And by your intercession I had a large share of her Princely Bounty and no doubt I shou'd have had more if England had longer enjoy'd her And now my Lord I humbly beg your Lordships favour not for this Play but my self at least that I may have leave thus publickly to honour my self with the Title of My Lord Your Lordships Most humble and Most thankfull Servant John Crowne THE EPISTLE TO THE READER I Cannot blame the World for any unkindness I receive from it I seldom make any court to it And I have so much affected retirement and sollitude that a Writing of mine like an Inscription on a Wall at Belshazzar's Feast comes from an unseen Scribe And the Judgment past on Balshazzar and my Emperor is in some measure the same Thou art weigh'd in the balance and art found too light Many say there is more levity in the Character of this Emperor that suits with the dignity of so great a Prince and the gravity of Tragedy But with what does the Emperor sport himself with the honour of Women the fortune and lives of Men and the ruin of Nations And I thought there was so much good nature among mankind that Spectators would have trembled when they saw Kings and Kingdoms forc'd to yield up their Rights Religions Laws and Gods to the Lusts and Frenzies of a young fantastical Tyrant and all the World at the disposal of a mad Man But to please I shou'd have shewn a more beautifull figure So I have in Valerius and many other Characters in this Play I have also beautified the Emperor's Character and all parts of the Play with as much good Sense and Poetry as are in any of my writings For I will compare my self only with my self And few of my contemporaries have pleas'd the World much more than I have done both in Tragedy and Comedy But many say the Play wants Plot I confess I think it does I have put little more into the Play than what I found taken out of History All the Characters and most of the Events in the Play I have taken out of History and I have made as lively Images of what I found there as I believe can be done by any Man This was unknown it seems to a great part of my Audience therefore they condemn'd the Character of Vitellius his flattery to the Emperor and courtship to the Empress particularly his begging a Sandal of hers as a reward for his Services and when he had it his carrying it in his bosome and sometimes kissing it This was a Complement he made to Messalina the belov'd Lewd Wife of the Emperor Claudius By his flattery and addresses in the Reigns of three or four bloody Tyrants he kept himself not only safe and whole but raised his fortunes to such a heighth that his Son Aulus Vitellius who had not one good quality came to be Emperor of Rome I thought most Gentlemen had more skill in History Poetry Courtship and Address to Greatness than I perceive they have But I will not farther displease by contending I confess I wrote this Play when I was under great disorder not in mind For I never lov'd much any part of this World but a Friend and merit in a Friend or Enemy I never sought more than the bare conveniencies of life But want of health makes life it self an inconvenience I have for some few years been disorder'd with a Distemper which seated it self in my head threatned me with an Epilepsie and frequently took from me not only all sense but almost all signs of life and in my intervals I wrote this Play Therefore if it have any Wit or Poetry in it I wonder how they came there But many of the first rank both for Quality and Vnderstanding have said they were pleased with it and therefore I value it Now I will say one word in defence of my Morals I cannot but take notice of some lines I have read in the Preface to the Poem call'd King Authur where the World is told that all who have written before the Author of the Mourning-Bride may be asham'd since for want of a Genius they have depended on bawdy for their success on the Stage I much commend that Gentleman's design of Reforming the Stage from Obcenity Immorality and Profaneness But I wish he had taken more care of his Pen I mean not in his Poem I will not quarrel with that if it gave me cause In my notes on a Play call'd the Empress of Morocco I call 'em mine because above three parts of four were written by me I gave vent to more ill-nature in me than I will do again But I am sorry that the Learned Author of King Authur who labours so commendably for Vertue and Morality in Plays should set an ill Example and injure Truth and the Reputation of his Brethren Many of my Plays have been very successfull and yet clean Sir Courtly Nice was as fortunate a Comedy as has been written in this Age and Sir Courtly is as nice and clean in his Conversation as his Diet and Dress And Surly though he affects ill manners in every thing else is not guility of obscene talk I have fallen I confess in other Plays of mine into a worse fault I have in my Jerusalems made too beautifull an Image of an Atheist and Atheism appears too reasonable and lovely I am sorry there should be any thing under my hand in defence of such a false pernicious and detestable an opinion Some endeavour to clear me of the guilt and wou'd perswade the World they were written by a Noble and Excellent Wit the late E. of R But they were Printed long before my Lord died his Lordship in his Poem call'd the Sessions of Poets charges me not with theft but my Scenes with dulness and want of Wit and Poetry which he wou'd not have done if they had been his own But since there is too much Atheism in those Plays I am content they shou'd be thought not mine or not good I had rather have no Wit no Being than employ any part of it against him that gave it ACT the First SCENE the Imperial Palace in ROME Enter at several doors Valerius Asiaticus and Annius Minutianus Val. A. MY noble Lord Minutianus I 'm glad to see so good a Man alive And wonder at it for as the times are When any good great Man has a new day He has new life at least a new reprieve For by the Emperor he 's decreed to die An. M. Indeed my Lord ev'ry new day to me Seems a new pleasing shining Prodigy I lift my eyes with wonder at the Sun Nor look to see him more when day is done And when night comes I am awhile afraid I 'm not alive but in th' Infernal shade Val. A. Caesar has broke the Fortunes and the Hearts Of half the World Men are but half alive An. M. Sometimes your Lordship gives our hearts some hope But then your League
his person too In strong and lively colouring display'd And in bold Images shall time invade For this are famous Artists kept in pay And Art brings forth dead Caesars ev'ry day You will see all our Gardens and Abodes And Temples crowded with those silent Gods And for his likeness he 'll sit brooding long With all the pains that Birds do to hatch their Young An. M. Well this Campaign the Emperor ventur'd far I think he march'd to the frontier of War Val. A. Yes and he bore some little Princes down Whose fall will give no sound to his Renown Their Provinces he might with ease o'rerun On my War-Horse I could have leap'd o're one An. M. Your Lordship is the Pillar of his Throne But that 's a truth Caesar disdains to own Val. A. I support Caesar Be not so profane Caesar's a God to him all aid is vain An. M. Who can that impious Flattery endure His Father was a mortal Man I 'm sure Val. A. His Godhead both from Chance and Nature came 'T is a Convention in his Sacred Frame Of Divine Atoms it was not begot 'T was an original and glorious lot Thus his Atheistick flatterers blaspheme Hum'ring their hot-brain'd Emperor's waking dream Vast fortunes bred the frenzy I confess Feeble mankind can suffer no excess Fortunes too high or low wrack humane thought But fortune only has not been in fault The Empress too did her assisâ—â—nce joyn And often gave him Philters in his Wine Then this proud folly first began to Reign Successes turn'd and drugs Diseas'd his Brain Enter Cassius Cheraea Cassius I 'd rais'd thy fortunes by commands But thou hast Enemies which hold my hands Howe'er I 'll raise thy Honour if I can I do not know a more deserving Man Cas Ch. In the esteem of such a noble Friend My Lord I to an envi'd height ascend The Emperor 's pleas'd to call me Coward and Fool Because he always finds me soft and cool And always slow in shedding guiltless blood Caesar may give what titles he thinks good I 've many faults but boasting is not one If any thing deserving praise I 've done I 'm not much pleas'd to hear it oft proclaim'd But yet methinks I 'm loath to be defam'd Val. A. Oh! my good Lord I 've in this Vessel found Excellent Metal tho' it yields no sound He who seems here only an Image drest A piece of fine Court-furniture at best In War is more then Man An. M. So I 've been told Val. A. I 've seen Barbarians numerous and bold Fly from this Man like Locusts from a storm Wonders in War I 've seen him oft perform But of rough Cassius after a Campaign No marks but in his scars and wounds remain Here all his time on pleasure he bestows He rises late and rises to repose On a soft Couch where Wine drowns all his care Or on the softer Bosoms o' the fair Where Amorous dalliance and wanton Play Is all the toil in which he wasts the day Cas Ch. My Lord I love all pleasure nature yields The joys of wanton Beds and bloody Fields Perhaps your tast'e and mine may not agree Whilst I have Life I wou'd shake all the Tree I 'd have Wine and Women Musick and Renown And thus have all my days go sweetly down I wou'd not let one moment run to wast No nor go off with an unpleasant taste Fearfull and melancholy minds prepare For their last hours by Sacrifice aâ—â— Pray'r Contemplate bones and sculls But I design To part with life over a Glass o'Wine I 'll fill my Eyes with beauty e're they close And Songs shall lull me to my long repose Val. A. But whilst your time you eagerly bestow On the warm side of life where pleasures grow Men think you not the gallant Man you are That all your Manhood lies among the fair An. M. So Caesar thinks and tramples on his brow But Cassius does not seem to feel the blow But he is to admiration calm and tame And all his anger is a lambent flame Cas Ch. Oh! no my Lord I feel the heavy blows Nor have I all the patience you suppose 'T is true I keep my painful Wounds unseen But wounds when inwardly they bleed gangreen Reasons there are why I seem patient now But I one day may let the Emperor know I love not to oppress or be oppress'd But every thing is in its season best Man has his hours of sleep when he 's embalm'd With that soft unguent and lies all be calm'd Trees have their seasons when you 'd think 'em dead But Nature finds a time to lift her head And shortly Cassius may his vigor shew And make the World ring with a dreadfull blow Shall settle Regal Diadems which now Totter on many a trembling Prince's brow But all our bonds write in Imperial gore That I 'm a Man and Caesar is no more An. M. This sudden lofty flame has made me sweat Oh! Cassius worthy of a name so great May'st thou in fame and fortune far exceed The Renown'd Cassius who made Julius bleed Val. A. Have I not told the Emperor I 'm his Friend That Caesar against Caesar I 'll defend That to encrease his Empire and Renown By Wars which I may honourably own I 'll in the face of my danger fly And dost thou hope I 'll give my self the lie Let Caesars Life be stoln by base surprize And own my self a Villain in disguise On Faith and Honour I have fixt my foot And for that ground with Caesar I 'll dispute Perhaps his favour nothing can retain In my own favour I 'll to death remain Cas Ch. Does not your Lordship every moment shed Blood guiltless blood by guarding Caesar's head Val. A. He 's young and fiery and has a Brain Deseas'd by drugs and Knaves the dregs of Men. All the corruptions of a Land repair To Courts and fill 'em with unwholesome air A Monarch with great vertue is endu'd If he appears but moderately good Cassius your wrongs are not to me unknown Nor that all Nations under Caesar grown But I 'll to him and all mankin d be just Proteâ—â— his Person and oppose his Lust I 'll 〈◊〉 by Counsel first to stop his course Thâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—ng I 'll to fair and open force In Caesar's faults or yours I 'll have no share Beckons to an Officer of the Guard Secure this Tribune Sir with utmost care An Officer with a Guard carry of Cassius Cheraea a Prisoner An. M. My Lord a noble spirit you display But yet my Lord this I must boldly say You feel not Caesar's faults as thousands do A decent distance they have kept from you They have not yet approach'd your heart or head Nor seiz'd your fortune or deâ—â—'d your Bed Va. A. My Bed An. M. Your Bed as mine he oft has done His brutal Lust has oft my Bed o're run On remote sires with small concern we gaze But we all rise when our own dwellings blaze Had
with Caesar frightens us Val. A. Oh! two proud Men to Friendship ne'r encline You may as well two lofty Mountains join If close in League Caesar and I appear It is because you do not see us near So when imperfectly remotely seen Two Mountains on each other seem to lean Approach 'em near you 'll find 'em wondrous wide Int'rest and Nature do the great divide Pride is a friendless Vice and foe to Pride I 've had success in War and got renown And Caesar hates all glory but his own Enter Cassius Cheraea viewing himself in a Pocket Looking-glass Why how now Cassius Ca. Ch. My most noble Lord Val. A. Examining thy Figure in a Glass That Glass is a dissembler Cassius Thou wou'dst not love it if it told thee truth For then the shadow on that Dial shewn Wou'd let thee know thy Sun is going down Th' art in thy fall witness thy falling hair Yet thou wou'dst pass for young with all the fair Oh! Cassius thou hast wander'd far from Youth And thy young dress tells scandalous untruth That th' art in heart a Hector who wou'd guess Whilst th' art a wanton Paris in thy dress Paris was not accoutred with such Art Thy habit is a Libel on thy Heart An. M. Oh! but a Manly daring Soul lurks deep Under this gentle Lady like outside Which Caesar takes a pleasure to deride Val. A. Nay Caesar ought to spare him allow Caesar's grave only in his frowning brow He folds his brow in frowns had he his will Basilisk like he 'd with his aspect kill But this sierce Monarch in unmanly dress Is oft extravagant to mad excess His Robes like Chrystal waves around him flow At once his Limbs and Lusts they lewdly shew His only coverings in his wild attire Are blazing Gems which make him seem o' fire His wrists in Bracelets far out-shine the Stars You 'd think 'em Comets and fear Plagues and Wars An. M. Ay and his Sandals powder'd o'r with Gems Exceed in splendor Regal Diadems Val. A. They are so wondrous soft and easie too He feels the ground no more than if he flew Ca. Ch. Dresses are Politicks of Love he 's wise And steals to hearts of Ladies through their Eyes Val. A. Were Cassius led to die he 'd die well dress'd To leave a Dart in ev'ry Ladies breast And to his death he 'd gracefully advance As if he only lead a solemn Dance And loss of life wou'd grieve him less he 'll own Than loss of love the dead are lov'd by none Ca. Ch. No from dead Lovers living beauties fly And soon let all remembrance of 'em die Our Images for years in Marble stay Our Images in Hearts scarce last a day Val. A. Well Cassius though you soft and frail appear Cassius is hardy valiant and sincere Calm to a Friend a tempest to a Foe With his hand active though in speech he 's slow He fights as if he had a thousand Lives But for preferment modestly he strives In Court he yields in danger leads the way Wins yet can scarce be said to gain the day Of speech he 's sparing lib'ral of his bloud To all but to himself he 's just and good Ca. Ch. This from your Lordship I am over-paid For all I 've done Val. A. No there are great Arrears Due to thy Fortune and thy Honour both Injur'd by Caesar Ca. Ch. I am wounded by him In a more tender part my Conscience He often forces me to ruine those Whom I am bound in conscience to defend The fortunes nay the flesh I 'm forc'd to rend Of those who have no faults but Wealth or Power And thus my self I torture ev'ry hour For all the miseries I impose I feel And my heart bleeds when guiltless blood I spill Because I faintly act this cruel part Caesar is pleas'd to say I want a Heart And has my tenderness in great disdain He thinks I 'm not a Man because Humane Val. A. Nay Caesar counts humanity a crime Well Cassius you may have redress in time Several go over the Stage carrying Robes and Crowns Behold a foolish ostentatious shew Of Robes and Crowns won in the German War Not by the Valour of the Emperor He never stoops in Person to subdue He fights by Proxy as great Princes wooe He dares not look on War a while ago He march'd to'ards War and made a noise and shew Which through the German Woods a horror spread The hasty Rhine to Sea more swiftly fled He had two Armies Ca. Ch. No my Lord but one Val. A. Yes Cassius I lead gallant Men and Caesar A flying Camp of ranting Concubines Who flam'd and gave a lustre to the day No Meteors were so bright or hot as they Cass Ch. Ay but my Lord these falling Stars 't is known Though bright aloft are Jellies when they 're down Val. A. That you have often found now what became Of this Bravado and attempt on Fame It dwindled to a Farce and foolish Scene For his Light-Horse light Concubines I mean With Caesar in their head began to fly On the first News the enemy drew nigh To look on a brave Foe they durst not stay The German Trumpets blew 'em all away An. M. They have some wounds I 'm told Val. A. In Fame they have And scratches which the Quick-set Hedges gave Caesar is often prancing on the Road. To War but long e'r danger is abroad Like a hot early Spring he oft sets forth Not to enrich adorn but blast the Earth Whilst sweet young Beauties in their lovely May Like blossoms round him blow but far more gay And when approaching dangers rudely threat The splendid Prince he and his buds retreat He wisely keeps in War a Regal State Makes danger from himself at distance wait But with stiff pride enters an empty Town His Troops have won and assumes their renown Ca. Ch. Second-hand Glory appears somewhat bear Val. A. Second-hand Cloaths he may as proudly wear With all their Lawrels then a Prince is crown'd Who ne'r saw fight nor felt a noble wound Wounds he has had but they were all behind For yet his face danger cou'd never find But he 'll triumph in Person o'r the bold For Victories he never durst behold Now in triumphal pomp he enters Rome Leading those chain'd he durst not overcome And now who dares but in a look betray The least contempt of this illustrious day Sacred to th' honour of th' Imperial Sword And the vast pride of our vain-glorious Lord An. M. You of his pride and vanity complain Oh! wou'd to heaven he were only vain But he has Vices I abhor to name They cover me with everlasting shame His Sisters were all wonderfully fair Part of that beauty I desir'd to share The youngest then seem'd to have ev'ry grace Her beauty gave a lustre to her race I humbly begg'd his leave for an address And angry Heaven curs'd me with success I got his Sister and let that suffice To express
Caesar and your Wife been kind Val. A. Been kind No more I sweat when e'er their names are joyn'd An. M. You wisely keep her out of Caesar's sight And in safe privacies engross delight You never suffer her to see the Town And thus secure her honour and your own Val. A My Lord I 'd stab her if she shou'd presume But to look towards or own she dreamt of Rome Damnation She 's in Court in this Lewd Court I pray my Lord for your own sake retire Of my Domestick troubles take no share You have enow and more than you can bare Exit An. M. Enter Julia attended Why how now Madam am I disobey'd What has allur'd you from your Sacred shade To Rome where ev'ry Vice has open sway Revells and Rages in sight of day Jul. My Lord I 'm overjoy'd with your Renown Spoil not my pleasure with an angry frown Why do you look with such a threatning brow My Lord you are not in a battle now Val. A. I 'm in worse danger as I 've cause to fear For you expose my life and honour here If e're you come in ravenous Caesar's eye Your beauty I l be devoured and I shall die Jul. I 'll guard my self Val. A. I 'll not trust your defence I 'll hurry you a hundred Leagues from hence Your Beauty shall not flourish in report I 'll furle that banner up remote from Court Shell I display your tempting white and red And challenge Caesar to invade my Bed Provoke the proud Adulterer to my Couch And be Procurer to my own Reproach Jul. You have confin'd me till I wished to die Th' unborn have as much joy in life as I. Val. A. Caesar and you I labour'd to divide But shame and ruin what have I deny'd I out of love confin'd you to a seat I do not think Elezium is so sweet I kept you a Luxurious Court at home You had the pomp without the crimes o' Rome Had Reason Rul'd you I had pleas'd your mind But Reason is no part of womankind Your Lusts and Vanities no bounds admit You 're moderate in nothing but your Wit Jul. This picture of our Sex not much allures Now I 'll endeavour to delineate yours Our Follies are akin but yours are gross And ours from beauty have a pleasing gloss Your Fop is but our Ape he paints the face And acts our fool without her Charming Grace Both Sexes vex the World with noise and prate But we confound a street and you a state Our fools but seldom write your Sex is stor'd With fools who will be Coxcombs on Record And their impertinence through ages spread Your scolds in Books wrangle alive and dead Fighting all Women and most Men abhor But Women Cowards have wit to keep from War Your mighty Tyrant Lords our beauty rules Your greatest Wits are gull'd by Female Fools I 've youth I 've youth and pleasure I 'll enjoy But fear me not my birth and spirit are high Rather than taint my Family I 'd die Val. A. Of Caesar's wickedness I 'm most in fear Madam begone you 're in a mad house here Not where a Lunitick is held in Chains But where a great Imperial Madman Reigns Who tares the World and lays all Nations bare And when he has enjoy'd he strips the Fair Of his Lewd love those are Triumphal shews In jovial moodes on Fav'rites he bestows The beauteous Empress I have oft by night Beheld all naked like unclouded light Have often seen in wanton postures spread That brazen beauty on a Golden bed Jul. Whatever you suppose e're I 'd be food To brutal Lust Lyons shou'd drink my blood Val. A. Oh! Madam you have vertues that he slights And Rapes and Rapines are his high delights He loves to make all Nature feel his force Rivers he Ravishes and turns their course He levels Mountains Elevates the Vales O're waves he rides and over Lands he sails Nay he builds lofty Palaces on Seas He scorns the Pleasure he can gain with ease I have been hot but no one shou'd admire In a watch Tower to see a blaâ—ing fire 'T is kindled up to lend a needful light To Mariners in dangerous dead of night To tell 'em Land is near they 're cast away Unless they keep aloofe to Sea 'till day For such kind ends my passion flam'd aloft But though my words were harsh my heart is soft Now I 'll no more be troublesomely wise Dwell where thou wilt with thy own heart advise Study thy pleasures and regard not mine To my own bosome I 'll my fears confine But of my fortunes carve thy self thy share I will lock nothing from thee but my care Jul. This gen'rous Love I never can requite In pleasing you I 'll place my chief delight Rome from this moment I renounce abjure I 'll not the memory of Rome endure Nay in my presence no one shall presume To mention infamous and vitious Rome Val. A. Oh! if this Town shou'd rightly be pourtray'd Hell must lend colours for a dismal shade Climates there are which burn the natives black And scorching day appears a fiery Lake In a more horrid Climate here we dwell For they are burnt by Heaven but we by Hell Here bosoms oft flame with incestuous fires And many Sons are Brethren to their Sires Our Emp'ror has with high-sprung Bastards stor'd A thousand beds and all his Sisters Whor'd Jul. Oh! Monster Val. A. Stay He drags thee to his bed And then his fear and envy take my head None whom he fears will he with life entrust And nothing that he likes escapes his Lust Jul. My Chariot I abhor a Court so Lewd Methinks it has a scent of Lust and Blood And I shall sicken If I longer stay Therefore this very minute I 'll away Val. A. Canst thou not breath in the same air with Vice Then thou must quit the World th' art over nice Well I 'll release thee from this dire abode When I 've an hour on some affairs bestow'd Then I 'll along I hurry thee from hence Only to save thee from lewd violence Not part with beauty I so highly prize But to secure thee to my Arms and Eyes Ex. The SCENE a magnificent part of the Palace Enter Caligula Cesonia Vitellius Attendants Guards Cal. I have been building Madam since we went Ces A palace lofty as the firmament The Rooms with wondrous pleasure I behold Cal. And mark the doors the hinges are of gold Ces If Artists Sir can for the work be found I 'd have the doors yield an harmonious sound As all the Heavens do when e'r they move And make this palace like the seat of Jove Wou'd this were possible to human skill Cal. What is impossible to Caesar's Will Vit. No Caesar's genius exalts ev'ry mind Gives a great Soul to Arts of ev'ry kind Cal. How do those Gardens in thy eye appear Ces The face of Winter now frowns ev'ry where Vit. Oh! Madam you 're the favorite of
makes me sick and I am sick to death For Love I prize for Love I lose my life I liv'd your chaste and die your martyr'd Wife Val. A. Oh! Caesar Caesar thou shalt feel my Sword Shall is too sluggish and too faint a word The Tyrant's fallen on his Neck I tread He 's dying by my Sword nay more he 's dead But can one death for all his crimes atone He breaks thy Laws Oh! Nature break thy own Let him have many Lives be often born That he may often be in pieces torn ACT V. Enter Julia and her Women Jul. RUN to my Lord desire his swift return For I 've drunk Poyson and I burn I burn Enter Valerius Asiaticus and Annius Minutianus Oh! my dear Lord I 've done my honour right And Death will soon transport me out o' sight For I am all in a consuming flame I burn with poyson and I burn with shame Val. A. With poyson Jul. Poyson but I 've never been With a worse poyson tainted shameful sin Oh! I abhor the thought Val. A. I 've no distrust Jul. I 've been inviolably true and just No one can have a Soul more clear than I From foul desires for Caesar's sin I die Val. A. I do believe thou art as chaste as fair Wound not thy woundâ—d heart thy griefs I share How much I value thee thou hast not known Because I love thee more than can be shown I out of love conceal'd thee in a shade Jul. And your Commands I boldly disobey'd And came to Rome She kneels The fatal fault forgive And at the least oh love me whilst I live Val. A. Ay and for ever rise sweet Julia rise Rise to my arms thou life of all my joys But a departing life my Julia dies Jul. Oh! wou'd to Heav'n I had dy'd before This shameful violation Oh! no more My blushing cheeks glow with a fiery red In thy dear bosome let me hide my head An M. How blest was he before this heavy wrong In a soft beauty constant chaste and young In this sweet Lady all perfections joyn I never had a pleasing hour with mine Jul. When I am dead strew me all o'er I pray With flow'rs to shew that I was chaste as they Val. A. As sweet and lovely too Jul. They fade and die When they are rudely touch'd and so do I. Oh! my blood rises my cheeks glow again Why shou'd I blush for wicked Caesar's sin Val. A. The least undecent thought thou canst not bear Thy Vertue to its self is too severe Jul. Oh! see the Souls of Vestal Virgins come To welcome me and grace my martyrdom They 're all in Robes whiter than mountain Snow Val. A. Alas she raves Jul. Do you not see ' em Val. A. No. Jul. Then I perceive the modest beauties shun The sight of men therefore begone begone I shall in triumph to Elizium go 'T is a great honour Ladies you bestow Oh! they retire Ladies return again Admit me into your sacred spotless Train I 'm chaste as you tho' not so fair in fame For wicked Tongues I know will wrong my Name Throw on my mem'ry undeserv'd disgrace But your sweet Groves will hide my blushing face Oh! they are going stay sweet Virgins stay They 're gone they 're gone y 'ave frightned 'em away And I 'm with strangers left I know not where Val. A. Th' art in his arms to whom th' art wondrous dear Jul. Ha! you are Caesar Val. A. No sweet Julia no I 'm Caesar's mortal and eternal foe Jul. Well y' are a man and ev'ry man I dread Who 's this my Lord I knew not what I said In my few moments that my thoughts shou'd rove From him whom I so dearly dearly love Val. A. Lean lean my Julia on my panting breast My love and sorrow cannot be express'd Jul. I 'm going where no wicked Tyrant reigns Preserve my mem'ry Val. A. All thy dear Remains Jul. Heav'n knows how I 've been faithful to your Bed I 've lov'd you to my death shall love when dead Elizium can to me no bliss afford Till in those happy shades I meet my Lord Till then farewel She dies Val. A. She 's going she is gone Ah! see what beastial tyranny has done Her beauty 's gone Death has deflowr'd her too What I so lov'd I've not the heart to view Cover her face forbear a while-those pale Departing beauties Death too long will veil I will have one cold kiss before we part Kisses her Revenge Revenge Oh how it swells my heart An. M. Be well prepar'd Rome loves a vitious Prince All the corrupt will rise in his defence Val. A. Well if Rome rises I will raise it higher For I 'll exalt it to the Clouds in fire But 't is dispirited and dares not rise And Caesar's scorn'd by all the brave and wise An. M. Proud Tyrants who no bounds of law endure Are common foes and never are secure Their lofty Thrones they seldom long enjoy Streif Lyons all men labour to destroy Val. A. Oh tremble Caesar prodigies appear Which say if there be Gods thy fall is near Prodigious Vertue in this Beauty shone Her Cause and Justice live tho' she is gone Thy own prodigious Crimes th' ast cause to dread Vengeance they 'll hurle at thy devoted head Eclipses are thought frightfull omens too This sad Eclipse thou may'st with terror view It threats thy life View it ye Gods forbid His frantick Lust wou'd violate the dead Methinks I talk too much in words abound And my Revenge evaporates in sound An. M. Will you not set the gallant Cassius free Val. A. And steal by stabs revenge and liberty My honour in full splendor I 'll maintain I 'll by fair War end this inhuman Reign This night for mine and universal good The Sun shall set in blood Imperial blood Ex. SCENE the Court. Enter Caligula Vitellius Guards Cal. Beauty I love but I hate toilsome Rapes I love good Wine but wou'd not tread the Grapes The Chast are cold therefore I hate the Chast Fruites in cold climes have an insipid tast I 'm told by Oracles my death is nigh Vit. Your death Cal. my death all I suspect shall die Valerius first shall perish by my Sword He can in battle face his Sovereign Lord. Vit. Nay he 's provok'd and therefore dangerous grown Cal. Provok'd by pride to mount th' Imperial Throne And by Revenge provok'd to take my life Because I forc'd his fair young vertuous Wife Cassius Cheraea's honest tho' not bold Valerius has confin'd him I am told In the mad Revels of his Rage no doubt Valerius let some dangerous secrets out Which now he 'd lock up in the dark from me But I 'll unravel all the Villainy Vit. The Jews inform'd that if they dare deny To worship Caesars Image they shall die Bey Audience Cal. Villains They wou'd not presume To slight my Will had they not found in Rome Rebellious spirits and when they appear A Prince's fall
chastize For Cassius speedily search all the Town For he has wrong'd my honour and his own He wrought no doubt the Villany I fear'd But by his death my honour shall be clear'd Enter Cesonia and her Woman Ces My Caesar murder'd stand away forbear Now I 've lost Caesar what have I to fear Oh! here 's my Caesar I so Lov'd Ador'd Lord of the World I 'm sure Gesonia's Lord Mangled by Villains here in blood he lies In his own blood Caesar who gave my eyes Ay and my heart such infinite delight Is now a mournfull and a dreadfull Sight The World to me is all a desart now For a lost Caesar Gods revenge bestow Revenge all Princes by this horrid deed All thrones are shaken and all Princes bleed Revenge two Lovers here by Villains torn One murder'd and I only live to mourn Revenge my Princely Babe from Caesar sprung It cannot sin why shou'd it suffer wrong Now the Tree's fallen the little branch will soon Decay and wither Oh! I faint I swoun Val. A. Help her Ces Stand off I 've pleasure in my grief Except revenge I desire no relief Take up the precious relicks of your Prince Oh! take 'em up whilst I've remains o' sence Oh! gently gently if you be humane His wounds pain me and he feels all my pain For his Cesonia he more dearly Loves Than all the beauties in th' Elizian Groves They take up the Emperor Come my dead Lord with thy Cesonia dwell In Love at least I all my Sex excell Now in the dead and death are all my joys I 'll weep till tears and death have quench'd my eyes Ex. Cesonia and her Attendants with the body of the Emperor Val. A. Unhappy Princess the worst fault she had Was an excess of Love for one so bad Now bring the sentenc'd Pris'ners in with speed Whose unjust deaths the Tyrant had decreed Enter Pastor Lepidus Philo and the Jews Your fortunes and freedoms I restore The tyrants dead he 'll plague the World no more Pas The dreadfull Emp'ror dead good news indeed Oh! to his Vices may no Prince succeed Enter Salome she runs to Lepidus Sal. Oh! my dear Love Lep. My Love art thou so near Oh! how durst thou expose thy beauty here Sal. Ask me no Questions I am mad with Joy And have not sence to make thee a reply I in distraction came to die with thee Die in thy arms and find thee safe and free Val. A. Go marry of each other take your fill And now you Jews go believe what you will Pas Yes marry Son th' ast nobly earn'd my leave Lep. Oh! with what joy this favour I receive Phi. Most Gallant Youth not many minutes since When the keen weapon of a dreadfull Prince Was on your Father drawn you stept between Such an Example we have rarely seen Now shall we turn the edge of Law on you More favour to your piety is due My Daughter Sir I to your arms resign Lep. Oh! my dear Love th' art mine Sal. And thou art mine Val. A. The Imperial Throne I can with ease ascend I know no power which can with mine contend But shou'd I reign the World which thinks me proud Will charge me with the Guilt of Caesar's blood And say the horrid Villany was done By my command that I might mount the throne I 'd rather be an honest slave I swear Than buy the Empire of the world so dear I never yet in crimes employ'd my Sword When I 've the Senate to their right restor'd And reveng'd Caesar as our Laws require I 'll to some quiet privacy retire And there disarm'd and all my powers laid down I will be great in nothing but renown And in my solitude till death Iâ—ll mourn Over my Martyr'd Julia's sacred Urn. Exeunt FINIS PROLOGUE Spoken by Mr. Powell who Acted the Emperor SO mad a Tyrants part I act to day That you will think him mad who wrote the Play In Comick humours he takes most delight And yet he rants in Tragedy to night And strives to give diversion for an hour With a young Prince mad with excess of power He had that mighty power you all desire Power you all love and labour to acquire Some have desir'd a French Invasion here For under them they hop'd to domineer But Oh! shou'd France this nobler Realm subdue Ev'ry Dragoon wou'd be a Caesar too Poor Rogues who for three-half-pence sell their Lives Wou'd lord it o're your Lands your Selves your Wives What wretched slav'ry is we shew to day 'T is well you only see it in a Play Thanks to the Brave who well deserve their pay Some gentle pity we have hopes to move By the misfortunes of sweet vertuous Love The nicest Lady need not blush today At least at what the Women do or say Chast all the beauties are they represent Their loves are Conjugal or Innocent We are young actors yet we hope to please By Acting Love for love with youth agrees You love the Actors who have pleas'd you long But th' Images of Love shou'd all be young EPILOGUE Spoken by a Girl SInging in Plays is grown so much in vogue I had some thoughts to sing the Epilogue Since singing such delight to you affords To please you we 'll all turn Canary Birds When I 'm a Woman which will be e'ne long No Man I swear shall have me for a Song If you 'll tempt me do it with glitt'ring Gold And those enchanting words To have and hold Iâ—ll on those Terms yield to some worthy Man Have me he may and hold me if he can Well let me be an Actress I 'm content Provided Gallants you 'll give your consent I mean your gen'rous Encouragement But to the famous Actors you resort Who fled from us to an old Tennis-Court Thither let all the old Gallants repair And toss and racket the fine Beauties there Applaud admire 'em and do what they will If you young Sparks will please sometimes to fill And grace our House with an alluring throng Methinks you shou'd for most of us are young Tender young plants most of our Women are Some it is said are ripe enough to bear Here 's a Spring-Garden which deserves your care Persons Represented Mr. Powell Caligula Emperor of Rome Mr. Williams Valerius Asiaticus General of the Imperial Army in Germany Mr. Simpson Annius Minutianus A noble Roman Married to one of the Emperor's Sisters Mr. Mills Vitellius Proconsul of Asia Mr. Thomas Cassius Cheraea A Tribune in the Emperor's Guard  Pastor An old Roman Knight Mr. Evans Lepidus Pastor's Son Mr. Disney Philo A Learned Jew Embassador from the Egyptian Jews to the Emperor WOMEN Mrs. Knight Cesonia The Emperour 's beloved Wife Mrs. Temple Julia A young beauty Wife to Valerius Mrs. Cross Salome Philo's Daughter  Consuls Senators Guards Attendants The SCENE the Imperial Palace of Rome the Time the last hoâ—â— of the Emperor's Life Books lately Printed for Richard Wollington at the Lute in St. Paul's Church-Yard A Mathematical Compendium or the Description and Use of a new sliding Rule by which many Usefull and Necessary Questions in Arithmetick Military Orders Interests Trigonometry Planometry Sterenometry Geography Astronomy Navigation Fortification Gunnery Dyalling may be speedily resolved without the help of Pen or Compasses By William Hunt Philomath A Discourse upon the Nature and Faculties of Man in several Essays With some considerations on the Occurrences of Human Life By Tim. Nourse Gent. Familliar Letters written by John late Earl of Rochester to the Honourable Henry Savile Esq and other Persons of Quality with Love-Letters written by the late Ingenious Mr. Ottway and several Letters written by Sir George Ethridge the late Duke of Buckingham c. in two Volumes each Vol. may be had singly Ovid Travestie or a Burlesque on Ovid's Epistles by Captain Alaxander Radcliff The Novels c. of the late Ingenious Mrs. Behn Collected into one Vol. viz. Oroonoko or the Royal Slave Fair Jilt or Prince Tarquin Agnes de Castro or the force of Generous Love The Lovers Watch or the Art of Love The Ladies Looking-Glass The Lucky Mistake And the History of the Nun or fair Vow-breaker Reflections upon Ancient and Modern Learning By William Wotton B. D. Chaplain to the Right Honourable the Earl of Nottingham The Second Edition with Large Additions With a Dissertation upon the Epistles of Phalaris Themislocles Socrates Euripides c. and Aesop's Fables by Dr. Bentley The Family Physician being a choice Collection of Approv'd and Experienc'd Remedies to cure all Diseases incident to Human Bodies usefull in Families and serviceable to Country People by George Hartman Chymist Servant to Sir Kelemn Digby till he died A General Treatise of the Diseases of Inâ—ants and Children Collected from the most Eminent Practical Authors by John Pechey of the College of Physicians Contemplations Moral and Divine in three parts Written by the late Lord Chief Justice Hales to which iâ— added the Life of the Author by Gilbert Lord Bishop of Sarum The third part may be had singly Cocker's Decimal Arithmetick the Second Edition very much enlarged by John Hawkins Schoolmaster at St. George's Church in Southwark Vade Mecum or the necessary Companion containing Sir Sam. Moreland's Perpetual Almanack shewing the days of the Month â—or any year Past Present or to come a Table of the Kings Reigns since the Conquest compared with the years of Christ A Table of the Reign wherein any numbers of Farthings Half-pence Fâ—nce and Sâ—ilâ—ings are ready cast up of great use to all Traders 6. The Interest and Rebate of Money the Forbearance Discount and purchase of Annuities 7. The Rates oâ— Post-Letters Inland and Outland 8. Account of the Penny-Post 9. The Principal Roads in England shewing the distance of each Town from London also the Market Towns on each Road with the days of the week the Markets are kept on also the Hundred and County each Town stands in 10. The names of the Counties Cities and Burrough-Towns in England and Wales with the number of Knights Citizens and Burgesses chosen therein to serve in Parliament 11. The usual Rates and Fares of Coachmen Carmen and Watermen The Sixth Edition much Enlarged