To talk what we have done at least to hear it If meerily set down it fires the blood And heightens Crest-faln appetite Ach. New doctrine Achil. Was 't of your own composing Sep. No I bought it Of a skulking Scribler for two Ptolomies But the hints were mine own the wretch was fearfull But I have damn'd my self should it be question'd That I will own it Ach. And be punished for it Take heed for you may so long exercise Your scurrilous wit against authority The Kingdoms Counsels and make profane Jests Which to you being an atheist is nothing Against Religion that your great maintainers Unless they would be thought Co-partners with you Will leave you to the Law and then Septinius Remember there are whips Sep. For whore's I grant you When they are out of date till then are safe too Or all the Gallants of the Court are Eunuchs And for mine own defence I 'le only add this I 'le be admitted for a wanton tale To some most private Cabinets when your Priest hood Though laden with the mysteries of your goddess Shall wait without unnoted so I leave you To your pious thoughts Exit Achil. 'T is a strange impudence This fellow does put on Ach. The wonder great He is accepted of Achil. Vices for him Make as free way as vertues doe for others 'T is the times fault yet Great ones still have grace'd To make them sport or rub them o're with flattery Observers of all kinds Enter Photinus and Septinius Ach. No more of him He is not worth our thoughts a Fugitive From Pompeys army and now in a danger When he should use his service Achil. See how he hangs On great Photinus Ear. Sep. Hell and the furies And all the plagues of darkness light upon me You are my god on earth and let me have Your favour here fall what can fall hereafter Pho. Thou art believ'd dost thou want mony Sep. No Sir Pho. Or hast thou any suite these ever follow Thy vehement protestations Sep. You much wrong me How can I want when your beams shine upon me Unless employment to express my zeal To do your greatness service do but think A deed so dark the Sun would blush to look on For which Man-kind would curse me and arm all The powers above and those below against me Command me I will on Pho. When I have use I 'le put you to the test Sep. May it be speedy And something worth my danger you are cold And know not your own powers this brow was fashion'd To wear a Kingly wreath and your grave judgment Given to dispose of monarchies not to govern A childs affairs the peoples eye 's upon you The Souldier courts you will you wear a garment Of sordid loyalty when 't is out of fashion Pho. When Pompey was thy General Septinius Thou saidst as much to him Sep. All my love to him To Caesar Rome and the whole world is lost In the Ocean of your Bounties I have no friend Project design or Countrey but your favour Which I 'le preserve at any rate Pho. No more When I call on you fall not off perhaps Sooner than you expect I may employ you So leave me for a while Sep. Ever your Creature Exit Pho. Good day Achoreus my best friend Achillas Hath fame deliver'd yet no certain rumour Of the great Roman Action Achil. That we are To enquire and learn of you Sir whose grave care For Egypts happiness and great Ptolomies good Hath eyes and ears in all parts Enter Ptolomy Labienus Guard Pho. I 'le not boast What my Intelligence costs me but ' ere long You shall know more The King with him a Roman Ach. The scarlet livery of unfortunate war Dy'd deeply on his face Achil. 'T is Labienus Caesars Lieutenant in the wars of Gaul And fortunate in all his undertakings But since these Civil jars he turn'd to Pompey And though he followed the better Cause Not with the like success Pho. Such as are wise Leave falling buildings flye to those that rise But more of that hereafter Lab. In a word Sir These gaping wounds not taken as a slave Speak Pompey's loss to tell you of the Battail How many thousand several bloody shapes Death wore that day in triumph how we bore The shock of Caesars charge or with what fury His Souldiers came on as if they had been So many Caesars and like him ambitious To tread upon the liberty of Rome How Fathers kill'd their Sons or Sons their Fathers Or how the Roman Piles on either side Drew Roman blood which spent the Prince of weapons The sword succeeded which in Civil wars Appoints the Tent on which wing'd victory Shall make a certain Stand then how the Plains Flow'd o're with blood and what a cloud of vulturs And other birds of prey hung o're both armies Attending when their ready Servitors The Souldiers from whom the angry gods Had took all sense of reason and of pity Would serve in their own carkasses for a feast How Caesar with his Javelin force'd them on That made the least stop when their angry hands Were lifted up against some known friends face Then coming to the body of the army He shews the sacred Senate and forbids them To wast their force upon the Common Souldier Whom willingly if e're he did know pity He would have spar'd Ptol. The reason Labienus Lab. Full well he knows that in their blood he was To pass to Empire and that through their bowels He must invade the Laws of Rome and give A period to the liberty of the world Then sell the Lepidi and the bold Corvini The fam'd Torquati Scipio's and Marcelli Names next to Pompeys most renown'd on Earth The Nobles and the Commons lay together And Pontique Punique and Assyrian blood Made up one crimson Lake which Pompey seeing And that his and the fate of Rome had left him Standing upon the Rampier of his Camp Though scorning all that could fall on himself He pities them whose fortunes are embarqu'd In his unlucky quarrel cryes aloud too That they should sound retreat and save themselves That he desir'd not so much noble blood Should be lost in his service or attend On his misfortunes and then taking horse With some few of his friends he came to Lesbos And with Cornelia his Wife and Sons He 's touch'd upon your shore the King of Parthia Famous in his defeature of the Crassi Offer'd him his protection but Pompey Relying on his Benefits and your Faith Hath chosen Aegypt for his Sanctuary Till he may recollect his scattered powers And try a second day now Ptolomy Though he appear not like that glorious thing That three times rode in triumph and gave laws To conquer'd Nations and made Crowns his gift As this of yours your noble Father took From his victorious hand and you still wear it At his devotion to do you more honour In his declin'd estate as the straightst Pine In a full grove of his yet flourishing friends
charges Did he not beat this Pompey and pursu'd him Was not this great man his great enemy This Godlike vertuous man as people held him But what fool daâ—e be friend to flying vertue Enter Caesar Anthony Dolabella Sceva I hear their Trumpets 't is too late to stagger Give me the head and be you confident Hail Conquerour and head of all the world Now this head 's off Caesar Ha Pho. Do not shun me Caesar From kingly Ptolomy I bring this present The Crown and sweat of thy Pharsalian labour The goal and mark of high ambitious honour Before thy victory had no name Caesar Thy travel and thy loss of blood no recompence Thou dreamst of being worthy and of war And all thy furious conflicts were but slumbers Here they take life here they inherit honour Grow fixt and shoot up everlasting triumphs Take it and look upon thy humble servant With noble eyes look on the Princely Ptolomy That offers with this head most mighty Caesar What thou would'st once have given for it all Egypt Ach. Nor do not question it most royal Conquerour Nor dis-esteem the benefit that meets thee Because 't is easily got it comes the safer Yet let me tell thee most imperious Caesar Though he oppos'd no strength of Swords to win this Nor labour'd through no showres of darts and lances Yet here he found a fort that faced him strongly An inward war he was his Grand-sires Guest Friend to his Father and when he was expell'd And beaten from this Kingdom by strong hand And had none left him to restore his honour No hope to find a friend in such a misery Then in stept Pompey took his feeble fortune Strengthen'd and cherish'd it and set it right again This was a love to Caesar Sceva Give me hate Gods Pho. This Caesar may account a little wicked But yet remember if thine own hands Conquerour Had fallen upon him what it had been then If thine own sword had touch'd his throat what that way He was thy Son in Law there to be tainted Had been most terrible let the worst be render'd We have deserv'd for keeping thy hands innocent Caesar Oh Sceva Sceva see that head see Captains The head of godlike Pompey Sceva He was basely ruin'd But let the Gods be griev'd that suffer'd it And be you Caesar Caesar Oh thou Conquerour Thou glory of the world once now the pity Thou awe of Nations wherefore didst thou fall thus What poor fate follow'd thee and pluckt thee on To trust thy sacred life to an Egyptian The life and light of Rome to a blind stranger That honorable war ne'r taught a nobleness Nor worthy circumstance shew'd what a man was That never heard thy name sung but in banquets And loose lascivious pleasures to a Boy That had no faith to comprehend thy greatness No study of thy life to know thy goodness And leave thy Nation nay thy noble friend Leave him distrusted that in tears falls with thee In soft relenting tears hear me great Pompey If thy great spirit can hear I must task thee Thou hast most unnobly rob'd me of my victory My love and mercy Ant. O how brave these tears shew How excellent is sorrow in an Enemy Dol. Glory appears not greater than this goodness Câ—sar Egyptians dare you think your high Pyramides Built to out-dare the Sun as you suppose Where your unworthy Kings lye rak'd in ashes Are monuments fit for him no brood of Nilus Nothing can cover his high same but Heaven No Pyramides set off his memories But the eternal substance of his greatness To which I leave him take the head away And with the body give it noble burial Your Earth shall now be bless'd to hold a Roman Whose braverys all the worlds-Earth cannot ballance Sce. If thou bee'st thus loving I shall honour thee But great men may dissemble 't is held possible And be right glad of what they seem to weep for There are such kind of Philosophers now do I wonder How he would look if Pompey were alive again But how he would set his face Caesar You look now King And you that have been Agents in this glory For our especial favour Ptol. We desire it Caesar And doubtless you expect rewards Sceva Let me give 'em I 'le give 'em such as nature never dreamt of I 'le beat him and his Agents in a morter Into one man and that one man I 'le bake then Caesar Peace I forgive you all that 's recompence You are young and ignorant that pleads your pardon And fâ—ar it may be more than hate provok'd ye Your Ministers I must think wanted judgment And so they err'd I am bountiful to think this Believe me most bountiful be you most thankful That bounty share amongst ye if I knew What to send you for a present King of Egypt I mean a head of equal reputation And that you lov'd though it were your brightest Sisters But her you hate I would not be behind ye Ptol. Hear me Great Caesar Caes I have heard too much And study not with smooth shews to invade My noble Mind as you have done my Conquest Ye are poor and open I must tell ye roundly That Man that could not recompence the Benefits The great and bounteous services of Pompey Can never dote upon the Name of Caesar Though I had hated Pompey and allow'd his ruine Hasty to please in Blood are seldome trusty And but I stand inviron'd with my Victories My Fortune never failing to befriend me My noble strengths and friends about my Person I durst not try ye nor expect a Courtesie Above the pious love you shew'd to Pompey You have found me merciful in arguing with you Swords Hangmen Fires Destructions of all natures Demolishments of Kingdoms and whole Ruines Are wont to be my Orators turn to tears You wretched and poor seeds of Sun-burnt Egypt And now you have found the nature of a Conquerour That you cannot decline with all your flatteries That where the day gives light will be himself still Know how to meet his Worth with humane Courtesies Go and embalm those bones of that great Souldier Howl round about his Pile fling on your Spices Make a Sabaean Bed and place this Phoenix Where the hot Sun may emulate his Vertues And draw another Pompey from his ashes Divinely great and fix him ' mongst the Worthies Ptol. We will do all Caes You have rob'd him of those tears His Kindred and his Friends kept sacred for him The Virgins of their Funeral Lamentations And that kind Earth that thought to cover him His Countries Earth will cry out ' gainst your Cruelty And weep unto the Ocean for revenge Till Nilus raise his seven heads and devour ye My grief has stopt the rest when Pompey liv'd He us'd you nobly now he is dead use him so Exit Ptol. Now where 's your confidence your aim Photinus The Oracles and fair Favours from the Conquerour You rung into mine Ears how stand I now
Sister and the rest to please us We should receive this as a sawcy rudeness Offer'd our private thoughts But your intents Are to delight us alas you wash an Ethiop Can Cleopatra while she does remember Whose Daughter she is and whose Sister O I suffer in the name and that in Justice There is no place in Aegypt where I stand But that the tributary Earth is proud To kiss the foot of her that is her Queen Can she I say that is all this e're relish Of comfort or delight while base Photinus Bond-man Achillas and all other monsters That raign o're Ptolomy make that a Court Where they reside and this where I a Prison But there 's a Rome a Senate and a Caesar Though the great Pompey lean to Ptolomy May think of Cleopatra Ap. Pompey Madam Cleo. What of him speak if ill Apollodorus It is my happiness and for thy news Receive a favour Kings have kneel'd in vain for And kiss my hand Ap. He 's lost Cleo. Speak it again Ap. His army routed he fled and pursu'd By the all-conquering Caesar Cleo. Whither bends he Ap To Egypt Cleo. Ha! in person Ap. 'T is receiv'd For an undoubted truth Cleo. I live again And if assurance of my love and beauty Deceive me not I now shall find a Judge To do me right but how to free my self And get access the Guards are strong upon me This door I must pass through Apollodorus Thou often hast profess'd to do me service Thy life was not thine own Ap. I am not alter'd And let your excellency propound a means In which I may but give the least assistance That may restore you to that you were born to Though it call on the anger of the King Or what 's more deadly all his Minion Photinus can do to me I unmov'd Offer tâ—y throat to serve you ever provided It bear some probable shew to be effected To lose my self upon no ground were madness Not loyal duty Cleo. Stand off to thee alone I will discover what I dare not trust My Sister with Caesar is amorous And taken more with the title of a Queen Than feature or proportion he lov'd Eâ—noe A Moor deformed too I have heard that brought No other object to inflame his blood But that her Husband was a King on both He did bestow rich presents shall I then That with a princely birth bring beauty with me That know to prize my self at mine own rate Despair his favour art thou mine Ap. I am Cleo. I have found out a way shall bring me to him Spight of Photinus watches if I prosper As I am confident I shall expect Things greater than thy wishes though I purchase His grace with loss of my virginity It skills not if it bring home Majesty Exeunt Actus Secundus Scena Prima Enter Septimius with a head Achillas Guard Sep. 'T IS here 't is done behold you fearfull viewers Shake and behold the model of the world here The pride and strength look look again 't is finish'd That that whole Armies nay whole nations Many and mighty Kings have been struck blind at And fled before wing'd with their fears and terrours That steel war waited on and fortune courted That high plum'd honour built up for her own Behold that mightiness behold that fierceness Behold that child of war with all his glories By this poor hand made breathless here my Achillas Egypt and Caesar owe me for this service And all the conquer'd Nations Ach. Peace Septimius Thy words sound more ungratefull than thy actions Though sometimes safety seek an instrument Of thy unworthy nature thou loud boaster Think not she is bound to love him too that 's barbarous Why did not I if this be meritorious And binds the King unto me and his bounties Strike this rude stroke I 'le tell thee thou poor Roman It was a sacred head I durst not heave at Not heave a thought Sep. It was Ach. I 'le tell thee truely And if thou ever yet heard'st tell of honour I 'le make thee blush It was thy General 's That mans that fed thee once that mans that bred thee The air thou breath'dst was his the fire that warm'd thee From his care kindled ever nay I 'le show thee Because I 'le make thee sensible of the business And why a noble man durst not touch at it There was no piece of Earth thou putst thy foot on But was his conquest and he gave thee motion He triumph'd three times who durst touch his person The very walls of Rome bow'd to his presence Dear to the Gods he was to them that fear'd him A fair and noble Enemy Didst thou hate him And for thy love to Caesar sought his ruine Arm'd in the red Pharsalian fields Septimius Where killing was in grace and wounds were glorious Where Kings were fair competitours for honour Thou shouldst have come up to him there have fought him There Sword to Sword Sep. I kill'd him on commandment If Kings commands be fair when you all fainted When none of you durst look Ach. On deeds so barbarous What hast thou got Sep. The Kings love and his bounty The honour of the service which though you rail at Or a thousand envious souls fling their foams on me Will dignifie the cause and make me glorious And I shall live Ach. A miserable villain What reputation and reward belongs to it Thus with the head I seize on and make mine And be not impudent to ask me why Sirrah Noâ— bolâ—â—o â—â—ay read in mine eyes the reason The shame and obloquy I leave thine own Inherit those rewards they are fitter for thee Your oyl's sp nt and your snuff stinks go out basely Sep. The King will yet consider Exit Enter Ptolomy Achoreus Photinus Achil. Here he comes Sir Ach. Yet if it be undone hear me great Sir If this inhumane stroak be yet unstrucken If that adored head be not yet sever'd From the most noble Body weigh the miseries The desolations that this great Eclipse works You are young be provident fix not your Empire Upon the Tomb of him will shake all Egypt Whose warlike groans will raise ten thousand Spirits Great as himself in every hand a thunder Destructions darting from their looks and sorrows That easy womens eyes shall never empty Pho. You have done well and 't is done see Achillas And in his hand the head Ptol. Stay come no nearer Me thinks I feel the very earth shake under me I do remember him he was my guardian Appointed by the Senate to preserve me What a full Maj sty fits in his face yet Pho. The King is troubled be not frighted Sir Be not abus'd with fears his death was necessary If you consider Sir most necessary Not to be miss'd and humbly thank great Isis He came so opportunely to your hands Pity must now give place to rules of safety Is not victorious Caesar new arriv'd And enter'd Alexandria with his friends Hâ—s Navy riding by to wait his
You see the tempest of his stern displeasure The death of him you urged a Sacrifice To stop his Rage presaging a full ruine Where are your Counsels now Acho. I told you Sir And told the truth what danger would flye after And though an Enemy I satisfied you He was a Roman and the top of Honour And howsoever this might please Great Caesar I told ye that the foulness of his Death The impious baseness Pho. Peace you are a Fool Men of deep ends must tread as deep ways to 'em Câ—sar I know is pleas'd and for all his sorrows Which are put on for forms and meer dissemblings I am confident he 's glad to have told ye so And thank ye outwardly had been too open And taken from the Wisedom of a Conquerour Be confident and proud ye have done this service Ye have deserv'd and ye will find it highly Make bold use of this benefit and be sure You keep your Sister the high-soul'd Cleopatra Both close and short enough she may not see him The rest if I may counsel Sir Ptol. Do all For in thy faithful service rests my safety Exeunt SCENE II. Enter Septimius Sept. Here 's a strange alteration in the Court Mens Faces are of other setts and motions Their minds of subtler stuff I pass by now As though I were a Rascal no man knows me No Eye looks after as I were a Plague Their doors shut close against me and I wondred at Because I have done a meritorious Murther Because I have pleas'd the Time does the Time plague me I have known the day they would have hug'd me for it For a less stroke than this have done me Reverence Open'd their Hearts and secret Closets to me Their Purses and their Pleasures and bid me wallow I now perceive the great Thieves eat the less And the huge Leviathans of Villany Sup up the merits nay the men and all That do them service and spowt 'em out again Into the air as thin and unregarded As drops of Water that are lost i'th'Ocean I was lov'd once for swearing and for drinking And for other principal Qualities that became me Now a foolish unthankful Murther has undone me If my Lord Photinus be not merciful Enter Photinus That set me on And he comes now Fortune Pho. Caesars unthankfulness a little stirs me A little frets my bloud take heed proud Roman Provoke me not stir not mine anger farther I may find out a way unto thy life too Though arm'd in all thy Victories and seize it A Conquerour has a heart and I may hit it Sept. May it please your Lordship Pho. O Septimius Sept. Your Lordships knows my wrongs Pho. Wrongs Sept. Yes my Lord How the Captain of the Guard Achillas slights me Pho. Think better of him he has much befriended thee Shew'd thee much love in taking the head from thee The times are alter'd Souldier Caesar's angry And our design to please him lost and perish'd Be glad thou art unnam'd 't is not worth the owning Yet that thou maist be useful Sept. Yes my Lord I shall be ready Pho. For I may employ thee To take a rub or two out of my way As time shall serve say that it be a Brother Or a hard Father Sept. 'T is most necessary A Mother or a Sister or whom you please Sir Pho. Or to betray a noble Friend Sept. 'T is all one Pho. I know thou wilt stir for Gold Sept. 'T is all my motion Pho. There take that for thy service and farewel I have greater business now Sept. I am still your own Sir Pho. One thing I charge thee see me no more Septimius Unless I send Exit Sept. I shall observe your hour So this brings something in the mouth some savour This is the Lord I serve the Power I worship My Friends Allies and here lies my Allegiance Let People talk as they please of my rudeness And shun me for my deed bring but this to 'em Let me be damn'd for blood yet still I am honourable This God creates new tongues and new affections And though I had kill'd my Father give me Gold I 'll make men swear I have done a pious Sacrifice Now I will out brave all make all my Servants And my brave deed shall be writ in Wine for vertuous Exit SCENE III. Enter Caesar Antony Dolabella Sceva Caes Keep strong Guards and with wary eyes my friends There is no trusting to these base Egyptians They that are false to pious benefits And make compell'd necessities their faiths Are Traitors to the gods Ant. We 'll call ashore A Legion of the best Caes Not a Man Antony That were to shew our fears and dim our greatness No 't is enough my Name 's ashore Sce. Too much too A sleeping Caesar is enough to shake them There are some two or three malicious Rascals Train'd up in Villany besides that Cerberus That Roman Dog that lick'd the blood of Pompey Dol. 'T is strange a Roman Souldier Sce. You are cozen'd There be of us as be of all other Nations Villains and Knaves 't is not the name contains him But the obedience when that 's once forgotten And Duty flung away then welcome Devil Photinus and Achillas and this Vermine That 's now become a natural Crocodile Must be with care observ'd Ant. And 't is well counsel'd No Confidence nor trust Sce. I 'll trust the Sea first When with her hollow murmurs she invites me And clutches in her storms as politick Lions Conceal their Claws I 'll trust the Devil first Caes Go to your rests and follow your own Wisedoms And leave me to my thoughts pray no more complement Once more strong Watches Dol. All shall be observ'd Sir Exit Caes I am dull and heavy yet I cannot sleep How happy was I in my lawful Wars In Germany and Gaul and Britanny When every night with pleasure I set down What the day ministred The sleep came sweetly But since I undertook this home-division This civil War and past the Rubicon What have I done that speaks an ancient Roman A good great man I have enter'd Rome by force And on her tender Womb that gave me life Let my insulting Souldiers rudely trample The dear Veins of my Country I have open'd And sail'd uphil the torrents that slow'd from her The bloody streams that in their confluence Carried before 'em thousand desolations I rob'd the Treasury and at one gripe Snatch'd all the wealth so many worthy triumphs Plac'd there as sacred to the Peace of Rome I raz'd Massilia in my wanton anger Petreius and Afranius I defeated Pompey I overthrew what did that get me The slubber'd Name of an authoriz'd Enemy Noise within I hear some Noise they are the Watches sure What Friends have I ty'd fast by these ambitions Cato the Lover of his Countries freedom Is now past into Africk to affront me Juba that kill'd my friend is up in Arms too The Sons of Pompey are Masters of the Sea And from
honour'd Sir Let us but know your name that we may worship ye 2 Sold. That we may ever thank Sep. Why call me any thing No matter for my name that may betray me Sce. A cunning thief call him Septinius Souldiers The villain that kill'd Pompey All. How Sep. Call him the shame of men Exit 1 Sold. O that this mony Were weight enough to break thy brains out fling all And fling our curses next let them be mortal Out bloody wolf dost thou come guilded over And painted with thy charitie to poyson us 2 Sold. I know him now may never Father own thee But as a monstrous birth shun thy base memory And if thou hadst a Mother as I cannot Believe thou wert a natural Burden let her womb Be curs'd of women for a bed of vipers 3 Sol. Me thinks the ground shakes to devour this rascal And the kind air turns into foggs and vapours Infectious mists to crown his villanies Thou maist go wander like a thing heaven hated 1 Sold. And valiant minds hold poysonous to remember The Hangman will not keep thee company He has an honourable house to thine No not a thief though thou couldst save his life for 't Will eat thy bread nor one for thirst starv'd drink with thee 2 Sol. Thou art no company for an honest dog And so we 'l leave thee to a ditch thy destiny Exeunt Sep. Contemn'd of all and kic kt too now I find it My valour 's fled too with mine honesty For since I would be knave I must be Coward This 't is to be a Traitor and betrayer What a deformity dwells round about me How monstrous shews that man that is ungratefull I am afraid the very beasts will tear me Inspir'd with what I have done the winds will blast me Now I am paid and my reward dwells in me The wageâ—â—f my fact my soul 's opprest Honest and noble minds you find most rest Exit SCENA III. Enter Ptolomy Achoreus Photinus Achillas Ptol. I have commanded and it shall be so A preparation I have set o' foot Worthy the friendship and the fame of Caesar My Sisters favours shall seem poor and wither'd Nay she her self trim'd up in all her beautys Compar'd to what I 'le take his eyes withall Shall be a dream Pho. Do you mean to shew the glory And wealth of Egypt Ptol. Yes and in that lustre Rome shall appear in all her famous Conquests And all her riches of no note unto it Ach. Now you are reconcil'd to your fair Sister Take heed Sir how you step into a danger A danger of this precipice but note Sir For what Rome ever rais'd her mighty armies First for ambition then for wealth 't is madness Nay more a secure impotence to tempt An armed Guest feed not an eye that conquers Nor teach a fortunate sword the way to be covetous Ptol. Ye judge amiss and far too wide to alter me Yet all be ready as I gave direction The secret way of all our wealth appearing Newly and handsomely and all about it No more disswading 't is my will Ach. I grieve for 't Ptol. I will dazel Caesar with excess of glory Pho. I fear you 'l curse your will we must obey ye Exit SCENA IV. Enter Caesar Antony Dolabella Sceva above Caesar I wonder at the glory of this Kingdom And the most bounteous preparation Still as I pass they court me with Sceva I 'le tell ye In Gaul and Germany we saw such visions And stood not to admire 'em but possess 'em When they are ours they are worth our admiration Enter Cleopatra Ant. The young Queen comes give room Caesar Welcom my dearest Come bless my side Sceva I marry here 's a wonder As she appears now I am no true Souldier If I be not readie to recant Cleo. Be merry Sir My Brother will be proud to do you honour That now appears himself Enter Ptolomy Achoreus Achillas Photinus Apollocorus Pto. Haile to great Caesar My Royal Guest first I will feast thine eyes With wealthy Aegypts store and then thy palate And wait my self upon thee Treasure brought 〈◊〉 Caesar What rich Service What mines of treasure Cleo. My Caesar What do you admire pray ye turn and let me talk to ye Have ye forgot me Sir how a new object Am I grown old o' th' sudden Caesar Caesar Tell me From whence comes all this wealth Cleo. Is your eye that way And all my Beauties banisht Ptol. I 'le tell thee Caesar We owe for all this wealth to the old Nilus We need no dropping rain to cheer the husband-man Nor Merchant that ploughs up the Sea to seek us Within the wealthy womb of reverent Nilus All this is nourish'd who to do thee honour Comes to discover his seven Deities His conceal'd heads unto thee see with pleasure Caesar The matchless wealth of this Land Cleo. Come ye shall hear me Caesar Away let me imagine Cleo. How frown on me The eyes of Caesar wrapt in storms Caesar I am sorry But let me think Musick SONG Enter Isis and three Labourers ISis the Goddess of this Land Bids thee great Caesar understand And mark our Customes and first know With greedy eyes these watch the flow Of plenteous Nilus when he comes With Songs with Daunces Timbrels Drums They entertain him cut his way And give his proud Heads leave to play Nilus himself shall rise and show His matchless wealth in Over-flow Labourers SONG COme let us help the reverend Nile He 's very old alas the while Let us dig him easie wayes And prepare a thousand Playes To delight his streams let 's sing A loud welcom to our Spring This way let his curling Heads Fall into our new made Beds This way let his wanton spawns Frisk and glide it o're the Lawns This way profit comes and gain How he tumbles here amain How his waters haste to fall Into our Channels Labour all And let him in Let Nilus flow And perpetuall plenty show With Incense let us bless the brim And as the wanton fishes swim Let us Gums and Garlands fling And loud our Timbrels ring Come old Father come away Our labour is our holy day Isis HEre comes the aged River now With Garlands of great Pearl his Brow Begirt and rounded In his Flow All things take life and all things grow A thousand wealthy Treasures still To do him service at his will Follow his rising Flood and pour Perpetuall blessings in our store Hear him and next there will advance His sacred Heads to tread a Dance In honour of my Royal Guest Mark them too and you have a Feast Cleo. A little dross betray me Caesar I am asham'd I warr'd at home my friends When such wealth may be got abroad what honour Nay everlasting glory had Rome purchas'd Had she a just cause but to visit Aegypt Nilus SONG and Dance MAke room for my rich waters fall and bless my Flood Nilus comes flowing to you all encrease and good Now the
need Cleo. Would I were prisoner To one I hate that I might anger him I will love any man to break the heart of him Any that has the heart and will to kill him Ars Take some fair truce Cleo. I will goe study mischief And put a look on arm'd with all my cunnings Shall meet him like a Basilisque and strike him Love put destroying flames into mine eyes Into my smiles deceits that I may torture him That I may make him love to death and laugh at him Enter Apollodorus Ap. Câ—sar commends his Service to your Grace Cleo. His service what 's his service Eros Pray ye be patient The noble Caesar loves still Cleo. What 's his will Ap. He craves access unto your Highnesâ— Cleo. No Say no I will have none to trouble me Ars Good Sister Cleo. None I say I will be private Would thou hadst flung me into Nilus keeper When first thou gav'st consent to bring my body To this unthankfull Câ—sar Ap. 'T was your will Madam Nay more your charge upon me as I honoured ye You know what danger I endured Cleo. Take this And carry it to that Lordly Caesar sent thee There 's a new Love a handsom one a rich one One that will hug his mind bid him make love to it Tell the ambitious Broker this will suffer Enter Caesar Ap. He enters Cleo. How Caesar I do not use to wait Lady Where I am all the dores are free and open Cleo. I ghess so by your rudeness Caesar Ye are not angry Things of your tender mold should be most gentle Why do you frown good gods what a set-anger Have you forc'd into your face Come I must temper ye What a coy smile was there and a disdainfull How like an ominous flash it broke out from ye Defend me Love Sweet who has anger'd ye Cleo. Shew him a glass that false face has betrai'd me That base heart wrought me Caesar Be more sweetly angry I wrong'd ye fair Cleo. Away with your foul flatteries They are too gross but that I dare be angry And with as great a god as Caesar is To shew how poorly I respect his memory I would not speak to ye Caesar Pray ye undoe this riddle And tell me how I have vext ye Cleo. Let me think first Whether I may put on a Patience That will with honour suffer me know I hate ye Let that begin the story Now I 'le tell ye Caesar But do it milder In a noble Lady Softness of spirit and a sober nature That moves like summer winds cool and blows sweetness Shews blessed like her self Cleo. And that great blessedness You first reap'd of me till you taught my nature Like a rude storm to talk aloud and thunder Sleep was not gentler than my soul and stiller You had the Spring of my affections And my fair fruits I gave you leave to taste of You must expect the winter of mine anger You flung me oft before the Court disgrac'd me When in the pride I appear'd of all my beauty Appear'd your Mistress took into your eyes The common-strumpet love of hated lucre Courted with covetous heart the slave of nature Gave all your thoughts to gold that men of glory And minds adorn'd with noble love would kick at Souldiers of royal mark scorn such base purchase Beauty and honour are the marks they shoot at I spake to ye then I courted ye and woo'd ye Call'd ye dear Caesar hung about ye tenderly Was proud to appear your friend Caesar You have mistaken me Cleo. But neither Eye nor Favour not a Smile Was I blessed back with but shook off rudely And as ye had been sold to sordid infamy You fell before the Images of treasure And in your soul you worship'd I stood slighted Forgotten and contemn'd my soft embraces And those sweet kisses you call'd Elyzium As letters writ in sand no more remembred The name and glory of your Cleopatra Laugh'd at and made a story to your Captains Shall I endure Caesar You are deceiv'd in all this Upon my life you are 't is your much tenderness Cleo. No no I love not that way you ar ecozen'd I love with as much ambition as a Conquerour And where I love will triumph Caesar So you shall My heart shall be the Chariot that shall bear ye All I have won shall wait upon ye By the gods The bravery of this womans mind has fired me Dear Mistress shall I but this night Cleo. How Caesar Have I let slip a second vanity That gives thee hope Caesar You shall be absolute And Reign alone as Queen you shall be any thing Cleo Make me a maid again and then I 'le hear thee Examine all thy art of War to do that And if thou find'st it possible I 'le love thee Till when farewel unthankfull Caesar Stay Cleo. I will not Caesar I command Cleo. Command and goe without Sir I do command thee be my slave for ever And vex while I laugh at thee Caesar Thus low beauty Cleo. It is too late when I have found thee absolute The man that Fame reports thee and to me May be I shall think better Farewel Conquerour Exit Caesar She mocks me too I will enjoy her Beauty I will not be deni'd I 'le force my longing Love is best pleas'd when roundly we compel him And as he is imperious so will I be Stay fool and be advis'd that dulls the appetite Takes off the strength and sweetness of delight By Heaven she is a miracle I must use A handsom way to win how now what fear Dwells in your faces you look all distracted Enter Sceva Anthony Dolabella Sceva If it be fear 't is fear of your undoing Not of our selves fear of your poor declining Our lives and deaths are equall benefits And we make louder prayers to dye nobly Than to live high and wantonly whilst you are secure here And offer Hecatombs of lazie kisses To the lewd god of love and cowardize And most lasciciously dye in delights You are begirt with the fierce Alexandrians Dol. The spawn of Egypt flow about your Palace Arm'd all and ready to assault Ant. Led on By the false and base Photinus and his Ministers No stirring out no peeping through a loop-hole But straight saluted with an armed Dart. Sce. No parley they are deaf to all but danger They swear they will fley us and then dry our Quarters A raâ—her of a salt lover is such a Shooing-horn Can you kiss away this conspiracy and set us free Or will the Giant god of love fight for ye Will his fierce war-like bow kill a Cock-sparrow Bring out the Lady she can quel this mutiny And with her powerfull looks strike awe into them Sâ—e can destroy and build again the City Your Goddesses have mighty gifts shew 'em her fair brests The impregnable Bulworks of proud Love and let 'em Begin their battery there she will laugh at 'em They are not above a hundred thousand Sir A mist a
mist that when her Eyes break out Her powerfull radiant eyes and shake their flashes Will flye before her heats Caesar Begirt with Villains Sce. They come to play you and your Love a Huntsup You were told what this same whorson wenching long agoe would come to You are taken napping now has not a Souldier A time to kiss his friend and a time to consider But he must lye still digging like a Pioneer Making of mines and burying of his honour there 'T were good you would think Dol. And time too or you will find else A harder task than Courting a coy Beauty Ant. Look out and then believe Sce. No no hang danger Take me provoking broth and then goe to her Goe to your Love and let her feel your valour Charge her whole body when the sword 's in your throat Sir You may cry Caesar and see if that will help ye Caesar I 'le be my self again and meet their furies Meet and consume their mischiefs make some shift Sceva To recover the Fleet and bring me up two Legions And you shall see me how I 'le break like thunder Amongst these beds of slimy Eeles and scatter ' em Sce. Now ye speak sense I 'le put my life to the hazard Before I goe No more of this warm Lady She will spoil your sword-hand Caesar Goe come let 's to Counsel How to prevent and then to execute SCENA III. Enter Souldiers 1 Sold. Did ye see this Penitence 2 Sold. Yes I saw and heard it 3 Sold. And I too look'd upon him and observ'd it He 's the strangest Septinius now 1 Sold. I heard he was altered And had given away his Gold to honest uses Cry'd monstrously 2 Sold. He cryes abundantly He is blind almost with weeping 3 Sold. 'T is most wonderfull That a hard hearted man and an old Souldier Should have so much kind moisture when his Mother dy'd He laugh'd aloud and made the wickedst Ballads 1 Sold. 'T is like enough he never lov'd his Parents Nor can I blame him for they ne'r lov'd him His Mother dream'd before she was deliver'd That she was brought abed with a Buzzard and ever after She whistl'd him up to th' world his brave clothes too He has flung away and goes like one of us now Walks with his hands in 's pockets poor and sorrowfull And gives the best instructions 2 Sold. And tells stories Of honest and good people that were honour'd And how they were remembred and runs mad If he but hear of any ungratefull person A bloudy or betraying man 3 Sold. If it be possible That an Arch-Villain may ever be recovered This penitent Rascal will put hard 't were worth our labour To see him once again Enter Septinius 1 Sold. He spares us that labour For here he comes Sep. Bless ye my honest friends Bless ye from base unworthy men come not near me For I am yet too taking for your company 1 Sold. Did I not tell ye 2 Sold. What book 's that 1 Sold. No doubt Some excellent Salve for a sore heart are you Septinius that base knave that betray'd Pompey Sep I was and am unless your honest thoughts Will look upon my penitence and save me I must be â—ver Villain O good Souldiers You that have Roman hearts take heed of falsehood Take heed of blood take heed of soul ingratitude The Gods have scarce a mercy for those mischiefs Take heed of pride 't was that that brought me to it 1 Sol. This fellow would make a rare speech at the gallows 2 Sol. 'T is very fit he were hang'd to edifie us Sep. Let all your thoughts be humble and obedient Love your Commanders honour them that seed ye Pray that ye may be strong in honesty As in the use of arms Labour and diligently To keep your hearts from ease and her base issues Pride and ambitious wantonness those spoil'd me Rather lose all your limbs than the least honesty You are never lame indeed till loss of credit Benumb ye through Scarrs and those maims of honour Are memorable crutches that shall bear When you are dead your noble names to Eternity 1 Sol. I cry 2 Sol. And so do I. 3 Sol. An excellent villain 1 Sol. A more sweet pious knave I never heard yet 2 Sol. He was happie he was Rascal to come to this Enter Achoreus Who 's this a Priest Sep. O stay most holy Sir And by the Gods of Egypt I conjure ye Isis and great Osiris pity me Pity a loaden man and tell me truly With what most humble Sacrifice I may Wash off my sin and appease the powers that hate me Take from my heart those thousand thousand furies That restless gnaw upon my life and save me Orestes bloody hands fell on his Mother Yet at the holy altar he was pardon'd Ach. Orestes out of madness did his murther And therefore he found grace thou worst of all men Out of cold blood and hope of gain base lucre Slew'st thine own Feeder come not near the altar Nor with thy reeking hands pollute the Sacrifice Thou art markt for shame eternal Exit Sep. Look all on me And let me be a story left to time Of blood and Infamy how base and ugly Ingratitude appears with all her profits How monstrous my hop'd grace at Court good souldiers Let neither flattery nor the witching sound Of high and soft preferment touch your goodness To be valiant old and honest O what blessedness 1 Sold. Dost thou want any thing Sep. Nothing but your prayers 2 Sol. Be thus and let the blind Priest do his worst We have gods as well as they and they will hear us 3 Sol. Come cry no more thou hast wep't out twenty Pompeys Enter Photinus Achillas Pho. So penitent Achil. It seems so Pho. Yet for all this We must employ him 1 Sol. These are the arm'd Souldier leaders Away and let 's toth ' Fort we shall be snapt else Exeunt Pho. How now why thus what cause of this dejection Achil. Why dost thou weep Sep. Pray leave me you have ruin'd me You have made me a famous Villain Pho. Does that touch thee Achil. He will be hard to win he feels his lewdness Pho. He must be won or we shall want our right hand This fellow dares and knows and must be heartned Art thou so poor to blench at what thou hast done Is Conscience a comrade for an old Soldier Achil. It is not that it may be some disgrace That he takes heavily and would be cherish'd Septinius ever scorn'd to shew such weakness Sep. Let me alone I am not for your purpose I am now a new man Pho. We have new affairs for thee Those that would raise thy head Sep. I would 't were off And in your bellies for the love you bear me I 'le be no more Knave I have stings enough Already in my breast Pho. Thou shalt be noble And who dares think then that thou art not honest Achil. Thou shalt command in Chief all our
the Sack of Neighbour Cities not made hers Till they were Cemented with the Blood of those That did possess 'em Caesar Ptolomy Now I am steel'd to me are empty names Esteem'd as Pompeys was Pho. Well said Septinius Thou now art right again Achil. But what course take we For the Princess Cleopatra Pho. Let her live A while to make us sport she shall authorize Our undertakings to the ignorant people As if what we do were by her command But our triumvirat Government once confirm'd She bears her Brother company that 's my Province Leave me to work her Achil. I will undertake For Ptolomy Sep. Caesar shall be my task And as in Pompey I began a name I 'le perfect it in Caesar Enter above Caesar Ptolomy Achoreus Apollodorus Antony Dolabella Pho. 'T is resolv'd then We 'll force our passage Achil. See they do appear As they desir'd a Parley Pho. I am proud yet I have brought 'em to capitulate Ptol. Now Photinus Pho. Now Ptolomy Ptol. No addition Pho. We are equal Though Caesars name were put into the scale In which our worth is weigh'd Câ—s Presumptuous Villain Upon what grounds hast thou presum'd to raise Thy servile hand against the King or me That have a greater name Pho. On those by which Thou didst presume to pass the Rubicon Against the Laws of Rome and at the name Of Traitor smile as thou didst when Marcellus The Consul with the Senates full consent Pronounc'd thee for an Enemy to thy Country Yet thou wentst on and thy rebellious Cause Was crown'd with fair success Why should we fear then Think on that Caesar Caes O the gods be brav'd thus And be compell'd to bear this from a Slave That would not brook Great Pompey his Superiour Achil. Thy glories now have toucht the highest point And must descend Pho. Despair and think we stand The Champions of Rome to wreak her wrongs Upon whose liberty thou hast set thy foot Sept. And that the Ghosts of all those noble Romans That by thy Sword fell in this Civil War Expect revenge Ant. Dar'st thou speak and remember There was a Pompey Pho. There is no hope to ' scape us If that against the odds we have upon you You dare come forth and fight receive the honour To dye like Romans if ye faint resolve To starve like Wretches I disdain to change Another syllable with you Exeunt Ant. Let us dye nobly And rather fall upon each others Sword Than come into these Villains hands Caes That Fortune Which to this hour hath been a Friend to Caesar Though for a while she cloath her Brow with frowns Will smile again upon me who will pay her Or sacrifice or Vows if she forsake Her best of works in me or suffer him Whom with a strong hand she hath led triumphant Through the whole western world and Rome acknowledg'd Her Soveraign Lord to end in gloriously A life admir'd by all The threatned danger Must by a way more horrid be avoided And I will run the hazard Fire the Palace And the rich Magazines that neighbour it In which the Wealth of Egypt is contain'd Start not it shall be so that while the people Labour in quenching the ensuing flames Like Caesar with this handful of my friends Through Fire and Swords I force a passage to My conquering Legions King if thou dar'd follow VVhere Caesar leads or live or dye a Free man If not stay here a Bond man to thy Slave And dead he thought unworthy of a Grave Exeunt SCENE III. Enter Septimius Sept. I feel my resolution melts again And that I am not Knave alone but fool In all my purposes The Devil Photinus Employs me as a Property and grown useless Will shake me off again he told me so When I kill'd Pompey nor can I hope better When Caesar is dispatch'd Services done For such as only study their own ends Too great to be rewarded are return'd With deadly hate I learn'd this Principle In his own School yet still he fools me well And yet he trusts me Since I in my nature Was fashion'd to be false wherefore should I That kill'd my General and a Roman one To whom I ow'd all nourishments of life Be true to an Egyptian To save Caesar And turn Photinus's plots on his own head As it is in my power redeem my credit And live to lye and swear again in fashion Oh 't were a master-piece ha me Caesar How 's he got off Enter Caesar Ptolomy Antony Dolabella Achoreus Apollodorus Souldiers Caes The fire has took And shews the City like a second Troy The Navy too is scorch'd the people greedy To save their Wealth and Houses whilst their Souldiers Make spoil of all only Achillas's Troops Make good their Guard break through them we are safe I 'll lead you like a Thunder-bolt Sept. Stay Caesar Caes Who 's this the Dog Septimius Ant. Cut his throat Dol. You bark'd but now fawn you so soon Sept. O hear me What I 'll deliver is for Caesars safety For all your good Ant. Good from a mouth like thine That never belch'd but blasphemy and treason on Fesâ—â—â— days Sept. I am an altered man altered indeed And will give you cause to say I am a Roman Dol. Rogue I grant thee Sept. Trust me I 'll make the passage smooth and easie For your escape Ant. I 'll trust the Devil sooner And make a safer Bargain Sept. I am trusted With all Photinus's secrets Ant. There 's no doubt then Thou wilt be false Sept. Still to be true to you Dol. And very likely Caes Be brief the means Sept. Thus Caesar To me alone but bound by terrible oaths Not to discover it he hath reveal'd A dismal Vault whose dreadful mouth does open A mile beyond the City in this Cave Lye but two hours conceal'd Ant. If you believe him He 'll bury us alive Dol. I 'll flye in the Air first Sept. Then in the dead of night I 'll bring you back Into a private room where you shall find Photinus and Achillas and the rest Of their Commanders close at Council Caes Good what follows Sept. Fall me fairly on their throats Their heads cut off and shorn the multitude Will easily disperse Caes O Devil away with him Not true to Friend nor Enemy Caesar scorns To find his safety or revenge his wrongs So base a way or owe the means of life To such a leprous Traytor I have towr'd For Victory like a Faulcon in the Clouds Nor dig'd for 't like a Mole our Swords and Cause Make way for us and that it may appear We took a noble Course and hate base Treason Some Souldiers that would merit Caesar's favour Hang him on yonder Turret and then follow The lane this Sword makes for you Exit 1 Sold. Here 's a Belt Though I dye for it I 'll use it 2 Sold. 'T is too good To truss a Cur in Sept. Save me here 's Gold 1 Sold. If Rome Were offered for thy ransom
against me Aecius Gods defend Sir And for their censures they are such shrew'd Judgers A donative of ten Sestertias I 'll undertake shall make 'em ring your praises More than they sang your pleasures Emp. I believe thee Art thou in love Aecius yet Aecius O no Sir I am too course for Ladies my embraces That only am acquainted with Alarms Would break their tender Bodies Emp. Never fear it They are stronger than ye think they 'll hold the Hammer My Empress swears thou art a lusty Souldier A good one I believe thee Aecius All that goodness Is but your Graces Creature Emp Tell me truly Foâ—â—ou dar'st tell me Aecâ—uâ— Any thing concerns ye Thaâ—'s fit for me to speak and you to pardon Emp What say the Souldiers of me and the same words Minâ—â—â—m not good Aecius but deliver The very forms and tongues they talk withal Aecius I 'll tell your Grace but with this caution You be not stir'd for should the gods live with us Even those we certainly believe are righteous Give 'em but drink they would censure them too Emp. Forward Aecius Then to begin they say you sleep too much By which they judge your Majesty too sensual Apt to decline your strength to ease and pleasures And when you do not sleep you drink too much From which they fear suspicions first then ruines And when ye neither drink nor sleep ye wench much Which they affirm first breaks your understanding Then takes the edge of Honour makes us seem That are the ribs and rampires of the Empire Fencers and beaten Fools and so regarded But I believe 'em not for were these truths Your vertue can correct them Emp They speak plainly Aâ—c They say moreover since your Grace will have it For they will talk their freedoms though the Sword Were in their throat that of late time like Nero And with the same forgetfulness of glory You have got a vein of fidling so they term it Emp. Some drunken dreams Aecius Aecius So I hope Sir And that you rather study cruelty And to be fear'd for blood than lov'd for bounty Which makes the Nations as they say despise ye Telling your years and actions by their deaths Whose truth and strength of duty made you Caesar They say besides you nourish strange devourers â—ed with the fat o' th' Empire they call Bawds Lazie and lustful Creatures that abuse ye A â—eople as they term 'em made of paper In which the secret sins of each man's monies Are seal'd and sent a working â—mp What sin 's next For I perceive they have no mind to spare me Aecius Nor hurt you o' my soul Sir but such People Nor can the power of man restrain it When they are full of meat and ease must prattle Emp. Forward Aecius I have spoken too much Sir Emp. I 'll have all Aecius It fits not Your ears should hear their Vanities no profit Can justly rise to you from their behaviour Unless ye were guilty of those crimes Emp. It may be I am so therefore forward Aecius I have ever Learn'd to obey nor shall my life resist it Emp No more Apologies Aecius They grieve besides Sir To see the Nations whom our ancient Vertue With many a weary march and hunger conquer'd With loss of many a daring life subdu'd Fall from their fair obedience and even murmur To see the warlike Eagles mew their honours In obscure Towns that wont to prey on Princes They cry for Enemies and tell the Captains The fruits of Italy are luscious give us Egypt Or sandy Africk to display our valours There where our Swords may make us meat and danger Digest our well got Vyands here our weapons And bodies that were made for shining brass Are both unedg'd and old with ease and women And then they cry again where are the Germans Lin'd with hot Spain oâ— Gallia bring 'em on And let the Son of War steel'd Mithridates Lead up his winged Parthians like a storm Hiding the face of Heaven with showrs of Arrows Yet we dare fight like Romans then as Souldiers Tir'd with a weary march they tell their wounds Even weeping ripe they were no more nor deeper And glory in those scars that make them lovely And sitting where a Camp was like sad Pilgrims They reckon up the times and living labours Of Julius or Germanicus and wonder That Rome whose Turrets once were topt with Honours Can now forget the Custom of her Conquests And then they blame your Grace and say Who leads us Shall we stand here like Statues were our Fathers The Sons of lazie Moors our Princes Persians Nothing but silks and softness Curses on 'em That first taught Nero wantonness and blood Tiberius doubts Caligula all vices For from the spring of these succeeding Princes Thus they talk Sir Emp. Well Wâ—y do you hear these things Aecius Why do you do ' em I take the gods to witness with more sorrow And more vexation do I hear these tainters Than were my life dropt from me through an hour glass Emp. Belike then you believe 'em or at least Are glad they should be so take heed you were better Build your own Tomb and run into it living Than dare a Princes anger Aecius I am old Sir And ten years more addition is but nothing Now if my life be pleasing to ye take it Upon my knees if ever any service As let 〈◊〉 â—ag some have been worthy notice If evâ— anâ— woâ—th oâ— trust ye gave me Deserv d a word â—pect if all my actions The haâ— of my youth colds burnings wants For you and â—or the Empire be not vices By that stilâ— ye havâ— stampt upon me Souldier Let me not faâ—l into the hands of Wretches Emp. I understand you not Aecius Let not this body That has look'd bravely in his blood for Caesar And covâ—tous of wounds and for your safety After thâ—â—â—eape of Swords Spears Slings and Arrows ' Gainst which my beaten body was mine armour The Seas and thirsty Desarts now be purchase For Slavâ—s and base Informers I see anger And death look through your Eyes I am markt for slaughter And know the telling of this truth has made me A man clean lost to thiâ— World I embrace it Only my last Pâ—tition sacred Caesar Is I may dye a Roman Emp. Rise my friend still And worthy of my love reclaim the Souldier I 'll study to do so upon my self too Go keep your Command and prosper Aecius Lifâ— to Caesar Exit Aecius Enter Chilax Chi. Lord Maximus attends your Grace Emp. Go tell him I 'll meet him in the Gallery The honesty of this Aecius Who is indeed the Bull-wark of the Empire Has div'd so deep into me that of all The sins I covet but this Womans beauty With much repentance now I could be quit of But she is sucâ— a pleasure being good That though I were a god she 'd fire my blood Exeunt Actus Secundus Scena Prima Enter the Emperour Maximus Licinius Proculus Chilax
with grief already Aeci. To draw from that wild man a sweet repentance And goodness in his days to come Max. They are so And will be ever coming my Aecius Aecius For who knows but the sight of you presenting His swoln sins at the full and your fair vertues May like a fearful Vision fright his follies And once more bend him â—ight again which blessing If your dark wrongs would give you leave to read Is more than death and the reward more glorious Death only â—asâ— you this the whole Empire Besides compell'd and forc'd with violence To what ye have done the deed is none of yours No noâ— the justice neither ye may live And still a worthier Woman still more honoured For are those trees the worse we tear the fruits from Or should the eternal gods desire to perish Because we daily violate their truths Which is the Chastity of Heaven No Lady If ye dare live ye may and as our sins Make them more full of equity and justice So this compulsive wrong makes you more perfect The Empire too will bless you Max. Noble Sir If she were any thing to me but honour And that that 's wedded 〈◊〉 too laid in Not to be worn away without my being Or could the wrongs be hers alone or mine Or both our wrongs not ty'd to after issues Not boâ—â— anew in all our names and kindreds I would desire her live nay more compel her But since it was not Youth but Malice did it And not her own nor mine but both our losses Nor stays it there but that our names must find it Even those to come and when they read she liv'd Must they not ask how often she was ravish'd And make a doubt she lov'd that more than Wedlock Therefore she must not live Aecius Therefore she must live To teach the world such deaths are superstitious Luc. The tongues of Angels cannot alter me For could the World again restore my Credit As fair and absolute as first I bred it That world I should not trust again The Empire By my life can get nothing but my story Which whilst I breath must be but his abuses And where ye counsel me to live that Caesar May see his errours and repent I 'll tell ye His penitence is but encrease of pleasures His prayers never said but to deceive us And when he weeps as you think for his Vices 'T is but as killing drops from baleful Yew-Trees That rot their honest Neighbour If he can grieve As one that yet desires his free Conversion And almost glories in his penitence I 'll leave him Robes to mourn in my sad ashes Aecius The farewels then of happy souls be with thee And to thy memory be ever sung The praises of a just and constant Lady This sad day whilst I live a Souldiers tears I 'll offer on thy Monument and bring Full of thy noble self with tears untold yet Many a worthy Wife to weep thy ruine Max. All that is chaste upon thy Tomb shall flourish All living Epitaphs be thine Time Story And what is left behind to piece our lives Shall be no more abus'd with tales and trifles But full of thee stand to eternity Aeci. Once more farewel go find Elyzium There where the happy Souls are crown'd with Blessings There where 't is ever Spring and ever Summer Max. There where no bedrid justice comes truth honour Are keepers of that blessed Place go thither For here thou liv'st chaste Fire in rotten Timber Aecius And so our last farewels Max. Gods give thee Justice Exit Lucina Aecius His thoughts begin to work I fear him yet He ever was a noble Roman but I know not what to think on 't he hath suffered Beyond a man if he stand this Max. Aecius Am I alive or has a dead sleep seiz'd me It was my Wife the Emperour abus'd thus And I must say I am glad I had her for him Must I not my Aecius Aecius I am stricken With such a stiff amazement that no answer Can readily come from me nor no comfort Will ye go home or go to my house Max. Neither I have no home and you are mad Aecius To keep me company I am a fellow My own Sword would forsake not tyed unto me A Pander is a Prince to what I am faln I dare do nothing Aecius Ye do better Max. I am made a branded Slave Aecius And yet I bless the Maker Death o' my Soul must I endure this tamely Must Maximus be mention'd for his tales I am a Child too what should I do railing I cannot mend my self 't is Caesar did it And what am I to him Aecius 'T is well consider'd However you are tainted be no Traitor Time may outwear the first the last lives ever Max. O that thou wert not living and my friend Aecius I 'll bear a wary Eye upon your actions I fear ye Maximus nor can I blame thee If thou break'st out for by the gods thy wrong Deserves a general ruine do ye love me Max. That 's all I have to live on Aecius Then go with me Ye shall not to your own house Max. Nor to any My griefs are greater far than Walls can compass And yet I wonder how it happens with me I am not dangerous and o' my Conscience Should I now see the Emperour i' th heat on 't I should not chide him for 't an awe runs through me I feel it sensibly that binds me to it 'T is at my heart now there it sits and rules And methinks 't is a pleasure to obey it Aecius ' This is a mask to cozen me I know ye And how far ye dare do no Roman farther Nor with more fearless Valour and I 'll watch ye Keep that obedience still Max. Is a Wifes loss For her abuse much good may do his Grace I 'll make as bold with his Wife if I can More than the fading of a few fresh colours More than a lusty spring lost Aecius No more Maximus To one that truly lives Max. Why then I care not I can live well enough Aecius For look you friend for vertue and those trifles They may be bought they say Aecius He 's craz'd a little His grief has made him talk things from his Nature Max. But Chastity is not a thing I take it To get in Rome unless it be bespoken A hundred years before Is it Aecius By 't Lady and well handled too i' th' breeding Aecius Will ye go any way Max. I 'll tell thee friend If my Wife for all this should be a Whore now A kind of Kicker out of sheets 't would vex me For I am not angry yet the Emperour Is young and handsome and the Woman Flesh And may not these two couple without scratching Aecius Alas my noble friend Max. Alas not me I am not wretched for there 's no man miserable But he that makes himself so Aecius Will ye walk yet Max. Come come she dare not dye friend that
Though ambition Be the last sin he touches at or never Yet what the people mad with loving him And as they willingly desire another May tempt him to or rather force his goodness Is to be doubted mainly he is all As he stands now but the meer name of Caesar And should the Emperour inforce him lesser Not coming from himself it were more dangerous He is honest and will hear you doubts are scatter'd And almost come to growth in every houshold Yet in my foolish judgment were this master'd The people that are now but rage and his Might be again obedience you shall know me When Rome is fair again till when I love you No name this may be cunning yet it seems not For there is nothing in it but is certain Besides my safety Had not good Germanicus That was as loyal and as straight as he is If not prevented by Tiberius Been by the Souldiers forc'd their Emperour He had and 't is my wisdom to remember it And was not Corbulo even that Corbulo That ever fortunate and living Roman That broke the heart-strings of the Parthians And brought Arsaces line upon their knees Chain'd to the awe of Rome because he was thought And but in wine once fit to make a Caesar Cut off by Nero I must seek my safety For 't is the same again if not beyond it I know the Souldier loves him more than Heaven And will adventure all his gods to raise him Me he hates more than peace what this may breed If dull security and confidence Let him grow up a fool may find and laught at But why Lord Maximus I injur'd so Should be the man to counsel him I know not More than he has been friend and lov'd allegeance What now he is I fear for his abuses Without the people dare draw blood who waits there Enter a Servant Ser. Your Grace Emp. Call Phidias and Aretus hither I 'le find a day for him too times are dangerous The Army his the Emperour in doubts I find it is too true did he not tell me 1. As if he had intent to make me odious 2. And to my face and by a way of terror What vices I was grounded in and almost Proclaim'd the Souldiers hate against me is not The sacred name and dignity of Caesar Were this Aecius more than man sufficient To shake off all his honesty He 's dangerous Though he be good and though a friend a fear'd one And such I must not sleep by are they come yet I do believe this fellow and I thank him 'T was time to look about if I must perish Yet shall my fears go formost Enter Phidias and Aretus Phi. Life to Caesar Emp. Is Lord Aecius waiting Phi. Not this morning I rather think he 's with the Army Emp. Army I do not like that Army go unto him And bid him straight attend me and do ye hear Come private without any I have business Only for him Phi. Your Graces pleasure Exit Phidias Emp. Go What Souldier is the same I have seen him often That keeps you company Aretus Are. Me Sir Emp. I you Sir Are. One they call Pontius And 't please your Grace Emp. A Captain Are. Yes he was so But speaking something roughly in his want Especially of Wars the Noble General Out of strict allegiance call his fortunes Emp. H 'as been a valiant fellow Are. So he 's still Emp. Alas the General might have pardon'd follies Souldiers will talk sometimes Are. I am glad of this Emp. He wants preferment as I take it Are. Yes Sir And for that noble Grace his life shall serve Emp. I have a service for him I shame a Souldier should become a Begger I like the man Aretus Are. Gods protect ye Emp. Bid him repair to Proculus and there He shall receive the business and reward for 't I 'le see him setled too and as a Souldier We shall want such Are. The sweets of Heaven still crown ye Emp. I have a fearful darkness in my soul And till I be deliver'd still am dying Exeunt SCENE II. Enter Maximus alone Max. My way has taken all the Court 's in guard And business every where and every corner Full of strange whispers I am least in rumour Enter Aecius and Phidias And so I 'le keep my self Here comes Aecius I see the bait is swallow'd If he be lost He is my Martyr and my way stands open And honour on thy head his blood is reckon'd Aec. Why how now friend what makes ye here unarm'd Are ye turn'd Merchant Max. By your fair perswasions And such a Merchant trafficks without danger I have forgotten all Aecius And which is more forgiven Aeci. Now I love ye Truly I do ye are a worthy Roman Max. The fâ—â—r repentance of my Prince to me Is more than sacrifice of bloud and vengeance No eyes shall weep her ruins but mine own Aeci. Still ye take more love from mâ— vertuous friend The gods make poor Aecius worthy of thee Max. only in me y' are poor Sir and I wo thy Only in being yours But why your arm thus Have ye been hurt Aecius Aeci. Bruis'd a little My horse fell with me friend which till this morning I never knew him do Max. Pray gods it boâ—d well And now I think on 't better ye shall back Let my perswasions rule ye Aeci. Back why Maximus The Emperour commands me come Max. I like not At this time his command Aeci. I do at all times And all times will obey it why not now then Max. I 'le tell ye why and as I have been govern'd Be you so noble friend The Court 's in Guard Arm'd strongly for what purpose let me fear I do not like your going Aeci. Were it fire And that fire certain to consume this body If Caesar sent I would goe never fear man If he take me he takes his arms away I am too plain and true to be suspected Max. Then I have dealt unwisely Aeci. If the Emperour Because he meerely may will have my life That 's all he has to work on and all shall have Let him he loves me better here I wither And happily may live till ignorantly I run into a fault worth death nay more dishonour Now all my sins I dare say those of duty Are printed here and if I fall so happy I bless the grave I lye in and the gods Equal as dying on the Enemy Must take me up a Sacrifice Max. Goe on then And I 'le goe with ye Aeci. No ye may not friend Max. He cannot be a friend bars me Aecius Shall I forsake ye in my doubts Aeci. Ye must Max. I must not nor I will not have I liv'd Only to be a Carpet friend for pleasure I can endure a death as well as Cato Aeci. There is no death nor danger in my going Nor none must goe along Max. I have a sword too And once I could have us'd it for my friend Aeci. I need no sword noâ—
Heaven in Pon. A farewel Good noble General your hand forgive me And think what ever was displeasing you Was none of mine ye cannot live Aeci. I will not Yet one word more Pon. Dye nobly Rome farewel And Valentinian fall thou hast broke thy Basis In joy ye have given me a quiet death he dyes I would strike more wounds if I had more breath Aeci. Is there an hour of goodness beyond this Or any man would out-live such a dying Would Caesar double all my honours on me And stick me o're with favours like a Mistris Yet would I grow to this man I have loved But never doated on a face till now O death thou art more than beautie and thy pleasure Beyond posterity Come friends and kill me Caesar be kind and send a thousand swords The more the greater is my fall why stay ye Come and I 'le kiss your weapons fear me not By all the gods I 'le honour ye for killing Appear or through the Court and world I 'le search ye My sword is gone ye are Traitors if ye spare me And Caesar must consume ye all base cowards I 'le follow ye and e're I dye proclaim ye The weeds of Italy the dross of nature Where are ye villains traytors slaves Exit Enter Proculus and 3 others running over the Stage Pro. I knew H 'ad kill'd the Captain 1. Here 's his swâ— Pro. Let it alonâ— I will fight it self else friends An hundred mâ—n 〈◊〉 not enough to do it I 'le to the Emperour and get more aid Aeci. None strike a poor condemned man Pro. He is mad Shift for your selves my Masters Exeunt Enter Aecius Aecius Then Aecius See what thou darst thy self hold my good sword Thou hast been kept from bloud too long I 'le kiss thee For thou art more then friend now my preserver Shew me the way to happiness I seek it And all you great ones that have faln as I do To keep your memories and honours living Be present in your vertues and assist me That like strong Cato I may put away All promises but what shall crown my ashes Rome fare thee well stand long and know to conquer Whilst there is people and ambition Now for a stroak shall turn me to a Star I come ye blessed spirits make me room To live for ever in Elyzium Do men fear this O that posterity Could learn from him but this that loves his wound There is no pain at all in dying well kills himself Nor none are lost but those that make their hell Enter Proculus and two others 1 Within He 's dead draw in the Guard again Pro. He 's dead indeed And I am glad he 's gone he was a Devil His body if his Eunuchs come is theirs The Emperour out of his love to vertue Exeunt Has given 'em that Let no man stop their entrance Enter Phidiâ—s and Aretus Phi. O my most noble Lord look here Aretus Here 's a sad sight Aret. O cruelty O Caesar O times that bring forth nothing but destruction And oversows of bloud why wast thou kill'd Is it to be a just man now again As when Tiberius and wild Nero reign'd Only assurance of his over throw Phil. It is Aretus he that would live now Must like the Toad feed only on corruptions And grow with those to greatness honest vertue And the true Roman honour faith and valour That have been all the riches of the â—mpire Now like the fâ—arfull tokens of the Plague Are meer fore-runners of their ends that owe ' em Are. Never enough lamented Lord dear Master Enter Maximus Of whom now shall we learn to live like men From whom draw out our actions just and worthy Oh thou art gone and gone with thee all goodness The great example of all equitie O thou alone a Roman thou art perish'd Faith fortitude and constant nobleness Weep Rome weep Italy weep all that knew him And you that fear'd him as a noble Foe If Enemies have honourable tears Weep this decay'd Aecius faln and scattered By foul and base suggestion Pho. O Lord Maximus This was your worthy friend Max. The gods forgive me Think not the worse my friends I shed not tears Great griefs lament within yet now I have found 'em Would I had never known the world nor women Nor what that cursed name of honour was So this were once again Aecius But I am destin'd to a mighty action And begg my pardon friend my vengeance taken I will not be long from thee ye have a great loss But bear it patiently yet to say truth In justice 't is not sufferable I am next And were it now I would be glad on 't friends Who shall preserve you now Are. Nay we are lost too Max. I fear ye are for likely such as love The man that 's faln and have been nourish'd by him Do not stay long behind 'T is held no wisdom I know what I must do O my Aecius Canst thou thus perish pluckt up by the roots And no man feel thy worthiness From boys He bred you both I think Phi. And from the poorest Max. And lov'd ye as his own Are. We found it Sir Max. Is not this a loss then Phi. O a loss of losses Our lives and ruines of our families The utter being nothing of our names Were nothing near it Max. As I take it too He put ye to the Emperour Are. He did so Max. And kept ye still in credit Phi. 'T is most true Sir Max. He fed your Fathers too and made them means Your Sisters he prefer'd to noble Wedlocks Did he not friends Are. Oh yes Sir Max. As I take it This worthy man would not be now forgotten I tell ye to my grief he was basely murdred And something would be done by those that lov'd him And something may be pray stand off a little Let me bewail him private O my dearest Phi. Aretus if we be not sudden he outdoes us I know he points at venegance we are cold And base ungratefull wretches if we shun it Are we to hope for more rewards or greatness Or any thing but death now he is dead Dar'st thou resolve Are. I am perfect Phi. Then like flowers That grew together all we 'l fall together And with us that that bore us when 't is done The world shall stile us two deserving servants I fear he will be before us Are. This night Phidias Phi. No more Max. Now worthy friends I have done my mournings Let 's burn this noble body Sweets as many As sun-burnt Meroe breeds I 'le make a flame of Shall reach his soul in Heaven he that shall live Ten ages hence but to reherse this story Shall with the sad discourse on 't darken Heaven And force the painful burdens from the wombs Conceiv'd a new with sorrow even the Grave Where mighty Sylla sleeps shall rend asunder And give her shadow up to come and groan About our piles which will be more and greater Than green
cursed villain Are. O brave villain My poyson dances in me at this deed Now Caesar now behold me this is torment And this is thine before thou diest I am wildfire The brazen Bull of Phalaris was feign'd The miseries of souls despising Heaven But Emblems of my torments Emp. Oh quench me quench me quench me Are. Fire a flattery And all the Poets tales of sad Avernus To my pains less than fictions Yet to shew thee What constant love I bore my murdred master Like a Southwind I have sung through all these tempests My heart my wither'd heart fear fear thou Monster Fear the just gods I have my peace He dies Emp. More drink A thousand April showres fall in my bosom How dare ye let me be tormented thus Away with that prodigious body gods Gods let me ask ye what I am ye lay All your inflictions on me hear me hear me I do confess I am a ravisher A murderer a hated Caesar oh Are there not vows enough and flaming altars The fat of all the world for sacrifice And where that fails the blood of thousand captives To purge those sins but I must make the incense I do despise ye all ye have no mercy And wanting that ye are no Gods your paroll Is only preach'd abroad to make Fools fearfull And women made of awe believe your heaven Oh torments torments torments pains above pains If ye be any thing but dreams and ghosts And truly hold the guidance of things mortal Have in your selves times past to come and present Fashion the souls of men and make flesh for 'em Weighing our fates and fortunes beyond reason Be more than all the Gods great in forgiveness Break not the goodly frame ye build in anger For you are things men teach us without passions Give me an hour to know ye in Oh save me But so much perfect time ye make a soul in Take this destruction from me no ye cannot The more I would believe ye more I suffer My brains are ashes now my heart my eyes friends I goe I goe more air more air I am mortal He dyes Pro. Take in the body oh Licinius The misery that we are left to suffer No pity shall find us Lici Our lives deserve none Would I were chain'd again to slavery With any hope of life Pro. A quiet grave Or a consumption now Licinius That we might be too poor to kill were something Lici Let 's make our best use we have mony Proculus And if that cannot save us we have swords Pro. Yes but we dare not dye Lici I had forgot that There 's other countries then Pro. But the same hate still Of what we are Lici Think any thing I 'le follow Enter a Messenger Pro. How now what news Mess Shift for your selves ye are lost else The Souldier is in arms for great Aecius And their Lieutenant general that stopt 'em Cut in a thousand pieces they march hither Beside the women of the Town have murder'd Phorba and loose Ardelia Caesar's she-Bawds Lici Then here 's no staying Proculus Pro. O Caesar That we had never known thy lusts Let 's fly And where we find no womans man let 's dye SCENA III. Enter Maximus Max. Gods what a sluce of blood have I let open My happy ends are come to birth he 's dead And I reveng'd the Empire 's all a fire And desolation every where inhabits And shall I live that am the author of it To know Rome from the awe o' th' world the pity My friends are gone before too of my sending And shall I stay is ought else to be liv'd for Is there an other friend another wife Or any third holds half their worthiness To linger here alive for Is not vertue In their two everlasting souls departed And in their bodies first flame fled to heaven Can any man discover this and love me For though my justice were as white as truth My way was crooked to it that condemns me And now Aecius and my honored Lady That were preparers to my rest and quiet The lines to lead me to Elyzium You that but stept before me on assurance I would not leave your friendship unrewarded First smile upon the sacrifice I have sent ye Then see me coming boldly stay I am foolish Somewhat too suddain to mine own destruction This great end of my vengance may grow greater Why may not I be Caesar Yet no dying Why should not I catch at it fools and children Have had that strength before me and obtain'd it And as the danger stands my reason bids me I will I dare my dear friends pardon me I am not fit to dye yet if not Caesar I am sure the Souldier loves me and the people And I will forward and as goodly Cedars Rent from Oeta by a sweeping tempest Jointed again and made tall masts defie Those angry winds that split 'em so will I New piece again above the fate of women And made more perfect far than growing private Stand and defie bad fortunes If I rise My wife was ravish'd well If then I fall My great attempt honours my Funeral Exit SCENA IV. Enter 3 Senators and Affranius 1. Guard all the posterns to the Camp Affranius And see 'em fast we shall be rifled else Thou art an honest and a worthy Captain 2. Promise the Souldier any thing 3. Speak gently And tell 'em we are now in council for 'em Labouring to choose a Caesar fit for them A Souldier and a giver 1. Tell 'em further Their free and liberal voices shall goe with us 2. Nay more a negative say we allow ' em 3. And if our choice displease 'em they shall name him 1. Promise three donatives and large Affranius 2. And Caesar once elected present foes With distribution of all necessaries Corn Wine and Oyle 3. New garments and new Arms And equal portions of the Provinces To them and to their families for ever 1. And see the City strengthned Affra. I shall do it Exit Affranius 2. Sempronius these are wofull times 3. O Brutus We want thy honesty again these Caesars What noble Consuls got with blood in blood Consume again and scatter 1. Which way shall we 2. Not any way of safety I can think on 3. Now go our wives to ruin and our daughters And we beholders Fulvius 1. Every thing Is every mans that will 2. The Vestals now Must only feed the Souldiers fire of lust And sensual Gods be glutted with those Offerings Age like the hidden bowels of the earth Open'd with swords for treasure Gods defend us We are chaff before their fury else 2. Away Let 's to the Temples 1. To the Capitol 'T is not a time to pray now let 's be strengthen'd Enter Affranius 3. How now Affranius what good news Affra. A Caesar 1. Oh who Affr. Lord Maximus is with the Souldier And all the Camp rings Caesar Caesar Caesar He forced the Empress with him for more honour 2. A happy choice
let 's meet him 3. Blessed fortune 1. Away away make room there room there room Exeunt Senators Flourish Within Lord Maximus is Caesar Caesar Caesar Hail Caesar Maximus Affra. Oh turning people Oh people excellent in war and govern'd In peace more raging than the furious North When he ploughs up the Sea and makes him brine Or the lowd falls of Nile I must give way Although I neither love nor hope this Or like a rotten bridge that dares a current When he is swell'd and high crackt and farewel Enter Maximus Eudoxa Senat. and Souldiers Sen. Room for the Emperour Soul Long life to Caesar Afra Hail Câ—â—sar Maximus Emp. Max. Your hand Afranius Lead to the Palace there my thanks in general I 'le showre among ye all gods give me life First to defend the Empire then you Fathers And valiant friends the heirs of strength and vertue The rampires of old Rome of us the refuge To you I open this day all I have Even all the hazard that my youth hath purchas'd Ye are my Children family and friends And ever so respected shall be forward There 's a Proscription grave Sempronius ' Gainst all the flatterers and lazie Bawds Led loose-liv'd Valentinian to his vices See it effected Flourish Sen. Honour wait on Caesar Sould. Make room for Caesar there Exeunt all but Afra Afra Thou hast my fears But Valentinian keeps my vows Oh gods Why do we like to feed the greedy Ravenne Of these blown men that must before they stand And sixt in eminence cast life on life And trench their safeties in with wounds and bodies Well froward Rome thou wilt grow weak with changing And die without an heir that lov'st to breed Sons for the killing hate of sons for me I only live to find an enemy Exit SCENE V. Enter Paulus a Poet and Licippus a Gent. Pau. When is the Inauguration Lic Why to morrow Paul 'T will be short time Lic Any device that 's handsome A Cupid or the God o' th' place will do it Where he must take the Fasces Pau. Or a Grace Lic A good Grace has no fellow Pau. Let me see Will not his name yield something Maximus By th' way of Anagram I have found out Axis You know he bears the Empire Lic Get him wheels too 'T will be a cruel carriage else Pau. Some songs too Lic By any means some songs but very short ones And honest language Paulus without bursting The air will fall the sweeter Pau. A Grace must do it Lic Why let a Grace then Pau. Yes it must be so And in a Robe of blew too as I take it Lic This Poet is a little kin to th' Painter That could paint nothing but a ramping Lion So all his learned fancies are blew Graces Pau. What think ye of a Sea-nymph and a Heaven Lic Why what should she do there man there 's no water Pau. That 's true it must be a Grace and yet Me thinks a Rain bow Lic And in blew Pau. Oh yes Hanging in arch above him and i' th' midle Lic A showre of Rain Pau No no it must be a Grace Lic Why prethee Grace him then Pau. Or Orpheus Coming from Hâ—ll Lic In blew too Pau. 'T is the better And as he rises full of fires Lic Now bless us Will not that spoil his Lutestrings Paulus Pau. Singing And crossing of his arms Lic How can he play then Pau. It shall be a Grace I 'le do it Lic Prethee do And with as good a grace as thou canst possible Good fury Paulus be i' th' morning with me And pray take measure of his mouth that speaks it Exeâ—â—t SCENE VI. Enter Maximus and Eudoxa Max. Come my best lov'd Eudoxa let the souldâ—â—r Want neither Wine nor any thing he calls for And when the Senate's ready give us notice In the mean time leave us Oh my dear sweet Eud. Is' t possible your Grace Should undertake such dangers for my beauty If it were excellent Max. 'T is all The world has left to brag of Eud. Can a face Long since bequeath'd to wrinkles with my sorrows Long since ras'd out o' th' book of youth and pleasure Have power to make the strongest man o' th' Empire Nay the most staid and knowing what is Woman The greatest aim of perfectness men liv'd by The most true constant lover of his wedlock Such a still blowing beauty earth was proud of Lose such a noble wife and wilfully Himself prepare the way nay make the rape Did ye not tell me so Max. 'T is true Eudoxa Eud. Lay desolate his dearest piece of friendship Break his strong helm he stear'd by sink that vertue That valour that even all the gods can give us Without whom he was nothing with whom worthiest Nay more arrive at Caesar and kill him too And for my sake either ye love too dearly Or deeply ye dissemble Sir Max. I do so And till I am more strengthen'd so I must do Yet would my joy and Wine had fashion'd out Some safer lye Can these things be Eudoxa And I dissemble Can there be but goodness And only thine dear Lady any end Any imagination but a lost one Why I should run this hazard O thou vertue Were it to do again and Valentinian Once more to hold thee sinful Valentinian In whom thou wert set as Pearls are in salt Oysters As Roses are in rank weeds I would find Yet to thy sacred self a dearer danger The Gods know how I honour thee Eud. What love Sir Can I return for this but my obedience My life if so you please and 't is too little Max. 'T is too much to redeem the world Eud. From this hour The sorrows for my dead Lord fare ye well My living Lord has dried ye and in token As Emperour this day I honour ye And the great caster new of all my wishes The wreath of living Lawrel that must compass That sacred head Eudoxa makes for Caesar I am methinks too much in love with fortune But with you ever Royal Sir my maker The once more Summer of me meer in love Is poor expression of my doting Max. Sweetest Eud. Now of my troth ye have bought me dear Sir Max. No Had I at loss of mankind Enter a Messenger Eud. Now ye flatter Mess The Senate waits your Grace Max. Let 'em come on And in a full form bring the ceremony This day I am your servant dear and proudly I 'le wear your honoured favour Eud. May it prove so Exeunt SCENE VII Enter Paulus and Licippus Lic Is your Grace done Pau. 'T is done Lic Who speaks Pau. A Boy Lic A dainty blue Boy Paulus Pau. Yes Lic Have ye viewed The work above Pau. Yes and all up and ready Lic The Empress does you simple honour Paulus The wreath your blue Grace must present she made But hark ye for the Souldiers Pau. That 's done too I 'le bring 'em in I warrant ye Lic A Grace too Pau. The same Grace
serves for both Lic About it then I must to th' Cupbord and be sure good Paulus Your Grace be fasting that he may hang cleanly If there should need another voice what then Paul I 'le hang another Grace in Lic Grace be with ye Exeunt SCENE VIII Enter in state Maximus Eudoxa with Souldiers and Gentlemen of Rome the Senators and Rods and Axes born before them A Synnet with Trumpets With a Banket prepared with Hoboies Musick Song wreath 3 Sen. Hale to thy imperial honour sacred Caesar And from the old Rome take these wishes You holy gods that hitherto have held As justice holds her Ballance equal pois'd This glory of our Nation this full Roman And made him fit for what he is confirm him Look on this Son O Jupiter our helper And Romulus thou Father of our honour Preserve him like thy self just valiant noble A lover and increaser of his people Let him begin with Numa stand with Cato The first five years of Nero be his wishes Give him the age and fortune of Emylius And his whole raign renew a great Augustus SONG Honour that is ever living Honour that is ever giving Honour that sees all and knows Both the ebbs of man and flowes Honour that rewards the best Sends thee thy rich labours rest Thou hast studied still to please her Therefore now she calls thee Caesar Chor. Hale hale Caesar hale and stand And thy name outlive the Land Noble Fathers to his brows Bind this wreath with thousand vows All. Stand to eternity Max. I thank ye Fathers And as I rule may it still grow or wither Now to the Banket ye are all my guests This day be liberal friends to wine we give it And smiling pleasures Sit my Queen of Beauty Fathers your places these are fair Wars Souldiers And thus I give the first charge to ye all You are my second sweet to every cup I add unto the Senate a new honour And to the 〈◊〉 of Mars a donative SONG God Lyeus ever young Ever honour'd ever sung Stain'd with bloud of lusty Grapes In a thousand lusty shapes Dance upon the Mazers brim In the Crimson liquor swim From thy plenteous hand divine Let a River run with Wine God of youth let this day here Enter neither care nor fear Boy Bellona's feed the glory of old Rome Envy of conquer'd Nations nobly come And to the fulness of your war-like noise Let your feet move make up this hour of joys Come come I say range your fair Troop at large And your high mâ—asure turn into a charge Semp. The Emperor 's grown heavy with his wine Afra The Senate staies Sir for your thanks Semp. Great Caesar Eud. I have my wish Afra Wilt please your Grace speak to him Eud. Yes but he will not hear Lords Semp. Stir him Lucius the Senate must have thanks 2 Sen. Luc. Your Grace Sir Caesar Eud. Did I not tell you he was well he 's dead Semp. Dead treason guard the Court let no man pass Souldiers your Caesar's murdered Eud. Make no tumult Nor arm the Court ye have his killer with ye And the just cause if ye can stay the hearing I was his death that wreath that made him Caesar Has made him earth Sould. Cut her in thousand pieces Eud. Wise men would know the reason first to die Is that I wish for Romans and your swords The heaviest way of death yet Souldiers grant me That was your Empress once and honour'd by ye But so much time to tell ye why I kill'd him And weigh my reasons well if man be in you Then if ye dare do cruelly condemn me Afr. Hear her ye noble Romans 't is a Woman A subject not for swords but pity Heaven If she be guilty of malitious murder Has given us Laws to make example of her If only of revenge and bloud hid from us Let us consider first then execute Semp. Speak bloudy Woman Eud. Yes This Maximus That was your Caesar Lords and noble Souldiers And if I wrong the dead Heaven perish me Or speak to win your favours but the truth Was to his Country to his friends and Caesar A most malitious Traitor Semp. Take heed woman Eud. I speak not for compassion Brave Aecius Whose blessed soul if I lye shall afflict me The man that all the world lov'd you ador'd That was the master-piece of Arms and bounty Mine own grief shall come last this friend of his This Souldier this your right Arm noble Romans By a bâ—se letter to the Emperor Stufft full of fears and poor suggestions Anâ— by himself unto himself directed Was cut off bâ—â—â—ly basâ—ly cruelly Oh loss O innocent can ye now kill me And the poor state my Noble Lord that knew not More of this villain than his forc'd fears Like ouâ— foreseen to sâ—tisfie dy'd for it Thâ—â—e was a murdre too Rome would have blusht at Was this woâ—th bâ—ing Câ—â—sar or my patience nay his Wife By Hâ—â—ven he to 〈◊〉 mâ— in wine and joy Anâ— swoâ—â— it deeply tâ— himself prepar'd To be abus'd how let me grieve not tell ye And weâ—p the 〈◊〉 that did it and his end Was only me anâ— Câ—â—sar â—ut me he lyed in These are my reasons Romans and my soul Tells me sufficient and my deed is justice Now as I have done well or ill look on me Afra What less could nature do what less had we doâ—â— Had we known this before Romans she is righteous And such a piece of justice Heaven must smile on Bend all your swords on me if this displease ye For I must kneel and on this vertuous hand Seal my new joy and thanks thou hast done truly Semp. Up with your arms ye strike a Saint else Romans May'st thou live ever spoken our Protector Rome yet has many Noble Heirs Let 's in And pray before we choose then plant a Caesar Above the reach of envy blood and murder Afra Take up the body nobly to his urn And may our sins and his together burn Exeunt A dead March EPILOGUE WE would fain please ye and as fain be pleas'd 'T is but a little liking both are eas'd We have your money and you have our ware And to our understanding good and fair For your own wisdoms sake be not so mad To acknowledge ye have bought things dear and bad Let not a brack i' th' Stuff or here and there The fading gloss a general loss appear We know ye take up worse Commodities And dearer pay yet think your bargains wise We know in Meat and Wine ye fling away More time and wealth which is but dearer pay And with the Reckoning all the pleasure lost We bid ye not unto repenting cost The price is easie and so light the Play That ye may new digest it every day Then noble friends as ye would choose a Miss Only to please the eye a while and kiss Till a good Wife be got So let this Play Hold ye a while until a better may Monsieur
maim'd man 1 Guard Nay then I have a goad To prick you forward Oxe 2 Guard Fight like a Man Or dye like a Dog Get. Shall I like Caesar fall Among my friends no mercy Et tu Brute You shall not have the honour of my death I 'll fall by the Enemy first 1 Guard O brave brave Geta Persians driven off He plays the Devil now Enter Niger Nig. Make up for honour The Persians shrink The passage is laid open Great Dioclesian like a second Mars His strong arm govern'd by the fierce Bellona Performs more than a man his shield struck full Of Persian Darts which now are his defence Against the Enemies Swords still leads the way Of all the Persian Forces one strong Squadron Alarm 's continued In which Cosroe in his own person fights Stands firm and yet unrouted Break thorow that The day and all is ours Retreat All. Victory Victory Exeunt Flourish SCENE VI. Enter in Triumph with Roman Ensigns Guard Dioclesian Charinus Aurelia Maximinian Niger Geta Cosroe Cassana Persians as Prisoners Delphia and Drusilla privately Dio. I am rewarded in the Act your freedome To me 's ten thousand Triumphs You Sir share In all my glories And unkind Aurelia From being a Captive still command the Victor Nephew remember by whose gift you are free You I afford my pity baser minds Insult on the afflicted you shall know Vertue and Courage are admir'd and lov'd In Enemies but more of that hereafter Thanks to your valour to your Swords I owe This Wreath triumphant Nor be thou forgot My first poor Bondman Geta I am glad Thou art turn'd a fighter Get. 'T was against my will But now I am content with 't Char. But imagine What honours can be done to you beyond these Transcending all example 't is in you To will in us to serve it Nig. We will have His Statue of pure gold set in the Capitol And he that bows not to it as a god Makes forfeit of his head Max I burst with envy And 〈◊〉 these honours which conferr'd on me Would make me pace on air seem not to move him Dio. Suppose this done or were it possible I could rise higher still I am a man And all these glories Empires heap'd upon me Confirm'd by constant friends and faithful Guards Cannot defend me from a shaking Feaver Or bribe the uncorrupted Dart of Death To spare me one short minute Thus adorn'd In these triumphant Robes my body yields not A greater shadow than it did when I Liv'd both poor and obscure a Swords sharp point Enters my flesh as far dreams break my sleep As when I was a private man my passions Are stronger tyrants on me nor is Greatness A saving Antidote to keep me from A Traytors poyson Shall I praise my fortune Or raise the building of my happiness On her uncertain favour or presume She is mine own and sure that yet was never Constant to any Should my reason fail me As flattery oft corrupts it here 's an example To speak how far her smiles are to be trusted The rising Sun this morning saw this man The Persian Monarch and those Subjects proud That had the honour but to kiss his feet And yet e're his diurnal progress ends He is the scorn of Fortune but you 'll say That she forsook him for his want of courage But never leaves the bold Now by my hopes Of peace and quiet here I never met A braver Enemy and to make it good Cosroe Cassana and the rest be free And ransomless return Cos To see this vertue Is more to me than Empire and to be O'rcome by you a glorious victory Max. What o' Devil means he next Dio. I know that glory Is like Alcides's Shirt if it stay on us Till pride hath mixt it with our blood nor can we Part with it at pleasure when we would uncase It brings along with it both flesh and sinews And leaves us living Monsters Max. Would it were come To my turn to put it on I 'd run the hazard Dio. No I will not be pluck'd out by the ears Out of this glorious Castle uncompell'd I will surrender rather Let it suffice I have toucht the height of humane happiness And here I fix nil ultra Hitherto I have liv'd a servant to ambitious thoughts And fading glories what remains of life I dedicate to Vertue and to keep My faith untainted farewel Pride and Pomp And circumstance of glorious Majestie Farewel for ever Nephew I have noted That you have long with sore eyes look'd upon My flourishing Fortune you shall have possession Of my felicity I deliver up My Empire and this gem I priz'd above it And all things else that made me worth your envy Freely unto you Gentle Sir your suffrage To strengthen this the Souldiers love I doubt not His valour Gentlemen will deserve your favours Which let my prayers further All is yours But I have been too liberal and giv'n that I must beg back again Max. What am I faln from Dio. Nay start not it is only the poor Grange The Patrimony which my father left me I would be Tenant to Max. Sir I am yours I will attend you there Dio. No keep the Court Seek you in Rome for honour I will labour To find content elswhere Disswade me not By I am resolv'd And now Drusilla Being as poor as when I vow'd to make thee My wife if thy love since hath felt no change I am ready to perform it Dru. I still lov'd Your Person not your fortunes in a cottage Being yours I am an Empress Del. And I 'le make The change most happy Dio. Do me then the honour To see my vow perform'd You but attend My Glories to the urn where be it ashes Welcom my mean estate and as a due Wish rest to me I honour unto you Exeunt Actus Quintus Scena Prima Enter CHORVS Cho. The War with glory ended and Cosroe Acknowledging his fealtie to Charinus Dismiss'd in peace returns to Persia The rest arriving safely unto Rome Are entertain'd with triumphs Maximinian By the grace and intercession of his Vncle Saluted Caesar but good Dioclesian Weary of Pomp and State retires himself With a small Train to a most private Grange In Lombardie where the glad Countrey strives With Rural Sports to give him entertainment With which delighted he with ease forgets All specious trifles and securely tastes The certain pleasures of a private life But oh Ambition that eats into With venom'd teeth true thankfulness and honour And to support her greatness fashions fears Doubts and preventions to decline all dangers Which in the place of safetie prove her ruine All which be pleas'd to see in Maximinian To whom his confer'd Soveraginsy was like A large sail fill'd full with a fore-right wind That drowns a smaller Bark and he once faln Into ingratitude makes no stop in mischief But violently runs on Allow Maximinian all Honour and Empire absolute command Yet being ill long great
Claris But he receiv'd it from a friend And the unkindness ta'en at that may kill him Mari. Let me see him Physi By no means he slumbers Mari. Then I cannot believe you When you tell me there 's hope of him Alber. Yet many Ladies Do give more saith to their Physitian Than to their Confessor Claris O my poor lost brother And friend more dear than Brother Alber. More loud instruments To disturb his slumbers goe goe take Caroch And as you love me you and the Girle retire To our Summer house i' th' Country I 'll be with you Within these two days Maria. I am yours in all things Though with much sorrow to leave him Exeunt Maria Claris Alber. I pray you Gentlemen With best observance tend your Patient The loss of my heir-male lies now a bleeding Enter Mentivole And think what payment his recovery Shall show'r upon you Of all men breathing Exeunt Physitian Chirur. Wherefore do you arrive here Are you mad My injury begins to bleed afresh At sight of you why this affront of yours I receive more malitious than the other Your hurt was only danger to my son But your sight to me is death Why come you hither Do you come to view the wounds which you have made And glory in them Menti. Rather worthy Sir to pour Oyl into them Alber. I am a Soldier Sir Least part of a Courtier and understand By your smooth Oyl Your present flattery Menti. Sir for my Fathers sake acknowledge me To be born a Gentleman no slave I ever Held flatterers of that breed do not misconstrue In your distaste of me the true intent Of my coming hither for I do protest I do not come to tell you I am sorry For your sons hurt Alber. Not sorry Menti. No not sorry I have to the lowest ebbo lost all my fury But I must not lose my honesty 't was he Gave heat unto the injury which return'd Like a Petar ill lighted into ' th' bosome Of him gave fire to 't yet I hope his hurt Is not so dangerous but he may recover When if it please him call me to account For the loss of so much blood I shall be ready To do him noble reason Alber. You are arm'd me thinks with wondrous confidence Menti. O with the best Sir For I bring penitence and satisfaction Alber. Satisfaction Why I heard you say but now You were not sorry for his wounds Menti. Nor am I the satisfaction which I bring Sir is to you You are a Gentleman ne'er injur'd me One ever lov'd my Father the right way And most approv'd of noble amity Yet I have run my sword quite through your heart And slightly hurt your son for 't may be scar'd A grief ta'en at these years for your sons loss May hazard yours And therefore I am sent By him that has most interest in your sorrow Who having chid me almost to the ruin Of a disheritance for violating So continued and so sacred a friendship Of 50 Winters standing such a friendship That ever did continue like the spring Ne'er saw the fall o' th' leaf by him I am sent To say the wrong I have done Sir is to you And that I have quite lost him for a Father Until I find your pardon nay there follows A weightier deprivation his Estate I could with a less number of sighs part with Fortune might attend my youth and my deservings In any Climate but a Fathers blessing To settle and confirm that fortune no where But only here Your pardon give me that And when you have done kill me for 't is that Takes from me the effect of excommunication A Fathers heavy curse Alber. Nay may that curse Light on himself for sending thee in this minute When I am grown as deaf to all compassion As the cruellest Sea-fight or most horrid tempest That I had drown'd i' th' Sea a thousand duckets Thou hadst not made this visit rash young man Thou tak'st me in an ill Planet and hast cause To curse thy Father for I do protest If I had met thee in any part o' th' World But under my own roofe I would have kill'd thee Within there Enter Physitian Chirurgion and Servants Look you Here 's a triumph sent for the death of your young Master Serv. Shall we kill him Alber. No I 'll not be so unhospitable but Sir By my life I vow to take assurance from you That right hand never more shall strike my son Menti. That will be easily protested Alber. Not easily when it must be exacted and a bloody seal to 't Bind him and cut off's right hand presently Fair words shall never satisfie foul deeds Chop 's hand off Menti. You cannot be so unrighteous to your own honor Phy. O Sir collect your self And recall your bloody purpose Alber. My intents of this nature do ever come to action Chirur. Then I must fetch another stickler Exit Alber. Yet I do grieve at heart And I do curse thy Father heartily That 's the cause of my dishonor sending thee In such an hour when I am apt for mischief Apt as a Dutch-man after a Sea-fight When his enemy kneels afore him come dispatch Phys Intreat him Noble Sir Menti. You shall excuse me Whatsoever he dares do that I dare suffer Enter Caesario and Chirurgion Caesar Oh Sir for honors sake stay your foul purpose For if you do proceed thus cruelly There is no question in the wound you give him I shall bleed to death for 't Alber. Thou art not of my temper What I purpose cannot be alter'd Serv. Sir the Duke With all speed expects you You must instantly Ship all your followers and to sea Alber. My blessing stay with thee upon this condition Take away his use of fighting as thou hop'st To be accounted for my son perform 't Exit Cesar You hear what I am injoyn'd to Menti. Pray thee take it Only this ring this best esteem'd Jewel I will not give 't to 'th hangman chops it off It is too dear a relique I 'll remove it nearer my heart Caesar Ha that Rings my Sisters The Ring I injoyn'd her never part withal Without my knowledge come Sir we are friends Pardon my fathers heat and melancholy Two violent Fevers which he caught at Sea And cannot yet shake off only one promise I must injoyn you to and seriously Hereafter you shall never draw a Sword To the prejudice of my life Menti. By my best hopes I shall not Caesar I pray deliver me your sword On that condition Menti. I shall Sir may it hereafter Ever fight on your part Caesar Noble Sir I thank you But for performance of your vow I intreat Some gage from you Menti. Any Sir Caesar Deliver me that ring Menti. Ha this Ring indeed this Jewel binds me If you knew the vertue of it never more To draw my sword against you Caesar Therefore I will have it Menti. You may not Caesar Come you must I that by violence could
your swords Nor must have hope how to requite what noise What cry is that my Lord upon your guard So treachery is a foot Enter Lady Orleans Lamira Montague Lady Oh here they are My Lord dear Lady help me help me all I have so woful interest in both I know not which to fear for most and yet I must prefer my Lord. Dear brother You are too understanding and too noble To be offended when I know my duty Though scarce my tears will let me so to do it Orl. Out-loathed strumpet Lady Oh my dearest Lord If words could on me cast the name of whore I then were worthy to be loath'd but know Your unkindness cannot make me wicked And therefore should less use that power upon me Orl. Was this your Art to make these Actors come To make this interlude withdraw cold man And if thy spirit be not frozen up Give me one stroke yet at thee for my vengeance Ami. Thou shalt have strokes and strokes thou glorious man Till thou breath'st thinner air than that thou talkest Lam. My Lord Count Amiens Lady Princely Husband Orl. Whore You wrong her impudent Lord oh that I had the bulk Of those dull men look how they stand and no man Will revenge an innocent Lady Ami. You hinder it Madam Lam. I would hinder you is there none else to kill him Lady Kill him Madam have you learn'd that bad language oh repent And be the motive rather both kill me Orl. Then dye my infamy Mont. Hold bloody man Orl. Art thou there Basilisk Mont. To strike thee dead but thaâ—â—y fate deserves some weightier hand Dub. Sweet my Lord. Orl. Oh here 's a plot you bring your champions with you the adultress with the adulterer Out-howling Dub. Good my Lord. Orl. Are you her Graces countenancer Lady the receiver to the poor vicious couple Dub. Sweet my Lord. Orl. Sweet rascal didst not thou tell me false fellow This Montague here was murdered Dub. I did so but he was falser and a worthless Lord Like thy foul self that would have had it so Long. Orleance 't is true and shall be prov'd upon thee Mont. Thy malice Duke and this thy wicked nature are all as visible as thou but I born to contemn thy injuries do know that though thy greatness may corrupt a Jury and make a Judge afraid and carry out a world of evils with thy Title yet thou art not quiet at home thou bearest about thee that that doth charge thee and condemn thee too The thing that grieves me more and doth indeed displease me is to think that so much baseness stands here to have encountred so much honor Pardon me my Lord what late my passion spake when you provok'd my innocence Orl. Yes do oh flattery becomes him better than the suit he wears give him a new one Amiens Ami. Orleance 't is here no time nor place to jest or rail Poorly with you but I will find a time to Whisper you forth to this or some fit place As sâ—all not hold a second interruption Mont. I hope your Lordships honor and your life Are destined unto higher hazards this is of A meaner arm Dub. Yes faith or none Long. He is not fit to fall by an honest Sword A Prince and lye Dub. And slander and hire men To publish the false rumours he hath made Long. And stick 'em on his friends and innocents Dub. And practice against their lives after their fames Long. In men that are the matter of all lewdness Bawds Thieves and Cheaters it were monstrous Dub. But in a man of bloud how more conspicuous Ami. Can this be Lady They do slander him Orl. Hang them a pair of railing hangbies Long. How stand Orleance stay give me my Pistols boy Hinder me not by I will kill him Lady Oh stay his fury Ami. Longueville my friend Long. Not for my self my Lord but for mankind And all that have an interest to virtue Or title unto innocence Ami. Why hear me Long. For justice sake Ami. That cannot be Long. To punish his wives your honor and my Lords wrongs here whom I must ever call so for your loves I 'll swear I 'll sacrifice Ami. Longueville I did not think you a murtherer before Long. I care not what you thought me Ami. By If thou attempt His life thy own is forfeit Mont. Foolish frantick man the murder will be of us not him Lady Oh Heaven Mont. We could have kill'd him but we would not take The justice out of fates Singe but a hair of him thou diest Long. No matter shoot Ami. Villain Dub. My Lord your Sister is slain Ami. Biancha Mont. Oh hapless and most wretched chance Lam. Standst thou looking upon the mischief thou hast made Thou godless man feeding thy blood-shot eyes With the red spectacle and art not turn'd to stone With horror Hence and take the wings of thy black Infamy to carry thee beyond the shoot of looks Or sound of curses which will pursue thee still Thou hast out-fled all but thy guilt Orl. Oh wish it off again for I am crack'd Under the burden and my heart will break How heavy guilt is when men come to feel If you could know the mountain I sustain With horror you would each take off your part And more to ease me I cannot stand Forgive where I have wrong'd I pray Ami. Look to him Montague Long. My Lords and Gentlemen the Lady is well but for fear Unless that have shot her I have the worst on 't that needs would venture Upon a trick had like to ha' cost my guts Look to her she 'll be well it was but Powder I charg'd with thinking that a guilty man Would have been frighted sooner but I 'm glad He 's come at last Lan. How is Byancha well Ami. Lives she see Sister doth she breathe Lady Oh Gentlemen think you I can breathe That am restored to the hateâ—ul sense Of feeling in me my dear husbands death Oh no I live not life was that I left And what you have call'd me to is death indeed I cannot weep so fast as he doth bleed Dub. Pardon me Madam he is well Lady Ha' my Husband Orl. I cannot speak whether my joy or shame Be greater but I thank the Heavens for both Oh look not black upon me all my friends To whom I will be reconcil'd or grow unto This earth till I have wept a trench That shall be great enough to be my grave And I will think them too most manly tears If they do move your pities it is true Man should do nothing that he should repent But if he have and say that he is sorry It is a worse fault if he be not truly Lam. My Lord such sorrow cannot be suspected Here take your honoured wife and joyn your hands She hath married you again And Gentlemen I do invite you all This night to take my house where on the morrow To heighten more the reconciling feast I 'll make
take your hand Can inforce this from you this is a token Sir That we may prove friends hereafter Fare you well Phys Why did you ceise his Sword Sir Cesar To perform what my Father bade me I have for the present ta'en away his Use of fighting Phys Better so Than take that which your Father meant Exeunt Manet Mentivole Menti. Was ever the like usage O that Ring Dearer than life Whither is honor fled Cesario Thou art unmanly in each part To seize my sword first and then split my heart Exit Enter Host and Clown Host Thy Master that lodges here in my Osteria Is a rare man of art they say he 's a Witch Clow. A Witch Nay he 's one step of the Ladder to preferment higher he is a Conjurer Host Is that his higher title Clow. Yes I assure you for a Conjurer is the Devils Master and commands him whereas a Witch is the Devils Prentice and obeys him Host bound Prentice to the Devil Clow. bound and inroll'd I assure you he cannot start and therefore I would never wish any Gentleman to turn Witch Host Why Man Clow. Oh he loses his Gentility by it the Devil in this case cannot help him he must go to the Herald for new Armes believe it Hâ—st As I am true Inkeeper yet a Gentleman born I 'll ne'er turn Witch for that trick And thou hast been a great Traveller Clow. No indeed not I Sir Host Come you are modest Clow. No I am not modest for I told you a lye that you might the better understand I have been a Traveller Host So Sir they say your Master is a great Physitian too Clow. He was no fool told you that I assure you Host And you have been in England but they say Ladies in England take a great deal of Physick Clow. Both wayes on my reputation Host So 't is to be understood But they say Ladies there take Physick for fashion Clow. Yes Sir and many times dye to keep fashion Host How dye to keep fashion Clow. Yes I have known a Lady sick of the small Pocks onely to keep her face from Pitholes take cold strike them in again kick up the heels and vanish Host There was kicking up the heels with a witness Clow. No Sir I confess a good face has many times been the motive to the kicking up of the heels with a witnss but this was not Enter Hostess and Bianca Host Here comes my wife and daughter Clow. You have a prety commodity of this night-worm Host Why Man Clow. She is a pretty lure to draw custom to your ordinary Host Do'st think I keep her to that purpose Clow. When a Dove-house is empty there is cuminseed used to purloine from the rest of the neighbors In England you have several Adamants to draw in spurs and rapiers one keeps silk-worms in a Gallery A Milliner has choice of Monkies and Paraketoes another shewes bawdy East-Indian Pictures worse than ever were Aretines a Goldsmith keeps his Wife wedged into his shop like a Mermaid nothing of her to be seen that 's Woman but her upper part Host Nothing but her upper part Clow. Nothing but her upper bodies and he lives at the more hearts ease Host What 's the reason Clow. Because her nether part can give no temptation by your leave Sir I 'll tend my Master and instantly be with you for a cup of Cherally this hot weather Host A nimble pated Rascal come hither Daughter When was Cesario here Bian. Sir not this fortnight Host I do not like his visits commonly He comes by Owl-light both the time and manner Is suspitious I do not like it Bian. Sir the Gentleman Is every way so noble that you need not Question his intent of coming though you did Pray Sir preserve that good opinion of me That though the custome of the place I was born in Makes me familiar to every guest I shall in all things keep my self a stranger To the vices they bring with them Hostis Right my daughter She has the right strain of her Mother Host Of her Mother And I would speak I know from whence she took it When I was as young I was as honest Hostess Leave your prating And study to be drunk and abuse your guests over and over Enter Forobosco and Clown Host Peace Wife My honorable guest Foro. My indear'd Landlord And the rest o' th' complements o' th' house Host Breakfast is ready Sir It waites only the tide of your stomach Clow. And mine gapes for 't like a stale Oyster Ere you go to bed fail not of that I pray Exeunt all but Forobosco and Clown Foro. We will instantly be with you Now we are all fellows Nine a Clock and no Clyents come Yet sure thou do'st not set up bills enough Clow. I have set up bills in abundance Foro. What Bills Clow. Marry for curing of all diseases Recovery of stoln goods And a thousand such impossibilities Foro. The place is unlucky Clow. No certain 't is scarcity of mony do not you hear the Lawyers complain of it Men have as much Malice as ever they had to wrangle but they have no Mony Whither should this Mony be travell'd Foro. To the Devil I think Clow. 'T is with his Cofferer I am certain that 's the Usurer Foro. Our cheating does not prosper so well as it was wont to do Clow. No sure why in England we coo'd cozen 'em as familiarly as if we had travell'd with a Brief or a Lottery Foro. I' th' Low-countries we did pretty well Clow. So so as long as we kept the Mop-headed butter-boxes sober marry when they were drunk then they grew buzards You should have them reel their heads together and deliberate your Dutchman indeed when he is foxt is like a Fox for when he 's sunk in drink quite earth to a Mans thinking 't is full Exchange time with him then he 's subtlest but your Switzer 't was nothing to cheat him Foro. Nothing Clow. No nor conscience to be made of it for since nature afore-hand cozen'd him of his wit 't was the less sin for us to cozen him of his Mony Foro. But these Italians are more nimble-pated we must have some new trick for them I protest but that our Hostess's daughter is a sweet Lass and draws great resort to 'th house we were as good draw teeth a horseback Clow. I told 'em in the Market-place you could conjure and no body would believe me but ere long I will make 'em believe you can conjure with such a figuary Foro. What language shall 's conjure in high Dutch I think that 's full i' th' mouth Clow. No no Spanish that roars best and will appear more dreadful Foro. Prethee tell me thy conceit thou hast to gull them Clow. No no I will not stael it but my dear Jews-trump for thou art but my instrument I am the plotter and when we have cozen'd 'em most titely thou shalt steal away the Inn-keepers daughter