Which false Tiberius malice cou'd devise Mar. I 've summon'd all he told with loyal breath And all those truths doom thee to sudden death Iul. Why then dosâ— thou not strike revenging Lordâ— Behold my breast prepar'd to meet thy Sword Thy cruel kindness thus it shall approve Naked to Anger as it was to Love Why shrinks thy arm as if it fear'd to wound And drops thy coward weapon to the ground Mar. I know thee false yet have no power to harmâ— Fierce passion my arm'd vengeance does disarm Beauty which through thy vice I cou'd not spy Did like a dang'rous foe in Ambush lye Here Iulia execute thy bloudy will I know thy purpose is at last to kill Be but thus kind life freely I resign Thou' rt born to break all hearts and must break mine Iul. No my Marcellâ—â— trust me from this hour You shall be ever my Lord Conquerour Thou ever wert the dearest of mankind But now my heart is to thy looks confin'd By all our Loves you never were betray'd Henceforth be absolute my breast in vade There like a gentle Monarch thou shalt sway And I with gentler mind thy Laws obey Mar. Prove but thy heart as heav'nly as thy tongue Be but thus good and I had never wrong Enter Caesario bloudy leading Gloriana veil'd follow'd by Leander Araspes Mar. My noble brother what can friendship say Which from my arms absented half a day Together still in Battel we did ride Nor cou'd united Troops the link divide Shall Peace dis-joyn what was not broke by War And Crowds in Courts do more then Armies there Caes. Now I shall try the friendship which you boast If now not found let it be ever lost This Beauty with some bloud and danger bought Great deeds for Beauty by young bloud are wrought I from the den of an old Beast of prey Snatch'd while abroad he did for forage stray By this he is return'd and finds her gone By this the Groves resound and Forests groan Mar. Thus in your cause advancing thus Iâ—le face A band of Bloud-hound Furies in their chase Caes. First let us lodge where they shall never find The Hart whose death those Hunters have design'd Then with Relays each to his station go And bravely fall upon the Savage foe Our Bugle breath shall wind Recheatâ— and tell 'T is not the Deers but the rouz'd Hunter's knell Iul. While you that Vertue might not be undone Look'd fierce methought my brows too catch'd a frown I burn'd and grew ambitious to be one Whoe're she be as sure she is most fair For whom the sounds of fame so busie are I promise her a covert where she shall Safe as in clouds look down upon 'em all Caes. O bounty which my bloud can never pay I wou'd do all yet I must something say What Hell-born envy curs'd Infernal spight So us'd to darkness that it hates the light Shall dare though silence she with pain endures Traduce a Vertue so renown'd as yours By Heav'n I swear and by this faithful Steel So deep in Beautie 's conqu'ring quarrel dy'd I stand your Champion to your cause ally'd To damn those Slaves that have your fame bely'd Enter Narcissa â—â—â—â—ing Nar. Fly fly you 're lost the Empire 's overthrown Fly Plangus fly Sir murder'd Caesar's Sonâ— Not stir By all my fears most cruel Prince Thou shalt not stay and dye I 'le drag thee hence The Captain whom your valour left for dead Heard your discourse and has relation made All 's out thou art betray'd O Heav'n undone What shall I say thy name thy birth is known Destruction gallops to thy murder Post And Caesar looks as if the World were lost Caes. Though driv'n by whirlwinds he shou'd roul like fire I wou'd not from this Earth one inch retire Let destiny about my death consult All thoughts of safety from my side revolt I 'le stand him though he were a Thunderbolt Mar. Perhaps my pray'rs and low submissions may Divert his wrath or his revenge delay Iul. With yours my mingled tears and sighs shall joyn He may resist yours but he shall not mine Nar. But if inflexibly he will deny Together let us all resolve to dye Glo. Since this secures my honour can I fear Not Martyrs with more joy their summons hear Methinks I long in those dark walks to tread And wrap my self about with honour'd Lead Where all the Worthies of the Earth lye dead Nor shall my Spirit in that pond'rous Case Be kept but shoot as rays through Chrystal pass Through doors of death with Mountains pil'd on Rocks With thousand Bars and with ten thousand Locks Like Lightning she shall cut her sacred way Through all and rise to everlasting day Nar. What Spirit 's this more fierce than boldest men That with such hautiness does life disdain Caes. O death thou ever dry bloud-thirsty Slave All Hell-hound all art thou resolv'd to have But tast my heart 't is Royal rich and good Each drop's more worth than Tuns of Vulgar blood Cannot th' exhausted shore for once suffice I 'le make it up with Rivers from their eyes Tears will not make him drunk the Slave repliesâ— Glo. Can this be true Caesario dost thou droop Dost thou at last beneath death's burden stoop Is this the Hero this the God-like man Whose rage the stout Iberians over-ran That me redeem'd this day from rav'nous pow'r And from the pounces of the Vulture tore Caes. O Gloriana with confusion I Confess 't is now a dreadfull thing to dye Your fatal purpose does to pieces tear That courage which all dangers else can dare O live retire and those blest Beauties hide Far from the reach of Caesar's cruel pride Then I shall easily death's yoke put on And calm as those that fall asleep lye down Glo. Caesario No unjust is thy request puts up her veil Narcissa observes her Why shou'd I wake when thou art gon to rest And since I love thee which I now may own The fastest secrets are by death undone What will life signifie when thou art gone Grant that I 'scape the Tyrant's rage and fly To some strange Land and leave you here to dye Shall I survive to blot thee from my mind Forget thee Or to one less brave be kind Is this thy wish or wouldst thou I shou'd live And thy eternal loss for ever grieve Caes. Live dye be free or yield your self again I will no more of you but Heav'n complain Heav'n that can see such Vertue in distress And with exceeding power a Tyrant bless Heav'n that cou'd smile when noblest Romans fell As if enormous cruelties were well Heav'n that allows this parricide a name As great and good as the first Sons of Fame Nar. Love sparkles through her shade His eyes to her and hers to him are mov'd She loves she loves and is again belov'd She sighs and weeps and rouls her subtle eyes And all the charms of knowing beauty trys She looks as if her very eyes wou'd speak As if
and to bow my will Yet like an old tough Oak I 'le hold out still Spight of the sighs that blow and showrs that weep My soul to death shall her vow'd purpose keep Speak break your hearts the Gusts of grief I 'le tire Like hammer'd Anvile I 'le more blows require That at each stroke my eyes may scatter fire Nar. By all the God-like honours you have won Iul. By all the Nations that you have undone Nar. Stop here the Tempest of your fury lay Do not the Earth with lasting storms dismay Iul. Or to your rouling Thunder give a check Or let the cloud upon your daughter break Aug. Yes Vipersâ— yes by Iupiter it shall I 'le lighten thunder and consume ye all Kill 'em Guards kill my Neece my Daughter Son 'T is glorious death they seek hast push 'em on Ha! Villains Traytors dare ye thus give back My self in my own cause revenge will take Agrippa and Mecaenas hold him Though bloud 's below an Emperour to spill I 'le first disarm 'em and then you shall kill Strives to get from Agrippa Thus an old Lion struggles with his prey Which when all torn his flaming eyes survey The Royal Savage scorns the easie prize And calls his young ones forth with dreadfull cries He gathers round him all the cruel brood Thus calls 'em on and fleshes 'em in blood Breaks from their arms Gloriana unveils and meets him Glor. Augustus hold and Caesar's Son retire 'T is just that I for all shou'd once expire Caesario but for me you ne're had known Who sav'd my life by hazarding his own Because Caesario has my honour freed Your doom has sentenc'd him and these to bleed Which to avoid and set all right again Caesar I yield to wear my former chain Caes. Ah cruel Princess what what have you don And whither wou'd you from Caesario run All 's lost for which I thought life worth regard You have your self transferr'd that dear reward Which I with thousand dangers wou'd have bought You have your self my sharpest torments wrought Death I cou'd meet in its most hideous forms In brazen Bulls in racks wheels fires and storms But cannot see you his Here Tyrant take renders his Sword A life that does its own disquiets make To her vexation terrour 't is to thee But of all torments 't is the worst to me Aug. I take thy Sword and when I think it fit Thy soul her melancholly house shall quit Glor. By all Heroickâ—proofs of your high fame When yours I cease to be I nothing am Conceal'd exalted projects fill my mind I had not else to Caesar thus resign'd What is all yours Caes. By Heav'n you are all his Already he is hastning to his bliss How to your self unkind to me unjust That wou'd to one so known a Tyrant trust I see his eyes red with Triumphant lust I see him from your sacred body tear The scatter'd Robes in your dishevel'd hair I see his bloudy hand I hear his tongue Cry Yield and now I see you thrown along Hands tir'd speech lost no Rhet'rick now appears But speaking sighs and more perswading tears Now grasping thee my fancy shews him nigher Pale as thy cheeks and shaking with desire I see him on thy vanquish'd honour tread I see the Rape and with the sight am dead Aug. Death I 'le endure no more hast lead her hence And Guards upon your lives secure the Prince How darst thou gaze thus now thy doom is past Caes. I 'le look my soul out Aug. Do this look's thy last To rack thee more thou shalt look once again And pass by Heav'n to Hell 't is witty pain And worthy of a King 's revengeful brain As obscene Birds snatch the remains of light Rise late in Summer-Eves and set in Night So like a Bat thou shalt her eyes survey Then in death's deepest darkness dive away He goes out follow'd by Marcellus Julia Narcissa who seem to intreat him Guards stay Caes. O Gloriana Glor. O Caesario Caes. Cease Let 's seal our lips with everlasting peace Griefs so unutterable who can speak Glor. Have we hearts still Caes. Grant Heav'n that mine may break Glor. Caesario we must part Caes. Gods she 's in hast The time the Tyrant gave she wishes past Glor. Caesar's commands will instantly be sent 'T is better to divide than to be rent How much I love Caes. That I wou'd dying hear And to the shades the sweet expressions bear Glor. Why shou'd you wish what cannot be exprest But guess my flame by that which warms your breast Love's magnitnde is harder to declare Than 't is to tell the bigness of a Star This I can say if that can passion shew With you I 'd rather to a Cottage go Than with Augustus live and wear a Crown 'T is death to part and yet I must be gone This though I know I cannot but look back And sigh adieus and thousand farewells take I linger after you and wish your sight Like Birds that languish for the morning light Like Babes unkindly wean'd that take no rest But bath'd in tears lye pining for the breast I seek your heart and when I find it gone I weep and sigh as I wou'd break my own Caes. 'T is Love 't is Love the great dear extasie And I with Raptures find you equal me O that such Loves shou'd have so quick a doom Like lives of Lillies blasted in their bloom Yet we 'l appear in this last minute strong And talk as if our joys shou'd flourish long We like protesting Swains will plight our faith And wish that when we break our perjur'd breath May strait be stop'd by the cold hand of death Glor. If not to death my passion I preserve And all the Love which you can give deserve Though from their seats the Rival Gods came down And each shou'd wooe me with a Starry Crown Though the fine Sun or finer God of Love Shou'd swear they priz'd me more than joys above Yet if to them in all the beams they wear I did not thee in humble weeds prefer May Lions bolting from the nearest Wood Quench their hot thirst in Gloriana's blood Caes. If thou more fair then the red mornings dawn Sweeter then Pearley dews that scent the lawn Then blue-ey'd Violets or the damask Rose When in her hottest fragrancy she glows And the cool West her wafted odour blows If thou art not the darling of my soul May Mountains big with curses on me roul Glor. On me may Lightnings fall and Mildews rain And may I dye at last of Mother's pain Caes. May Iove showr all his Thunders on my head And may I be despis'd when I am dead Then as I lye all pale upon the ground May ev'ry Virgin give my breast a wound May no eye pity me nor heart deplore That faithless wretch who his first Love forswore Exeunt ACT. V. SCENE The Imperial Chamber Augustus Narcissa Aug. WHat shall I never rest till I am dead Nar. I
in one Fun'ral Pile Alas Tiberius had another said Iulia is false and honour has betray'd I could not have believâ—d but thou art true Wou'd thou wert not wou'd all that Hell er'e knew Of darkest mischiefs harbour'd in thy mind So by thy fraud I might her Vertue find Tib. While you abroad fought in Rome's cause so well She to the lowest leudest courses fell Her Palaces with late debauches rung Strip'd Eunuchs wanton Odes before her sung On tall young Monarchs shoulders lifted high She acted Triumphs Io was her cry Her crown'd Supporters Io did reply Mar. Loose Iulia what strong philters did unman Augustus from whose loins thy Spirit ran Tib. At midnight dress'd like Venus all Divine I saw her by the blaze of Diamonds shine High on a Throne of Gold with God-like port Follow'd with clamours of the reeling Court Thrice she the doors of Ianus Temple burâ—t And once Iove's house the Capitol she forc'd From his Gold Statue polish'd Thunder took And at his face the brandish'd weapon shook In her left hand the Silver Lightning clash'd Which blindly hurl'd the Sacred windows dash'd Mar. Love I conjure thee though with mortal smart Draw back thy Arrows that inâ—ect my heart Tib. Of all the Scepter'd throng that did adore She none refus'd but wish'd they had been more What was in private acted we but think Where all her Maids are muâ—â—s and Eunuchs winkâ— Her Monarch dalliance was not prov'd but guess'd But Love to Wit did open all her breast And she so foul a knot with Ovid drew As bloud can never loose nor death undoe Mar. With Ovidâ— Dares his haughty muse aspire To practise on his Prince I 'le mount it higher Teach his rude wit a flight she never had And send her Post to the Elysian shade Tib. One solemn Night when the pale conscious Moon Rode high and clear at melancholy Noon I rose with Dreams abash'd of true event And to the Princess Bower my musings bent To the crown'd Arbours as I nearer drew Methought I heard two voices that I knew Parting the Leaves I saw by Lunar light Love's guilty joys a sinful pleasing sight On Flow'rs and all the sweets of Nature spred In Ovids arms the smiling Princess laid Mar. What mortal patience can the news abide Tib. Pow'r circling Wit and Pleasure pressing Pride Her glowing breast joyn'd to his kindling side She catch'd his sighs that panted in their flight With eyes hands lips all trembling with delight Long did her naked beauty stay my sight Fair as the blushing bed her body prest As a May-morning rising from the East Or day dismounting in the golden West Mar. Wheels Stones and all the subtlest pains of Hell With burnings reddest plagues about 'em dwell About ' em In 'em through 'em let 'em run And flames with flames involv'd be swallow'd down Tib. With tendrest words her busie love she grac'd And having kindly touch'd his yielding wast She said Ah wou'd Marcellus were in Heav'n And wou'd Corinna were to Ovid giv'n For Wit to me is more than Empires charms Or all the surfeits of a Monarchs arms Mar. No more thou 'st put my soul upon the â—ack Both lives revenging glory bids me take But the remains of passion bid me spare This beautiful ingrate perfidious fair Since he was ne're with gallant ardour mov'd That cou'd be urg'd to harm what once he lov'd And how I lov'd how wonderfully well None but the Author of my flame can tell Thy beauty Iulia did my reason blind For e're our hands unlucky Hymen joyn'd I guess'd thee false yet swore I wou'd be kind Enter Ovid with Julia reading Iul. Such a companion ne're did Iulia bless To have a menial Monarch wait were less Ovid whose fame above high Virgil grows Whose labour sure must Nature discompose But Ovid with familiar greatness flows And when he pleases to command our eyes What charming Tales does his soft muse devise Ov. Thus to be grac'd by her whom all admire To gain whose love Gods wou'd Kings do expire Mar. Amongst the rest fall thou a Sacrifice Thus to be offer'd to your Goddess eyes Iul. Marcellus hold fly Ovid hast away Ov. Madam I know what duty I shou'd pay The Prince resolves to take my life which none Shall do without the hazard of their own Mar. Tiberius give me way by Heav'n he dies I 'le tread upon the worm which I despise Iul. Help Treason Murder help Enter Caesario Ov. Come all for were ye more I cou'd not fear Caes. What about one is all this trouble here Put up for shame I 'le blow him from your sight Valour disdains the Quarry in her flight Commands in Fields we should our Standards raise And make this Writer but our drudge to prâ—ise Enter Augustus Agrippa Mecaenas and Guards Aug. Where are the Authors of this Treason gon Traytors to pow'r disarm 'em ev'ry one The Captain of the Guards takes Marcellus Ovids and Tiberius Swords goes lâ—st to Caesario Caes. Captain stand off I did no cause afford Of quarrel here and will not yield my Sword Aug. What a new Traytor in my presence too Know obstinate thy death thou dost pursue Resign or dye Mar. Have you so soon forgot The wonders which his Sword so lately wrought The noble Plangus who preserv'd your Son And three pitch'd Battels by his valour won Aug. What shall he stand and brave me to my faceâ— Refuse my orders bid him take my place By the Caesarian Majesty ador'd He is a Traytor that denies his Sword Caes. I say my Sword 's my own and shall Aug. So fond of fate Then that thou mayst not want for Arms take that Hurlâ—s his Dagger at him the Guards rush on Caesario and hold him Mar. Thus is it thus his Services you pay kneels Aug. If thou wouldst have him live take him away Mar. Guards force him hence Caes. Yes Caesar I will go Conqu'ring my self I quell thy mightiest foe Exit Aug. And you Sir you who durst your weapon draw Against that Prince whom I ordain to awe The greatest Kings to banishment be gone I 'le teach your saucy Muse to dare a Throne Ov. If I in thought to you less Rev'rence gave Than what the Deiâ—ies from Altarâ— have If that the Royal Iulia I adore In other manner than we worship Pow'r Add to the punishment that you have laid Unjustly on me and pronounce me dead Iul. O Caesar Fatherâ— Aug. Dare not intercede Speak but another word and he shall bleed Ov. For ever then thou glorious Rome farewell To the Earth's limits Caesar I will goâ— Where if thou hast a yet unconquer'd Foe My Sword for I have fought shall take his head And with my Pen I 'le damn him when he 's dead Exit Aug. Still homebred jarrs But I these feuds will end By Heav'n I 'le break your hearts if you 'le not bend My Hydra Rebels vanquish'd rise up more Was ever Monarch thus perplex'd before O that Pythagoras his dream were true
And you more cruel than the Tyrant are Cruel to add to such a mass of grief And I unjust to give your words belief Nar. How think me guilty of a Lye O Heav'n Have I liv'd thus Yet may you be forgiv'n I am unfit to live and you to love Let me to Death and you to War remove You cannot be too rude in Armour drest Since cruelty is there like fame profess'd Like Love in Courts it râ—ves in ev'ry breast Nor shall I need your Sword to make a wound This last unkindness weighe me to the groundâ— O all ye vows of passion that I gaveâ— Return and let me hide ye in the Grave Caes. Falâ— first teâ— millions such as I â—'re â—hoâ— To any griâ—f my folly murmur'd bow Look up thou eye o th' Worldâ— why does the red That now adorn'd thy cheeks appear so deadâ— What fatal Purple's this that shakes thy lip Nar. I 'm adding one â—mall grain â—o death 's vast heapâ— Thy love thy love hard hearted Câ—sar's Sonâ— The poor accus'd Narcissâ— has undoneâ— Methinks you aâ—e not now so lovely quite Or else 't is death â—hat darkens thus my â—ight Not to believe 't was â—o unkind â— partâ— There wanted only thaâ—â—o break my heart Caes. Believe I swear I do I will believeâ— And but for thee I will heâ—eafter live I 'le tear that cruel Sorceress from my breast And plant thee there of all my heart possess'd O do not dye 〈…〉 Expos'd 〈…〉 who le eaâ—th will arm it self against my head And all the damn'd torment me when I 'm dead Nar. Ah soft repose how sweetly now I rest As if your bosome were with Roâ—es drestâ— Wou'd you have been thus kind if I had liv'd Caes. Witness Nar. Nay now you shall not be believ'd O Gloriana blest above women how Didst thou this heart to thy false beauty bow I over-heard her with the Emperour 'T is dying truth she loves you less than pow'r But I above the World or that high bliss To which I hast for my soul's lasting peace Give me thy love no more Caes. My soul receive Which thus infâ—s'd shall a new being giveâ— Breathe with my breath and with my being live Nar. The mighty câ—rdial does my senses cloy I dye like those that surfeit with vast joy Had you such words some minutes sooner spoke They'd fastned liâ—e but now 't is vain to speak For what can hold us when our heart â—trings break dyes Caes. Take me along by Heav'n I 'le follow thee But how no Instrument of destiny Heart canst not break like hers how calm she went But mine'â— too big and must with fate be rent Torn from my prison-house why so it shall I 'le rush and leave my brains on yonder wall Dye 't is most fit yet e're the deed be wrought Shall not the blood of Pompey know her fault Yes Gloriana yes thou murd'ring Fair I 'le hollow death and vengeance in thy earâ— Rouze thee from Glorie's grave with potent cries Charm'd like a naked Ghost compell'd to rise Enter Marcellus Mar. I bring the◠〈◊〉 neâ—â— lâ—ve live bu◠〈◊〉 â— Caes. News for thy news look thâ—â—eâ—â—nd biâ— me dyeâ— Mar. My Sister dead Caes. She parted from life's Tree Hard like Green-fruit and she was pluck'd by me Why dost thou bend her life thou canst not mold She is like Alablaster fair but cold Mar. O barbâ—rous Friend Friend I the name disown But 't is thy blood that must her loss attone Thy own curs'd tongue which did her murder boast Has sentenc'd thee to death for ever lost Dye Royal wretch Caes. What does thy arm arrest I have no Sword and proffer thee my breast Why dost thou turn thy melting eyes away I am in hast for death and cannot stay Mar. Thou art not yet so black but my quick sight Through all thy shades can spy some streaks of light Though bloudy thou art valiant and I scorn To give base death to one so Nobly born Thou shalt in equal Duel perish Caes. No Thou wert my Friend and canst not be my Foe 'T is true thy Sister dy'd for love of me Can mortals help what Heav'n sets down shall be Am I in fault To thee I must be so Then right thee here 't will prove a welcome blow Enter Julia. Iul. Caesario live what means my fatal Lord Is 't possible that you can draw your Sword Against your Friend that Friend whose life of late Our pray'rs redeem'd from near approaching fate Mar. Look there and blame the vengeance I shou'd give Is this a Friend does he deserve to live The horrid crime which he has done peruse And then the justice of my â—age excuse Caes. Something in this last treatment shews thee base Thou call'st my crime what my misfortune was Should I have us'd thee thus who wert to me A thousand times more dear then life could be Iul. How e're unfortunate 't was a dread deed At such a sight my Father's eyes will bleed Yet Oh Marcellus spare Caesario's life 'T is due to Friendship and your weeping Wife Sorrow so noble paints his manly look That to the heart I am with pity strook Let his life 's former acts this once perswade For faults perhaps which his ill fortune made Mar. 'T is in the clouds what e're it be and why But my heart says by me he cannot dye But fly be gone to some far desart where Thou maist with safety live thou canst not here For though we spare thee Caesar will not spare Iul. Go go Caesario fly thy threatning fate And fly from those thou mak'st unfortunate Caes. Wretch that I am and terrour to the Earth Where where is now th' advantage of my birth But to be highly miserable no Marcellus yet there 's something leâ—t to do Bring me before we part for ever where I may to Gloriana's guilt appear By Heav'n nor she nor Caesar shall be harm'd For I will go with nought but sorrow arm'd By all remembrance of our Friendships past Grant me this one request for 't is my last Mar. I will do this go not that way my eyes Grow sick and clouds of death before me rise Exeunt SCENE The Emperours Bed-Chamber Gloriana sola drest in white with a Dagger in her hand Tapers c. Glor. He dyes this Idol of the earth shall down That brow that aw'd the World with ev'ry frown This night shall bear its terrours to the Grave There Great Augustus shall his Empire have When he is dead Marcellus must ascend And to high safety call his noble Friend To save my honour and Caesario too What more can Gloriana wish to do O Love how masculine are all my fires With what dread thoughts the God my breast inspires When like a Lion all compos'd to rest The Tyrant leans upon my Virgin-breast In golden dreams expecting boundless bliss I 'le rock him fast for ever fast with this But heark he comes I must my arm prepare I 'le to the Bed and wait