comes another Act II. Scene VI. FASTIDIVS BRISKE To the rest SAue you signior DELIRO how do'st thou sweet lady Let mee kisse thee FVNG. How a new sute Ayme DELI And how do's master FASTIDIVS BRISKE FAST Faith liue in court signior DELIRO in grace I thanke god both of the noble masculine and feminine I must speake with you in priuate by and by DELI When you please sir. FALL Why looke you so pale brother FVNG. S'lid all this money is cast away now MACI. I there 's a newer edition come forth FVNG. T is but my hard fortune well I 'le haue my sute chang'd I 'le goe fetch my taylor presently but first I 'le deuise a letter to my father Ha' you any pen and inke sister FALL What would you doe withall FVNG. I would vse it S'light and it had come but foure daies sooner the fashion FAST There was a countesse gaue me her hand to kisse to day i' the presence did me more good by that light then and yesternight sent her coach twise to my lodging to intreat mee accompany her and my sweet mistris with some two or three namelesse ladies more O I haue beene grac't by 'hem beyond all aime of affection this 's her garter my dagger hangs in and they doe so commend and approue my apparell with my iudicious wearing of it it 's aboue wonder FALL Indeed sir 't is a most excellent sute and you doe weare it as extraordinary FAST Why I 'le tell you now in good faith and by this chaire which by the grace of god I intend presently to sit in I had three sutes in one yeere made three great ladies in loue with me I had other three vn-did three gentlemen in imitation and other three gat three other gentlemen widdowes of three thousand pound a yeere DELI Is 't possible FAST O beleeue it sir your good face is the witch and your apparell the spells that bring all the pleasures of the world into their circle FALL Ah the sweet grace of a courtier MACI. Well would my father had left mee but a good face for my portion yet though I had shar'd the vnfortunate wit that goes with it I had not car'd I might haue past for somewhat i' the world then FAST Why assure you signior rich apparell has strange vertues it makes him that hath it without meanes esteemed for an excellent wit he that enioyes it with means puts the world in remembrance of his means it helps the deformities of nature and giues lustre to her beauties makes continuall holy-day where it shines sets the wits of ladies at worke that otherwise would be idle furnisheth your two-shilling ordinarie takes possession of your stage at your new play and enricheth your oares as scorning to goe with your scull MACI. Pray you sir adde this it giues respect to your fooles makes many theeues as many strumpets and no fewer bankrupts FALL Out out vnworthy to speake where he breatheth FAST What 's he signior DELI A friend of mine sir. FAST By heauen I wonder at you citizens what kinde of creatures you are DELI Why sir FAST That you can consort your selues with such poore seame-rent fellowes FALL He saies true DELI Sir I will assure you how euer you esteeme of him he 's a man worthy of regard FAST Why what has he in him of such vertue to be regarded ha DELI Mary he is a scholler sir. FAST Nothing else DELI And he is well trauail'd FAST He should get him clothes I would cherish those good parts of trauaile in him and preferre him to some nobleman of good place DELI Sir such a benefit should bind me to you for euer in my friends right and I doubt not but his desert shall more then answere my praise FAST Why and he had good clothes I 'ld carry him to court with me to morrow DELI He shall not want for those sir if gold and the whole city will furnish him FAST You say well sir faith signior DELIRO I am come to haue you play the Alchymist with me and change the species of my land into that mettall you talke of DELI With all my heart sir what summe will serue you FAST Faith some three or foure hundred DELI Troth sir I haue promist to meet a gentleman this morning in Parâ—les but vpon my returne I 'le dispatch you FAST I 'le accompany you thither DELI As you please sir but I goe not thither directly FAST 'T is no matter I haue no other designement in hand and therefore as good goe along DELI I were as good haue a quartane feauer follow me now for I shall ne're bee rid of him being mee a cloke there one Still vpon his grace at court am I sure to bee visited I was a beast to giue him any hope Well would I were in that I am out with him once and Come signior MACILENTE I must conferre with you as wee goe Nay deare wife I beseech thee forsake these moods looke not like winter thus Here take my keyes open my counting houses spread all my wealth before thee choose any obiect that delights thee If thou wilt eate the spirit of gold and drinke dissolu'd pearle in wine 't is for thee FALL So sir. DELI Nay my sweet wife FALL Good lord how you are perfum'd in your termes and al pray you leaue vs. DELI Come gentlemen FAST Adiew sweet lady FALL I I Let thy words euer sound in mine eares and thy graces disperse contentment through all my senses O how happy is that lady aboue other ladies that enioyes so absolute a gentleman to her seruant A countesse giue him her hand to kisse ah foolish countesse hee 's a man worthy if a woman may speake of a mans worth to kisse the lips of an empresse FVNG. Retâ—â—nd with his taylor What 's master FASTIDIVS gone sister FALL I brother he has a face like a Cherubin FVNG. Gods me what lucke 's this I haue fetcht my taylor and all which way went he sister can you tell FALL Not I in good faith and he has a body like an angell FVNG. How long is 't since he went FALL Why but e'en now did you not meet him and a tongue able to rauish any woman i' the earth FVNG. O for gods sake I 'le please you for your paines but e'en now say you Come good sir S'lid I had forgot it too Sister if any body aske for mine vncle SOGLIARDO they shall ha' him at the Heralds office yonder by Paules FALL Well I will not altogether despaire I haue heard of a citizens wife has beene belou'd of a courtier and why not I heigh ho well I will into my priuate chamber locke the dore to mee and thinke ouer all his good parts one after another GREX. MIT Well I doubt this last Scene will endure some grieuous torture COR. How you feare 't will be rackt by some hard construction MIT Doe not you COR. No in good faith vnlesse mine eyes could light mee beyond
Mary before they met he had other verie prettie sufficiencies which yet he retaines some light impression of as frequenting a dancing schoole and grieuously torturing strangers with inquisition after his grace in his galliard He buyes a fresh acquaintance at any rate His eye and his rayment confer much together as he goes in the street He treades nicely like the fellow that walkes vpon ropes especially the first sunday of his silke-stockings and when he is most neat and new you shall strip him with commendations CVP. Here comes another MER. I but one of another straine CVPID This fellow weighs somewhat Crites passeth by CVP. His name HERMES MER. CRITES A creature of a most perfect and diuine temper One in whom the humours and elements are peaceably met without emulation of precedencie he is neyther to phantastikely melancholy too slowly phlegmaticke too lightly sanguine or too rashly cholericke but in all so composde order'd as it is cleare Nature went about some ful worke she did more then make a man when she made him His discourse is like his behauiour vncommon but not vnpleasing hee is prodigall of neyther Hee striues rather to bee that which men call iudicious then to bee thought so and is so truly learned that he affects not to shew it Hee will thinke and speake his thought both freely but as distant from deprauing another mans merit as proclaiming his owne For his valour t is such that he dares as little to offer an iniurie as receiue one In summe he hath a most ingenuous and sweet spirit a sharp and season'd wit a straight iudgment and a strong mind Fortune could neuer breake him nor make him lesse He counts it his pleasure to despise pleasures and is more delighted with good deeds then goods It is a competencie to him that hee can bee vertuous He doth neyther couet nor feare hee hath too much reason to doe eyther and that commends all things to him CVP. Not better then MERCVRY commends him MER. O CVPID t is beyond my deitie to giue him his due prayses I could leaue my place in heauen to liue among mortals so I were sure to be no other then he CVP. S'light I beleeue he is your minion you seeme to be so rauisht with him MER. He 's one I would not haue a wry thought darted against willingly CVP. No but a straight shaft in his bosome I le promise him if I am CITHEREAS sonne MER. Shall we goe CVPID CVP. Stay and see the ladies now they 'll come presently I le helpe to paint them MER. What! lay colour vpon colour that affords but an ill blazon CVP. Argurion passeth by Here comes mettall to helpe it the ladie ARGVRION MER. Monie monie CVP. The same A Nymph of a most wandring and giddy disposition humorous as the aire shee 'le runne from gallant to gallant as they sit at primero in the presence most strangely and seldome stayes with any Shee spreads as shee goes To day you shall haue her looke as cleere and fresh as the morning and to morrow as melancholike as mid-night Shee takes speciall pleasure in a close obscure lodging and for that cause visites the city so often where shee has many secret true-concealing fauourites When shee comes abroad shee 's more loose and scattering then dust and will flie from place to place as shee were rapt with a whirle-winde Your yong student for the most part shee affects not only salutes him and away a poet nor a philosopher shee is hardly brought to take any notice of no though he be some part of an alchemist Shee loues a player well and a lawyer infinitely but your foole aboue all Shee can doe much in court for the obtayning of any sute whatsoeuer no doore but flies open to her her presence is aboue a charme The worst in her is want of keeping state and too much descending into inferior and base offices she 's for any coorse imployment you will put vpon her as to be your procurer or pandar MER. Peace CVPID here comes more worke for you another character or two Act II. Scene IIII PHANTASTE MORIA PHILAVTIA MERCVRIE CVPID STay sweet PHILAVTIA I 'le but change my fanne and goe presently MOR. Now in very good serious ladies I will haue this order reuerst the presence must be better maintayn'd from you a quarter past eleuen and ne're a Nymph in prospectiue beshrew my hand there must be a reform'd discipline Is that your new ruffe sweet lady-bird By my truth 't is most intricately rare MER. Good IOVE what reuerend gentlewoman in yeeres might this be CVP. This Madam MORIA guardian of the Nymphs One that is not now to be perswaded of her wit shee will thinke her selfe wise against all the iudgements that come A lady made all of voice and aire talkes any thing of any thing Shee is like one of your ignorant Poetasters of the time who when they haue got acquainted with a strange word neuer rest till they haue wroong it in though it loosen the whole fabricke of their sense MER. That was pretty and sharply noted CVPID CVP. Shee will tell you Philosophie was a fine reueller when shee was yong and a gallant and that then though she say it she was thought to be the Dame-DIDO and HELLEN of the court As also what a sweet dogge shee had this time foure yeeres and how it was call'd Fortune and that if the fates had not cut his thred he had beene a dogge to haue giuen entertainement to any gallant in this kingdome and vnlesse shee had whelpt it her selfe shee could not haue lou'd a thing better i'th is world MER. O I pray thee no more I am full of her CVP. Yes I must needes tell you shee composes a sack-posset well and would court a yong page sweetly but that her breath is against it MER. Now her breath or something more strong protect mee from her th' other th' other CVPID CVP. O that 's my lady and mistris Madam PHILAVTIA Shee admires not her selfe for any one particularity but for all shee is faire and shee knowes it shee has a pretty light wit too and shee knowes it shee can dance and shee knowes that too play at shittle-cock and that too no quality shee has but shee shall take a very particular knowledge of and most lady-like commend it to you You shall haue her at any time reade you the historie of her selfe and very subtilly runne ouer another ladies sufficiencies to come to her owne Shee has a good superficiall iudgement in painting and would seeme to haue so in poetry A most compleat lady in the opinion of some three beside her-selfe PHI. Faith how lik'd you my quippe to HEDON about the garter was 't not witty MOR. Exceeding witty and integrate you did so aggrauate the iest withall PHI. And did I not dance mouingly the last night MOR. Mouingly out of measure in troth sweet charge MER. A happy commendation to dance out of measure MOR. Saue only
VIRG. Thus enuious soules repine at others good HORA. If this be all faith I forgiue thee freely Enuy me still so long as VIRGIL loues me GALLVS TIBVLLVS and the best-best CAESAR My deare MECOENAS while these with many more Whose names I wisely slip shall thinke me worthy Their honour'd and ador'd societie And reade and loue proue and applaud my poemes I would not wish but such as you should spight them CRIS. O TIBV. How now CRISPINVS CRIS. O I am sicke HORA. A bason a bason quickly our physick works Faint not man CRIS. O retrograde reciprocal Incubus CAES. What 's that HORACE HORA. Retrograde and reciprocall Incubus are come vp GALL. Thankes be to IVPITER CRIS. O glibbery lubricall defunct Ô HORA. Well said here 's some store VIRG. What are they HORA. Glibbery lubricall and defunct GALL. O they came vp easie CRIS. O Ô TIBV. What 's that HORA. Nothing yet CRIS. Magnificate MECoe. Magnificate that came vp somewhat hard HORA. I What cheere CRISPINVS CRIS. O I shall cast vp my spurious snotteries HORA. Good Againe CRIS. Chilblaind Ô Ô clumsie HORA. That clumsie stucke terribly MECoe. What 's all that HORACE HORA. Spurious snotteries chilblain'd clumsie TIBV. O IVPITER GALL. Who would haue thought there should ha' beene such a deale of filth in a poet CRIS. O barmy froth CAES. What 's that CRIS. Puffy inflate turgidous ventositous HORA. Barmy froth puffy inflate turgidous and ventositous are come vp TIBV. O terrible windie wordes GALL. A signe of a windie braine CRIS. O oblatrant furibund fatuate strenuous HORA. Here 's a deale oblatrant furibund fatuate strenuous CAES. Now all 's come vp I trow What a tumult hee had in his belly HORA. No there 's the often conscious dampe behind still CRIS. O conscious dampe HORA. It 's come vp thankes to APOLLO and AESCVLAPIVS Yet there 's another you were best take a pill more CRIS. O no Ô Ô Ô Ô. HORA. Force your selfe then a little with your finger CRIS. O Ô prorumped TIBV. Prorumped What a noise it made as if his spirit would haue prorumpt with it CRIS. O Ô Ô. VIRG. Helpe him it stickes strangely what euer it is CRIS. O clutcht HORA. Now it 's come clutcht CAES. Clutcht It 's well that 's come vp It had but a narrow passage CRIS. O VIRG. Againe hold him hold his head there CRIS. Snarling gusts quaking custard HORA. How now CRISPINVS CRIS. O obstupefact TIBV. Nay that are all we I assure you HORA. How doe you feele your selfe CRIS. Pretty and well I thanke you VIRG. These pills can but restore him for a time Not cure him quite of such a maladie Caught by so many surfets which haue fill'd His bloud and braine thus full of crudities 'T is necessary therefore he obserue A strict and holsome dyet Looke you take Each morning of old CATOES principles A good draught next your heart that walke vpon Till it be well digested Then come home And taste a piece of TERENCE sucke his phrase In stead of lycorice and at any hand Shun PLAVTVS and old ENNIVS they are meates Too harsh for a weake stomacke Vse to reade But not without a tutor the best Greekes As ORPHEVS MVSAEVS PINDARVS HESIOD CALLIMACHVS and THEOCRITE High HOMER but beware of LYCOPHRON He is too darke and dangerous a dish You must not hunt for wild out-landish termes To stuffe out a peculiar dialect But let your matter runne before your words And if at any time you chaunce to meet Some Gallo-belgick phrase you shall not straight Racke your poore verse to giue it entertainement But let it passe and doe not thinke your selfe Much damnified if you doe leaue it out When nor your vnderstanding nor the sense Could well receiue it This faire abstinence In time will render you more sound and cleere And this haue I prescrib'd to you in place Of a strict sentence which till he performe Attire him in that robe And hence-forth learne To beare your selfe more humbly not to swell Or breathe your insolent and idle spight On him whose laughter can your worst affright TIBV. Take him away CRIS IVPITER guard CAE VIRG. And for a weeke or two see him lockt vp In some darke place remoou'd from companie He will talke idly else after his physicke Now to you sir Th' extremitie of law Awards you to be branded in the front For this your calumny But since it pleaseth HORACE the partie wrong'd t' intreat of CAESAR A mitigation of that iuster doome With CAESARS tongue thus we pronounce your sentence DEMETRIVS FANNIVS thou shalt here put on That coate and cap and henceforth thinke thy selfe No other then they make thee vow to weare them In euery faire and generous assembly Till the best sort of minds shall take to knowledge As well thy satisfaction as thy wrongs HORA. Only graue Praetor here in open court I craue the oath for good behauiour May be administred vnto them both VIRG. HORACE it shall TIBVLLVS giue it them TIBV. RVFVS LABERIVS CRISPINVS and DEMETRIVS FANNIVS Lay your hands on your hearts You shall here solemnely attest and sweare That neuer after this instant either at Booke-sellers stalls in tauernes two-penny roomes 'tyring-houses noble-mens buttries puisne's chambers the best and farthest places where you are admitted to come you shall once offer or dare thereby to endeare your selfe the more to any player enghle or guiltie gull in your companie to maligne traduce or detract the person or writings of QVINTVS HORACIVS FLACCVS or any other eminent man transcending you in merit whom your enuy shall find cause to worke vpon either for that or for keeping himselfe in better acquaintance or enioying better friends Or if transported by any sodaine and desperate resolution you doe That then you shall not vnder the bastoun or in the next presence being an honorable assembly of his fauourers bee brought as voluntary gent. to vndertake the for-swearing of it Neither shall you at any time ambitiously affecting the title of the vntrussers or whippers of the age suffer the itch of writing to ouer-run your performance in libell vpon paine of being taken vp for lepers in wit and losing both your time and your papers bee irrecouerably forfeited to the hospitall of Fooles So helpe you our Roman gods and the Genius of great CAESAR VIRG. So now dissolue the court HORA. TIBV. GALL. MECOE. VIRG. And thankes to CAESAR That thus hath exercis'd his patience CAES. We haue indeed you worthiest friends of CAESAR It is the bane and torment of our eares To heare the discords of those iangling rimers That with their bad and scandalous practices Bring all true arts and learning in contempt But let not your high thoughts descend so low As these despised obiects Let them fall With their flat groueling soules Be you your selues And as with our best fauours you stand crown'd So let your mutuall loues be still renown'd Enuy will dwell where there is want of merit Though the deseruing man should cracke
to change Although the ayme were our old liberty The ghosts of those that fell for that would grieue Their bodies liu'd not now againe to serue Men are deceiu'd who thinke there can be thrall Beneath a vertuous prince Wish'd liberty Ne're louelier lookes then vnder such a crowne But when his grace is meerely but lip-good And that no longer then he aires himselfe Abroad in publique there to seeme to shun The strokes and stripes of flatterers which within Are lechery vnto him and so feed His brutish sense with their afflicting sound As dead to vertue he permits himselfe Be carried like a pitcher by the eares To euery act of vice this is a case Deserues our feare and doth presage the nigh And close approach of bloud and tyranny Flattery is midwife vnto princes rage And nothing sooner doth helpe foorth a tyranne Then that and whisperers grace who haue the time The place the power to make all men offenders ARR. He should be told this and be bid dissemble With fooles and blinde men We that know the euill Should hunt the Palace-rattes or giue them bane Fright hence these worse then rauens that deuoure The quicke where they but prey vpon the dead He shall be told it SAB. Stay ARRVNTIVS We must abide our oportunity And practise what is fit as what is needfull It is not safe t' enforce a soueraigne 's eare Princes heare well if they at all will heare ARR. Ha Say you so well In the meane time IOVE Say not but I doe call vpon thee now Of all wilde beasts preserue me from a tyranne And of all tame a flatterer SIL. 'T is well pray'd TIB. Returne the lords this voyce we are their creature And it is fit a good and honest prince Whom they out of their bounty haue instructed With so dilate and absolute a power Should owe the office of it to their seruice And good of all and euery citizen Nor shall it e're repent vs to haue wish'd The Senate iust and fau'ring lords vnto vs Since their free loues doe yeeld no lesse defence T' a princes state then his owne innocence Say then there can be nothing in their thought Shall want to please vs that hath pleased them Our suffrage rather shall preuent then stay Behind their wills 't is empire to obey Where such so great so graue so good determine Yet for the sute of Spaine t' erect a temple In honour of our mother and our selfe We must with pardon of the Senate not Assent thereto Their lordships may obiect Our not denying the same late request Vnto the Asian cities We desire That our defence for suffering that be knowne In these briefe reasons with our after purpose Since deified AVGVSTVS hindred not A temple to be built at Pergamum In honour of himselfe and sacred Rome We that haue all his deedes and wordes obseru'd Euer in place of lawes the rather follow'd That pleasing precedent because with ours The Senates reuerence also there was ioyn'd But as t'haue once receiu'd it may deserue The gaine of pardon so to be ador'd With the continew'd stile and note of gods Through all the prouinces were wild ambition And no lesse pride Yea eu'n AVGVSTVS name Would early vanish should it be prophan'd With such promiscuous flatteries For our part We here protest it and are couetous Posteritie should know it we are mortall And can but deedes of men 't were glory inough Could we be truely a prince And they shall adde Abounding grace vnto our memorie That shall report vs worthy our fore-fathers Carefull of your affaires constant in dangers And not afraid of any priuate frowne For publike good These things shall be to vs Temples and statues reared in your mindes The fairest and most during imag'rie For those of stone or brasse if they become Odious in iudgement of posteritie Are more contemn'd as dying sepulchres Then tane for liuing monuments We then Make here our suite alike to gods and men The one vntill the period of our race T' inspire vs with a free and quiet mind Discerning both diuine and humane lawes The other to vouchsafe vs after death An honourable mention and faire praise T' accompanie our actions and our name The rest of greatnesse princes may command And therefore may neglect only a long A lasting high and happy memorie They should without being satisfied pursue Contempt of fame begets contempt of vertue NAT. Rare SAT. Most diuine SEI. The Oracles are ceas'd That only CAESAR with their tongue might speake ARR. Let me be gone most felt and open this COR. Stay ARR. What to heare more cunning and fine wordes With their sound flatter'd ere their sense be meant TIB. Their choise of Antium thereto place the guift Vow'd to the goddesse for our mothers health Fortuna equestris We will the Senate know we fairely like As also of their grant to LEPIDVS For his repayring the Aemilian place And restauration of those monuments Their grace too in consining of SILANVS To th' other Is'le Cithera at the sute Of his religious sister much commends Their policie so temp'red with their mercy But for the honours which they haue decreed To our SEIANUS to aduance his statue In POMPEI'S theatre whose ruining fire His vigilance and labour kept restrain'd In that one losse they haue therein out-gone Their owne great wisedomes by their skilfull choise And placing of their bounties on a man Whose merit more adornes the dignitie Then that can him and giues a benefit In taking greater then it can receiue Blush not SEIANVS thou great aide of Rome Associate of our labours our chiefe helper Let vs not force thy simple modestie With offring at thy praise for more we cannot Since there 's no voice can take it No man here Receiue our speeches as hyperbole's For we are far from flatt'ring our friend Let enuy know as from the need to flatter Nor let them aske the causes of our praise Princes haue still their grounds rear'd with themselues Aboue the poore low flats of common men And who will search the reasons of their acts Must stand on equall bases Lead away Our loues vnto the Senate ARR. Caesar SAB. Peace COR. Great POMPEI'S theatre was neuer ruin'd Till now that proud SEIANVS hath a statue Rear'd on his ashes ARR. Place the shame of souldiers Aboue the best of generalls cracke the world And bruise the name of Romanes into dust Ere we behold it SIL. Checke your passion Lord DRVSVS tarries DRV. Is my father mad Wearie of life and rule lords thus to heaue An idoll vp with praise make him his mate His riuall in the empire ARR. O good prince DRV. Allow him statues titles honours such As he himselfe refuseth ARR. Braue braue DRVSVS DRV. The first ascents to soueraigntie are hard But entred once there neuer wants or meanes Or ministers to helpe th' aspirer on ARR. True gallant DRVSVS DRV. We must shortly pray To Modestie that he will rest contented ARR. I where he is and not
kindred It should not make me slothfull or lesse caring For CAESARS state it were inough to me It did confirme and strengthen my weake house Against the-now-vnequall opposition Of AGRIPPINA and for deare reguard Vnto my children this I wish my selfe Haue no ambition farder then to end My dayes in seruice of so deare a master TIB. We cannot but commend thy pietie Most-lou'd SEIANVS in acknowledging Those bounties which we faintly such remember But to thy suit The rest of mortall men In all their drifts and counsels pursue profit Princes alone are of a different sort Directing their maine actions still to fame VVe therefore will take time to thinke and answere For LIVIA she can best her selfe resolue If she will marrie after DRVSVS or Continue in the family besides She hath a mother and a grandame yet VVhose neerer counsels she may guide her by But I will simply deale That enmitie Thou fear'st in AGRIPPINA would burne more If LIVIAS marriage should as 't were in parts Deuide th' imperiall house an emulation Betweene the women might breake forth and discord Ruine the sonnes and nephues on both hands VVhat if it cause some present difference Thou art not safe SEIANVS if thou prooue it Canst thou beleeue that LIVIA who was wife To CAIVS CAESAR then to DRVSVS now VVill be contented to grow old with thee Borne but a priuate gentleman of Rome And rayse thee with her losse if not her shame Or say that I should wish it canst thou thinke The Senate or the people who haue seene Her brother father and our ancestors In highest place of empire will indure it The state thou hold'st alreadie is in talke Men murmure at thy greatnesse and the nobles Sticke not in publike to vpbraid thy climbing Aboue our fathers fauours or thy scale And dare accuse me from their hate to thee Be wise deare friend VVe would not hide these things For friendships deare respect Nor will we stand Aduerse to thine or LIVIA'S designements VVhat we had purpos'd to thee in our thought And with what neere degrees of loue to bind thee And make thee equall to vs for the present VVe will forbeare to speake Only thus much Beleeue our lou'd SEIANVS we not know That height in bloud or honour which thy vertue And minde to vs may not aspire with merit And this wee 'll publish on all watch'd occasion The Senate or the people shall present SEI. I am restor'd and to my sense againe Which I had lost in this so blinding suit CAESAR hath taught me better to refuse Then I knew how to aske How pleaseth CAESAR T' imbrace my late aduice for leauing Rome TIB. We are resolu'd SEI. Here are some motiues more Which I haue thought on since may more confirme TIB. Carefull SEIANVS we will straight peruse them Goe forward in our maine designe and prosper SEIANVS IF those but take I shall Dull heauie CAESAR Would'st thou tell me thy fauours were made crimes And that my fortunes were esteem'd thy faults That thou for me wert hated and not thinke I would with winged haste preuent that change When thou might'st winne all to thy selfe againe By forfeiture of me Did those fond words Fly swifter from thy lips then this my braine This sparkling forge created me an armor T' encounter chance and thee Well read my charmes And may they lay that hold vpon thy senses As thou had'st snuft vp hemlocke or tane downe The iuice of poppie and of mandrakes Sleepe Voluptuous CAESAR and securitie Seize on thy stupide powers and leaue them dead To publique cares awake but to thy lusts The strength of which makes thy libidinous soule Itch to leaue Rome and I haue thrust it on With blaming of the citie businesse The multitude of suites the confluence Of suitors then their importunacies The manifold distractions he must suffer Besides ill rumours enuies and reproches All which a quiet and retired life Larded with ease and pleasure did auoid And yet for any weightie and great affaire The fittest place to giue the soundest counsels By this shall I remooue him both from thought And knowledge of his owne most deare affaires Draw all dispatches through my priuate hands Know his designements and pursue mine owne Make mine owne strengths by giuing suites and places Conferring dignities and offices And these that hate me now wanting accesse To him will make their enuie none or lesse For when they see me arbiter of all They must obserue or else with CAESAR fall TIBERIVS SERVUS TO marry LIVIA will no lesse SEIANVS Content thy aimes no lower obiect well Thou know'st how thou art wrought into our trust Wouen in our designe and think'st we must Now vse thee whatsoere thy proiects are 'T is true But yet with caution and fit care And now we better thinke who 's there within SER. CAESAR TIB. To leaue our iourney off were sin 'Gainst our decree'd delights and would appeare Doubt or what lesse becomes a prince low feare Yet doubt hath law and feares haue their excuse Where princes states plead necessarie vse As ours doth now more in SEIANVS pride Then all fell AGRIPPINA'S hates beside Those are the dreadfull enemies we raise VVith fauours and make dangerous with prayse The iniur'd by vs may haue will alike But 't is the fauourite hath the power to strike And furie euer boyles more high and strong Heat' with ambition then reuenge of wrong 'T is then a part of supreme skill to grace No man too much but hold a certaine space Betweene th' ascenders rise and thine owne flat Lest when all rounds be reach'd his aime be that 'T is thought IS MACRO in the palace See If not goe seeke him to come to vs Hee Must be the organ we must worke by now Though none lesse apt for trust Need doth allow VVhat choise would not I' haue heard that aconite Being timely taken hath a healing might Against the scorpions stroke the proofe wee 'll giue That while two poysons wrastle we may liue Hee hath a spirit too working to be vs'd But to th' encounter of his like excus'd Are wiser sou'raignes then that raise one ill Against another and both safely kill The prince that feeds great natures they will sway him VVho nourisheth a lyon must obey him TIBERIVS MACRO MAcro we sent for you MAC. I heard so CAESAR TIB. Leaue vs awhile When you shal know good MACRO The causes of our sending and the ends You then will harken neerer and be pleas'd You stand so high both in our choise and trust MAC. The humblest place in CAESARS choise or trust May make glad MACRO proud without ambition Saue to doe CAESAR seruice TIB. Leaue our courtings We are in purpose MACRO to depart The citie for a time and see Campania Not for our pleasures but to dedicate A paire of temples one to IVPITER At Capua th' other at Nola to AVGVSTVS In which great worke perhaps our stay will be Beyond our will produc 't Now since we are