the storie Which in the doing had enough to grieue me Tell on and end the tale you whom it pleaseth Mee mine owne sorrow stops from further speaking Nero my loue doth make thy fault and my griefe greater ex Se. Sceuin: I doe commend in Seneca this passion And yet me thinkes our Countries miserie Doth at our hands craue somewhat more then teares Luca: Pittie though 't doth a kind affection show If it end there our weakenesse makes vs know Flaui: Let children weepe and men seeke remedie Sceui: Stoutly and like a Souldier Flauius Yet to seeke remedie to a Princes ill Seldome but it doth the Phisitian kill Flaui: And if it doe Sceuinus it shall take But a deuoted soule from Flauius Which to my Countrey and the Gods of Rome Alreadie sacred is and giuen away Death is no straunger vnto me I haue The doubtfull hazard in twelue Battailes throwne My chaunce was life Luca: Why doe we goe to fight in Brittanie And end our liues vnder an other Sunne Seeke causelesse dangers out The German might Enioy his Woods and his owne All is drinke Yet we walke safely in the streets of Rome Bodinca hinders not but we might liue Whom we doe hurt Them we call enemies And those our Lords that spoyle and murder vs Sceuin: Nothing is hard to them that dare to die This Noble resolution in you Lords Heartens me to disclose some thoughts that I The matter is of waight and dangerous Luca: I see you feare vs Seruinus Sceuin Nay Nay although the thing be full of feare Flaui: Tell it to faithfull Eares what eare it bee Sceuin: Faith let it goe it will but trouble vs Bee hurtfull to the speaker and the hearer Luca: If our long friendship or the opinion Sceuin: Why should I feare to tell them Why is he not a Parricide a Player Nay Lucan is he not thine Enemie Hate not the Heauens as well as men to see That condem'd head and you O righteous Gods Whither so ere you now are fled and will No more looke downe vpon th' oppressed Earth O seuere anger of the highest Gods And thou sterne power to whom the Greekes assigne Scourges and swords to punish proud mens wrongs If you be more then names found out to awe vs And that we doe not vainely build you alters Aid that iust arme that 's bent to execute What you should doe Luca. Stay y' are caried too much away Sceuinus Sceui. Why what will you say for him hath he not Sought to suppresse your Poem to bereaue That honour euery tongue in duty paid it Nay what can you say for him hath he not Broa'cht his owne wiues a chast wiues breast and torne With Scithian hands his Mothers bowels vp The Inhospitable Caucasus is milde The More that in the boyling desert seekes With blood of stranger to imbrue his iawes Vpbraides the Roman now with barbarousnesse Luca: You are to earnest I neither can nor will I speake for him And though he sought my learned paynes to wrong I hate him not for that My verse shall liue When Neroes body shall be throwne in Tiber And times to come shall blesse those wicked armes I loue th' vnnaturall wounds from whence did flow Another Ciria a new Hellicon I hate him that he is Romes enemie An enemie to Vertue fits on high To shame the seate And in that hate my life And blood I le mingle on the earth with yours Flaui: My deeds Sceuinus shall speake my consent Sceui. T is answerd as I lookt for noble Poet Worthy the double Lawrell Flauius Good lucke I see doth vertuous meanings ayde And therefore haue the Heauens forborne their duties To grace our swords with glorious blood of Tyrants exeunt Finis Actus Primi Actus Secundus Enter Petronius Solus HEre waites Poppea her Nimphidius comming And hath this garden and these walkes chose out To blesse her with more pleasures then their owne Not onely Arras hangings and silke beeds Are guilty of the faults we blame them for Somewhat these Arbors and you trees doe know Whil'st you kind shades you to these night sports show Night sports Faith they are done in open day And the Sunne see'th and enuieth their play Hither haue I Loue-sicke Antonius brought And thrust him on occasion so long sought Shewed him the Empresse in a thicket by Her loues approach waiting with greedie Eye And told him if he euer meant to proue The doubtfull issue of his hopelesse Loue This is the place and time wherein to try it Women will heere the suite that will deny it The suit 's not hard that she comes for to take Who hott in lust of men doth difference make At last loath willing to her did he pace Arme him Priapus with thy powerfull Mace But see they comming are how they agree Heere will I harken shroud me gentle tree Enter Poppea and Antonius Anto. Seeke not to grieue that heart which is thine owne In Loues sweete fires let heat of rage burne out These browes could neuer yet to wrinckle learne Nor anger out of such faire eyes looke forth Poppea You may solicite your presumptuous suites You duety may and shame too layd aside Disturbe my priuacies and I forsooth Must be afeard euen to be angry at you Anto: What shame is 't to be mastred by such beautie Who but to serue you comes how wants he dutie Or if it be a shame the shame is yours The fault is onely in your Eies they drew me Cause you were louely therefore did I loue O if to Loue you anger you so much You should not haue such cheekes nor lips to touch You should not haue your snow nor currall spy'd If you but looke on vs in vaine you chide We must not see your Face nor heare your speech Now whilst you Loue forbid you Loue doe teach Pet. He doth better then I thought he would Pop: I will not learne my beauties worth of you I know you neither are the first nor greatest Whom it hath mou'd He whom the World obayes Is fear'd with anger of my threatning Eyes It is for you a farre off to adore it And not to reach at it with sawsie hands Feare is the Loue that 's due to Gods and Princes Pet. All this is but to edge his appetite Ant. O doe not see thy faire in that false glasse Of outward difference Looke into my heart There shalt thou see thy selfe Inthroaned set In greater Maiesty then all the pompe Of Rome or Nero T is not the crowching awe And Ceremony with which we flatter Princes That can to Loues true duties be compar'd Pop: Sir let me goe or I le make knowne your Loue To them that shall requite it but with hate Pet. On on thou hast the goale the fort is beaten Women are wonne when they begin to threaten Anto. Your Noblenesse doth warrant me from that Nor need you others helpe to punish me Who by your forehead am condem'd or free They that to be reuendg'd do bend
the laden bowes Offer their tempting burdens to your hand Doubtfull your eye or tast inuiting more There euery man his owne desires enioyes Faire Lucrese lies by lusty Tarquins side And wooes him now againe to rauish her Nor vs though Romane Lais will refuse To Corinth any man may goe no maske No enuious garment doth those beauties hide Which Nature made so mouing to be spide But in bright Christall which doth supply all And white transparent vailes they are attyr'd Through which the pure snowe vnderneath doth shine Can it be snowe from whence such flames arise Mingled with that faire company shall we On bankes of Violets and of Hiacinths Of loues deuising sit and gently sport And all the while melodious Musique heare And Poets songs that Musique farre exceed The old Anaicean crown'd with smyling flowers And amorous Sapho on her Lesbian Lute Beauties sweet Scarres and Cupids godhead sing Anto: What be not rauisht with thy fancies doe not Court nothing nor make loue vnto our feares Petro: I st nothing that I say Anto: But empty words Petro: Why thou requir'st some instance of the eye Wilt thou goe with me then and see that world Which either will returne thy old delights Or square thy appetite anew to theirs Anto: Nay I had rather farre beleeue thee here Others ambition such discoueries seeke Faith I am satisfied with the base delights Of common men A wench a house I haue And of my owne a garden I le not change For all your walkes and Ladies and rare fruits Petro: Your pleasures must of force resigne to these In vaine you shunne the sword in vaine the sea In vaine is Nero fear'd or flatered Hether you must and leaue your purchast houses Your new made garden and your blacke browd wife And of the trees thou hast so quaintly set Not one but the displeasant Cipresse shall Goe with thee Anton: Faith 't is true we must at length But yet Petroneus while we may awhile We would enioy them those we haue w' are sure of When that you talke of 's doubfull and to come Petro: Perhaps thou thinkst to liue yet twenty yeeres Which may vnlookt for be cut off as mine If not to endlesse time compar'd is nothing What you endure must euer endure now Nor stay not to be last at table set Each best day of our life at first doth goe To them succeeds diseased age and woe Now die your pleasures and the dayes your pray Your rimes and loues and iests will take away Therefore my sweet yet thou wilt goe with mee And not liue here to what thou wouldst not see Enan: Would y'haue me then kill my selfe and die And goe I know not to what places there Petro: What places dost thou feare The 'll fauoured lake they tell thee thou must passe And thy blacke frogs that croake about the brim Enan: O pardon Sir though death affrights a woman Whose pleasures though you timely here diuine The paines we know and see Petron: The paine is lifes death rids that paine away Come boldly there 's no danger in this foord Children passe through it If it be a paine You haue this comfort that you past it are Enan: Yet all as well as I are loath to die Petron Iudge them by deed you see them doe 't apace Enan: I but t is loathly and against their wils Petro. Yet know you not that any being dead Repented them and would haue liu'd againe They then there errors saw and foolish prayers But you are blinded in the loue of life Death is but sweet to them that doe approach it To me as one that taken with Delphick rage When the diuining God his breast doth fill He sees what others cannot standing by It seemes a beauteous and a pleasant thing Where is my deaths Phisitian Phisi: Here my Lord Petro: Art ready Phisi: I my Lord Petro And I for thee Nero my end shall mocke thy tyranny Exeunt Finis Actus Quarti Actus Quintus Enter Nero Nimphidius Tigellinus Neophilus Epaporoditus and other attendants Nero ENough is wept Poppaea for thy death Enough is bled so many teares of others Wailing their losses haue wipt mine away Who in the common funerall of the world Can mourne on death Tigell: Besides your Maiestie this benefit In their diserued punishment shall reape From all attempts hereafter to be freed Conspiracy is now for euer dasht Tumult supprest rebellion out of heart In Pisoes death danger it selfe did die Nimph: Piso that thought to climbe by bowing downe By giuing a way to thriue and raising others To become great himselfe hath now by death Giuen quiet to your thoughts and feare to theirs That shall from treason their aduancement plot Those dangerous heads that his ambition leand on And they by it crept vp and from their meannesse Thought in this stirre to rise aloft are off Now peace and safetie waite vpon your throne Securitie hath wall'd your seat about There is no place for feare left Nero Why I neuer feard them Nimph: That was your fault Your Maiestie must giue vs leaue to blame Your dangerous courage and that noble soule Too prodigall of it selfe Nero A Princes mind knowes neither feare nor hope The beames of royall Maiestie are such As all eyes are with it amaz'd and weakened But it with nothing I at first contemn'd Their weake deuises and faint enterprise Why thought they against him to haue preuail'd Whose childhood was from Messalinas spight By Dragons that the earth gaue vp preseru'd Such guard my cradle had for fate had then Pointed me out to be what now I am Should all the Legions and the prouinces In one vnited against me conspire I could disperce them with one angry eye My brow 's an host of men Come Tigellinus Let turne this bloody banquet Piso meant vs Vnto a merry feast wee le drinke and challenge Fortune whos 's that Neophilus Enter a Roman Neoph: A Currier from beyond the Alpes my Lord Nero Newes of some German victorie belike Or Britton ouerthrow Neoph: The Letters come from France Nimp: Why smiles your Maiestie Nero So I smile I should be afraid there 's one In Armes Nimphidius Nimp: What arm'd against your Maiestie Nero Our Lieuetenant of the Prouince Iulius Vindex Tigell: Who that guiddy French-man Nimp: His Prouince is disarm'd my Lord he hath No legion not a souldier vnder him Epaph: One that by blood and rapine would repaire His state consum'd in vanities and lust Enter another Roman Tigell: He would not find out three to follow him A mess More newes my Lord Nero Is it of Vindex that thou hast to say Mess: Vindex is vp and with him France in Armes The Noble men and people throng to th' cause Money and Armour Cities doe conferre The contrey doth send in prouision Yong men bring bodies old men lead them forth Ladies doe coine their Iewels into pay The sickle now is fram'd into a sword And drawing horses are to manage
fayre Poppea see thy Nero shine In bright Achaias spoyles and Rome in him The Capitall hath other Trophies seene Then it was wont Not spoyles with blood bedew'd Or the vnhappie obsequies of Death But such as Caesars cunning not his force Hath wrung from Greece too bragging of her art Tigell. And in this strife the glories all your owne Your Tribunes cannot share this prayse with you Here your Centurions hath no part at all Bootlesse your Armies and your Eagles were No Nauies helpt to bring away this conquest Nim. Euen Fortunes selfe Fortune the Queene of kingdomes That Warrs grim valour graceth with her deeds Will claime no portion in this Victorie Nero Not Bacchus drawne from Nisa downe with Tigers Curbing with viny raines their wilfull heads Whil'st some doe gape vpon his Iuy Thirse Some on the dangling grapes that Crowne his head All praise his beautie and continuing youth So strooke amased India with wonder As Neroes glories did the Greekish townes Elis and Pisa and the rich Micaena Iunoman Argos and yet Corinth proud Of her two Seas all which ore-come did yeeld To me their praise and prises of their games Poppea Yet in your Greekish iourney we do heare Sparta and Athens the two eyes of Greece Neither beheld your person nor your skill Whether because they did afford no games Or for their to much grauitie Nero Why what Should I haue seene in them but in the one Hunger blacke-pottage and men hot to die Thereby to rid themselues of miserie And what in th' other but short Capes long Beardes Much wrangling in things needlesse to be knowne Wisedome in words and onely austere faces I will not be Aiecelaus nor Solon Nero was there where he might honour winn And honour hath he wonn and brought from Greece Those spoyles which neuer Roman could obtaine Spoyles won by witt and Tropheis of his skill Nim. What a thing he makes it to be a Minstrill Pop. I prayse your witt my Lord that choose such safe Honors safe spoyles wonn without dust on blood Nero What mooke ye me Poppea Poppea Nay in good Faith my Lord I speake in earnest I hate that headie and aduenturous crew That goe to loose their owne to purchase but The breath of others and the common voyce Them that will loose there hearing for a sound That by death onely seeke to get a liuing Make skarrs there beautie and count losse of Limmes The commendation of a proper man And so goe halting to immortalitie Such fooles I loue worse then they doe their liues Nero But now Poppea hauing laid apart Our boastfull spoyles and ornaments of Tryumph Come we like Ione from Phlegra Poppea O Giantlike comparison Nero When after all his Fiers and wandring darts He comes to bath himselfe in Iunos Eyes But thou then wrangling Iuno farre more fayre Stayning the euening beauty of the Skie Or the dayes brightnesse shall make glad thy Caesar Shalt make him proud such beauties to Inioy Exunt Manet Nimphidius solus Nimph: Such beauties to inioy were happinesse And a reward sufficient in it selfe Although no other end or hopes were aim'd at But I haue other T is not Poppeas armes Nor the short pleasures of a wanton bed That can extinguish mine aspiring thirst To Neroes Crowne By her loue I must climbe Her bed is but a step vnto his Throne Already wise men laugh at him and hate him The people though his Mynstrelsie doth please them They feare his Cruelty hate his exactions Which his need still must force him to encrease The multitude which cannot one thing long Like or dislike being cloy'd with vanitie Will hate their owne delights though Wisedome doe not Euen wearinesse at length will giue them eyes Thus I by Neroes and Poppeas fauour Rais'd to the enuious height of second place May gaine the first Hate must strike Nero downe Loue make Nimphidius way vnto a Crowne exit Enter Seneca Sceuinus Lucan and Flauius Sceu. His first beginning was his Fathers death His brothers poysoning and wiues bloudy end Came next his mothers murther clos'd vp all Yet hitherto he was but wicked when The guilt of greater euills tooke away the shame Of lesser and did headlong thrust him forth To be the scorne and laughter to the world Then first an Emperour came vpon the Stage And sung to please Carmen and Candle-sellers And learnt to act to daunce to be a Fencer And in despight o' the Maiestie of Princes He fell to wrastling and was soyl'd with dust And tumbled on the Earth with seruile hands Seneca He sometimes trayned was in better studies And had a Child-hood promis'd other hopes High fortunes like stronge wines do trie their vessels Was not the Race and Theater bigge enough To haue inclos'd thy follies heere at home O could not Rome and Italie containe Thy shame but thou must crosse the Seas to shew it Scen. And make them that had wont to see our Consuls With conquering Eagles wauing in the field Instead of that behold an Emperor dauncing Playing o th' stage and what else but to name Were infamie Lucan O Mummius O Flaminius You whom your Vertues haue not made more famous Then Neros vices You went ore to Greece But t'other warres and brought home other conquests You Corinth and Micena ouerthrew And Perseus selfe the Great Achilles race Ore came hauing Mineruas stayned Temples And your slayne Ancestors of Troy reueng'd Senec. They stroue with Kings and kinglike aduersaries Were euen in their Enemies made happie The Macedonian Courage tryed of old And the new greatnesse of the Syrian power But he for Phillip and Antiochus Hath found more easie enemies to deale with Turpuus Pammenes and a rout of Fidlers Sceuin: Why all the begging Mynstrills by the way He tooke along with him and forc'd to striue That he might ouercome Imagining Himselfe Imortall by such victories Flaui: The Men he caried ouer were enough T' haue put the Parthian to his second flight Or the proud Indyan taught the Roman Yoke Sceuin: But they were Neroes men like Nero arm'd With Luts and Harpes and Pipes and Fiddle-cases Souldyers to th shadow traynd and not the field Flaui: Therefore they brought spoyles of such Soldyers worthy Luca: But to throw downe the walls and Gates of Rome To make an entrance for an Hobby-horse To vaunt toth ' people his rediculous spoyles To come with Lawrell and with Olyues crown'd For hauing beene the worst of all the Singers Is beyond Patience Sceuin: I and anger too Had you but seene him in his Chariot ryde That Chariot in which Augustus late His Triumphs ore so many Nations shew'd And with him in the same a Minstrell plac'd The whil'st the people running by his side Hayle thou Olimpick Conqueror did crye O haile thou Pithian and did fill the skie With shame and voyces Heauen would not haue heard Senec: I saw 't but turn'd away my Eyes and Eares Angry they should be priuie to such sights Why doe I stand relating of
How many Bookes thinke you t' include it in Nero I thinke to write about foure hundred Bookes Cornu Foure hundred why my Lord the 'yle nere be read Nero Hah Tigil: Why he whom you esteeme so much Crisippus Wrote many more Cornu But they were profitable to common life And did Men Honestie and Wisedome teach Nero Tigillinus Exit Nero Tigeli Cornu See with what earnestnesse he crau'd my Iudgment And now he freely hath it how it likes him Neoph: The Prince is angry and his fall is neere Let vs begon least we partake his ruines Exeunt omnes praeter Cornu Manet Cornutus solus What should I doe at Court I cannot lye Why didst thou call me Nero from my Booke Didst thou for flatterie of Cornutus looke No let those purple Fellowes that stand by thee That admire shew and things that thou canst giue Leaue to please Truth and Vertue to please thee Nero there 's nothing in thy power Cornutus Doth wish or feare Enter Tigellinus to him Tigel: T is Neroes pleasure that you straight depart To Giarae and there remaine confin'd Thus he out of his Princely Clemencie Hath Death your due turn'd but to banishment Cornu Why Tigellinus Tigel: I haue done vpon your perill goe or stay ex Ti. Cornu And why should Death or Banishment be due For speaking that which was requir'd my thought O why doe Princes loue to be deceiu'd And euen doe force abuses on themselues There Eares are so with pleasing speech beguil'd That Truth they mallice Flatterie truth account And their owne Soule and vnderstanding lost Goe what they are to seeke in other men Alas weake Prince how hast thou punisht me To banish me from thee O let me goe And dwell in Taurus dwell in Ethiope So that I doe not dwell at Rome with thee The farther still I goe from hence I know The farther I leaue Shame and Vice behind Where can I goe but I shall see thee Sunne And Heauen will be as neere me still as here Can they so farre a knowing soule exyle That her owne roofe she sees not ore her head Exit Enter Piso Sceuinus Lucan Flauius Piso Noble Gentlemen what thankes what recompence Shall hee giue you that giue to him the world One life to them that must so many venture And that the worst of all is too meane paye Yet can I giue no more Take that bestow it Vpon your seruice Lucan O Piso that vouchsafest To grace our headlesse partie with thy name Whom hauing our conductors we need not Haue fear'd to goe again the well try'd vallor Of Iulius or stayednesse of Augustus Much lesse the shame and Womanhood of Nero When we had once giuen out that our pretences Were all for thee our end to make thee Prince They thronging came to giue their names Men Women Gentlemen People Soldiers Senators The Campe and Cittie grew asham'd that Nero And Piso should be offered them together Sceu. We seeke not now as in the happy dayes O' th common wealth they did for libertie O you deere ashes Cassius and Brutus That was with you entomb'd there let it rest We are contented with the galling yoke If they will only leaue vs necks to beare it We seeke no longer freedome we seeke life At least not to be murdred let vs die On Enemies swords Shall we whom neither The Median Bow nor Macedonian Speare Nor the firce Gaule nor painted Briton could Subdue lay downe our neckes to Tyrants axe Why doe we talke of Vertue that obay Weakenesse and Vice Piso Haue patience good Sceuinus Lucan Weakenesse and seruile gouernment we hitherto Obeyed haue which that we may no longer We haue our liues and fortunes now set vp And haue our cause with Pisoes credit strengthned Flaui: Which makes it doubtfull whether loue to him Or Neroes hatred hath drawne more vnto vs Piso I see the good thoughts you haue of me Lords Le ts now proceede to th' purpose of our meeting I pray you take your places Le ts haue some Paper brought Sceuin: Whos 's within Enter Milichus to them Meli. My Lord Sceu. Some Inke and Paper Exit Meli enter againe with Incke and Paper Flaui: Whos 's that Sceuinus Sceui: It is my freed man Melichus Luca: Is he trustie Sceuin: I for as great matters as we are about Piso And those are great ones Luca: I aske not that we meane to neede his trust Gaine hath great soueragintie ore seruile mindes Sceui: O but my benifits haue bound him to me I from a bondman haue his state not onely Aduanc't to freedome but to wealth and credit Piso Meli waire i th' next chamber tell we call abscondit se The thing determinde on our meeting now Is of the meanes and place due circumstance As to the doing of things t' is requir'd So done it names the action Melis: I wonder What makes this new resort to haunt our house When wonted Lucius Piso to come hither Or Lucan when so oft as now of late aside Piso And since the field and open shew of armes Dislike you and that for the generall good You meane to end all styrres in end of him That as the ground must first be thought vpon Melic: Besides this comming cannot be for forme Our visitation they goe aside aside And haue long conferences by themselues Luca: Piso his comming to your house at Baiae To bathe and banquet will fit meanes afford amidst his cups to end his hated life Let him die drunke that nere liu'd soberly Pisa O be it farre that I should staine my Table And Gods of Hospitalitie with blood Let not our cause now Innocent be soyld With such a blot nor Pisoes name made hatefull What place can better fit our action Then his owne house that boundlesse enuied heape Built with the spoyles and blood of Cittizens That hath taken vp the Citie left no roome For Rome to stand on Romanes get you gone And dwell at Uciae If that Vciae too This house ore runne not Lucan But t will be hard to doe it in his house And harder to escape being done Piso Not so Bufus the Captaine of the Guard 's with vs And diuers other o th' Preterian Band Already made many though vnacquainted With our intents haue had disgrace and wrongs Which grieue them still most will be glad of change And euen they that lou'd him best when once They see him gone will smile o' th comming times Let goe things past and looke to their owne safetie Besides th' astonishment and feare will be So great so sodaine that 't will hinder them From doing any thing Meli. No priuate businesse can concerne them all aside Their countenances are troubled and looke sad Doubt and Importance in their face is read Lucan Yet still I thinke it were Safer t' attempt him priuate and alone Flaui. But 't will not carry that opinion with it T will seeme more foule and come from priuate malice Brutus and they to right the common
Swans Let me of thee and of thy beauties glory And endlesse tell but neuer wearying story Exeunt Enter Nero Ephaproditus Neophilus Nero Come Sirs I faith how did you like my acting What wa st not as you lookt for Epaph: Yes my Lord and much beyond Nero Did I not doe it to the life Epaph: The very doing neuer was so liuely As now this counterfeyting Nero And when I came Toth ' point of Agrippa Clitemnestras death Did it not mooue the feeling auditory Epaph: They had beene stones whom that could not haue mon'd Nero Did not my voyce hold out well to the end And seru'd me afterwards afresh to sing with Neoph: We know Apollo cannot match your voyce Epaph: By Ioue I thinke you are the God himselfe Come from aboue to shew your hidden arts And fill vs men with wonder of your skill Nero Nay faith speake truely doe not flatter me I know you need not flattery 's but where Desert is meane Epaph: I sweare by thee O Caesar Then whom no power of Heauen I honour more No mortall voice can passe or equall thine Nero They tell of Orpheus when he tooke his Lute And moou'd the noble Iuory with his touch Hebrus stood still Pangea bow'd his head Ossa then first shooke off his snowe and came To listen to the moouings of his song The gentle Popler tooke the Oake along And call'd the Pyne downe from his Mountaine seate The Virgine Bay although the Arts she hates o th' Delphick God was with his voice ore come He his twice-lost Euridice bewailes And Proserpines vaine gifts and makes the shores And hollow caues of forrests now vntreed Beare his griefe company and all things teacheth His lost loues name Then water ayre and ground Euridice Euridice resound These are bould tales of which the Greekes haue store But if he could from Hell once more returne And would compare his hand and voice with mine I though himselfe were iudge he then should see How much the Latine staines the Thracian lyar I oft haue walkt by Tibers flowing bankes And heard the Swan sing her owne Epitaph When she heard me she held her peace and died Let others raise from earthly things their praise Heauen hath stood still to heare my happy ayres And ceast th' eternall Musicke of the Spheares To marke my voyce and mend their tunes by mine Neoph: O diuine voyce Epaph: Happy are they that heare it Enter Tigellinus to them Nero But here comes Tigellinus come thy bill Are there so many I see I haue enemies Epaph: Haue you put Caius in I saw him frowne Neoph: And in the midst o th' Emperors act on Gallus laught out and as I thinke in scorne Nero Vespasian too a sleepe was he so drowsie Well he shall sleepe the Iron sleepe of death And did Thrasia looke so sourely on vs Tigil: He neuer smilde my Lord nor would vouchsafe With one applause to grace your action Nero Our action needed not be grac'd by him Hee 's our old enemie and still Malignes vs T' will haue an end nay it shall haue an end Why I haue bin too pittifull too remisse My easinesse is laught at and contemn'd But I will change it Not as heretofore By singling out them one by one to death Each common man can such reuenges haue A Princes anger must lay desolate Citties Kingdomes consume Roote vp mankind O could I liue to see the generall end Behold the world enwrapt in funerall flame When as the Sunne shall lend his beames to burne What he before brought forth and water serue Not to extinguish but to guise the fire Then like the Salamander bathing me In the last Ashes of all mortall things Let me giue vp this breath Priam was happie Happie indeed he saw his Troy burnt And Illion lye on heapes Whil'st thy pure streames Diuine Scamander did run Phrygian blood And heard the pleasant cries of Troian Mothers Could I see Rome so Tigell: Your Maiestie may easily Without this trouble to your sacred mind Nero What may I easily doe kill thee or him How may I rid you all where is the Man That will all others end and last himselfe O that I had thy Thunder in my hand Thou idle Rouer I le not shoote at trees And spend in woods my vnregarded vengeance I le sheuire them downe vpon their guilty roofes And fill the streetes with bloody burials But 't is not Heauen can giue me what I seeke To you you hated kingdomes of the night You severe powers that not like those aboue Will with faire words or childrens cryes be wonne That haue a stile beyond that Heauen is proud off Deriuing not from Art a makers Name But in destruction power and terror shew To you I flye for succour you whose dwellings For torments are bely'de must giue me ease Furies lend me your fires no they are here They must be other fires materiall brands That must the burning of my heat allay I bring to you no rude vnpractiz'd hands Already doe they reeke with mothers blood Tush that 's but innocents to what now I meane Alasse what euell could those yeeres commit The world in this shall see my setled wit exeunt Enter Seneca Petronius Senec: Petroneus you were at the Theater Petron: Senica I was and saw your kingly Pupyll In Mynstrils habit stand before the Iudges Bowing those hands which the worlds Scepter hold And with great awe and reuerence beseeching Indifferent hearing and an equall doome Then Caesar doubted first to be oreborne And so he ioyn'd himselfe to th' other singers And straightly all other Lawes o th' Stage obseru'd As not though weary to sit downe not spit Not wipe his sweat off but with what he wore Meane time how would he eye his aduersaries How he would seeke t' haue all they did disgrac 't Traduce them priuily openly raile at them And them he could not conquer so he would Corrupt with money to doe worse then he This was his singing part his acting now Senec: Nay euen end here for I haue heard enough I haue a Fidler heard him let me not See him a Player nor the fearefull voyce Of Romes great Monarch now command in Iest Our Prince be Aegamemnon in a Play Petron: Why Seneca T is better in Play Be Aegamemnon then himselfe indeed How oft with danger of the field beset Or with home mutineys would he vnbee Himselfe or ouer cruell alters weeping Wish that with putting off a vizard hee Might his true inward sorrow lay aside The showes of things are better then themselues How doth it stirre this ayrye part of vs To heare our Poets tell imagin'd fights And the strange blowes that fained courage giues When I Achilles heare vpon the Stage Speake Honour and the greatnesse of his soule Me thinkes I too could on a Phrygian Speare Runne boldly and make tales for after times But when we come to act it in the deed Death mares this brauery and the vgly feares Of th' other world
taught France nothing doth but warre and fury breath Nero All this fierce talk's but Vindex doth rebell And I will hang him Tigell. How long came you forth after the former messenger Mess: Foure dayes but by the benefit of sea and weather am arriued with him Neoph. How strong was Vindex at your comming forth Mess: He was esteem'd a hundred thousand Tigell: Men enough Nimph. And souldiours few enough Tumultuary troopes vndisciplin'd Vntrain'd in seruice to wast victuals good But when they come to looke on warres blacke wounds And but a farre off see the face of death Nero It falles out for my empty coffers well The spoyle of such a large and goodly Prouince Enricht with trade and long enioyed peace Tigell: What order will your Maiestie haue taken For leuying forces to suppresse this stirre Nero What order should we take wee le laugh drinke Thinkst thou it fit my pleasures be disturb'd When any French-man list to breake his necke They haue not heard of Pisoes Fortune yet Let that Tale fight with them Nimph. What order needs your Maiestie shall finde This French heat quickly of it selfe grow cold Nero Come away Nothing shall come that this nights sport shall stay Ex. Ner. Manet Neophilus Epaphroditus Neoph. I wonder what makes him so confident In this reuolt now growne vnto a warre And ensignes in the field when in the other Being but a plot of a conspiracie He shew'd himselfe so wretchedly dismaid Epaph. Faith the right nature of a coward to set light Dangers that seeme farre off Piso was here Ready to enter at the Presence doote And dragge him out of his abused chaire And then he trembled Vindex is in France And many woods and seas and hills betweene Neoph. T was strange that Piso was so soone supprest Epaph: Strange strange indeed for had he but come vp And taken the Court in that affright and stirre While vnresolu'd for whom or what to doe Each on the other had in iealousie While as apaled Maiestie not yet Had time to set the countenance he would Haue hazarded the royall seat Neoph: Nay had it without hazard all the Court Had for him bin and those disclos'd their loue And fauour in the cause which now to hide And colour their good meanings ready were To shew their forwardnesse against it most Epaph: But for a stranger with a naked prouince Without allies or friends i th' state to challenge A Prince vpheld with thirty Legions Rooted in foure discents of Ancestors And foureteene yeares continuance of raigne Why it is Enter Nero Nimphidius Tigellinus to them ex Nor Nimph Nero Galba and Spaine what Spaine and Galba too Epaph: I pray thee Tigellinus what furie 's this What strange euent what accident hath thus Orecast your countenances Tigell. Downe we were set at table and began With sparckling bowles to chase our feares away And mirth and pleasure lookt out of our eyes When loe a breathlesse messenger comes in And tells how Vindex and the powers of France Haue Segius Galba chosen Emperor With what applause the Legions him receiue That Spaines reuolted Portingale hath ioyn'd As much suspected is of Germany But Nero not abiding out the end Orethrew the tables dasht against the ground The cuppe which he so much you know esteem'd Teareth his haire and with incensed rage Curseth false men and Gods the lookers on Neoph: His rage we saw was wild and desperate Epaph: O you vnsearched wisedomes which doe laugh At our securitie and feares alike And plaine to shew our weakenesse and your power Make vs contemne the harmes which surest strike When you our glories and our pride vndoe Our ouerthrow you make rediculous too exeunt Enter Nimphidius solus Slow making counsels and the sliding yeere Haue brought me to the long foreseene destruction Of this misled yong man his State is shaken And I will push it on reuolted France Nor the coniured Prouinces of Spaine Nor his owne guilt shall like to me oppresse him I to his easie yeelding feares proclaime New German mutenys and all the world Rowsing it selfe in hate of Neroes name I his distracted counsels doe disperce With fresh despaires I animate the Senate And the people to ingage them past recall In preiudice of Nero and in briefe Perish he must the fates and I resolue it Which to effect I presently will goe Proclaime a Donatiue in Galbaes name Enter Antoneus to him Anton: Yonder 's Nimphidius our Commander now I with respect must speake and smooth my brow Captaine all haile Nimp: Antoneus well met Your place of Tribune in this Anarchi Anton: This Anarchy my Lord is Nero dead Nimph: This Anarchy this yet vnstiled time While Galba is vn eased of the Empire Which Nero hath forsooke Anton: Hath Nero then resign'd the Empire Nimph: In effect he hath for he 's fled to Egypt Anton: My Lord you tell strange newes to me Nimph: But nothing strange to mee Who euery moment knew of his despaires The Curriers came so fast with fresh alarmes Of new reuolts that he vnable quite To beare his feares which he had long conceal'd Is now reuoulted from himselfe and fled Anto: Thrust with reports and rumours from his seat My Lord you know the Campe depends on you As you determine Nimph: There it lies Antonius What should we doe it boots not to relie On Neroes stinking fortunes and to sit Securely looking on were to receiue An Emperor from Spaine which how disgracefull It were to vs who if we waigh our selues The most materiall accessions are Of all the Roman Empire which disgrace To couer we must ioyne our selues betimes And thereby seeme to haue created Gabba Therefore I le straight proclaime a Donatiue Of thirty thousand sisterces a man Anto: I thinke so great a gift was neuer heard of Galba they say is frugally inclinde Will he avow so great a gift as this Nimph: How ere he like of it he must avow it If by our promise he be once ingaged And since the souldiers care belongs to mee I will haue care of them and of their good Let them thanke me if I through this occasion Procure for them so great a donatiue Ex Nimp Anton: So you be thankt it skils not who preuaile Galba or Nero traitor to them both You giue it out that Neroes fled to Egypt Who with the frights of your reports amaz'd By our deuice doth lurke for better newes Whilst you ineuitably doe betray him Workes he all this for Galba then not so I haue long seene his climbing to the Empire By secret practises of gracious women And other instruments of the late Court That was his loue to her that me refus'd And now by this he would giue the souldiers fauour Now is the time to quit Poppaeas scorne And his rivallity I le straight reueale His treacheries to Galbaes agents here Exit Enter Tigellinus with the Guard Tigell: You see what issue things doe sort vnto Yet may we hope not onely
impunitie But with our fellowes part o th' guift proclaim'd Nero meets them Nero Whether goe you stay my friends 'T is Caesar calles you stay my louing friends Tigell: We were his slaues his footstooles and must crouch But now with such obseruance to his feet It is his misery that calles vs friends Nero And moues you not the misery of a Prince O stay my friends stay harken to the voyce Which once yee knew Tigell: Harke to the peoples cryes Harke to the streets that Galba Galba ring Nero The people may forsake me without blame I did them wrong to make you rich and great I tooke their houses to bestow on you Treason in them hath name of libertie Your fault hath no excuse you are my fault And the excuse of others treachery Tigell: Shall we with staying seeme his tyrannies T' vphold as if we were in loue with them We are excus'd vnlesse we stay too long As forced Ministers and apart of wrong ex preter Nero Nero O now I see the vizard from my face So louely and so fearefull is fall'n off That vizard shadow nothing Maiestie Which like a child acquainted with his feares But now men trembled at and now contemne Nero forsaken is of all the world The world of truth O fall some vengeance downe Equall vnto their falsehoods and my wrongs Might I accept the Chariot of the Sunne And like another Phaeton consume In flames of all the world a pile of Death Worthy the state and greatnesse I haue lost Or were I now but Lord of my owne fires Wherein false Rome yet once againe might smoake And perish all vnpitied of her Gods That all things in their last destruction might Performe a funerall honour to their Lord O loue dissolue with Caesar Caesars world Or you whom Nero rather should inuoake Blacke Chaos and you fearefull shapes beneath That with a long and not vaine enuy haue Sought to destroy this worke of th' other Gods Now let your darkenesse cease the spoyles of day And the worlds first contention end your strife Enter two Romanes to him 1 Rom: Though others bound with greater benefits Haue left your changed fortunes and doe runne Whither new hopes doe call them yet come we Nero O welcome come you to aduersitie Welcome true friends why there is faith on earth Of thousand seruants friends and followers Yet two are left your countenance me thinkes Giues comfort and new hopes 2 Rom: Doe not deceiue your thoughts My Lord we bring no comfort would we could But the last duty to performe and best We euer shall a free death to perswade To cut off hopes of fearcer cruelty And scorne more cruell to a worthy soule 1 Rom: The Senate haue decreed you 're punishable After the fashion of our ancestors Which is your necke being locked in a forke You must be naked whipt and scourg'd to death Nero The Senate thus decreed they that so oft My vertues flattered haue and guifts of mine My gouernment preferr'd to ancient times And challenge Numa to compare with me Haue they so horrible an end sought out No here I beare which shall preuent such shame This hand shall yet from that deliuer me And faithfull be alone vnto his Lord Alasse how sharpe and terrible is death O must I die must now my senses close For euer die and nere returne againe Neuer more see the Sunne nor Heauen nor Earth Whither goe I what shall I be anone What horred iourney wandrest thou my soule Vnder th' earth in darke dampe duskie vaults Or shall I now to nothing be resolu'd My feares become my hopes O would I might Me thinkes I see the boyling Phlegeton And the dull poole feared of them we feare The dread and terror of the Gods themselues The furies arm'd with linkes with whippes with snakes And my owne furies farre more mad then they My mother and those troopes of slaughtred friends And now the Iudge is brought vnto the throne That will not leaue vnto authoritie Nor fauour the oppressions of the great 1 Rom: These are the idle terrors of the night Which wise men though they teach doe not beleeue To curbe our pleasures faine and aide the weake 2 Rom: Deaths wrongfull defamation which would make Vs shunne this happy hauen of our rest This end of euils as some fearefull harme 1 Rom. Shadowes and fond imaginations Which now you see on earth but children feare 2 Rom: Why should our faults feare punishment from them What doe the actions of this life concerne The tother world with which is no commerce 1 Rom: Would Heauen and Starres necessitie compell Vs to doe that which after it would punish 2 Rom: Let vs not after our liues end beleeue More then you felt before it Nero If any words haue made me confident And boldly doe for hearing others speake Boldly this night But will you by example Teach me the truth of your opinion And make me see that you beleeue your selues Will you by dying teach me to beare death With courage 1 Rom: No necessitie of death Hangs ore our heads no dangers threatens vs Nor Senates sharpe decree nor Galbaes armes 2 Rom: Is this the thankes then thou dost pay our loue Die basely as such a life deseru'd Reserue thy selfe to punishment and scorne Of Rome and of thy laughing enemies exeunt Manet Nero Nero They hate me cause I would but liue what was 't You lou'd kind friends and came to see my death Let me endure all torture and reproach That earth or Galbaes anger can inflict Yet hell and Rodamanth are more pittilesse The first Romane to him Rom: Though not deseru'd yet once againe I come To warne thee to take pitie on thy selfe The troupes by the Senate sent discend the hill And come Nero To take me and to whip me vnto death O whither shall I flye Rom: Thou hast no choice Nero O hither must I flye hard is his happe Who from death onely must by death escape Where are they yet O may I not a little Bethinke my selfe Rom: They are at hand harke thou maist heare the noise Nero O Rome farewell farewell you Theaters Where I so oft with popular applause In song and action O they come I die He fals on his sword Rom: So base an end all iust commiseration Doth take away yet what we doe now spurne The morning Sunne saw fearefull to the world Enter some of Galbaes friends Antoneus and others with Nimphidius bound Gal: You both shall die together Traitors both He to the common wealth and thou to him And worse to a good Prince what is he dead Hath feare encourag'd him and made him thus Preuent our punishment then die with him Fall thy aspyring at thy Masters feete He kils Nimph Anton: Who though he iustly perisht yet by thee Deseru'd it not nor ended there thy treason But euen thought o th' Empire thou conceiu'st Galbaes disgrace in receiuing that Which the sonne of Nimphidia could hope Rom: Thus great bad men aboue them finde a rod People depart and say there is a God Exeunt FJNJS