ill how to preserve your life Sil. Th' art the true Emblem of a perfect wife For whose rare vertue from my soule I wish All husbands were the same in that right way A perfect husband truly ought to be Which since in me ordain'd by powerfull Fate Never to be avoyded backward runnes Let my recursion from thy mind expell That Serpent foe to life sad griefes extreame As grossely vaine in being remedilesse and Therefore shunne it patient conjuence Is the calme of trouble best cure gainst care Gives greatnesse best content in meane estate Why doe I then like Godlesse villains tell The way t'heaven yet lead the path to hell Mindes that will mount into superiour state Climbe mischiefes Ladder vertuous actions hate Yet i st not so with Silius I doe love Those vertues in another though I want The like performance nor shall my high ayme Rais'd on advancements top doe me more good Then th' injoyning free from the act of blood But I protract delay ther 's danger in 't Video meliora proboque deteriora Sequor Never was man so infinitely Bewitcht charm'd and inchanted as is Caius Silius to leave a constant wife farewell We must part Syl. Must must O wretched word of Mischievous command must we part Sil. We must nay prethee weepe not sweet Syl. Blessings like drops of raine shower on thy soule O that I might part dying in thine armes Sil Farewell Syl. Farewell Sil. Teares want their remedy There is no striving gainst our destinie Exeunt ACT. 3. SCENE 1. Enter Annaus Mela. Mela. MY brother gone to exile and I here So neare the Empresse Court the Court of shame Where mischiefes hourely breed how strange seemes this I have a will to follow yet I want My wills performance not that I am sicke Wanting or limbes or libertie which begets More strange immaginations yet all I can Comes short to guesse th' inscrutable meaning That thus deteines me here in vaine in vaine The more I strive my senses I confound Then give it o're salute thy mother earth Lies downe And rest rest while thy poore distracted minde Vpon the wings of thought takes flight and flie Fly to the Iland of Corcyra there Learne the soules comfort sweete Philosophy What infinite good 't is to contemplate heaven For to that end the life of man is given Enter Montanus in disguise Mon Prove prosperous my designe upon this Brother to the banisht Seneca Are you cought Sir Snatcheth Mela's Sw◠from behind him Mel. Ha villaine what art thou Mon. A murderer and villaine O Sir 'T is the best thriving trade and best imployd 'Gainst such malevolent Satyrists as you You that are all for vertue a meere word When indeede ther 's no such thing say there be None truly loves it but dies beggerly Mel. Slave rather dispatch me then torment my soul With thy envenom'd scoffes 'gainst that that is Most rare most excellent Mon. A little more And then I 'le speede you excellent Ladies Cannot disable with a charming spell A trick of wit a humour that they have Husbands they not affect making free way For Atlas backs to leape their lovely lappes But your Satyricall censure straight must passe Th'ones pride 's scabd-hammd Rascalls and the 〈◊〉 Mischiefes veneriall Trulls these are fine tearmes Pray who made you a censurer of manners Mel. O slave Mon. T' upbraid such emminent persons What madnesse durst the like deserv'st not death Yes yet your life is safe passe but your vow T' embrace a beautie I shall bring you to More delicate then was the Spartan Queene One that shall pay large tribute night by night Give thee thy weight in gold for each delight Mel. Not I I yeeld my body mercenary slave To lust and lucre no though mines of gold She could give oftner then those whorish lookes Women take pride in to bewitch mens soules First partch't to Cinders 'gainst the burning Zone Be buried quicke all torments possible Stretcht on the Tenters of invention I gladly would most willingly endure E're thy soule killing proffers enters here Mon. No Mel. Pish for my death ther 's too much man in me To feare so sleight a scratch let it come I will no budg a foote strike faire and home T is better die then live to live unjust Slave to th' unsounded Sea of womans lust Mon. Are you so confident have at you Sir Offers to runne at him and flings downe the Weapon Your love your love 't is onely that I seeke I am no villaine though I seem'd in show But one that fearefull in these dangerous times For to retaine a friend led on by hope Of your faire life whom envie in your foes Reports no lesse of caus'd me through disguise To put to tryall your unvalued worth Which beyond man I find of such pure mold Sun-like your vertues outshine purest gold Mel. Beleeve me Sir ther 's no such thing in me Worthy your least Encomium Mon. But there is A miracle which but in me in part Through friendships deare respect incorporate And you shall binde me everlastingly To blesse the houre we met Mel. As I am slow To friendships confidence as t is requisite For ev'ry one and yet once enter'd in Affect stabilitie judge you the same A man that truly sensative well knowes Vertue to be but meerely adjective Wanting that soveraigne sweetnesse which directs The minde to honest Actions and therefore As friendship joynes with vertue truly is The lover of love each true friends propertie By that true blessing sundry wills connexion Our hearts as hands unite dilate affection That th'enlarge length orbicular may spread And ne'r finde end Mon. So am I yours Mel. You mine Mon. Vnparallel'd is that love where friends combine Enter Valens Proculus Menester Here comes the top top gallants of the time Mel. The fooles of the time how are we bound to heaven Exempt the bondage of these Palace Rats These whose delights are last provocatives Mon. Let us withdraw and seeme to minde them not Men. Was men er'e blest with that excesse of joy Equall to ours to us that feele no want Of high court favours lifes licentiousnesse Kings have their cares and in their highest state Want those free pleasures crownes us fortunate Val. O happy state Mel. Glorious slave Aside Val. Thrice happy I 'de not change Earth for Ioves felicitie Pro. Nor I who wu'd what inconsiderate he For such a Mistris as the Emp'resse Wu'd be so dull as not make use of Art Forcing the bodies joviall able might To yeeld her expectation full delight Mon. Libidnious Goate Aside Val. I 'de do 't though Phaeton like The hot receipt should fire this Fabrick Men. When I commemorate her excellence How lavish lovely dalliance free proceedes From that raritie of perfection O How I 'me ravisht ravisht in thought as well As with the Act which breeds no wonder though High Iove transhap't him to Amphitrio To taste the pleasure of Alemenas bed Needs must such prodigall
sweets mad thoughts of Men when power t' atract the Gods Mel. Impious Letchers Aside Mon. Silence marke the event Aside Val. I that know none more worthy then my selfe Of true regard and worth would be resolv'd What 's he that beares the valliant minde of man Dares for his mightie soveraigne Mistris more Then Vrctius Valens Pro. That dare I I dare Pond that thou art to question such a toy Were thy power equall to thy daring pride Proculus dares doe more Men Nor thou nor he Not Valens nor Proculus though you both Both durst as much as he durst cuckold Iove Menester would transcend you Val. That our bloods decide All draw exposed to a Triple sight round Pro. A Spirit of valour Men. Let it come Enter Messallina and Saufellus above Mess. What killing objects this presents our eyes Our Favorites turn'd fighters must not be Descend Saufellus know the cause wee 'l follow Val. Stand all so firme this Seale expresse my rage Pâ—o. Mine this Wound each other Men. This mine Enter Saufellus Sauf. Hold hold y 're wounded all As you 'l incurre our Emp'resse deepe displeasure Hold and resolve why thus you have expos'd Your lives to danger Enter Empresse Mess. Whence proceeds this fray Men. From that concernes the credits of best men Which of us three in our affections priz'd Your excellence most Mess. And was that the cause Wee doe embrace and pretiously account The vigour of your loves so you no more So full of spight let prosecute your hate With the like hardy daring t will not please We should esteeme your jarres rediculous Issuing from brainelesse wit discern'd in others And as 't is common to our emminent Sex Triumph instate and glory in your falls Yet th' operation of your loves so workes That it scruze ours to judge the contrary Dry up your wounds with care then come to court Love shall entrance your soules prepare for sport Exit Messallina and Saufel Val. I le study Art in love for recompence Pro. My love shall mount Men. Mine yeeld profuse expence Exeunt Favorites Mon. Here was a storme of mischiefe soone blowne or'e Mel. 'T was to preserve them for a wicked life But since these complices are gon that are Not worth least memory behold this booke Set my deare friend and I will read to thee Of that high Majestie puissant Ens From whom we have our being life and soule Which should dull flintie inconsiderate man When with black deeds 'i th myrie bog of sinne Beast like he wallowes considers right Thinkes on his present state whence came and must Then on that terrible Thunderer that sees His actions kick at heaven he then no more Would dare t' offend his Maker but with teares Lament his soules polution which doth give Matter by which mens soules immortall live But through an unfrequented heavinesse I am prevented Mon. Repose a while I 'le reade Enter Empresse and Saufellus above Emp. Make us celestiall happy with thy newes Art thou sure 't is he Sauf. 'T is 't is Montanus Sure as I live I tooke full view of him Before and after the fight then with drawne Within you grove of Oakes Emp. My hearts on fire To clip him fly swift as thought Saufellus Conduct him to our Paradice of joy If he escape desire then confound us We onely view'd him once but then the time Crost our desires blest opportunitie That makes our happinesse a very heav'n Wee 'l build an Altar and erect a shrine That shall eternize thee for this wer 't my brother Resembled him we so intirely love Wee 'd force him ravish pleasure if not kill Be a Semiramis to sate our will Enter Saufellus Sauf. Haile to Montanus Mon. Sir the like to you Sauf. 'T is th' Emp'resse pleasure you attend her will Mon. Know you the cause Sauf. Delay not with demands th' are frivilous Will you along Mon. Your favour sir a while I 'le but awake my friend So-ho sleepy still Pray heaven this heavinesse imports no harme Exeunt Mel. How 's this my friend departed I alone I know not what to thinke 't is very strange He thus unwak'd would leave me sure he striv'd Yet I so fast that he no doubt was loath To breake my rest 't is so and some chiefe cause Which I might well dispence with drew him hence I 'le to his fathers house there certaine finde Or heare of him Exit Hoboyes A Banquet to it Montanus is usher'd in state by Saufellus and others who placing him depart Hoboyes cease and solemne Musicke playes during his speech Mon. O Potent lust thou that hast power to make The valiant and the wise coward and foole I 'me not so dull but that I know thee now Now comprehend why Musicke breathes delight And why this banquet why both presents themselves To be my slaves 'T is to make me a slave To lust that deadly potion of the soule Whose poyson quaft kills body and the soule That 's the maine end of these harmonious straines These stirring meates which unto me appeare Like those blew flames the damned taste in hell Enter Emperesse by degrees gazing at him Celestiall Angels guard me now she comes And I so ill prepar'd I know not what A suddaine earthquake trembles natures frame Which like a falling Pine tree to and fro Vncertaine where to fall it tottering stands She 's most bewitching sweet I feare I feare She will ore come now I begin to burne To scortch like to the coales of Etna strike Me eternall winter with thy frosts quench Quench this hot combustion in my blood And if I needs must fall O sacred powers Benumbe my senses so that I may taste No sweetnesse in the Act yeeld no delight Emp. Thus long with admiration we have stood To gaze on thy perfections pretious shape Why dost thou shake why stare as rapt in wonder Why dumbe or think'st thy happinesse a dreame This kisse confirme thee ours entrance thy soule To stirre loves-panting appetite while thus We clip thee in our Armes embrace thee thus Mon. O Emp. That 's loves Alarum to bed to bed To Venus field there combate for loves treasure Swimme in excesse of joy there ravish pleasure Exeunt Enter Mela. To thee faire fortune in divinest sense In whom all excellence inclusive is To that high power I invocate impore If pleas'd direct where I may finde my friend Fill when I fitly may assimulate The restlesse acquiessence of my minde To the perpetuall motion of a wheele That by the force of water restlesse turnes The vigour of the torrent left unstopt So the strang absence of my noble friend Suffers th' insulting torrent of sad griefe Tyranicke-like upon the wheele of sense To racke my restlesse rest which I must beare 'T is vaine to strive 'gainst sorrowes streame to swim Man hath no power on griefe griefe power on him What 's he declines his visage to the ground Is 't not my friend t is he happily met Enter Montanus
witchcraft Circean charmes Nor is it lust but want makes me a trader And those I clip with I must like at least Let Romes brave Empresse do her liking Stitch I she 's a brave Roman dame indeed Hem. And those Mad-dames are the best doers Stitch Cal. Calphurnia loathes varietie of men Times big bone Animalls so apt to please Th' Empresse will whets not my appetite Besides you know I 'me not for durance Wanting the daily visits of best Doctors To make me broths of dissolv'd Pearle and Amber Which well considered will not quit the cost She won the wager I am glad I lost Bawd Glad I have lost Let me come to her I le claw you Minkes glad I have lost and which goes nearest my heart To raile and none to raile against but tall Proper and goodly able men calling Them big-bond Animals O blasphemy Why Phisgig must I keepe thee rich in cloathes To want that ever pleasing sweet Hony and Sugar candy delight which the Bravest high spirited glistering Ladies Such as make Punies of their pettie Lords Account their heaven their onely happinesse Never but discontented when they are Out of Action and are you defective now Fallen out forsooth with the felicitie You shu'd take in men O most absurd Not to be suffer'd utter'd nor indur'd It is intollerable it is it is it is Thou muddy minded piece of mischiefe it is St. Hem Mistris here comes our fellow Pander The Lord Saufellus Hem. All of a house but not all fellowes Stitch And yet we hope to be Sir Panders nay since Great-ones be of that profession and thrive so by it It cannot chuse but be a brave profession St. Oh t is a good A goodly brave profession 't is the best Best streame to fish in be ne'r so impious Gold stiles the royall villaine vertuous Sauf. Here here my most pretious procurers Downe and adore our royall Empresse And me the messenger of these glad tidings Proud is her highnesse of the wager wonne Yet scorning the advantage of the losse Trebly returnes your owne with a reward And signe of her high favour ever after Ba. I hope her mightinesse receiv'd content And will make bold with my poore house hereafter Sauf. Yes with your house a little bold her yet Silius comes hither straight brought by his friends Valens and Proculus your best wills worke To make him serve her pleasure Ba. Pleasure her What Silius a private gentleman of Rome And be so grosse as not to pleasure her Which of you gallants wu'd not pleasure an Emp'resse that a man should be so very a sot As not do Oh 't were abominable Sauf. But hee 's a man of precise abstinence And hardly will be drawne by any woman Ba. Hoy day not drawne by woman sayd you If he come here he shall be hang'd and drawne And dry drawne to not drawne by a woman Gogs nigs that 's fine ifaith Sauf. See here they come prepar'd I must withdraw For a more apt imployment shew your skills Women through lust and Hell will worke their wills Exit Enter Silius Valens Proculus Val. Come Sir wee 'l enter you Sil. Most certaine Into the divels vaulting schoole where lust In triumph rides or'e shame and innocence Am I not in Hell Pro. O silly Silius Cannot a sweet shap't gallant like my selfe Enter the house where Venus vestalls live But it must needs be Hell ha ha ha Ba. Welcome Princely Spirits Sweet faces rich cloathes and exquisite bodies Make you for ever my most curious clients Pruriently pleasing to the blood of beautie Hem and Stitch some stooles and cushions quicke Sil. What have you brought me to your Sempsters house Ba. These are no idle persons Sil. Is this your lusty kindred sweet pleasure Which angles soules to hell as men hooke fish I this is she the bane of all devotion She whose inticements turnes weake men aside From the right way of vertue throwing em downe Into the gulfe of all confusion From whence me thinks those dreadfull soules I heare Now at this instant cursing of your Sex Your sinne affected trimings to entice Which implicates the wretched mind of man Crying with horrour 'gainst your impudence O woman woman thy bewitching motion Fooles wisedome reason and blinds all devotion Ba. What is the man detracted from his wits tro Sil. Out thou devourer up of maiden heads Ba. Hoy day I a devourer of maiden heads That with joy be it spoken I have not had A maidenhead these fiftie yeares Vall. Prethee be not thus bitter unto 'em Poore necessary evils they pleasure us Sil. Out on your beastly your most senselesse pleasures That makes you reasonlesse esteeming best Those things delight you most Cal. O I could stand My lifetime here to heare this Silius raile Sil. Note but the end of all your lustfull pleasures All breed diseases griefes reproaches foule Consumption of the body and the soule Engender sorrowes and sotishnesse Forgets all prudence growes most insolent Breeds th' Epelepsie that falling evill Begets murder makes a man a divell O'rethrowes whole families confounds the just Foisteth in children illigitimate Corrupts all humane sweet societie The various paths of lust are all uneven Her pleasures dreadfull plagues the scourge of heaven Enter Emperesse and Saufellus attending with a cap Emp. Our soveraigne good is pleasure unto which None can attaine but valiant men and wise Sil. Oh Sil. fals on his knees Emp. Silius thou shalt not fall unlesse I fall Nor rise without me we love thee Cajus Thou soule of musicke breath breath and enchant Musicke With thy delicious Tones while thus we bend And health our love mirrour of men to thee She drinkes Sil. Foole that I am thou hast undone thy selfe Keepe in my vertue or this fiery triall Flames thee to Cindars Emp. Fill for him i st prepar'd Sauf. With deepest Art Emp. Here pledge and pledge freely a hearty draught As I began up witht so t is well this Sil. drinks This fayling pure precise one now is silenc'd Conveigh him to our bed Natures delight Where when he wakes he may admire and burne Be mad in love to pleasure free in us Thanks Valens and Proculus Caesar dispatcht To Ostia wee 'l finde fit time to make you Shine in glory all shall finde rich rewards Exit Emperesse and Saufellus Ba. May you for ever glister like the Sunne Val. Silius y' are snar'd and we our wager wonne Exit Hoboyes Enter Emperour Claudius Messallina Narcissus Pallas Calistus Saufellus with attendance Emp. Swift nimble time the season of the yeare To offer sacrifice unto the Gods Calls us with speed from Rome to Hostia in Which our absence sweet deare then my life We doe implore use all the carefull meanes That may preserve that life and happinesse Thy love assures us which if want of health Should â—ate thee joy Caesar were not himselfe Disaster griefes diseases pale and wan Wu'd make me marble such is th' affiance The strong perswasion of that love I beare
Ruine Lep. That was a womans voyce most certaine 't was I will no longer stay you Opens the doore 3. O save us from the Rape death doggs us At the heeles 1. Our parents and husbands slaine In their beds this night have payd lifes forfeit For our escape 2. For whom there is no hope If shelter'd not under your wings of safetie 3. She is your daughter that commands this ill Lep. Woe is me wretch accursed be the time That brought her forth O may it ever be For ever bard the ranke of blessed houres Bell rings as neere at hand 1. Harke harke they come that fatall bell rings their Approach turne us to Ayre some whirlewind er'e We perish through spotted whoredome Enter Sauf the two Ruffans and Baud Sauf. O are you here Ba. And have we found you out O you abominable pictures of peevish vertue ye thread bare thin cheek't chastitie Ye Puppets Lep. I am amaz'd if from my daughter sent Tell me ye frightfull villaines her demand Sauf. Them there whose paltery puling honestie Merits no favour but a world of mischiefe They must live at Court Ba. There to live and brave Hem. To shine in pearle and gold flow in treasure St. Fed with delicious Cates to swim in pleasure breath Ba. Tost on the downy beds of dalliance Lep. Peace hell bred hagge stop thy unhallow'd throat Sauf. Dispatch resolve to goe or die Lep. Then die Arme you brave Roman Dames Terrestriall stars Arm'd with faire fortitude resolve to die That when y' are gone I may looke up and see Your chast thought starres in the Celestiall spheares Is it not better die then live at court Rackt torne and tost on proud dishonours wheele There to be whoor'd your excellence defil'd Rather be free be free rare spirits for Succeeding times to wonder at spurne spurne In contempt of death at deaths base strife To die for vertue is a glorious life All O blest encouragement 1. All are so willing ther 's not one of us Wu'd wish to live so fairest mind farewell Behold we linke in love thus arm'd to die Strike slaves mount soules fly to eternitie kild Lep. Mischievous Monsters O what have you don Ba. Take this this and this for me ye Puppets Of purity Baud stabs at them with her knife and in her going off is shut in by Lepida Lep. Wu'd you be gone Nay you damb'd hell-hagge I 'le preserve you safe Manutius Folio wake wake from drowsie sleepe Exit Lepida Ba. How 's this lockt in what the great divell Will become of me Lepida within Lep. Murder murder what ho Manutius awake Ba. How she bawles vengeance stop your throat Enter Lepida with her two Servants Lep. O see where murder'd chastitie lies slaine Vnder my tragicke roofe this fatall night Ser. Sad dismall accident Lep. Here take this Baud She hath a large hand in this impious act Take hang her by the heeles then let my dogs Compell'd through hunger teare eate her alive I must to Court there prosecute the rest Exit Ser. Remove those bodies I 'le take charge of this O thou insufferable Bitch Whore Bawd Have you beene actor in this blooddy Scene You shall be gnawne with dogges for 't totter'd And peecemeale torne you shall you rotten Stinking tunne of decay'd Letchery you shall Yet I will set thee free grease me now finely Finely i th' Fist you know the Art mony Will corrupt 't is beggery to be honest Ba. Hold ther 's my purse the better part is gold Performe thy promise I 'le advance thy state At Court promote thee Ser. To weare brave cloathes Ba. Rich wondrous rich Ser. And shall I have a wench Ba. A very daintie device a Springer One that shall make thy constitution curvet And winde about thee like a Skeine of Silke Tickle tickle tickle thee my brave bully Ser. Sayst thou so my old motions procurer Goe thy wayes stay O wonderfull what 's that There betwixt thy teeth gape He gags her Ba. Au au au Ser. We must be honest here nay you shall goe Not to be tickle tickle tickl'd but To be totter'd with your heeles aloft To be totter totter totter'd my brave Bawd To be totter'd Exeunt Enter Messallina Mess. Menester Valens Proculus not all No not a world of favorites can yeeld To us that free delight in dalliance which Silius gives he must not live at Forum Though it be neare at hand 't is too farre off Calphurnia Enter Calphurnia Calph. Your highnesse pleasure Mess. Cause Cajus Silius to be sent for straight And let Harmonius Musicks ravishing Ayres Breath our delight Calph. To your accomplisht wish Exit Cal. Mess. Circle me round you Furies of the night Dart all your fiery lust-stung Arrowes here Musicke Here here let Circe and the Syrens charmes Poure their inchantments Monarch of flames Fill with aluring poyson these mine eyes That I may with the mistie soules of men And send them tumbling to th' Acharusian Fen 'T were an all pleasing object unto thee Thou great Arck-Ruler of the lowe Abysse Like to Cadmaean Semele I wu'd burne Rather then want this my implor'd desire And be consum'd in thunder smoake and fire Let petty Queenes dull appetite dread feare I 'le be my selfe sole pleasures Queene in all Ha what 's this cease that Musicke there A suddaine strange and drousie heavinesse Enchants my tender eyes to close their lights Dormit Enter three Furies with the Arrowes of Pride Lust and Murder 1. From those blew flames burning dimme Where black soules in sulphure swimme Darke infernall Den below Lakes of horrour paine and woe 2. From dread Thunder smoaking fire We come we flye at thy desire 3. To fire thy mind lewdly inclind 1. To deeds unjust murder and lust 2. Dreaming see at thee at thee 3. Furies dart sinnes potent night 1. Sable shafts of endlesse night Eight Furies dance an Anticke and depart Messalina awakes Mess. Furies enough I 'me fully satisfide A Plurisie of lust runnes through my veines I could graspe with any Enter Silius Sil. Me above all Mess. O the unsounded sea of my delight In thee my Silius t is miraculous Ineffable never to be exprest By learnings deepest Art Sil. Glory of Queenes Cease to enchant with words that can so charme Mess. And Scarfe about thy neck my Ivory Arme Practise upon thy lips the Energie Of sweet alurements shoot into thine eyes Amorous glances stirring dalliance Embracements passions such as shall beget Perpetuall appetite that all the gods May in beholding emulate our joy Enveloped with pleasures sweetest sweets Ambrosiack kisses thus Kisse Sil. Delicate Nectar Mess. Redoubled thus and thus Kisse again double Sil. O I am all Flame A scorcht inchanted flame and I shall burne To Cinders with delight debar'd to quench Fervour with fervour violent flame with flames Mess. Thou art too noble a substance to imbrace Thy wife Syllana be sudaine kill her She must not live Sil. How Mess. Be not ignorant That singular alone we must
enjoy The freedome of thy body undebard Least let to pleasure by this I charme thee Kisse Sil. O that delicious melting kisse prevailes Sucks dry the sweetnesse of a soule distrest Poysons my blood and braine and makes me apt To doe an outrage I should loathe to name O if I er'e was gracious in your sight Sil. kneeles Desist faire beauties abstract I implore Spur me not on to murders horrid act Which I shall ever rue let it suffise I 'me onely yours never Syllana's more Sworne a perpetuall exile from her bed Exit Messalina Vanisht so soone how wondrous strange seemes this Enter Messallina with a Pistoll Mess. Death and destruction satisfie my will Or take 't in thy bosome I 'me intemperate Briefly resolve Sil. Hold be not so respectlesse Of him that loves you dearer then his life Dreadlesse of death I speake it what is death A bug to scarre th' ignoble cowards minde The valiant never did the Fates conspire And terrible death in the most horrid shape It er'e put on threat despaire and ruine Yet it should ne're affright the soule of Silius Th' impatient sudaine cause of discontent In your rare worth onely torments me more Then were I rack't upon Ixions wheele To perpetuitie be gracious then To him that does repent confesse his errour Seal 't with this kisse Mess. Did Lucius Cataline Spare wife nor childe for Orestillas love And must our high borne savours be slighted Put off with bare perswasives Sil. Oh be pleas'd Mess. Let mighty Queenes majestick emminence In the high pitch of their ambition learne Of us to hate corivalls in their love Trampling the Torch of Hymenaeall rites Vnder their seate Sil. The attractive force Of those amazing eyes those glorious lights Fixt in the Firmament of your sweet face Shall make me undergoe the worst of ill Though with the forfeiture of life I hazard A death more terrible then Alcides was Mess. I love thee now like to a burning glasse Th' ast fier'd a fresh th' affection of my minde More violent then ever be gone be gone Hasten Syllanas death then come to Court There the Emperiall Diadem of Rome Dreadlesse of Caesar shall impale thy Front Like Iove and Iuno in a nuptiall knot Wee 'l knit the bands of Hymen and out shine The glorious Tapers of the golden Sunne Whirle through the stately streets of spacious Rome Like glistring Phaeton in an Orient chaire That with the bare report swift fame shall strike Amazement through the world Monarchall state All-gazing eyes fixt on our rich attire Languish in dreames our stately state admire Sil. Ravisht in thought panting amaz'd I stand At your Harmonious speech Emphaticall Ambitious blood like to the Bankes of Nyle Ore flowes this Orbe of mans circumference And points my actions thus their way to ill Aspiring Armes Lavolto when they kill Exit Sil Presenting his naked Poniard Goe the influence of whose power starres Mounts thy imperiall lot to set aloft On the high Orbe of our affection Like the bright rising orientall Sun When it salutes Aurora 'bove the choice Of five and twentie Iove-like Ganimends Who charm'd and wrapt in wanton dalliance Live fir'd with admiration O pleasing More pleasing sweet to my insate desire Then was to Synon Illions loftie fire Mess. Shall Messallina in her flourishing youth Like dull and tame Nobilitie live coopt Confin'd and mew'd up singular to one No Caesar no t' were fooles Philosophy And I abjure 't there is no musick in 't Those of our Sex the mindes of sots containe And are of no brave spirits that deny Pleasure the heaven of my Idolatry Enter Saufellus and Lepida Lep. Plagues yet unfelt light on thee mischievous Slave villane dog murderer rot as thou livest Mess. Mother the cause of your distemprature Lep. Murder in thee in thee thou wicked Impe And that thy substitute by the ordain'd Gainst the most noble mindes of chastitie Whose innocent blood like th' Atlantick sea Lookes red with murder and cries out to heaven For justice and revenge O hadst thou first Then beene the Author of so foule a fact Made thy owne passage happy woman I Mess. Beldame give or'e or I le disclaime all smoothnesse Ther 's nothing done that 's wisht undone by us Lep. 1 st even so then too too ill farewell Truths story shall relate to after times My love to thee hate to thy desp'rate crimes Mess. Pish to your chamber dotard be advis'd Sauf. Goe and a mischiefe dambe you and all your Pittifull Sex Mess. We doe commend thy care Ioy 'i th performance of our strict command Which shall from hence forth stile thee favorite To us that will command thy fortunes rise Sauf. And all those fortunes favours life and all Shall like an Atlas undergoe the weight Of your imperious will be it toth ' death Of Parents massacre of all my kin To exceede the divell act any sinne Mess. For which we thus enseame thee Kisses him Sauf. O Dulce Divinest goddesse whom my soule adores Multiply that sweet touch of rare delight And from the Garden of Hesperides Those delicate delicious rubie lips Make me immortall quench quench the burning heat Which like th' immoderate thirst of Tantalus Scorching the medowes of my solid flesh Dries up the Rivers of my crimson blood And as the gaping tongue tide earth for raine Opens her griefe so in my lookes behold View my distresse make me to live or die Mess. Graspe me Saufellus le ts have a sprightly dance Swift footing apts my blood for dalliance Sauf. Musicke rich musicke there O that my skill Could transcend mortall Mess. Tush wee 'l accept thy will Dance a Coranto Enter Lepida Sauf. What divell sends her back Mess. Pish minde her not Lep. Nature constraines me back what though dismai'd Shall I desist O then shee s lost for ever No I will bend with fairest faire demeane To save her soule I 'le make my foot my head Mothers were Monsters else not truly bred Give my speech once more freedome Mess. You 'l force us through unmannerly exclaimes To rest the strictnesse of our dread command Lep. I come not bent with wrath but to implore On bended knees with penitentiall teares T' appease the Gods for thy full Sea of sinne Such is a mothers love and such is mine Prove thou my like thy soule shall never fall Into those damned sinnes it nourisheth Which like a ponderous Argosey full frought Cuft on the mountaine top of some bigge wave In the descent falls on the fearefull Rock And splits in peeces irrecoverable So fatall death upon the wings of night Whirles the blacke soule in her triumphant Car To the Tartarian vales where crown'd in flames Tumbling descend to dreadfull Orcus Cell That mercilesse pit of bottomlesse despaire To fry in those blew flames of feare for ever In never ending endlesse paine for ever If mothers teares were e're of force to move Let these of mine take place strive to repent Thinke what a horrid thing it
o'recurious dame Vpon the Tiptoes of her apish pride Protest with O no I will not wrong my Husband for earths treasure stand upon her Honesty then smile change in a moment And then wantonize mop mew bite lip and Wriggle with the bumbe to put a man in minde Then touch shee 'l gripe and clip with a kisse Melt into all the formes of Venery Thought can devise and ther 's her honesty Men. O petulant purenesse of defiled pitch But you forget what actors are prepar'd In readinesse for practise gainst the Masque Sauf. The vestall Virgins from the Temple hail'd They shall supply that want 't is so decreed By th' Empresse strict command Lep. O horrible Aside Sauf. All from the age of ten to twentie five Must suffer Rape and shall stood hell in fight Val. Spoake like thy selfe my metropolitan Cut throate of chastitie Sauf 'T will be excellent Rare I fat with laughter at the rich conceite Wee 'l play at Tennis with their maiden heads Fiftie at a breakfast shall not give me Content Lep. I say vertues a Cyphar in The hearts of great ones and stands for nothing What sayes your most approved judgements your Single sole conceits I am sure will stand For bawdy Comedies and ribald jests Insinuate thou and so wax knavish wise Thou a stampt villaine learne to temporise Plot thou and set friends hourely at debate Cling to the surer side the weaker hate Turne Bavvd at midnight Dander to a Whore While lust in 'i th act ye knaves looke to the doore Ha ha ha ha ha Exit Sauf. Laughs thou mad mawde Goe with a burning mischiefe Z'heart I could cut Her throate but something in her lookes there is That shakes me what agen Enter Lepida Lep. Be thou One that knowes how to mix with perilous 〈◊〉 The deadly poyson with the amorous dart Drunk with conceite that greatnesse beares the sway Safely to act what villany it may Godge godden I 'le come agen anon Exit Sauf. But wee 'l prevent you come Lords to Court She shall be silenc'd or her tongue cut out Exeunt Lep. Gon O happy blessed blest prevention That to mine eares unlockt the horrid sound The blacke intention of so foule a rape A hundred vestall virgins to be whor'd First let the world dissolve and disipate To its first Chaos O thou all seeing power Prostrate on bended knees I here implore Beg at thy mightie hands t' inspire my soule Make me the substitute and holy meanes The sweet prevention of so horrid a Fact O heaven t is granted thankes Majestie Divine worke on my minde thought happily Thought upon a spacious vault I have which Neare adjournes unto the Vestalls Temple Thither this night by a back secret way I 'le draw the holy maides none will suspect Because all deeme me mad there by this hand Succour releefe and safetie shall attend Your noble soules chaste maides live long and blest Free from the bondage of blacke mischiefes hands To vertuous Actions heaven propitious stands ACT. 5. SCENE 1. Enter Emperour Narcissus Pallas Calistus Emp. ARe we not Caesar Is not Romes Empire servile unto us You mad me with your newes Nar. Mad a Dog a Cat a Rat y' are to tame want spirit To be mad I am mad mad to the depth Of madnesse O I could teare my haire to See you thus thus senselesse of your wrongs but Doe doe be the grand Cuckold of this universe Let Cajus Silius raigne Romes Emp'rour Pal. Lov'd of the people Cal. Honour'd of the Senate Nar. Hurrid in triumph through the streets of Rome Pal. In Caesars Chariot glistring like the Sunne Cal. While Caesar unlike Caesar calmely suffers Nar. Out of his Empire finely to be work't Finely betwixt the two hot Palmes of lust Pal. Abus'd forsooth for feare of Prodigies Nar. That that O infinite shame in stately Majestie to make your selfe a never Dying scoffe for ages yet unknowne To point at you for the most famous Cuckold Cal. The renowned Cuckold Pal. The high and mightie Cuckold Nar. Cuckold by five and twentie all in the Short space of a day and night O insatiate Bawdy villany Emp. Damnation seize her I will heare no more misery of miseries Impatience crampes my vitall veines that swell With fiery boyling rage O I am a lumpe Of true vexation tortur'd with torments Worse then those in hell in hell very hell This body sure is not substantiall no I am all ayre pierc'd through and through with stormes Incessant stormes that strike a terrour to My panting soule misery of mariage Horn'd and abus'd by every vastaile Groome Vessells of basenesse they shall buy it deare The high Sea of their daring pride must downe All topsie turvie to confusion turne I will uncharme and never more be fool'd Slave to those wonder darting eyes that strike Amazement through the world those bewitching Lampes her eyes fed with the oyle of whorish Fortitude that like the Centaure's blood â—iveâ—s the poyson of hell furies rage Into my blood and braine those false false eyes Shall never more intice because that I Will never see them more they shall put out Their glory for a grave there forgot Scorn'd and contemn'd of Caesar lye and rot Nar. Now are you Caesar Pal. What you ought you are Cal. The high and mightie Roman Emperour Emp. But am I so indeede for I 'me amaz'd At my dull follies past is 't not too late To call backe errours darknesse O tell me Narcissus is not Silius Emperour Vsurpes he not that name past reach to quell Nar. Conferre on me that absolute command Which Geta Captaine of your guard now holds Over your souldiers here at Hostia And er'e the next Sun set his circular course The daring pride of all the faction Cesar shall sit in senate and their doome Emp. Sweetest revenge honour'd Narcissus draw Out the souldiers at thy free dispose Here 's thy command Geta we doe mistrust Gives him a Ring Thee onely trust accelerate revenge That I may ebbe the high swolne tide of wrongs Which beyond limmits teares my restlesse braine Knits and then teares with infinite unrests If there be Hell the divell and damnation 'T is mans delight in woman insatiate Woman that will doe with the divell O 'T is a fearefull thing to be a Cuckold Rowl'd up in wrinkles of foole patience We heare they have a Masque but rather then Any of the lustfull route make their escape Fire me the Palace burne 'em in that Masque It will be brave to see 'em dance in fire Skip letch'rous Antickes in a boyling flame That thus with raging passion boyling flames My most distracted braine tortures no lesse Then if on Caucasus we were expos'd A never dying prey to the Eagles beake Such is the misery of marriage where The besotted husband most affects there To be most abus'd Cuckold Cuckold Cuckold O. Exit Nar. After Calistus t' appease his fury Exit Calistus My Lord I 'le post to Rome the people groane Beneath
is to see There is feare above us feare still beneath us Feare round about and yet no feare within us Mess. I doe begin to melt Lep. Heavens blessings on thee Sauf And hells curse on thee t is high time to speak O be your selfe divinest faire on earth This idle superstitious lecturing Proceeds of malice what to make you childe And slave to her desires Lep. O impious devill Mess. No more live and be thankfull Exit Mess. and Saufel Lep Ha howe 's that Live and be thankfull am I then contemn'd Is all my labour in a moment lost Live and be thankfull sure I doe but dreame It cannot be nature against it selfe Should so rebell O foole foole that I am With vaine hope thus to play the flatterer Mors erumnatum quies mors omnibus finis Dissolve the glassie pearles of mine eyes That Niobe-like I may consume in teares And nevermore behold day light agen Pish all this is but talke and talke I must Fly from me soule and turne my earth to dust Must I then live to see my daughters shame Crack crack poore heart sterne death let fly thy dart Send my sad soule to the Elizium shades That there it might drinke Lethe and forget It ever liv'd in this mortallitie Parcae dispatch when when I say no no Falls distracted Then will I act Medeas murd'ring part Vpon my staine of blood that gods and men May sit and laugh and plaudite my revenge Ye dismall sisters of the fatall night Rise rise and dance hells rounde laies for joy Rhamnusia finds imployment for you all Follow follow follow follow follow Note with your grim aspects the courts of Kings See how the politicke statesman for his ends Sits hammering mischiefe and how Toad-like swels Bombaste with treasons riches see ther 's lust Brave Madam lust temptations painted whore Divinely worshipt by the bastard brood Of knaves and fooles Ye dread and irefull furies i' st not true Why then imploy your burning whips of steele Lash with eternall lashes there there there Excellent Furies how you doe excell So so so so t is holy day in hell Syllana drawne out upon a Bed as sleeping to whom Silius with a light Torch enters Sil. O what a fiery combate feeles my soule The Genius good and bad that waights on man Shakes natures frame trembles this Microcosme There vertue pleads for sleeping innocence For love true love chast thoughts and vertuous acts Which entertain'd within a constant brest Makes man triumphant crown'd immortall blest But O the pondrous plummets of blacke vice Suppresse those pure imaginations Which breake like lightning onely for a flash Wanting the true materiall to impell And to continue this false clocke of life From its exorbitant course such like are Majesticke title and the Empresse That unpeer'd excellence bewitching dalliance Soule of temptation sweete so charmes all sense Vertue I loath like politick states whose good Depends on ill worke their attempts in blood Syla. O my affrighted soule art thou there sweetâ— Then am I safe t' was but a dreame I see A waking walking in my sleepe wherein Me thought I saw neare to a River side Two lovely Turtles sit like morne in May Adorn'd with all the glories of the Spring Their loves to either seem'd to sympathize And with such sober chastitie connex That their two hearts as true loves ever should Like fire and heate inseperate a like Shew'd like the splendor of a heart that liv'd In sacred flames in unextinguisht flames Of chast desires free from the tainted spot Of petulent dalliance till temptations snare Appear'd Parthenope like that with her charmes Work't so effectuall on the Turtle Male He like Troy firebrand falsly that forsooke Vnpitied Oenon not alone content Alone forlorne t' abjure his lovely mate But back return'd his black intents to further And to the height of lust he added murther The very thought seem'd daggers to my brest That with the feare I wakt Sil. To sleepe thy last Presents his lomard to her Syl. Light of my life how 's that Sil. Briefly this I 'le be your dreames expositor thou must die Die by this hand this fatall instrument Nor must I seeme to yeeld a slave to pittie Sil. Sure sure I dreame dreame still if not tell O Tell me my better selfe whose killing words Wounds crueller then death what cause what offend What ill desert in me that wrong'd you never The Gods me witnesse beare Sil. T is for no fault sustain'd on thy behalfe No t is the Empresse Doome Syl. She nay then Sil. 'T is thee that modell of creation Must through thy death participate alone All that is man in me And to that end With sweetest concord of discording parts Out sings the Syrens fiers this mansion With haut Ambition Romes imperiall crowne And therefore I must kill or else forgoe All those bright shining glories which what foole Would be so nice Syl. Is there then no hope No comfort no remorse must I depart Where I shall never see thy face agen Never behold those joyes which Hymens Rites Were wont to crowne with true loves flames Is there no remedy Farewell vaine world my life is such a toy I will not with to live t' abate thee joy Yet er'e I goe grant this one courtesie 'T is the last kindnesse you shall ever give Place gainst my heart thy deadly pointed steele So now farewell death is for me most meet Strike sure and home I doe forgive thee sweet Sil. Bravely resolv'd and I 'le performe thy will As bravely thus Pretending a violent stab he flings away the Poniard Not to be Emp'rour of the spacious earth Live live Syllana free Syl. I st possible Twixt feare and hope strucke through with deepe amaze I waver doubtfull Sil. Cease admiration And be sure of this though I must confesse I hither came Arm'd with a full intent To take thy life yet Silius ne'r shall adde To his libidinous life a murderers name Of illâ— 't is ever best the worst to shunne By murders murderers soules are oft undone I wish I were farre better then I am But since without my most assured ruine It cannot be being so farre ingag'd Into the Empresse favour I must on Make use of some devise cloakt with deceit That farre beyond perswasion may enforce Thy deaths beleefe Syl. Kill O kill me rather Be not far crueller to thy selfe then death To put to hazard on so slight a ground Thy life for mine I know the Emp'resse That if least notice of my life she heare Not irefull Nemesis in swift revenge Could be more speedy Sil. Pish I will so worke You shall not neede to feare therefore as I At court with my continuance must make way To cleare suspect use you the matter so Among your noble Family whereby Argos ey'd Envie descrie me not I Shall securely live dreadlesse of danger Syl. Though you had struck my body full of wounds And I survive my fierce revenge should he Good against