licensed 6 October 1620
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As a sign of commitment to his cause Theophilus offers his virgin daughters to
the Emperor. Dioclesian, without answering, turns to the captured kings - the
King of Pontus, King of Epire and King of Macedon - and returns to them their
crowns on condition that his daughter, Artemia, choose one of them to marry.
But Artemia wishes to wed Antoninus. Dioclesian agrees, but Antoninus, who is
secretly in love with Dorothea, defers his acceptance on the pretext that he is
not worthy. His response elicits displeasure and puzzlement from the Emperor
and his daughter, but no threat of punishment is forthcoming. Macrinus warns
his friend that Dorothea is "A favourer of the Christian sect" and involvement with her will surely ostracize him from the entirety of Rome. Antoninus does not care and sends Macrinus to Dorothea with jewels to signify his devotion to the woman.
II.i: A room in Dorothea's house . Spungius and Hircius, servants of
Dorothea, reveal that they despise Dorothea, and only work for her in return for the chance at free food and money. Angelo, a good spirit serving Dorothea in the disguise of a page, enters and confronts Spungius and Hircius. He knows they are only using Dorothea yet is fooled when they promise him they will change. As Dorothea enters, Hircius whispers to Spungius that they must kill Angelo. Hircius and Spungius leave as Dorothea questions Angelo about meeting "his Father" and he assures her that it will happen all in good time.
II.ii: A street near Dorothea's house . Theophilus and Harpax stop Macrinus as he heads for Dorothea's house. Theophilus demands that his son must make his decision concerning Artemia. Macrinus says that he remains undecided, and continues on. Harpax then informs his master that Antoninus loves Dorothea, a Christian. Together, they plan her death.
II.iii: A room in Dorothea's house . Macrinus expresses his love to Dorothea. She tells him that she holds Antoninus in complete disregard. Antoninus enters below, and Artemia, Sapritius, Theophilus, Spungius and Hircius enter above. They watch as she explains to Antoninus that she does not feel anything for him. Antoninus renounces paganism. On this news, the hitherto silent Theophilus speaks out from above, calling him a "dog." Artemia, on hearing Antoninus' declaration of love for Dorthea, renounces her love for Antoninus, and orders that Dorothea and Antoninus to be executed. Theophilus asks to have the opportunity to eliminate Dorothea. Antoninus is left to his father, Sapritius' care. All exit except for Angelo, Hircius and Spungius. Angelo begs them to help Dorthea, but they refuse.
III.i: A room in Dorothea's house . Sapritius and Theophilus plan to seek a confession from Dorthea. Dorothea enters with Angelo and begins to speak with Theophilus' two daughters. They speak of their respective religions, and astonishingly, Dorothea is able to convert the two daughters, who claim, "We are caught ourselves, / That came to take you." They leave, promising to be the loyal servants of Dorothea.
III.ii: The Governor's palace . Artemia tells Theophilus that she has forgiven Antoninus, and will allow him to marry Dorothea if she converts to paganism. At that, the trumpets sound and Calista and Christeta, Theophilus' daughters, enter with Dorothea. Believing that Dorothea has been converted, Theophilus calls the Priest forward so that they can all bow to the image of Jupiter. Instead, Calista and Christeta spit on the image and throw it down. Theophilus is overcome with rage and kills both of them. He leaves, promising Dorothea that he will now kill all Christians. Angelo returns and consoles Dorothea who had decided to martyr herself to a "glorious fate."
III.iii: A room in Dorothea's house . Spungius and Hircius are discussing their lack of money, spent at taverns and whorehouses, when Angelo enters. When asked if he has any money to spare, he states that he will give no money to traitors and non-Christians until he sees "repentance from your heart." Once he leaves, Harpax, the evil spirit, appears and offers money to the men if they pledge allegiance to the devil and help in his bidding. The servants agree.
IV.i: The Governor's palace . Doctors attend the suddenly ill Antoninus. Macrinus says that only the presence of Dorothea will cure him. Antoninus's father, Sapritius, returns with Dorothea, and pleads with his son to take Dorothea not as a wife but as his whore. When Antoninus cannot, Sapritius calls for a slave to be brought to the room. Sapritius orders the slave to ravish Dorothea, to which the slave replies "do't thyself, Roman, / 'Tis drudgery fit for thee." At this, Theophilus enters and calls for Dorothea to be taken away.
IV.ii: A public square . Harpax gives both Spungius and Hircius clubs with which to beat Dorothea before her execution. Dorothea is led in and tied to a pillar, Angelo, always at her side, comforts her. Dorothea is offered her freedom one last time in return for her conversion. She refuses, and Spungius and Hircius are brought in to beat her.
They begin to beat her, yet their blows do not leave a scratch. To the viewers, Dorothea seems to become more beautiful. Theophilus is furious and calls for Spungius and Hircius to be taken away and hanged. He promises to execute her himself.
IV.iii: The place of execution . Antoninus explains to Macrinus that it is his purpose in life to die with Dorothea. A guard brings her in, followed by a headsman, Theophilus, Sapritius and Harpax. Angelo arrives in the form of an angel and sends Harpax back to the devil. He promises Dorothea that she will achieve her martyrdom right before Theophilus strikes off her head. At the moment of her execution, Antoninus drops dead.
V.i: Theophilus discovered in his study: books about him . Angelo enters in the disguise of a little boy to deliver a basket full of fruits and flowers. Harpax, who appears in a "fearful shape", then visits Theophilus. He tells Theophilus to put down the fruit and flowers. Theophilus will not and declares that he has sought forgiveness for murdering his two daughters and the virgin martyr. Harpax leaves, and Angelo returns in his true form to calm Theophilus.
V.ii: Dioclesian's palace . Artemia has promised to marry Maximinus. The Kings of Epire, Pontus, and Macedon will bear witness to the match that Dioclesian has created. At this, Dioclesian wishes to hear how the virgin martyr died and sends for Theophilus, Sapritius and Macrinus. As Dioclesian speaks to Sapritius, Theophilus, who has now also converted to Christianity, bids Macrinus to release all imprisoned Christians, and hasten them to "ships ready rigg'd" to take them to safety. Dioclesian is outraged and orders tortures. Like the clubs used to punish Dorothea, these instruments have no effect. Harpax suddenly reappears and says that unless Theophilus "blaspheme[,] he's lost for ever." But the spirit of Dorothea appears, and Harpex falls instantly dead. Angelo offers Theophilus a crown as he dies "a soldier in the Christian wars." Unrepentant, Dioclesian promises the continued persecution of Christians.
Synopsis:
I.i: The Governor's Palace . Theophilus, a zealous persecutor of the
Christians, is speaking with Harpax, an evil spirit following him around in the
shape of a secretary, about the success of his "great work" of ridding the world
of Christians. Sapritius, the governor of Caesarea, enters with the captain of
his guards, Sempronius. He learns from Theophilus that his son, Antoninus,
has been particularly triumphant in his battles with the Christians. Antoninus
enters with Macrinus, his friend, and Dioclesian, emperor of Rome, and three
kings bound in chains. Dioclesian is escorting his daughter, Artemia, and
they are followed by Harpax, who escorts Calista and Christeta, Theophilus'
daughters. Sapritius assures Dioclesian that he is eternally supportive of his
quest to rid the empire of Christians.