 girdle of steel. When our superb city, now the 
 mistress queen of the world, shall have grown 
 old and feeble ; when the golden grains of her 
 brilliant career shall have ceased to run in the 
 glass of time, she will pass to ruin like Troy, like 
 Carthage and Athens; but the manes of her 
 fallen magnificence shall flee to the land whose 
 natural wealth and moral worth shall give her a 
 new empire to rule. And now, emperor, I ask 
 but one favor : Weakened with wounds and 
 bowed with age, may this laurel wreath which 
 my triumph has placed on an unworthy brow, be 
 never again ruffled by the storms of war; may 
 its withered leaves be never replaced by fresh 
 tokens of the bloodshed and slavery of a free 
 people ! 
 
The Double Triumph. 29 
 
 \_ApproacJics and lays his sword at the foot o 
 Emperor s throne. Kneels in s He nee, etc. 
 
 Trajan. Proculus, I know not which to admire 
 most — the bravery that has won for the empire 
 such vakiable conquest, or the magnanimity that 
 makes thee place thy sword at our feet. Al- 
 though great the loss of your guiding spirit to 
 our iilvincible legions, it would be cruel and un- 
 just to refuse the retirement you so justly de- 
 serve. Share, then, for the rest gf thy days the 
 splendors of our golden house, and leave the art 
 and cruelty of war to the young and ambitious, 
 whose love of glory is stronger than their sym- 
 pathy. Rise, General, and be seated near us to 
 assist in the administration of justice. \^Rises 
 and takes place prepared near Emperor.'] And now, 
 Epi, who is the next on your list seeking the 
 honor of an interview ? 
 
 Epicurus. Calphurnius, may it please your 
 divinity ! the well-beloved of the gods — the priest 
 of Jupiter, high-priest of the Capitol, and Seaside] 
 a whining old hypocrite I 
 
 [ Whilst last line is being said tzvo boys appear 
 at R. C, entering backwards — dressed as 
 acolytes, bearing pans of burning incense, 
 and salaaming zvith right hand. Then CAL- 
 PHURNIUS — dressed in red, yellow, ajtd bltte 
 
30 The Double Triumph, 
 
 — fantastically carries small idol of Jupiter 
 in Jiands, Kneels before EmferoR. 
 
 Trajan. Well, Calphurnius, what's troubling 
 you now more than piety? 
 
 Calphurnius. Divine Emperor ! worse than a 
 thousand deaths, the piety towards the gods is 
 waning ; the detestable Christian sect is increas- 
 ing, and their wily old chief is sapping the foun- 
 dations of thy imperial throne! {There would 
 be a fine opening Jiere to introduce an extract from 
 some ranting declaimer against papal aggression?^ 
 Down in the crypts of the Vatican this rival 
 monarch holds his meetings. Some of the noblest 
 families of the city go there to worship a calf's 
 head and drink the blood of a murdered child. 
 In the name of the immortal gods whose temples 
 are abandoned, in the name of the priests whose 
 feasts and fees are becoming reduced, we wish to 
 have renewed the salutary laws of our beloved 
 and divine Nero. Add to thy many deeds of 
 valor and glory, a name which shall be handed to 
 posterity for piety towards the gods, in the anni- 
 hilation of the Christian sect ! 
 
 Trajan. Calphurnius, besides the fact of lessen- 
 ing your fees, can you say wherefore those Chris- 
 tians may not be permitted to live ? 
 
 Calphurnius. Permit them to live, Emperor, 
 and you shall be the first victim of their dark 
 
The Double Triumph. 31 
 
 conspiracies. Already your throne is shaken ; 
 from the provinces there conies a cry of indigna- 
 tion at your ill-starred leniency towards those 
 enemies of mankind ; by your toleration they 
 have increased like vermin in an unswept cham- 
 ber ; the army is contaminated, and the plebs 
 are fascinated with the unheard-of charity they 
 practise towards one another. Fearing their in- 
 creasing power and numbers, we announce to 
 thee, Emperor, unless thou persecutest to the 
 death those hated Christians, the robes shall be 
 torn from the priests of the immortal gods, and 
 the time-honored constitutions of this mighty 
 empire shall be forever destroyed. Thy throne 
 shall pass to another, and thyself made the foot- 
 stool of a Christian. 
 
 Trajan. Insolent priest ! the lictors' rods shall 
 teach thee to respect our piety towards the gods. 
 Lictors, see that Calphurnius remains, and when 
 we have ceased our audience we shall interview 
 this noisy priest. 
 
 CalpJiurnhis. Mercy, great, immortal Emperor ! 
 There breathes not a more loyal subject to thy 
 majesty than the pious Calphurnius ! 
 
 Enter ZoViVA^"^. 
 
 ■Courier. Emperor! Sintulus, the Tribune of 
 the Pretorian Guard, seeks an audience. He has 
 most important news to communicate. 
 
32 The Double Triumph. 
 
 Trajan \_crossl)'\. Let him come forward, then, 
 without delay. 
 
 {^Enter SiNTULUS. Kisses ground before 
 throne, 
 
 Trajan. Say, Sintulus, what important busi- 
 ness brings thee here to-day? 
 
 Sintulus. Emperor, as I Hve, the gods have 
 made me the happy instrument to save thy 
 life. 
 
 Trajan. How, Sintulus ? 
 
 Sintulus. I have discovered a most dangerous 
 conspiracy against thy throne — 
 
 Trajan. Go on, miscreant, or by the gods we 
 will wring from thee thy unpleasant news ! 
 
 Sintulus. This very evening thy blood would 
 be shed at the vestibule of the golden house, if I 
 were not the most faithful of thy subjects to 
 hasten with warning of the threatened danger. 
 Not many hours ago I overheard the plot : an- 
 other emperor is already named, and one of thy 
 generals has proclaimed allegiance to the revolu- 
 tion. 
 
 Trajan. Who is it that would thus tamper 
 with our royal power? Name him, Sintulus, that 
 the dogs may feed on his carcass by moonlight! 
 
 Sintulus. 'Tis no other than the great General 
 Placidus ! 
 
 Trajan. Placidus ! 
 
The Double Triumph, 33 
 
 All. Placidus ! Placidus 
 
 S^A mtinnur passes for a moment. Trajan 
 rises^ advancing excitedly : 
 
 Trajan. Ye gods ! Placidus plotting my life ! 
 Placidus a conspirator ! 'Tis false ! Miscreant, 
 thou liest like a slave ! There's no more honor- 
 able blood in the empire than flows in the veins 
 of the brave General ! 
 
 Sintnlns. I swear by the stars shining in the 
 blue vault of heaven, I heard the General say 
 he had now to give his allegiance to a higher 
 power ! 
 
 Calphurnius. 'Tis true, Emperor; and more, I 
 can testify he is a Christian. 
 
 Trajan. Summon the Pretorian guard instant- 
 ly. Sound the call to arms, and let me meet in 
 battle the wretch that would strike in the dark ! 
 
 [^Short blast on trumpet. A bustle at I.. C. 
 Enter RUFUS quickly, zvrapped in cloak 
 and in disguise. In coarse, rough voice : 
 
 Rufus. Stand aside, Sintulus ! I'll deal with 
 thee just now. [^Turning to the Emperor ?\ Noble 
 Emperor! there is a* foul plot afloat to blast the 
 fame of Rome's greatest man. These statements 
 are false ! Would you give credence to the word 
 of a wretch, who would break a sworn oath sealed 
 by his own blood ? 
 
34 The Double Triumph, 
 
 Trajan. What mean you, stranger? This is no 
 time for useless queries. 
 
 Rnfus. One of these witnesses, that has accused 
 Placidus of treason, has himself plotted against 
 th)^ throne, and offered to make the General em- 
 peror. Placidus scorned the power that would 
 be given by dishonorable means ; but under his 
 sword made the wretch sign an acknowledgment 
 of his guilt in his own blood ! 
 
 CalpJuirnius [ greatly excited whilst Rufus is 
 speaking\. 'Tis false, Emperor ! 
 
 Rufus. Silence, caitiff, or by heaven we will cut 
 out thy false tongue ! The General has left the 
 city, but before going he entrusted me with this 
 parchment. 
 
 \Praivs from under cloak. EMPEROR reads 
 qtiickly. Calphurnius wringing his hands ^ 
 etc. 
 
 " I Calphurnius, high-priest of the Capitol, 
 swear and sign this oath with my blood, that I 
 offered the throne of the empire to Placidus on 
 condition he would persecute the Christians ; and 
 I further swear never again to speak against this 
 harmless sect. 
 
 " Signed in blood, 
 
 " Calphurnius." 
 
 Trajan. Perjured villain ! Shackle him — death 
 by inches shall rid us of this pious impostor ! 
 
The Double Triumph, 35 
 
 Epicurus, The pious Calphurnius ! \^Makes ges- 
 tures of piety and hypocrisy ^ 
 
 Rufus, And now, Sintulus, a reckoning with 
 you. Behold a hypocrite, the more despicable 
 because a soldier! This afternoon I heard him 
 say he would rise to fame on the blighted name 
 of Placidus. {Draiving near.'\ Sintulus, I had re- 
 solved when I heard this false speech to let this 
 poniard taste thy worthless blood ; but here, in the 
 presence of our divine Emperor, whom every sol- 
 dier loves, and for the honor of the military 
 grade you bear, I will give you a chance for your 
 life. \TlLrozus off cloak; shows himself to be Rifiis 
 fully armed. Drazving szvord.'] Draw your sword, 
 coward, and save while you can the life that is 
 not worth keeping ! 
 
 Trajan. Give it to him, noble Rufus ; put the 
 silence of death on his lying tongue. 
 
 \They fight ; furious fencing. SiNTULUS lets 
 szvord suddenly fall, etc. Tableau: Ru- 
 FUS zvith foot on chest. Szvord lifted about 
 to cut off head. Curtain falls.'] 
 
36 The Double Triumph, 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 Scene i. — A garden, fiozvcr pots, etc. Sumnier' 
 house at one corner. In the sumnier-Jwuse 
 an old man leaning on a small table, appa- 
 rently asleep, dressed poorly as a gardener. He 
 is supposed to have a vision, ivJdch may be repre- 
 sented by a series of tableaux vivants, by squall 
 apartment in centre scene as in First Act. The 
 First Tableau will be the garde?ter. A fac- 
 simile in get lip. Stands in the act of astonish- 
 ment in recognizing two Roman soldiers ; they 
 too zvith hands ?//, in act of recognition ; soft 
 mnsic. TABLEAU II. Two yonngme^i are stand- 
 ing before a number of soldiers defying them to 
 pass. Tableau III. Placidus is standing 
 between these two youths, and coming, as in the 
 act of recognition, a female. TABLEAU IV. 
 The Martyrdom of PLACIDUS, as represented in 
 last scene. N.B. — TJiese tableaux are very simple 
 and produce a very marked effect. They are not 
 so difficult as at first may be imagined. The 
 tableaux should be managed by small children, who 
 are simply trained to keep the 07ie position. At 
 the commencement, a pretty cJiild, dressed to re- 
 present an angel, bearing a little zvand, steals 
 over and looks into summer-house ; waves both 
 
The Double Triumph. 2>7 
 
 hands gracefully over the sleeping gardener, then 
 repairs to centre of stage, and orders visions, 
 zvithout speaking, to appear. Must be moving 
 about from summer-house to tableaux ; smiling, 
 lively^ etc. In case the above tableaux vivants are 
 found to be too difficult, the scene may be per- 
 formed zvithout tJiem. Gardener, wliose name is 
 HORTENSUS, rises from his reclining position, 
 and commences to zvater some flozuers. Pauses 
 over a passion-flozver ; takes one in his Jiand. 
 
 Hortensus. Ah ! tiny monitor, thou preachest an 
 eloquent sermon. Why wreathe thy beauty with 
 these mysterious emblems of sorrow? In thy pe- 
 tals radiant with gold and purple we read conso- 
 lation ! They remind us that it is our privilege ra- 
 ther than punishment to follow in the steps of 
 the King whose insignia of royalty were the 
 thorns, the nails, the cross ! For fifteen years, 
 with widowed heart and moistened eye, thy blos- 
 som has cheered me, and, now that you are burst- 
 ing again into bloom, I feel thou whisperest a 
 feeling stronger than resignation, for, like thee, 
 my hopes are bursting from the leaves around 
 them, and ere long will bloom in the realization 
 of my joy ! 
 
 [ A voice is heard outside calling HORTEN- 
 SUS. 
 
 Master. Hortensus ! 
 
.38 The Double Triumphs 
 
 Hortensus. Coming, master ! 
 
 S^Mccts master ivitJioitt leavtitg stage. Master 
 dressed as Indian planter. 
 
 Master. Hortens ! how are the fuchsias getting 
 on. They looked so drooping \'esterday I feared 
 my darHng long-tongued pink belles would have 
 collapsed and — and died ! {Affeetedl}). 
 
 Hortensus. The warm breezes that blew from 
 Sahara dried them up, but this morning they are 
 better. 
 
 Master. You seem very partial to those pas- 
 sion-flowers ; you are always watching them, and 
 I have frequently seen tears in your eyes as you 
 stood over them. 
 
 Hortensus. Yes, worthy master ! they remind 
 me of great mysteries ; that tiny flower distils a 
 balm over my sorrow- stricken heart ; its nails, its 
 wounds, its beautiful crown ! 
 
 {Seizes a passion-flower again, and remains 
 gazing on it fixedly. 
 
 Master. Hortens, I have often thought of ask- 
 ing why a cloud seems ever to hang over your 
 thoughts ; for years that you are now in my ser- 
 vice you have never smiled. Your education, 
 the gentility of your manners, and your fidelity 
 so noble make me think, Hortens, you have seen 
 better days. What stroke of fortune has forced 
 thee to seek sustenance in menial employment ? 
 
The Double Triumph, 39 
 
 Hortensus. Kind master, the Power that has 
 marked the course of the stars has shaped the 
 destinies of men ; he has been pleased to try 
 me with deep affliction. 
 
 Master, Tell me, then, the cause of thy afflic 
 tion. 
 
 Hortensus. Thy words bespeak sympathy ; lis- 
 ten to the tale of a heart-broken father — torn by 
 destiny from his wife, his children, and his coun- 
 try I I am a Roman citizen and a soldier of for- 
 tune ! \_Master starts.'] In the Judaic wars I won 
 my sword under Titus ; the Emperor gave me 
 the command of a division of horse. Fortune 
 then made a toy of me — raising me to the high- 
 est honors, and then casting me down with vio- 
 lence from the giddy heights of my pride. By 
 fortune, good master, I mean not the dark sys- 
 tem of fatalism worshipped under this name in 
 pagan mythology — I mean the paternal provi- 
 dence of Him who counts the hairs of our heads, 
 wdio causes the tide of human vicissitude to ebb 
 and flow — now in the storm, now in the calm. 
 After my return from the Judaic wars, I was 
 called in an extraordinary way to the knowledge 
 of the Christian religion. That Spirit which il- 
 lumined my soul with supernatural light cast me 
 into the furnace of sorrow. My crucible is still; 
 heated, for Heaven knows there is still dross in. 
 my sinful nature. Some unseen power destroyed. 
 
40 The Double Triumph, 
 
 my villas, my castle, my honor, and cast me, with 
 n young wife and two infants, on a sea of misfor- 
 tune, fallen, penniless, ruined. S^Becomes abstract- 
 id for a momoit.'] To avoid the taunts of false 
 friends and the indignation of the Emperor, I fled 
 iit night towards Ostia. I found a small craft 
 about to sail for these shores. With difficulty I 
 secured a passage, but an evil spirit entered the 
 heart of the captain. When we came in sight of 
 land, the captain — whose crime Heaven forgive — 
 put me and my two boys in a small boat and sent 
 us on shore. He immediately set sail under a 
 fair wind, tearing from me the only solace that 
 was left me in the dark hour of my trial. 
 
 [ Buries his face in his hands and weeps. 
 
 Master. Thy story is a strange one ; thy cup 
 indeed bitter; but go on, old man — I long to 
 hear the end of thy extraordinary history. 
 
 Hortenstis. I clasped my little ones to my 
 breast, and, remembering my promise to the 
 Spirit that revealed itself to me in the Apennines, 
 I penetrated this lonely and deserted country in 
 search of labor and food, but other trials awaited 
 me. On the third day I came to a deep and 
 rapid river. I could not take the two children 
 with me across the stream, and arranged to bring 
 one first, then return for the other. Scarcely had 
 1 reached the opposite bank with the youngest, 
 when the screams of the other called me to see 
 
The Double Trmmph. 41 
 
 him carried away in the mouth of a Hon. I 
 plunged into the seething torrent again to hasten 
 to his rescue — a father's love would fight the 
 king of animals in his own forest ! 
 
 Master. Did you save the child ? 
 
 Horteiisus. Alas ! my wearied arms faintly bat- 
 tled with the torrent a moment, and the lion dis- 
 appeared. I plunged into the forest, and heard 
 again the cries of a child calling for help ; but 
 they came from the other side of the river — my 
 youngest child was seized by a wolf. \_Wceps.\ 
 Blame not my tears, good gentle sir, for day and 
 night those scenes are passing before my tortured 
 brain. In my dreams I hear their last pitiful 
 cries for help ; like the colors of a landscape that 
 blend in a picture, the desert, the torrent, and 
 the forest shade dissolve from o\\^ another into a 
 deep-blue sea, tossing on its restless bosom the 
 white sails of a guilty craft. 
 
 Master. A stranger tale I never have heard ; 
 thou must have a stout heart, Hortens. Were thy 
 lot mine, I should have long since driven a po- 
 niard to my heart's blood. In the regions of Pluto 
 I would war against the gods ; but tell me, hast 
 thou ever heard of thy wife ? Dost thou hope to 
 meet her again ? 
 
 Hortensiis. This morning when kneeling in 
 yonder summer-house, I heard a whisper as if 
 from some gentle guardian spirit ; it poured a 
 
42 The Double Triump.h, 
 
 balm on my troubled heart, and bade me look 
 for the daylight that should follow my night of 
 trial. This is the sad anniversary of my loss, and 
 I am now in the hands of a high destiny, sum- 
 moned by Him who maketh use of the little 
 things of this world to confound the strong. 
 
 [ Remains looking toivards heaven absorbed in 
 prayer. In the meantime^ tzvo Roman sol- 
 diers enter L. C, engaged in conversation. 
 RUFUS in same dress. Eggeus. The same 
 two that appeared in first scene. HORTEN- 
 SUS looking up recognizes RUFUS. Starts ; 
 but remains incog. 
 
 Rufus. I tell you, Eggeus, I am sick and tired 
 of this useless search. To-morrow I will return 
 to Rome. 
 
 Master. Who are those strangers? What a 
 curious dress? Whence come these people? 
 
 Eggeus. See, Rufus, there are persons here ; 
 let us ask them if they know anything of the 
 general. 
 
 Rufus [advancing']. Gentlemen, excuse our in- 
 trusion, but we come on important business from 
 the Emperor. [HORTENSUS starts.] Know you 
 of a man named Placidus in these regions? 
 
 Hortensus. Why seek you Placidus ? Are you 
 blood-hounds sent on the track of some hapless 
 victim of imperial wrath ? 
 
The Double Triumph. 43 
 
 Rufus [aside]. I know that voice ; those 
 haughty tones and majestic mien. [Turning to- 
 wards HORTENSUS.] Sir, I should be the last 
 man in the empire to be a blood-hound on the 
 track of the great Placidus. We seek him, not 
 to drag him to torture, nor to gratify with his 
 murder any imperial revenge. We wish to put 
 him once more at the head of the veteran legions 
 of the empire. War has been proclaimed in the 
 provinces. The troops are marshalling in the 
 capital, but there is no one to lead them to bat- 
 tle. It was reported in Rome that Placidus is 
 Stiri alive, and the troops proclaim they will not 
 serve under any other commander. The Emperor 
 has promised a large reward to any one who will 
 find out his retreat. The veterans who have served 
 under him have gone in search to all the pro- 
 vinces. I, Rufus, who have borne his flag in the 
 thickest of the fight, have sought him sorrowing 
 through the parched plains and scanty villages of 
 this miserable country. [HORTENSUS betraying 
 great excitement.] Sir, your excitement seems to 
 betray the knowledge of the great General. I 
 command you, in the name of the Emperor, to 
 point out his whereabouts, that we may commu- 
 nicate to him the glad tidings we bear. 
 
 Hortensus [abstracted]. From solitude to the 
 din and clash of war ! From obscurity to the 
 laurels of the conqueror! Like sunrise on the 
 
44 The Double Triumph. 
 
 darkened plains, the end intimated in prophetic 
 whispers is bursting on my widowed heart in the 
 realization of protracted hope. To arms! to tri 
 umph ! the safety of the empire will be to me a 
 Double Triumph! \Turnijig towards RUFUS.] 
 Thou art a soldier, stranger. Hast thou not won 
 some scars in fighting for thy country ? 
 
 Rufus. Yes ; by the side of our brave General 
 I was wounded in the Judaic wars. 
 
 Hortensus {showing cuts on arm, etc.'] Dost 
 thou not see these scars? \_A moment's paiise^ 
 then very loud.] Rufus ! 
 
 Rufus. Placid us I 
 
 [Tableau. Curtain falls. 
 
 Scene 2. — Scene in Arabia. Tent. Placidus jz'/- 
 ting on camp-stool at a small table. Near him 
 Rufus. A sentinel walking up and down in rear. 
 Conversation between Placidus and RuFUS. 
 
 Placidus. How goeth the night-watch, Rufus ; 
 has the sun yet broken through the clouds on the 
 horizon? 
 
 Rufus. Not yet, General ; but the moon is 
 bright. 
 
 Placidus. I don't like our position near these 
 mountains, Rufus, and we will change the first 
 
The Double Triumph, 45 
 
 thing by daylight. Just now I heard a deep, 
 rumbling sound like the distant tread of horses. 
 
 Rufus. When last I went around, all was safe. 
 I heard the noise you speak of, but our Arab 
 guide told me it was but the roar of the sea, 
 which is not many leagues away. Not trusting 
 this Arab slave, I have doubled the sentry guard. 
 One of our scouts yesterday suspected treachery, 
 and bade me tell you. 
 
 Placidus. It is well, Rufus ! I remember me 
 well how thy caution saved the Roman army un- 
 der the battlements of Jerusalem. Forty winters 
 have cast their snows on thy brow since then ; 
 yet thou hast not lost the fire of thy heart, nor 
 the keenness of thine eye. 
 
 Riifus. When I was a pagan, good General, I 
 knew of no god but my sword ; I cared for no 
 glory but that won in the carnage of the battle- 
 field ; I knew of no restraint but self-will; but 
 since you made me a Christian, my actions are 
 guided by a higher sphere of thought ; I believe 
 the greatest glory and the highest honor is the 
 discharge of duty. 
 
 Placidus. Good, Rufus ! Thou art as zealous in 
 the young faith as thou are brave in thy veteran 
 courage. 
 
 Rufus. What is the bravery of a soldier who 
 has thousands ready to die with him in the ar- 
 dor of battle, compared to the bravery of the de- 
 
46 The Double Triumph. 
 
 fenceless Christians who voluntarily met death 
 in its worst forms for the faith of Christ ! I was 
 present when Ignatius was devoured by the lions 
 in the Coliseum ; I saw gentle youths and tender 
 virgins fearlessly await a similar doom, and, 
 though yet a pagan, I longed for the glory of a 
 death like theirs. 
 
 Placidus. Heaven will grant it to thee I {Praii)- 
 ing near, makes some friendly gesture ; e. g., the 
 hand on his shoulder.'] Rufus, I had long wished 
 for an opportunity to tell thee a secret commit- 
 ted to me by Heaven. As it has been mine to 
 lead you on in the battles of the empire, it 
 will be mine also to lead you to the scaffold of 
 martyrdom. The sun of our career is fast setting 
 on the troubled sea of time ; the brilliancy of its 
 sunset shall live in the memory of man longer 
 than the fame of our conquests. The marble 
 mausoleums of the pagan heroes shall long have 
 crumbled to dust ; the empire itself shall have 
 disappeared, bearing but the memory of its mag- 
 nificence, like the meteor that passes through the 
 dark midnight sky; yea, the earth, the sun, the 
 myriad worlds of the starry firmament, shall glide 
 with a rapidity of thought to the dread chaos of 
 original nothingness ; but we shall ever be young 
 in immortal youth, unhurt amid the war of 
 elements, the wreck of matter, and the crash 
 of worlds. Our souls, redeemed by the blood 
 
The Double Triumph, 47 
 
 of a God, are made heirs to an eternal king- 
 dom. 
 
 S^A cry of ''^ To arms! " ^^ To arms! " is heard 
 outside. R. C. Sivords clasJi^ trumpets sound, 
 drums beat, and commands given by loud 
 voices. RUFUS rusJies out. Placidus 
 seizes battle-axe a?td describes iv/iat is pass- 
 ing. 
 
 Placidus \loud\ On, brave soldiers, on ! {^Speak- 
 ing to himself.'] Haste, Rufus, to the rescue ! 
 Those noble youths ! They fight like heroes ! 
 The Pretorians are up ! He has fallen ! Victory 
 is ours now ! They run ! Thanks to the God 
 of armies! Trumpeter! {Looking to the other 
 side.] Sound a recall! Victory does not de- 
 mand the useless and cruel shedding of blood. 
 
 {Enter TRUMPETER and plays a beautiful 
 military call. RUFUS, out of breatJi and 
 zvithout helmety rushes in, 
 
 Rufus. We were in a snare, but we have gained 
 a bloody victory — due to the bravery of two Nu- 
 midian youths who stood alone against the whole 
 brunt of the enemy in the mountain pass. With 
 giant stroke they wielded their battle-axes, and 
 felled the enemy like saplings in a forest. I came 
 up with a division of horse just as their strength 
 was failing; but I fear they are sadly wounded. 
 
 Placidus. Bring hither those noble youtlis. Let 
 
48 The Double Triumph, 
 
 me tell them the gratitude of an army they have 
 saved, and an empire they have honored. \^Lays 
 down his battle-axe. Puts on military cloak. Paces 
 stage. Suddenly stops. Sees youths coming?^ Ah ! 
 young, beardless boys ! How noble — how hand- 
 some ! O my children ! would you not be like 
 those noble youths, had propitious destiny spared 
 you ! \_Ejiter tzuo youths^ military dress^ bandaged, 
 covered with blood, leaning on the arms of others. 
 RUFUS supporting one. They carry battle-axes, 
 also covered zvith blood. PlacidUS advancing to- 
 zvards them.^ Brave youths ! the empire owes 
 you a great debt. Your bravery has saved thy 
 companions in arms from foul treachery. Hence- 
 forth you must bear the rank of captain, and the 
 friendship of thy General. Rufus, see to those 
 gallant youths. I shall haste to the battle-field 
 to stay unnecessary bloodshed, and prepare the 
 march from this luckless mountain pass. 
 
 [^Exit L. C. 
 Rufus, Be seated, young men. You are weak. 
 {Opens flask, pours out wine.] Drink to your vic- 
 tory ! and may Heaven give you many such 
 glories ! I felt all day yesterday we would soon 
 have some fighting. I saw a cloud on the brow of 
 that Arab guide. In his bronze features I read 
 treachery and deceit ; but how came you to be 
 the first to see the enemy, and to be so close to 
 hand at the pass ? 
 
The Double Triumph. 49 
 
 Imogen [the eldest']. Kind Captain I yesterday 
 evening when the sun was setting, my friend and 
 I were strolling outside the camp, whiling away 
 our time with tales of boyhood adventures, when 
 suddenly we heard a rustling in the bushes near 
 me. I drew my fleetest arrow and expected some 
 startled doe to spring from its cover; another 
 moment and it quivered in the heart of our Arab 
 guide — the wretch who acted as our guide yes- 
 terday. Knowing he had come out on some foul 
 mission of treachery, we watched to see if any 
 caitiff would come to receive the message of this 
 traitor. Night came on, and in the pale light of 
 the moon we saw the swarthy figure of an Asiatic 
 soldier glide from tree to tree and stealthily ap- 
 proach the Arab's hiding-place. Our trusty shafts 
 drank his blood, but the wretch when dying gave 
 a shrill whistle. We knew the enemy were at 
 hand. We remained in the pass as sentries to 
 give timely warning to the camp, and foil the 
 treachery of cowards and slaves ! 
 
 Ruftis. How noble ! how like the deeds of 
 Roman heroes I Your names, young men, shall 
 be bright on the pages of history. You must be 
 descendants of Jugurtha or Hannibal, since you 
 come from their country. 
 
 Imogen. No, kind Rufus. 1, at least, am not a 
 Jugurtha, nor yet am I a descendant of that brave 
 General whose offspring even to this day swear 
 
50 The Double Triumph, 
 
 hostility to the Roman Empire. You judge 
 wrongly, Rufus, when you say I belong to the 
 nation that was crushed by Scipio. Although 
 here in the garb of a Numidian soldier, I have 
 noble blood in my veins, and proudly call my- 
 self a Roman citizen ! 
 
 " A Roman citizen ! " \_Rufus and Far fax to- 
 gether?^ 
 
 Ritfus \aside\ A Roman citizen ! Of noble 
 blood ! Yet a common soldier in the Numidian 
 corps. Perhaps the pain of his wounds has 
 affected his head. He must surely be raving. 
 
 Imogen. My wounds are not so severe, Rufus, 
 and my tongue is not so false ; there can be no 
 true greatness where there is deception. 
 
 Riifits. But say, what cruel circumstances have 
 reduced a Roman citizen to be a mercenary in a 
 Numidian corps? 
 
 Imogen. Spare me that word mercenary, for 
 when thou hast heard my history thou wilt see 
 that other motives besides gain have made me 
 carry the axe and quiver of the swarthy and 
 cunning Numidian. I promised Farfax I would 
 tell him to-day some strange accounts of my 
 childhood. Give me, and listen to a strange 
 story. \He drinks, and the others seated draw near 
 ki7n.'\ My father was a soldier of fortune. By 
 his bravery in the Judaic wars he was raised by 
 
The Double Triumph. 51 
 
 the Emperor to the command of a division of 
 horse. [RUFUS starts?^ 
 
 Rufus. A master of horse ? 
 
 Imogen. Yes. 
 
 Rufiis. In the Roman army? 
 
 Imogen. Yes. 
 
 Riifns. By Trajan 1 
 
 Imogen. Yes. 
 
 Rnfus. Imogen — but go on ; perhaps I am 
 mistaken ; but a strange suspicion is the harbin- 
 ger of great joy. 
 
 Imogen. After the Judaic wars peace reigned in 
 the empire, and my father lived in great wealth. 
 One day he went to hunt, but came home late — 
 he spoke of some strange adventure — he brought 
 us to the Catacombs that night. A young man 
 dressed in patrician costume met us in the street, 
 and acted as our guide. We were brought 
 through long subterranean passages to a small 
 chapel beautifully lit up ; the walls v/ere covered 
 by m3/sterious paintings, and a venerable old man 
 with silvery beard sat in a stone chair. The old 
 man seemed to know my father; he spoke some 
 things that made my parents cry. We then 
 passed through some ceremonies, by which I know 
 I was made a CHRISTIAN. 
 
 Rufus. Each word falls like a drop into the 
 vessel of my heart ; it will overflow before he has 
 finished his tale. 
 
52 The Double Triumph, 
 
 Imogen. Soon after this my father met with 
 great adversity ; his flocks died ; his villas were 
 burnt ; he was persecuted by the Emperor, and 
 one night, taking me and my mother and little 
 brother, three years of age, he fled from Rome 
 towards the port of Ostia. The captain of a 
 craft about to sail to Africa gave us a passage ; but 
 he was a cruel, bad man, for when we came in sight 
 of land he sent my father and my brother and my- 
 self on shore, and set sail again, bearing away my 
 poor mother, whom I have never seen since. 
 S^Burics J lis face in his hands ^ andzveeps for a mo- 
 ment?^ I will never forget how my father wept, 
 pointing with his trembling finger to the white 
 speck the vessel had made on the blue horizon, and, 
 clasping me to his breaking heart, said, " Your 
 mother is gone with a stranger." Praying for 
 strength to the God of the Christians, he sprang 
 up, brushed away the tears, and took us with him 
 into the country. We came up to a stream very 
 deep and strong, and father, seeing he could not 
 take both of us over together, left me on the 
 bank whilst he swam across with my brother ; he 
 had just reached the other bank when out jumped 
 an enormous lion from the trees, and took me in 
 his great jaws and carried me into the forest. 
 
 Far fax. O Imogen ! I have something to tell 
 you when you are done ; but how were you 
 saved ? 
 
The Dtuble Triumph, 53 
 
 Imogen. Some shepherds seeing me in the 
 lion's mouth set their dogs after him ; irritated 
 by the dogs, the lion dropped me from his mouth, 
 and took one of them instead. The shepherds 
 took me to their house, and a good woman nursed 
 me, for my side was all torn by the lion's teeth. 
 I lived for fifteen years with these people. War 
 being proclaimed in the East, I joined the forces, 
 in the hope of getting back to Rome to find 
 again my father and mother ; but Heaven knows 
 where they are now. 
 
 Rufiis. Noble youth, thy father still lives. 
 [Imogen rises^ 
 
 Imogen. O Rufus ! say if he returned to Rome ; 
 if old age and sorrow have made him a feeble 
 wreck of manhood; if he is in want; if — 
 
 Rufus. He will answer for himself before sun- 
 set. I shall be the first to tell thy father of his 
 joy. \^Exit. 
 
 Farfax. O Imogen ! stay one moment. 
 
 Imogen. I must hurry, for Rufus seems to know 
 my father ; he is alive ; he is in the camp. 
 
 Farfax. "Whilst you were telHng your story my 
 heart was bursting to interrupt you to tell you 
 that I believe I am your brother. 
 
 Imogen. Say how — are we in a dream ? 
 
 Farfax. I, too, am a Roman citizen and a 
 Christian. I, too, was saved from a wild beast on 
 the batiks of the Chobar ; the people who saved 
 
54 The Doitble Triumph. 
 
 me told me I was a Roman, and gave me this 
 medal, which they said they found around my 
 neck, and by it I know I am a Christian. 
 
 \^D7'aws out medal. 
 
 hnogcn. Show it ; has it got on it the figure of 
 the cross and the Ides of March ? 
 
 Far fax. Yes; here it is! 
 
 Imogen [seizing it, looking at it fixedly, draivs 
 another from his bosom']. The medals the Pope 
 gave us the night we were baptized. My brother 
 Agapius ! 
 
 [They embrace. Tableau. Curtain falls. 
 
 Scene 3. — The same. Tent in Arabia. Placidus 
 embracing his two cJiildren. 
 
 Placidus. My children ! my children ! [Pauses 
 awhile, and then looks affectionately on them.] 
 Thrice this morning I felt some gentle spirit tun- 
 ir.g the fibres of my heart for the music of joy ! 
 Yes, beautiful, brave Christian ! Wert thou 
 .ilive, Stella, how thou wouldst gaze with rap- 
 ture on thy noble sons ! 
 
 Imogen. Say, father, is mother really dead, or 
 dost thou but fear that a broken heart brought 
 her an early tomb ? 
 
 Placidus. Alas ! I fear the worst ; but whilst 
 
The Double Triumph. 55 
 
 yet I tread this valley of sorrow I hope again 
 to meet thy mother, boy ! This very morning 
 the vision ^hat passed before my soul placed 
 thy mother in the embrace of her two sons. 
 
 Imogen {^passionately]. Father, I shall travel 
 the world till I find her, and if the wretch who 
 tore her from thee still contaminate the earth 
 of God, I shall steep my sword in his guilty 
 blood ! 
 
 Placidus. Hold, my child ! Such language ill 
 becomes a Christian. When young blood flowed 
 in my veins, I could not sleep on an insult, but I 
 have now learned to love and practise the sweet 
 law of Him who has commanded us to love our 
 enemies. I have long since forgiven that wicked 
 man, who was but an instrument in the hands of 
 Providence to try me in the crucible of misfor- 
 tune. 
 
 Imogen, Such virtue, father, seems to me 
 nobler than the qualities that make ' heroes seek 
 the front of battle. 
 
 Placidus. Imogen, that law is divine, not hu- 
 man. When you were made a Christian on that 
 strange night which marks an epoch in the me- 
 mories of your childhood, you insensibly im- 
 bibed the golden stream of grace which nerves 
 the soul to acts of self-denial, which is of a higher 
 order than military courage. The soul is yet 
 dimmed by a passing cloud. Yet a few days, and 
 
56 The Double Triumph . 
 
 that soul will burst from its tenement of clay, like 
 the rose from its bud, with the crimson effulgence 
 of a Christian triumph. [/$• abstracted for a mo- 
 ment, and looks towards heaven.'] A triumph, Imo- 
 gen, thou little dreamest of now ! 
 
 {^Shouts are heard in the distance. All start 
 and look in the direction, 
 
 Placidns. What mean those shouts? Is Rufus 
 here ? He is sure to know what is the matter. 
 
 Imogen. See, Rufus is running towards us. I 
 am sure he has some good news to communi- 
 cate. See how the dear old captain runs. Who 
 is the stranger with him. There is surely some- 
 thing up. 
 
 \_Eftter Rufus and Courier bearing des- 
 patches. Courier's pants stuffed into boots 
 all covered with mud ; leather bag, etCy 
 horn, etc, 
 
 Placidus. Say, Rufus, what is the matter? 
 Those shouts ; your excitement. What has hap- 
 pened ? 
 
 Rufus. Good General, there is a courier from 
 Rome. The Emperor is dead, and the army re- 
 called. This courier has despatches for you. 
 
 [Courier kneels and hands large letters to 
 Placidus. 
 
 ■ Placidus \_reads\ "■ It has pleased the gods to 
 
The Double Triumph, 57 
 
 raise us to the throne of the Empire. We de- 
 cree a triumph to the army of Placidus, and com- 
 mand our General to return forthwith to the 
 Capitol. 
 
 *' (Signed), Adrian." 
 
 Ptacidus {looking at the despatch.'] Strange 
 news ! sad news ! nay, glad news ! Thou art 
 setting, thou brilliant sun of my hopes ; those 
 grand destinies foreshadowed in prophetic whis- 
 pers are gliding inco realities. Ay ! to Rome, 
 to triumph ! to martyrdom ! \ Remains abstracted. 
 Starting suddenly^ Give orders to strike the 
 tents, Rufus, we march by dayhght ; go, Imogen 
 and Farfax, and superintend the preparations for 
 the march. \Exeiint. 
 
 Placidus \alone, and ivalkillg up and deivn the 
 stage.} Ay ! to triumph ; to step from the golden 
 chariot to the tomb ; to climb the glittering 
 heights of the Capitol amid the shouts that rend 
 the heavens with blasphemies against my God ; 
 to kindle the fires of impure sacrifice to the de- 
 mons of idolatry. Rather shall Placidus be cast 
 on the burning pile and be himself the victim ! 
 In the dreams of my misguided ambition I 
 coveted the honor now within my grasp, but in 
 the light of the higher destiny that follows 'tis 
 but a beautiful shadow that floats before the in- 
 fatuated fancy like gilded bubbles on the stream 
 
58 The- Double Triumph, 
 
 that break into thin air when we attempt 
 to seize them. My children, will you drink of 
 my cup ? Will you ride in the same chariot till 
 we reach the atrium of the temple of Jupiter, 
 then be bound to the same stake, till the flames 
 of tlie funeral pyre send our liberated spirits to 
 the land of eternal triumph, where the shout of 
 real joy shall ring out the congratulation of 
 Heaven's choirs for our Christian victory ? Poor 
 Stella ! thy noble soul is still wanting to com- 
 plete the holocaust ! Art thou pining away in 
 some villain's home ? 
 
 Perchance you died in youth, it may be bowed 
 With woe far heavier than the ponderous tomb 
 That weighs upon thy gentle dust — a cloud 
 Might gather o'er thy beauty, and a gloom 
 In thy dark eye prophetic of the gloom 
 Heaven gives its favorites — early death. 
 
 Enter RUFUS. 
 
 Rtiftis. General, the poor woman on whose 
 ground you have pitched your tent wishes to 
 speak to you. 
 
 Placidus. Say, Rufus, I wish to be left alone. 
 If she wants money, take her this purse. 
 
 {Exit with purse. PLACIDUS paces up and 
 down. RuFUS returns. 
 
 Rufus. Sire, this old woman says she does not 
 
The Double Triumph, 59 
 
 want money [returns purse] ; but begs an inter- 
 view for a moment. 
 
 Placidus, Then see her in, Rufus. 
 
 \_Eiiter female, deeply veiled. 
 
 Female [^kneeling]. Great General of the Ro- 
 man arms ! will compassion move thee to pity a 
 broken-hearted widow ? 
 
 Placidus. 'Tis the privilege of those in power 
 to protect the poor. Speak, good woman ; has 
 any one done aught to harm or injure thee? 
 
 Female. Permit me, I beseech you, to go, un- 
 der your protection, to the land of my birth ! 
 I am a Roman matron ! I was brought here 
 for unlawful purposes, but I swear by the God 
 who sees my innocence that I have never lost 
 my fidelity to my husband. This day fifteen 
 years ago I was torn from him by violence — 
 
 [Placidus starts several times. At these last 
 words turns round to hide corifusion. Fe- 
 male rises suddenly. Throws back veilj and 
 with much vehemence : 
 
 Female. Can it be ? Do my senses deceive 
 me ? {Rushes partly towards hiin.] Say, art thou 
 Placidus, the commander of the horse, who was 
 converted in the Apennines ; whose wife — 
 
6 3 The Double Trhimph. 
 
 Placidus. Yes — yes I knowest thou of her ? 
 {^Recognizes her ; cries aloud — ] Stella ! 
 Female. PI acid us ! 
 
 [Tableau. /;/ act of approaching to embrace. 
 Curtain falls. 
 
 Scene 4. — The Atrium of the temple of Jupiter 
 on the Capitol at Rome. EMPEROR sitting on 
 throne in porch. Procession of triumph passes 
 before him. Children fantastically dressed, 
 bearing spoils of conquered people ; some are 
 carrying large bouquets of flowers. Dancing. 
 Lively music. Small chariots draivn by goats 
 may appear, etc. Get-up ad libitum. The last 
 in the procession, PLACID US — if possible in 
 chariot, gilt, drawn by pony, etc. Near EMPE- 
 ROR an idol, a pan of incense, and a lamb covered 
 tvith flozvers, and vestal virgin. The high-priest. 
 Placid'US advancing to the Emperor's throne. 
 Courtiers cry out : 
 
 " Hail, Conqueror, hail I " 
 
 Placidus {pres editing parchment tied with red 
 tape']. Behold, Emperor, the map of thy extend- 
 ed territories ! 
 
 Emperor. The gods have been propitious to 
 
The Double Triumph. 6i 
 
 our arms, noble Placidus. Thy country has just- 
 ly decreed for thee the greatest of honors. Ac- 
 cept the crown of victory given only to the 
 bravest of the brave. \A vestal virgin. A little 
 girl dressed in white ; advances, and, receiving 
 croivii from EMPEROR, //(^6T.y it on the head of PLA- 
 CIDUS.] Placidus, arise ! the second place in the 
 empire is thine henceforth, together with thy 
 noble sons, of whose bravery we have heard so 
 much. You must live in our golden house. After 
 the hardships of the campaign you should now 
 enjoy the luxuries of your wealth and the splen- 
 dors of your fame. And now [rising], brave 
 General, let us proceed to offer sacrifice to 
 Jupiter and Mars, who have been so pro- 
 pitious to the Roman arms ! [PLACIDUS re- 
 mains motionless in pensive mood. EMPEROR 
 turning suddenly ronnd.] What, dost thou refuse 
 to follow ? Are, then, the rumors of the people 
 and the accusations of the high-priest true? 
 \Aloud and advancing?^ Placidus, dost thou re- 
 fuse to do sacrifice to the gods of the empire — 
 to Jupiter who rules the destinies of man, and 
 given thee thy victories ? 
 
 Placidus. Emperor ! send me to the ends of 
 the world, to deepen rivers with the blood of thy 
 enemies ; let me lead thy armies to the icy North, 
 or to the parched plains of thy African posses- 
 sions ; command my sword, my wealth, my life ; 
 
62 The Double Triumph, 
 
 but to bow to painted idols ; to sacrifice to the 
 demons of evil that hold the world in the thral- 
 dom of eternal perdition, I refuse ! 
 
 Emperor. What infatuation has seized thee, 
 Placidus ? Callest thou our gods demons of evil? 
 Dost thou not know I have power to force thee 
 to sacrifice ? 
 
 Placidus. I am perfectly aware thou hast no 
 power but that which is given to thee from above 
 by Him who created all things. Thy power, 
 Emperor, is no greater than the power of the 
 marble effigy thou callest Jupiter. He who alone 
 is great could give life to the statue, as he has 
 given it to thy body of clay. 
 
 Emperor. Dost thou say our noble person is 
 made of clay ? Has the pride of thy victories 
 made thee insolent ? Who is the God of whom 
 thou speakest with so much infatuation ? Is he 
 the same that was crucified ? 
 
 Placidus. Yes ! in a mystery beyond the com- 
 prehen.jion of man, our God was crucified ! 
 
 Emperor. Placidus, art thou a Christian ? 
 
 Placidus. Yes, thank Heaven, though unwor- 
 thy of the great name. 
 
 High-Priest. " The Christians to the lions ! " 
 
 All. '' Away with the Christians ! " 
 
 Emperor. Placidus, thy old age, thy bravery, 
 thy merits, make me pity thy infatuation. Sacri- 
 fice to our immortal Jove, or by our piety I will 
 
The Double Triiiniph. 63 
 
 -tear thy laurels from thy brow, cast thee into a 
 loathsome prison, and have thee die a miserable 
 death like thy crucified God ! 
 
 Placidus. Delay not to execute thy threats. 
 My soul yearneth for the Cross ! for death ! for 
 liberty ! Let others enjoy the fleeting shadows 
 of earthly triumph ! Give me death for Christ, 
 and you crown me with a DOUBLE TRIUMPH ! 
 
 Emperor \_angr)P\, Thou shall have it, then. 
 Seize him, lictors ! Prepare a scourge for this 
 Christian ! 
 
 [Imogen rusJies in front with drazvn sword. 
 Farfax also draws sword. Standing be- 
 tween tJiem and PLACID US. 
 
 Imogen. Dare you touch my father ! 
 
 Placidus \advancing\. My son ! put back thy 
 sword ! If thou lovest me, let them shackle me ! 
 Why stand between me and the crown I have 
 sighed for ? ^'^Riishes towards lictors. Places his 
 hands in the chains. To Emperor — ] Now, ty- 
 rant, do thy worst ! Wreak thy vengeance on 
 this aged body, and free a captive spirit that 
 longs for the freedom of the skies. 
 
 Imogen \^ flinging down his sword with great 
 jioise]. Father, I will die with thee. I, too, am a 
 Christian I [Moves towards him.'] 
 
 Farfax. So am I I [And moves towards him,] 
 
 Stella, And I believe in Jesus Christ ! 
 
64 The Double Triumph, 
 
 {They are bound with ropes. Attendants cry 
 
 out : 
 
 '' Death to the Christians ! " 
 
 \High-priest louder than others. In the same 
 time a trumpet sounds outside. A COURIER 
 rushes in. 
 
 Courier. A message from the camp ! 
 
 [RUFUS enters^ fully armed. Standing in 
 amazement at Placidus and family bound. 
 
 Rufus. Brave General I has it come to this ? 
 Say but a word, and a legion of thy veterans will 
 put this tyrant in thy place, and make you their 
 king ! 
 
 Emperor. Who are you, insolent soldier, that 
 darest trifle with our commands and speakest 
 treason in our presence ? 
 
 Rufus. 'Tis Rufus, the Christian soldier, and 
 Captain of the Banner Guard, come to tell thee 
 there is a mutiny in the army. They have heard 
 of your unjust treatment of our General, and the 
 murmur of ten thousand indignant soldiers rolls 
 with threatening thunder around thy golden 
 house. They will burn it to the ground and 
 roast thee in its flames ! 
 
 Placidus. Rufus, cool thy anger. By the hope 
 that raises us from earth to eternity ; by the 
 
The Double Triumph. 65 
 
 faith that sustains us ; by the hardships we have 
 borne together for forty years, permit me, I be- 
 seech you, to finish the mockery of human tri- 
 umph by the immolation of myself at the altar 
 of truth. {Changes tone, anei empJiatically?^ Ru- 
 fus ! another battle awaits thee. Prepare thy- 
 self and the Christian soldiers of thy legion to 
 follow us in a few days ! 
 
 Emperor \in a rage']. Seize the traitor ! 
 
 [Some guards rush toivards RUFUS, who sud- 
 denly turns around, and with stentorian 
 voice, and hand on siuord, cries : 
 
 ** Back, slaves ! " [Slowly retiring^ Farewell, 
 Placidus ; we meet again ! 
 
 [Slaves remain, afraid to advance. 
 
 Emperor. Cowardly dogs! I shall have thee 
 hung by the heels before a slow fire. Lead those 
 Christians to the stake instantly ! Away ! 
 
 [Emperor remains in position with hand 
 stretched out. Soldiers and lictors form 
 guard around Christians, zvho move with 
 slow step — some seconds between each step. 
 Curtain is falling. 
 
66 The Double Truimph, 
 
 Last Scene. — A scene in the Palatine Garden. 
 Lights lozvered. In centre of stage a raised 
 platform^ on ivJiicli a stake. To this stake or 
 board erect is tied Placidus ; on either side. Ids 
 wife and two children. Logs of neiuly cut ivood 
 placed aronnd the pile and against the CHRIS- 
 TIANS, A strong light cast on them by mirror 
 from above. Guards, rougJi-looking soldiers, just 
 finishing preparations to burn the CHRISTIANS. 
 Guards around in file. One of the executioners 
 sets fire to the pile. This is done by handfuls 
 of incense thrown on a pan of coals concealed un- 
 der the logs of zvood. The smoke will give the 
 appearance of fire. When the smoke has got 
 thick^ a noise of tramping is heard outside. Ru- 
 FUS a?id several Christian soldiers oiter to save 
 Placidus. Pagans and Christians fight. TA- 
 BLEAU. Whilst fighting, RUFUS beats two an- 
 tagonists — leaps up on the pile — C2its the ropes 
 that bind PLACIDUS, but finds him dead. Ru- 
 FUS, holding the dead body of PLACIDUS in his 
 arms, pointing with Ids szvord to heaven. Chris- 
 tian soldiers each standing over his fallen anta- 
 gonist. Red lights^ thunder^ etc. Curtain falls. 
 
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 I?IAI.X: CHARACTERS. 
 
 The Inrisible Hand. A Drama in Three Acts. By Mrs. J. Sadlier $o ?5 
 
 The rider Brother. A Drama in Two Acts. By Mrs. J. Sadlier 025 
 
 The Babbler A Drama in One Act By Mrs. J. Sadlier o 25 
 
 Fatiiilj of Martyrs. A Drama in Four Acts. Translated trom the 
 
 Italian ot Valle 060 
 
 The Ohost. A Comedy in Three Acts. From the French o 50 
 
 Hidden Oein. A Drama in Two Acts. By Cardinal Wiseman 150 
 
 The Pliotograph. A Drama in One Act 015 
 
 Rogueries of Scapiii. A Drama in One Act o 40 
 
 Sebastian , or. The Roman Martyr. A Drama founded on Cardinal Wise- 
 man's celebrated tale ot " Fabiola." By T. D. McGee 040 
 
 St. Louis in Chains. A Drama in Five Acts u 40 
 
 The Forty JIartyrs of Sebasti. A Drama in One Act 015 
 
 The Deaf Mute. An Historical Drama in Four Acts o 50 
 
 The Confessional Unmasked. Compiled from Shandy Maguire 040 
 
 FEMALE CHARACTERS. 
 Which is Which! or, The Fire of London. A Play in Three Acts. By 
 
 Lady Geoj-giana FuUerton 025 
 
 Gerniaine Cousin, The Shepherdess of Pibrac. In two parts. By Lady 
 
 Georgi.uia FuUerton 025 
 
 The Chinese 3Iother. A Drama in Three Acts 050 
 
 CJiristnias Tree. A Drama for Christmas in One Act and Seven Scenes, o 25 
 
 Julia ; or. The Gold Thimble. A Drama in One Act. By Mrs. J. Sadlier, o 25 
 
 Lilia; or, The Test. A Drama in Two Acts 040 
 
 The Orphan Sisters ; or. Pupils of the Common School. A Drama hi 
 
 One Act 020 
 
 The Secret. A Drama m One Act. By Mrs. J. Sadlier o 25 
 
 Tiie Talisman. A Drama in One Act. By Mrs. J. Sadlier o 25 
 
 Tlie Two Crowns. A Drama in One Act 040 
 
 St. Helena; or, The Finding of the Holy Cross. A Drama in Three Acts, 030 
 
 The Reverse tif the Mcdiil. A Drama in Four Acts o 25 
 
 ErusciUr Hall. A Drama in Three Acts 025 
 
 Filiola. A Drama in Four Acts '^ 25 
 
 The Faculties of the Soul. From the French of Madime de Sto1z. A 
 Drama in One Act and Three Scenes. Translated by Mrs James 
 
 Sadlier ♦ "^ ^5 
 
 MALE AND FEMALE CHARACTERS. 
 
 Ciecilia. A Roman Drama. By Myron A. Cooney o 4c 
 
 The expiation. A Drama in Three Acts. Translated by J. J. Kehoc, o 40 
 
 Martyrdom of St. Cecily. A Drama in Two Acts o 25 
 
 Vouthfiil Martyrs of Rome. A Christian Drama, adapted from 
 
 • Fubiola." By the Very Rev. Canon Oakley 060 
 
 Witc'i of Kosenburg. A Drama in Three Acts. By Cardinal Wiseman, 050 
 
 Marcion, the Magician of Antioch. A Drama in Three Acts i o« 
 
 EUie Laura; or. The Border Orphan. . A Drama. By Dr. OLeary. .. o 40 
 Any of the above books will be sent, post-paiii, to any address on receipt 
 ot the price. Address 
 
 D. & J. SADLIER & CO., Publishers, 31 Barclay St, N. Y. 
 
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